Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

She’s grateful, but right now she just wants to kick Ye Mingluo on the behind.

Huo Wen’an chuckled under his breath and told Xu Xingguang, "You’ll have your moments of regret later too." Ye Mingluo, despite his age, has the mindset of a youth.

Calling him dumb is less accurate than calling him pure.

The five of them form a perfect carload, with Song Chi driving the first leg, Zheng Lie the second, and Xu Xingguang handling the winding mountain roads.

Huo Wen’an, being unwell, isn’t permitted to touch the steering wheel.

Ye Mingluo is simply ignored by Xu Xingguang.

The journey is long, the car speeding along the highway, and by four in the afternoon, Xu Xingguang said to Song Chi, "You should take a break, let Zheng Lie drive. We’re three kilometers from the next service area; we’ll eat there first."

Paused for a moment, Xu Xingguang added, "Eat plenty, we might not have food tonight."

"Okay."

At the service area, the five of them went into a restaurant for a buffet.

Afterward, Zheng Lie took over driving, continuing on the highway for forty minutes before exiting. "We’ve reached Zhujie County, keep driving eighty kilometers on the county road, then switch to the village road."

"Okay."

Zheng Lie popped a mint candy and following the navigation, arrived at a remote village called ’Zixia Village’ as dusk set in.

The village is situated in front of a range of undulating mountains.

"Let’s get out and stretch, it’ll be bumpy once we’re on the mountain road."

Responding, Zheng Lie parked in front of an empty self-built house. There’s a concrete lot in front, and Ye Mingluo got out with a bottle of water, gazing upon the village in the moonlight from the edge of the lot.

Song Chi and Zheng Lie stood in the open area smoking.

The village is nestled by the mountains, with many shacks, mostly self-built by the villagers. However, many have weeds growing in front and behind, looking long uninhabited.

Ye Mingluo frowned, "The village seems big and lively, but there are so few people."

"Yeah, it’s largely abandoned now, with only few elderly folks remaining here. Even ten years ago, when I passed through, it wasn’t populous."

"City folks nowadays clamor to return to nature in rural areas, but they mean modernized ones, not remote mountain villages like this." Ye Mingluo lamented, "A hundred years ago, if someone here fell seriously ill, it was basically a death sentence."

Being a doctor with compassion, Ye Mingluo said, "Moving out is better, conditions improve once they leave."

Huo Wen’an asked Xu Xingguang, "How long on the mountain road?"

Xu Xingguang replied, "Two hours."

"Ugh." Ye Mingluo turned to gaze upward at the high mountains, puzzled, "Why did your grandfather choose to live in such a desolate wilderness? This place is deserted; the roads might be impassable."

"Then we’ll hike." Xu Xingguang glanced at Ye Mingluo, said disdainfully, "Told you not to come along, but you didn’t listen."

Ye Mingluo protested, "How was I supposed to know y’all were indeed heading into the mountains?"

"Alright, let’s go."

Upon hearing this, Song Chi and Zheng Lie extinguished their cigarettes, crushed them underfoot, then got back in the car.

The mountain road referred by Xu Xingguang was indeed narrow, winding, and overgrown with weeds and stones. It was so bumpy, sitting in the SUV, Ye Mingluo felt like he was in a rocking car.

"I really, can’t hold it anymore!" Immediately, Ye Mingluo hid his head in a plastic bag and retched.

Huo Wen’an furrowed his brow, instinctively rolled down the window, and asked Xu Xingguang, "Why’d you bring this useless guy?"

"A Zui!" Ye Mingluo retorted with a distorted expression, "How can you insult me? I’ve always treated you well. Didn’t I accompany you during your illness, yet you call me useless now."

"You little ingrate... ugh!"

His retching, the sour stench tormented everyone, making them wish to abandon the car.

"Ugh."

Xu Xingguang remarked on the obstructive trees in the road, "The road’s blocked, trees have grown in, the car can’t get through." Rising from her seat, Xu Xingguang lifted the bag from the passenger side and said, "Let’s go, get out and hike."

Hearing this, Ye Mingluo jumped out first, breathing in the fresh air revitalized him.

Fastened his jacket’s zipper, turned on the flashlight, as the five of them climbed the mountain while bantering. After an hour of hiking, Huo Wen’an plopped onto a rock, awkwardly sighing, "Let’s take a break."

Ye Mingluo felt fatigued too but appeared better than Huo Wen’an.

Standing on a rock, hands on his hips, Ye Mingluo teased Huo Wen’an, "Useless."

Huo Wen’an’s brow twitched, unable to argue.

He was indeed a liability.

Song Chi glanced at the time, suggested to Xu Xingguang, "Boss, perhaps the two of us should proceed? Let Zheng Lie stay here with them?"

Looking at Huo Wen’an’s heavy breath, Song Chi hesitantly added, "Uncle’s health, doesn’t match up with our pace."

Huo Wen’an: "..."

No need to be so blunt with your disdain.

Xu Xingguang asked Huo Wen’an, "Can you manage?"

Jokingly, can a man say he can’t?

"Let’s go." Huo Wen’an extracted his walking stick and continued climbing with gritted teeth.

Climbing on for over forty minutes, Huo Wen’an staggered, losing balance, falling towards a thorny bush.

Zheng Lie, having noticed Huo Wen’an’s earlier struggle, stayed nearby out of concern.

Seeing Huo Wen’an tumble, Zheng Lie promptly supported him, "Pilot, don’t force yourself."

Mortified and annoyed, Huo Wen’an met Ye Mingluo and Xu Xingguang’s worried eyes, felt childishly embarrassed. "Alright. You guys go ahead, I’ll stay with Zheng Lie, resting here till you return."

Saying this, he sat on the ground, displaying a resigned attitude.