vulgar world

Pudacuo National Park is the first national park in China, where both the vegetation and animals are rare and well-protected. The scenery is also unique and captivating.

We continued along the lakeside boardwalk, crossed wooden bridges over streams in the woods, and passed through meadows and pastures, finally completing our tour of the Shudu Lake Scenic Area.

After hiking three kilometers, Sang Qi felt a little uncomfortable in his feet and ankles, so he massaged his ankles.

Lu Min noticed this and raised his chin: "Go sit down for a while."

Sang Qi really wanted to rest for a bit. So she sat down on a large rock next to her and massaged her calves.

"Here you go." Lu Min rummaged through his bag and took out a bottle of mineral water and a Snickers bar.

After walking for so long in the high-altitude area, it's time to replenish some energy and water.

"Thanks."

After a short rest, Lu Min looked up at the sky. The sun was blazing, but the temperature wasn't too high.

"Let's go to Bita Lake."

"I'm not going." Sang Qi tilted his head back and took a gulp of water.

"Not going?" Lu Min asked Sang Qi, hands on his hips.

The same thing happened at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain last time; after coming down from the Glacier Park, we didn't go to Blue Moon Valley.

“If you’re tired, I can carry you on my back,” Lu Min said.

Sang Qi wiped the water droplets from the corner of his mouth and said as he twisted the bottle cap back on, "No need. The scenery in the plateau scenic area is nothing more than snow-capped mountains, lakes, meadows, and forests. They are all pretty much the same and nothing special."

Lu Min smiled; he disagreed with Sang Qi's statement. Every stream and tree in Pudacuo is a gift from nature, and each place offers a unique landscape. If one rushes through it or is impatient, even the most diverse scenery will appear dull and lackluster.

However, what Lu Min finally said was: "Whatever, you're a tourist anyway."

"Let's go then." Sang Qi stood up.

"Go to Dukezong?"

"Um."

...

After leaving Pudacuo, Lu Min drove along the East Ring Road towards Dukezong Ancient Town in Shangri-La.

Pudacuo is only about 20 kilometers away from Dukezong Ancient Town, which is about a 40-minute drive. However, it was nearing evening and there were many vehicles on the road, so the car was moving slowly and it took about an hour to reach Dukezong Ancient Town.

Almost all the vehicles traveling on the East Ring Road were heading to Shangri-La City for accommodation, just like Lu Min and his group.

Upon entering the ancient city, Lu Min first drove the car to the designated parking lot, settled the vehicle, and then took his luggage to venture deeper into the ancient city.

As soon as they got out of the car, Sang Qi asked, "Shall we go to the inn now?"

“Mm,” Lu Min replied.

"Is the innkeeper another friend of yours?" Sang Qi joked.

Lu Min raised an eyebrow: "You know what, it's true."

"..."

"Don't believe me?"

Sang Qi shrugged: "I believe you. I even suspect that you brought the team out here just to make money with your friends."

“How can you talk like that? How much money can we make in the service industry all year round?” Lu Min retorted.

"I was just joking," Sang Qi said with a smile.

"I wasn't serious with you either," Lu Min said, pouting.

"You're not serious?" Sang Qi said sarcastically. "I feel like you're going to beat me up."

"Beat you up? I wouldn't do that." He grinned mischievously.

They're too busy feeling pain to even hit them.

Sang Qi shuddered: "They're starting to disgust people again."

"Disgusting?" he laughed angrily. "Believe me or not, you'll love me to death sooner or later."

Sang Qi pressed his chest and made a retching motion.

Lu Min: "..."

………

Dukezong Ancient Town is the best-preserved and largest Tibetan residential area in China, and most of the old residents are native Tibetans.

The ancient city is built along the mountainside, and the roads are paved with stone slabs that follow the terrain. It is simple and elegant, with natural undulations, giving rise to a sense of historical weight.

The houses along the city streets are all ancient Tibetan dwellings, with strong ethnic characteristics and classical atmosphere.

Entering the city from the North Gate, Sang Qi walked along the way, admiring the ancient city's scenery.

It was already night, and the full moon was rising in the east.

Under the dark blue night sky, a full moon hangs quietly in the air, its gentle light softly bathing the ancient city inside and out.

This is an ancient city nestled in the highlands, bathed in moonlight.

Lu Min said that Dukezong means "white stone city" in Tibetan, and its symbolism is "moonlight city".

Dukezong is also known as Moonlight City.

We passed by Guishan Park.

Lu Min stopped and pointed in the direction of the park.

The highest point of the park features the world's largest prayer wheel.

Sang Qi looked in the direction Lu Min was pointing and saw the prayer wheel standing tall and golden, quietly bathed in moonlight, looking incredibly sacred.

“That’s Guishan Park. We can stay in Dukezong for a few more days. If you’re free, you can explore the ancient city on your own. There are parks and museums.” Lu Min turned his gaze to Sang Qi.

"What, where are you going?" Sang Qi met Lu Min's gaze, their eyes clashing.

From what he just said, it seems he has something to do in the next few days and won't be there.

"Reluctant to part? Afraid you won't see me again?" Lu Min raised the corners of his mouth.

“…You’re overthinking it.” Sang Qi shrugged.

Lu Min smiled and stopped joking: "I do have something to take care of, but it will be resolved in a day or two."

"What if I need to contact you?" Sang Qi asked casually.

"Don't worry, I promised you I'd be there whenever you called."

"...You promised me you wouldn't swear or smoke in front of me, did you keep your word?" Sang Qi mocked him.

Lu Min disagreed.

…………

Due to the development of tourism, many unique shops have opened in the ancient city, selling local Tibetan handicrafts. The shop windows are filled with a dazzling array of distinctive Tibetan ornaments.

Meanwhile, many hotels, guesthouses, and inns have also opened in the town. Most tourists visiting Shangri-La choose to stay in Dukezong Ancient Town.

Lu Min had booked a guesthouse in advance, which was one of the most ordinary and common Tibetan-style guesthouses in Dukezong.

Knowing that Lu Min was bringing a team, the boss had prepared hada scarves and barley wine in advance. As soon as Lu Min brought Sang Qi in, he immediately presented him with a snow-white hada scarf and offered him a cup of barley wine.

This happened every time, and Lu Min was used to it.

The owner, Zaxi, is a local Tibetan who has lived in Dukezong for generations. Zaxi warmly welcomes every guest with a hada (a ceremonial scarf) and barley wine.

Sangqi, with a snow-white hada draped around her neck, smiled and nodded at Zaxi.

Zaxi put his arm around Lu Min's shoulder and said, "Brother, the rooms have been prepared for you. They are all suites with excellent views."

"That's so thoughtful."

"Don't mention it."

As she spoke, the receptionist registered the information and gave Lu Min the room key.

Lu Min looked at Sang Qi and handed her a room key: "Go up first."

Sang Qi said "oh" and took the room key upstairs.

The guesthouse is decorated in a typical Tibetan style, as are the room layouts and furnishings.

The room's floor was covered with a dark red carpet of intertwined floral patterns, and Thangka paintings hung on the walls. The bedding and quilts were decorated with colorful Tibetan elements, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

After briefly looking around the room, Sang Qi put down her backpack and opened the window to let in some fresh air.

From the window, you can see the white pagoda in the center of the ancient city street. The towering white pagoda is built on a brick and stone base, and prayer wheels surround it on all four sides.

At this moment, many tourists were spinning prayer wheels clockwise under the white stupa, and some were taking pictures, creating a lively atmosphere.

At this time of day, the ancient city is brightly lit, and tourists stroll around the city under the moonlight.

There was a knock on the door.

Sang Qi went to open the door.

"Dinner's ready." Lu Min knocked on her door; his room was right next to Sang Qi's.

"I want to take a shower first," Sang Qi said, embarrassed.

Lu Min pursed his lips, said nothing, only said, "Hurry up," and then went downstairs.

The first floor of the guesthouse is a public area where guests can rest and chat, and the furnishings are in Tibetan style with various colorful patterns.

Lu Min sat down in a corner of the public area, leaned back lazily in his chair, stretched out his long legs, and placed them on the table next to him. Then he took out a cigarette from his pocket, took a puff, and put it between his lips.

With a "click," the lighter was lit, the flame flickering, igniting a cigarette. A gentle puff followed, the orange-yellow tobacco deepening in color, before the last puff of smoke was exhaled.

Zaxi came in from the backyard and saw Lu Min smoking listlessly, so he sat down next to him: "What's wrong? You look like you have something on your mind?"

Lu Min smiled, pulled his leg back, sat up straight, and said, "It's nothing serious, but I have a favor to ask you."

Zaxi raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised: "You still have something to ask of me?"

Lu Min took a drag of his cigarette and said, "Please keep an eye on the woman I brought with me for the next few days."

"Oh? Are you leaving?" Zaxi frowned.

Lu Min grunted in response and exhaled a smoke ring, which dissipated into the air shortly afterward.

"Why? Did something happen?"

“Qian Kunpeng is not dead.” Lu Min’s expression was calm, but his tone was cold.

Zaxi was stunned: "Not dead? How did you know?"

Lu Min's hawk-like eyes narrowed slightly in the thin smoke, appearing hazy and deep.

He recalled the scene that morning when Lin Na, the landlady of the Snow Mountain Inn, came to find him.

He had just woken up while guarding outside Sang Qi's room when he saw Lin Na. Lin Na said she had something to do and went to his room.

Linna said she discovered two thugs lurking suspiciously around the inn. Linna assumed they were after Sang Qi, so she dealt with them and forced them to reveal their purpose for being near the inn.

One of the thugs, unable to withstand the beating, confessed everything.

They weren't after Sang Qi, but Lu Min.

Afterwards, Linna called the police, and the two thugs were taken away.

………

Lu Min recounted the incident to Zaxi as he recalled it.

Zaxi asked in surprise, "So, those two people were sent by Qian Kunpeng?"

"yes."

“If he’s not dead, then you’re in danger,” Zaxi sighed.

Lu Min let out a barely audible chuckle.

He certainly knew how much of a threat Qian Kunpeng's survival posed to him.

Back then, during the gang wars, Qian Kunpeng and Chen Yaohua vied for the top position in the gang. Qian Kunpeng was defeated, and his forces collapsed like a house of cards.

Desperate to refute and win back his prize, Qian Kunpeng gathered his men to retaliate against Chen Yaohua. At the time, Lu Min was still one of Chen Yaohua's men. He saw through Qian Kunpeng's revenge and made Qian Kunpeng a fugitive. In the end, during the chase, Qian Kunpeng and his car fell off a cliff.

It was thought that Qian Kunpeng had died after falling off the cliff, but unexpectedly he has made a comeback.

The fact that Qian Kunpeng, who is still alive, has the ability to send assassins to kill Lu Min shows that he has made a comeback.

How could Qian Kunpeng, who had made a comeback, let Lu Min, who had ruined his plans back then, get away with it?

Upon thinking about it, Lu Min couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

"So what are you planning to do now?" Zaxi asked.

"I plan to go to Dali to find Jin Hai and Yang Hao."

Back then, Chen Yaohua had several capable men under his command, namely Jin Hai, Yang Hao, Lu Min, Yin Ya, and Qing Mu.

The five of them were as close as brothers and were regarded as Chen Yaohua's own sons, serving as his right-hand men.

However, after Chen Yaohua took over the gang, Lu Min and Qingmu Jinbei retired from the conflict, leaving only Jin Hai, Yang Hao, and Yin Ya still active in the underworld.

A year ago, Chen Yaohua passed away, and Jin Hai took complete control of the gang, with Yang Hao assisting him, while Yin Ya remained to manage the gang.

After retiring from his criminal life, Lu Min lost contact with everyone. If it weren't for Qian Kunpeng's matter, Lu Min probably wouldn't have gone to Dali to look for Jin Hai.

"Go ahead, I'll take good care of that girl for you." Zaxi patted Lu Min on the shoulder.

Thanks, I'll treat you to drinks next time.

"OK."