The next morning, the caravan did not immediately set out.
Several scouts had returned during the night.
The road ahead was not peaceful.
After breakfast, a messenger came to Fang Ming's camp and invited him to the central tent. Since he had joined the caravan as a Rank three trader, he now had the qualification to attend route discussions.
Fang Ming followed the messenger.
The central tent was large. Several maps were spread across a long table, with stones and wooden pieces placed on different routes. Around the table stood Rank three Gu Masters from different groups. Some were traders, some were guards, and some were both.
At the head of the table stood the caravan leader.
His name was Chen Shou. He was a Rank four Gu Master, with a square face and deep eyes. His aura was restrained, but it still gave pressure to everyone in the tent.
Fang Ming entered and cupped his fists.
"Leader Chen."
Chen Shou looked at him once and nodded. "Fang Ming, you joined yesterday. Today's route concerns the entire caravan, so listen first."
"Yes."
Fang Ming stood to the side.
Chen Luo, the vice leader who had accepted him, was also present. He gave Fang Ming a brief glance but did not speak.
Not far away, Zhang Xin Ci stood quietly with Zhang Zhu behind her.
She also had the qualification to attend.
Although she was mortal, her group held goods and manpower. More importantly, her background was not simple, even if most people did not know the details.
A Rank three trader pointed at the map.
"If we follow the usual road, we must go around Stone Creek Valley. That will take at least three more days. I suggest we take Blackpine Ravine. The road is narrow, but it is shorter."
Another Rank three frowned. "Blackpine Ravine had beast traces last month."
"Only small beast groups. With our caravan's strength, what is there to fear?" the trader said.
A few people nodded.
Three days mattered to a caravan.
Every extra day consumed food, Gu beast feed, servant strength, and Gu Master patience. Delays also meant missing good trade timings at the next settlement.
Zhang Xin Ci looked at the map for a while, then spoke softly, "Blackpine Ravine is narrow. If beasts attack from both ends, the carts will be difficult to turn around. The servants pushing the carts will also be trapped."
The tent became quieter.
The Rank three trader glanced at her and smiled. "Lady Zhang is kind as always."
His tone sounded polite, but his meaning was not.
A Gu Master standing beside him laughed lightly. "Lady Zhang worries too much about servants. Yesterday she gave them food, today she wants the whole caravan to walk an extra three days for them. If every route is chosen like this, we may as well settle down and open a charity hall."
Several people smiled.
Zhang Xin Ci lowered her eyes slightly.
Zhang Zhu's face turned cold, but he did not speak.
The person who mocked her was not a servant. He was a Rank three Gu Master attached to that trader's side. Speaking now was also a way of testing Zhang Xin Ci's weight in the meeting.
Chen Shou did not immediately stop him.
In a caravan, words were also blades.
He looked around, then his gaze landed on Fang Ming.
"Fang Ming, you have just joined us. What do you think?"
Everyone looked over.
Fang Ming did not answer immediately.
He lowered his gaze to the map.
Blackpine Ravine was shorter. The road passed between two ridges, then entered a forest path. If everything went smoothly, it would save time.
But the caravan was not a group of elite Gu Masters.
There were carts, Gu beasts, servants, and goods that could not be abandoned easily.
After a few breaths, Fang Ming said, "A shortcut is useful only when it truly saves time."
The mocking Gu Master raised his brows. "Does Brother Fang also think we should waste three days?"
Fang Ming looked at him.
"If we take Blackpine Ravine and meet trouble, the carts will jam in the narrow road. Injured mortals will slow the caravan. Dead servants must be replaced. Broken carts must be repaired. Lost goods must be counted. If Gu beasts are frightened and scatter, it will take even longer."
He paused.
"Saving two or three days on the road, only to lose more time treating the wounded and repairing the damage, is not clever."
The tent became quiet.
Fang Ming continued, "Hungry and injured mortals will not save the caravan time or money. They push carts, load goods, feed beasts, and carry supplies. If they collapse, the Rank three Gu Masters here will not personally drag the carts."
Several Gu Masters' expressions changed slightly. His words were practical, not kind, which made them harder to refute.
Fang Ming looked at Chen Shou.
"The caravan's speed is not decided by its strongest Gu Masters, but by its slowest members, especially the mortals pushing the carts."
Zhang Xin Ci raised her head and looked at Fang Ming.
Chen Shou's gaze remained on the map.
After a while, he nodded.
"Reasonable."
The Rank three trader who suggested Blackpine Ravine frowned. "Leader, Stone Creek Valley will cost us time."
Chen Shou looked at him. "Time lost on the road is better than time lost in a ravine while surrounded."
The matter was decided.
"We take Stone Creek Valley," Chen Shou said. "Increase scouting range by thirty percent. Chen Luo, arrange more guards around the rear carts. Zhang Zhu, your group has many servants; keep them from falling behind."
"Yes."
"Yes, leader."
The meeting continued for a while. After several more arrangements, Chen Shou dismissed everyone.
Fang Ming left the tent.
He had not walked far when a soft voice sounded behind him.
"Young master Fang Ming."
Fang Ming stopped and turned.
Zhang Xin Ci walked over, with Zhang Zhu following several steps behind.
She cupped her hands slightly. "Thank you for speaking earlier."
"I only said what was useful for the caravan," Fang Ming replied.
Zhang Xin Ci smiled faintly. "Still, it helped me."
Fang Ming glanced at the central tent.
"In a caravan, route arguments are rarely only about routes. Every trader calculates profit. Every delay, every danger, every dead servant and damaged cart eventually becomes someone's loss. If Lady Zhang wants to help people here, kindness alone is not enough."
Zhang Xin Ci listened quietly.
Fang Ming continued, "You need to understand trade, rules, and the thoughts of those who profit from them. Otherwise, the more you give, the more others will learn how to take from you."
Zhang Xin Ci's expression became serious.
"I know I am not good at these things."
"Then learn."
His answer was direct.
Zhang Zhu looked at Fang Ming, his gaze changing slightly.
Many people praised Zhang Xin Ci's kindness. Some mocked it. Some took advantage of it. this was the first person to tell her to protect it by becoming more capable.
Zhang Xin Ci asked, "Does Young master Fang Ming think my actions are foolish?"
"No."
Fang Ming looked at her.
"I admire Lady Zhang's kindness because I cannot do the same so naturally."
Zhang Xin Ci was startled.
Fang Ming's voice remained calm. "In this world, keeping a kind heart is difficult. Keeping it while not being cheated is even harder. If Lady Zhang wants to continue being kind, I can help you learn the second part."
Zhang Xin Ci's face showed a faint blush.
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"Then I will have to trouble Young Master Fang in the future."
"It is no trouble," Fang Ming said.
His honest words made Zhang Xin Ci smile again.
"I will remember it."
She gave a small bow and left with Zhang Zhu.
Fang Ming watched her walk away, then withdrew his gaze.
Beside Zhang Xin Ci, Zhang Zhu walked silently for some distance before speaking.
Zhang Zhu followed beside Zhang Xin Ci for some distance before speaking.
"Miss, you should be careful of Fang Ming."
Zhang Xin Ci looked at him. "Uncle Zhang thinks he is dangerous?"
"Anyone who reaches Rank three at his age cannot be simple," Zhang Zhu said. "He spoke for you today, but he did not speak only for you. His words had reason, and because they had reason, others could not easily refute him."
Zhang Xin Ci lowered her gaze.
"I know. But I do not think his words were false."
Zhang Zhu was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"They were not necessarily false. That is why this old man finds him harder to judge."
If Fang Ming had only praised her kindness, Zhang Zhu would have treated him as another person with hidden intentions. If he had only spoken of profit, Zhang Xin Ci would not have remembered him so deeply.
But Fang Ming had done both.
He had acknowledged her kindness, then placed it inside the caravan's profit and loss. He did not treat her as a fool, nor did he speak to her like a flower raised in a courtyard.
This was rare.
Zhang Xin Ci softly said, "He said that if I want to remain kind, I should learn how not to be cheated."
Zhang Zhu glanced at her and saw the faint smile at the corner of her lips.
His heart sighed.
"Then learn from him if there is a chance," he said. "But do not trust him too quickly."
Zhang Xin Ci nodded. "I understand."
On the other side, Fang Ming returned to his camp.
The caravan began preparing to leave through Stone Creek Valley. Servants loaded goods, Gu Masters checked the beasts, and scouts were sent ahead.
Fang Ming looked at the busy camp with a calm expression.
His words in the meeting had not been charity. A caravan truly moved according to its slowest members.
After returning to his camp, Fang Ming opened his Pouch Gu and checked his current foundation.
He was now Rank three peak stage, with white silver primeval essence in his aperture. His remaining primeval stones numbered around 3,600, enough for short-term travel and trade, but not enough for the road ahead. Some Gu worms were no longer useful to him, and if the caravan's prices were suitable, he planned to sell them for resources.
During the route meeting, he had also completed a new copy from the caravan leader Chen Shou.
Thousand Mile Smoke Gu.
Rank four movement and support Gu.
It was not a direct battle Gu, but it could create a smoke path for rapid travel or retreat. To a caravan leader, such a Gu was extremely useful. To Fang Ming, who had just left Qing Mao Mountain and needed to cross Southern Border, it was even more valuable.
Fang Ming's current Gu worms:
Eclipse Moonlight Gu — Rank four — attack Gu.
Thousand Mile Smoke Gu — Rank four — movement/support Gu.
Moon Edge Gu — Rank three — attack Gu.
Sky Canopy Gu — Rank three — defensive Gu.
Thunderwings Gu — Rank three — movement Gu.
Lightning Eye Gu — Rank three — detection Gu.
Spring Grass Gu — Rank three — healing Gu.
White Silver Relic Gu ×2 — Rank three — cultivation Gu.
Iron Skin Gu — Rank two — defensive Gu.
Bookworm Gu — Rank one — knowledge-storage Gu.
Pouch Gu — Rank one — storage Gu.
Gu worms Fang Ming plans to sell:
Bear Strength Gu — Rank two — strength Gu.
Snake Tongue Gu — Rank two — detection Gu.
Black Boar Gu — Rank one — strength Gu.