Several days passed.
The caravan continued moving through the mountain roads. During this time, Fang Ming's copy chance finally recovered, and he did not waste it. When Fang Yuan came to collect another batch of Gu feeding materials, Fang Ming stood close enough and let the system respond. Among the Gu worms on Fang Yuan, one immediately caught his attention.
Bone Flesh Unity Gu.
A Rank three cultivation and support Gu.
This Gu was not useful to Fang Ming in battle, and he had no intention of casually linking his primeval essence with someone else, but its value was enormous. A Gu that allowed two Gu Masters to transfer primeval essence and cultivate together was something clans, sects, and large families would value greatly. If Fang Ming ever found the right buyer, this Gu could become an important bargaining chip.
Fang Ming copied it quietly and acted as if nothing had happened. Fang Yuan did not notice anything. He only took the feeding materials, paid the fee, and left with Bai Ning Bing.
Soon after, the caravan entered Fei Hou Mountain.
The mountain was covered in fog. The road became narrow, and the trees on both sides grew dense and tall. White mist moved between the branches, reducing visibility. The caravan slowed down, and the scouts became more cautious. Fei Hou Mountain was famous in Southern Border, but it was not famous for spirit springs or Gu Master clans. It was famous for bandit monkeys.
In the past, merchants had treated this mountain as forbidden land. The bandit monkeys were too numerous, and they united against outsiders. Caravans that tried to force their way through were either destroyed or driven back. Later, a Rank five righteous path Gu Master called Sky Crown Marquis entered the mountain alone. He reached the peak, met the monkey emperor, and used Monkey Language Gu to make an agreement. Since then, caravans could pass through Fei Hou Mountain, but they had to obey the rules.
Not long after entering the mountain, the caravan stopped.
Noise came from the front.
"Monkeys!"
"The bandit monkeys are blocking the road!"
"Everyone stop! Do not attack without order!"
The fog ahead shook, and a roar spread through the passage. The white mist scattered. Only then did everyone see that both sides of the road were filled with bandit monkeys. They were enormous beasts with golden fur and black tiger stripes. Mature bandit monkeys were as tall as small trees, with arms much thicker than their legs. Their tails were like iron rods, swinging behind them with heavy force.
In front of the caravan sat the monkey king. Its body was larger than the others, and it sat on a stone bench like a ruler. Beside it stood a stone table, and near its feet lay a large stone wine jar. The smell of alcohol drifted out from the jar. The ordinary monkeys screeched and beat their chests, staring greedily at the caravan's goods.
Chen Shou walked to the front. His Rank four aura spread slightly, calming the caravan behind him.
"Everyone knows the rules." he said coldly. "Fei Hou Mountain is not a place where you act clever. We compete in arm wrestling. If you win, you pass with less loss. If you lose, the monkeys take goods. Anyone who attacks without order or provokes the monkeys will be punished by the caravan first."
No one objected. Even the Rank four caravan leader had to follow the agreement here.
Soon, the first group sent out a Gu Master. He was a tall, heavy man with thick arms. He walked to the stone table and sat across from the monkey king. An old female bandit monkey gave a cry, and the contest began. The man's face turned red. His arm trembled, but after several breaths, his hand was slammed onto the stone table. The monkeys cheered loudly. Some beat their chests, while others jumped around in joy. The first group could only let the monkeys take some goods.
After that, another group went forward. Some Gu Masters lost, while some won. Those who had strength Gu or natural strength performed better. Those who relied on other paths could only accept their losses.
Fang Ming watched from the side. He did not have much ordinary cargo for the monkeys to take. His valuable things were Gu worms, primeval stones, and supplies stored in Pouch Gu. His cart was mostly for appearance and travel convenience. When it was his turn, the monkeys took some cloth, dried meat, and a few cheap supplies. Fang Ming did not compete. The loss was small, and there was no reason for him to show strength here.
Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing were under his name, so they passed with him. Bai Ning Bing looked at the monkey king with interest.
"These monkeys are more interesting than humans."
Fang Ming glanced at him. "Do not challenge one for fun. I still need this caravan."
Bai Ning Bing smiled but did not answer.
Time passed. Group after group moved through the checkpoint. Finally, it was Zhang Xin Ci's turn. Her group was weak. Zhang Zhu was Rank three, but he was a healing Gu Master and was not suited for arm wrestling. The other people under Zhang Xin Ci were mostly mortals and servants. None of them had enough strength to challenge the monkey king.
The surrounding Gu Masters began watching. Many of them had already lost goods and were in poor moods, and seeing someone worse off made them feel slightly better.
"Zhang clan's turn."
"They only have Zhang Zhu, right?"
"A healing Gu Master arm wrestling a monkey king? There is nothing to see."
"They will lose many goods this time."
Zhang Zhu's expression was not good. Zhang Xin Ci noticed this and softly said: "Uncle Zhang Zhu, goods can be lost. People are more important."
Zhang Zhu sighed. "Miss, we still have to send someone. This is the rule."
At this moment, Fang Yuan stepped forward.
"Lady Zhang."
Zhang Xin Ci turned her head. Fang Yuan was still using his ugly mortal appearance. His face looked burned, and his clothes were rough, but his voice was steady.
"I saw Lady Zhang give food to mortals like us. Since Lady Zhang helped others, let me help you once."
Xiao Die frowned. "You?"
Zhang Zhu also looked at him. Fang Yuan cupped his hands and said: "I have had unusual strength since I was young. I can try."
Zhang Xin Ci hesitated. Before she could speak, Fang Ming's voice sounded from the side.
"Lady Zhang, let him try."
Everyone looked over. Fang Ming walked closer with a calm expression.
"He does have natural strength."
Fang Yuan's eyes moved slightly. This was not how he wanted the opening to unfold. He had planned to step forward, show courage, and leave a clean impression on Zhang Xin Ci. Fang Ming's words seemed to support him, but they also pushed him forward before he could shape the matter himself. Now, if he retreated, he would lose face.
Zhang Xin Ci looked at Fang Ming. "Young master Fang knows him well?"
"He is under my name." Fang Ming said. "I know a little."
Bai Ning Bing stood not far away and watched with a smile. This was fun. These two ruthless guys, with obviously impure motives, were staging a rather crude show. One openly chased the woman, while the other tried to follow along and join in. Bai Ning Bing was not an idiot, and he sensed something off. For two scheming fellows like them to be acting this way over a mortal woman, no matter how beautiful she was, did not make sense. Something was obviously missing here, something those two knew, but he did not.
Fang Yuan glanced at Fang Ming once. Fang Ming only smiled faintly. The chance Fang Yuan wanted had appeared, but it was no longer fully in his control.
"Then be careful." Zhang Xin Ci said gently. "If you cannot win, do not force yourself."
Fang Yuan lowered his head. "Thank you, Lady Zhang."
He walked toward the stone table. The monkey king looked down at him. Compared to the previous Gu Masters, Fang Yuan's body looked thin and ugly. His appearance drew laughter from the monkeys. Some monkeys slapped the ground, while others bared their teeth. Fang Yuan sat down and placed his elbow on the stone table. The monkey king stretched out its huge arm. Its palm was almost large enough to cover Fang Yuan's head.
The two hands clasped. The old female monkey gave a sharp cry, and the contest began.
The monkey king exerted strength. Fang Yuan's arm shook. His face tightened, and his breathing became heavy, as if he was barely enduring. But his arm did not fall. The monkey king's eyes changed. It pushed harder. Fang Yuan's arm trembled more violently. His teeth clenched, and veins rose on his forehead. The people watching held their breath.
Zhang Xin Ci's hands tightened slightly. Xiao Die muttered: "Can he really win?"
Zhang Zhu watched silently. Fang Ming stood not far away, calm. He saw through the act. Fang Yuan's strength-path foundation was already far beyond that of an ordinary mortal. He could win more cleanly if he wanted, but he had to appear like a mortal with unusual natural strength, not a hidden Gu Master with accumulated strength.
After several breaths, Fang Yuan's arm began pushing back. The monkey king growled. The stone table shook. Fang Yuan let out a low shout, and his arm finally pressed the monkey king's hand down.
Bang!
The monkey king's hand struck the table.
The surroundings became quiet. Then the caravan erupted.
"He won?"
"A mortal won?"
"This ugly fellow has divine strength!"
"No wonder Fang Ming accepted him under his name!"
The monkeys also became noisy. Some shouted angrily, while others stared at Fang Yuan with surprise. The monkey king looked at Fang Yuan for a moment, then beat its chest and roared. It had lost. According to the rules, Zhang Xin Ci's group could pass with much smaller loss.
Zhang Xin Ci's face showed joy. "Hei Tu, thank you."
Fang Yuan returned and cupped his hands. "Lady Zhang helped mortals like me. I only repaid a small part."
Zhang Xin Ci looked at him more gently. She took out a pouch.
"This is my thanks."
Xiao Die glanced at the pouch and widened her eyes. "Miss…"
Inside were primeval stones. Not a small number for a mortal.
Fang Yuan immediately stepped back. "Lady Zhang, I did not do this for primeval stones."
Zhang Xin Ci said softly: "This is not payment. It is thanks."
Fang Yuan's expression became firm. "Even if it were more, I would not take it. Lady Zhang's kindness saved many people. If I take primeval stones for this, then I would only be selling my conscience."
Xiao Die looked surprised. Zhang Xin Ci was moved. Zhang Zhu's gaze became deeper. Fang Ming watched from the side and almost laughed. Fang Yuan's acting was still clean. If Fang Ming did not know Gu Yue Fang Yuan, even he might have believed this sincerity. But he did not expose it. There was no benefit in doing so. Besides, Fang Yuan's help was real. Zhang Xin Ci's goods were saved, and Fang Ming had been the one who recommended him. In Zhang Xin Ci's eyes, Fang Yuan's performance would also reflect on Fang Ming's judgment.
The caravan continued moving through the checkpoint. Because Fang Yuan had won, Zhang Xin Ci's losses were much smaller than expected. Many people began looking at Fang Yuan differently. Some traders asked quietly about him, but once they learned he was under Fang Ming's name, their interest became restrained.
Zhang Zhu looked at all of this and felt that the caravan had become more complicated than before. He did not think Fang Yuan was simple. His timing had been too good, his strength had been just that convenient, neither more nor less, and his refusal of the primeval stones had also been too clean. Zhang Xin Ci was kind, so she saw kindness in others more easily. But Zhang Zhu had lived long enough to know that good appearances were often the easiest things to fake.
Fang Ming, however, was also watching Fang Yuan. This made Zhang Zhu feel slightly calmer. At least Fang Ming also understood that Hei Tu was not ordinary.
What Zhang Zhu did not know was that Fang Ming was putting on a show for him.
Fang Ming wanted Zhang Zhu to notice Fang Yuan's strangeness. He also wanted Zhang Zhu to see that he was wary of Fang Yuan. At the same time, he wanted to appear like a jealous young man, irritated that another man had stepped forward to help the woman he admired. This was useful. Zhang Zhu had not fully lowered his guard against Fang Ming. But if Fang Ming showed jealousy, suspicion, and displeasure toward Hei Tu, then Zhang Zhu would naturally feel that Fang Ming's feelings towards Zhang Xin Ci were more genuine.
After all, how could a young man acting out of jealousy be hiding an even deeper scheme?
This would shift more of Zhang Zhu's attention onto Fang Yuan. Fang Ming did not doubt that Zhang Zhu would report this matter to Zhang Xin Ci. Although Zhang Xin Ci was kind, she was not stupid. Even if she did not act immediately, she would remember Zhang Zhu's warning. That alone was enough.
Zombie Mountain was approaching.
That place would be a disaster, and ordinary mortals had almost no chance of surviving there. If Fang Yuan wanted to survive openly, he would eventually have to reveal strength that no mortal should possess. At that time, the mortal who had claimed he wanted to repay Zhang Xin Ci's kindness would suddenly become a hidden Gu Master. And Zhang Zhu, the man who suspected Fang Yuan, would also die there.
Once Zhang Zhu disappeared, Zhang Xin Ci would lose the person most able to judge danger for her. If Fang Yuan exposed too much during the crisis, the trust he had just built might crack before it became stable. Depending on how things developed, this could completely damage the relationship between Zhang Xin Ci and Fang Yuan.
Fang Ming would remain beside her as protection.
As for Zombie Mountain itself, Fang Ming did not fear it too much. He was already Rank three peak stage, only one step from Rank four. Once he broke through, with two Rank four Gu and several Rank three Gu under his control, he would be very difficult to kill as long as he acted cautiously.
Fang Ming leaned back against the cart and closed his eyes. Zombie Mountain was not far, and when they reached there, information asymmetry would give him chances.
Fang Ming's relaxed expression suddenly tightened, then relaxed again.
There was a problem with this plan.
A big problem.
Zhang Xin Ci happened to be looking in his direction and noticed the change.
"Young master Fang looked troubled just now." she said softly.
Xiao Die followed her gaze. Fang Ming was still leaning against the cart with his eyes closed, his expression calm again, as if nothing had happened. Xiao Die looked at him, then looked at Hei Tu walking not far away. A knowing expression slowly appeared on her face.
"Miss." she whispered. "Could Young master Fang be unhappy because Hei Tu helped you?"
Zhang Xin Ci froze slightly. "Xiao Die, do not speak nonsense."
"But Miss, think about it." Xiao Die whispered even lower. "Young master Fang has always been calm. We passed the monkey checkpoint without losing much, so why would he suddenly look like that? Maybe he saw Hei Tu step forward for you and felt uncomfortable."
Zhang Xin Ci's face warmed. She glanced towards Fang Ming again. Fang Ming remained still, as if he had noticed nothing. Xiao Die covered her mouth and smiled secretly. Zhang Xin Ci lowered her gaze, but after a moment, she still looked at Fang Ming once more.