The caravan continued west.
After leaving Huang Jin Mountain, the road did not become peaceful. It crossed mountains and valleys one after another, passing through small trade points and temporary markets along the way. Each region had something different. Some mountains were covered in strange trees with twisted trunks, some had soil mixed with metal dust, some had streams filled with odd insects, and some had villages built into cliffs and caves. Wherever the caravan went, there were new goods, new customs, and new dangers.
The merchants had no time to rest. They bought local products, sold old stock, exchanged resources, and calculated their profits every night. Fang Yuan, however, kept a low profile. After the matter with the Jinzan grass, he understood that trade was no longer a good way to approach Zhang Xin Ci, at least not for now. He knew human nature very well. First impressions were powerful, and in Zhang Xin Ci's group, his current image was capable but questionable. If he made another profit, Zhang Zhu would only suspect him more. If the profit was large, Xiao Die would think it was another shady deal. Even if he explained everything clearly, Zhang Xin Ci would still remember Fang Ming's words from Huang Jin Mountain.
A useful person could approach others easily, but a useful person with suspicious methods would only make people cautious. Because of this, Fang Yuan restrained himself. He still traded occasionally, but he no longer tried to make any shocking moves. Most of the time, he stayed quiet with Bai Ning Bing and waited.
Fang Ming noticed this and understood the situation. Fang Yuan had lost the short-term trade battlefield, but Fang Ming did not relax. Fang Yuan was not someone who would stop just because one path had been blocked. If trade could not leave an impression, he would find another method sooner or later.
For now, Fang Ming placed most of his attention on cultivation. During these days, Zhang Xin Ci invited him several times. Sometimes it was for dinner, and sometimes only for tea. Their conversations moved between trade, travel, and the road ahead. Fang Ming did not accept every invitation. If he went every time, he would seem too eager, and if he refused every time, the relationship would grow cold. Thus, he accepted some and declined others.
Zhang Xin Ci did not mind. Instead, her curiosity towards him only deepened. The more they spoke, the more natural their conversations became. At first, Zhang Xin Ci was polite and careful, but later, she began asking questions directly, while Fang Ming answered without too much formality. They spoke about caravans, clans, mortals, Gu Masters, trade rules, and dangerous roads. At other times, the topic was something meaningless, like the weather, the mountain scenery, the taste of tea from different regions, or the way Xiao Die complained about market prices.
The subject itself was not important. What mattered was that they were becoming used to speaking with each other.
Zhang Zhu watched all of this silently. He could tell that Fang Ming treated Zhang Xin Ci differently from others. There was calculation in him, but there was also genuine care. More importantly, Fang Ming had strength, restraint, and judgment. Because of this, Zhang Zhu was already beginning to accept him.
One evening, the caravan camped near a quiet mountain stream. The sky had just darkened. Lamps were lit across the camp, and servants moved between carts, carrying food and water. Inside his tent, Fang Ming sat alone. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was slow.
Within his aperture, white silver primeval essence rose and fell like waves. The aperture walls had already been polished to their limit, and after many days of preparation, the barrier before Rank four had become thin. Fang Ming adjusted his condition again and again, making sure his copied Gu worms were quiet and his primeval stones were ready. His body had settled into calm, and his mind was calmer still.
Only after a long while did he finally move.
White silver primeval essence surged upward and struck the aperture walls again and again. The walls trembled, and fine cracks began to appear. Fang Ming's expression did not change. He continued guiding the primeval essence steadily, without wasting a single movement. After an unknown amount of time, the barrier finally broke.
His aperture shook.
The white silver sea transformed. The quality of his primeval essence rose, becoming denser and heavier. A new pressure appeared inside his body, and the aura around him changed in silence. Fang Ming slowly opened his eyes.
Rank four.
From this moment on, he was no longer just a young Rank three trader. He was now a Rank four Gu Master. On Qing Mao Mountain, that placed him at clan leader level. In a caravan, it gave him real authority. Even across the wider Southern Border, a Rank four Gu Master was not someone ordinary people could afford to ignore.
Fang Ming sat quietly for a long time, only standing after his aura had fully stabilized.
By the next day, news of Fang Ming's breakthrough had already spread through the caravan. The reaction came quickly. The Rank one and Rank two Gu Masters were the first to show their shock, while the Rank three traders became far more careful in how they treated him. Even the servants lowered their heads whenever Fang Ming passed, afraid that looking at him for too long might be seen as disrespectful.
Their reaction was not strange. Until now, the caravan had only one Rank four Gu Master, Chen Shou. His presence alone was enough to steady the caravan and suppress many disputes. But now, Fang Ming had reached the same level. For the caravan, this was no small matter. A Rank four Gu Master was useful, but his presence could also change the balance of power. If Fang Ming wanted benefits, influence, or authority, the caravan's structure might become unstable.
Fang Ming understood this very clearly.
That evening, he held a small banquet. It was not a large gathering. He invited Chen Shou, three Rank three Gu Masters from the caravan, Zhang Xin Ci, Zhang Zhu, and Xiao Die. The food was simple but good. There was roasted beast meat, fruit wine, steamed rice, mountain vegetables, and several dishes bought from the last village.
Chen Shou arrived personally. He looked at Fang Ming and laughed: "Brother Fang is truly young and promising. To reach Rank four at such an age, your future is not small."
Fang Ming cupped his fists. "Leader Chen overpraises me. I only had some luck."
The Rank three Gu Masters smiled politely. Of course, no one believed it was only luck. Zhang Xin Ci sat to the side, looking at Fang Ming with bright eyes. She had already known that he was talented, but seeing him truly reach Rank four still made her heart stir. Zhang Zhu also looked at Fang Ming differently. Rank four. That level of strength was enough to change many things.
During the banquet, Chen Shou raised his cup and said: "Now that Brother Fang has reached Rank four, our caravan has two Rank four Gu Masters. The road ahead will be safer."
His tone was warm, but everyone present understood the meaning behind those words. It was a test. The three Rank three Gu Masters quietly turned their attention to Fang Ming. Zhang Zhu also watched him closely.
Fang Ming raised his cup and smiled calmly. "The caravan was already safe because Leader Chen held it together. Fang Ming may have advanced, but strength alone cannot replace experience. Until we reach Shang clan city, I will still follow Leader Chen's arrangements as before."
The air in the banquet immediately relaxed. Chen Shou looked at Fang Ming for a moment, then laughed loudly. "Good! Brother Fang is straightforward. Then this Chen will not be polite. On the road ahead, I may have to trouble Brother Fang a few times."
"If Leader Chen gives the order, Fang Ming will naturally help."
The Rank three Gu Masters exchanged glances, and their expressions eased. Fang Ming's words had already made his attitude clear. He would not fight for authority in the caravan. He would not challenge Chen Shou, nor would he use his Rank four cultivation to demand control. He was only borrowing the caravan's road to Shang clan city. Once they understood this, everyone felt much more comfortable.
Zhang Xin Ci looked at Fang Ming silently. After reaching Rank four, he had not become arrogant. Instead, he gave face to Chen Shou and stabilized the caravan with a few simple words. This kind of restraint made him appear even more reliable.
As the banquet went on, the atmosphere slowly eased. Chen Shou began joking with Fang Ming about caravan routes, beast attacks, and the troublesome habits of certain clans. Fang Ming answered modestly, only adding a sharp comment from time to time, which made Chen Shou laugh more than once. For most of the banquet, the two stayed close. They toasted, spoke about the road ahead, and occasionally looked over the map together. Chen Shou pointed out the mountain paths that were most dangerous, while Fang Ming listened seriously and gave a few respectful replies.
To outsiders, it looked like a newly advanced Rank four Gu Master showing goodwill to the caravan leader. But in truth, Fang Ming was waiting. After many cups of wine, jokes, and polite exchanges, the system finally completed the copy.
Mountain Shell Gu.
A Rank four defensive Gu.
Fang Ming's heart moved slightly, but nothing showed on his face. Chen Shou noticed nothing either. Fang Ming simply lowered his cup and smiled as usual. With this, his Rank four methods had become much more complete. He already had Eclipse Moonlight Gu for attack and Thousand Mile Smoke Gu for movement and support. Now, with Mountain Shell Gu, he finally had a proper defensive trump card as well.
This banquet had been worth it.
After the banquet ended, Fang Ming returned to his cart. He did not celebrate immediately. Instead, he checked his condition again and carefully stabilized his aura. Rank four was only the beginning. The road ahead was still dangerous.
Several days later, the caravan entered Xiao Yue Mountain. The trees here were dense, and the road became narrow. There were fewer signs of human activity, and even the scouts grew more serious. That evening, Chen Shou gathered the vice leaders and several important Gu Masters.
"We have entered Xiao Yue Mountain's territory," he said. "From here onward, the road is mostly uninhabited mountain and valley. There are no villages nearby, no hamlets to replenish manpower, and no clan territory where we can borrow shelter. Wild beasts and Gu worms are everywhere."
His gaze swept across the tent. "From tonight onward, everyone must stay alert. Guards will be doubled, goods must be tied down properly, and no one is allowed to leave camp without permission."
The Gu Masters nodded, and the atmosphere became heavier. Zhang Xin Ci also heard the warning. After returning to her carriage, she looked at the dark mountain forest outside and fell silent.
Xiao Die muttered: "Why does this road feel worse and worse?"
Zhang Zhu said: "Because we are getting closer to the dangerous stretch."
Zhang Xin Ci asked softly: "Uncle Zhang Zhu, will there be many attacks?"
"There may be," Zhang Zhu replied. "But the caravan has Leader Chen, and now Young Master Fang has also reached Rank four. It should be safer than before."
Zhang Xin Ci nodded lightly. Even so, she still felt uneasy.
That night, her unease became real.
A wolf howl tore through the silence. Soon, more howls answered from the forest. The camp became noisy almost instantly.
"Wolf pack!"
"Grey wolves are attacking!"
"Gu Masters to the southeast!"
"Protect the goods!"
Servants screamed as grey shadows rushed out from the trees. The first line of defense blocked most of the wolves, but the pack was large. Some slipped through the gaps and charged into the camp, biting servants and tearing open bundles of goods. Torches fell. Carts shook. Beast handlers shouted as the Gu beasts grew restless.
Chen Shou quickly gave orders, and the Rank three Gu Masters rushed towards different parts of the camp. Fang Ming also moved. He did not reveal all his strength, but as a Rank four Gu Master, even casual action was enough to change a local battlefield. A moonblade flashed silently and cut through two grey wolves. After that, he moved near the edge of Zhang Xin Ci's area, making sure no wolf came too close.
Zhang Zhu protected Zhang Xin Ci directly, while Xiao Die hid behind the carriage with a pale face. Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing also acted carefully in the chaos. They did not reveal too much strength, only enough to keep themselves safe. Fang Yuan killed a wolf that came too close, while Bai Ning Bing watched the battle with interest, her eyes shining faintly in the dark.
The attack lasted nearly fifteen minutes. By the time the wolf pack finally retreated, the camp was in disorder. Several servants were dead, and more were injured. Some carts had been damaged, and goods lay scattered across the ground. The smell of blood mixed with smoke and beast stench, lingering in the cold night air.
By dawn, the losses had been counted. Many traders had lost materials. Some goods had been bitten through or trampled, and part of the beast feed had been ruined. Zhang Xin Ci's group also suffered losses. Two bundles of cloth were torn apart, several boxes of herbs were damaged, and one cart axle had nearly broken.
Xiao Die looked at the damaged goods and almost cried. "Miss, we lost so much…"
Zhang Xin Ci comforted her softly, but her own expression was heavy. The road was more dangerous than she had imagined.
At this time, Fang Ming walked over. Zhang Zhu looked at him and cupped his fists slightly. "Young Master Fang."
Fang Ming nodded, then turned to Zhang Xin Ci. "Lady Zhang, are you injured?"
Zhang Xin Ci shook her head. "No. Uncle Zhang Zhu protected me."
"That is good."
Fang Ming looked at the damaged goods around her camp and said: "From now on, attacks on the caravan will likely become more frequent. This stretch of road is different from the trade villages before. There are fewer people, more beasts, and less room for mistakes."
Zhang Xin Ci listened quietly. Fang Ming continued: "Your group is not strong in direct combat. Zhang Zhu is capable, but he cannot be everywhere at once."
Zhang Zhu did not refute him. It was the truth. Fang Ming looked at Zhang Xin Ci again.
"From tonight onward, I will move my camp closer to yours. If danger comes again, I can protect you faster."
Zhang Xin Ci's heart trembled slightly. She understood both the practical meaning of his words and the personal meaning hidden behind them. Her face blushed slightly. In the past, she might have lowered her head and avoided his gaze, but after these weeks of talking, dining, and walking along the same road, their relationship was no longer so distant.
This time, she did not run away. She looked at Fang Ming and said softly: "Then I will trouble Young Master Fang."
Fang Ming smiled. "It is no trouble."
Xiao Die looked between the two of them, then quickly lowered her head, trying to hide her smile. Zhang Zhu sighed inwardly but did not stop it. The road ahead was dangerous. Having a Rank four Gu Master close to Zhang Xin Ci was a good thing. As for the feelings between these two young people, even he could no longer pretend not to see them.
That evening, Fang Ming's cart was moved closer to Zhang Xin Ci's group. The nearby servants noticed the change, but none of them dared to gossip too loudly. With Xiao Yue Mountain growing more dangerous by the day, having a Rank four Gu Master nearby was something no one could criticize.
The caravan continued preparing to move, while faint wolf howls echoed from deep within the valleys.