Several days passed.
The caravan continued forward, but the road did not become easier. Beast attacks came again and again. Some were large enough to shake the whole caravan, while some only took a few servants or damaged a few carts before disappearing into the forest.
At first, the merchants still cursed and argued over their losses. Later, even that stopped. No one cared about profit anymore. They only wanted to leave this hellish place alive. The caravan still moved forward, but everyone could feel it being worn down.
That evening, the camp was quiet, but it was not peaceful.
Chen Shou was still the caravan leader, yet his words no longer carried the same weight. After so many attacks, many people no longer believed he could keep them safe.
The smaller leaders began making their own arrangements. Some changed their routes without reporting. Some hid their stronger Gu Masters near their own goods. Some servants were quietly abandoned when they slowed the carts down.
The caravan was still moving together on the surface, but inside, it was already splitting apart.
Fang Ming watched from the side and said nothing.
Once everyone started thinking only of themselves, chaos would only bring more deaths.
Two days later, they entered Xiang Ya Mountain.
The mountain was strange. Its lower parts were covered in damp forests, while higher up, pale mist circled the cliffs. The air changed as the road climbed. The mud became thinner, and the wind carried a faint chill.
For several days, no beast group attacked.
The quiet came too suddenly. At first, no one relaxed. Gu Masters still kept watch with tense faces, and servants moved quickly whenever the trees rustled. But after one peaceful day became two, and two became three, hope slowly returned.
"Maybe we have passed the worst of it."
"After this mountain, there are still other roads, but at least we can breathe."
"If we reach the next village, I will sleep for two days."
These words spread through the caravan like weak fire. Even Xiao Die's face looked better.
Zhang Xin Ci stood beside a cart, checking a short list of remaining goods. Compared to before, the list had become pitifully thin. She looked at Fang Ming and asked softly: "Young Master Fang Ming, do you think the attacks have stopped?"
Fang Ming looked towards the forest. Tall trees covered both sides of the road. The leaves were wet, but the wind above was cold.
"No." he said. "The danger is still there."
Zhang Xin Ci paused, then nodded. She did not ask more.
Fang Ming's gaze moved past her. Zhang Zhu stood nearby, still alive.
Fang Ming's eyes scanned the peaceful caravan. Quiet was useful—it calmed the mind, eased tension, and relaxed the body. And when danger finally came again, the caravan would break faster than before.
People who had just relaxed would panic more easily. Formation, rules, orders—all of them would become fragile. If Fang Yuan wanted Zhang Zhu dead, the next wave of chaos would be the perfect opportunity. A beast attack could kill him, a falling tree could crush him, and a scattered battle could swallow him whole.
If Fang Yuan killed Zhang Zhu here, then Fang Ming's earlier judgment had a problem. Fang Yuan's plan had either changed, or Fang Ming had misunderstood his intention. But if Fang Yuan did not kill Zhang Zhu when such a chance appeared, then the meaning would be clear.
Fang Yuan was deliberately keeping him alive.
Fang Ming wanted to see which one it was.
The calm lasted until noon.
The caravan was moving along a forested slope when someone suddenly raised his head. "Snow?"
A few white flakes drifted down from above. Another person laughed weakly. "Are you blind? This is the lower part of Xiang Ya Mountain. How could there be snow here?"
The white flakes increased. They fell onto carts, shoulders, hair, and the muddy road. Fang Ming caught one between his fingers.
It was not snow.
It was a feather.
The next moment, a deep cry came from above the forest.
Ang——!
The sound rolled down the mountain like thunder. Many people froze. Then the treetops shook violently, and a huge white figure descended from the sky. Its body was enormous, covered in white feathers, with two thick curved tusks pointing forward like spears.
White feather flying elephant.
It crashed into the road. A cart exploded apart. Servants standing beside it were smashed into meat before they could scream. The beast's tusks pierced through wood and goods, then lifted its head, throwing broken pieces into the air.
"Enemy attack!"
"Formation! Formation!"
"Protect the goods!"
"Run!"
Commands and screams mixed together. Before the Gu Masters could gather properly, more cries came from above. White feathers filled the air, and one flying elephant after another descended from the sky. Their charge was too fierce. The caravan's formation had already been weak after many days of losses. Now, under the sudden attack, it broke almost immediately.
A group of guards tried to gather together, but a flying elephant swept down and scattered them. One Rank two Gu Master activated a defensive Gu, but he was still sent flying into a tree. A servant crawled under a cart, only for the cart to be crushed flat in the next breath. The road became chaos.
Fang Ming moved the moment the first elephant descended.
"Stay behind me." he said.
Zhang Xin Ci had not yet reacted when Fang Ming had already stepped in front of her. Rank 3 Thunderwings Gu activated. A faint sound of thunder came from his back as his body shifted sideways, pulling Zhang Xin Ci with him. A flying elephant's tusk tore through the cart beside them, missing them by several feet.
Xiao Die screamed.
Zhang Zhu shouted: "Miss!"
He rushed towards Zhang Xin Ci, but the crowd between them broke apart. Servants, carts, beasts, and Gu Masters all mixed together. In this kind of chaos, even a Rank three Gu Master could not move freely.
Fang Ming raised his hand.
Rank 3 Moon Edge Gu.
A sharp moon blade cut through the air and struck the elephant's eye. The wound was not fatal, but it was enough to make the beast roar and turn its head away. Fang Ming did not contineu. His goal was not to kill. His goal was to keep Zhang Xin Ci and Zhang Zhu separated.
"Into the forest." Fang Ming said.
Zhang Xin Ci gritted her teeth and nodded. She grabbed Xiao Die's hand and followed him. The main road was already finished. Staying there meant being crushed by the next charge.
A flying elephant descended again, aiming towards their direction. Fang Ming's expression remained calm.
Rank 3 Sky Canopy Gu.
A white armor-like light covered his body. He pushed Zhang Xin Ci and Xiao Die behind a thick tree, then met the shock from the side. The impact forced his feet to sink into the mud, but he shifted with the force and avoided taking it directly.
The tree behind him snapped. Wood fragments flew everywhere. Zhang Xin Ci's face turned pale, but she did not cry out.
Fang Ming glanced at her.
Good.
She was afraid, but she could still move.
"Follow my steps." he said.
At the edge of the broken road, Fang Yuan pulled a damaged cart aside and lowered his head. Bai Ning Bing stood not far from him, straw hat tilted, eyes cold under its shadow. The chaos had also separated them from many others.
Fang Ming saw them. Fang Yuan also saw Fang Ming. Then another flying elephant crashed between the two sides, blocking their view with broken branches and dust.
Fang Ming withdrew his gaze.
Now was the chance.
Zhang Zhu was separated. The caravan order had collapsed. Zhang Xin Ci was in danger. If Fang Yuan wanted Zhang Zhu dead, this was the best time.
Fang Ming pulled Zhang Xin Ci deeper into the forest while keeping his senses open.
Another elephant cry shook the forest.
Zhang Zhu's voice came faintly from another direction. "Miss!"
The old servant was still trying to come over. Fang Ming's eyes were calm.
He had no strength to control the situation, yet he still wanted to rush through the center of the disaster.
A white figure swept down towards Zhang Zhu's direction. Dust rose. Trees cracked. For a moment, even Fang Ming could not see clearly.
Zhang Xin Ci became anxious. "Uncle Zhang!"
Fang Ming held her wrist firmly. "Do not go back."
"But—"
"What are you going to do if you go back?"
Zhang Xin Ci's body trembled. The words were cold, but true. She bit her lip until it turned pale, then forced herself to continue moving.
Fang Ming led her around a fallen tree and entered denser forest cover. Xiao Die followed closely, her face full of fear. Behind them, the road was collapsing completely.
The caravan was no longer a caravan. It was scattered groups of people fleeing for their lives.
Fang Ming's expression did not change. This was the kind of chaos Fang Yuan needed. It was also the kind of chaos Fang Ming needed. The only question was whether Fang Yuan would use it to kill Zhang Zhu.
If Zhang Zhu died here, then Fang Yuan's plan had changed. If Zhang Zhu lived, then Fang Ming's guess was right. Fang Yuan was keeping him as a piece on the board.
White feathers continued to fall from above.