Dark clouds covered the sky.
The caravan moved along the mountain path in silence. After the white feather flying elephant attack, the caravan's scale had fallen again. Many carts were gone, many pack beasts had died, and the servants who still walked had their heads lowered, as if even lifting their eyes required strength. Some injured Gu Masters sat on carts with pale faces, while others walked beside the goods with weapons in their hands, but their expressions were no longer as steady as before.
No one spoke of profit anymore.
At this point, reaching the next safe place alive was already considered good fortune.
Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing's treatment in the caravan had also changed. Before, they were only suspicious servants under Fang Ming's name. Some people felt that they were strange, some thought they were hiding something, but in the end, they were still only treated as mortals. Now, after their strength had been revealed, this was no longer possible. The caravan still did not trust them, but it respected strength. Suspicious or not, anyone who could fight was useful now.
Some resources were sent to them. Food, medicine, and a small amount of Gu materials. It was not much, but it was enough to show the caravan's attitude. When the goods were handed over, Fang Yuan accepted them calmly, while Bai Ning Bing stood beside him with a cold expression and did not say a word. Several Gu Masters looked at them from a distance and spoke quietly.
"They hid so deeply."
"So what? They saved Zhang Zhu."
"Demonic Gu Masters or not, can you drive them away now?"
No one answered.
The caravan was already too weak. Even suspicious strength was still strength.
Zhang Xin Ci watched this from beside her cart. Her expression was calm, but there was caution in her eyes. She still remembered Fang Ming's words. Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing were most likely demonic Gu Masters. Their explanation had holes, their timing was too good, and their concealment was too deep. But they had saved Zhang Zhu. On this road, danger did not wait for trust to become complete. Sometimes, help had to be accepted even when the helper was suspicious.
Fang Ming stood near her. He saw her expression and understood her thoughts, but he did not stop it. Fang Yuan was trying to soften her guard through action. Since trade had failed, he was now using danger and protection. This method was simple, but effective. A person saved once would feel gratitude. A person saved many times would begin to feel dependence.
Fang Ming knew this clearly.
As long as Zhang Xin Ci remained beside him, a little goodwill given to Fang Yuan did not matter.
The caravan continued forward.
Not long after, a scout rushed back from the front with a pale face.
"Crocodile-elephants! A group of crocodile-elephants is coming!"
The caravan reacted much faster than before. No one asked about the goods, and no one hesitated over the carts.
"Scatter!"
"Into the forest!"
"Leave the heavy goods!"
People immediately fled to both sides of the road. The past disasters had already taught them one thing: goods could be lost, but if they tried to protect everything, they would die with them. The ground shook, and trees ahead snapped one after another. Soon, a crocodile-elephant rushed into view. Its body was not as huge as a white feather flying elephant, but it was still the size of a small hill. Crocodile-like scales covered its body, and its thick tail dragged along the ground, leaving a deep mark in the mud.
Xiao Die's face turned white. "Miss!"
Zhang Xin Ci stepped back.
Fang Ming had already moved in front of her. "Stay close."
Thunderwings Gu activated, and his body shifted through the trees with controlled speed. He did not fly far. He only moved enough to keep Zhang Xin Ci away from the beast's path. A crocodile-elephant charged towards them, and Fang Ming raised his hand.
Moon Edge Gu.
A moon blade flashed out and struck the beast's front leg. Blood splashed, and the beast's charge tilted. It crashed into a tree, roaring in pain. Fang Ming did not follow up. He wasnt planing to kill every beast. He just had to make sure Zhang Xin Ci lived.
Another crocodile-elephant broke through from the side.
Fang Yuan moved.
He stepped forward and met it directly.
The two collided with a dull sound. Fang Yuan was forced back two steps, but the crocodile-elephant's skull cracked. Blood burst from its head, and its heavy body staggered before falling into the mud. The nearby servants stared with wide eyes. Even Zhang Xin Ci could not help looking over.
Fang Yuan wiped his hands and said calmly: "Lady Zhang, this way is safer."
His tone was steady, as if smashing a crocodile-elephant head-on was nothing special. Bai Ning Bing stood behind him, blocking another beast's path with an indifferent face.
Zhang Xin Ci hesitated for a breath. Then she nodded. "Thank you."
Her voice was still guarded, but it was softer than before.
Fang Ming saw this and did not speak.
This was Fang Yuan's performance.
Let him perform.
A little gratitude was not enough to change the current picture. Fang Yuan could show strength, sincerity, even righteousness. But Zhang Xin Ci's first reaction in danger was still to stand behind Fang Ming, this was a dependence that had already formed and solidified.
The crocodile-elephant group passed after some time. The caravan gathered again with fewer losses than before. The people had already learned to abandon goods quickly, so the damage was not as terrible as the white feather flying elephant attack. Still, several servants died, one Gu Master had his chest crushed, and a few carts were lost. The caravan reorganized and continued moving.
Days passed.
The road led them out of Xiang Ya Mountain and towards Mu Bei Mountain.
The air there was different. It was colder, heavier, and carried a faint rotten smell. The trees became sparse in some places, and the soil looked dark, as if it had absorbed too much blood over the years. Mu Bei Mountain was also called Zombie Mountain.
Over a hundred years ago, a clan had lived there. Later, a demonic Gu Master obtained a zombie inheritance and returned with Rank five strength. He slaughtered the clan and turned many corpses into zombies. Since then, zombies had roamed the mountain. Their corpse poison could infect the dead and create more zombies. Every year, nearby clans sent people to clean the area, but they could never fully clear it. As long as one zombie remained, more would slowly appear again.
The caravan camped at the foot of the mountain.
No one slept easily that night.
Fang Ming stood outside his tent and looked towards Mu Bei Mountain. The mountain was dark under the clouds, and even the wind seemed to carry a cold smell of decay.
Zombie Mountain.
So they had finally arrived.
Behind him, Zhang Xin Ci was speaking softly with Xiao Die. Zhang Zhu stood near them, still wounded but alert. Fang Ming's eyes moved past them.
Farther away, Fang Yuan stood alone, also looking at the mountain. Bai Ning Bing leaned against a tree nearby. Fang Yuan's face was calm, but his eyes were deep.
The caravan was no longer valuable.
The people here had been worn down enough. Their fighting strength was crippled, their morale was weak, and their unity was already broken. They had served their purpose. Fang Yuan did not believe his actions had gone completely unnoticed. The repeated beast attacks, the powder, the timing — even if no one had proof, someone might have seen enough to suspect him.
Fang Ming was especially dangerous.
He had reached this caravan too early. He had approached Zhang Xin Ci before her value was revealed. He had interfered again and again, his past isnt exactly demonic. Now Zhang Xin Ci was close to him. If Fang Ming chose to fully stand on the righteous path through her, then exposing Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing would become possible.
That would be troublesome.
Fang Yuan looked at Mu Bei Mountain.
This was a good place, a very good place to settle the hidden troubles.