Zhang Xin Ci sat beside the table.
The tea in front of her had already cooled. Xiao Die stood nearby, looking restless. This place was quiet, clean, and safe, but both of them felt uneasy. On the road, danger was visible. Beasts, zombies, broken carts, blood, and death were all in front of them. But here, everything was too quiet, and the quiet made Zhang Xin Ci feel even more unfamiliar.
A knock came from outside.
"Ci Er, may I come in?"
Zhang Xin Ci's fingers tightened slightly. Xiao Die looked at her. After a moment, Zhang Xin Ci said softly: "Please enter."
The door opened.
Shang Yan Fei walked in with a gentle smile. Xiao Die hurriedly bowed. Zhang Xin Ci also stood up and bowed properly.
"Lord Shang clan leader."
The address made Shang Yan Fei's heart ache, but his expression did not change much. He sat down and said warmly: "You do not need to be so formal. How is your body?"
"I only fainted because my emotions were unstable. There is no serious problem." Zhang Xin Ci replied.
Her tone was polite.
Too polite.
Shang Yan Fei nodded slowly. "That is good."
Xiao Die poured tea with stiff hands. The room became quiet. Shang Yan Fei looked at Zhang Xin Ci. He could see her mother's shadow in her face. The more he looked, the more guilt rose in his heart. He had chosen power back then. Now the result of that choice sat in front of him, calling him clan leader.
"Tell me." Shang Yan Fei said gently. "How did you come here?"
Zhang Xin Ci lowered her gaze. "I followed a caravan."
Xiao Die could not hold back. "Sir, it was terrible! The caravan was attacked again and again. Wolves, elephants, zombies… many people died. If not for Young Master Fang Ming protecting Miss many times, we might not have reached Shang clan city at all."
"Xiao Die." Zhang Xin Ci said.
Xiao Die immediately stopped, but only for a breath. Then she continued in a smaller voice: "There were also Hei Tu and Bai Yun. They saved Uncle Zhang once. But they hid that they were Gu Masters and acted very suspiciously. Uncle Zhang said they were likely demonic Gu Masters."
Shang Yan Fei's eyes moved slightly.
Fang Ming.
Hei Tu.
Bai Yun.
Zhang Zhu.
He remembered the names.
Zhang Xin Ci looked at Xiao Die helplessly. "Enough."
Xiao Die lowered her head.
Shang Yan Fei only smiled. "It is fine. You went through many dangers. It is natural to be frightened."
He did not ask further. Zhang Xin Ci clearly did not want to speak deeply yet. If he pressed too hard, he would only push her farther away. At this moment, he was not only Shang clan leader. He was also a father who had appeared too late.
"You should rest first." Shang Yan Fei said. "This place is safe. If you wish to walk outside, have someone guide you. Shang clan city is large, and it is easy to get lost."
Zhang Xin Ci nodded. "Thank you, Lord Shang clan leader."
The title came again.
Shang Yan Fei stood up. "I will visit again."
He left the room.
Once the door closed, Xiao Die exhaled softly. "Miss, he seems very kind."
Zhang Xin Ci looked at the cold tea and did not answer. After a while, she said: "He is Shang clan leader."
"But he is also your father." Xiao Die said quietly.
Zhang Xin Ci's eyes lowered.
Father.
That word was still too unfamiliar. She remembered her mother's final instruction. She remembered the years of isolation in Zhang clan. She remembered the man who had never appeared. Now he had appeared, but not as an ordinary man. He appeared as Shang Yan Fei. She did not know how to face him.
Outside the room, Shang Yan Fei's smile vanished.
The gentle father was gone.
What remained was the Shang clan leader.
His black robe moved lightly as he walked through the corridor. His crimson hair fell behind him like blood-colored silk. His eyes were calm, but there was no warmth in them now. A young female Gu Master appeared and knelt.
"This subordinate greets Lord clan leader."
"Tian Lan." Shang Yan Fei said. "From today onward, you will serve Ci Er."
"Yes."
"Take care of her well. Do not offend her. Do not make her feel watched."
Tian Lan lowered her head. "This subordinate understands."
Shang Yan Fei continued: "Also, learn what happened on the road. Ci Er does not like to speak much, but her maid is careless with words. Start there."
"Yes, Lord clan leader."
"Especially Fang Ming, Hei Tu, Bai Yun, and Zhang Zhu."
Tian Lan memorized the names.
Shang Yan Fei's voice became colder. "Fang Ming is a Rank four Gu Master who stayed close to Ci Er. Hei Tu and Bai Yun hid their strength and joined as mortals. Zhang Zhu is Ci Er's old protector. I want clear information."
"This subordinate will do it carefully."
"Go."
Tian Lan left.
Not long after, Wei Yang arrived. He cupped his fists and said: "Lord clan leader."
Shang Yan Fei stood beside the window, looking at the garden outside.
"Ci Er is my daughter."
Wei Yang's expression changed slightly, but he did not speak.
"Her bloodline has been confirmed. Her soul and body are also intact. There is no possession, no disguise, and no obvious manipulation."
"That is good news." Wei Yang said.
"It is." Shang Yan Fei said.
But his tone was not relaxed.
"The caravan she joined was almost destroyed. There are survivors, but caravans are loose alliances. They do not truly investigate backgrounds. Most registrations are only protocol. Whoever fills in a name, that name is accepted unless trouble appears."
Wei Yang nodded. "Then the information may be fragmented."
"Fragments are enough if arranged properly." Shang Yan Fei said. "Find the survivors. Ask about the journey. Ask about Fang Ming, Hei Tu, Bai Yun, and Zhang Zhu."
Wei Yang asked: "Should I bring them here?"
"Invite them first. Do not be rough."
Shang Yan Fei paused.
"Especially Fang Ming."
Wei Yang's gaze sharpened slightly.
Shang Yan Fei said: "A Rank four Gu Master who protected my daughter many times. He may be a benefactor. He may also be dangerous. Either way, he is not someone to handle carelessly."
"This subordinate understands."
"As for Hei Tu and Bai Yun, they may be demonic Gu Masters. Find them too."
"Yes."
Wei Yang left.
Shang Yan Fei remained by the window for a long while.
He had failed one woman already. He would not fail her daughter. But kindness did not mean blindness. Anyone who had approached Zhang Xin Ci on the road had to be seen clearly.
At the same time, in the third inner city, Fang Yuan sat in Nan Qiu Garden and played chess with Bai Ning Bing.
Bai Ning Bing's injury had healed somewhat, but her face remained cold. Across from them stood Shang Ya Zi. His expression was ugly.
"Five hundred thousand primeval stones." Shang Ya Zi said. "This is already my sincerity."
Fang Yuan placed a chess piece down. "Too low."
Shang Ya Zi's eye twitched.
The annual evaluation was close. Among the ten young masters, he was near the bottom. If he could not produce results, his position would be lost. The bone path inheritance Fang Yuan held was his chance, but this ugly demonic Gu Master refused to lower the price.
Shang Ya Zi leaned forward and said coldly: "Do not forget where you are. This is Shang clan city. I know you killed Bai clan's young masters. I know Bai clan has arrest warrants for you. If I reveal your location, what do you think will happen?"
Fang Yuan laughed lightly.
"Then reveal it."
Shang Ya Zi's expression stiffened.
Bai Ning Bing glanced at Fang Yuan, then looked away.
At that moment, a light descended into the garden.
Wei Yang appeared.
Shang Ya Zi turned around angrily, but when he saw Wei Yang, his face changed.
Wei Yang ignored him and looked at Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing.
"Sir Hei Tu. Lady Bai Yun. Lord clan leader invites you both for a talk."
Shang Ya Zi froze.
Lord clan leader?
His father wanted to meet these two personally?
Fang Yuan smiled faintly and stood up. "Then we should not keep Lord Shang waiting."
Bai Ning Bing also stood.
As they followed Wei Yang out, Shang Ya Zi remained where he was, his face pale and uncertain.
This was bad.
Very bad.
Elsewhere, in a rented courtyard, Fang Ming closed a refinement manual.
Someone had arrived outside the gate.
He already expected it. Shang Yan Fei would not ignore the people around Zhang Xin Ci. The caravan had survivors. Xiao Die had a loose mouth. Zhang Zhu was cautious but honest in the wrong places. Sooner or later, Shang clan would come.
Fang Ming stood and opened the gate.
Wei Yang was not there.
Instead, a Shang clan Gu Master bowed politely.
"Young Master Fang Ming, Lord clan leader invites you for a talk."
Fang Ming looked at him.
Then he smiled.
"So soon."
The Gu Master did not answer.
Fang Ming stepped out and closed the gate behind him.
"Lead the way."