The second inner city was not as luxurious as Fang Ming expected.
There were no bright stalls, no noisy crowds, and no merchants shouting prices. The buildings were simple, made of stone, with clean paths and guarded gates. The place looked plain, almost restrained. This was impressive in itself. The outer city showed wealth, yet the Shang clan core area showed restraint and discipline. A clan that could remain restrained while sitting on mountains of wealth was destined for greatness.
The Shang clan Gu Master led Fang Ming to a quiet residence.
"Young Master Fang Ming, please wait here. Lord clan leader is handling some matters."
Fang Ming nodded. "Understood."
The Gu Master left. The residence became silent. There was a table, chairs, a window facing a small courtyard, and nothing else worth looking at. No tea. No servant. No explanation.
Fang Ming sat down calmly.
Time passed.
He did not move around. He only waited. Fang Ming knew that Shang Yan Fei was using a type of Gu worm to analyze him. In the original timeline, Fang Yuan did not want to meet Shang Yan Fei, so he acted brute, impatient, and simple-minded, directly giving Shang Yan Fei an answer about his character. But Fang Ming wanted to meet Shang Yan Fei to copy his Gu, so he would not reveal anything. If Shang Yan Fei could analyze his character just from him sitting there like a statue, then he could only accept this loss of the chance to copy Shang Yan Fei's Gu.
In another residence, Fang Yuan was not so quiet.
He paced around the room with an ugly expression. Bai Ning Bing sat to the side, cold and silent.
"What is Shang clan leader doing?" Fang Yuan said, his tone full of irritation. "He invites us here, then leaves us waiting like this?"
Bai Ning Bing glanced at him. "Sit down. You are making noise."
Fang Yuan snorted. "Something is wrong."
His performance was rough and direct. Bai Ning Bing watched him without expression. She knew Fang Yuan too well to believe this was real.
Somewhere deeper in the city, scarlet smoke floated in front of Shang Yan Fei.
The smoke showed two different scenes. In one, Fang Yuan paced in irritation while Bai Ning Bing remained cold. In the other, Fang Ming sat quietly.
Wei Yang stood beside Shang Yan Fei.
"What do you think?" Shang Yan Fei asked.
Wei Yang looked at the smoke. "Hei Tu, appears rough and impatient. His temper seems direct. Bai Yun is colder and more restrained."
"And Fang Ming?"
Wei Yang thought for a moment. "Fang Ming is harder to judge."
Shang Yan Fei glanced at him. "Harder?"
"He is steady, but perhaps too steady," Wei Yang said. "He knows how to wait. He also knows where he is. A Rank four Gu Master being left alone without tea, servants, or explanation would normally show at least some reaction."
"But he showed none."
"Yes."
Shang Yan Fei looked at Fang Ming's image in the smoke.
Inside the residence, Fang Ming sat quietly, almost like a stone statue.
"A Rank four Gu Master who stayed close to Ci Er," Shang Yan Fei said. "He protected her many times, but did not demand anything when I took her away. Either he knows how to measure himself, or he is hiding deeper motives."
Wei Yang said, "Should I continue observing him?"
"Yes. You will interact with all three for the next few days. Test their abilities, their temperaments, and their stories."
"This subordinate understands."
Shang Yan Fei's gaze remained on Fang Ming's image for another moment.
"Also bring Fang Ming to me."
Wei Yang was slightly surprised. "Lord clan leader wants to test him personally?"
"He is Rank four, and he was closest to Ci Er on the road. I should see him myself."
"Yes."
The scarlet smoke slowly dispersed.
Not long after, the door to Fang Ming's waiting room opened.
Wei Yang entered.
"Young Master Fang Ming, Lord clan leader invites you."
Fang Ming stood. "Please lead the way."
Wei Yang brought him through a quiet corridor. The guards along the way stood straight. No one looked around casually. No one whispered. Compared to the outer city, this place felt like another world.
Fang Ming followed without asking unnecessary questions.
Soon, they reached a study. Wei Yang stopped outside.
"Lord clan leader is inside."
Fang Ming entered alone.
Shang Yan Fei sat behind a desk. His black robe was simple, and his crimson hair fell behind his shoulders.
"Gu Yue Fang Ming." Shang Yan Fei said.
"Lord Shang clan leader." Fang Ming cupped his hands.
Shang Yan Fei looked at him for a moment. Then he smiled faintly.
"No need to be tense. You protected Ci Er on the road. I should thank you."
"Lady Shang is kind and treated people sincerely. I only did what I could."
At that moment, Fang Ming's system reacted.
Copy target detected.
Blood Handprint Gu.
Blood Robe Gu.
Blood Shadow Escape Gu.
Blood Sense Gu.
Blood Revival Gu.
Blood Oath Gu.
And other Rank four Gu.
Fang Ming's mind remained steady.
He chose.
Blood Oath Gu.
The copy began.
The moment the copy started, Fang Ming understood a little of its nature: oath, control, blood connection, intent, emotion. This Gu was not only for making agreements; it could also sense certain fluctuations related to sincerity, blood, and violation of oath-like intent. Shang Yan Fei might not be actively using it, but Fang Ming could only assume he was. If there was something the Gu world had taught Fang Ming, it was to always assume the worst from those around you.
He had to be careful from now on dont lie directly, and frame truth properly.
Shang Yan Fei poured tea himself and pushed a cup forward.
"What do you think of Ci Er?"
Fang Ming accepted the tea. "She is rare."
"Rare?"
"In this world, most people learn to lower their heads. Some learn to bend. Some learn to trample others before they are trampled. Lady Zhang saw weakness and still chose kindness."
Shang Yan Fei watched him.
"Do you think that is wise?"
"No."
The answer was direct.
Shang Yan Fei's gaze sharpened slightly.
Fang Ming continued: "But wisdom and value are not the same thing. Many wise people live long, but not all of them are worth admiring."
The room became quiet.
Shang Yan Fei asked: "Then do you admire her?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Fang Ming held the tea cup and looked at the faint steam.
"Because she does somethings I cannot."
Shang Yan Fei did not interrupt.
Fang Ming said slowly: "A world where kindness is rewarded would be better. A world where ordinary people are not treated like grass would be better. A world where the strong do not bully the weak simply because they can would be better."
These words were true.
On Earth, such ideas were normal.
Fairness.
Human dignity.
Law.
Rights.
Even if they were imperfect, people still spoke of them as values.
But this was not Earth.
Fang Ming raised his eyes.
"But this world is not like that."
Shang Yan Fei's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
Fang Ming continued, "In this world, strength decides most things. Kind people without strength are easily eaten. Good intentions cannot block a blade. Compassion cannot stop a beast tide. If a person only has kindness, then kindness becomes a weakness."
"Then why did you not tell her?" Shang Yan Fei asked. "Why did you not stop her?"
"Because she already knew," Fang Ming replied. "She is kind, but she is not stupid. She knew when to give up goods. She knew when to listen. She knew fear, but still moved forward."
He paused slightly.
"I believe her brave heart and her kindness are her most valuable assets."
This was true.
Fang Ming admired many people. He admired Fang Yuan. He admired the venerables too. But admiration would not stop him from stabbing them to death if the benefits were great enough.
He did not see a problem with that.
He knew his morals were not high. Compared with Fang Yuan, he did not think he was much better. Compared with Bai Ning Bing, perhaps his bottom line was even lower.
He wanted strength.
He wanted benefits.
Fang Ming could recognize value when he saw it.
Zhang Xin Ci's Kindness was valuable.
The kinder she was, the weaker she would appear. The weaker she appeared, the more others would try to take advantage of her.
And when Shang Yan Fei saw this, what would he do?
A powerful father filled with guilt toward the daughter he had abandoned would not let her remain weak. He would protect her, spoil her, and invest in her.
That made Zhang Xin Ci's kindness more than an ideal.
It made her a good investment.
Fang Ming's expression remained calm.
None of these thoughts appeared in his answer.
Shang Yan Fei looked at Fang Ming for a long while.
"Do you love her?"
Fang Ming did not answer immediately. The faint understanding of Blood Oath Gu remained in his mind; he could not lie. Fang Ming could only truly love himself. That was not wrong—many people in the world were like that. Perhaps only teenagers who had not experienced much of the world could believe otherwise. A man works his entire life to feed his family; does he do that out of love? Of course not—it is responsibility. Fang Ming could be affectionate toward Shang Xin Ci, help her and protect her, but could he think of her at every moment the way he did about himself or his future? Definitely not.
So he said: "I have affection for her."
"That wasnt the question."
"It is the most accurate answer."
Shang Yan Fei smiled.
For the first time, the smile carried a trace of real interest.
"You are honest."
"I am in front of a Rank five Gu Master." Fang Ming said calmly. "Lying would be disrespectful."
Shang Yan Fei laughed softly.
"Good."
He leaned back slightly.
"Ci Er's maid said you protected her many times. Zhang Zhu also gave a cautious but favorable account. Some caravan survivors said you were ruthless at Mu Bei Mountain, but without you, more people would have died."
Fang Ming said nothing.
"Some also said you heavily injured Bai Yun, then later protected her during the breakout."
"The situation required it."
"Was she a threat?"
"Yes."
"Is she still a threat?"
"No, I dont think she is a threat anymore."
"Then why did you protect her later on?"
"Because I think her value is high and her companion Hai Tu is very strong, I would rather be friends with them than a mortal enemy."
Shang Yan Fei's eyes narrowed slightly. This answer was not righteous, but it was practical. Shang Yan Fei had already made his judgment about Fang Ming: he was a very practical person who would not take unnecessary risks.
Shang Yan Fei asked a few more questions about the road, the caravan, Fang Yuan, Bai Ning Bing, Zhang Zhu, and the zombie attack.
The meeting lasted longer than Fang Ming expected.
The Blood Oath Gu copy progressed really slowly.
Fang Ming also got a general idea of how long it would take to copy a Rank Five Gu. As of now, he should just stop checking if shops are displaying Rank Five Gu because it is pointless. He cannot really stand in front of a Rank Five Gu for hours without drawing suspicion or being chased away. As of now, it would be better to increase his cultivation rank, as that would greatly decrease the time needed to copy.
Finally, the system's response appeared.
Copy complete.
Fang Ming's heart moved slightly, but his face remained calm.
This was his first Rank five Gu.
A control and support Gu.
It was not an attack Gu. It would not directly help him win a fight, but its value was enormous. With Blood Oath Gu, agreements and promises would be controlled from now on. Fang Ming did not believe for a second that Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing could keep their word; those two were extremely shameless and lawless. So Fang Ming never approached them for cooperation, but with this Gu as a deterrent, he could start cooperating with them in the future.
At the end, Shang Yan Fei stood.
"You protected Ci Er. This favor, Shang clan will remember."
Fang Ming cupped his hands. "I only hope Lady Zhang can settle safely."
"She will." Shang Yan Fei said.
His tone was calm, but absolute.
Wei Yang entered and escorted Fang Ming out.
After Fang Ming left, Shang Yan Fei remained in the study.
He looked at the tea cup Fang Ming had used.
Wei Yang asked: "Lord clan leader, what do you think of him?"
Shang Yan Fei did not answer immediately. After a while, he said: "He agrees with Ci Er's values."
Wei Yang was slightly surprised.
"But he is not like her." Shang Yan Fei continued. "He knows those values cannot easily survive in this world. He admires them because he cannot practice them fully himself."
"That sounds contradictory."
"People are contradictory."
He looked towards the window.
"Fang Ming is practical, and cautious .... no he is very cautious. But at least for now his reason for being drawn to Ci Er is reasonable."
Wei Yang nodded. "Should I continue testing him?"
"Yes. Test all three. Fang Ming, Hei Tu, Bai Yun."