Fang Ming finished writing the final line.
Tyrannical Dash Gu: high consumption, short burst, difficult to turn, body strain obvious. Needs body-strengthening Gu and close combat attack method.
He placed the brush down.
This test had been very useful. Tyrannical Dash Gu was not perfect, but it was still a rank five counterfeit Gu. It gave Fang Ming sudden movement that his old methods could not provide. If he could build a proper strength path Gu set around it, the value of this Gu would rise greatly.
Fang Ming had just stored away the record scroll when there was a knock on the courtyard gate.
Knock, knock, knock.
Fang Ming opened the door.
A servant stood outside and bowed. "Young Master Fang Ming, news came from the outer city. Tie clan Gu Masters have arrived."
Fang Ming's gaze moved slightly. "Tie clan?"
"Yes. Their leader is a young woman called Tie Ruo Nan."
Fang Ming became silent for a breath.
Tie Ruo Nan.
So she had arrived.
The servant continued: "After entering the city, she first met Tie Dao Ku. It seems they are searching for Gu Yue Fang Zheng and Bai Yun."
Fang Ming nodded. "I understand."
He closed the gate.
The courtyard returned to silence, but Fang Ming's thoughts were no longer calm. Tie Ruo Nan was not ordinary. She was dangerous, not because of her cultivation, but because of what she represented. Tie clan, Qing Mao Mountain, Tie Xue Leng's death, Gu Yue clan; old names that should have been buried under ice and snow were now being dug out again.
At the city gate, Tie Ruo Nan walked at the front of the Tie clan group. She wore dark martial clothing. Her brows were sharp, her back was straight, and her eyes carried a firm light. Tie Dao Ku stood before her. One of his eyes was covered by a black eyepatch.
Tie Ruo Nan looked at him and frowned slightly. "Your eye?"
Tie Dao Ku lowered his head. "Bai Ning Bing injured it."
"You did not mention this clearly in your report."
Tie Dao Ku's face stiffened. He was a proud person. Losing an eye was already shameful. Writing it clearly and sending it back to Tie clan was even more difficult. After a moment, he said: "It was my mistake."
Tie Ruo Nan looked at him for a while. Then she said: "Shang clan city has Doctor Su Shou. Heal it if you can."
She threw him a primeval elder Gu.
Tie Dao Ku received it with both hands. "Thank you, young master."
"No need." Tie Ruo Nan said. "Now speak. Where are they?"
"Nan Qiu Garden. Gu Yue Fang Zheng and Bai Yun are staying there."
"And Gu Yue Fang Ming?"
Tie Dao Ku hesitated for a moment. "He rarely appears with them. He is already rank four now, and he seems to have some connection with Shang Xin Ci. He also has a high-level Shang clan token."
Tie Ruo Nan's gaze sharpened.
"Gu Yue Fang Ming…"
Another survivor of Qing Mao Mountain.
"Yes." Tie Dao Ku replied.
Tie Ruo Nan said directly: "Take me to Nan Qiu Garden first."
Tie Dao Ku was slightly surprised. "Now?"
"Now."
Tie Ruo Nan's style was very direct. If there was a question, she would ask. If there was a lead, she would follow. If there was a suspect, she would meet them. There was no need to delay.
Soon, the Tie clan group arrived at Nan Qiu Garden.
The doorboy blocked them politely. "My masters are cultivating. They cannot receive guests."
Tie Dao Ku's face darkened. "Are they hiding?"
The doorboy's expression remained respectful, but his body did not move aside.
Tie Ruo Nan raised her hand, stopping Tie Dao Ku. She took out an invitation and passed it to the doorboy.
"Give this to Gu Yue Fang Zheng. Tell him Tie Ruo Nan wishes to ask about old matters from Qing Mao Mountain."
The doorboy accepted the invitation.
Tie Ruo Nan turned and left. Tie Dao Ku followed behind her. He was unwilling, but he did not speak.
That day, the invitation received no answer.
The next morning, another invitation was sent.
There was still no answer.
Only on the third day did Fang Yuan come out of closed cultivation and receive the messages.
"Tie Ruo Nan."
He looked at the name on the invitation. His expression did not change, but killing intent rose in his heart.
She was alive.
Fang Yuan had thought that Tie Xue Leng and his daughter had both died on Qing Mao Mountain. He did not expect Tie Ruo Nan to survive. Even more, he did not expect her to come to Shang clan city personally.
This was troublesome.
Tie Ruo Nan had seen him before. She had also seen Fang Zheng before. She knew Qing Mao Mountain. She knew Tie Xue Leng's investigation. She might not know the truth, but she had enough fragments.
And enough fragments could become danger.
Fang Yuan could kill many people, but he could not kill her here. This was Shang clan city. Rules protected him, but they also protected her.
Fang Yuan slowly folded the invitation. After a moment, he smiled faintly.
"If she wants to ask, then let her ask."
While Tie Ruo Nan was waiting to meet Fang Yuan, another invitation reached Fang Ming's courtyard.
Fang Ming accepted it and read it once. The wording was polite, but the intent was clear. Tie Ruo Nan wanted to meet him.
Fang Ming did not avoid her.
Avoiding her would only make him look guilty.
That afternoon, inside a quiet tea house, Fang Ming met Tie Ruo Nan. Tie Ruo Nan sat opposite him. Her brows were sharp, her posture straight, and her gaze carried pressure. She was young, but she already had the bearing of an investigator.
Tie Dao Ku stood behind her. His remaining eye stared fixedly at Fang Ming.
Fang Ming sat down calmly.
"Gu Yue Fang Ming." Tie Ruo Nan said.
"Tie clan young master." Fang Ming replied.
"I want to ask you about Qing Mao Mountain."
"I expected that."
Tie Ruo Nan looked at him. "Then you should also know that I want truthful answers."
Fang Ming poured himself a cup of tea.
"Ask."
Tie Ruo Nan took out a Gu.
Poison Vow Gu.
"To avoid misunderstanding, we can speak under oath."
Fang Ming glanced at the Gu. Then he looked back at Tie Ruo Nan.
"No."
Tie Ruo Nan frowned. "Why?"
"Because I am not a suspect." Fang Ming said calmly.
He lifted his tea cup and continued: "I am not your prisoner. I am not your subordinate. I came because you sent a polite invitation, not because Tie clan has authority over me."
Tie Dao Ku's face darkened.
"You—"
Tie Ruo Nan raised her hand.
Tie Dao Ku immediately stopped.
Fang Ming continued: "If you want to ask, I can answer what I know. If you require an oath before every word, then this meeting can end here."
The tea house became quiet.
Tie Ruo Nan looked at Fang Ming for a while. Then she put away the Poison Vow Gu.
"Fine."
Fang Ming took a sip of tea.
Tie Ruo Nan asked: "What happened on Qing Mao Mountain?"
"I do not know."
Tie Ruo Nan's gaze sharpened.
Fang Ming's expression did not change.
"When Qing Mao Mountain was destroyed, I had already left. I was not there. Anything I say would only be hearsay."
"You left before the disaster?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Danger."
"What danger?"
"Wolf tide. Clan politics. The situation was becoming worse. I judged that staying was not worth the risk, so I left."
This was not the full truth.
But it was truth.
Tie Ruo Nan stared at him, as if trying to find a crack in his face. Fang Ming did not avoid her gaze.
Tie Ruo Nan asked again: "You were a Gu Yue clansman. You expect me to believe you simply abandoned your clan and left?"
Fang Ming's tone was flat.
"Yes."
The answer was too direct.
Tie Ruo Nan paused.
Fang Ming continued: "Tie clan may value duty. Gu Yue clan also spoke of duty. But words do not block death. I believed Qing Mao Mountain was dangerous, so I left."
He placed down his tea cup.
"If that disappoints you, then be disappointed."
Tie Dao Ku frowned.
Tie Ruo Nan's eyes moved slightly. This man did not pretend to be noble. He did not pretend to be loyal. He did not dress his escape in righteousness. Because of this, his words became harder to attack.
Tie Ruo Nan changed the question.
"What do you know about Gu Yue Fang Yuan?"
Fang Ming placed his cup down.
"Not much."
"You were from the same clan."
"We were academy classmates. That does not mean we were close."
"What kind of person was he?"
Fang Ming seemed to think for a moment.
"Strange since young. Quiet. Not liked much by others. His reputation in the clan was poor. I did not interact with him deeply."
"Nothing else?"
"Nothing useful."
Tie Ruo Nan said: "He was your classmate, yet you barely know him?"
"There were many students in the academy. Some I knew. Some I did not. Fang Yuan was one of the latter."
"And his brother?"
"Gu Yue Fang Zheng?"
"Yes."
Fang Ming looked at Tie Ruo Nan.
"If you want to know about Fang Yuan, you should ask Fang Zheng. They were brothers. He should know more than me."
Tie Ruo Nan's gaze became deeper.
"Is that your advice?"
"It is the most reasonable answer."
Tie Dao Ku sneered.
"You truly know nothing convenient."
Fang Ming looked at him.
"Correct."
Tie Dao Ku's expression stiffened.
Fang Ming stood up.
"I have answered what I can. If Tie clan young master has nothing else, I will leave."
Tie Ruo Nan did not immediately stop him. Only when Fang Ming reached the door did she speak.
"Gu Yue Fang Ming."
Fang Ming turned slightly.
Tie Ruo Nan said: "You left before Qing Mao Mountain's destruction. Then you reached rank four so quickly. That is not ordinary."
Fang Ming smiled faintly.
"Many things in this world are not ordinary."
After saying this, he left.
The door closed.
Tie Dao Ku looked at the closed door, his tone cold.
"Young master, this person is hiding something."
Tie Ruo Nan picked up the tea cup, but she did not drink.
"Of course he is."
"Then why let him leave?"
"This is Shang clan city."
Tie Dao Ku fell silent.
Tie Ruo Nan looked at the doorway.
"Besides, he did give me a direction."
"Gu Yue Fang Zheng?"
"Yes."
Tie Ruo Nan's eyes sharpened.
"Since Fang Ming says the brother knows more, then I will ask the brother."
Outside the tea house, Fang Ming walked into the street.
His expression was calm. Tie Ruo Nan was sharp, but she had no authority over him here. He had given her little, denied what needed to be denied, and pushed the problem back towards Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan wanted to wear Gu Yue Fang Zheng's name.
Then he could bear Gu Yue Fang Zheng's questions.
Fang Ming walked away without looking back.