Three days ago.
After refining nine expendable Heaven's Breath Gu, Fang Yuan set off toward Shang Clan City. On the way, he came across Shang Xin Ci and Xiao Die, who were also heading in the same direction. He waited until they all arrived at the city together, ensuring that Shang Xin Ci saw him entering.
To avoid raising suspicion about his identity, he wore a bronze mask commonly used by investigators from Tie Clan City. He then rented a room at an inn and began his stay.
Fang Yuan anticipated that someone would reach out to him within a week to show their gratitude. As expected, just three days later, someone began searching for him.
...
A beam of light descended from the sky and materialized into a Gu Master.
This Gu Master scanned his surroundings before giving a slight bow and addressing Fang Yuan, who was calmly eating breakfast at the inn: "Sir Investigator from Tie Clan, I am Wei Yang. Under orders from our clan leader, I have come to invite you to the second inner city for a discussion."
Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "The Shang Clan leader wants to meet me? For what reason?"
Wei Yang chuckled lightly. "You may rest easy. If the Shang Clan intended you harm, we wouldn't go about it in such a roundabout way. This is a cordial invitation. The clan leader is quite interested in you."
From Wei Yang's perspective as a Rank 4 Gu Master, Fang Yuan's aura was faint—barely reaching the level of a Rank 1 Gu Master. Based on the account from Shang Xin Ci's servant, he estimated the masked youth to be in his teens, possibly a Rank 2 or even Rank 3 Gu Master.
Confident in his superiority, Wei Yang regarded Fang Yuan with a hint of arrogance. To someone of his level, dealing with a lower-ranked Gu Master was trivial. Moreover, if this person truly belonged to the Tie Clan, it only added fuel to his disdain.
Despite both the Tie and Shang Clans being major powers, tensions ran deep between them. The Tie Clan had long accused the Shang Clan of harboring demonic Gu Masters, tarnishing their reputation. As such, Wei Yang held little respect for Tie Clan members, which explained his curt and disrespectful tone toward Fang Yuan.
"It is an honor to be able to receive the clan leader's invitation. I will immediately go see him then." Fang Yuan completed the breakfast on his table and stood up.
"Sir, please." Wei Yang showed the way.
"Lead the way."
Following Wei Yang, Fang Yuan entered second inner city.
In the second inner city, buildings were made of stones and were very simple, even the fourth inner city was better than this.
Shang clan's riches were as high as a mountain but they scrupulously abided by living in a simple way. This was not because they were miserly, but to maintain the vigor of the clan.
Wei Yang led Fang Yuan to a private residence.
"Sir, you can have some fruits while you wait. Lord clan leader has just recently come out of closed door cultivation and is handling some matters. He will come here soon. This is clan leader's private residence, please stay here and don't casually move outside. I will take my leave now."
There was no one else in the house, Fang Yuan was left alone after Wei Yang's departure.
He waited for a whole six hours but did not see even a shadow. Wei Yang said he could eat fruits, but where were the fruits? Not even tea could be found!
During the first two hours, Fang Yuan calmly sat on a wide backed wooden chair.
During the next two hours, he could no longer sit calmly and started mumbling to himself, revealing his impatience.
By the sixth hour, he clearly revealed impatience and unease as he began to move to and fro in the house.
"Hmph, what the hell is this Shang clan leader doing? He wants me to wait for him, but where is he? He is too arrogant." Fang Yuan's tone was angry as he paced around.
Fang Yuan walked out of the house, the courtyard wasn't big and there was also nothing strange.
At the same time, in first inner city.
Inside a study, colorful smoke curled up and rose in front of Shang Yan Fei, showing the real time view of Fang Yuan.
"Wei Yang, what do you think of him?" Shang Yan Fei asked his trusted aide.
Wei Yang muttered to himself, "From what I can tell, he doesn't seem like a righteous Gu Master… more likely, he's a demonic one. Based on the intel we've gathered, he's quite young, likely at the peak of Rank Two cultivation. His innate talent must be exceptional. He carries himself with a calculating air—definitely someone shrewd and deep-thinking. And… not even his name has been revealed."
"Mm, your analysis isn't bad. In that case, you will be in charge of interacting with him for these few days. Test his abilities and closely follow him." Shang Yan Fei finished speaking and put away the colorful smoke.
He was only worried about Shang Xin Ci and showed little interest towards Fang Yuan.
The small test just now gave him a basic understanding towards the temperament of this person. And combining it with the intelligence he received, he more or less had a general impression.
Not all demonic Gu Masters were demented people.
This guy could be considered decent, and maybe it was because he was young, he could clearly sense his lofty character.
People who had principles were often lofty and unyielding.
First impression was important, Shang Yan Fei honestly felt Fang Yuan was quite good. But he was a prudent person, anyone who could sit stably at a position like his were all prudent.
He was waiting, waiting for the people he sent to investigate the truth to come back and confirm everything, then he could rest easy.
"Alright, handle this properly, you can leave now." Shang Yan Fei waved his hands, then he took out the top document from the tall pile of documents in the study.
He had only been in closed cultivation for half a month, and the work had piled up so much already.
...
Fang Yuan Yuan made a round in the private residence, there really was no one else.
He seemed to hesitate whether to go out to check the situation when Wei Yang appeared before him.
"Sir, lord clan leader is very busy with work and is not able to leave right now. We can only cancel this meeting." He looked like he was sincerely apologizing.
"What? I have to come and leave according to your whims?" Fang Yuan was indignant.
Wei Yang smiled: "You are our esteemed guest, why would Shang clan chase away their esteemed guests? Lord clan leader especially had asked me to attend to you as an apology. I have already arranged for a banquet in Shi Tian restaurant, please give me the honor of hosting."
Fang Yuan said: "Just in time, I am hungry."
Shi Tian restaurant was one of the best restaurants in Shang clan city and occupied a great amount of space in the third inner city. The decorations were elegant, and its dishes sumptuous. Its chefs were specialized Gu Masters who used special Gu worms to help in cooking delicacies that couldn't be matched by ordinary methods.
A typical meal here would last over four hours and more; there were over a hundred type of dishes, each with their own characteristics. Their top quality wine also left a rich aftertaste.
Fang Yuan ate little, but didn't drink. He tried to get answers from Wei Yang indirectly at the banquet, but Wei Yang was a cautious guy too and kept his mouth closed.
After the banquet was over, Wei Yang dropped him off at Nan Qiu garden.
Wei Yang left his parting words: "Take a good rest tonight, I will come look for you tomorrow and take you sightseeing around the Shang clan city."
On the second day.
As expected, Wei Yang came to Nan Qiu garden and brought Fang Yuan to tour Shang clan city.
"Our Shang clan city is number one in the southern border in terms of size. Shang clan has operated here for thousands of years, transforming the entire Shang Liang mountain. Here, there are over ten thousand shops, and hundreds of thousands of people."
" You have not eaten yet, right?"
"I'll bring you to a famous breakfast shop, please follow me."
Fang Yuan followed Wei Yang, along the stone pillar and descended.
After three layers, they came to a shop, called Early Spring.
Thousand layer agate cake, crab roe bun, golden field pancake, snow porridge…
"Shang clan city, from inner to outer, has first, second, third, fourth, fifth and outer city. If they were classified even more clearly, there are many zones as well, food zone, gambling rocks zone, caretaking zone, red-light zone and others." Wei Yang introduced.
…
"This is the culinary zone, with many restaurants mostly owned by Gu Master chefs. The delicacies are endless."
…
"This is the caretaking zone, most Gu Masters have excessive Gu worms, so they place them here for caretaking. The price is determined by situations, but ordinarily, a rank one Gu costs eighty primeval stones a month.
…
"This is the Gu fighting zone, this place is solely for Gu fights, Gu Masters cannot interfere, and can only control their Gu. If you have appropriate Gu worms, you can give it a try."
…
"This is the red-light zone, having the most number of brothels in the entire Shang clan city. Many Gu Masters come here to relax. Here you can find women, men, and even Gu Masters. Are you interested?"