Bai Moxing was already sixty-eight years old this year.
At this age, he should have long since retired. But the Bai Family Stronghold had been in a rough spot these past years. As the patriarch's uncle and a senior Elder, he had devoted himself tirelessly to his duties, unable to step away. Now, at this critical moment when the clan's survival hung in the balance, he had been ordered to leave the mountain. On the march, he had unexpectedly detected the auras of two Gu Masters.
Could they be Demonic Path Gu Masters?
This operation was of paramount importance to the Bai Family — there could be no mistakes. He immediately led his squad over.
"Two youths?" Upon seeing Fang Yuan and Bai Ningbing, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise.
His gaze swept over them and first came to rest on Bai Ningbing.
Bai Ningbing's face was frosty, her eyes radiating cold intent. Her blue eyes stared fearlessly at Bai Moxing, her Third Transformation aura unmistakable.
"So young, yet already at the Third Transformation — a genius!" Not just Bai Moxing, but the other three all had the same thought as they looked at Bai Ningbing.
For a moment, four pairs of eyes were fixed on her.
Bai Ningbing had transformed into a female form, her appearance delicate and pure, exuding an air of cold detachment that made her seem like an ice fairy. Even though she was a bit bedraggled, it did nothing to diminish her radiant beauty. If anything, it only accentuated her unyielding spirit, drawing admiration and tenderness in equal measure.
By comparison, Fang Yuan behind her seemed utterly unremarkable.
Fang Yuan had ordinary features and was only at the First Transformation. Many people's gazes passed over him and returned to Bai Ningbing.
Fang Yuan was perfectly happy with that. He would much rather they pay less attention to him.
But Bai Moxing was different.
Soon, his gaze shifted to Fang Yuan.
Bai Ningbing shielded Fang Yuan with an air of defiance, as though she would fight to the death rather than yield. And though Fang Yuan stood behind her, his eyes were calm and composed.
"For this genius girl to protect him so fiercely — this youth seems to be the leader of the two. What manner of person is he?" Bai Moxing, old and experienced as he was, had a razor-sharp eye for character.
He had initially assumed they were two Demonic Path Gu Masters, but now doubt crept into his mind.
Judging by the way Bai Ningbing and Fang Yuan carried themselves, and the orthodox Gu Master attire they wore, they looked more like young masters from a prominent clan who had fallen on hard times.
"If they were Demonic Path Gu Masters, I could simply kill them. But if they're young masters from an important family, I need to be careful. Provoking retaliation from the forces behind them and bringing trouble to the Bai Family Stronghold — that would make me a sinner against the clan! Fortunately, I'm strong and they're weak. The situation is under my control."
As Bai Moxing deliberated, Fang Yuan took a step forward. He suddenly stepped out.
He cupped his hands and said, "This junior is Gu Yue Fang Zheng, young master of the Guye Clan on Qing Mao Mountain. Greetings, Senior."
"Qing Mao Mountain?"
"The young master of the Guye Clan?"
The others were astonished.
Bai Ningbing was startled too, but she slightly lowered her eyelids to conceal the crack in her composure.
She knew Fang Yuan had started his con. With the enemy strong and themselves weak, only cunning could get them out of this.
She saw the situation with perfect clarity, and the thread of trust they had developed over recent days made her take a deliberate half-step back. She stood at Fang Yuan's side, still glaring怒目相向 — a bodyguard to the death, unwavering.
"Young man, you're lying! Qing Mao Mountain was destroyed long ago — did you think this old man wouldn't know?" Bai Moxing's face turned cold as he barked.
Fang Yuan gave a bitter smile and spread his hands. "It's precisely because Qing Mao Mountain was destroyed that I've ended up here. Might I dare ask for Senior's name?"
Bai Moxing hesitated over whether to reveal his name, but a young man beside him had already spoken up: "Then listen well — we are the elite of the Bai Family Stronghold. This is our stronghold's greatest Elder, and my uncle — Lord Bai Moxing!"
In that moment, Bai Moxing wished he could kick his nephew to death.
The Bai Family's operation was being conducted with great fanfare, but its true purpose was known only to the higher-ups. These people had been kept in the dark as well.
On the surface, they were out on a hunt to hone the young master's courage. The real objective was to survey the Yuan Spring site at White Bone Mountain and carry out preliminary clearing work.
"But they'd never guess that," Bai Moxing thought, glancing at Fang Yuan and Bai Ningbing before quickly regaining his composure.
"So it truly is the Bai Family," Fang Yuan sneered inwardly.
From the moment the four Gu Masters appeared, he had already formed a general guess.
The Bai Family's Yuan Spring was nearly depleted, which meant they needed to find a new one and relocate the entire clan.
Relocating a clan was an enormously significant undertaking, requiring extensive preparations and strict secrecy.
If word reached hostile forces and they moved to sabotage the effort, the Bai Family would face the risk of total annihilation.
What Fang Yuan hadn't anticipated was that the Bai Family patriarch had been so far-sighted — beginning preparations a full decade in advance, sending these clan members to periodically survey White Bone Mountain.
The Bai Family's future prosperity was clearly well earned.
The appearance of the Bai Family Gu Masters caught Fang Yuan somewhat off guard. It would undoubtedly have a major impact on his subsequent plans.
But on his face, Fang Yuan displayed a perfectly measured smile, cupping his hands. "So they're fellow Daoists from the Bai Family Stronghold! What a fortunate meeting!"
Then he turned to Bai Ningbing. "Ningbing, stand down. It's fine — the Bai Family Stronghold isn't made up of Demonic Path Gu Masters."
Hearing Fang Yuan speak to her in such a gentle, warm tone, Bai Ningbing nearly broke out in goosebumps.