A gale reveals the strength of grass; turmoil exposes the heart of man.
When Fang Yuan saw the expression on Shang Xinci's face, he did not feel得意. The real point was yet to come.
He continued, "There is one thing, however, that I must tell you plainly."
"Please, go ahead." Shang Xinci extended her jade-like fingers and gently wiped the corners of her eyes, steadying her emotions.
"Bai Yun and I are both people of the Demonic Path," Fang Yuan said.
Shang Xinci nodded without any look of surprise. She had already anticipated this. Before this, Zhang Zhu had harbored the same suspicion and told her to be on guard against the two of them. So Shang Xinci had braced herself and accepted the fact naturally.
She had no cultivationaptitude and had been born out of wedlock. Her different life experiences had made her precocious and given her a profound understanding of this world's true nature. Besides, for her now, there was no room to be picky about choices.
Fang Yuan's voice turned cold. "People of the Demonic Path have always been ruthless. Neither Bai Yun nor I are exceptions, and both of us have blood on our hands."
Shang Xinci instinctively pressed her lips together.
"If you want my help, you need to trust me. But rest assured — once I feel I have repaid the kindness you showed us, I will quietly leave. I won't let you become entangled with people of the Demonic Path. Until then, however, the two of us will present ourselves as Gu Masters of the Zhang family. I hope Miss Zhang will help us maintain that cover." Fang Yuan said lightly.
A look of resolve surfaced in Shang Xinci's eyes. "Please, Lord Heitu, just call me Xinci. Though you are a person of the Demonic Path, you are an honest person — a person of principles. Xinci is not so rigid as to be foolish. The Righteous Path is full of hypocrites and filthy scoundrels. To have your protection is Xinci's good fortune."
"Heh heh heh." Fang Yuan laughed deeply, fixing Shang Xinci with a gaze laden with hidden meaning. "I hope you won't come to regret that in the future."
Shang Xinci was about to speak when a voice suddenly came from outside the tent.
"Is Zhang Xinci in this tent?" A haughty male voice, not yet old.
"Sir Gu Master, please wait. My young miss is discussing important matters inside." Xiao Die moved to block his path.
"Important matters? Heh, your Zhang family has already donated all its trade goods. What important matters could there be to discuss?" The newcomer sneered.
"Sir Gu Master… Ah!" Xiao Die suddenly let out a miserable shriek, followed by the sound of her being kicked to the ground.
"Get out of my way, you cheap wench! You dare block my, Ou Fei's, path?!"
Panic and worry flashed across Shang Xinci's beautiful eyes. She was about to rise and go outside, but Fang Yuan pressed her back down.
The tent flap was suddenly thrown aside, and a young Gu Master with a sullen, sinister expression appeared before the two of them.
"Zhang Xinci!" The young Gu Master's gaze locked onto Shang Xinci immediately, his desire and greed completely unconcealed.
"Heh, I had quite the time finding you here." He curled his lips, lifted his chin, and with the air of one in total control, brazenly looked Shang Xinci up and down.
Shang Xinci was dressed in a green robe, delicate as a lotus in bloom, devastatingly beautiful.
Her lovely figure had long since sunk deep into the hearts of many in the merchant caravan. Ou Fei had been obsessing over her day and night. He had courted her multiple times, only to be refused each time. He had wanted to use force, but Zhang Zhu's presence had forced him to hold back.
Now that the Zhang family's sole Gu Master, Zhang Zhu, was dead, Shang Xinci was nothing more than a mortal girl. Such a beautiful woman — Ou Fei had been coveting her for ages, and at last fate had given him this perfect opportunity.
Ou Fei's gaze, brimming with desire and aggression, made Shang Xinci's heart clench. A wave of sorrow rose within her.
She had voluntarily given up the trade goods, yet she still could not secure her own safety. Her beauty had become a curse. These so-called Righteous Path Gu Masters wore righteous masks in public, but the moment hardship struck, they tore them away without hesitation.
Shang Xinci understood that Ou Fei was merely the most impatient among them. Behind him lurked countless other pairs of wolfish eyes.
"May I ask what Lord Ou Fei has come here for?" Shang Xinci stood and gave a bow.
"Ha ha ha!" Ou Fei threw his head back and laughed. "I've come to help you, Xinci. My sweet little thing, your family's Gu Master hasn't come back — he's surely dead. You're nothing but a frail girl. The only way you can get out of here alive is by attaching yourself to me. There, there, poor thing, don't even bother thanking me. This lord is just naturally generous. Now come with me."
As he spoke, he stepped forward to grab her.
Shang Xinci's face turned pale. She was, after all, still a young girl, and she involuntarily took a half-step back.
That fragile, pitiful look only fanned the flames of desire in Ou Fei's heart.
"You can't go with him, miss!" Xiao Die rushed in, throwing her arms wide to block Ou Fei's path.
Ou Fei flew into a rage. With a sharp crack, he slapped Xiao Die across the face.
Xiao Die crumpled to the ground. The side of her face swelled red instantly, and the slap left her dizzy, her ears ringing.
"Xiao Die!" Shang Xinci hurriedly crouched down to help her up.
"Miss, you have to run! Even if I die, I will never let him take you away!" Xiao Die struggled to her feet, glaring ferociously at Ou Fei. Fear, fury, and a grim resolve all flickered in her eyes.
"You're courting death, you cheap wench! I'll grant your wish!" Ou Fei, humiliated into rage, raised his hand to strike again.
Suddenly, a large hand reached out as if from thin air and seized his wrist with crushing force.
"Who dares?!" Ou Fei was startled. He looked closely and saw a burly man dressed as a household slave gripping his arm.
"You've got some nerve!" Ou Fei's face twisted with fury.
He tried to wrench his arm free, but Fang Yuan's grip was like an iron clamp — utterly immovable.
"You damn slave, let go of me right now!" Ou Fei seethed with murderous intent and was about to channel his True Essence when Fang Yuan gave a sudden smile.
His face was covered in burn scars, and he was missing an ear. His cold smile now radiated an eerie, terrifying aura.
Ou Fei's heart lurched. Fang Yuan had already released him.
Then he lifted his foot and drove it savagely into Ou Fei's gut.