The Fang Family

As the morning light spilled over the earth, Guangning City shook off the quiet of the night and stirred awake. A savory fragrance drifted through the streets, lined on both sides with all manner of vendor stalls. Carriages rolled down the center of the avenue while pedestrians walked to the left and right. The city gates opened on all four sides, bustling with the lively flow of travelers coming and going. A young couple dressed in peasant clothes passed through the gates with the crowd. Yet the woman bore a rather cold expression, her gaze far sharper than that of an ordinary peasant woman. The man, on the other hand, showed nothing remarkable; his eyes followed the crowd with cautious glances, and he occasionally tugged at the woman's sleeve as though chiding her for being rash. After a bumpy walk, they arrived at an inn. The man haggled stingily with the innkeeper for a long time, finally parting with half the silver to secure a single room. Only after stepping inside and shutting the door behind them did the woman finally heave a sigh of relief. She walked to the table and poured a cup of tea. "Brother Fang, those falcons in the sky really were their eyes and ears. Ever since we brought them down, we haven't spotted a single member of the Black Fiend Cult along the way." The peasant, who had acted meek before everyone on the road, straightened his spine and gently rolled his neck. "Actually, we didn't have to kill them. We could have let the Black Fiend Cult track us down again and again to throw their lives away. But doing so would leave us reactive. Besides, our arrival in Guangning City would have been detected ahead of time. It's better to step into the shadows and turn the tables." These two were, naturally, Fang Shuwen and Zhou Qingmei. Seven days had passed since they took shelter at the Sun household. Disguised as a peasant couple, they had traveled safely all the way to Guangning City. Fang Shuwen sat down as well, picking up the teacup and taking a sip. "Eldest Young Miss, you need to tone down that sharp glare of yours from time to time. What peasant woman has eyes that gleam like daggers? If someone watchful catches on, it'll give you away in an instant." Zhou Qingmei blinked. "Do I really look like that?" Fang Shuwen nodded earnestly, then waved his hand dismissively. "Never mind that now. We've reached Guangning City, and we have two leads. Aside from the Daxuan Money House, there's the household where you ran into that lecher. Do you still remember where they live?" "Of course I remember," Zhou Qingmei replied. "They are one of the most prominent families in Guangning City. They even share your surname—Fang. The girl who was taken back then was the only daughter of Master Fang, the pearl of his eye. They were exceedingly grateful to me for saving her." "Surnamed Fang..." Fang Shuwen raised a brow, finding the coincidence curious. His childhood memories were hazy. He recalled that his family had been quite well-off, but exactly how wealthy they were was beyond him. Not long after, he had been separated from his family while traveling to visit relatives. After nineteen years apart, how much could he possibly remember? Besides, what were the odds his luck would be so good that he would stumble right onto them upon returning? Regardless, a trip to this Fang family was in order. After a moment's thought, Fang Shuwen said, "In that case, let's pay a visit to the Fang residence tonight. Master Fang recognizes you, so you can ask him for the eight characters of this Miss Fang's birth. We need to see if she fits what the Black Fiend Cult is looking for. If not, all the better... but if she does, I'm afraid this young mistress is in grave danger." Zhou Qingmei nodded at his words. Both she and Fang Shuwen had read the Black Fiend Demon Skill and understood the exacting requirements it placed on women. They also knew how terrifying the power boost would be if they found a suitable vessel. If that lecher back then had truly been one of the Black Fiend Cult, they would hardly let Miss Fang slip away. "As for Daxuan Money House, we can wait until your fellow disciples arrive before investigating," Fang Shuwen added. "Speaking of which, when will they get here?" Zhou Qingmei gave a helpless sigh. "I have no idea. Sending a letter through an escort agency takes time. And rushing here from Zhujige Pavilion... there's really no telling when they'll make it." Fang Shuwen did not dwell on the matter. "Fine, let's leave it at that for now. If your sect takes too long, we'll look into Daxuan Money House on our own." "All right," Zhou Qingmei agreed. With their plans settled, she stepped out to ask the waiter for hot water. They had been roughing it outdoors the entire journey, and even after changing their clothes, they had not had a proper bath. She wanted to take this chance to wash up. Fang Shuwen was about to step out and wait, but Zhou Qingmei said candidly, "You can stay here. The folding screen is in the way, so it's not like you'll see anything." "You really don't view me as a man, do you?" Fang Shuwen had no desire to linger in a room with a woman bathing. Standing up, he said, "I'll go sit in the common room for a while. If anything happens up here, just shout for me." With that, he walked out without hesitation. Down in the common room, the atmosphere was lively and noisy, with patrons gathered in groups of three and five, exchanging toasts and chatting casually. Fang Shuwen ordered a plate of peanuts and two taels of liquor. Savoring the drink, he listened to the chatter around him. Inns, taverns, and teahouses were always hubs of information. Amid the noisy crowd, Fang Shuwen soon caught wind of something that caught his interest. Leaning in to listen, he heard a man sighing repeatedly. "...It was truly tragic. She wasn't even sixteen yet. I heard her family had already arranged a match for her, and she was set to marry next year. Who could have imagined such a thing would happen?" "I heard that lecher was utterly vile. When they found the girl, she was covered in blood, ruined beyond recognition." "Such things have been happening on and off for half a year now. Counting this one, that makes six cases already!" "Seven, if you include the one from the Fang family. Miss Fang was just fortunate—a passing disciple from Zhujige Pavilion saved her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have escaped that fate either." "Sigh, if even an illustrious family like the Fangs can't avoid such misfortune, what hope is there for ordinary folk like us?" Hearing them mention this, Fang Shuwen knitted his brows. He waved to call the waiter over and ordered two more pots of wine. Carrying the wine, he walked straight over to their table. The men had been deep in conversation. Sensing a stranger approach, they all looked up at him with suspicion in their eyes. Fang Shuwen put on an honest, rustic smile. "Greetings, brothers. I was sitting nearby and overheard you speaking about the Fang family. You sounded quite familiar with them. To tell the truth, I came into the city on my elder brother's recommendation to find work at the Fang residence. Hearing they are an illustrious household, I wanted to know what sort of character they have. That's why I took the liberty of interrupting. I hope you won't take offense, brothers." As he spoke, he set the pots of wine on the table. "Here, the drinks are on me."