Biodata
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Fang Family (方家) |
| Affiliation | Qingcheng, Great Zhou |
| Status | Exterminated by imperial decree; 59 family members and servants were executed for Fang Xiang's collusion with demons and monsters 26 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 8 |
Background / History
The Fang Family was a prominent Qingcheng clan associated with County Magistrate Fang Youting. Fang Youting had governed Qingcheng for fifteen years, revitalizing the border town through wasteland reclamation and irrigation works. He twice refused promotion edicts to remain in Qingcheng, earning strong support from its residents 3 4.
The family maintained enough influence to employ numerous martial retainers, including more than ten said to have entered its service out of gratitude for Fang Youting's past life-saving assistance 17.
Its downfall began with the exposure of Fang Youting's eldest son, Fang Xiang, who secretly worked with demons. Fang merchant convoys reportedly transported people from Qingcheng out of the city at night, using citizens as bargaining chips in Fang Xiang's dealings with demons 9. Fang Xiang was revealed as an Eighth-Rank Mid Stage Half-Demon and was executed by Wei Qing 9.
Following Fang Xiang's death, Fang Manor was sealed and its inhabitants confined pending an Imperial Court verdict 10. The Court ultimately applied Great Zhou's law against demon collusion, sentencing the Fang Family's nine generations of kin and their household servants to execution 18.
Known Members
- Fang Youting — Qingcheng County Magistrate and Fang Xiang's father; a respected official whose public service did not prevent the clan's punishment 3 10.
- Fang Xiang — Fang Youting's eldest son; colluded with demons, trafficked Qingcheng residents, and became a Half-Demon before his execution 8 9.
- Madam Fang — Fang Xiang's mother; fainted after witnessing her son's execution 9.
- Fang Youren — Fang Youting's younger brother; held the highest seniority among the clan after Fang Youting's imprisonment and led its attempted resistance to arrest 18.
- Fang Changyou — A younger Fang family member who defended Fang Youting's branch when relatives proposed sacrificing it to save the wider clan 18.
- Fang Changshan — Fang Youren's son; advocated placing blame on Fang Youting's branch and later resisted arrest fiercely 18 25.
Reputation in Qingcheng
Before Fang Xiang's crimes became public, the Fang Family benefited from Fang Youting's standing as Qingcheng's “good official.” Residents remembered him for building infrastructure, punishing corrupt merchants, assisting disaster victims, and remaining in office despite persistent demon threats 3 4 10.
Fang Xiang maintained a similarly benevolent public image. He distributed porridge at the City God Temple, aided commoners at the market, and appeared to help search for missing residents—while secretly participating in their trafficking to demons 10.
When victims' belongings were found in Fang Xiang's room, public sympathy for the family turned to outrage. Fang Manor became a target of curses and attacks by victims' relatives, though yamen runners prevented mob violence 10 13.
Downfall
Exposure and confinement
Zhu Huan informed Wei Qing that Fang Xiang had been meeting a Half-Demon in secret and using Fang Family merchant convoys to transport people out of Qingcheng 9. Wei Qing confronted Fang Xiang at Fang Manor, exposed his demonic transformation, and executed him after he attempted to flee and then pleaded for mercy 9.
Wei Qing ordered Fang Manor sealed, prohibited anyone from leaving, and detained Fang Youting while awaiting the Imperial Court's judgment 10. Some household servants later attempted to force their way out; Wei Qing executed their ringleader and compelled the rest to return to the manor 13.
Imperial judgment and resistance
The Imperial Court ruled that Fang Xiang's confirmed demon collusion constituted treason. The Fang Family's nine generations of kin, along with its household servants, were ordered arrested and executed 18.
Inside the manor, clan members argued over whether Fang Youting's branch should bear responsibility alone. Fang Changyou condemned the proposal, while Fang Youren endorsed sacrificing that branch as the clan's possible means of survival 18.
When the arrest began, Fang Youren ordered the family's martial artists and guards to resist. Wei Qing killed the resisting martial artists, including several Ninth-Rank fighters and an Early Eighth-Rank martial artist, after which the remaining prisoners surrendered 18 19.
Execution
Wei Qing oversaw the public execution at Qingcheng's eastern execution grounds. Fang Youting appealed for mercy for his three-year-old grandson but was refused because the sentence had been issued by imperial decree 25.
Fang Changshan and Fang Youren were among those beheaded. The executions continued until all fifty-nine Fang Family members and servants had been killed 25 26.
The bodies were ordered buried in the mass grave east of the city, with public mourning forbidden under penalty of being treated as an accomplice. Zhu Huan quietly arranged for Fang Youting and his young grandson to be buried separately and with proper care 26.
Relationships
- Fang Youting — The family's most respected public figure; his reputation and service to Qingcheng were destroyed by Fang Xiang's crimes 3 10.
- Fang Xiang — His demon collusion and trafficking of Qingcheng citizens directly triggered the clan's extermination 9 12.
- Wei Qing — Heavenly Realm Division Warden who exposed Fang Xiang, confined the manor, suppressed resistance, and supervised the executions 9 10 25.
- Qingcheng residents — Initially loyal to Fang Youting and unaware of Fang Xiang's crimes; many turned against the family after victims' possessions were recovered 10 19.
- Zhu Huan — Assisted Wei Qing in guarding Fang Manor, enforcing the confinement order, and administering the aftermath of the execution 10 13 26.