Four Heavenly Gates

"Father..."

Outside the valley, Zhou Wenwu kept glancing back toward Hidden Valley. "You're sending my little sister to someone as a maid? What will happen to the Zhou Family's reputation if word gets out?"

"You're worrying too much. It's just an excuse. If you don't say anything and I don't say anything, who'll know that's Wenxin?"

Zhou Tong shook his head. "Your sister is far too unruly. She needs someone to tame her temper. It's all well and good while I'm around, but once I'm gone, she'll sooner or later bring trouble down on the Zhou Family!"

"But..."

Zhou Wenwu said, "I still don't think this is right. My sister's reputation... Wait, Father, you wouldn't happen to be..."

"Heh. The young Layman isn't that sort of person. Even if he were, what would I have to lose by gaining a fine son-in-law?"

Zhou Tong stroked his beard. "Your sister may be unruly, but she's not bad at heart. Besides, if they spend their days together, even if they don't fall in love, they'll at least become more familiar with each other. Who knows? She might even learn a few of his skills. That would be excellent!"

It seems Father thinks very highly of that young Layman.

Zhou Wenwu remained silent. In truth, he could see that Zhou Tong had made up his mind and would not be swayed, no matter how much he argued.

Besides, people in this world had different values. Giving a daughter or younger sister to a powerful man was an honor; if he accepted her, it meant he thought you worthy.

"Besides..."

Zhou Tong let out a long sigh. "Qingye City is perched on the edge of a knife. I have to find the Zhou Family a way out. Wenwu, you don't need to come back to the city with me. Go straight to Lieyang Commandery and visit your Third Aunt. Spend some time there."

Have things really reached this point?

Zhou Wenwu was struck with alarm. This was practically the same as entrusting his family to someone else. His anger flared. "When Song Yujie died, you were still gravely wounded, and our whole family was out in the Deep Mountain Old Forest. How could Song Zhong dare do anything?"

"If he were the man he used to be, he wouldn't. But now... who can say?"

Zhou Tong shook his head.

A man with nothing left to hope for was the most frightening. Song Zhong had lost his son in old age, and his only son at that. No one could say what that would do to his mind.

Besides, Song Zhong was an elder, while Zhou Tong was only an Outer Sect Steward—and from a rival faction, to boot.

If Song Zhong no longer cared whether he lived or died and decided to drag a crowd down with him, Zhou Tong would have no way to escape!

Zhou Tong's face darkened. He even suspected that the Song Family had most likely been behind the poisoning this time.

Of course, there was no need to tell Zhou Wenwu that.

"Then you should leave too, Father. We haven't done anything wrong, so we have nothing to fear!"

Zhou Wenwu shuddered. Song Zhong had broken through the Shang and Jing Gates and was a peerless expert at the Seventh Gate!

If he went on a rampage and slaughtered everyone in Qingye City, there'd be no one who could stop him. After all, this wasn't the site of the Gui Ling Sect.

"Leave?"

At that, a bitter smile appeared on Zhou Tong's face. "You and your sister can leave. I, your father, cannot."

These were only suspicions—the worst-case scenario. Perhaps things would never come to that.

If the entire Zhou Family moved away now, what would the people of Qingye City think?

If the Zhou Family retreated in the face of such a grave crisis, they could forget about making a living in Qingye City ever again.

Families were like beasts in this regard: they guarded their territory. Qingye City was undoubtedly the Zhou Family's domain. If people found that the Zhou Family couldn't protect them—or had fled in the face of danger—they would abandon the family, and another force would move in.

So the more dangerous things became, the less Zhou Tong could afford to leave.

"Don't worry. Song Zhong and I are members of the same sect, after all, and the Lin Family is here. He may not dare to cause trouble!"

Zhou Tong was anxious, but he still tried to reassure Zhou Wenwu.

Even he wanted to believe it. If he were absolutely certain that returning meant certain death, then with his cunning, he would never go back to throw his life away.

"Your father sent you to me as a maid?"

At the same time, Fang Yuan stared at Zhou Wenxin before him, utterly at a loss for words.

"I... I'm not..."

His words might have been better left unsaid. As soon as they left his mouth, Eldest Daughter Zhou Wenxin's eyes brimmed with tears.

When Fang Yuan stepped toward her, she retreated in terror, clutching her shoulders. "Y-you... What are you going to do? Don't come any closer!"

"Why do I feel like I've become some kind of villain?"

Fang Yuan rubbed his chin. "It's not that I'm interested in you. But even if I were going to act like a beast, isn't it only natural for a Young Master to want a maid?"

"Waaah..."

At that, Zhou Wenxin could no longer hold it in. Her shoulders shook as fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "You're awful... Waaah... You're bullying me again..."

"Miss, you're flattering yourself!"

Fang Yuan frowned. "I was actually planning to send you out of the mountains today."

"What?"

Her sobs stopped at once. Zhou Wenxin lifted her head and stared at Fang Yuan with tear-blurred eyes.

She had assumed that, falling into the hands of this little thief, she would be humiliated. But she never expected Fang Yuan to think so little of her that he planned to kick her out outright!

In an instant, her fear vanished, replaced by a feeling of humiliation.

Just a moment ago, she had thought that being someone's maid was the greatest humiliation in the world. Now she realized that there was something worse: wanting to be someone's slave and not even being wanted.

"You don't want to leave?"

Fang Yuan was genuinely curious now. "Would you rather I take advantage of you?"

"I... I..."

Zhou Wenxin gritted her silver teeth, wishing she could run up and bite the smug brat to death.

But she remembered her father's instructions the previous night, the crisis in Qingye City, and, most of all, his stern warning at the end. She drew a breath. "I'm not leaving!"

"Hm?"

Her attitude immediately gave Fang Yuan a whiff of something unusual. Is this a dying man's last request? It seems Song Yujie's death has had an even greater impact than I imagined!

"You can stay in this desolate wilderness as long as you like, but take this warning: don't set foot in Hidden Valley. If you do, you'll be responsible for what happens to you!"

Fang Yuan decided to go back and think things over. For now, he gave her a warning.

The Flower Fox Ferret had no regard for a pretty face. If the young lady really tried to pry into the secrets of Hidden Valley, it would show no mercy.

By then, this delicate young lady would likely end up as a heap of flower fertilizer.

"I can't enter the valley?"

Eldest Daughter Zhou looked at the surrounding Deep Mountain Old Forest and listened to the distant howls of beasts. A shiver ran through her before she stubbornly retorted, "Fine! I won't go in!"

"Good!"

Fang Yuan turned and left, abandoning Zhou Wenxin where she stood.

There were tents and other things left behind by the Zhou Family when they camped here. She wouldn't freeze or starve to death anytime soon, so Fang Yuan didn't bother himself with her.

As for this talk of a maid, what fool would take it seriously and invite a heap of trouble for himself?

"She still hasn't left?"

Before he knew it, the sun was sinking westward, and the gathering shadows spread wider.

Fang Yuan was studying the Iron Cloth Shirt manual, unconsciously practicing its movements as he read. When the Flower Fox Ferret arrived, he asked casually.

The Flower Fox Ferret shook its head with a remarkably human gesture.

"Phew... It seems things in Qingye City really are a little troublesome..."

Fang Yuan rose and let out a long breath, murmuring as he gazed toward Qingye City.

Zhou Tong had stubbornly left his daughter here for no reason other than to seek protection—and perhaps to build a connection while he was at it.

Once he saw through that, Fang Yuan knew what to do.

If this gift pleased him, he'd shelter the girl for a few days, then send her back to the city. If it didn't, he could send her away immediately. He could do as he pleased. What could Zhou Tong do about it?

"This Iron Cloth Shirt..."

With his thoughts settled, Fang Yuan began carefully considering the cultivation technique he had acquired.

He was now at least a minor martial artist who had broken through four gates, and he had the Gui Ling Heart Method to rely on. Though it was missing a few key parts, it was still a profound manual from the Gui Ling Sect. It certainly wouldn't lie about basic martial arts knowledge or how the realms were divided.

With that confidence, Fang Yuan could rule out the possibility that Zhou Tong had tampered with the Iron Cloth Shirt.

"The Black Sand Palm and Hard Qi Skill I have now can only be cultivated up to the Fifth Gate. After that, I'll have to find new techniques. But the Iron Cloth Shirt is different!"

A strange light flickered in Fang Yuan's eyes. "Paired with the Eagle Claw Skill, it forms the Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt, which can be cultivated all the way to the Great Perfection of the Twelve Gates of Golden Lock and Heavy Tower!"

That alone was enough for Fang Yuan to accept Zhou Tong's request to shelter his daughter.

After all, this was far too important to his growth in strength.

It was like a pillow delivered just as sleepiness struck. Even with the life-saving favor already owed, this gift was still extraordinary.

"After the first eight gates of the Twelve Gates of Golden Lock and Heavy Tower come the Four Heavenly Gates, divided into Yin, Yang, Earth, and Heaven. At the very end, breaking through the Heaven Gate means ascending to Martial Ancestor!"

"The Gui Ling Heart Method hints at this, but the Iron Cloth Shirt doesn't mention it at all. Clearly, it's one rank lower and contains no method for reaching Martial Ancestor!"

"But the Iron Cloth Shirt is more than enough for me right now! Of course, I can't neglect the Black Sand Palm either. I'll raise it to the Fifth Layer as soon as possible, then focus all my efforts on practicing the Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt!"

Fang Yuan made his decision.

For other martial artists, switching techniques and practicing new skills was like dripping water wearing through stone. They had to take their time and hone their skills slowly; there was no rushing it.

But for Fang Yuan, it was just a matter of proficiency. A few more repetitions and he'd have it down.

The next morning, he looked at the proficiency bar, which had nearly filled another tenth, and felt rather pleased. "If only I could spend another year quietly farming! Then the Song Family and the Gui Ling Sect would all have to stand aside!"

"Chirp!"

The Flower Fox Ferret suddenly appeared in a streak of white, gesturing with its little paws.

"Oh? Something happened to the young lady outside the valley?"

Fang Yuan thought for a moment, grabbed a towel, and wiped away his sweat before heading to the camp outside the valley.

He saw Zhou Wenxin curled up in a corner, holding two fire strikers over a pile of kindling and shivering, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get a spark.

"Pfft!"

At the sight, Fang Yuan couldn't help laughing. Zhou Tong really was rather adorable.

Sending this young lady to serve as his maid was pure wishful thinking. It would already be a great accomplishment if she could take care of herself.