Probing

"After the Zhou Family was annihilated, two families rose in Qingye City: the Zhang Family and the Guo Family... I've heard of the Zhang Family before; they were somewhat known previously, and this time they've accumulated strength and are finally making their move... Judging by Zhang Han's conduct, it's clear the Zhang Family patriarch is a cunning strategist... There's also the Guo Family, which has risen incredibly fast; I don't know why."

The mountain forest was lush and green.

Fang Yuan's mind wandered as his figure moved swiftly.

Ever since he broke through the six barriers and cultivated Eagle Claw Internal Energy, all his abilities had been enhanced to some degree.

For example, by channeling his internal energy to his feet, he naturally ran faster than ordinary people. This wasn't a Lightness Skill, but it was the simplest application.

With this aid, Fang Yuan now moved through the mountain forest as if on level ground.

"Huh?"

However, when he reached the valley entrance, he found a Black Shadow kneeling there stiffly.

"Young Master Zhou, why would you do this?"

Fang Yuan stepped forward and saw that the kneeling figure was haggard and young. It was none other than Zhou Wenwu of the Zhou Family.

"Divine Doctor Fang? You... you're not in the valley?"

Upon seeing Fang Yuan, Zhou Wenwu's previously vacant eyes lit up. He then kowtowed heavily again, his forehead turning a bloody red, flesh breaking to reveal bone. "Thank you for your immense kindness, young master, for avenging my family's Sea of Blood Deep Grudge!"

The annihilation of the Zhou Family was entirely the work of Song Zhong.

Fang Yuan had saved Zhou Wenwu's life, then escorted him all the way to Qinghe Commandery to testify against Song Zhong, and finally, he had personally killed the enemy.

This immense kindness was worthy of a kowtow.

He frowned, allowing Zhou Wenwu to continue. After a pause, he asked, "The past is all in the past. Young Master Zhou, what are your plans now?"

"To be frank!"

Zhou Wenwu straightened his back, a stubborn expression on his face. "I am untalented, but I have already been favored by the Sect Leader, who has transferred my father's Steward position to me!"

Strictly speaking, there was a significant gap between Zhou Wenwu and Zhou Tong, but this was a form of compensation, and it could be negotiated.

"I have volunteered to come to Qingye City to take charge!"

Zhou Wenwu clenched his fists. "I will certainly rebuild my family's foundation here!"

"So that's how it is!"

Fang Yuan nodded. Borrowing the Gui Ling Sect's Tiger Skin, Zhou Wenwu had played a clever move.

However, the next steps wouldn't be so easy. How could the newly emerging Lin, Zhang, and Guo families be persuaded to step back?

Especially since these families had secretly benefited greatly from the Zhou Family's demise, their hands were not entirely clean.

Fang Yuan estimated that Qingye City would not be peaceful for a long time to come.

"Then I wish Young Master Zhou success!"

Bang!

Zhou Wenwu kowtowed heavily again. "You have shown great kindness to me and the Zhou Family. In the future, if you have any commands, just let Wenwu know, and Wenwu will go through fire and water, serve you like a beast of burden, and spare no effort!"

Fang Yuan smiled slightly upon hearing this. "No need, no need. Young Master Zhou, take care of yourself. This deep mountain is humble, and I cannot host you. Please return!"

After speaking, he entered the Secluded Valley without regard for Zhou Wenwu.

Seeing Fang Yuan's retreating back, a flicker of disappointment crossed Zhou Wenwu's eyes, yet he remained kneeling straight.

This Zhou Wenwu... he's quite thoughtful!

Fang Yuan returned to his simple dwelling, put down his supplies, and summoned the Flower Fox Ferret. Confirming that Zhou Wenwu was merely kneeling at the valley entrance, he couldn't be bothered to pay him any further attention.

The man knew his capabilities and naturally wouldn't dare to offend him.

Furthermore, the words spoken earlier contained hidden meanings, essentially implying that if the Zhou Family were to rise again, he would willingly serve as Fang Yuan's subordinate.

"Supporting external forces? The Zhou Family... starting from scratch, the cost would be too great..."

Fang Yuan shook his head.

Even if he had the ability to help the Zhou Family rise again, it would be mentally taxing and exhausting, not worth the effort.

Moreover, if he wanted external forces, why would he need the Zhou Family?

Wasn't the Zhang Family quite accommodating before, lowering themselves and showing goodwill?

"Hmm... Overall, the cost is too high, and the benefits are too small. It's not suitable!"

Fang Yuan shook his head and continued to mix his 'Fire Returning Liquid' and inspect the plantation on his own.

Night deepened.

The mountain wind was cold, and the ground was bone-chillingly icy.

Zhou Wenwu knelt stubbornly, watching the lights in the valley gradually extinguish, feeling lost.

He was confident he had offered the greatest stake, even betting himself, yet Fang Yuan had no intention of engaging with him, directly closing the valley and refusing visitors, showing his mind was made up.

Such a person wouldn't even frown if he were to die kneeling here.

Furthermore, as a bloodline of the Zhou Family, with the responsibility of continuation, would Zhou Wenwu truly kneel here to his death, allowing the Zhou Family to end without heirs?

The moon slowly crossed the courtyard.

In the dead of night, Zhou Wenwu let out a long sigh, his body stiff. After tossing and turning for a long time, he finally stood up again, cast a deep glance at Secluded Valley, and limped away, disappearing into the dense forest.

However, he didn't notice that after he left, two figures in black emerged from a clump of nearby vegetation.

"Heh, a lone wolf, still trying to regain his glory? Doesn't he know the Zhou Family is a thing of the past?"

One of them sneered.

"The Zhou Family may be gone, but it's only been a short time. Many relationships and connections remain, especially regaining the Gui Ling Sect's recognition. That's no small matter!"

The other retorted, "If it weren't for the fear of the Zhou Family's resurgence, why would the Family Head send us to monitor this person?"

"That makes sense. Then why don't we just make a move and finish him off in these mountains and forests, once and for all!"

The first person's eyes held a cruel glint.

"Are you crazy?"

The other man in black was startled. "This person is already a Steward of the Gui Ling Sect. After Zhou Tong's death, even Song Zhong, a Seventh Gate Elder, couldn't handle it and lost his life. Do you think you're better than Song Zhong? And you want to kill another one?"

The first man was silenced by this remark.

After a long pause, he slowly said, "Fortunately, the master of Secluded Valley didn't agree to come out of seclusion to help. Otherwise, with righteousness and strength combined, our Guo Family would have had some trouble dealing with them."

"Exactly... But the Zhang Family's actions before were laughable. They were so subservient to a mere physician who knew a little martial arts. It's disgusting!"

"Their family is, after all, from a merchant background, valuing harmony for profit. My family, however, relies on martial arts! All disciples in the family must practice martial arts to strengthen themselves once they turn nine. We already have many skilled individuals at the fourth and fifth gates, not to mention... the Ancestor!"

As they reached the last few words, both men in black lowered their voices, their expressions filled with reverence.

"As long as the Ancestor is here, our Guo Family will surely rise rapidly, becoming the foremost noble family in Qingye City, and even advance to the prefectural city!"

"Hmph, if it weren't for fearing to stick out like a sore thumb, it would be easy for us to dominate Qingye City right now."

The man in black said with considerable pride.

"There are many talented individuals among the martial arts world. Take Secluded Valley, for example. The former Heart-Questioning Hermit, and later the divine physician Fang Yuan, not only have superb medical skills but also unfathomable martial arts. If they were enemies, they would definitely be a huge obstacle to our progress!"

The other sighed leisurely. The two men in black exchanged glances, both feeling eager. "How about... we test the waters first?"

Although it was just a fleeting thought, once it sprouted, they unconsciously took a step forward.

"We're both hidden, and we're both skilled at the second gate. At the very least, we can escape..."

Whoosh, whoosh!

Two black shadows quickly darted into the valley entrance and arrived outside the simple dwelling.

'This is the legendary Secluded Valley? It looks so ordinary, so common...'

A hint of disdain flashed in one of the men in black's eyes as he muttered.

But before he could finish, a streak of white light appeared before his eyes.

"Hiss hiss!"

"Ah!"

Piercing screams echoed and reverberated within Secluded Valley.

"What... what kind of monster is that!"

The other man in black quickly retreated, only to see his companion lying on the ground, his wrist severed and bleeding profusely.

"Hiss hiss!"

Before them stood a creature as white as snow, resembling a large dog... a White Sable?

"An... Exotic Beast?!"

The man in black's voice trembled with extreme fear, and he deeply regretted his decision.

'So the reason Secluded Valley is so mysterious and terrifying is that it keeps an Exotic Beast to guard the house?'

Unlike their tension, the Flower Fox Ferret leisurely groomed its snow-white fur, occasionally letting out a bark.

Creak!

The door to the simple dwelling opened, and Fang Yuan yawned, his eyes narrowed. He looked at the two men in black. "More peeping Toms? It seems I've been too high-profile recently... I must give the external noble families a bloody warning this time, or things will only get more troublesome in the future..."

"You're Fang Yuan!"

The man in black's eyes darted around. "Why did you unleash your beast to attack us?"

"Attack? Haha..."

Fang Yuan chuckled, as if hearing a ridiculous joke. "You trespassed into the valley with malicious intent, and now you're blaming me? Truly, the stupidity is endless!"

"Brain-dead?!"

The two men in black exchanged glances. Though they didn't quite understand, they knew it wasn't a compliment. Their eyes were filled with ferocity.

They knew very well that the White Sable was incredibly fast, like lightning, and there was no escape in the forest.

Their only chance of survival lay in capturing Fang Yuan, the owner!

Even though the rumors were all over town, before seeing Fang Yuan's martial arts for themselves, they still held a sliver of hope in their hearts.

"If we need to keep them alive, it looks like I'll have to handle this myself!"

Fang Yuan ignored the glint in their eyes and gracefully stepped down. "Come on, don't say I didn't give you a chance!"

"Kill!"

The two men in black exchanged glances. Even the person with the severed hand let out a wild roar and lunged forward, launching a series of kicks that seemed to vanish mid-air.

"Fierce Tiger Palm!"

"Shadowless Leg!"

A dense storm of palm strikes and leg sweeps rushed towards him. Fang Yuan neither dodged nor evaded. He took a deep breath, and his skin immediately took on a dark, bluish hue.

Bang! Bang!

Muffled thuds echoed continuously, like raindrops on banana leaves.

When everything finally stopped, the two men in black were panting like oxen, staring at Fang Yuan's standing figure in terror, extreme fear in their eyes. "Iron Cloth Shirt Sixth Layer—Inner Family Master!!! To be this strong?!"