Chapter 85 Fang Zheng

“Fang Zheng, hurry up!”

“Okay, Okay.”

“Huh? There’s a Bookworm in that showcase!”

Fang Zheng and Gu Yue Jin Zhu soon arrived at the section of the caravan specializing in Gu Worms. There were hardly any tents here. Instead, rows of temporary wooden huts had been built to serve as shops.

The Jia Clan’s Toad Caravan was ultimately only one of many merchant caravans. Only Gu Masters with wealth and status comparable to clan elders could afford to use Gu houses as shops. Most merchants simply did not possess such resources, so the majority of shops selling Gu were temporary wooden structures.

Inside each shop stood several showcase cabinets resembling large wooden boxes. Their surfaces were covered by a thin translucent membrane that rippled like water. The shopkeepers could freely reach through this membrane to retrieve the Gu inside, but customers could not.

Most of the Gu on display were common Rank One Gu, such as Golden Silk Gu, Golden Light Gu, and Spark Gu. Rare Gu and those at Rank Two or above were too valuable to be openly displayed. If a customer wished to see one, they had to ask the shopkeeper, who would retrieve it from a specially protected cabinet.

Security was equally strict. Every shop was guarded by at least three Gu Masters, all possessing Rank One upper stage or peak stage cultivation. With several guards watching both the customers and products, they could respond immediately if someone tried to steal a Gu worm or caused trouble.

The number of customers allowed inside was also restricted. Only around ten people could enter at once, while everyone else had to wait outside.

“This Gu is so beautiful.”

“This one looks good too. Isn’t that the Golden Silk Gu the academy elder told us about?”

“Is it really? Could you bring it out and let us take a closer look?”

“Of course.”

After entering the shop, Fang Zheng and Jin Zhu immediately found themselves surrounded by all kinds of Gu. Metal Path, Wood Path, Water Path, Fire Path, Earth Path, Wind Path, Thunder Path, Light Path… almost every common path had something present here.

With Jin Zhu beside him, Fang Zheng gathered his courage and tried to appear calm as he asked the shopkeeper to bring out several uncommon Rank One Gu and even a few Rank Two Gu for them to examine.

Although Fang Zheng was now recognized as the clan’s only A-grade genius, he was still an inexperienced youth who had rarely seen the world beyond Qing Mao Mountain. Whenever he was unsure how to behave, he unconsciously recalled how his older brother used to speak and act, then awkwardly tried to imitate Fang Yuan’s former composure.

As for Rank Three and Rank Four Gu, the caravan naturally possessed some, but such valuable Gu would never be sold from an ordinary wooden shop. Most were kept within heavily protected Gu houses, where only customers with sufficient wealth and status would be received.

Rank Five Gu worms were another matter entirely. Even the entire Toad Caravan did not have any for sale.

After all, the Gu Yue Clan was one of the three major clans of Qing Mao Mountain, yet even they did not possess a Rank Five Gu.

Although both the first-generation and fourth-generation clan leaders of the Gu Yue Clan had reached Rank Five, neither had managed to leave behind a Rank Five Gu for their descendants.

The first-generation clan leader had fought a fierce battle against the Rank Five Blood River Python and suffered fatal injuries, eventually dying beneath the clan burial grounds. The fourth-generation clan leader, meanwhile, had died while defending the clan against a Rank Five demonic Gu Master, the Flower Wine Monk.

The Flower Wine Monk was a notorious flower thief who had committed countless crimes and possessed considerable fame within the demonic path. Hundreds of years ago, he came to Qing Mao Mountain and attempted to cause trouble within Gu Yue Village, only for his actions to be discovered by the fourth-generation clan leader.

According to the Gu Yue Clan’s records, the two fought an earth-shaking battle. The Flower Wine Monk was eventually defeated and forced to his knees, begging for mercy. The compassionate fourth-generation clan leader intended to spare him, but the Flower Wine Monk suddenly launched a sneak attack and severely injured him.

Enraged by this treachery, the fourth-generation clan leader killed the Flower Wine Monk on the spot. Unfortunately, his own injuries were too severe, and he died soon afterward.

Of course, this was merely the history recorded by the Gu Yue Clan. The truth of what had happened back then was completely different.

One thing, however, was certain. With the death of the fourth-generation clan leader, his only Rank Five Gu had also disappeared. Combined with the tremendous difficulty of refining Rank Five Gu, even the Gu Yue Clan, the dominant force of Qing Mao Mountain, did not possess a single Rank Five Gu today.

“I had so much fun today. Fang Zheng, thanks for coming with me!” Jin Zhu walked ahead with light steps, clearly in a good mood.

Fang Zheng followed behind her, scratching his head with a troubled expression. Why did so many things go wrong today? I clearly remember Brother taking me around the caravan when we were younger and doing all these things without any trouble. Why am I so bad at it when I try the same thing?

Lost in thought, Fang Zheng failed to notice that Jin Zhu had suddenly stopped and walked straight into her.

“Sorry! I wasn’t looking…” Fang Zheng hurriedly apologized, only for his attention to suddenly shift past her. “Huh? Is that my brother?”