Chapter 329

Three demonic Gu Masters fit their own half token to the young stall owner’s and, remembering their ancestor’s order to repay whoever held it, offer him their help. He claims he lacks subordinates, and the three kneel and swear him twenty years of service before going free. Over those years he lives off them and never learns to fend for himself; once they leave, too proud to beg, he dies within half a month. The narration then places this in Fang Yuan’s previous life: the three brothers have not yet found the half token, which would only happen next year, and it already sits in Fang Yuan’s hands instead. ^{ch. 329}

Fang Yuan leads Bai Ning Bing and Shang Xin Ci straight to the three brothers’ own stall. All three, sons of the Xiong clan, have lost to Fang Yuan or Bai Ning Bing before at the battle stage. Xiong Tu, the eldest, is short and honest, an earth path Gu Master at rank three upper stage. Xiong Huo, bare-chested and red-bodied, fights fire path at rank three middle stage. Xiong Feng, the youngest, wears a bamboo hat and squints with sharp eyes, wind path at rank three initial stage. Fang Yuan tells them he has given up his own place on the battle stage to help Shang Xin Ci, and asks the three to join her too. ^{ch. 329}

The brothers are unwilling. All three hold B grade aptitude, and their combined strike can temporarily match a rank four Gu Master, but they have watched Fang Yuan defeat Ju Kai Bei and know that even united they could not beat him. When Xiong Feng tries to decline, citing their love of freedom, Fang Yuan’s eyes flash cold, and Xiong Tu hastily claims his brother misspoke and that they are glad to serve. Fang Yuan then tosses Xiong Tu the half token he took from the stall. Fitted to their own half, it kindles an illusory fire, and the brothers recall their grandfather’s order to honor the debt to whoever holds it, even an enemy. They kneel to Shang Xin Ci and pledge twenty years of service to repay it. ^{ch. 329}

The group of six moves on to the slave market, a trade in Shang clan city that only clansmen may run, overseen by elder Shang Bu Li. At a cage holding people from a defeated faction of Wei clan, sold off after its former leader was overthrown by his own younger brother, the Gu Master in charge warns Shang Xin Ci against buying them. Wei clan’s political turmoil is said to trace back to Shang Yan Fei, and taking them on would be trouble for anyone competing for the young master’s position. Fang Yuan answers simply that they are buying everyone in the cage. ^{ch. 329}