The new day greets you with a surprise arrival: early in the morning, you find a giant humanoid monster of gray flesh beyond the tribe walls. Dozens of tribesmen are already alert, their weapons drawn. They try to appear fierce and prepared, but it's clear that the intruder's appearance has startled them greatly. The sight of their own brethren, another tribesman, beaten and bruised in the giant's grasp doesn't help either.

"Senior ${polite_address} ${mc_name}, you are even more resourceful than I imagined!" — Yuan Fang exclaims, his unbendable body giving you a slight bow — "Our mission just started, yet you already have managed to capture a tribe. Very remarkable." 

*choice
	#"Of course, I'm ${mc_surname} ${mc_name}, after all. The greatest talent to ever walk the Martial World."
		"Of course." — you say, unable to keep the smugness out of your voice — "I'm ${mc_surname} ${mc_name}, after all. The greatest talent to ever walk the Martial World."
		
		Yuan Fang lets out laugh that he quickly stifles. 
		
		"I know of a few who would disagree with such a boisterous statement." — he comments. Before you can retort, however, he raises his hands and gives you a warm smile — "Of course, Senior ${polite_address} ${mc_name} certainly possesses the qualifications to believe that."
		
		Snorting, you cross your arms.
		
		"What are you doing here?"
	#"Thank you for the compliment."
		"Thank you for the compliment." — you say, giving him a bow in return — "Brother Fang is just as impressive."
		
		Yuan Fang chuckles, waving his hand.
		
		"Please, Brother ${mc_name}, you flatter me too much. The difference between us is vast and  unsurmountable, enough to form a sea of inequality."
		
		You smile in return, shaking your head.
		
		"What brings you here, Brother Fang?"
	#"I just got lucky."
		"I just got lucky, that's all." — you say, giving him a bow in return — "It was hardly my achievement." 
		
		Yuan Fang chuckles, waving his hand.
		
		"Luck is its own talent as well. Many wish to have it, yet only a few are qualified to possess the blessings of the Heavens." 
		
		You smile in return, shaking your head.
		
		"What brings you here, Brother Fang?"
	#"What are you doing here?"
		Warily, you cross your arms.
		
		"What you doing here?" — you ask, not bothering to hide your hostile, questioning tone.
		
		Seeing your attitude, Yuan Fang's expression grows colder as well.

"I have to apologize, Senior ${polite_address}. I was teleported into the vicinity and had been exploring the jungle for last few days, when I stumbled upon a trio of tribal hunters. I killed two of them and… interrogated the last one. If I knew they were your people, I would not have acted so rashly."

He frees his captive from his hold and pushes him, gently, towards the wooden walls. The tribesman stumbles, falling onto his knees, obviously disoriented and hurt. Still, he looks up, meets your gaze, and you see the plain as day remorse and self-hate in his gaze. He had, after all, revealed crucial information about the tribe to an outsider — one, who could've been a murderous enemy.

*choice
	#Let the tribesman in.
		You gesture two other tribesmen to come out and carry the ex-captive into the safety of the wooden walls. 
		
		Once inside, the wounded man apologizes profusely, thanking you for showing mercy.  You order him carried away and treated by the local healer. 
	#Let the tribesman in, but punish him afterwards.
		You gesture two other tribesmen to come out and carry the ex-captive into the safety of the wooden walls. 
		
		Once inside, the wounded man starts to profusely apologize, but you put a swift stop to his excuses.
		
		"Once you are healed, you will suffer a punishment of a hundred whips." — you declare — "From now on, all the dangerous missions and the most deadly of duties would be yours to undertake." 
		
		Once Goshan translates your command, the tribesman goes pale. Still, he doesn't dare to refuse, thanking you for your mercy instead.
		
		You order him carried away and treated. 
	#Order him to be shot by arrows.
		Such traitors cannot be allowed to live. They set a bad example, make your appear weak. You call out to the archers hidden in the trees and swing down your head. They hesitate, but only for a moment: soon, dozens of arrows descend upon the wounded and already in pain tribesman. They pierce his flesh, some even cutting into bone, and do not even give him an opportunity to scream as his life ends in an instant. 

"Now," —  you turn to Yuan Fang — "What is it you want here?"

The Immortal Zombie clasps his hands. 

"I wish to stay with your tribe, of course." — he answers — "We, disciples of the same sect, should stick together."

"I imagine I can be helpful, especially considering the apparent goal of this Danger Zone." 

*label fang_choice
*choice
	*hide_reuse #"And the real reason?"
		"I will not even consider it, unless you tell me the real reason."
		
		"I was telling you the truth, Senior ${polite_address}." — Yuan Fang sighs — "There are dangerous things roaming this land. Already, I've seen beasts I would be incapable of handling. It's much safer to find strength in numbers."
		
		"Believe me, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}, I may be the first, but there will definitely be more 'outsiders' joining you soon."
		
		"And if you forbid them entry," — Yuan Fang smirks — "Well, they would have to find another tribe to stay in, then."
		
		*page_break
		"So? Am I allowed to join?"
		
		*goto fang_choice
		
		
	#"Of course, Brother Fang, you're welcome to stay."
		*comment raise relationship/change var yuan fang joins
		"Of course, Brother Fang!" — you clasp your hands as well — "You're more than welcome to stay! Your help will be greatly appreciated."
		
		*label fang_joins
		*set expo_yuanfang true
		
		"I appreciate it, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}. You can count on me, if the need arises." 
		
		*goto end_event
	#"You killed my people. You'll have to compensate for that."
		"You killed my people." — you state — "Although unintentional, you'll have to compensate for that."
		
		"Of course." — Yuan Fang produces a pouch from his spatial ring — "Three thousand gold would be sufficient for this offense, I hope."
		
		*choice
			#"Alright."
				*set mc_gold +3000
				"Alright." — you say — "You're welcome to stay then."
				
				*goto fang_joins
			#"No. The price for your transgressions is your life." 
				"No." — you sneer — "The price for your transgressions is your life."
				
				"You can't be serious, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}. You wish to form a grudge with me due to these savages?"
				
				"Have you looked in a mirror, Brother Fang?" — you retort — "These savages look far more human than you do."
				
				You charge at him, but Yuan Fang, with utter ease, grabs you by the shoulders and flings you away. The force behind his throw is so great, you tumble through the air, unable to stop. 
				
				*goto fang_prepared
	#"No. I don't trust you."
		"No." — you shake your head — "I'm sorry, Brother Fang, but I do not trust you."
		
		"Oh?" — Yuan Fang tilts his head — "I wonder what it is I've done that broke Senior ${polite_address} belief in me."
		
		"Very well," — he continues — "If that is your decision, then I can only abide. Goodbye, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}." 
		
		*page_break
		*goto end_event
	#Let him in, then attack him.
		*comment make dishonorable/enemies with Yuan Fang
		"Of course, Brother Fang!" — you clasp your hands as well — "You're more than welcome to stay! Your help will be greatly appreciated."
		
		"I appreciate it, ${polite_address} ${mc_name}. You can count on me, if the need arises."
		
		"Haha, I'd do that! Brother Fang is very exceptional, who wouldn't use his assistance?" 
		
		Once Yuan Fang walks past you, you pat him on the shoulder in a friendly gesture — that turns into a iron-clad grip, as you position your legs and try to trip him. 
		
		Soon, however, it becomes apparent that Yuan Fang is not surprised by your betrayal. And, what's even more important, you fail to move him at all. Instead, he picks you up with one hand and flings you away. The force behind his throw is so great, you tumble through the air, unable to stop. 
		
		*label fang_prepared
		
		"You really thought I'd come unprepared?" —
		*if mc_reputation_honor <= 40
			he laughs — "Everyone's aware of your shameless reputation. You did not expect me to trust you whole-heartedly, did you?"
		*elseif 			mc_reputation_honor >= 60
			he laughs — "Though I must say, I believed someone as honorable as you would not stoop so low as to attack a fellow disciple."
		
		That's when you finally notice: the unmistakable smell of burnt talisman paper. And so thick as well… just how many talismans did Yuan Fang use?! 
		
		Immortal Zombie looks around, finding the growing number of tribesmen alarming.
		
		"I really had no nefarious thoughts." — Yuan Fang says — "But if you insist on being enemies, I will grant you your wish."
		
		He kneels, placing a hand on the ground, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
		
		[b]Heroic Frog Art — Sky Leap!"[/b]
		
		The ground trembles as his legs grow green, and Yuan Fang leaps countless feet both forward and up, traversing far too much of a distance with a single jump for you to follow.
		
		You shake off the dirt from your robe, infuriated. That bastard was hiding his strength — but how much of it still remains in obscurity?
		
		*goto end_event
	#Attack him.
		"I'm sorry, Brother Fang, but I can't accept you into the tribe." — you say — "And I can't let you leave either."
		
		Yuan Fang squints his eyes, squaring up.
		
		"What do you plan to do then?"
		
		You respond, but not with words: you take two steps, climbing the wooden walls, before you push yourself off them and fly at your fellow Martial Brother, your fist full of Inner Energy.
		
		Yuan Fang, however, is not caught off-guard. He crosses his arms in a well-timed block and when your punch connects, you realize he hasn't moved at all. Instead, he grabs you with one hand and flings you away. The force behind his throw is so great, you tumble through the air, unable to stop. 
		
		*goto fang_prepared

*label end_event
*page_break
*goto_scene expedition_free