Reborn as Murong Fu: This time I am the protagonist

Chapter 553 The visitor is evil

The richly dressed servant took the small flag and took a closer look. He couldn't help but gasp: on the half-foot-wide black flag, there was a "swallow" character embroidered in gold thread.

It is the Black Swallow Banner, which symbolizes the power of the family. In the entire Murong family, only the four major lords have the right to issue the Black Swallow Banner, which symbolizes the Murong family. The Black Swallow Banner embroidered with gold thread is only qualified to be held by the legendary lord of the family, the young Southern Murong, who is said to be elusive and rarely seen.

The brocade-clad servant had been with Golden Wind Manor for almost ten years, and this was the first time he had ever seen the Black Swallow Banner, which symbolized the identity of the family head. He was immediately excited and quickly knelt on one knee to pay his respects, saying, "This subordinate, Fang Baiqiu, greets the family head. May the family head's martial prowess be ever-growing!"

"Fang Baiqiu? Fang Baiqiu of the Taishan Sect's Broken Water Sword?"

Upon hearing the name, Murong Fu felt a vague recollection of it. After a slight hesitation, he slowly revealed the other person's background.

Upon hearing this, Fang Baiqiu's excitement intensified, his purplish-brown square face turning bright red: "Master, have you heard of my name?"

Fang Baiqiu looked to be around forty years old, with a square face, eyes like cold stars that occasionally shot out a chilling light, thick black eyebrows, and an expression that couldn't hide his arrogance. He was eight feet tall and strong, but his body was slightly hunched, just like many middle-aged people whose bodies had been crushed by the burdens of life.

Murong Fu laughed and said, "Renowned far and wide, he is the most outstanding young talent of the Taishan Sect in the last fifty years since the founding patriarch, Daoist Dongling. At the age of twenty-five, he single-handedly killed over a hundred bandits, led by the Black and White Duo of Kuangfeng Village, who had plagued the Jingdong West Road for nearly ten years. At only thirty years old, he mastered the Taishan Sect's signature martial art, which no one has mastered in recent decades. How about Mount Tai? Remarkable, extremely remarkable."

Hearing the patriarch recount his glorious deeds from back then, Fang Baiqiu couldn't help but show a hint of pride in his eyes. It was as if the gray hair caused by years of hardship and depression had faded considerably in that instant. He said excitedly, "These are just some old things I did when I was young and impetuous. How can they compare to the patriarch's annihilation of Ding Chunqiu in the Deaf-Mute Valley and his great defeat of the Shaolin monks at Canhe Manor, which are truly awe-inspiring!"

Murong Fu was about to exchange a few more words with this interesting subordinate when a shout came: "Fang Baiqiu, what right do you, a servant of Jinfeng Manor, have to compare your achievements with the master? You are simply ignorant of your own limitations."

Murong Fu's eyes narrowed slightly: This person doesn't seem friendly. They're trying to intimidate him, the head of the family, right off the bat. This steward has got too big for his britches; he's become arrogant and doesn't know his place.

The head of the family is talking to his subordinates, exchanging a few polite words and compliments to win their hearts. The head of the family hasn't said anything yet, so why is a lowly manager like you running out to show off your power? Who are you trying to impress?
How does Feng Bo'e manage his own manor? But considering Feng Bo'e's constant fighting and completely unreliable nature, it seems quite reasonable.

Interesting. I've stumbled upon this scene of a servant bullying his master right from the start. But I'm not some docile, blockheaded Yingchun. Trying to act tough in front of me? Ha, then I'll make sure you never get the chance to be tough again.

After a brief moment of thought, Murong Fu made up his mind: this malignant tumor must be eradicated.

As the saying goes, "One leaf falling heralds the coming of autumn," and "From small things, one can know great things." As one of the four major manors originally under the Murong family, Jin Feng Manor should have acted discreetly and secretly accumulated strength to prepare for future great undertakings. However, judging from its appearance, Jin Feng Manor is now a makeshift organization that is outwardly flamboyant but inwardly bloated. It looks imposing but is actually useless.

The newcomer was a middle-aged man dressed in dark brown silk, who looked to be around fifty years old. His eyes were sunken, and his withered face revealed a sickly state of excessive indulgence.

Upon hearing the newcomer's voice, a flash of resentment crossed Fang Baiqiu's eyes. Murong Fu keenly observed this, and a smile crept onto his lips: This person is usable, but still needs further evaluation.

Upon seeing Murong Fu on horseback, the middle-aged man lifted the hem of his robe and knelt on one knee, saying, "This subordinate is Jin Xuanzhe, currently the manager of Jin Feng Manor. I was unaware that the patriarch had traveled so far; I have failed to greet you properly and beg your forgiveness." Murong Fu, hearing the man's platitudes, sneered and said, "Since you know you are guilty, then tell me, what is your crime? And what reason do you have to beg for forgiveness?"

Manager Jin was taken aback, clearly not understanding: he had only exchanged a few polite words with the patriarch who had come from afar, so why had the other party gone straight to the point? Shouldn't he have exchanged a few polite words and words of encouragement, then reported on his achievements over the years, made the patriarch happy, and then left?

Manager Jin's mind was in a whirl, unable to make sense of things. Murong Fu's unconventional approach had clearly caught him off guard. His mind raced as he thought about all the dirty work he had done and the personal gains he had made over the years, and a flood of doubts arose in his heart.

Murong Fu suddenly smiled and said, "I was just joking with Steward Jin. Don't take it to heart. Steward Jin has been running Jinfeng Manor for many years and manages it very well. Even Feng Bo'e often mentions Steward Jin's talent to the head of the family."

Manager Jin breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but his suspicions did not dissipate; the impression that the visitor was ill-intentioned had already formed in his mind.

Murong Fu said, "It's getting late, and my companions need a place to stay. Steward Jin, please make the arrangements."

"Yes, your subordinate will do his best."

Manager Jin bowed and then looked at the group that Murong Fu had brought. He saw dozens of men dressed in various leathers and coarse cloths, leading dozens of carts full of goods and horses. Judging from their attire, they were clearly barbarians from beyond the Great Wall. There were also more than twenty people riding tall horses, all dressed in coarse cloth clothes and short outfits, but their origins were not immediately apparent.

To keep a low profile, Murong Fu had already ordered the twenty imperial guards to change their clothes and remove all insignia. Their armor was neatly packed and placed inside the Wanyan tribe's carriage.

Manager Jin was very efficient and soon arranged rooms for nearly a hundred people. Except for Wanyan Yingge, who was a woman and had a room by herself, everyone else had a room for two. Although Jin Feng Manor was far inferior to Canhe Manor, it did not feel crowded at all with so many people staying there at once.

That evening, Jin Feng Manor hosted a grand banquet for Murong Fu and his entourage. Manager Jin, eager to impress the head of the household and quickly appease this formidable figure, did his best to fulfill all their requests. Wanyan and twenty imperial guards drank themselves into a stupor, and were even helped into their rooms.

That night, in a secret room at Jinfeng Manor.

Manager Jin and another subordinate talked in a private room for about half an hour, during which time the candles had burned down to about half their original length.

"The patriarch's sudden visit, accompanied by so many men, could it be that he has discovered our underhanded dealings over the years?"

Manager Jin was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

“The businesses we do are all subcontracted layer by layer. Even if they investigate, they can’t possibly trace it back to Jin Feng Manor. The patriarch wanders the martial world all day long, how could he possibly be aware of these things?”

(End of this chapter)