Reborn as Murong Fu: This time I am the protagonist

Chapter 560 Passing Three Tests

The middle-aged scholar sized up Murong Fu and his companion, then hesitantly clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "I am Xu San. I have seen many distinguished guests at Prefect Huang's residence, but this gentleman is quite unfamiliar to me. May I ask your name?"

Murong Fu smiled and said, "My surname is Mu. Although it is usually Steward Li who comes, this matter is a little special and of great importance. Steward Li is not in a position to come in person, so Prefect Huang ordered the two of us to come and make the arrangements. We have prepared some small gifts, and we hope you will accept them."

The middle-aged scholar hesitated for a moment, then examined it; it was indeed a generous gift. Although Prefect Huang usually had some connections with Black Cloud Stronghold, at most he would only reveal the movements of the government troops and cooperate in smuggling or similar businesses. He would never proactively send such a generous gift from his confidant. It seemed that the other party must have something big planned this time.

Despite his doubts, the middle-aged scholar ordered his henchmen to accept the gifts, then clapped his hands to signal the people on the cliff to lower the basket, and the three of them went up the cliff together.

At the top of the cliff, there was a hidden world, but it was ultimately just an ordinary mountain stronghold, a motley crew that could only rob and plunder the local militia and the imperial guards of Bianliang who even had to hire someone to collect their stipends. They were no match for elite troops like the Western Army. After going through a series of complicated and deliberately mysterious procedures, Murong Fu and his companion arrived at a large hall.

In the center of the hall stood a chair covered with animal skin, but no one sat on it. On the two rows of steps below, dozens of henchmen with knives stood in a staggered arrangement. Compared to the emaciated and starving people, these henchmen were plump and strong, clearly the elite veterans of the stronghold.

The blades of the gleaming broadswords were all wrapped in cloth, which was probably doused with oil, and they were now spitting flames.

Before the dozens of knife-wielders stood a bed of nails over ten feet long, each nail gleaming with a blinding cold light. One could imagine that rolling on it would leave one with hundreds of bloody holes. Before the bed of nails, a large pot bubbled and boiled, beneath which firewood roared to life.

Murong Fu only glanced at the scene before understanding what was going on, but feigned ignorance and asked, "Third Master Xu, what does this mean?"

Xu San smiled sheepishly, making an apologetic expression, then his expression turned cold, revealing a hint of arrogance: "My Black Cloud Stronghold has dominated Shandong for more than ten years, and has repelled the government's encirclement and suppression countless times, all thanks to the fearlessness and concerted efforts of my brothers."

"Mr. Mu, this is your first time here, so you may not know the rules of my Black Cloud Stronghold. All brothers who come up the mountain for the first time, whether or not they are from our stronghold, must first pass the three tests of boiling water, nail bed, and fire and knife mountain before they can meet our Chief Long. Only by passing these three tests can one gain the recognition of all the brothers of Black Cloud Stronghold."

Murong Fu thought to himself: Are all of your bandit chief's brothers bought in bulk? Do these mountain bandits all like to pull this self-harming scare stunt? It certainly fits the image of a bandit: brave and fierce, but brainless.

Murong Fu sneered, "But I wonder how we're going to get through these three trials?"

Xu San laughed and said, "This is quite simple. Seventh Brother, demonstrate it for Mr. Mu!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a burly man ripped off his shirt, revealing his strong upper body.

Xu San took out a copper coin from his pocket, deliberately waved it in front of Murong Fu so that the other party could see it clearly, then threw it into the pot and casually stepped aside.

Without hesitation, the man known as "Seventh Brother" plunged his hand into the boiling water, and instantly, countless blisters appeared on his skin.

The seventh brother gritted his teeth so hard that his lip was bitten raw and bleeding, but he stubbornly refused to utter a sound. He stirred the boiling water in the pot a few times, then pinched the copper coin, took it out, and proudly waved it around in front of everyone. He deliberately gave Murong Fu a provocative look, which drew cheers from the henchmen. His half-cooked hand, like a boiled shrimp, was practically ruined.

Then, Lao Qi walked to the bed of nails, gritted his teeth, and rolled over it. The sharp nails instantly pierced his body, leaving rows of bloody holes, making him look like a showerhead.

Without hesitation, Lao Qi walked into the middle of the two rows of steel blades. In an instant, dozens of blades mercilessly slashed down. In just a few steps, Lao Qi was covered in wounds. He staggered to Xu San, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and then collapsed, unconscious. He was probably dead beyond any doubt.

Xu San exclaimed, "Seventh Brother, well done! You didn't disgrace yourself!" Then he strolled leisurely to Murong Fu and said, "Young Master Mu, did you see it clearly just now? All you have to do is take the copper coin out of this boiling pot of water, walk across this bed of nails, and brave this mountain of knives and sea of ​​fire, and you will be recognized as a brother by my Black Cloud Stronghold."

Gongye Qian's face turned cold, and he whispered, "Young master, these people are up to no good, we..."

Murong Fu smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It's alright!"

What if I don't want to?

Murong Fu smiled.

Xu San said, "Then please go down the mountain, Young Master Mu. However, the mountain road is steep, so please forgive us for not seeing you off any further. If anything happens to you on your journey, it will not be the responsibility of Black Cloud Stronghold."

The threat in his words was quite obvious.

Murong Fu laughed and said, "This little Black Cloud Stronghold is nothing to me. I can come and go as I please. I don't need you bunch of scoundrels to escort me. The number of people in this world who can cause me any trouble is at most a handful, and they are not among your rabble."

Murong Fu's words were provocative, and the group of henchmen already looked angry.

"I'm too lazy to talk to you anymore, just throw the copper coins into the pot!"

Xu San glared angrily at Murong Fu, then tossed the copper coin into the boiling water with a clang. The coin rippled on the surface and then disappeared.

Murong Fu kicked out, sending the heavy iron pot flying. In the instant the pot hit the ground, the copper coin was caught between two of Murong Fu's fingers and flung out, embedding itself deeply into the animal-hide chair with a thud. Only then did the iron pot land on the ground.

The room fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Murong Fu sneered and kicked out again. With a hook, a henchman standing next to him was kicked over onto the bed of nails before he could react. Murong Fu stepped on it and deliberately walked slowly over step by step.

Painful screams echoed through the hall, and even these ruthless bandits, who usually killed without blinking an eye, were now somewhat trembling with fear in this eerie atmosphere.

Murong Fu laughed and scolded, "You dare to show off such vulgar tricks as self-harm?"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and made a grabbing motion, snatching the steel knife from the hand of a henchman holding a knife. Murong Fu then clasped his hands together, breaking the steel knife into countless pieces. Before the fragments could fall, Murong Fu flicked his sleeve, and the steel knife, carrying a strong wind, struck the group of henchmen holding knives.

A series of cracking sounds rang out as fragments struck the hilts of dozens of steel knives, causing them to fall to the ground one after another, as if someone had forcibly snatched them from the hands of the crowd.

The crowd fell silent, exchanging bewildered glances, none daring to utter a sound. This unpredictable and mysterious move truly shocked everyone present beyond measure.

Murong Fu sneered, "Chief Long, after watching this peculiar spectacle for so long, can you come out and show yourself?"