Chapter 123: Discussion

"Master Zhu, are you here in Jiangnan for leisure?"

Due to Zhu Yu's series of eccentric actions, the previous topic had been broken off entirely, leaving Murong Fu with no choice but to restart the conversation.

"Indeed, though I have already been wandering for many days and was recently preparing to head home," Zhu Yu replied, following Murong Fu's lead.

"I see. To meet is to have fate. If Master Zhu does not mind, why not stay at Swallow Dock for a few days? I daresay the scenery at my humble Swallow Dock is quite pleasant."

"Is that so?" Zhu Yu feigned hesitation for a moment before relenting. "Very well. Since Master Murong extends such a warm invitation, it would be rude of me to refuse. I shall impose upon your hospitality."

"You are too kind, Master Zhu. I, Murong Fu, have always enjoyed making friends in the martial arts world; how could you be imposing? It is my honor to have you grace my home with your presence. However, I have a maid named A'bi who did not arrive on the boat with us; I must send someone to find her."

"That is easily settled. Master Murong, please describe the appearance and attire of Miss A'bi, and I will have my men search for her."

"That would be excellent. I trouble you, Master Zhu."

"Think nothing of it, think nothing of it."

...

Everything was proceeding according to everyone's expectations. By dusk, the vessel carrying Zhu Yu and his party had arrived at the renowned Swallow Dock of the Jiangnan martial arts circle.

As they disembarked, both Zhu Yu and Murong Fu were stunned.

However, the difference was that Zhu Yu was focused on only one person. His eyes were practically popping out of his head as he stared at Wang Yuyan, while Jiang Yuyan, who stood beside him, had a face as dark as the bottom of a pot, her eyes fixed intently on Wang Yuyan’s back as she pondered who knows what.

Come to think of it, thanks to Zhu Yu's status, the thought of "monopolizing" had never crossed Jiang Yuyan's mind. Had Zhu Yu been a commoner, regardless of who he had set his sights on, the tragedy between Hua Wuque and Tie Xinlan from the original story would likely have repeated itself.

As for Murong Fu, he was exhausted. His eyes kept darting toward every one of Zhu Yu's subordinates as they disembarked. To his astonishment, among the nearly forty people, there were at least a dozen whose depth he could not fathom. As for the others whose true measure he could discern, one or two might be manageable, but if three or five were to attack at once, even he would be in danger.

Murong Fu looked at Zhu Yu again, his eyes gleaming. He thought to himself, *This is a big fish; I must hook him and keep him reeled in!*

*Wait? This Master Zhu... why does he keep staring at my cousin? Could it be...*

After arranging accommodations for Zhu Yu and his men, the hour had grown late. Murong Fu, being quite shrewd, did not rush to approach Zhu Yu, planning instead to launch his overtures tomorrow.

That night, Murong Fu gathered his retainers to discuss his thoughts and seek their opinions.

After Murong Fu recounted everything that had happened since boarding the boat, Bao Butong frowned and asked in confusion, "Zhu Yu? That name sounds so familiar. I feel like I've heard it somewhere."

"Yes, that's right. I seem to have heard that name too. Young Master, do you remember? If it wasn't you, it must have been the Old Master who mentioned it." Feng Bo'e echoed Bao Butong's sentiments.

Murong Fu had felt nothing initially, but hearing Bao Butong and Feng Bo'e, he too felt he had heard the name before.

"I seem to have some impression of it as well. Very well, let us set that aside for now. Later, I will search the family archives and correspondence to see if I can uncover Zhu Yu's identity and background. Now is not the time for that. Third Brother Bao, Fourth Brother Feng, what do you think of the idea I just mentioned? Do you think it is feasible?"

As soon as Murong Fu finished, Feng Bo'e shook his head directly. "Young Master, don't ask me about matters requiring brains. Just call me when there is a fight."

When Feng Bo'e finished speaking, no one in the room reacted; it was clear that when the discussion began, everyone had already excluded him from the planning.

"Young Master, as you said, the power behind this Master Zhu is truly unfathomable. Furthermore, both Master Zhu himself and his highly skilled subordinates are unknown in the martial arts world, which leaves only two possibilities. First, this Master Zhu is a successor of a reclusive major sect. Second, he is a scion of a profound, long-standing aristocratic family. Based on the behavior you described on the boat, I personally lean toward the latter," said Gongye Qian, the second of Murong Fu's four retainers.

"Hmm, Second Brother Gong is right. I shall search the letters my father exchanged with the noble families later."

"Young Master, if that Zhu Yu is truly a scion of an aristocratic family, this will be difficult. As the saying goes, dynasties last a hundred years, but families last a thousand. While it is true that if Zhu Yu were to join our cause, he could provide us with immense help, he appears to lack nothing. Moreover, he is surrounded by experts; coercive force is inappropriate, and emotional ties are even less likely—scions of great families are all naturally cold-blooded. Young Master, your idea is sound, but I cannot conceive of any reason why he would help us. Those deeply hidden families lack for nothing; they only care for their own safety. They do not seek power in the imperial court, nor do they interfere in the martial arts world. How could they possibly participate in a rebellion? To put it bluntly, they already live lives of luxury; they do not care who sits on the dragon throne. Otherwise, the Old Master would have moved them long ago. Young Master, the idea is good, but I fear it is unworkable. Perhaps it would be better to simply entertain them well for a few days and leave it at that."

Just as Murong Fu was burning with excitement over his own plans, Deng Baichuan, the leader of the four retainers, poured a bucket of cold water over him.

Calming down, Murong Fu savored Deng Baichuan's words. Although he did not want to admit it, he increasingly felt that they made sense.

Yet, Murong Fu was unwilling to give up! How could such a golden opportunity be allowed to slip through his fingers so easily?

In a trance, the image of Zhu Yu stealing glances at his cousin's back as they disembarked surfaced in Murong Fu's mind.

Slowly, his focus sharpened. Before him, the brothers who had grown up with him—Bao Butong and Feng Bo'e—were chatting brazenly about gossip in the martial arts world. Deng Baichuan and Gongye Qian were discussing the feasibility of winning over Zhu Yu.

Unaccountably, irritation began to fester in Murong Fu's heart. The voices of the four men were not loud, yet they sounded increasingly deafening in his ears, making his head ache.

"Enough! Say no more! Let it end here for today. I am tired; I am going to rest."

Murong Fu’s sudden shout startled the four men. As they exchanged bewildered glances, Murong Fu left the table.

After turning several corners, Murong Fu arrived at a room he had not visited for a long time. Looking at the mountain of letters, he took a deep breath, buried his head, and began to open them one by one.