Chapter 323 - 314: Royal Banner Envoy

Chapter 323: Chapter 314: Royal Banner Envoy

Fu Juemin waited at the Chaha Clan’s mansion for less than two days before he received a reply from Helian.

The reply, a slip of paper, was delivered by a black pigeon that landed on the windowsill of Fu Juemin’s temporary room.

Opening the slip of paper, he saw it contained only a few words: Gray Banner, Yan Clan.

...

"The current Patriarch of the Gray Banner’s Yan Clan is Yan Huai’an. He’s eighty-seven this year, but clings to his position and refuses to step down. He’s even outlived his own two sons. Incorrigibly stubborn and conservative..."

Around noon, Fu Juemin stood before the entrance of the mansion bearing the Yan Mansion plaque. Beside him, Mu Feng was quietly briefing him on the Gray Banner’s Yan Clan.

Ning Yuan and his son, as well as the newly "subjugated" Chaha Shuo, were also present, standing to the side like attendants.

Fu Juemin surveyed the Yan Mansion before him. The entrance seemed to be of a similar scale to the Mu Family’s. On the courtyard wall hung the sigil of the Gray Banner of the Nine Banners—a smoke-gray field with frost patterns, embroidered with a silver crescent moon shrouded in mist.

"What Demon Fiend does the Yan Family worship?"

Fu Juemin withdrew his gaze and asked Mu Feng beside him nonchalantly.

Mu Feng replied, "I hear it’s a Demon Rhinoceros with the rank of Junior Fifth Grade, titled Grand General of Divine Power."

"Similar to your Mu Family’s Admiral?"

"Yes."

Mu Feng paused, then continued, "However, Yan Huai’an served as a Guard for a Royal Banner bearer for a time in his youth. With that connection, their family has had it better than my Mu Family.

Moreover, no one has gone out of their way to suppress the Yan Family..."

As he spoke, Mu Feng shot a subtle glance toward Ning and Chaha.

"Understood."

After listening, Fu Juemin nodded. His gaze swept around, and he called out, "Tingzhou!"

"Yes!"

From the crowd, Mu Tingzhou scurried out eagerly.

Mu Tingzhou’s face hadn’t fully healed and still bore some purplish bruises, but over the past two days, his entire demeanor had completely changed.

He walked with a spring in his step and a light in his eyes, having swept away his former image as a useless, decadent loafer. It would be no exaggeration to say he was radiating with confidence. Compared to the sight of him wailing on a stretcher, he was like a completely different person.

"Master, you called for me."

Mu Tingzhou ran up to Fu Juemin like a puppy, looking utterly obedient.

"Good boy."

Fu Juemin looked much younger than Mu Tingzhou. He lightly patted Mu Tingzhou’s big, smooth forehead, and Mu Tingzhou seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.

"You’ll be the one to knock on the door today, too."

Fu Juemin glanced to his sides and said to Mu Feng, Ning Yuan, and the others, "All of your families have brought their Tributors. It’s three families against one. Surely I won’t have to make a move myself today?

Follow Tingzhou."

Mu Feng and the others replied in unison, "Yes."

Mu Tingzhou couldn’t contain his excitement at the thought of what he was about to do. This was way more thrilling than watching opera or smoking opium. He eagerly swaggered up to the door to announce their presence.

The moment the gates of the Yan Mansion opened, Mu Tingzhou shoved the person aside with both hands and strode in, cursing loudly. Mu Feng and the others followed suit.

"How long do you plan to let this go on?"

Mu Feng had just stepped over the threshold of the Yan Family’s main gate when he heard a voice, as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, by his ear.

He turned to see the Ning father and son following behind them, expressionless. Ning Yuan’s lips were moving; it was he who had spoken.

On the other side was Chaha Shuo. He had suffered immensely these past two days and appeared obedient on the surface, but now a cold sneer played on his lips as he, too, looked over.

"Letting some guy who isn’t even a Bannerman lord over our three families is bad enough. I could almost tolerate being his running dogs."

Ning Yuan stared intently into Mu Feng’s eyes, lowered his voice, and said through gritted teeth, "The key is, if this continues, it’s only a matter of time before we alert the Upper Banners. When that happens... all three of our families will be finished!"

Mu Feng looked at Ning Yuan, then at Chaha Shuo. He slowed his pace and said coolly, "Oh? Then in your opinion, what should we do?"

Seeing that Mu Feng seemed swayed, Ning Yuan quickly said, "We find a chance to hold him up, then send someone to inform on him to the Upper Three Banners.

Then, we’ll coordinate with the experts sent from the top, striking from both inside and out to subdue this beast. If we atone for our mistakes by rendering this service, it’s our only way to survive...

Either way, we can’t let him keep acting so recklessly!"

"Is this your idea alone, Ning Yuan, or did you come up with it together?"

Mu Feng asked.

"What do you mean?"

Ning Yuan frowned.

A grim, cold sneer appeared on Mu Feng’s pale, almost greenish face. He looked at Ning Yuan before him, then at Chaha Shuo beside him, and said slowly, "If this is your idea alone, then only you will suffer today.

But if you came up with it together, then none of you will escape the torture of the Life and Death Talisman..."

"You—"

Just as Ning Yuan was about to say something, Fu Juemin came up from behind and gently patted his shoulder. Without a word, he passed them and continued walking forward.

The faces of Ning Yuan and the others instantly turned deathly pale. Their bodies couldn’t help but tremble slightly, their eyes filled with deep fear and terror.

Seeing their state, Mu Feng couldn’t help but sneer.

’A bunch of idiots. If you’re going to conspire, at least pick a better time. Do you really think the Spirit Lord is blind and deaf?’

’Besides, these two families previously joined forces to drive my Mu Family to its death, and now they actually want to cooperate with me.’

’Where in the world could you find such a convenient deal?’

’Not following the Spirit Lord’s rebellion is certain death. Following it might also lead to death.’

’Since it’s death either way, I might as well... drag you two bastards down with me!’

’At least for now, my son and I are enjoying ourselves and living it up.’

Perhaps influenced by Mu Tingzhou, Mu Feng had also adopted a more open-minded perspective. He shot a contemptuous look at the trembling Ning Yuan and the others, then followed Fu Juemin, striding into the Yan Mansion.

...

The group soon stormed directly into the Yan Family’s main hall. Patriarch Yan, Yan Huai’an, was after all advanced in years; even regularly consuming Human Pills couldn’t hide his age.

Standing in the hall, he looked at the intruders with shock and suspicion, demanding loudly, "You... What do you think you’re doing?!"

The Yan Family seemed to be entertaining a guest. A man was seated in the hall, dressed in a black robe with gold embroidery. He appeared to be in his forties, was well-maintained, and carried himself with a certain air of importance.

Before anyone could pay him much mind, the leader of their pack, Mu Tingzhou, strode brazenly forward, pointed at Yan Huai’an’s nose, and bellowed, "We’ve received a report that under the Cold Smoke Banner, the Yan Clan intends to rebel.

By order of the Royal Banner, we are here to confiscate the Yan Family’s assets!"

As soon as he said this, everyone below looked at Mu Tingzhou with peculiar expressions.

Heaven knows where the kid came up with such a line of reasoning. He was truly one of a kind.

"Nonsense!"

On the other side, Yan Huai’an, who had been so baselessly slandered, flew into a rage out of shame and couldn’t help but retort, "When has my Yan Family ever intended to rebel?"

"I say you are, so you are! You’re not going to admit it, huh?"

Mu Tingzhou’s attitude was utterly domineering and unreasonable. He rolled up his sleeves as if to walk over, "Wait until your Grandpa Tingzhou gives you a few good slaps, then you’ll admit it..."

Just then, "SMASH!"

The Yan Family’s guest, who was seated in the hall, suddenly slammed his teacup onto the floor and snorted coldly, "The Yan Family intends to rebel? How come I haven’t heard anything about this?"

"Who the hell do you think you are? Why the hell should you know!"

Mu Tingzhou retorted without the slightest hesitation.

The man laughed in extreme anger. He pulled open his collar and sneered, "On what grounds? On these grounds! On the grounds that I am an agent of the Seventeenth Prince, a Royal Banner Envoy!"

At these words, the entire hall fell silent.

On the man’s turned-out collar, the insignia of the Golden Rice King Banner was clearly embroidered.

Who would have thought that the Yan Family was actually hosting someone from the Top Royal Banners, and that they would run into him head-on!

In an instant, Ning Yuan and the others felt a chill run up their spines, their entire bodies turning cold.

But soon, this was replaced by wild joy and hope welling up in their hearts.

’Someone from the Royal Banner! They’ve run into a Royal Banner Envoy!’

’The heavens have eyes! Now we don’t even need to send a message. As long as the Royal Banner finds out about this, it won’t be long before we escape this sea of suffering...’

Just as they were thinking this, a loud shout suddenly erupted in the hall!

"Aha!"

Mu Tingzhou, who had been momentarily stunned by the man’s identity, jumped to his feet. He pointed at the man in the hall and shouted, "You... you... you dare to impersonate a Royal Banner Envoy?!"

"That just adds to your crimes! Just you wait, I’ll be sure to give you a few extra slaps for that!"

"Uh..."

The sudden turn of events left everyone in the hall stunned.

Including the man who had revealed his identity, everyone stared dumbly at the hopping-mad Mu Tingzhou, momentarily speechless.

"PFFT—"

Fu Juemin, sitting in the back, spat the tea he was drinking right out of his mouth.

"Tingzhou."

He couldn’t help but call out softly.

"Master!"

Mu Tingzhou hurriedly scurried over.

"Where did you learn such a fine set of skills?"

"Oh, come now. I’m not completely unlearned..."

Mu Tingzhou puffed out his chest proudly and said, smugly, "That’s how they always do it in the operas!"

"Ha—"

Fu Juemin didn’t laugh, but the man in the hall laughed in anger. He swept his gaze over the people below and, through gritted teeth, spoke word by word, "Pu Xing, take this whole group down!"

"Yes."

Soon, a tall, grim figure slowly emerged from behind the man.

Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Martial Tributors like Hong Huan and Xu Chu subconsciously stepped forward. But the person just gave a cold smile, and an invisible, distorted Force Field emanated from him.

Under the shroud of this invisible Force Field, the light and scenery in the hall seemed to turn illusory.

Hong Huan and the others looked shocked, their steps halting instantly!

"Heart Intent Realm?"

Fu Juemin’s expression flickered, and he rose to his feet.

He had traveled through the Lower Five Banners and Three Families and had seen quite a few grafted Gratitude Martial Artists, but this was the first time he had seen a grafted Heart Intent Realm master.

"Kid, you’ve got the biggest mouth. You die first!"

The Heart Intent Martial Artist on the dais, his face full of sinister malevolence, locked his gaze onto Mu Tingzhou. A cold sneer appeared on his face, and with a slight shift of his body, he was about to pounce.

Mu Tingzhou sensed the intense killing intent emanating from the man and screamed, "Master, save me!"

Fu Juemin let Mu Tingzhou hug his thigh tightly. He raised an arm, and a thick gray mist surged from his sleeve.

Upon appearing, the eerie gray mist shot into the Martial Artist’s mouth and nose like living snakes, forcing its way inside brutally and illogically.

The latter’s body froze, and the expression on his face became visibly dull and vacant.

’So [Nightmare] is still effective against the Heart Intent Realm. It’s probably also related to my current [Life] Attribute being high enough...’

As Fu Juemin thought this, he picked up the lid of a nearby teacup, gently snapped it in two, and casually flicked the pieces out.

The teacup lid flew through the air. At the critical moment, the Royal Banner Heart Intent Martial Artist, who was being controlled by [Nightmare], broke free from the bad dream. With a low roar, his body began to glow faintly, and he managed to block one half of the lid.

But Fu Juemin had already appeared in front of him. His right hand’s Gang Qi turned iridescent, blooming with an ultimate white light as he gently pressed [Formless Realm] onto the man’s face—

"BANG!"

Beneath the brilliant Gang Qi light, a head exploded like a ripe watermelon. The headless corpse swayed and then toppled to the ground.

Looking to the other side, the Royal Banner Envoy had a porcelain shard embedded deep in his brow. His face was twisted in a ferocious expression; he was already as dead as could be.

Patriarch Yan, Yan Huai’an, fell to the ground with a THUD. Pointing at Fu Juemin, his face filled with horror and dread, he stammered, "You... You dare to kill a Royal Banner Envoy?!"

Fu Juemin didn’t even look at him. He simply raised a hand, aimed at a spot on the rafters high up in the hall, and gently closed his five fingers into a fist.

"WHOOSH—"

Under the power of [Controlling Cranes], enhanced by the Yin Crow Demon Soul, a terrifying, invisible force erupted. A figure fell from above like a bird with a broken wing, landing right in Fu Juemin’s grasp.

Fu Juemin closed his fingers, looking at the struggling, indignant Helian whose neck he was now holding. He spoke calmly, "Helian, I have submitted my Pledge of Allegiance.

Now, where are the proof and rewards you promised?"