Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Murong Fu (慕容复) 79 |
| Alias(es) | Southern Murong; Young Master Murong 81 92 |
| Gender | Male 95 |
| Affiliation | Gusu Murong clan; formerly allied with Zhao Min's Great Yuan faction 79 93 |
| Occupation/Role | Head of the Murong family and claimant seeking to restore Great Yan 79 106 |
| Status | Deceased; killed secretly by Lin Xuan, who forged a letter to make it appear that Murong Fu had left Mantuo Mountain Villa 99 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 79 79 |
Background / History
Murong Fu is a descendant of the Yan royal family. He controls resources in Jiangnan and secretly recruits martial artists to pursue the restoration of Great Yan 51 79. To obtain provisions, weapons, and troops, he offers Zhao Min territory in the Central Plains in exchange for Great Yuan's support. Their dealings remain concealed behind his reputation as a chivalrous figure of the Jiangnan martial world 79 81 88.
After Lin Xuan arrives at the Murong estate of Yanziwu claiming to investigate Mongol infiltrators, Murong Fu welcomes him while suspecting that Lin Xuan knows about the alliance 81. Lin Xuan later finds Murong Fu's correspondence and restoration plans in a hidden compartment of the Huan Shi Water Pavilion 88. At a heroes' gathering, Lin Xuan presents the documents, and Murong Fu's retainer Bao Butong confirms their authenticity. Murong Fu orders his followers to kill the assembled guests, then flees after losing a fight with Lin Xuan 92 93.
Murong Fu's father, Murong Bo, intervenes so his wounded son can escape. With Yanziwu lost, Murong Fu takes refuge at Mantuo Mountain Villa 95 96. Lin Xuan extracts information from him about a mysterious green-clad martial artist, then kills him and leaves a forged farewell letter to conceal the death 99. Lin Xuan later tells Wang Yuyan and Li Qingluo that he deliberately let Murong Fu go; that claim conflicts with the account of the killing 106 107.
Appearance
Murong Fu is described as handsome, with a gentle-looking face that can turn visibly tense when his plans are threatened 79 80.
- Wears a blue robe when meeting Zhao Min 79.
- Uses an obsidian-gold folding fan with sharp iron ribs in combat 93.
Personality
Murong Fu can quickly replace anger or suspicion with a courteous smile, particularly when speaking to Lin Xuan or Zhao Min 81 89. His ambition to restore Yan takes precedence over loyalty to his retainers: he conceals his dealings from hired allies, imprisons Bao Butong for opposing him, and orders the deaths of guests when his plans are exposed 85 93.
Abilities & Skills
Shifting Stars
The Murong family's signature technique redirects an opponent's force or attack back toward them 93 94.
- Murong Fu attempts to turn Lin Xuan's sword strikes against him, but fails to neutralize them and suffers an internal-energy backlash 93 94.
- Lin Xuan, having learned the technique from the Murong family's manuals, judges Murong Fu's mastery inadequate 88 94.
Canhe Finger and fan combat
- Canhe Finger sends sharp finger force toward an opponent's pressure points 79.
- Folding fan — Murong Fu thrusts, stabs, chops, and sweeps with its blade-like ribs, aiming at vital points 93.
- Limit against Lin Xuan — His fan attacks fail to land, and his lightness skill cannot shake Lin Xuan during their pursuit through Yanziwu 93.
Heaven and Earth Great Shift
- Murong Fu receives a manual containing only the first layer, along with a pill purported to speed its cultivation 97 99.
- He cannot begin practicing the method successfully and refuses to take the pill because its origin is uncertain. No mastery of the technique is shown 99.
Equipment / Weapons / Items
- Obsidian-gold folding fan — Iron-framed weapon used against Lin Xuan 93.
- Heaven and Earth Great Shift manual and pill — Given to him by a mysterious person in green; he does not master the manual or trust the pill 97 99.
- Restoration plans and correspondence — His written dealings with Mongol officials become evidence against him 88 92.
Relationships
- Murong Bo — Father, presumed dead until he appears to protect Murong Fu and enable his escape 94 95.
- Zhao Min — Great Yuan representative whose approval Murong Fu seeks for his restoration plan; she questions his ability to control his hired followers 79 88 89.
- Lin Xuan — Investigates and exposes Murong Fu, defeats him at Yanziwu, and later kills him at Mantuo Mountain Villa 81 92 94 99.
- Bao Butong — Trusted retainer whom Murong Fu imprisons and tortures for opposing his plans; Bao testifies against him 93.
- Wang Yuyan — Cousin who tells Lin Xuan where Murong Fu is recuperating 96 97.
- Li Qingluo — Aunt who permits her injured nephew to recover at Mantuo Mountain Villa, on the condition that he leave afterward 96.
- A'Zhu and A'Bi — Maids at Yanziwu whom Murong Fu arranges to give to his hired ally Yun Zhonghe 82 84.