The Mouse Plays Bridesmaid for the Cat (Seeking Recommendations and Collections!)

Chapter 40: A Mouse Acting as a Bridesmaid for a Cat

The age of Murong Fu has always been a mystery.

After the Battle of Yanmen Pass, Murong Bo faked his death to live in seclusion. According to Murong Fu's later recollections, he had tried more than once to check for his father's heartbeat and breath before personally laying him to rest.

Even though martial artists mature early, Murong Fu would have been nearly ten years old at that time, and the Four Great Retainers also recalled serving him since he was in his early teens, confirming this as fact.

If the main storyline were to proceed as such, Murong Fu would be a forty-year-old "old boy."

Yet, Qiao Feng once mistook Duan Yu for Murong Fu, and Duan Yu also claimed that Murong Fu was only a few years older than him.

In this way, thirty years later, Murong Fu would only be in his twenties.

Could it be that his current age is negative?

Right now, Huang Shang was inside Canhe Villa, west of Gusu City, meeting this "negative-age" boy.

He was not yet ten years old, his brows slightly furrowed with a look of premature maturity; his handsome features and upright posture could not dilute that sense of melancholy.

At this moment, he was even serving tea with the etiquette of a junior, completely unaware that the guest before him was his own "dead" father.

Murong Bo was one thing; after all, his alias, Murong Xing, made Murong Fu feel a sense of closeness.

But the scrutinizing gaze of Huang Shang made Murong Fu feel extremely dissatisfied.

If this were two years ago, who would have dared to look at him like that?

Alas, the world is fickle.

When Murong Bo was alive, Gusu Murong was a top-tier martial arts family; the moment Murong Bo died, it instantly fell into decline.

If not for the Four Manors that remained loyal and protective, they might have faced the danger of having their home destroyed and family scattered.

The Murong family's inherited martial arts were a case of "a man who carries a jade ring commits a crime" by merely possessing it.

The reason he invited Huang Shang and his companion in was because Murong Bo had produced a token proving he was a close friend of his late father.

His father had specifically emphasized before his death that whoever held this token was his closest confidant, and seeing the person was like seeing his own father.

Though Murong Fu harbored doubts, he dared not disobey.

The current Gusu Murong could not afford to offend any potential source of aid.

However, Huang Shang's next sentence made Murong Fu explode: "Your nephew is indeed a talent; it would be too much of a waste for him to be my book boy."

Murong Fu almost thought he had misheard.

A book boy?

What kind of joke was this!

Murong Fu stood up abruptly, his delicate hand pressing against the hilt of his sword.

In his eyes, these two were not his father's old friends at all, but enemies of Gusu Murong who had come to humiliate him.

People of the pugilistic world can be killed, but not humiliated!

"Sit down!"

Murong Bo let out a cold shout, but Murong Fu ignored him entirely.

Murong Bo knew that the token alone was no longer effective, so he moved his lips and used a secret voice transmission: "I am your father!"

Hearing that familiar voice, Murong Fu trembled all over and looked over in disbelief.

The two stared at each other; Murong Bo stopped hiding and sent over a strand of familiar internal energy.

This was more effective than a thousand words. Meeting that gaze, Murong Fu was certain, and tears suddenly streamed down his face.

Just as he was overcome with joy, an ill-timed voice rang out. Huang Shang remarked with emotion: "This child, why is he so moved that he's crying?"

Upon hearing this, Murong Fu nearly lost his breath and began to cough violently.

Murong Bo was also somewhat embarrassed. Fearing that Huang Shang might grow suspicious, he hurriedly said: "My virtuous brother is broad-minded and cares for the world; his future is limitless. My old friend has recently passed, leaving only this only son. I do not wish for him to sink into the chaos of the pugilistic world and hope my virtuous brother can lead him to the right path."

Along the way, Murong Bo had been dropping hints, actually hoping that Huang Shang would take Murong Fu as a disciple.

But Huang Shang had refused, claiming his academic knowledge was not refined enough to mislead others.

Murong Bo was truly ruthless; seeing that Huang Shang had no one to serve him, he simply demoted his own son to a book boy.

While the relationship between master and disciple is close—"a teacher for a day is a father for life"—could it be as intimate as a book boy by one's side?

Let alone Murong Fu, even Huang Shang was stunned when he first heard it.

Murong Bo is a ruthless man!

At this moment, Murong Bo clearly had his mind made up, and his words were carefully chosen. Knowing that Huang Shang had little affection for people of the pugilistic world, he deliberately mentioned Murong Fu's status in the martial arts community.

In this way, it was like helping a courtesan turn over a new leaf; both carried a strange sense of accomplishment.

"Father... Uncle! Please forgive your nephew for being unable to comply!"

Murong Fu, however, could not accept this.

He truly could not imagine why his father would fake his death.

And why, in less than two years, had he changed so drastically?

Murong Bo transmitted his voice: "Child, this father has wasted half a lifetime, only recently awakening to the truth. To restore our Great Yan, we must utilize the Great Song imperial court. This Huang Shang is the key for our Murong Clan to enter the halls of power. Han Xin could endure the humiliation of crawling between legs; can you not do the same?"

Indeed, Murong Bo had been awakened by the Reincarnator.

The Murong Clan's obsession with restoring their nation appeared utterly ridiculous to outsiders.

Their maneuvers to stir up chaos in the martial arts world were even more baffling to others.

Yet they were not stupid, merely paranoid to the point of madness, and limited by the narrow vision passed down by Murong Longcheng, leading them to commit all sorts of brain-dead actions.

When the Reincarnator pointed out the truth from the perspective of a clear-eyed bystander, Murong Bo realized that hiding in Shaolin Temple for a lifetime would never truly restore his nation. That was why he had first gone to Kaifeng Prefecture, then traveled south to Liangguang to observe the situation in Jiaozhi, before finally returning to Gusu.

Murong Bo had a sudden realization; by looking beyond the martial arts world to the grander stage of the imperial court, he naturally could not allow his son to continue down the wrong path.

Murong Fu's age and experience, however, could not comprehend his old father's painstaking efforts.

He was still immersed in the prestige of Gusu Murong within the martial arts world, determined to be the most dazzling star of the younger generation.

Not some mere book boy!

Moreover, looking at Huang Shang's travel-worn appearance, Murong Fu found it even harder to accept a destitute scholar as his master.

No one knows a son better than his father; the moment he saw his expression, Murong Bo knew what the little brat was thinking. He glared at him fiercely and continued to persuade him via voice transmission: "Do not be foolish. This man definitely has a bright future. If you do not stay by his side while he is still rising, once he achieves fame and success, there will be too many sycophants, and it will no longer be your turn!"

Constant voice transmission would not suffice, so outwardly, Murong Bo instructed Murong Fu: "My nephew is fond of martial arts and should serve the country, not engage in reckless brawls within the martial arts world. Scholar Huang struck down the Ming Cult thieves before the Examination Hall in Yong Prefecture; he is the very model you should emulate!"

It would have been better not to mention this; once mentioned, Murong Fu's competitive spirit was ignited instead. He cupped his hands toward Huang Shang and said: "Since the uncle holds you in such high regard, you must possess astonishing attainments. This junior is untalented, but I would like to request a few pointers!"

In the martial arts world, the strong prevail.

Murong Fu could not discern the background of the scholar before him, and he was not very old. If he had any astonishing attainments, Murong Fu did not believe it.

But if he truly had the ability, it would not be too late to discuss it then.

Clang!

The long sword left its scabbard. Murong Fu flicked his wrist, shaking out seven sword blossoms as he unfolded the family's Longcheng Sword Technique.

In the original plot, Murong Fu was proficient in so many martial arts, not only from the accumulations of Gusu Murong and the secret manuals within the Huan Shi Water Pavilion but also from the "soft rice" provided by Wang Yuyan.

Wang Yuyan's mother, Li Qingluo, was the daughter of Wu Yazi and Li Qiushui.

While carrying Duan Zhengchun's child, she married into the Wang family and moved the martial arts manuals from the Langhuan Blessed Land to Mantuo Mountain Villa.

As a result, Murong Fu sat upon two great treasure troves, browsing through second and third-rate martial arts, which led him to fully embrace a flashy but hollow path.

Currently, Li Qingluo was still in Wuliang Mountain watching her parents tear each other apart, and Murong Fu's age did not yet permit him to enter the Huan Shi Water Pavilion. The set of Longcheng Sword Technique he had practiced since childhood was, conversely, much purer.

At this moment, his body followed his sword, agile as a swimming dragon. Although his internal energy was insufficient and lacked the surging force of a master, the wind from his blade whistled, and his heroic spirit was imposing. Despite his young age, he had already entered the hall and possessed the demeanor of an expert.

Witnessing this scene, Murong Bo nodded slightly, a look of gratification flashing in his eyes.

Huang Shang waited calmly for Murong Fu to finish his routine, then drew the Zhuge Pen from his sleeve and wrote two large characters.

Thanks to book friends "Ge Zhong Ge", "Heaven Crystal Hun Tian Treasure Mirror", "Book Friend 20190315110749320", "Feng Yu Wu Fei", "Jie Dang", "Fu Tu Liang Sheng", "Brother Tutu (Real)", "Marvel Iron Man", and "Flammable and Explosive C" for their tips.