Yanziwu, the ancestral home of the Murong family of Gusu, was a place of exquisite beauty, nestled amidst mountains and water.
As Xiao Yunlong and his companions alighted from their vehicles, they were greeted by the delicate fragrance of camellias.
The scent wafted from the manor before them, its white walls and black tiles hinting at a refined elegance rather than grandiosity, reminiscent of Jiangnan water town gardens.
The vermilion main gate of the Murong ancestral residence exuded an air of grandeur. Four formidable guards stood at attention, and at their side, an elder with graying hair and beard, clad in a black martial uniform, stood waiting.
"I truly never imagined your Zhuge family would dare to show up. You are quite bold. I had thought the Zhuge family would be like a pack of stray dogs by now!"
The elder in black, stroking his gray beard, sneered, his face etched with mockery.
Although the Zhuge family had brought a considerable number of people, with over ten cars and at least thirty individuals, the Murong elder before them looked down his nose, not deigning to cast a proper glance. It was unclear whether this was due to confidence or sheer arrogance.
"Murong Ming, your Murong family has already issued an ultimatum to my Zhuge family. Do you truly believe my Zhuge family is made of straw?" Old Master Zhuge's voice was a cold reprimand.
"How courageous. If that's the case, please, come inside!"
As Murong Ming was about to step aside, he suddenly recalled something and quickly asked, "By the way, has that fellow named Xiao Yunlong arrived?"
Xiao Yunlong said calmly, "Since your Murong family has specifically requested to see me, if I didn't come, how could I possibly maintain my standing in the martial world in the future?"
"It's good that you're here. You brat, you dared to kill two of my Murong family elders and still have the audacity to show up. You're quite a character!"
Murong Ming let out a heavy snort, then stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter.
Xiao Yunlong, disinclined to waste words on such individuals, strode forward.
Despite their outward composure, Old Master Zhuge and the others were inwardly filled with trepidation. However, having come this far, they could only brace themselves and proceed.
Yanziwu was vast, adorned with various rockeries and pavilions, all planted with a profusion of camellias in vibrant hues. It was evident that the Murong family held a particular fondness for camellias, as they dominated the expansive estate, with few other flowers in sight.
Beside a lake, in a pavilion, three men sat leisurely, sipping tea.
The man seated in the principal position appeared to be in his forties, sporting a goatee. His high cheekbones and sharp eyes exuded an aura of authority and sternness, marking him as a person of power.
This was none other than Murong Bai, returned from the Eastern Region's military camp!
To Murong Bai's left sat an elder in a Tang suit with the character "福" embroidered on it; this was Murong Feng, the current patriarch of the Murong family. To his right was the gray-haired elder, Murong Qi, the chief elder of the Murong family and the commander of the Murong family's Iron Guards.
These three were the most powerful figures in the Murong family today!
However, on a stone bench not far from the pavilion's diagonal, two elders sat with a swagger. Their attire was peculiar. It was late summer, and the evenings were still warm, yet both men wore robes of bright red and purple.
They had long hair, giving them an appearance reminiscent of those from the Western Regions. The two elders did not drink tea nor speak, their faces impassive as they sipped ice water, exuding an inexplicable strangeness.
Furthermore, behind Murong Bai stood eight personal guards, their bodies as rigid as javelins. Each was a master of martial arts. Around the courtyard, teams of family guards patrolled, all testament to the formidable heritage of the Murong family, an established clan of Gusu City.
"Bai'er, now that we have acted against the Zhuge family in this manner, Zhuge Yabie ultimately holds the position of Commander in the Eastern Region's military camp. What if he brings this matter to the attention of the Eastern Region King? If the Eastern Region King were to hold us accountable, wouldn't we be in trouble?"
The chief elder broke the silence after sipping his tea.
Before he could finish, Murong Bai, from his principal seat, waved his hand to interrupt. "Chief Elder, there is no need for worry. I have already made arrangements with the Eastern Region's military camp. With the Grand Commander's protection, we need not fear the Eastern Region King's reprimand."
"Is that true?" Patriarch Murong Feng couldn't help but ask.
"Of course, it's true. Patriarch, when have you ever seen me undertake anything without certainty?"
Murong Bai then slightly raised the corners of his mouth and sneered, "I told you long ago, the day I become Commander will be the day the Zhuge family is annihilated. And today is the day of the Zhuge family's demise!"
The Patriarch and the chief elder exchanged glances and nodded in unison.
"Right, we have issued our ultimatum. The Zhuge family should be reacting by now, shouldn't they?" Chief Elder Murong Qi asked with a slight smile.
"If my predictions are correct, the Zhuge family by now is likely a pack of stray dogs, busy fleeing in all directions. However, we have made arrangements, instructing the City Lord's Mansion and the Supervisory Bureau to set up checkpoints at all city exits. Therefore, even if the Zhuge family had wings today, they would not be able to escape!"
Patriarch Murong Feng chuckled with pride and excitement as he said this.
Murong Bai, however, suddenly shook his head. "No, from my understanding of Zhuge Yabie, he will not flee. On the contrary, he will definitely bring people to our Yanziwu!"
"Bring people to Yanziwu? Wouldn't that be seeking their own doom..."
However, before the Murong Patriarch could finish, a cold shout echoed from beyond the circular archway.
"Murong Bai, you truly understand me. It's not for naught that we served together in the Eastern Region's military camp for so many years!"
As the voice faded, Zhuge Yabie, accompanied by his guards, walked through the circular archway and approached.
Xiao Yunlong was among them, and soon everyone arrived before the pavilion.
The Murong family's actions were swift. Almost as soon as the Zhuge family members had taken their positions, a clamor arose as the Murong family's Iron Guards surged from all directions, instantly surrounding Zhuge Yabie and his entourage.
At this moment, it was clear some within the Zhuge family were panicking. But since they had come this far, there was no turning back.
Xiao Yunlong's expression remained relaxed and natural. However, as he passed through the circular archway, his gaze suddenly fell upon the two oddly dressed elders seated on the stone bench in the corner.
"These two old fellows possess such potent Yin冥 cold energy. They seem to be from some evil sect in the Western Regions!" Xiao Yunlong mused inwardly.
What puzzled Xiao Yunlong was how the Murong family of Gusu had become entangled with Western Region evil sects. Moreover, based on his senses, the Yin冥 cold energy within these two peculiar elders was immensely powerful, suggesting they were super grandmasters of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown realm.
Despite his inner musings, Xiao Yunlong merely cast a brief glance before withdrawing his gaze, his expression remaining unperturbed.
Murong Bai remained seated in the principal position, showing no intention of rising. He merely looked up at Zhuge Yabie and taunted, "Looking at this formation, bringing so many people, do you intend to confront my Murong family head-on?"
Zhuge Yabie gritted his teeth and retorted, "Murong Bai, the situation has escalated to this point. Why waste more words? Your Murong family intends to annihilate us. Are we, the Zhuge family, supposed to sit idly and be slaughtered? Therefore, even if it means death, we will not let your Murong family have it easy. At worst, we'll fight to the bitter end!"
"Fight to the bitter end? Do you think with this meager number of people, you can contend with my Murong family? Let alone my Murong family's Iron Guards, just these eight personal guards behind me are enough to sweep away your Zhuge family's trash!" Murong Bai sneered mockingly.
Zhuge Yabie gritted his teeth. "I know your Murong family's Iron Guards are formidable, and I know the martial prowess of the eight personal guards beside you. My Zhuge family alone is no match for them. However, we now have Wushuang and his friends. These individuals are all first-class martial experts. Your deceased two Murong elders are the best proof of that. Therefore, in a true fight, we may not be without a chance of victory!"
"First-class martial experts?" Murong Bai chuckled again, shaking his head and scoffing. "Even if these fellows possess some skill, do you think I, Murong Bai, would have made it this far, defeating you and successfully becoming the Fifth Deputy Commander, without any backup plans?"
After speaking, Murong Bai gestured towards the stone bench in the diagonal corner and continued, "Zhuge Yabie, take a good look. See who these two seniors are!"
Zhuge Yabie turned to look upon hearing this. However, after just a glance, his expression drastically changed, and he exclaimed in surprise, "They, they are the Yin冥 Twin Elders under the Grand Commander! You, you actually invited them both!"