Chapter 94: The Four Great Families of the Earth Realm (Part Two)

The young man’s words echoed through the county magistrate’s office, leaving Fang Xu staring at him in utter disbelief.

One had to understand that even Zhang He would likely not dare to utter such words. Even if the man was dressed in understated luxury, surely he could not be ignorant of what the rank of Nine Ministers signified?

There was only one logical conclusion: he held no fear of the Nine Ministers whatsoever. And here, the only people capable of such audacity would be members of the Great Landed Families.

As this thought crossed Fang Xu’s mind, Zhang He, supported by his attendant, trembled as he walked toward the young man. Fang Xu’s earlier actions had truly shattered Zhang He’s nerves. If not for this young man’s intervention, Zhang He might well have met his end by now, joining Magistrate Zhao in the afterlife.

"This lowly official, Zhang He, greets Young Master Murong!" Zhang He stammered, bowing low with his fists cupped—a posture of humility reserved only for one’s superiors.

Even the Governor of Danyang was considered equal in rank to General Bai Qi, the Governor of Nanyang. Yet, even when facing Bai Qi, Zhang He would still have to bow and show deference. This was because Bai Qi held the additional title of Great General. If it were merely a matter of being a fellow governor, Zhang He would never have stooped so low. Yet, before this young man, Zhang He displayed such abject humility, clearly terrified of offending him.

"Murong? Murong? Could it be...?" Old Wu, having heard Zhang He, murmured to himself. A possibility struck him, though he desperately hoped his intuition was wrong.

"Old Wu, have you thought of something?" Fang Xu asked, noticing the shifting expressions on the old man's face.

"Young Master, if I am not mistaken, this must be the eldest son of the Murong clan: Murong Fu," Old Wu whispered into Fang Xu’s ear.

"Murong Fu? What a name," Fang Xu replied with a chuckle. He couldn't help but think of the character from *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, who eventually descended into madness. He wondered how this particular Murong Fu would fare.

"Young Master, this is no time for jokes! If it really is the Murong clan, we are in grave danger," Old Wu urged, his voice tight with anxiety. He then explained the true nature of the Murong clan to Fang Xu, realizing how limited his master’s knowledge of the Landed Families was.

The Murong clan stood at the head of the four great Landed Families, representing the most formidable power among them. The others—the Zhuge, Duanmu, and Shangguan clans—balanced one another, though they rarely engaged in open conflict. Their power was measured by the number of counties they controlled. While these lands nominally belonged to the Great Qin, they effectively answered only to the families. In those regions, the decrees of the Emperor often carried less weight than the word of the Landed Families—a reality everyone tacitly accepted.

As for why Zhang He was a man of the Murong clan, it was because the southern counties, including Danyang, fell under their jurisdiction. Old Wu believed that offending Murong Fu for the sake of Zhang He would be a disastrous mistake. As the designated heir to the Murong clan, crossing him would leave neither Fang Xu nor himself with any hope of a good outcome. Moreover, the Four Families truly did hold the Nine Ministers in low regard, giving Murong Fu every reason to speak as he did.

Hearing this, Fang Xu’s jaw tightened, and his hands clenched into fists.

"I shall ask again! Who was it that intended to lay a hand on my people? What? Do you not know that to beat a dog, one must first look to its master? Or are you cowards who dare not own up to your actions?" Murong Fu taunted.

Fang Xu’s patience finally snapped. "It was I! Does Young Master Murong have any further instructions?" He realized Murong Fu had no intention of letting this pass, so he stepped forward to face him.

"Oh? So it was you. And what did you say you were just now? A Commandant of Justice? What kind of thing is that?" Murong Fu asked with a sneer. Seeing the way his master humiliated Fang Xu, Zhang He, standing nearby, grew emboldened. After the humiliation he had suffered at Fang Xu’s hands, he was eager to see him brought low.

"Old Wu, if I were to cut down Murong Fu, what would happen?" Fang Xu ignored the mockery and whispered to his companion.

"Young Master! Please, stay calm! The relationship between the southern families and the Emperor is already at a breaking point. If you add fuel to the fire now, the consequences will be...!" Old Wu pleaded, fearing that Fang Xu might actually act on his murderous impulse.

"What do you take me for, Old Wu? Do you think I would lose my composure over a matter of such gravity?" Fang Xu retorted with a sidelong glance.

Old Wu thought to himself, *If you weren't known for your lack of composure, you wouldn't be called the 'Living Yama.'* But he knew better than to say it aloud.

Murong Fu, unaware of Fang Xu’s lethal thoughts, continued his taunts. "The Commandant of Justice is nothing, but the authority to decide life and death is quite enough," Fang Xu said, smiling coldly.

"A fine authority indeed! Do you mean to say you would dare kill even me?" Murong Fu looked at him with utter contempt, dismissing the threat as a joke.

"I certainly could, provided Young Master Murong were to grant me his permission. Otherwise, I would truly not dare," Fang Xu said with a smile.

Murong Fu burst into laughter, followed by his guards and Zhang He. They all found the notion absurd; even if given the chance, could Fang Xu really dare to kill him? It was impossible. They all assumed Fang Xu was merely speaking in his sleep.