Chapter 169

Upon hearing this, everyone's thoughts varied.

Qiao Feng and Feng Yi admired Xue Muhua, who lived up to his reputation as a Divine Doctor; with just a pulse check, he not only correctly identified their boxing technique but also described their sparring encounter precisely. Qiao Feng realized that if the Divine Doctor was willing to treat her, Ah Zhu's life would be saved.

Xuan Nan and Xuan Ji were half‑believing, half‑doubting, both thinking: 'How could anyone in this world still wield the Great Diamond Fist?'

They and Xuan Ci were taught by the same master; in studying the Great Diamond Fist they were diligent and painstaking, but limited by talent they could not master it, yet felt no regret.

Only because the Shaolin Sect often goes over a hundred years without producing a single outstanding talent capable of mastering the Great Diamond Fist.

The secrets of training, etc., were recorded in detail by past eminent monks in the Martial Classic; sometimes the entire temple's hundreds of monks had none who mastered it, yet the knowledge was not lost. But to say that outside Shaolin there are still masters of this art is truly hard to believe.

Xuan Ji's lips twitched; he wanted to speak but held back. He had meant to ask the Divine Doctor Xue: 'Is she really struck by the Great Diamond Fist?'

But he also knew that uttering those words would imply doubt in the Divine Doctor Xue's medical skill, which would be grossly disrespectful.

He immediately turned to Qiao Feng and said: 'Last night you secretly sneaked into the Shaolin Temple, killed my Senior Brother Xuan Ku, and even blocked a strike of the Abbot Senior Brother's Great Diamond Fist. Tell me, if that Abbot Senior Brother's strike had landed on this little girl, could she still survive?'

The previous night Xuan Ci, Xuan Nan, and Xuan Ji jointly attacked Qiao Feng; Qiao Feng blocked Xuan Ci's Great Diamond Fist. He had already leapt onto the roof, but lost his footing on the eaves, his knees gave way, and he fell again.

The terror of the Great Diamond Fist was plain to Xuan Ji and Xuan Nan, and Qiao Feng, since wandering the martial world, had never faced such a formidable opponent. Yet how could he admit to the guilt of killing Xuan Ku?

Qiao Feng shook his head and said: 'Grand Master Xuan Ku is my master; I have yet to repay his great kindness, and I would rather lose my own life than raise a finger against my master.'

Xuan Ji's eyes blazed with fury as he shouted: 'Qiao Feng, are you still trying to deny it? Then what about the Shaolin monk you abducted? Isn't that also your doing?'

Qiao Feng thought: 'The Shaolin monk I supposedly abducted is right before your eyes.' He said: 'Grand Master, you falsely accuse me of kidnapping a Shaolin high monk; may I ask who that high monk is?'

Xuan Ji and Xuan Nan stared at each other, speechless.

They indeed saw Qiao Feng, when he escaped the previous night, seize a Shaolin monk; yet when they counted the temple's monks, not one was missing—this strangeness truly left them baffled.

Feng Yi saw the two monks doubting anyone else could wield the Great Diamond Fist, yet he did not expect that Ah Zhu was that disguised monk.

He too kept gazing at Ah Zhu; after a long look, unless one were clairvoyant, one could not discern her true appearance, and he genuinely admired her disguise technique.

Only then did Divine Doctor Xue interject: 'Brother Qiao, you went alone into and out of the Shaolin Temple last night, unharmed, yet you supposedly abducted a Shaolin high monk—how strange. There must be something fishy; your words are far from the truth.'

Shaolin Temple is touted as the orthodox lineage of martial arts under heaven, with masters as numerous as clouds; he did not believe Qiao Feng's martial arts could be that formidable, yet these words made Xuji and Xuannan's faces turn ashen, and they remained silent.

That night, while Qiao Feng was in Xuanku's quarters, there had been more than ten senior monks of the Xu generation. Unlike other temples, in Shaolin Temple, the higher one's seniority, the deeper one's martial arts; each of them was a top-tier expert of Shaolin Temple.

Shaolin Temple's top-tier experts are naturally also top-tier experts in the martial world; given their martial reputation, each could make a name that resounds throughout the jianghu. Yet Qiao Feng exhaled and blew out the candle, disappearing right under their noses.

They couldn't even speak of injuring or capturing him; they couldn't even figure out how he escaped, not having a clue.

Later, Xuanci, Xuji, and Xuanmao clashed with Qiao Feng in the Bodhi Courtyard, yet the person they were holding still managed to get away.

If it weren't for Qiao Feng coming to Shaolin and shouting loudly that Grand Master Xuanku had passed away, causing a commotion that almost the whole temple knew about.

Such an embarrassing matter, they all wanted to conceal it.

Qiao Feng reiterated: "Grand Master Xuanku is my benefactor; I certainly did not harm him. The night before last, I definitely did not abduct any senior monk from Shaolin Temple. You have many things you don't understand, and I have many things I don't understand either."

"Hehe," Feng Yi gave a light chuckle: "What's there not to understand?"

Qiao Feng stared blankly and said: "Please, enlighten me."

Feng Yi said leisurely: "Obviously someone is employing a scheming plot to ruin your reputation and achieve some ulterior motive; such an obvious matter, why would any instruction be needed?"

Qiao Feng's eyebrows lit up with joy as he exclaimed: "Do you believe I am not a Khitan, and not the great villain who killed my parents and benefactor?"

Qiao Feng, being astute and capable, had long suspected that a major conspiracy lay hidden in all this. Yet those who play power politics are crafty, having arranged everything in meticulous order, making his every action appear absurd in the eyes of others; no matter what he says, nobody believes him, which is what frustrates him most—but this stranger, Feng Yi, a master he does not know, believes him.

It was like a ray of light in his own darkness; he was extremely delighted.

Feng Yi smiled and said: "As for whether you are a Khitan, I am not your parents, so this question is indeed hard to answer."

Qiao Feng gazed at him, his eyes flashing fierce then hesitant, and finally sighed: "That is also true!"

Feng Yi chuckled and said: "But to save the life of this utterly unrelated little girl, you dare to risk death and attend the meeting alone; such heroic bearing may not be said to match Guan Yunlong's grace, yet it still makes you a true man, a fine fellow, worthy of respect and admiration!"

I could never believe that someone like you would lay hands on your parents and benefactor.

I believe some of the wise among those present would also not believe this fallacious argument!

These words instantly caused the assembled heroes to startle, and they began to discuss among themselves.

The implication being that those who believe this are not among the wise?

If it weren't for the fact that Yunzhonghe and Tan Qing's blood had not yet dried, they would truly want to seek instruction from Feng Yi.

Xuji raised his white brows and suddenly said: "Are you saying that our temple has wronged Qiao Feng?"

Our temple's novice who attended to Senior Brother Xuanku, at the window, personally saw Qiao Feng strike Senior Brother Xuanku in the chest with a palm.

He clearly saw the assailant's attire and appearance: wearing a gray cloth straight robe, square face, eyebrows arched thus, big mouth and big ears. To have my senior brother strike him—such bearing and demeanor could not be fabricated.

Feng Yi gave a slight smile, thinking: "Who let his father look exactly like Qiao Feng?"

Then Qiao Feng said: "Two venerable masters, I absolutely did not kill my parents and benefactor."

That day, when I rushed back to Mount Shaoshi, upon entering the gate I saw my parents slain; coincidentally, your temple's senior monks arrived, having heard the summons, and thus came to render aid.

They thought it was I who had done it.

I could only restrain them and ask how they came to know that my parents had met misfortune.

Who had conveyed this news to them.

But several masters thought I wanted to find the informant and then harm him with poisonous means. Qiao Mou knew deep down that the misunderstanding would only deepen; no matter what I asked, they took it as interrogating a confession, so I left.

Later I realized that the killer who slew my parents was not coincidentally timed; he struck in the half-hour before I returned home, which shows he had premeditated it.

After the villain struck, he immediately went to inform your temple's monks, saying I was rushing to Mount Shaoshi to kill my parents to silence them. Your temple's monks, motivated by righteousness, intended to save my parents, but instead ran into me, causing the misunderstanding.

I well knew that, aside from Master Xuanku, few in the world knew the truth of my origins; to prevent the culprit from further poisoning me and framing me, I secretly sneaked into Shaolin Temple hoping to meet my master.

Who would have thought that the murderer indeed disguised himself as my appearance, harmed Master Xuanku, causing him on his deathbed to believe that I, his disciple, had inflicted this poisonous deed, dying with eyes unclosed.

Everyone saw Qiao Feng speaking, his eyes welling up, obviously overcome with grief.

Those who understood him were all astonished.

Little did they know that Qiao Feng had suffered repeated injustices these past days, his frustration bottled up; although he clearly knew someone was framing him, he had not the slightest clue.

He had kept these words bottled up for a long time; today, finding a confidant like Feng Yi, he could pour out all his suspicions, which for him was also a form of venting.

All one heard Feng Yi say: "Actually this matter is as clear as day; just think, Qiao Sanhuai and his wife know no martial arts, so killing them at the right time is not difficult, but Grand Master Xuanku possesses such superb martial arts and resides in Shaolin Temple where masters are as numerous as clouds—yet the assassin could still strike a single palm straight to his vital chest."

It shows his martial arts skill is superb, reaching the pinnacle; since someone stood at the window, they not only saw his murderous act but also saw his face.

Heh, someone with such profound martial arts would have extraordinarily keen perception—how could a little novice monk like him escape his notice? Isn't this too suspicious?

Suddenly a clear voice rang out: "Master Feng, you deduced this, but how could you not know this is a conspiracy between Qiao Feng and someone?"

Our sect's Vice Chief Ma was none other than harmed by the conspiracy of Qiao Feng and Murong Fu, one in the open, one in the shadows.

Oh, I'm not saying Master Feng is making groundless assumptions; perhaps Master Feng himself was also deceived by Qiao Feng's past conduct.

Everyone turned to look at the speaker, only to see a middle-aged beggar walk out from among the beggars.

He was Quan Guanqing, nicknamed Shifang Xiucai, resourceful and scheming, with formidable martial arts; he had once been the Eight-pouch Altar Master of the Beggars' Sect, ranking just below the Six Elders.

Qiao Feng glanced sideways and said, "Quan Guanqing, I say again, I have never known Master Murong, let alone that I, in the open and he in the dark, killed Elder Brother Ma."

"Master Qiao, you too are an illustrious figure—does saying this not prick your conscience?" Quan Guanqing snorted coldly: "Everyone, that day at Heaven Peace Temple, Master Qiao and Murong Fu came together, having rescued us from the Western Xia First Class Hall; we were originally very grateful."

Yet he stubbornly refuses to acknowledge Murong Fu, and even now, before the heroes of the world, he repeats this excuse. How could one trust the words of such a person?

The beggars' sect members, along with Tan Gong, Tan Po, and Shan Zheng, etc., all looked at Qiao Feng with contempt, murmuring among themselves.

You pass it to me, I pass it to you—everyone heard it clearly.

As for the incident at the Apricot Grove, Qiao Feng first released Murong Fu's followers, saying they were heroes; later, Kang Min, Quan Guanqing, Xu Chongxiao, and others exposed Qiao Feng's Khitan identity, and also produced Qiao Feng's folding fan found at the Ma residence.

The beggars' sect suspected Qiao Feng of using Murong Fu as a pawn to kill with a borrowed knife, eliminating Ma Dayuan, while Qiao Feng continually denied knowing Murong Fu. But that day Duan Yu and A Zhu disguised themselves as Qiao Feng and Murong Fu to go rescue the beggars' sect heroes captured by the Western Xia First Class Hall. Coincidentally, someone released the "Grieving Sorrow Pure Wind", and on the powder wall someone wrote in a writhing dragon-and-snake style four lines of four characters each: "Do unto others as they do unto you, confuse the people with toxic wind, return the flawless jade to its lord."

At a glance, this is clearly Murong Fu's handiwork.

The beggars' sect heroes had been rescued by "Qiao Feng", and everyone was naturally grateful. Yet how could Qiao Feng, no matter how clever, have guessed that someone would impersonate him and, just moments before, come to Heaven Peace Temple to save them?

Therefore he came to Heaven Peace Temple, heard the beggars' sect's inquiry, and flatly denied knowing Murong Fu, let alone having rescued anyone together with him.

As for the beggars' sect members, they clearly saw "Qiao Feng" and "Murong Fu" arrive together at Heaven Peace Temple, chatting and laughing, their demeanor intimate—obviously not strangers—so hearing Qiao Feng deny it naturally astonished them.

Some speculated he had encountered many mishaps these days, causing his mind to falter; others thought Qiao Feng had some secret plan against the Western Xia, so he refused to admit it before their enemies;

Some guessed Ma Dayuan was indeed killed by Qiao Feng using Murong Fu as a tool, fearing exposure of the plot, so they flatly denied knowing Murong Fu; some guessed he was scheming to become chief of the beggars' sect, arranging some strategy; and others firmly believed he was working for the Khitan, both opposing Western Xia and harming the Song dynasty.

Everyone's suspicions varied—regret, admiration, sorrow, hatred, contempt, enmity, and so on—mixed together, so hearing that he had killed his parents and master was almost taken as fact.

Because Qiao Feng refused to acknowledge even what they had seen with their own eyes, he was clearly no longer the former beggars' sect chief whose word was law, upright and benevolent.

Feng Yi understood this well; although Duan Yu and A Zhu acted out of good intentions, hoping to help Qiao Feng and Murong Fu, who would have thought the real Qiao Feng would suddenly appear?

By a twist of fate, this also dealt a blow to Qiao Feng's reputation.

People of the martial world, once they lose their reputation, find it hard to stand firm!

The Four Villains, these evildoers who make no effort to hide their wickedness, also value keeping one's word—this shows a glimpse.

Thus the accusation that Qiao Feng killed his parents and master clung to him; no matter how he explained, nobody believed him.

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For how could someone who lies blatantly in public without changing expression have any credibility?

Thus Qiao Feng's life was indeed a tragedy.

Favored women and his own father vied to frame him, yet it was also inevitable that good brothers and good wives-in-law would unintentionally fan the flames.

Qiao Feng heard people saying he clearly knew Murong Fu, yet he had blurted out a denial.

He knew the two elders, Song and Wu, of the beggars' sect would not resort to scheming; clearly this was true.

Even though Qiao Feng's will was as steadfast as a mountain, at this moment his mind was in a fog, feeling as if his heart were sinking into a bottomless abyss.

A Zhu felt as if she had been struck a heavy blow to the head, seeing golden stars dance before her eyes and hearing only the cicada's buzz in her ears; she understood.

What she and Duan Yu did that day brought Qiao Feng no benefit, but instead deepened everyone's misunderstanding of him.

She wanted to explain, but she dared not.

For if she were to admit before everyone that she had used a disguise, then her stealing the scriptures at Shaolin Temple and being beaten, with Qiao Feng taking her away, could no longer be concealed.

If it were known that she had entered Shaolin for the young master's sake, Qiao Feng would be even less able to explain; in an instant her mind would be in a tangled mess, as if she had fainted.

But then Feng Yi let out a cold laugh and said, "Regarding Qiao Feng's affairs, every single matter has been carefully plotted, with great effort! The conspirators are truly talented individuals."

Quan Guanqing laughed, "You rely only on speculation and Qiao Feng's own account, yet you expect people to believe you; Master Feng, you are also a scheming person."

Feng Yi didn't even glance at him, calmly saying: "Don't conceal it, gentlemen, I already asked you all earlier—are we dealing with Qiao Feng because he is a Khitan, or because of his atrocities!"

If it's a Han-Hu feud, it has its origins; everyone kills each other, always fierce, and harsher methods are not blameworthy.

So if you want to talk about the Han-Hu feud, why waste words with Qiao Feng? Guilty or not, just hack him to death with random blades!

But we are all righteous heroes of the martial world; we must have a just cause and enumerate his crimes.

However, to punish after establishing guilt, we must convince them wholly.

Yet the so-called Heroes' Gathering has been toyed with by meddlers in the palm of their hand, truly infuriating!

Divine Doctor Xue couldn't help but say: "You… you how can you speak like that?"

Quan Guanqing coldly snorted: "Hero Feng, since you insist on framing us for wronging Qiao Feng, that's up to you; we have nothing to say. Then is Hero Feng fighting alongside us to uphold the righteous path, or colluding with those Khitan barbarians, ferocious evil demons, helping a tiger do harm?"

Upon saying that, his intentions became obvious.

If Feng Yi again speaks for Qiao Feng, he becomes the public enemy of the Han people.

Qiao Feng deeply regretted: "My actions were rash; death is no pity, this has implicated this good man!"

Thus having come to this point, Qiao Feng sighed: "Hero Feng, today I have gained a true confidant; even in death I have no regrets!"

Only blame fate's trickery; later I hope you won't hold back when you strike—if I could die by your hand, that would console me for life.

Seeing himself surrounded by enemies, Qiao Feng did not want to implicate Feng Yi, so he directly let him attack him to show his stance.

Yet Feng Yi is like a stubborn mule that won't budge, even when beaten to retreat; his veins bulged instantly, he rose to his full height, his gaze turned fierce, and he shouted: "Surname Quan, just because you're a jumping clown, you dare to point fingers at me, Feng—come on, let's get close!"

Without lifting a foot or moving a hand, he had already darted over two zhang, charging toward Quan Guanqing.

Feng Yi's movement technique, both swift and illusory, made everyone exclaim "aiya"—white light flashed, a saber and an iron rod split down from left and right.

They were the Wu and Song elders of the Beggars' Sect; both were members of the Beggars' Sect—how could they ignore Feng Yi's attack on Quan Guanqing?

Feng Yi didn't even look, just flicked his sleeve with a clang; the Wu elder's guandao knocked aside the Song elder's iron rod. His left hand grabbed toward Quan Guanqing's shoulder; he hurriedly extended his left arm to block, and his right palm struck out with great force.

At this moment, the two elders Xi and Chen also raised their weapons, chopping or slicing, and attacked. Feng Yi kicked back with his left foot, striking Elder Xi in the chest. He cried out, and blood spurted wildly as he fell to the ground.

Before Quan Guanqing's palm could strike, Feng Yi turned his hand, grabbed down, and seized his shoulder.

Quan Guanqing was greatly startled; he never expected that, even while surrounded by the several elders, Feng Yi could still capture him. Before his thought finished, he involuntarily cried out in pain, his whole body going limp.

At the same time, with a crack, Feng Yi turned his body and sliced off Elder Chen's arm with the edge of his palm.

Elder Xu struck at Feng Yi's rear head with a palm; Feng Yi snorted coldly, grabbed with his left hand, and struck out with his right.

With a bang, the force between them scattered, and Elder Xu was flung back.

Old Man Tan and Old Lady Tan, who were on good terms with Xu Chongxiao, turned pale with shock and both rushed forward to support him.

"Don't catch it!"

Qiao Feng's shout rang in their ears, and Old Man Tan and Old Lady Tan's fingers had already touched Elder Xu's back.

But then a great force surged forth, followed by a loud cry: "Show mercy!"

With a sudden gust, Old Lady Tan felt a strong force pull her leftward; it was Zhao Qian Sun, and the two of them rolled far along the ground.

Glancing askance, Elder Xu staggered and fell to the ground, and Old Man Tan also collapsed, his complexion ashen as paper.

Feng Yi flicked his sleeve, already bringing Quan Guanqing rushing back to the side of the chair.

Feng Yi's such maneuvers left the heroes dazzled and tongue-tied, unable to utter a sound.

Though Feng Yi had just dealt with Yun Zhonghe, which was indeed formidable, there were many present whose martial skill surpassed his. Take the four elders Chen, Song, Xi, and Wu of the Beggar's Sect, who are his equals; Elder Xu, Old Man Tan and Old Lady Tan, and Zhao Qian Sun are all superior to him.

Yet in the blink of an eye, under the siege of the Beggar's Sect's four elders, Feng Yi captured Quan Guanqing, struck Xu Chongxiao, and knocked over Old Man Tan and Old Lady Tan; although his martial art was merely the ordinary seizing technique and Opening Mountain Palm, its variations were endless, especially the speed of his attack—rising like a startled swan, falling like lightning—leaving the onlookers unable to take their eyes off, revealing extraordinary skill in the mundane.

The masters on the field all thought: "This person's martial art is actually so superb; if I were to fight him, how many moves could I block?"

Thinking this, they gazed at Feng Yi's relaxed demeanor and smiling mouth, and all felt a chill, each fearing for themselves.

Yet they all marveled, for Feng Yi looked no more than twenty years old; how could his martial art have reached such a level?

"Excellent martial art!"

Even with Qiao Feng's high martial prowess, he could not help but be moved and voiced his praise.

Feng Yi replied mockingly, "Three-legged cat kung fu—how dare I accept Brother Qiao's false praise?"

Qiao Feng gave a light smile, he did not think Feng Yi was being modest.

Because he saw desolation filling Feng Yi's eyes, as if this scene displeased him greatly.

Thanks to the book friend "Vast Sky and Sea Tune" for the reward.

(End of chapter)