Chapter 220: This Is the Daughter of Prince Duan!

"Zhong Ling, shut up!"

Wang Yuyan and Mu Wanjing shouted together.

Zhong Ling, confused, pouted.

Duan Yu felt dizzy and nauseous—he revered his master, and the two girls were like sisters to him, all deeply important, yet he did not wish to hear the details of their developments.

"Prince Duan?"

Master Xuanbei addressed the surrounding martial artists: "This is the son of Duan Zhengchun, Prince of Nanzhao in Dali. The Murong family's affairs are also witnessed by the Dali Duan clan."

Prince Duan Zhengchun of Dali was well-known in the martial world; whether young maidens or middle-aged women, all were bewitched by him, unable to control their feelings. Hearing he was the prince's son, everyone leaned forward to scrutinize Duan Yu—he was indeed handsome, but dull and foolish, nothing like his father, and they felt disappointed.

Duan Yu finally came to his senses, bowed respectfully to Master Xuanbei and Qiao Feng in turn, then said: "The story begins with the Tubo state's master…." He briefly recounted how the Tubo master Jiumo Zhi possessed all seventy-two Shaolin supreme arts, inherited from Murong Bo, and how Master Xuanbei knew the Murong family harbored rebellion.

Abbot Xianci of Shaolin, upon hearing the Four Evils planned to harass the Duan clan, sent Master Xuanbei to assist. Now that Shaolin's seventy-two supreme arts had leaked, the Dali Duan clan also sent Duan Yu to accompany Master Xuanbei, to cultivate ties with Shaolin and broaden his horizons.

Duan Yu had always loved Buddhist teachings; though Dali Duan followed Vajrayana and Shaolin followed Chan, their doctrines shared common ground, and along the journey, Duan Yu and Master Xuanbei got along well.

At this moment, Duan Yu recounted events involving Dali, Shaolin, and Bianliang, informing the martial world that the Murong family's rebellion was confirmed by Shaolin and ordered by Bianliang.

Shaolin Temple was renowned throughout the martial world.

Qiao Feng was famed throughout the martial world.

With these two powers coordinating with Bianjing to jointly oppose Murong, the tide had turned; martial artists from the southern Wu Lin could no longer speak out—some who had previously followed the Murong banner now sought to distance themselves and slipped away.

"Nonsense!"

Deng Baichuan roared, unleashing his inner energy, lunging to seize Duan Yu.

Deng Baichuan, seeing the situation turn dire, intended to capture the Prince of Nanzhao's heir, forcing the Beggar's Sect and Shaolin to hesitate, buying time.

Deng Baichuan's inner energy was immensely potent; his roar left many martial artists momentarily blinded, and in one swift motion, his hand reached Duan Yu's face.

Gu Qing stood nearby, arms crossed, watching as Deng Baichuan lunged—Duan Yu's body moved automatically, swaying aside, putting more than ten feet between them.

"Excellent lightness skill!"

Qiao Feng had been about to intervene, but seeing Duan Yu's graceful movement, he stepped aside, watching as Deng Baichuan's strike failed—then Gongye Qian, Bao Budong, and Feng Biao all rushed in together, surrounding Duan Yu.

Duan Yu darted left and right, letting fists, palms, blades, and swords whirl around him, yet none could come within a foot of his body. After several moves, Deng Baichuan and the others grew increasingly frantic—they had launched this attack as a desperate gamble; if they failed to capture Duan Yu, their position would grow even worse.

Suddenly, Deng Baichuan, Gongye Qian, and Bao Budong changed tactics, forcing Duan Yu to leap right—Feng Biao slashed with his blade, aiming to corner him.

"Clang!"

Duan Yu pinched Feng Biao's blade between two fingers, used the force to flip his body, and landed lightly aside—Deng Baichuan, Gongye Qian, and Bao Budong stared as Feng Biao's long blade lay severed in two, Duan Yu standing calmly beside them.

Duan Yu not only possessed superior lightness skill, but his inner energy and fingertip strength were even greater; after this move, Deng Baichuan and the others realized Duan Yu towered far above them—he simply had not yet entered danger and thus held back.

"Sigh…"

Deng Baichuan sighed and said: "The Dali Duan clan's family arts are truly profound."

Duan Yu smiled cheerfully and bowed: "Not family arts—these were taught by my master."

All of Murong's people turned to Gu Qing, surprised to find his shadow here too.

Gu Qing smiled.

Not family arts? Not at all!

Zhao Baifeng had poured everything into her child; after teaching Duan Yu the Yi Jin Jing, seeing he refused to harm others and only wished to survive, Gu Qing passed on Lu Xiaofeng's lightness skill and Lingxi Finger to him. Now Duan Yu's arsenal—robust Yi Jin Jing inner energy, Six Meridians Sword, Phoenix Dance Nine Heavens, Lingxi Finger—was fully equipped for the martial world.

"Deploy the Beggar's Staff Array—seize the Murong family!"

Quan Guanqing gave the order.

Quan Guanqing had originally sought to steer Qiao Feng's momentum, but now seeing Qiao Feng allied with Master Xuanbei and backed by Bianjing's officials and the Dali Duan clan, he realized the tide had turned—he would follow Qiao Feng and ride the favorable wind.

The Beggar's Staff Array surrounded the Murong family members.

Qiao Feng led the charge, charging into the Four Great Servants of Murong, casually striking at Deng Baichuan, and with a side kick, sent Bao Budong tumbling. Deng Baichuan gathered his inner energy to resist, but felt Qiao Feng's palm force surge like a flood, his inner energy coalescing—this casual strike threatened to shatter his internal organs—he spat blood.

Gongye Qian and Feng Biao rushed forward—Qiao Feng raised his hand, snatched Feng Biao's wrist, used Dragon Claw to disarm the broken blade, blocked his vital points with his elbow, then flicked his sleeve—no one saw clearly what happened, yet Gongye Qian also fell to the ground.

Wang Yuyan sighed softly; she had already seen the gap between Qiao Feng and Murong Fu, and now, watching Qiao Feng's fist and foot techniques, she knew Murong Fu, however broad his martial knowledge, could not withstand Qiao Feng.

A Zhu watched Qiao Feng move like a celestial deity, effortlessly knocking down her Brother Deng, Brother Gongye, Brother Bao, and Brother Feng—this burly man naturally radiated heroism, yet now he had become the Murong family's doom.

Murong Fu, already wounded by Qiao Feng's palm force, was now trapped within the Beggar's Staff Array.

The Murong family truly seemed on the verge of collapse.

A Zhu turned back, gazing at Wang Yuyan, standing numbly beside Gu Qing, and sneered: "You are a guest of honor; I am a prisoner at your feet—why not speak a word to comfort me?"

Wang Yuyan looked at Gu Qing, her eyes pleading; she had long been loyal to him, but A Zhu, A Bi, and the Murong family were all familiar to her—seeing them fall to this fate, she could not bear it.

"Fine!" Gu Qing nodded, smiled at Wang Yuyan, and called to Qiao Feng and Master Xuanbei: "Gentlemen, this girl is not of the Murong family."

Qiao Feng and Master Xuanbei exchanged glances—this was clearly Murong Fu's maid, how could she not be Murong family?

But if Gu Qing wished to protect a maid, letting her go was harmless.

"This is the daughter of the Prince of Nanzhao in Dali!"

Gu Qing said.

"What?"

Wang Yuyan, Mu Wanjing, Zhong Ling, and Duan Yu were all stunned, staring intently at A Zhu.

A Zhu, meanwhile, felt utterly bewildered—how had she suddenly become the daughter of the Prince of Nanzhao?

"You have a 'Duan' character on your shoulder!"

Gu Qing told A Zhu: "Stars in heaven, glittering bright, forever radiant, eternally peaceful—this was the mark left by the Duan prince of Dali and a lady who fell in love. Two years later, when the prince returned to Dali, the lady's family was strict; with no choice, she sent her two daughters away, and before leaving, she branded each with the character 'Duan' on their shoulders."

"Your adoptive parents knew your mother's surname was Ruan—but your true surname is Duan."

A Zhu had initially thought Gu Qing was making up nonsense, fabricating a Dali Duan lie to pull her from the Murong whirlpool—but the more she listened, the more it matched her own memories.

"Real or fake?"

!

A Zhu had been grieving for the Murong family's fate—now she was stunned by her own lineage.

Qiao Feng and Master Xuanbei had never anticipated such a twist; they turned to Duan Yu—the son of the Prince of Nanzhao—whose word carried weight here.

"If my master says so, it must be true."

Duan Yu affirmed firmly.

"Don't worry—I have a reputation."

Gu Qing patted Mu Wanjing's shoulder and Zhong Ling's head: "These are all the Prince of Nanzhao's daughters."

Duan Yu nodded along.

"Then, congratulations."

Seeing this, Qiao Feng didn't know what to say—he waved his hand, signaling the Beggar's Sect to lower their guard toward A Zhu.

"And one more…"

Gu Qing suddenly reached out, wrapped his arm around A Bi's waist, tapped a point, and sealed her acupoints, then told Qiao Feng and Master Xuanbei: "This one is my lover."

A Bi could not speak, glaring hatefully at Gu Qing.

"Then forget it."

Qiao Feng had traveled with A Bi to the outskirts of Wuxi—he knew Gu Qing and A Bi were not yet lovers, but since Gu Qing protected her, Qiao Feng let it pass.

"Master Gu, do you have any other lovers?"

Master Xuanbei, feeling indebted to Gu Qing for Duan Yu's gift of Murong Bo's seventy-two supreme arts at Tianlong Temple, now wished to repay the favor—seeing Gu Qing taking people, he offered willingly.

Gu Qing glanced sideways at Murong Fu, Deng Baichuan, Gongye Qian, Bao Budong, and Feng Biao, silently cursing: I'd love to kiss your mother!

At the Wuxi pavilion, the Murong family's core members were all captured; under Qiao Feng's orders, the Beggar's Sect and Shaolin boarded boats, racing ahead toward the Murong estate. In the martial world, many had died by "Return the Same Method," and numerous martial artists now rushed to the Murong estate seeking vengeance; others, seeing opportunity, surged forward, ready to plunder.

"Done. Finished."

Murong Fu muttered: "The Murong family's fate is spent—all centuries of scheming, now in vain…"

Murong Fu wanted to kill himself again.

Wang Yuyan boarded A Bi's boat; A Bi's acupoints had been unsealed, A Zhu was safe—but seeing the fleet of boats heading en masse toward the Murong estate, she whispered cautiously to Gu Qing: "My uncle's family has spent generations seeking the throne, yet always failed. Could you… show some mercy?"

The Murong family would be destroyed by these martial artists.

"Slap!"

Gu Qing struck Wang Yuyan's firm buttock hard, scolding: "Even beggars love the Great Song—why are you still wavering?"

She needed a strong injection of patriotism!

Wang Yuyan's eyes welled with tears; she said nothing more.

In Yanziwu, as the Beggar's Sect stormed inside, servants and maids were seized. Many martial artists sought to loot, but the Beggar's Sect maintained strict discipline and organization, securing all exits first, minimizing potential losses.

Master Xuanbei had already scoured the Murong estate—he now led Qiao Feng and Duan Yu through familiar paths, retrieving the Murong family's imperial jade seal, genealogy, and family precepts, laying them out in a row—there was no longer any denial.

As for the Huan Shi Pavilion hiding the secret manuals, Master Xuanbei entered alone, retrieved the Shaolin seventy-two supreme arts manuals, burned them clean, then allowed others to enter and view.

"Chief, Chief, look! This is the Throat-Choking Manual from Brother Ma Dayuan's home!"

Bai Shijing exclaimed: "The Murong family truly killed Brother Ma!"

Bai Shijing seized the chance to make Ma Dayuan's case an ironclad truth.

(End of Chapter)