Chapter 221: Waist-Locking Grappling Hand

"This Murong household has mountains of gold and silver, no shortage of martial arts manuals, and is even a powerful force, deploying command flags..."

Inside this Canhe Manor, torches were everywhere, and the surroundings were bright.

Song Zhanglao of the Beggar Sect had finished tallying the Murong family's power and assets; it was already nearing midnight. At this moment, he held a scroll and reported to Northern Qiao Feng and Master Xuanbei.

Elders Xi, Wu, Chen, and Lü of the Beggar Sect wore expressions that varied.

Northern Qiao Feng had crushed the Murong family, which could be called an unprecedented, miraculous feat.

Murong Fu, Deng Baichuan, Gongye Qian, Bao Butong, and Feng Bo'e were bound with ox-tendon ropes, their entire bodies unable to move. On the other side, Northern Qiao Feng sat in the seat of honor, listening to Song Zhanglao's report and observing the expressions of the various elders; in his heart, there was truly no sense of joy.

Northern Qiao Feng knew that that letter had already shaken the hearts and minds of these brothers.

"This Murong Fu secretly harmed our Deputy Sect Leader Ma; his crimes are even more unforgivable."

Bai Shijing immediately added from the side.

"Murong Fu has many sins, but this matter of Deputy Sect Leader Ma does not lie with Murong Fu."

Northern Qiao Feng looked at Gu Qing, who was accompanied by many female dependents, and spoke out.

Northern Qiao Feng's prestige was currently at its peak; if he clung to power, naturally no one could overthrow him, and afterward, Northern Qiao Feng could also clear out these elders one by one to securely remain the Beggar Sect Leader, but that was not what Northern Qiao Feng desired.

Gu Qing smiled at Northern Qiao Feng. The Beggar Sect side immediately sent over many chairs, which were arranged in the great hall, allowing Gu Qing and his party to take their seats. Among them, A'Zhu and A'Bi had tear-filled eyes and sat down in silence. The gathered martial artists, seeing this, knew that Gu Qing's delayed arrival must have been to do some "ideological work" on the two of them.

It was just that, seeing Gu Qing, a man whose appearance was like fine jade, with female dependents by his side who were of peerless beauty and living in harmony, the martial artists present could not help but think of Prince Duan. And since most of the female dependents by Gu Qing's side were Prince Duan's daughters, how could this not be a kind of inheritance?

"The Murong family hides in the Jiang Hu, plotting against the imperial court, with internal agents in the southeast, west, and north. If a disaster were to strike one day and starving people rose up everywhere, these forces of the Murong family, deep among the starving masses, could also wreak havoc on an entire province."

Bai Shijing said: "And our Beggar Sect resists the Khitan externally, deals with the Xixia Yipin Hall, and fights side-by-side with the Old General Yang; we are truly the pillar of the Jiang Hu. Murong Fu wanted to wreak havoc on the Beggar Sect, so he assassinated Deputy Sect Leader Ma—it is reasonable and logical."

After obtaining the Throat-Locking Skill manual in the Huanshi Water Pavilion, Bai Shijing had seen hope and wanted to turn the matter of Ma Dayuan into an ironclad case.

The people of the Jiang Hu, upon hearing this motive, felt it was reasonable and logical.

Quan Guanqing, seeing this scene, also felt that Northern Qiao Feng's prestige was too heavy and difficult to shake.

Northern Qiao Feng scanned the circle with his gaze and asked: "Have Xu Zhanglao and Madam Ma arrived? Have Master Master Zhi Guang and Shan Zheng all arrived?"

This question caused the complexions of the Beggar Sect elders to change instantly; Quan Guanqing was suspicious and uncertain.

"Sect Leader Qiao, you already know?"

Song Zhanglao asked in surprise.

Northern Qiao Feng nodded, sat in the center, and said: "You all should invite them out."

This annihilation of the Murong family and the subsequent inventory had taken a long time; Xu Zhanglao, Madam Ma, and the others were all in position. At this moment, Northern Qiao Feng said to invite them, and Quan Guanqing, though suspicious and fearful in his heart, still invited them out as usual.

Madam Ma was dressed entirely in mourning white, her slender waist supple, her eyes carrying a hint of clear tears. She came into the center of the arena and bowed gracefully. The martial artists in the arena, seeing Madam Ma's beautiful appearance and frail posture, could not help but glance sideways.

Wang Yuyan, Mu Wanqing, and Zhong Ling were scrutinizing Madam Ma even more closely, comparing her to their own mothers, feeling that their father Duan Zhengchun's women were truly each charming in their own way, and not at all alike.

"Respected seniors of the Jiang Hu."

Madam Ma said timidly: "My late husband unfortunately passed away. I checked his belongings and discovered a letter at home. It was written on it that if he died of natural causes, the letter should be burned immediately; if he died an unnatural death, the letter should be handed over to the elders of this sect to be opened and read together. The matter is of great importance and must not be mistaken."

Madam Ma had long harbored resentment toward Northern Qiao Feng; now, her voice was timid, but her logic was clear, inviting sympathy.

Xu Zhanglao spoke up at this time: "After I received the letter, I felt the matter was of great importance. Without waiting for the elders to meet, I opened the letter first. Brother Shan was also there at the time. I opened the letter, felt the handwriting was vigorous, looked at the signature first, and then exclaimed in surprise, saying, 'So it was him.' Brother Shan looked over, also read a line, and said, 'So it was him.'"

"Who is he?"

Northern Qiao Feng demanded.

When drinking with Gu Qing, the matter of the "Leader of the Heads" had been touched upon, but Gu Qing had skipped over it. Now, hearing this letter, he guessed it was written by the Leader of the Heads.

Xu Zhanglao and Shan Zheng looked at each other and kept their mouths shut.

"Abbot Xuan Ci Ci, obviously."

Gu Qing calmly added: "Besides Abbot Xuan Ci Ci, who else is worthy of being the Leader of the Heads?"

Once these words were spoken, Xu Zhanglao, Shan Zheng, Master Master Zhi Guang who had arrived, and Zhao Qiansun who wanted to make a joke, all glanced sideways. One by one, they looked at Gu Qing, seeing him calm and composed, only waving his hand to signal for people to continue speaking.

With the Leader of the Heads exposed, Monk Master Zhi Guang gave a bitter smile and said: "Let me say the rest."

This Master Master Zhi Guang once had profound martial arts, but many years ago he made a great vow to travel overseas to retrieve exotic tree bark, saving countless plague-stricken people in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong. However, Master Master Zhi Guang fell ill twice and lost all his martial arts. Yet, his achievements were significant, causing the martial artists in the arena to be filled with awe and respect; seeing Master Zhi Guang, they all stood up to pay their respects.

A'Bi, after hearing Master Master Zhi Guang's deeds, had red eyes. She looked at Gu Qing and said: "That 'Ten-Perfect Great Philanthropist' title of yours should be taken off!" These red eyes were not moved by Master Master Zhi Guang, but filled with grief for the Murong family.

Gu Qing had once told A'Bi that he had given the title of "First Poet" to Su Dongpo, and that when walking the Jiang Hu, if one could not surpass the other, one should remove the title. Now that Gu Qing had met this "Living Buddha" old monk, he could no longer be called a philanthropist.

"Sigh..."

Gu Qing stood up and said: "I shall hand over this 'Ten-Perfect Great Philanthropist' title to the great monk. From now on, you can call me 'Ten-Perfect Hua Hua Wuxue', Gu Qing."

Gu Qing calmly handed the philanthropist title to Master Zhi Guang and then sat down, ignoring everything else.

A'Bi snorted and said: "You should be 'Ten-Perfect Great Villain' instead!"

On the boat coming here, Gu Qing had used both threats and inducements on A'Zhu and A'Bi, telling them to be obedient for the sake of the Murong family's female dependents. In this way, Gu Qing would protect the Murong family's female dependents after Murong Fu and the others were escorted away. This made A'Bi afraid to act rashly, yet she felt Gu Qing was extremely detestable.

"A villain is not quite the word."

Gu Qing said with a chuckle. Gu Qing was just lacking in virtue; the Four Great Villains and Murong Bo were the ones who were truly evil.

"Not a villain, but could be called the world's thickest-skinned person."

Zhao Qiansun, because Gu Qing had leaked Abbot Xuan Ci Ci's name, was dissatisfied, and seeing Gu Qing nonchalantly bestow the title of Great Philanthropist upon Monk Master Zhi Guang, he felt Gu Qing was extremely arrogant and conceited, and thus spoke out in sarcasm.

Gu Qing's eyelids drooped slightly, and he said: "Yu'er, slap him!"

As soon as these words fell, only two "Slap! Slap!" sounds were heard. Zhao Qiansun's cheeks were bruised and swollen, his mouth full of blood, and he spat out several broken teeth. He looked at Duan Yu, seeing that his figure was still in its original place, as if he had not moved at all.

This lightness skill was so high and the strike so fast that Zhao Qiansun could not defend, nor could he dodge.

"Now you are the world's thickest-skinned person."

Gu Qing glanced sideways slightly, looking at Zhao Qiansun's swollen cheeks, and laughed.

Zhao Qiansun opened his eyes, not looking at Gu Qing's smug smile, but at Duan Yu, who had slapped him, seeing that the boy's expression was actually quite apologetic.

What are you apologizing for, you bastard!

Zhao Qiansun dared not curse out loud; Tan Gong and Tan Po pulled him to the side to apply medicine.

Gu Qing turned his head back and smiled at A'Bi as if no one else was around. The surrounding martial artists, seeing this, dared not argue with Gu Qing anymore.

Master Master Zhi Guang, at this time, chanted two lines of Buddhist scripture to ease the situation, and only then began to speak of the Yanmen Pass incident from back then. The overall version was not much different from what Gu Qing had said, only that as a participant, some of the things mentioned were inevitably more detailed.

In this account, Northern Qiao Feng's background was also revealed, proving that Northern Qiao Feng was a Khitan.

With this Khitan identity, plus the letter and the death of Ma Dayuan, Northern Qiao Feng's position as Sect Leader was in jeopardy. Northern Qiao Feng, after hearing Master Master Zhi Guang's version, spoke up: "My surname is Xiao, right?"

Master Master Zhi Guang's eyes had a strange light, appearing extremely surprised.

"I told him."

Gu Qing claimed credit from the side.

Northern Qiao Feng nodded. Currently, the Qiao Huai couple were still alive and had raised Northern Qiao Feng for many years; Northern Qiao Feng would naturally not change his surname easily, but confirming his identity made his heart feel heavy.

Madam Ma, from the side, spoke again about a thief entering her home, a dropped folding fan, and so on. These threads, when connected, pushed Northern Qiao Feng into the position of the murderer.

At this time, Northern Qiao Feng's prestige was at its peak. The martial artists, hearing these things, all glanced sideways, seeing Northern Qiao Feng as calm and composed as ever, feeling he did not look like a murderer.

Northern Qiao Feng shouted: "Bai Shijing, bring the Law Blade!"

Bai Shijing did not understand, but a disciple nearby took out a cloth bag and handed over nine Law Blades. He slashed at the Murong family's door, and the thick wooden door was immediately split open.

The Law Blade was verified to be correct.

!

Murong Fu: "..."

Northern Qiao Feng took the Law Blade, stared at Bai Shijing, and demanded: "Bai Shijing, I will give you one chance! How exactly did Deputy Sect Leader Ma die?"

Bai Shijing, suddenly hearing Northern Qiao Feng's shout, was terrified.

"Just say whatever there is to say."

Gu Qing laughed from the side: "Just start from that part about the Waist-Locking Grappling Hand."

Hearing this, Bai Shijing's face turned pale, and even Madam Ma turned back timidly, carefully scrutinizing Gu Qing.

"There are many martial arts in the world, but where does this Waist-Locking Grappling Hand originate?"

Wang Yuyan asked curiously.

"It's the move I used to lock A'Bi."

Gu Qing explained. Outside Wuxi City earlier, Gu Qing had said A'Bi was his lover and had wrapped his arm around her waist. At this moment, hearing Gu Qing say this, Wang Yuyan and A'Bi both spat lightly, feeling Gu Qing's words were improper.

"Waist-Locking Grappling Hand... sigh!"

Bai Shijing knew the secret was out and his face turned pale.

Gu Qing stood up and explained to everyone: "At that time, Madam Ma was pulling Bai Shijing like this..." While speaking, Gu Qing's left hand circled Madam Ma's slender waist, saying: "If you tighten your hand, my waist won't be able to move; this is called the Waist-Locking Hand." While speaking, Gu Qing's right hand moved along Madam Ma's slender waist toward her rising soft jade, and he deliberately said in a coquettish voice: "If you don't know how to use the Grappling Hand, it will hurt..."

"Enough!"

Wang Yuyan, Mu Wanqing, and Zhong Ling all knew this was once Duan Zhengchun's woman. Seeing Gu Qing about to succeed in his grappling, the three of them attacked together, pulling Gu Qing back.

Madam Ma was terrified by Gu Qing's waist-locking grappling, her face turning pale.

The martial artists in the arena, seeing Madam Ma's slender waist and rising chest, all dared to think about it, but Gu Qing's brazen, direct approach made the martial artists feel Gu Qing was extremely shameless and bold.

"At that time, Bai Shijing touched her and then stopped."

Gu Qing, after sitting back in his chair, remained enthusiastic and said: "But Madam Ma then sat on Bai Shijing's lap, her waist twisting and twisting, and then Madam Ma took a mouthful of wine and passed it into Bai Shijing's mouth, and Bai Shijing passed a mouthful back into Madam Ma's mouth; the two of them at that time..."

Gu Qing wished he could go up and demonstrate.

"Brother Gu, enough!"

Northern Qiao Feng heard Gu Qing getting more and more enthusiastic, but moving further and further away from the topic, and interrupted him at the right time.

The heroes in the arena, hearing Northern Qiao Feng's interruption, could not help but feel disappointed.

"The situation is just like that; the two of them conspired to harm Ma Dayuan."

Gu Qing lost interest and said: "As for 'using their own way to return their own body,' these were all tricks played by Bai Shijing. Madam Ma wanted Bai Shijing to deal with Northern Qiao Feng, but Bai Shijing refused, so Madam Ma went to sleep with Quan Guanqing and Xu Zhanglao, and brought you all together to set up this trap."

Bai Shijing was already pale, and Quan Guanqing and Xu Zhanglao, hearing Gu Qing expose them, were even more flustered, waving their hands repeatedly and saying Gu Qing was framing them.

Shan Zheng, Master Master Zhi Guang, Zhao Qiansun, and others, hearing this and seeing the Beggar Sect's state, knew they had been used. Especially Master Master Zhi Guang, who had stepped forward for nothing and spread the secrets of thirty years, felt extremely guilty, sat cross-legged, and kept chanting scriptures.

"Bai Shijing, you know the rules of the Beggar Sect."

Northern Qiao Feng took the Law Blade and walked in front of Bai Shijing.

"Sect Leader..."

Bai Shijing took the Law Blade and said: "Everything he said is true." After finishing, he held the Law Blade backward and slashed his own neck, committing suicide.

Northern Qiao Feng took the Law Blade and looked at Xu Zhanglao and Quan Guanqing.

"Absurd, absurd..."

Xu Zhanglao was already eighty or ninety years old and was usually highly respected in the Jiang Hu. After his true colors were exposed by Gu Qing, his old face could not be saved, and he was extremely ashamed. Ignoring Northern Qiao Feng's Law Blade, he turned and wanted to leave.

Quan Guanqing, seeing the Law Blade, suddenly stood up and said: "Northern Qiao Feng, even if I had an affair with Madam Ma, we gathered here today to reveal your identity—is that right or wrong? You are Khitan seed..."

"You gathered here today saying Ma Dayuan died at Northern Qiao Feng's hands."

A'Zhu suddenly spoke up and said: "You are using Ma Dayuan's death to commit treason. Northern Qiao Feng has done nothing wrong in the Beggar Sect."

A'Zhu's sudden speaking caused many people to focus their gaze on this girl. Among them, Murong Fu, Deng Baichuan, Gongye Qian, and others, who were bound with ox-tendon ropes, were even more surprised. Northern Qiao Feng had just destroyed the Murong family; why was A'Zhu speaking for him?

A'Zhu felt everyone's gaze and forced herself to say: "In any case, Ma Dayuan's death has nothing to do with the Murong family."

Who cared about the Murong family's opinion now?

Northern Qiao Feng wielded the Law Blade, and only two "Swish, swish" sounds were heard; Xu Zhanglao and Quan Guanqing both fell dead.

Quan Guanqing, this master of rhythm, had not yet successfully set the rhythm before he was gone.

In the arena, only Madam Ma remained, graceful and weak, trembling.

"Everyone."

Northern Qiao Feng ignored Madam Ma, letting the others of the Beggar Sect deal with her according to sect rules. He cupped his fists to everyone and said: "I also heard about this Khitan identity from Brother Gu Qing today. Looking at it today, the facts are all there. From now on, I will no longer be the Beggar Sect Leader."

"Sect Leader!"

Wu Zhanglao said: "Right and wrong are already clear. You have done nothing wrong; why can you not be the Sect Leader?"

The Beggar Sect, under Northern Qiao Feng's management for several years, had become very prosperous. Especially now that Northern Qiao Feng had dealt with Murong Fu, he could be called the number one person in the martial arts world in recent years, and he had led everyone to pacify the Murong family, creating an unprecedented, miraculous feat. With such achievements—destroying strong enemies externally and punishing strong thieves internally—who else could do it?

Song Zhanglao, Elder Xi, Chen Zhanglao, and Elder Lü all came forward, saying Northern Qiao Feng was upright and requesting him to continue as Sect Leader.

Northern Qiao Feng stuck his bamboo staff into the ground, bid farewell to Gu Qing and Master Xuanbei, and left.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 222 =====