Chapter 221: Waist-Lock Grappling Hand

"The Murong family hoards mountains of silver and gold, possesses numerous martial arts secrets, and wields coercive power, having deployed banners and flags..."

Within the Canhe Manor, torches blazed everywhere, illuminating all around.

After Song the Elder of the Beggar's Sect had tallied the Murong family's influence and assets, it was nearly midnight; he now held a scroll and reported to Qiao Feng and Xuanbei.

The elders of the Beggar's Sect—Xi, Wu, Chen, and Lü—each wore differing expressions.

Qiao Feng's defeat of the Murong family was an unprecedented feat.

Murong Fu, Deng Baichuan, Gongye Gan, Bao Budong, and Feng Bo'e were bound with oxhide ropes, utterly immobilized; meanwhile, Qiao Feng sat in the central seat, listening to Song the Elder's report and observing the elders' expressions, yet felt no joy within.

Qiao Feng knew that letter had shaken the hearts of these brothers.

"Murong Fu secretly murdered our Deputy Chief Ma, a crime beyond pardon."

Bai Shijing immediately added from beside him.

"Murong Fu has committed many sins, but the murder of Deputy Chief Ma is not his doing."

Qiao Feng glanced at Gu Qing, who was accompanied by many women, and spoke.

At this moment, Qiao Feng's prestige was at its peak; if he clung to power, no one could overthrow him, and afterward he could quietly eliminate each elder and remain securely as Beggar's Sect chief—but that was not Qiao Feng's wish.

Gu Qing smiled at Qiao Feng; the Beggar's Sect immediately brought forth multiple chairs, arranging them in the great hall for Gu Qing and his party to sit. A Zhu and A Bi sat silently, eyes brimming with tears; the martial world observers understood that Gu Qing's late arrival had been to counsel them.

Yet observing Gu Qing's jade-like countenance and the peerless beauty of his women, who coexisted harmoniously, the martial world figures could not help but recall Prince Duan; and Gu Qing's women were mostly Prince Duan's daughters—was this not a kind of legacy?

"The Murong family has lain hidden in the martial world, plotting against the court, with agents in every direction; should disaster strike and famine spark rebellion, their forces embedded among the starving masses could plunge an entire province into chaos."

Bai Shijing said: "Our Beggar's Sect resists the Khitans, confronts the Western Xia's One-Pin Hall, and fights shoulder-to-shoulder with Old Lord Yang—truly the pillar of the martial world. Murong Fu sought to destabilize our sect, hence he assassinated Deputy Chief Ma—logical and reasonable."

After obtaining the Choke-Throat Technique manual from the Huan Shi Water Pavilion, Bai Shijing saw hope and aimed to make Ma Dayuan's death an ironclad case.

The martial world, hearing this motive, deemed it perfectly plausible.

Quan Guanqing, witnessing this scene, also felt Qiao Feng's prestige was too great to shake.

Qiao Feng scanned the crowd and asked: "Have Xu the Elder and Lady Ma arrived? Have Master Zhi Guang and Shan Zheng come?"

This question instantly altered the elders' expressions; Quan Guanqing grew uneasy.

"Chief Qiao, you already know?"

Song the Elder asked in astonishment.

Qiao Feng nodded, seated in the center, and said: "Bring them out."

The cleanup of the Murong family had taken considerable time; Xu the Elder, Lady Ma, and others were all present. When Qiao Feng now ordered them summoned, Quan Guanqing was startled but complied as usual.

Lady Ma, clad entirely in white, her slender waist delicate, eyes glistening with faint tears, stepped forward and bowed gracefully; the martial world observers, seeing her exquisite beauty and frail figure, could not help but stare.

Wang Yuyan, Mu Wanzheng, and Zhong Ling scrutinized Lady Ma closely, comparing her to their own mothers, thinking how each of Father Duan Zhengchun's women possessed unique charm, utterly unlike the others.

"Esteemed elders of the martial world."

Lady Ma spoke timidly: "My late husband met an untimely death. While sorting his belongings, I discovered a letter. It stated that if he died of natural causes, the letter must be burned immediately; if he died by violence, it must be delivered without delay to the elders of our sect for joint opening—it concerns matters of utmost gravity, no error permitted."

Lady Ma had long harbored resentment toward Qiao Feng, yet now her voice trembled yet remained clear and coherent, evoking sympathy.

At this moment, Xu the Elder spoke: "After receiving the letter, I judged it of critical importance and opened it before the elders convened. Shan was present then. I unsealed it, noted the forceful handwriting, saw the signature, and exclaimed in surprise: 'So it was him!' Shan glanced over, read one line, and said: 'So it was him.'"

"Who is he?"

Qiao Feng demanded.

While drinking with Gu Qing, the topic of the Leader had been skipped outright; now, hearing this letter, he guessed it was written by the Leader.

Xu the Elder and Shan Zheng exchanged glances, remaining silent.

"Xuan Ci."

Gu Qing calmly added: "Who else besides Xuan Ci deserves to be the Leader?"

Upon hearing this, Xu the Elder, Shan Zheng, Master Zhi Guang who had arrived, and Zhao Qiansun—who had been trying to jest—all turned to stare at Gu Qing. Seeing his calm composure, he merely waved his hand, signaling them to continue.

The Leader's identity exposed, Master Zhi Guang sighed bitterly and said: "I'll recount the rest."

Master Zhi Guang had once been a martial master, but years ago he vowed to journey overseas for rare tree bark to save countless plague-stricken people in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong. He fell ill twice and lost all his martial skill, yet his merit was immense, earning solemn respect from all present; upon seeing him, everyone rose to bow.

After hearing Master Zhi Guang's deeds, A Bi's eyes reddened as she gazed at Gu Qing: "You should have taken back that 'Perfectly Good Man' title!" Her red eyes were not moved by Master Zhi Guang's virtue, but by the tragedy of the Murong family.

Gu Qing had once told A Bi that he had bestowed the title "First Poet" upon Su Dongpo, and in the martial world, if he could not surpass another, he must relinquish the title. Now, facing this monk revered by ten thousand households, the title of "Good Man" no longer fit.

"Ah..."

Gu Qing rose and said: "I bestow the title 'Perfectly Good Man' upon this monk. From now on, you may call me 'Perfectly Skilled,' Gu Qing."

Gu Qing calmly surrendered the title to Master Zhi Guang, then sat down as if nothing had happened.

A Bi sniffed: "You're more of a Perfectly Evil Man!"

On the boat here, Gu Qing coerced and bribed A Zhu and A Bi, urging them to behave properly for the sake of the Murong family's women; in return, he promised to protect them after Murong Fu and others were captured, leaving A Bi too afraid to act out yet finding Gu Qing utterly detestable.

"Evil? Not quite."

Gu Qing chuckled: "I'm merely unscrupulous. The Four Evils, Murong Bo—they're the ones who truly do evil."

"Not evil, but perhaps the First Shameless Man in the World."

Zhao Qiansun, resentful that Gu Qing revealed Xuan Ci's name, and enraged that Gu Qing brazenly bestowed the "Perfectly Good Man" title upon Master Zhi Guang, deemed him arrogant and mocked him.

Gu Qing lowered his eyelids slightly and said: "Yu, slap him."

The moment he spoke, two sharp slaps rang out—Zhao Qiansun's cheeks swelled, his mouth filled with blood, and several broken teeth tumbled out. He looked toward Duan Yu, who still stood in place, as if he had not moved at all.

Such supreme agility and speed left Zhao Qiansun unable to defend or evade.

"Now you are the First Shameless Man in the World."

Gu Qing glanced sideways at Zhao Qiansun's swollen cheeks and smiled.

Zhao Qiansun opened his eyes, refusing to look at Gu Qing's smug grin, but fixed his gaze on Duan Yu, who looked genuinely apologetic.

You're sorry? Your mother!

Zhao Qiansun dared not curse aloud; Tan Gong and Tan Po dragged him aside to apply medicine.

Gu Qing turned back and smiled at A Bi as if no one else existed; the martial world observers, seeing this, dared not argue with Gu Qing again.

At this moment, Master Zhi Guang chanted two sutras to ease the tension, then began recounting the events of the Yanmen Pass. His version differed little from Gu Qing's, yet as an eyewitness, he added finer details.

This account also revealed Qiao Feng's true origins, proving he was Khitan.

With this Khitan identity, the letter, and Ma Dayuan's death, Qiao Feng's position as chief grew precarious. After hearing Master Zhi Guang's account, Qiao Feng spoke: "My surname is Xiao, correct?"

Master Zhi Guang's eyes widened in astonishment.

"I told him."

Gu Qing chimed in, taking credit.

Qiao Feng nodded. His adoptive parents, Qiao Sanhuai and his wife, were still alive and had raised him for years; he would not lightly change his surname. Yet confirming his identity left him heavy-hearted.

Lady Ma then spoke of a burglar breaking in, the lost fan, and other details—each thread woven together pointed squarely to Qiao Feng as the murderer.

At this moment, Qiao Feng's prestige was still high; the martial world, hearing these claims, stared in silence, yet saw Qiao Feng's expression unchanged, and felt he could not be the killer.

Qiao Feng barked: "Bai Shijing, bring the Dharma Blade!"

Bai Shijing, confused, had his disciple fetch a cloth sack and produce nine Dharma Blades. He slashed at the Murong family's gate—the thick wooden door split open instantly.

The Dharma Blades were verified.

!

Murong Fu: "..."

Qiao Feng took the Dharma Blade, fixed his gaze on Bai Shijing, and demanded: "Bai Shijing, I give you one chance! How did Deputy Chief Ma die?"

Hearing this, Bai Shijing's heart lurched.

"Just tell the truth."

Gu Qing smiled beside him: "Start with the Waist-Lock Grappling Hand."

Hearing this, Bai Shijing turned deathly pale; even Lady Ma turned back timidly, studying Gu Qing closely.

"Martial arts abound, but where does the Waist-Lock Grappling Hand originate?"

Wang Yuyan asked in surprise.

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

Gu Qing explained: "Outside Wuxi, I claimed A Bi was my lover and wrapped my arm around her waist. Now that I mention it, Wang Yuyan and A Bi both spat lightly, deeming his words improper."

"Waist-Lock Grappling Hand... ah!"

Bai Shijing realized his secret was exposed, his face ashen.

Gu Qing rose and explained to all: "At the time, Lady Ma held Bai Shijing like this..." As he spoke, his left arm encircled Lady Ma's slender waist: "You tighten your grip, and my waist can't move—that's the Waist-Lock. As I speak, my right hand glides along her slender waist toward the soft mound..." He then feigned a coquettish tone: "Will you use the Grappling Hand? It'll hurt me..."

"Enough!"

Wang Yuyan, Mu Wanzheng, and Zhong Ling—all knew this woman had once been Duan Zhengchun's—seeing Gu Qing about to complete the lock, they all lunged and pulled him back.

Lady Ma, seized by Gu Qing's Waist-Lock Grappling Hand, turned deathly pale.

The martial world observers, seeing Lady Ma's slender waist and full bosom, dared only imagine—but Gu Qing's crude, direct touch made them all deem him utterly shameless and audacious.

"At the time, Bai Shijing touched her and immediately withdrew."

Gu Qing sat back down, still animated: "But then Lady Ma sat on Bai Shijing's lap, swaying her waist, then took a sip of wine into her mouth and fed it to Bai Shijing; he returned the favor, feeding her some back—those two..."

Gu Qing nearly leapt up to demonstrate.

"Brother Gu, enough!"

Qiao Feng, seeing Gu Qing grow more excited yet drift further from the point, interrupted.

The gathering, hearing Qiao Feng's interruption, felt disappointed.

"The situation is this: the two conspired to kill Ma Dayuan."

Gu Qing's enthusiasm faded: "As for 'using their own methods against them'—that was all Bai Shijing's trickery. Lady Ma wanted Bai Shijing to target Qiao Feng; Bai Shijing refused, so she slept with Quan Guanqing, slept with Xu the Elder, and orchestrated this whole setup."

Bai Shijing's face was already ashen; upon hearing Gu Qing expose them, Quan Guanqing and Xu the Elder panicked, waving their hands and protesting their innocence.

Shan Zheng, Master Zhi Guang, Zhao Qiansun, and others, hearing this and seeing the Beggar's Sect's state, realized they had been manipulated. Especially Master Zhi Guang, who had publicly revealed secrets he'd guarded for thirty years, felt profound shame; he sat cross-legged, murmuring sutras incessantly.

"Bai Shijing, you know the Guild's rules."

Qiao Feng picked up the ritual knife and walked to Bai Shijing's side.

"Lord…"

Bai Shijing took the ritual knife and said, "What he said is true." Then, holding the knife backward, he slashed his own throat and died.

Qiao Feng took the ritual knife and turned to Xu Changlao and Quan Guanqing.

"Absurd, absurd…"

Xu Changlao, already in his eighties or nineties, had long been revered in the Jianghu, but after Gu Qing exposed his secrets, his face was ruined with shame; he ignored Qiao Feng's ritual knife and turned to leave.

Quan Guanqing stared at the ritual knife, then suddenly stood and said, "Qiao Feng, even if I had an affair with Lady Ma, isn't it right that we gathered today to reveal your identity? You are of Khitan blood…"

"You gathered today to claim that Ma Dayuan died at Qiao Feng's hands."

A Zhu suddenly spoke: "You are using Ma Dayuan's death to incite rebellion. Qiao Feng has done nothing wrong in the Guild."

A Zhu's sudden words drew many eyes to the girl; among them, Murong Fu, Deng Baichuan, Gongye Gan, bound with ox-hide ropes, were especially stunned—hadn't Qiao Feng just destroyed Murong's entire clan? Why was A Zhu defending him?

A Zhu, feeling all the gazes upon her, forced herself to say: "In any case, Ma Dayuan's death has nothing to do with the Murong family."

Who cared anymore about the Murong family's opinion?

Qiao Feng wielded the ritual knife; two swift "whoosh" sounds later, Xu Changlao and Quan Guanqing collapsed dead.

Quan Guanqing, the master of manipulation, never got to set the rhythm—he was already gone.

Only Lady Ma remained, trembling weakly in the center.

"My friends."

Qiao Feng ignored Lady Ma, letting the other members of the Guild handle her according to its rules, then bowed to the crowd and said: "I only learned of my Khitan heritage today from Brother Gu Qing. The truth is now clear. From this day forward, I will no longer serve as Guild Master."

"Lord!"

Wu Changlao said: "Right and wrong are now clear—you have done nothing wrong. Why can't you remain Guild Master?"

The Guild had thrived under Qiao Feng's leadership for years; now, having crushed Murong Fu, he was unquestionably the top figure in the Jianghu of recent times, having led them to destroy the Murong clan and achieved an unprecedented feat—exterminating a mighty enemy while punishing a treacherous traitor. Who else could have done this?

Song Changlao, Xi Changlao, Chen Changlao, Lü Changlao—all came forward, declaring Qiao Feng upright and honorable, urging him to remain Guild Master.

Qiao Feng plunged his bamboo staff into the ground, bade farewell to Gu Qing and Xuan Bei, and departed.

(End of Chapter)