Chapter 226: The Deal with the Old Witch

Gu Qing stood on a tree branch, watching the captured elders of the Beggar's Sect inside Tianning Temple, learning the full story from their words.

The Beggar's Sect had come to Suzhou with a prior agreement at Huishan to confront the Western Xia One-Product Hall; originally, Qiao Feng was to lead them into battle, but outside Wuxi, Qiao Feng wiped out the Murong clan's rebellion and punished the traitors within the sect, then resigned from the Beggar's Sect at the height of his prestige. Without Qiao Feng, the sect was already weak, and further divided its forces to escort Murong Fu.

This led to a crushing defeat for the Beggar's Sect at Huishan.

Now, each elder bore wounds, bound with ox-hide ropes, their faces grimy and dusty.

"Helian Tieshu, come out!"

Gu Qing, rarely using his throat wheel, roared into Tianning Temple.

Tianning Temple had once been a serene Buddhist sanctuary, but after defeating the Beggar's Sect, these Western Xia men passed through, killed the monks inside, seized the place, slaughtered cattle, boiled meat, showing no reverence—yet upon hearing Gu Qing's shout, Helian Tieshu's spirit reeled, and he actually rolled on the ground, stumbling dazedly into the courtyard.

To some of the Western Xia One-Product Hall members, this spectacle seemed like divine intervention; they dared not even eat the beef in their hands.

The Old Witch of Mount Tian glanced at Gu Qing; though the Xiaoyao Sect had techniques for voice-based soul-searching, none matched Gu Qing's uncanny responsiveness.

"General!"

The Western Xia One-Product Hall had many experts; seeing Helian Tieshu in a daze, they shouted repeatedly until he snapped back to awareness, raising his head to see two figures standing atop the tree branch.

"Go tell your Empress Dowager that the Old Witch is taking Ding Chunqiu to the Deaf-Dumb Valley to meet Wu Yasheng."

The Old Witch of Mount Tian was normally murderous, and anyone connected to Li Qiushui she would kill on sight—but today, her tone was unusually calm, and she felt no killing intent toward these Western Xia men.

"Who are you?"

Nuerhai barked at the Old Witch of Mount Tian.

The Old Witch said nothing, threw back her head, and laughed loudly; in that booming laughter, the surrounding Western Xia One-Product Hall members felt dizzy, their vision darkened, utterly powerless to resist—when her laughter ceased, they all realized the depth of her internal energy was beyond comprehension.

"Get out!"

The Old Witch coldly ordered.

The Western Xia One-Product Hall experts felt they had narrowly escaped death and fled in panic; Gu Qing casually rescued the Beggar's Sect elders and harvested some good karma from them.

"Thank you, Great Hero Gu, for saving us."

It was Elder Song who spoke; he specialized in external martial arts, and Qiao Feng had often sought his advice, making him Qiao Feng's half-teacher.

Notably, in the Three-Linked Edition, this "half-teacher of Qiao Feng" was Elder Xi; during the battle at Juxian Zhuang, when Qiao Feng was surrounded, he saw Beggar's Sect members arrive and sidestepped them—until his killing intent surged, and he casually cut down Elder Xi.

In the revised edition, Jin Yong moved the title of "half-teacher of Qiao Feng" to Elder Song; the Juxian Zhuang battle still ended with Qiao Feng killing Elder Xi, sparing Qiao Feng much moral condemnation.

Gu Qing smiled, looked at Elder Song, and asked: "Do you still think the Beggar's Sect is the number one sect in the world?"

Elder Song opened his mouth but had no reply.

The Beggar's Sect needed a powerful leader to earn its reputation; without a strong leader, the sect faltered. Though the Twenty-Eight Palms of the Subduing Dragon were rare under heaven, few could wield them effectively—and some had even ruined themselves trying to master the palm technique.

Gu Qing patted Elder Song's shoulder and said: "Go, go comfort Qiao Feng."

Qiao Feng's recent journey outside his seclusion helped Wanyan Aguda, founder of the Jin Dynasty, escape Yelü Hongji's assassination attempt, and then aided Yelü Hongji in quelling a rebellion—both missions were life-or-death, situations where Qiao Feng's presence was essential; by keeping Qiao Feng alive, he subtly altered the course of this world's history.

Making Qiao Feng the leader of the Beggar's Sect was the optimal choice.

The Beggar's Sect members thanked Gu Qing, bid farewell, and departed.

In the past, united under Qiao Feng, they had been invincible; today's crushing defeat made them all long for Qiao Feng's return, and since the few instigators within the sect had already been killed by Qiao Feng, most of those remaining now wished to follow him—and they were already discussing a trip to Shaolin Temple. Gu Qing, hearing "Shaolin Temple," fell momentarily lost in thought.

Because Gu Qing revealed Xuan Ci's identity, the resulting turmoil was immense; Qiao Feng now intends to go to Shaolin Temple to confront the truth, and with Gu Qing's own advice, Gu Qing believes Qiao Feng might yet save the lives of his adoptive parents.

Tianning Temple gradually grew quiet.

Far off, a few young monks who had fled the temple now peered around, hoping to return.

Gu Qing waved to them; as the monks approached, he briefly explained, urging them to offer sincere thanks and good karma—then, with the Old Witch of Mount Tian, he vanished in a flash. The monks bowed repeatedly, convinced they had witnessed the manifestation of protective Arhats and the Good Fortune Dragon Girl, who had reclaimed their temple for them, each now utterly devout.

"Gu Qing, how old are you this year?"

As the Old Witch of Mount Tian and Gu Qing raced through the dense forest, she suddenly asked his age.

"A man is forever young!"

Gu Qing declared firmly; having crossed multiple worlds, his actual age was far from youthful.

The Old Witch chuckled; after fighting Gu Qing, she felt his internal energy and techniques surpassed her own, and she had heard that Wang Yuyan and Mu Wanqing cultivated the Mingyu Art, achieving higher mastery at forty than she ever had—she resented this, so she asked his age to estimate his martial progress.

!

"You wish to become the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect—surely to unravel its martial arts."

The Old Witch of Mount Tian suddenly halted, fixing Gu Qing with a piercing gaze.

In combat with Gu Qing, she sensed his martial knowledge drew from countless sources, encompassing vast techniques; his entry into the Xiaoyao Sect was clearly for the sake of martial arts.

Gu Qing nodded.

"Then let us make a deal."

The Old Witch of Mount Tian's eyes sparkled as she said: "All the Xiaoyao Sect's techniques are stored within Mount Tian."

Within Mount Tian lay nearly a thousand martial diagrams, including the Tian Shan Zhe Mei Hand and the Tian Shan Liu Yang Palm; when Xu Zhi practiced them, he felt his body grow light, as if ready to fly.

"Of course."

Gu Qing smiled: "But once I become leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, I can study those techniques myself… So let our deal be this…"

After reaching an agreement, they returned together to the Manuo Manor.

"Wretched bitch!"

The Old Witch of Mount Tian, upon seeing Madam Wang, immediately cursed: "If I see your face again, I'll carve a cross on it and plant a Life-Death Mark on you!"

Madam Wang dared not reply, trembling in fear, hiding herself in the corner; originally, Mu Wanqing and Qin Hongmian had both objected to Madam Wang staying in Gu Qing's room, but seeing the Old Witch's ferocity, they fell silent.

"Don't worry!"

Gu Qing patted his chest and assured the women: "She's just momentarily enraged by thoughts of Li Qiushui—but as long as I'm here, you'll be safe!"

Madam Wang, terrified, nodded frantically.

The Old Witch glanced at Gu Qing, silently cursing him a villain.

(End of Chapter)