Chapter 1500: The Princess's Counterattack (Part I)

The beggars here basically all believed Shangguan Tianhuo's words, each angrily shouting, "Kill this old traitor, kill this old traitor!"

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed; Shangguan Tianhuo's eloquence was superb, Qiao Fangzheng had no room to refute before him. Shangguan Tianhuo's scandal about Qiao Fangzheng having an affair with the former sect leader's wife was devastatingly effective, yet this also reveals his baseness—if he hadn't spoken of it, the scandal might have stayed hidden forever, especially since the former sect leader is already dead; by bringing it up now he not only attacks Qiao Fangzheng but also drags the former sect leader's name through the mud, likely denying him peace even in the underworld.

Qiao Fangzheng said: "I, Qiao Fangzheng, willingly accept any curses and punishment for my wrongdoing. What kind of good person are you, Shangguan Tianhuo? Where did you get that green bamboo stick? To lead the gang, past leaders must possess both of the Beggar Sect's two tokens—green bamboo stick and iron rice bowl—neither can be missing. You lack the iron rice bowl, so what right do you have to sit in the leader's seat? Brothers, don't be fooled by his honeyed words; he has always been selling out the Beggar Sect's interests." Although Qiao Fangzheng's voice was deep and everyone heard him clearly, no one would believe him—a man who seduced his brother's wife and betrayed the sect leader—how could his words be trusted?

Shangguan Tianhuo said: "Brothers, I, Shangguan Tianhuo, know I lack talent and virtue, unfit to bear the great task of sect leader. Obtaining this green bamboo stick was mere chance; perhaps the sect's ancestral masters, in the unseen, did not want the Beggar Sect to fall into wicked hands. I, Shangguan Tianhuo, will not greedily cling to power; I only wish to exert my utmost to help the Beggar Sect overcome this crisis."

One cannot deny that this person is indeed deep‑minded; his words instantly won over many more supporters. Someone below shouted: "Sect Leader Shangguan, your virtue and prestige are high—having you lead the Beggar Sect is exactly what everyone hopes for."

Shangguan Tianhuo's lips curled with a faint smug smile. He put on an appearance of being deeply moved, clasped his hands, and said: "Thanks to your trust, I, Shangguan Tianhuo, will devote myself to the Beggar Sect until death, and as long as I hold the leader's post I will harbor not a trace of selfish intent…"

At that moment his speech was interrupted by one person: "No matter how eloquently you speak, you have no right to be sect leader!" The voice wasn't loud and sounded somewhat timid, yet many still heard it.

The speaker was Long Xi Yue; Hu Xiaotian never expected her to speak now, and he inwardly groaned, "My dear princess, why stir trouble at this moment? The timing is wrong—speaking up now would make us the target of everyone's anger." This well‑behaved princess rarely causes trouble, but when she does she creates a huge problem.

Everyone around stared at the little beggar, but Long Xi Yue had already made up her mind; she raised an iron bowl—one of the Beggar Sect's two great treasures, the iron rice bowl. Because Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue had disguised themselves, no one knew their true identities.

When Qiao Fangzheng heard someone call out the iron rice bowl, he already understood they had arrived. He sighed inwardly, "Princess, princess, why have you come? And to display the iron rice bowl before everyone—today is practically walking into a tiger's den." He had actively delivered the iron rice bowl to Shangguan Tianhuo's doorstep. Yet, though anxious, he dared not speak; if others learned of his relation with Long Xi Yue, they might regard her as his accomplice, possibly dragging her down as well. He wasn't certain whether Hu Xiaotian had come too, but by ordinary reasoning Hu Xiaotian would not let Long Xi Yue face danger alone; in fact he should not have allowed her to come. He guessed Long Xi Yue's presence here was entirely due to her own persistence. Thinking this, Qiao Fangzheng felt moved—this princess is not only kind‑hearted but also deeply loyal, and his choice of her as a disciple was indeed correct.

As soon as Long Xi Yue produced the iron rice bowl, Shangguan Tianhuo's eyes flashed with greedy excitement—"after searching high and low, it comes without effort." He had long sought this iron rice bowl, finding no clues; only by possessing both the iron rice bowl and the green bamboo stick could he become a true Beggar Sect leader and win everyone's assent. He never expected someone to bring it to his doorstep willingly, yet who is this little beggar, and where did he get the iron rice bowl?

Once Long Xi Yue truly stepped forward, she immediately calmed. Though gentle and uncontentious, she possessed great wisdom, having grown up in the imperial palace and witnessed all kinds of grand scenes. Even facing the gaze of nearly two thousand beggars, she felt not a trace of panic, especially with Hu Xiaotian beside her.

Now that it has come to this, Hu Xiaotian could only steel himself to accompany her, whispering, "Don't fear, I've got everything covered!" He had prepared himself; at worst he would carve a bloody path out with Long Xi Yue, using his martial skill to protect her escape from Storm Island—there should still be a chance. It's a pity he gave his light sword to Ji Feihua for use; if he still held the light sword, their odds would be greater.

Long Xi Yue raised the iron bowl and walked toward the Storm Platform.

Most of the beggars attending tonight's gathering were core members of the Beggar Sect; many recognized the iron rice bowl. Although they did not know Long Xi Yue's origin, seeing her hold one of the sect's two great treasures, they all made way to the sides.

Even Hu Xiaotian did not know what Long Xi Yue was thinking; he could only follow her up onto the Storm Platform.

Shangguan Tianhuo gazed at the iron rice bowl in Long Xi Yue's hand; he could already tell it was genuine. Suppressing his inner excitement, he tried to stay calm and asked: "Little brother, may I know your name and which branch of our sect you belong to? Where did you obtain this iron rice bowl?"

Long Xi Yue replied: "I am not a member of the Beggar Sect!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in murmurs; the beggars whispered among themselves, "This little beggar isn't a sect member—how did he manage to sneak into the Beggar Sect assembly?"

Hu Xiaotian also felt torn between laughter and tears; he had expected Long Xi Yue to have some world‑shaking solution, but she opened her mouth and spoke incorrectly.

Shangguan Tianhuo said: "Do you know what you hold? This is the Beggar Sect's guardian treasure; I hope you will return it to its rightful owner, and I will surely reward you handsomely."

Long Xi Yue shook her head: "Although I am not part of the Beggar Sect, my master is an outstanding figure of the sect!"

Shangguan Tianhuo asked: "Who is your master?"

Qiao Fangzheng sighed inwardly: "This princess is simply too naive; she does not know how treacherous people's hearts are. If she revealed our relationship now, we would surely become the target of everyone's anger—not to mention losing the iron rice bowl, perhaps even our lives." He felt gloomy, having originally intended to preserve the Beggar Sect's guardian treasure and pass on the Dog Beating Staff technique, but now it seems all will come to nothing; perhaps heaven has decreed the sect's destruction, beyond human power to change.

Hu Xiaotian desperately signaled Long Xi Yue with his eyes, also expecting her to expose Qiao Fangzheng.

Long Xi Yue, seemingly oblivious to his signals, said softly: "My master is the former Beggar Sect leader, Qiu Sihai!"

The beggars, hearing she was a disciple of the former sect leader, all breathed a sigh of relief; although she is not a sect disciple, she is at least not an outsider.

Shangguan Tianhuo said: "But I have never heard that the sect leader ever took on disciples." He openly questioned Long Xi Yue's identity.

Long Xi Yue replied: "There are many things you have never heard of; my master neither likes nor trusts you, so how would you know what he did?" Her voice was not loud, but her articulation was clear; most present had already heard it, the field fell silent, and the beggars' attention focused entirely on the Storm Platform.

Shangguan Tianhuo's face flushed; only then did he realize the little beggar before him was not ordinary.

Only now did Hu Xiaotian regain his composure; Long Xi Yue's calm exceeded his imagination—she was not only clear‑minded but also sharp‑tongued. On the surface her remark seemed plain, yet its targeting was extremely strong.

Shangguan Tianhuo, being an old fox, chuckled: "I don't know this little brother's exalted surname and name, nor when you became a disciple of our former sect leader."

Long Xi Yue turned to the crowd and said: "I am a resident near Profound Yin Mountain; one day I went up the mountain to gather herbs and happened upon a seriously injured old beggar. I treated his wounds and illness, and he let me become his disciple; only then did I realize he was the Beggar Sect leader."

Hu Xiaotian secretly praised her; Long Xi Yue rarely lies, and when she does it sounds like truth—this story she fabricated is seamless, without a flaw.

Shangguan Tianhuo coldly stared at Long Xi Yue and said: "This is sheer nonsense; our sect leader was clearly harmed by the Daoist Kongkong, so how could he have met you? And to teach you martial arts? At such a young age you are remarkably cunning—if you won't confess honestly, tell me who sent you and where you stole our sect's treasure from." He pressed on aggressively, no longer concealing his accusation that the iron rice bowl was stolen by Long Xi Yue.

Long Xi Yue replied: "You say my master was harmed by the Daoist Kongkong—do you know where his remains are?"

Shangguan Tianhuo was taken aback by her question and, for a moment, did not know how to answer. He had announced Qiu Sihai's death to the world based on this green bamboo stick—according to tradition, the sect leader's stick stays with him; lose the stick, lose the man. As for Qiu Sihai's bones, to avoid future trouble they had already been destroyed and erased, yet he could not say so, not even under threat of death.

"You have not seen his remains, so how can you declare my master dead? If you cannot determine whether my master is dead or alive, why rush to announce his death and hurry to take over the leader's position?" Long Xi Yue's words made many beggars below nod in agreement, finding her reasoning sound. This also relates to Shangguan Tianhuo's prestige within the sect being far inferior to Qiu Sihai's; many do not accept his succession as leader. Fundamentally, he possesses only the green bamboo stick and lacks the iron rice bowl, making his succession contrary to sect rules. (To be continued…^)