Chapter 1502

Long Xi Yue said: "This iron rice bowl in my hand was personally handed to me by my master; you baselessly accuse me of stealing the iron rice bowl. According to your logic, this green bamboo staff was not personally taught to you by my master, so you must have stolen the green bamboo staff, right?"

Shangguan Tianhuo angrily shouted: "Impudence!"

Long Xi Yue handed the iron rice bowl to Hu Xiaotian for safekeeping, guarding against Shangguan Tianhuo's sudden attempt to seize it. She cupped her fists toward the crowd and said: "Although I am not a member of the Beggars' Sect, I have come today to seek justice for my master. My master said he was harmed by the joint efforts of Shangguan Tianhuo and the Empty Void Daoist, and Shangguan Tianhuo intends to usurp the sect leader's position, so he framed him."

Shangguan Tianhuo had not yet spoken when his son Shangguan Yunfeng could no longer hold back, shouting: "How dare you insult my father's innocence! Today I will have your head hit the ground!"

Long Xi Yue remained calm in the face of danger and said: "If I had no evidence, I would certainly not speak nonsense; that evidence is hidden inside the green bamboo staff!" Her clear eyes fixed on Shangguan Tianhuo as she said: "Do you dare to hand over the green bamboo staff to me? I will now produce the evidence for everyone here to see!"

Shangguan Tianhuo inevitably hesitated; although the green bamboo staff was merely a symbolic object, it was ultimately the Beggars' Sect's supreme treasure, and he had relied on it to temporarily ascend to the sect leader's position—how could he casually hand it over to another? Yet why was she so certain? Could the green bamboo staff truly conceal some evidence? Impossible; he had clearly examined it meticulously, and the green bamboo staff could not possibly hide any evidence.

Long Xi Yue stepped forward and said: "You don't dare, or are you feeling guilty?"

The beggars below were all watching the developments on stage; in fact, most of them were expecting Long Xi Yue to expose the secret. The green bamboo staff is an extremely sacred treasure in the hearts of the Beggars' Sect disciples, and they believe the previous sect leader could very well have left a secret inside it.

Shangguan Yunfeng radiated killing intent all over; if not for the presence of so many people, he would have already charged forward to deal a heavy blow to Long Xi Yue. However, he sensed that the hunchbacked figure beside Long Xi Yue seemed to possess an unfathomable aura, which exerted an invisible pressure on his heart, making him dare not act rashly.

Shangguan Tianhuo chuckled. He had originally believed everything was firmly under his control, but he did not expect a little beggar to pop up midway. Since the opponent could produce the iron rice bowl, it proved he had come prepared; he needed to devise a way to get the iron rice bowl into his own hands. After all, this was his own turf, so he likely could not stir up much trouble. Moreover, as a Beggars' Sect leader, if he did not show some magnanimity, he would only invite ridicule.

Shangguan Tianhuo said: "What if you cannot find any evidence?"

Long Xi Yue said without hesitation: "If I have no evidence, how about I give the iron rice bowl to you?"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Tianhuo felt delighted in his heart. He had examined this green bamboo staff countless times, finding no evidence whatsoever; facing so many of his own people, he had no fear of trickery, so he generously nodded and said: "Alright, point it out for me to see!" He then handed the green bamboo staff to the law-enforcement elder Mu Shengsheng, instructing him to pass it over.

The beggars, seeing Shangguan Tianhuo's conduct, also secretly praised his magnanimity, but their hearts were even more curious: what evidence could possibly be hidden inside the green bamboo staff?

Elder Mu Shengsheng received the green bamboo staff with both hands. He came before Long Xi Yue and handed it to her, not forgetting to admonish: "This is the Beggars' Sect's sacred object; you must absolutely not damage it."

Long Xi Yue said: "Elder, rest assured; I cherish this even more than you do."

Everyone present stared at Long Xi Yue, unaware of what secret she would point out next; only Hu Xiaotian understood her intention. Long Xi Yue said to Hu Xiaotian: "Hand over the iron rice bowl to me."

Hu Xiaotian handed the iron rice bowl to her. He stood on guard, ready to prevent a sneak attack.

Shangguan Tianhuo secretly wondered: Could there really be a secret? Must the iron rice bowl and green bamboo staff both appear for the secret to be revealed? He couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy.

Long Xi Yue said: "Elders, brothers, since the founding of the Beggars' Sect, there has been a rule: the sect leader must simultaneously possess the green bamboo staff and the iron rice bowl. Now both sacred objects are in my hands, so I am the Beggars' Sect leader! All members of the Beggars' Sect must obey my orders; otherwise, it is disrespect to the sect's past leaders and a violation of the sect's rules."

This change truly was eye-opening.

Shangguan Tianhuo and his son were left speechless, while Hu Xiaotian smiled with relief. Shangguan Tianhuo was indeed too careless; he thought he was the Beggars' Sect leader, with all his people around him, so he felt secure, but he never imagined that Long Xi Yue would use such a method to trick him out of the green bamboo staff.

Shangguan Yunfeng roared: "Traitor! Hand over the sacred objects!" He stepped forward and threw a punch at Long Xi Yue; although his right arm was broken, his left fist, gathered with his whole body's strength, was no small matter.

Hu Xiaotian had always been watching everyone's movements; as soon as Shangguan Yunfeng made a move, Hu Xiaotian went forward and met him with a punch. The two fists collided, emitting a loud "Peng!" sound. Hu Xiaotian's body remained unmoving, while Shangguan Yunfeng swayed slightly. Many in the crowd recognized Hu Xiaotian's punch, and someone exclaimed: "God-Demon World-Destroying Fist!" This punch was indeed the God-Demon World-Destroying Fist that the Xu Lingkong Sect had taught him.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I am the personal disciple of Elder Xu Sansheng; he sent me to protect the sect leader and eradicate treachery!" Such a well-behaved princess is openly posing as a disciple of Qiu Sihai, while I am truly the personal disciple of my maternal grandfather—what do I have to fear about exposing my identity?

Shangguan Tianhuo angrily said: "Quickly return the sacred objects; do you really think my Beggars' Sect disciples are so easy to deceive?"

Long Xi Yue said: "Who is deceiving the Beggars' Sect members—everyone knows in their hearts." She held the iron rice bowl in one hand and gripped the dog-beating staff in the other, her gaze sweeping over the several Beggars' Sect elders on the Wind and Wave Platform: "Is this the sect's rule? Are you violating the ancestral precepts of the sect? Do you intend not to acknowledge me as sect leader?"

At this moment, Qiao Fangzheng was the first to kneel on one knee, shouting: "Sect leader above, Beggars' Sect disciple Qiao Fangzheng is willing to obey your commands through blades and fire!" The old beggar was not foolish; he set the example first. However, he apparently had little influence, as most Beggars' Sect disciples scoffed at this man who had once seduced his brother's wife.

Elders Mu Shengsheng and Zhao Shenxiong, among others, all exchanged glances. According to the Beggars' Sect's rule, whoever simultaneously possesses these two sacred objects is the heaven-ordained sect leader, but the situation before them is different: Long Xi Yue clearly had tricked the green bamboo staff from Shangguan Tianhuo's hands, something everyone saw; although her method is debatable, the final result is indisputable.

Shangguan Yunfeng was repelled by Hu Xiaotian's punch, and even now his qi and blood are still surging. Since being injured by Ji Feihua, he has never fully recovered, his strength greatly diminished compared to his peak, while Hu Xiaotian's internal strength has increased during this period; the waxing and waning have made their head‑to‑head clash far different from what it was in Piaoxiang City. Shangguan Yunfeng secretly thought: No wonder these two dare to cause trouble at the Beggars' Sect gathering—this person's martial arts are truly formidable; I just don't know how skilled the other impostor posing as a disciple of Qiu Sihai is.

Shangguan Yunfeng loudly said: "Return the Beggars' Sect's sacred objects to us!"

Shangguan Tianhuo, unfazed by danger, slowly nodded and said: "You two seem to have come to bring misfortune upon our Beggars' Sect; my tolerance has its limits. If you dare to continue stirring trouble, a single command from me will turn this Wind and Wave Island into your burial ground."

Long Xi Yue said: "Since you are not the sect leader, what right do you have to issue commands to everyone?"

Shangguan Tianhuo, furious to the point of laughing bitterly, burst out laughing: "Everyone can clearly see that you used scheming and deceit to trick the green bamboo staff from my hand."

Long Xi Yue said: "From ancient times to the present, since the founding of the Beggars' Sect, there has never been a sect leader who failed to guard even the green bamboo staff—what right do you have to impersonate the sect leader here?"

Shangguan Tianhuo's smile faded, and a chilling killing intent spread throughout his body.

Beside him, Qiao Fangzheng loudly said: "The state has its laws, the sect has its rules, yet even the Beggars' Sect's rules are not being followed."

The beggars at this point were clearly hesitating. According to the sect's rule, only one who simultaneously possesses the green bamboo staff and the iron rice bowl is qualified to become sect leader. Shangguan Tianhuo assumed leadership in a time of crisis, but relying solely on the green bamboo staff does not make his claim legitimate. The young beggar before us now holds both sacred objects in his hands, yet everyone also saw him trick the green bamboo staff from Shangguan Tianhuo's hands—his methods are not exactly honorable.

Shangguan Tianhuo also noticed the crowd's hesitation, proving that hearts within the Beggars' Sect were unsettled; he must quickly retrieve the sacred objects, stepping forward and saying: "Hand them over!"

Hu Xiaotian stood before Long Xi Yue, about to step forward, but she lightly patted his shoulder and said: "He can't do anything to me!"

Long Xi Yue displayed composure beyond the ordinary; she handed the iron rice bowl to Hu Xiaotian, picked up the green bamboo staff, and walked slowly toward Shangguan Tianhuo, saying softly: "One who is qualified to be the Beggars' Sect leader must not only possess both sacred objects but also know the dog‑beating staff technique—I wonder how much you have mastered?"

Shangguan Tianhuo was left speechless by her question again. Earlier he had said that Qiao Fangzheng had neglected his duties and secretly learned the thirty‑six forms of the dog‑beating staff; if he now claimed he himself knew it, that would amount to admitting he too had stolen the technique, but if he said he did not know it, he would be even less qualified to be sect leader.

Long Xi Yue said: "My master not only passed the iron rice bowl to me, but also transmitted the dog‑beating staff technique to me; now the green bamboo staff is in my hands—if you have the ability to take it from me, that proves you are qualified to be sect leader."

Hu Xiaotian broke into a sweat for Long Xi Yue inside; although he knew Qiao Fangzheng might have passed all thirty‑six forms of the dog‑beating staff to her, he was still unclear about the true power of that staff technique. Judging from Shangguan Tianhuo's breath and footwork, this person's martial arts are certainly not weak; even if Long Xi Yue had learned some exquisite moves, her internal strength is ultimately limited, and she currently cannot match Shangguan Tianhuo, let alone defeat him.

Last night I stayed up too late, I'm tired; Zhangyu only woke from his noon nap, realizing he too is not an iron man—his body can't keep up, but his spirit must persevere. I'm uploading the second chapter; there will be more updates tonight! (To be continued~^~)