Chapter 1506

Long Xi Yue's beautiful eyes widened, her face full of astonishment as she said, "What?"

Mu Shusheng said: "Actually Elder Xu told us everything, even that you are the Yingyue Princess we all know."

When it came to Long Xi Yue being clueless, Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Elders, if you don't mind, let me and Xi Yue have a few words alone."

Mu Shusheng cupped his fists toward Hu Xiaotian and said: "Please!"

Hu Xiaotian pulled Long Xi Yue aside, then quietly told her what his grandfather had been directing behind the scenes. Only then did Long Xi Yue understand why the Beggar Gang elders had suddenly changed their attitude and turned to support her—it was because Hu Xiaotian's grandfather had been pulling strings behind the scenes. They even regarded her as Elder Xu's disciple; explaining this would be inappropriate, so they just went along with the misunderstanding.

Long Xi Yue still felt embarrassed and said: "But how can I, a mere woman, manage so many beggars?"

Hu Xiaotian looked around; Mu Shusheng and the others had all left the tent to avoid suspicion. He lowered his voice and said: "My grandfather is your grandfather; he chose you as gang leader so you could help the Beggar Gang overcome this crisis."

Long Xi Yue said: "Wouldn't it be more suitable for you to be the gang leader?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "I previously schemed against the Beggar Gang; if I were to become gang leader, many would surely resent it. So my grandfather thought far ahead and let you take the role—actually, you leading is the same as me leading; we're essentially family, so who leads makes no difference." He saw the whole matter clearly.

Long Xi Yue bit her cherry lips; she knew what Hu Xiaotian said made perfect sense. Earlier, Hu Xiaotian had competed with Shangguan Yun Chong for the prince-consort title and even injured the Beggar Gang's transmission elder Tong Tie Jin. Later, he kidnapped the king of Tianxiang Kingdom and framed Shangguan Yun Chong, causing the Beggar Gang to become a pariah within Tianxiang Kingdom and even be expelled from its borders. Although there is no solid evidence that Hu Xiaotian did these things, many people associate them with him. If he became gang leader, he would surely fail to win everyone's support. Thinking this, she nodded and said: "I can temporarily take on this burden, but you must promise to help me."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Who else would I help if not you?" For him, Long Xi Yue becoming gang leader was an unexpected joy; through this he could control the Beggar Gang. With his current strength plus the number-one gang in the world, the Beggar Gang, he would surely gain wings like a tiger and already have the strength to contend with the world's powers.

After they reached an agreement, they summoned the Beggar Gang elders back in. Upon learning that Long Xi Yue had finally agreed to become gang leader, the elders were overjoyed and again performed the rites of obeisance before her.

Long Xi Yue had Hu Xiaotian's support, which was like taking a reassuring pill. When she met those elders again, she would take off her mask and show her true face; since she had decided to be gang leader, she could not hide. Since they already knew her princess identity, it was natural to make it public. However, Hu Xiaotian continued to appear in the guise of a camel driver. He knew he was not welcomed by the Beggar Gang, so why invite trouble?

Mu Shusheng asked Long Xi Yue for her opinion on how to deal with Zhu Ba. Long Xi Yue said: "He was also forced by others and caused no real harm. If I, newly appointed gang leader, were to punish him harshly, it would chill the gang members' hearts; better to give him a chance to redeem himself. Let him atone through merit—what do you think?"

Mu Shusheng nodded.

In fact, Long Xi Yue's remarks were laying groundwork for her master Qiao Fangzheng's situation. As expected, Mu Shusheng then asked about Qiao Fangzheng. Before Long Xi Yue could answer, two beggars rushed in, panting, and loudly reported: "Oh no, Qiao Fangzheng has escaped..."

Everyone was startled—how could Qiao Fangzheng have escaped? Before they could collect themselves, another person ran over and said: "Oh no... the Shangguan Tianhuo father and son have fled by boat..."

Mu Shusheng angrily said: "All of you are useless! Weren't you supposed to keep them under strict watch? How did they escape?" He cupped his fists toward Long Xi Yue and said: "Gang leader, your humble servant will go check!"

Long Xi Yue said: "I'm going too!" She was concerned for her master's safety and wanted to see with her own eyes whether he had really escaped before she could relax.

The place where Qiao Fangzheng was held was now empty; more than ten Beggar Gang disciples tasked with guarding him had all been knocked to the ground. Qiao Fangzheng's eyes were both blind; without help, he could not have gotten far. The place where the Shangguan Tianhuo father and son were detained, however, had a Beggar Gang disciple killed. Based on the scene, Hu Xiaotian deduced that those who abducted them were certainly not the same group; Qiao Fangzheng was almost certainly rescued by his grandfather. As for the Shangguan Tianhuo father and son, their escape is not necessarily a bad thing—it effectively confirms their guilt of betraying the Beggar Gang.

Mu Shusheng gathered Beggar Gang disciples on Fengbo Island for a massive search, but still found no trace of the few people. In fact, the dock had already received word that two ships had departed Fengbo Island one after another.

On Fengbo Island, things did not settle until after midnight. Long Xi Yue had Mu Shusheng handle the ensuing matters, while she and Hu Xiaotian and the others first returned to Huoshao City. Mu Shusheng and Long Xi Yue agreed that, after this side's affairs were settled, they would meet again the day after tomorrow at noon with several elders to go to Huoshao City to pay respects to the gang leader and discuss major plans.

After Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue met with Xia Zhangming and came to the dock, they saw Jiang Shaoyang still waiting there. He must have gotten the news and known that Long Xi Yue was now the Beggar Gang leader. Upon seeing her approach, he fell to his knees from afar: "Your subordinate pays respects to the gang leader! May you enjoy ten thousand years of reign and unify the jianghu!"

Long Xi Yue did not like this man's flattery; she furrowed her brows and said: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Jiang Shaoyang then realized he had slapped the wrong target, yet still shamelessly smiled and said: "Your subordinate has heard it all—apparently the princess is indeed our Beggar Gang's heaven-ordained leader!"

Long Xi Yue said sternly: "You must not speak nonsense about this, nor let it spread!"

"Yes!" Only after Long Xi Yue boarded the ship did Jiang Shaoyang stand up and eagerly follow her. He had originally thought coming to Fengbo Island was to invite wolves in and collude with foreign foes, but he never expected Long Xi Yue to become gang leader, making him a meritorious official; he happily trailed Hu Xiaotian's steps, fawning: "Congratulations, Prince Consort!"

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but laugh: "What's there to congratulate?"

Jiang Shaoyang lowered his voice: "The princess will be gang leader, so you are the gang leader's lady..." In a moment of indiscretion he misspoke, then hastily slapped himself.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Jiang Shaoyang, what do you want to say?"

Jiang Shaoyang said: "From now on, your subordinate will certainly be loyally devoted to you, sir."

Although Hu Xiaotian despised Jiang Shaoyang's character, he needed such a person to quickly gain control of Redwood River, so he nodded and said: "As long as you are loyal to me, I will certainly not mistreat you."

Jiang Shaoyang, tears of gratitude streaming, said: "Rest assured, sir; if I, Jiang Shaoyang, ever harbor a second thought, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death..." Before he finished, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, followed immediately by a crack of thunder—*ka‑cha! *—which made Jiang Shaoyang shrink his neck, his face turning deathly pale.

Hu Xiaotian laughed, patted his shoulder, and said: "Even heaven can't stand listening to that." He walked to the bow, saw Long Xi Yue's delicate brows slightly furrowed, obviously preoccupied, and smiled: "Xi Yue, are you still worried?"

Long Xi Yue bit her cherry lip and whispered: "My master, all alone and helpless—where could he possibly have fled to?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "You needn't worry; I'd say eight or nine times out of ten he was taken by my grandfather."

In the Red Sea, a small boat drifted with the wind; aboard sat two old men facing each other. One, blind in both eyes, was precisely the Beggar Gang's transmission elder Qiao Fangzheng who had just fled Fengbo Island; the other was Hu Xiaotian's grandfather Xu Lingkong, also known as the Beggar Gang's chief transmission elder Xu Sansheng.

Xu Lingkong took a big gulp from his wine gourd, then passed it to Qiao Fangzheng, who gulped down several large mouthfuls, let out a long sigh, and said: "I never expected you to come rescue me."

Xu Lingkong drawled: "I'm not trying to save you; I just don't want the new gang leader to have a hard time."

Qiao Fangzheng said with deep meaning: "Perhaps you're just concerned for your own grandson! What a brilliant move—giving the gang leader's position to your granddaughter-in-law is effectively giving it to Hu Xiaotian."

Xu Lingkong chuckled: "If not them, then who? If the Beggar Gang continues like this, we're hardly far from internal chaos. That little lady is your chosen disciple, Qiao Fangzheng, Qiao Fangzheng—you're truly bold, having passed the Thirty‑Six Routes of the Dog‑Beating Staff to her entirely, and even handed her the iron rice bowl. Don't you know the principle that an innocent man who carries a jade invites guilt? Aren't you deliberately dumping a big trouble on her?"

Qiao Fangzheng said: "I also didn't expect her to come rescue me; besides, isn't Hu Xiaotian by her side? Even if she lacks the ability to protect these things, Hu Xiaotian will help her protect them. I just never thought you'd still be alive and well."

Xu Lingkong gazed at the dark, heavy night sky and said: "Wanting to die isn't that easy either." He paused, then added: "The matter of Qiu Si Hai was never your fault to begin with; why don't you tell the truth?"

Qiao Fangzheng sighed: "The Beggar Gang's reputation can't withstand turmoil. As a Beggar Gang disciple, what's there to fear in taking on some blame for the gang? Anyway, I'm hardly different from a dead man; my reputation means nothing anymore."

Xu Lingkong said: "It was he who stole your wife; your wife was already pregnant when she married him..."

Qiao Fangzheng's face twisted in pain; he seized the wine gourd and gulped down several mouthfuls in succession, saying: "Don't speak of it—it's long past, they're both gone from this world; let the truth stay buried forever."

Xu Lingkong sighed: "It's always you who's been wronged."

Qiao Fangzheng said: "I don't understand—you clearly have the power to eradicate the Shangguan Tianhuo father and son, so why, upon seeing them kill a Beggar Gang disciple, did you let them go?"

Xu Lingkong said: "The Shangguan Tianhuo father and son still wield certain influence within the gang; killing them might make many suspect something, whereas their flight actually amounts to confirming their guilt."

Qiao Fangzheng nodded and said: "Ginger is old and spicy; after all, you're still the more crafty old fox."

The second update is up; Zhangyu discovered that perhaps the weather is warming, everyone feels listless and can't muster enthusiasm. Since I'm already bragging, I might as well brag big: ten chapters, if today we reach twenty thousand votes, I'll release ten more! I might be able to write them, but I bet you won't manage to vote enough! Don't say I'm using reverse psychology—actually, Old Zhangyu is dead serious about————blowing his own trumpet!!!! (To be continued~^~)