Chapter 170: The grace of birth is great, but the grace of raising is even greater!

"Juan'er, wait for me, wait for your senior brother!"

Seeing Tan Gong and Tan Po leave, the crazed and delirious Zhao Qiansun immediately chased after them.

As he walked, he kept making various funny faces at Tan Po, seemingly trying to make her laugh.

Tan Gong dared to be angry but dared not speak, looking exactly like an incompetent husband in a movie about people living in the "Little Days" (Japan).

The backs of the three gradually disappeared into the Apricot Forest.

"He is also a pitiful person."

Watching Zhao Qiansun, Zhang Jie shook his head and sighed.

Among those who survived the battle outside Yanmen Pass back then, only Zhao Qiansun,

Master Zhixin, and a few others were, in his view, still worth saving.

As for the others, Murong Bo was the mastermind who, for his own selfish ends, did not hesitate to harm countless people on both the Song and Liao sides,

causing many innocent deaths; this chief culprit deserved to die.

From their earlier performance, Tan Gong and Tan Po clearly had no remorse,

and Qiao Feng, bearing the grudge of his mother's murder, could absolutely take his revenge.

As for why it wasn't the grudge of his father's murder, it was because Qiao Feng's biological father, Xiao Yuanshan, was not dead at all.

Others, like Wang Jiantong, were either killed in battle outside Yanmen Pass,

or had already gone to report to the underworld decades before the Apricot Forest incident occurred.

And a certain "Leading Big Brother" was still sitting high on his lotus throne to this day,

acting as if nothing had happened, a venerable titan of the Wu Lin; he should be killed!

Although Master Zhixin had been deceived into killing innocent people, he was able to abandon his martial arts,

travel overseas to seek medicine, and save countless lives; he could be considered as not having betrayed his Buddhist origins, possessing compassion.

Only Zhao Qiansun, mentally deranged due to the immense guilt in his heart, still retained a shred of kindness.

Apart from direct victims of the Yanmen Pass incident like Xiao Yuanshan and Qiao Feng, he was the most pitiful;

first deceived into killing innocent people, then mentally deranged due to guilt,

and he also lost his childhood sweetheart, Juan'er—who was now Tan Po.

From then on, he was delirious and crazed; one could say he used the rest of his life and everything he had to atone for his sins.

"Brothers, please rise quickly!

What virtue or ability does I, Qiao Feng, have to deserve such devotion from you all?

With these words from you brothers, it can be considered that I, Qiao Feng, have not labored in vain for the Beggar Sect all these years!"

Qiao Feng was deeply moved, his tiger eyes brimming with tears as he prepared to help the Beggar Sect members up.

"Sect Leader, our Beggar Sect absolutely cannot be without you!"

Hearing the intention to leave in Qiao Feng's words, the four great elders were shocked and pleaded bitterly for him to stay.

"No! No matter how much you brothers love me,

the fact that I, Qiao Feng, have the blood of the Khitan people flowing in my veins is an undeniable truth!

I cannot let our Beggar Sect be unable to hold its head high in the Wu Lin for my own selfish desires!"

Qiao Feng saw it very clearly; the Beggar Sect might not care about his origins because of his achievements and character,

but other factions could not possibly be so open-minded.

Once he continued to stay in the Beggar Sect, not only himself,

but even the Beggar Sect would inevitably suffer hostility and targeting from all sides.

And as time passed, these elders and disciples who were now shouting their support might not necessarily remain free of resentment.

It was not that their hearts were insincere now, but human nature cannot withstand the test.

Rather than that, it would be better to leave now; it could be considered a clean break.

"Today, I, Qiao Feng, hand over the Dog-Beating Staff and formally abdicate!"

Qiao Feng pulled from a long pocket at his trouser leg a staff that was flexible in texture, green and lustrous,

about a foot longer than a single sword, and held it high with both hands to signify his abdication.

This green staff was the symbol of power for the Beggar Sect leaders through the ages,

used in conjunction with the exclusive Dog-Beating Staff Technique.

Because it was green all over, crystal clear,

and looked as if it were carved from green jade, it had the alias "Green Jade Staff."

"Sect Leader, we cannot be without your leadership!"

"Sect Leader, please do not abandon us!"

The Beggar Sect disciples all knelt on the ground, emitting mournful cries.

"Elder Chen, Elder Wu, Elder Xi, Elder Song, keep the Dog-Beating Staff for now.

After this, you shall select a virtuous talent to inherit the position of Beggar Sect Leader!"

Qiao Feng personally handed the Dog-Beating Staff to the four great elders and instructed them earnestly.

It was not that he didn't want to find a successor directly, but among the original elders of the Beggar Sect, the impartial Law Enforcement Elder Bai Shijing,

who could still command respect, had lost all prestige after his adultery with Kang Min

and his framing of Qiao Feng; he was a write-off.

And the venerable Transmission Elder Xu Chongxiao was too old and unsuitable to lead the Beggar Sect.

After all, looking at him, he didn't have long to live; in terms of age,

Xu Chongxiao was quite a bit older than his late mentor Wang Jiantong, who had passed away nearly ten years ago,

and perhaps one day he would just close his eyes and depart to the heavens.

Quan Guanqing, who had risen from the Dayi branch and was originally supported by other disciples, had become isolated and abandoned,

and from the previous events, it was clear that he was devious and blinded by greed; he could not be trusted.

As for the four great elders—Song, Xi, Chen, and Wu—whether in status or martial arts,

they were all similar; whoever took the top spot would not make the other three submit willingly,

and forcing one of them to the top would only cause the Beggar Sect to split.

Without a suitable candidate, Qiao Feng could only choose to trust in the wisdom of those who came after.

Moreover, he was a Khitan; if he were to designate a successor,

this would inevitably become an excuse for others with ill intentions to attack him.

"Sect Leader, rest assured, even if we have to sacrifice our lives,

we will definitely not let our Beggar Sect decline!"

Understanding that Qiao Feng's intention to leave was firm, the four great elders knelt on both knees,

held up the Dog-Beating Staff with both hands, and solemnly promised.

"Big Brother Qiao, where do you plan to go afterwards?"

Seeing Qiao Feng preparing to leave, Duan Yu asked.

"Hmm..."

After pondering for a while, Qiao Feng spoke slowly:

"Since I am a Khitan, I plan to go to Khitan to take a look,

to see if there are any relatives still alive.

Also, I want to investigate the identity of the 'Leading Big Brother' whom Master Zhixin and the others have been hiding in every possible way, until the truth is revealed!"

When his identity was revealed earlier, he had asked Tan Gong, Tan Po,

and Master Zhixin who the Leading Big Brother of the battle outside Yanmen Pass was.

Regrettably, these participants of the battle outside Yanmen Pass were unwilling to say.

Although he was unwilling to use martial arts to force these venerable or

elderly Wu Lin seniors, he ultimately had the blood of the Khitan people flowing in his body,

and he had to give an account to his relatives who died tragically in the battle outside Yanmen Pass!

Since these people were unwilling to tell him, he would investigate it himself;

he did not believe that the events of that year would not leave behind even a single trace!

After stating his next goal, Qiao Feng continued:

"They all say my surname is Xiao, so from now on, I shall be called Xiao Feng!"

"No!"

Zhang Jie stepped out to stop Qiao Feng from changing his surname.

"Why not?"

Qiao Feng was puzzled.

He was just changing back to his original surname; what could be wrong with that?

Zhang Jie did not answer directly, but instead asked Qiao Feng:

"Big Brother Qiao, do you think the grace of birth is greater, or the grace of raising?"

"This..."

After thinking it over several times, Qiao Feng finally concluded:

"The grace of birth is great, but the grace of raising is even greater!"

Zhang Jie asked again: "What about being raised without being born?"

Qiao Feng's expression moved, and he mumbled: "Being raised without being born, the merit is immense!"

"That is the principle."

Duan Yu, who was listening on the side, nodded repeatedly:

"There is a saying: 'Raised without being born, it is hard to repay in a hundred lifetimes; born without being raised, cutting one's hair can repay it.'"

Zhang Jie asked again: "Big Brother Qiao, although you were only raised by your foster parents after an accident, did they treat you well?"

"The kindness of my foster parents, I have no way to repay in this life!"

Thinking of the upbringing and cultivation his foster parents gave him, Qiao Feng was deeply moved.

The Qiao Sanhuai couple treated him as their own, giving him full love and warmth, and raised him to adulthood.

Although they were ordinary farmers with poor economic conditions,

they still treated Qiao Feng as their own biological son, working in the fields together during the day,

and enjoying family happiness at home at night, never mistreating him because of the family's difficulties.

Despite the lack of material goods, they still lived frugally to support his martial arts studies,

and cultivated his character through daily labor.

It can be said that without the careful cultivation of the Qiao Sanhuai couple,

there would be no North Qiao Feng whose prestige spreads throughout the world today!

Zhang Jie stood with his hands behind his back, leisurely and loudly said:

"Since that is the case, why change your surname?

Qiao Feng is you, and Xiao Feng is still you!"

"Many thanks for the instruction, Brother Zhang!"

Knowing that he had been impulsive just now, Qiao Feng bowed to Zhang Jie in thanks.

"A child who can be taught."

A smile appeared on Zhang Jie's jade-like face.

Having fought for the Central Plains Wu Lin for half his life, only to discover he was of the bloodline of the Khitan people he had once despised most,

even someone as open-minded and heroic as Qiao Feng could not avoid making irrational decisions under emotional agitation.

Changing his surname to Xiao seemed like changing back to his original surname, but wasn't it also a form of cutting ties made by Qiao Feng in his agitation?

But the name Qiao Feng represented the first half of his life, represented his personality,

and the most important part of his emotions; how could it be cut away so easily?

If it could really be cut away so easily,

how could he have ended up committing suicide with a broken arrow outside Yanmen Pass?

Although the direct cause of his death stemmed from the dilemma of loyalty he fell into after forcing the Liao Emperor,

Yelu Hongji, to swear to stop the war,

namely that as a Khitan subject, he had offended his superior and coerced his monarch, which was seen as treason and disloyalty;

and as a sworn brother, he had violated the feelings of their brotherhood, feeling deeply unrighteous.

He stated, "Being neither loyal nor righteous, what face do I have to stand between heaven and earth hereafter,"

and thus ended his life to prove his ambition, concluding the life of a tragic hero.

But these understandings of loyalty and righteousness were ultimately cultivated during his decades in the Central Plains.

"Big Brother Qiao, your identity has been revealed today, you must be extremely careful.

Especially regarding Uncle and Aunt Qiao; those with ulterior motives cannot deal with you, so I fear they might strike at them!"

Zhang Jie reminded Qiao Feng once more.

"I actually almost forgot about this!

Many thanks to Brother Zhang and Brother Duan for today; we shall meet again if fate allows!"

The expression on Qiao Feng's usually heroic face changed drastically; after bowing and exchanging pleasantries, he strode away.

The Beggar Sect disciples all retreated to the sides, clearing a path for their former leader. ===== CHAPTER 171 =====