Chapter 171: The New Beggar Sect Leader

"Goodbye, Big Brother Qiao!"

Duan Yu waved to bid farewell to Qiao Feng.

In his eyes, Qiao Feng was still the great hero he admired.

'I hope Qiao Feng can make it in time.'

Watching the back of Qiao Feng as he disappeared at the end of the road in the Apricot Forest, Zhang Jie's eyes were deep.

Yang Jiaozhu Jin wrote in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" about the suffering of all living beings—that all emotions are sins, and all beings suffer.

Duan Zhengchun lived a romantic life but had no biological son;

Duan Yanqing spent his whole life seeking revenge, yet nearly killed his own biological son with his own hands;

Li Qiushui and Mount Tian Shan Tonglao fought their whole lives over which one Wu Yazi truly liked,

only to discover in the end that Wu Yazi didn't truly like either of them;

the heroic and passionate Qiao Feng first suffered the blow of not being Han but Khitan, then lost his beloved A'Zhu,

leaving behind the regret of "empty promises of cattle and sheep beyond the Great Wall," and finally jumped off a cliff to his death;

Murong Fu, who spent his whole life fighting for the restoration of his country, saw no hope and went completely insane;

but the ones Zhang Jie felt were most innocent were the Qiao Sanhuai couple.

As Qiao Feng's foster parents, they actually died at the hands of Qiao Feng's biological father, Xiao Yuanshan.

Why did Xiao Yuanshan kill the Qiao Sanhuai couple?

The original text records it as follows:

Xiao Yuanshan said: "You are my own child. Originally, our family of father, son, and wife were reunited; how happy we were?

But these Southern martial artists looked upon us Khitan people as no better than pigs or dogs,

killing at every turn, snatching my child and handing him to others to be treated as their own.

That Qiao couple pretended to be your parents, not only stealing my family happiness,

but also not explaining the truth to you; they deserved to die."

How overbearing and unreasonable were these words?

First, the Qiao couple were not participants in the Yanmen Pass incident;

they had no connection to the cause of the tragedy of the Xiao Yuanshan family.

Second, Xiao Feng was not snatched by Wang Jiantong, Abbot Xuan Ci Ci, and the others.

The original text writes clearly that Xiao Yuanshan did not investigate carefully before jumping off the cliff holding Xiao Feng.

Only after discovering Xiao Feng was not dead did he throw him onto Wang Jiantong.

It was equivalent to Xiao Yuanshan entrusting his son to Wang Jiantong and the others.

Third, although Wang Jiantong and the others mistakenly killed the Xiao Yuanshan family,

they were ultimately enemies of the Xiao family; that they were able to raise Xiao Feng to adulthood

and cultivate him into a talent was already extremely difficult.

How could they be expected to point at themselves and tell Xiao Feng that they were his enemies?

Wouldn't that be forcing Xiao Feng to become their enemy?

Fourth, although Wang Jiantong, Abbot Xuan Ci Ci, and the others handed Xiao Feng to the Qiao couple to raise,

both in terms of emotion and reason, they could not possibly tell the Qiao couple about the Yanmen Pass incident.

Because this matter was originally a very secret affair,

which can also be seen from Wang Jiantong's letter.

Moreover, there was no need to tell the Qiao couple, a pair of ordinary farmers under Shaoshi Mountain, about this matter.

Therefore, in the eyes of the Qiao couple, Xiao Feng was just an orphan without father or mother.

Furthermore, since this idiot Xiao Yuanshan wasn't dead, he never thought about searching for Xiao Feng first.

What had he been doing all these years?

Oh, he ran to the Shaolin Temple's Scripture Library to steal martial arts,

and even became friends with Murong Bo, who also entered the library at night, becoming friends who were also enemies.

It can be said that for these decades, apart from stealing Ye Erniang and Abbot Xuan Ci Ci's son, Xuzhu,

he didn't do a single thing to take revenge, yet he specifically killed the Qiao Sanhuai couple who raised his son.

The death of the Qiao Sanhuai couple can be said to be extremely innocent.

Of course, Xiao Yuanshan was inherently an extreme and selfish person who didn't follow logic; one cannot demand too much of him.

Perhaps after the events outside Yanmen Pass, he had already gone as crazy as Zhao Qiansun.

The only difference from Zhao Qiansun was that he might not have gone as thoroughly crazy.

Zhang Jie only hoped that Qiao Feng could arrive in time to save the Qiao Sanhuai couple.

"Zhang Shaoxia."

While Zhang Jie was thinking, the four great elders—Song, Xi, Chen, and Wu—gathered around.

"Do you gentlemen have any instructions?"

Zhang Jie, having returned to his senses, asked casually.

The four great elders looked at each other, then knelt on one knee before Zhang Jie, their tone sincere:

"As the saying goes, 'A country cannot be without a monarch for a day, and a home cannot be without a master for a day.'

Today, Sect Leader Qiao has stepped down, and our Beggar Sect is leaderless.

We earnestly request Zhang Shaoxia to assume the position of Beggar Sect Leader!"

As he spoke, Chen Zhanglao, who was temporarily keeping the Dog-Beating Staff, offered it up with both hands.

As long as Zhang Jie raised his hand to take this Dog-Beating Staff,

he could immediately become the leader of the Beggar Sect, the number one sect in the world!

'First, the Ming Sect of the Heaven-Dependent world came knocking, asking him to be the leader;

today, the Beggar Sect is kowtowing and asking me to be the leader.

How is it that I, Zhang Jie, really have such a connection with these sects and factions?'

Looking at the Beggar Sect elders kneeling on one knee, Zhang Jie couldn't help but smile silently.

Despite the inner monologue, Zhang Jie's face remained as usual; he waved his hand and refused:

"I am of low status and little influence, without virtue or ability; how could I be qualified to hold the position of Sect Leader?

You elders should look for another virtuous talent."

Elder Xi said in a deep voice: "Zhang Shaoxia, you come from our Beggar Sect and exposed the facts of how the Ma family, Quan Guanqing,

Bai Shijing, and others framed Sect Leader Qiao; you can be called both virtuous and talented.

We sincerely and truly wish to honor you as our Sect Leader!"

"We wish to honor Zhang Shaoxia as our Sect Leader!"

Elders Chen and Song said in unison.

Only Wu Zhanglao, who had a simpler mind and thicker nerves, didn't keep up.

His face turned red, and he squeezed out a sentence:

"Me, me too!"

Zhang Jie shook his head lightly.

He knew that this talk of origins and exposing conspiracies could give the elders a good impression,

but he knew these were not the decisive factors.

The only decisive factor was the light-body technique he displayed upon his appearance, which even Qiao Feng felt ashamed of.

And the fact that he could speak eloquently afterwards without being beaten out with sticks,

the deterrence generated when he appeared to manifest his divinity, was also a decisive factor.

Being virtuous and talented—martial virtue is also virtue!

As for You Tanzhi, the Beggar Sect leader after Qiao Feng in the original work, or rather, because of showing off,

wanting to increase his reputation, he held a so-called Wu Lin Assembly to encircle and suppress Qiao Feng,

and the young master of Juluxian Manor, Zhuang Juxian, who was bankrupted by Qiao Feng, A'Zi's peerless lickspittle,

the eventual martyr Zhuang Juxian, was only pushed to the position of leader by Quan Guanqing, who hadn't been liquidated, because he learned the "Yi Jin Jing" by chance

and possessed profound martial arts.

And it was obvious that Zhuang Juxian, who had neither intelligence nor emotional intelligence, was just a marionette in Quan Guanqing's hands.

However, some people also believe that You Tanzhi was not a legitimate leader,

because he did not master the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms and Dog-Beating Staff Technique exclusive to the Beggar Sect leader.

"Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms, I know it!"

Zhang Jie raised his hand and struck out with a move, "Regretful Dragon Subduing."

"Roar!"

A golden Qi force flew out violently, shattering an apricot tree as thick as several people's waists with a boom.

"Dragon-Subduing Twenty-Eight Palms!"

The four great elders' eyes were fanatical.

Although Zhang Jie's movements and methods were different from Qiao Feng's in the past,

this iconic dragon-shaped Qi force, and the power to shatter a decades-old apricot tree,

could be nothing other than their Beggar Sect's "Dragon-Subduing Twenty-Eight Palms"!

Hmm, it is worth mentioning that the "Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms" was created by Qiao Feng, that martial arts genius,

by deleting, modifying, and improving upon the "Dragon-Subduing Twenty-Eight Palms."

Specifically, the Dragon-Subduing Twenty-Eight Palms was originally the Beggar Sect's existing martial arts;

after Xiao Feng was expelled from the sect due to his Khitan identity, he simplified it by removing ten palms,

forming the more essential Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms, which was passed down by Xuzhu.

In other words, at this time when the "Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms" had not yet been born, there was only the "Dragon-Subduing Twenty-Eight Palms."

"Zhang Shaoxia, where did you learn your 'Dragon-Subduing Twenty-Eight Palms'?"

Chen Guyan asked.

Zhang Jie said bluntly: "It was learned from a Beggar Sect senior."

Let's just say whether Huang Rong and Guo Jing of the Heaven-Dependent world were members of the Beggar Sect!

Although Huang Rong was the Beggar Sect leader at the time, as far as the "Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms" was concerned,

Guo Jing was actually Hong Qigong's most authentic and proudest true disciple.

"So that's how it is!"

The four great elders suddenly realized.

They were wondering how Zhang Jie knew so much about their Beggar Sect.

It turns out he was a secret piece left behind by their Beggar Sect's former leader, Wang,

used to check and balance Qiao Feng, who might rebel!

After all, even the "Dragon-Subduing Twenty-Eight Palms" had been passed down.

As for how old Zhang Jie was when Wang Jiantong died?

This was clearly Leader Wang's foresight, discovering Zhang Jie's extraordinary talent,

and having that Zhang Laojiu cultivate him in secret as a force to set things right!

"What did you understand?"

Zhang Jie, who couldn't read minds, was momentarily like a monk touching his head, unable to figure it out.

"Zhang Shaoxia, rest assured, we will not speak of this."

The four great elders had an expression of "we understand."

"Please, Zhang Shaoxia, take the position of Sect Leader!"

With the endorsement of the "Dragon-Subduing Twenty-Eight Palms," the Beggar Sect disciples had no more doubts about Zhang Jie and shouted one after another.

"Sect Leader!"

Chen Guyan offered the Dog-Beating Staff with both hands.

"This..."

Zhang Jie was still somewhat hesitant.

Having already become a Wudang disciple and Ming Sect leader,

and Xiaoyao Sect leader, he naturally didn't mind concurrently holding the position of Beggar Sect leader.

More lice don't bother one, right!

What made him have some misgivings was the succession ceremony for the Beggar Sect leader.

Because whether it was the leader, the elders, or the disciples, they were all beggars,

so the succession ceremony for the Beggar Sect leader had a very "beggar" style—

the successor had to accept the baptism of the saliva, and even phlegm, of all the disciples!

This was something he couldn't quite accept.

Although he didn't have mysophobia, he couldn't tolerate others spitting on him.

"What's wrong with Zhang Shaoxia?"

Seeing that Zhang Jie was clearly moved but just couldn't make up his mind,

Wu Zhanglao Qingfeng couldn't help but get anxious and pulled the other three great elders aside to whisper.

"Could it be that there is something we haven't considered thoroughly?"

Chen Zhanglao Guyan stroked his already graying beard and fell into deep thought.

Elder Xi looked at Zhang Jie, who was jade-like and handsome, in a spotless green robe,

then looked at Duan Yu in white beside him, slapped his thigh, and suddenly realized:

"I understand!"

"What did you understand?"

The other three elders all cast inquiring glances.

"Like this, like that..."

Elder Xi told the three of them his discovery.

"So that's how it is."

Chen Zhanglao and the others finally understood.

"But what should we do?

This ceremony is something every leader through the ages has had to experience!"

Wu Zhanglao's tone was full of difficulty.

"Is the ceremony important, or is selecting a new leader to prevent our Beggar Sect from declining important?"

Elder Song asked rhetorically.

"Of course, the prosperity of our Beggar Sect is more important!"

Wu Zhanglao blurted out.

'These elders are not bad.'

Zhang Jie, who was eavesdropping—or rather, it couldn't really be called eavesdropping, as his hearing was just too good,

and he had taken in all the conversation of the four great elders—nodded slightly.

Although the four great elders had opposed Qiao Feng earlier under the instigation of Quan Guanqing and the others,

this was because Quan Guanqing and the others had utilized the four great elders' loyalty to the Beggar Sect.

They sincerely hoped for the Beggar Sect to develop and grow, unlike Quan Guanqing,

who used every conspiracy and trick just for power, without any bottom line.

"How about this..."

Finally, Zhang Jie made a suggestion.

"This... alright!"

After some discussion, the four great elders found there was no better way.

Thus, Zhang Jie took off his outer garment and, like Yu Rang assassinating Zhao Xiangzi, used the garment to represent the person,

letting the Beggar Sect disciples "spit" on it to complete the succession ceremony.

"Greetings, Sect Leader!"

Zhang Jie held high the Dog-Beating Staff offered by Chen Zhanglao,

and the Beggar Sect disciples all knelt on one knee, shouting the name of the Sect Leader, their voices shaking the clouds!

From then on, Zhang Jie was both the 34th leader of the Ming Sect and the 3rd generation leader of the Xiaoyao Sect,

as well as the 10th leader of the Beggar Sect, following the 9th leader, Qiao Feng. ===== CHAPTER 172 =====