Chapter 109

That’s right, this man in black was none other than Qiao Feng’s biological father—Xiao Xiao Yuanshan, now a member of the Night Watchers.

“I hear that Sect Master Qiao has been searching for the whereabouts of the ‘Leader of the Pack’.”

“Why not ask Abbot Zilan Xuan Ci?”

“He was one of the few survivors of the great battle at Yanmen Pass all those years ago.”

Xiao Xiao Yuanshan said.

Qiao Feng’s expression turned one of utter surprise.

Ever since he left the Beggar Sect and learned about the existence of the ‘Leader of the Pack’,

Qiao Feng had been searching for him on his way to Tianning Temple, hoping to uncover the truth of his own lineage.

He had intended to continue his search after the matters here were concluded.

He never expected that Abbot Zilan Xuan Ci had also participated in that battle.

“Abbot Zilan Xuan Ci, is what this man says true?”

“Do you really know who the Leader of the Pack is?”

Qiao Feng frowned and asked coldly.

This matter concerned his own identity, so he had to treat it with the utmost seriousness.

He wanted to know who had killed his biological parents all those years ago.

And who had orchestrated the massacre at Yanmen Pass.

“I am he,”

Abbot Zilan Xuan Ci said, his voice as still as an ancient well.

Back then, he had listened to the slander of Southern Murong Bo, mistakenly believing that Khitan warriors were planning to raid the Shaolin Temple.

As a result, he had targeted Xiao Xiao Yuanshan’s family, who were merely on their way to visit his in-laws.

The battle at Yanmen Pass had been incredibly tragic; only Zilan Xuan Ci, Wang Wang Jiantong, Zhi Guang, and Zhao Zhao Qiansun had survived from the Northern Song martial arts side.

Xiao Xiao Yuanshan’s wife had died, and in his despair, he had leaped off the cliff holding her body.

Filled with regret and despair, Zilan Xuan Ci had taken Xiao Xiao Yuanshan’s son, Xiao Feng, and left him at the home of the Qiao family at the foot of Mount Shaoshi to be raised.

He confessed so readily because he had already decided that today, he would own up to every mistake he had made in the past.

This way, he could finally speak of the burdens he had carried in his heart for so many years.

Even if he were to die for it, he would have no regrets.

“Shameless!”

Qiao Feng gritted his teeth.

No wonder that during his investigation, those martial artists would rather die than reveal the identity of the Leader of the Pack.

The dignified Abbot of Shaolin had actually committed such an absurd atrocity.

If this were to get out, the entire martial arts world of the Northern Song would be a laughingstock to the Nine Provinces.

“To think that the dignified Abbot of Shaolin has committed two such acts.”

“Abbot Zilan Xuan Ci, it seems your Zen Sect is nothing more than this!”

Jiu Jiu Mozhi seized the opportunity to continue his psychological assault.

Zilan Xuan Ci remained unmoved, his face still remarkably calm.

The martial artists of the Northern Song felt a complex mix of emotions, unable to express what they were feeling.

“Jiu Jiu Mozhi, stop stirring up trouble here!”

(Internal reference code omitted)

Once Southern Murong Fu had calmed his emotions, he chose to stand by Abbot Zilan Xuan Ci’s side.

He had already firmly spoken up for Zilan Xuan Ci earlier.

He could not easily change his stance now.

Otherwise, his reputation would truly be ruined.

Seeing this, Southern Murong Bo nodded in satisfaction, thinking his son had handled the situation quite well.

“Since Young Master Southern Murong finds my words unpleasant,”

“why don’t you and I have a go?”

Jiu Jiu Mozhi said coldly.

He had never once held Southern Murong Fu in any regard.

“Jiu Jiu Mozhi, you are courting death!”

Southern Murong Fu felt he had been subjected to the greatest of humiliations.

He drew his sword and attacked Jiu Jiu Mozhi without a second thought.

Every strike was ruthless, aiming directly for vital points.

Against an ordinary opponent, Southern Murong Fu’s sword techniques might have been difficult to parry.

But in Jiu Jiu Mozhi’s eyes, Southern Murong Fu’s entire sequence of movements held no danger whatsoever.

He dodged them with ease and struck Southern Murong Fu in the back with a single palm.

Southern Murong Fu spat out a mouthful of blood.

“The ‘Southern Southern Murong’ is nothing more than this!”

Jiu Jiu Mozhi continued to provoke Southern Murong Fu with his words.

In truth, Southern Murong Fu’s own strength was not weak; he was essentially the standard unit of measurement for the Northern Song martial arts world.

Those who could defeat him were top-tier experts, and those who couldn’t were mediocre.

If Southern Murong Fu had fought with a cool head, Jiu Jiu Mozhi would not have dealt with him so easily or injured him so quickly.

Jiu Jiu Mozhi had provoked Southern Murong Fu before the fight began precisely to make him impulsive, causing him to reveal openings in his attacks.

As the two continued to trade blows, Qiao Feng, having learned the identity of the Leader of the Pack, felt an intense surge of fury.

His heart was in a state of extreme conflict.

He wanted to kill Zilan Xuan Ci to avenge his biological parents.

Yet, he found himself unable to strike; after all, he had grown up in the Shaolin Temple and had even learned his martial arts there in his youth.

Qiao Feng’s mood was now incredibly complicated.

With Duan Yu’s help, Duan Cao Zhengchun was able to trade blows with Duan Duan Yanqing.

Duan Yu tried to use the Six Meridian Divine Sword, but he couldn’t seem to manifest it.

This made Duan Yu feel extremely anxious.

Seeing this, Duan Duan Yanqing seized the opportunity and unleashed a One-Finger Zen strike, aiming directly at Duan Yu’s vitals.

“Yu’er!”

Duan Cao Zhengchun shouted.

He rushed forward to block the attack for Duan Yu.

Blood sprayed from his mouth, splattering onto Duan Yu.

“Father!”

In his desperation, Duan Yu finally unleashed the Six Meridian Divine Sword.

A sword-qi blast shot out; Duan Duan Yanqing’s expression changed drastically, but he was already in mid-air and couldn’t dodge.

He continued to strike with his crutch using One-Finger Zen.

As it turned out, One-Finger Zen was nothing compared to the Six Meridian Divine Sword.

The sword-qi slammed into Duan Duan Yanqing’s specialized crutch, snapping it in two, and sent him flying backward, where he landed heavily, suffering severe injuries.

Duan Yu immediately began to check on Duan Cao Zhengchun’s injuries.

Seeing this scene, Xiao Xiao Yuanshan smiled and said, “What a touching display of father-son affection.”

“Duan Cao Zhengchun, if you knew that Duan Yu was not your biological son, would you still have made that move just now?”

The task given to him by the Night Watchers was to expose the identities of Seeing Xuzhu and Duan Yu.

As a member of the Night Watchers, Xiao Xiao Yuanshan knew that the organization prioritized the mission above all else.

Therefore, even with his son and his enemy right before his eyes, he had to complete his task first before dealing with anything else.

“What nonsense are you spouting!”

“How could Yu’er not be my child?”

Duan Cao Zhengchun endured his intense pain and roared at Xiao Xiao Yuanshan.

Duan Yu was his only son, the one he intended to inherit his throne.