Public Bounty

Qiao Feng was so shocked by Xiao Yuanshan's words that he staggered back several steps. Even the heroes gathered at Juxian Village hadn't made him retreat an inch, yet a few words from Xiao Yuanshan had shattered his defenses.

At this point, Qiao Feng hadn't yet fought the bloody battle at Juxian Village or been branded by the martial world as a villain who had slain countless people. Though he was of Khitan descent, he had always considered himself a Han Chinese.

But Xiao Yuanshan's words had brought the conflict between Song and Liao out into the open. The two sides had been at war for years, and each had long regarded the other's people as sworn enemies. Killing one of them naturally meant carrying no burden of conscience.

Now he deeply regretted stopping Xiao Yuanshan, because he had no answer to the question Chen Feng had asked him earlier.

At Xiao Yuanshan's words, the people around them tightened their grips on their weapons once more. One Qiao Feng had been difficult enough to deal with; now there was also his father, a peerless martial artist thirty years ago. If the man truly intended to slaughter them all, they might not be able to stop him.

Seeing the wary looks around him, Qiao Feng was at a loss. On one side were the people he considered his own, and on the other was his biological father. He was torn.

"Hahaha! Feng'er, look at these people around you. They don't trust you because you're Khitan. What good could these treacherous and deceitful warriors of the Southern Court possibly have to offer?"

"Who led the attack outside Yanmen Pass and killed your mother all those years ago? These people know full well, yet they refuse to say. Every one of them is covering for him. Don't they deserve to die? You and I, father and son, should join forces and leave them bathing in blood, then find that Leader and avenge your mother!" Seeing the people around him stir, Xiao Yuanshan raised his voice.

"I once said, 'At birth, people are naturally good. Their natures are similar, but their habits make them different.' Qiao Feng, do you understand and agree with this?" Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of control, Chen Feng hurriedly spoke up.

"My son's surname is Xiao, not Qiao!" Before Qiao Feng could answer, Xiao Yuanshan angrily shouted at Chen Feng.

"Qiao or Xiao, a name is nothing more than a label."

"If a child is not taught, the father is to blame; if a teacher is lax, the teacher is at fault. The Qiao couple raised you and provided for you. They may not have taught you great principles, but they taught you how to be a decent person. Otherwise, you would never have become the renowned leader of the Beggar Clan."

"By contrast, if I'm not mistaken, Senior Xiao, you knew Qiao Feng's identity long ago. With your abilities, you could have taken him away and raised him yourself, but you didn't. You brought him into the world without raising him, yet you think you can influence your son through blood ties alone. Isn't that a little too simplistic?"

"He's a person, not an object! He can judge right from wrong for himself! If you want revenge for the massacre at Yanmen Pass, then go after the people who were there. No one would fault you for that. But you kill innocents indiscriminately, as though human life means nothing. Do you really want to pass that way of thinking on to your son?!"

Chen Feng's words ended Qiao Feng's inner struggle. As the former leader of the Beggar Clan, he had led it to become the undisputed largest gang in the martial world. He was no fool; it was only that one shocking turn of events after another had left him no time to think.

"Brother Xiaoyao, would you allow me to speak with my father alone?" Qiao Feng asked Chen Feng.

"No! We can't let them leave! What if they return to Great Liao and turn against Great Song?" Elder Xu immediately objected.

"Then you can decide what to do yourselves." Chen Feng shrugged, jumped down from the roof, and went to stand before Xue Muhua.

Qiao Feng gave Elder Xu a cold snort, then ran straight out of the village. Xiao Yuanshan followed him.

The experts surrounding Qiao Feng and his father on the roof exchanged looks, but not one of them dared to stop them.

"Master." Seeing Chen Feng approach, Xue Muhua immediately spoke.

"Don't call me that. I haven't agreed to let you return to the sect yet." Chen Feng gave Xue Muhua an exasperated look.

"Ah!" Chen Feng's words startled both Xue Muhua and Fan Bailing.

"When you left Apricot Forest, weren't you investigating the massacres across the land? Why did you end up organizing a Heroes' Gathering to deal with Qiao Feng?" Chen Feng asked.

"Well, the rumors in the martial world said that Qiao Feng had killed his adoptive parents and murdered his teacher..." Xue Muhua's voice faded away.

He knew perfectly well that he had hosted the gathering this time for the sake of his reputation. After all, Qiao Feng was only one man.

The killers behind those massacres, on the other hand, had left very few clues, and were clearly part of an organization. Xue Muhua hadn't been eager to provoke an organization whose background was unknown.

Chen Feng shot Xue Muhua a glare, walked to the center of the courtyard, and gathered his internal energy to speak loudly:

"Heroes, I believe you heard the conversation just now. The killers who murdered Qiao Sanyuan and his wife, as well as Master Xuanku, were not Qiao Feng, but his father."

"Don't talk to me about a son paying for his father's debts. His father is still alive, so each person must answer for his own actions. There's no longer any reason for all of you to have gathered here."

"But that's all right. I have something more important and hope you heroes will help. A number of massacres have taken place across the land recently, and the killers have brazenly left strange codenames at the scenes. I hope you heroes will find these scoundrels and make them pay for their crimes!"

"As for the reward, it will be the supreme martial arts of the Xiaoyao Sect!"

"Master, you mustn't!" As soon as Chen Feng finished speaking, Xue Muhua and Fan Bailing paled and hurried to stop him.

"The Xiaoyao Sect? What kind of sect is that? I've never heard of it."

"Supreme martial arts? Does he mean the palm technique and footwork he used against Qiao Feng just now?"

The heroes who had come to Juxian Village began whispering among themselves. The Xiaoyao Sect was a secluded, obscure sect. If not for the strength Chen Feng had just displayed, they would never have believed him.

Chen Feng ignored the two anxious men beside him and continued, "You may not know this, but the Beggar Clan's brothers certainly do: just a few days ago, I was an ordinary man who didn't know a single martial art."

"The Xiaoyao Sect's leader took pity on me and passed on all his lifelong power. He also bestowed upon me a manual: Xiaoyao Yufeng."

"All the Xiaoyao Sect's martial arts were derived from Xiaoyao Yufeng. I'll offer it as a reward. Anyone who finds the killers behind the massacres and can prove their identities will be allowed to study Xiaoyao Yufeng for one day."

"And don't worry that you won't get a chance. Any hero who kills ten soldiers of Great Liao will likewise be allowed to study it for one day!"

"As for whether the manual is genuine, there are so many expert seniors here. I can let them examine it first and judge for themselves. They'll only need to kill Liao soldiers afterward to repay me! I'll leave a copy of the manual at Juxian Village and have it transcribed, ensuring that every hero who qualifies can read it. As compensation, you two can study it whenever you like. What do you think, Masters of the Manor?"

Chen Feng's words caused an uproar. Seeing how confident he sounded, many of them already believed him. Some people in the crowd immediately turned to leave.

The You Brothers, however, looked troubled. They did like making a name for themselves, but they knew exactly how good their own martial arts were. A treasure like this could bring disaster upon their manor.

Still, they knew Chen Feng had gone from knowing no martial arts to becoming an expert in just a few days. It would be a lie to say they weren't tempted.