Don't Get Cocky, Just Charge!

As evening gradually fell, Ren Ze left Leigu Mountain and came to a small town to rest.

"Come to think of it, this counts as my first venture into the world. What a pity. Before, when I hadn't taken a master, I'd still run into bandits or thugs and have to flee for my life with Lingbo Micro-steps. Now that I've gained some skill, the journey has been peaceful instead. Sigh..."

Ren Ze felt stifled in his room. On the mountain, only his senior brother had sparred with him and helped him practice moves. He had no idea how capable he truly was now, or whether he even counted as passable in this martial world. He had not overheard any martial artists boasting and chatting in the inn either. Was he strong enough to rashly seek out those protagonists and get involved in the plot? He had better not die before accomplishing anything...

As he pondered this, Ren Ze suddenly heard faint sobbing by his ear.

"Right, after getting started with the Northern Dark Divine Skill, my five senses have become much sharper than before. I've got nothing better to do anyway. Let's see who's playing tricks. Even if I can't beat them, I can still run!"

With that thought, Ren Ze left the inn and followed the sound of crying.

Within a residence in a secluded part of the small town, Ren Ze blended into the night and quietly slipped inside.

Three beggar-like men were gulping down wine and meat, while a little boy beside them cried endlessly.

Hearing the crying, one of the beggars showed a look of irritation.

He put down the meat in his hand and walked toward the little boy.

"Kid, shut your mouth if you don't want to die."

The other two laughed. "I'd say this kid's got such fair, tender skin. Those nobles will definitely like him."

"It'd be great if we could get a few more boys like him."

"Good thing Elder Xu and Helmsman Quan drove that Khitan dog Xiao Feng out during the Apricot Forest assembly last time. If that dog had still been keeping an eye on us, I'd nearly have forgotten this trade of ours."

One slightly older beggar stroked his beard as he looked around at the other two.

The three chatted back and forth, breaking into laughter now and then.

"Heh! Who would have thought that the illustrious Beggar Sect had shameful scum like you!"

At that moment, a mocking voice thick with suppressed fury rang out.

"Who are you? You know we're from the Beggar Sect, yet you still dare stick your nose into our business?"

The three men's pupils contracted, and their hearts jolted in alarm. Staring at Ren Ze, who had appeared before them, they shouted their question harshly.

To Ren Ze, human trafficking and abducting and mutilating children were the most intolerable of crimes.

Now that it was happening right before his eyes, how could he possibly stand by and watch?

"You aren't worthy of knowing my name!"

Ren Ze's ghostly, sudden appearance had startled them, but seeing that he meant them harm, their courage rose from desperation. The three exchanged glances, grabbed the clubs at hand, and surrounded him.

Ren Ze did not dare underestimate them. He blocked an incoming club with his left hand, then struck first at the man on the far right with a palm. Yet in his rage, he had not expected a single palm strike to shatter the man's heart meridians, making blood pour from all seven orifices as he died. Ren Ze was momentarily dumbfounded.

"Uh... what just happened..."

Ren Ze was not stunned because he had killed someone, nor did he feel sick or troubled by misplaced compassion. It was simply that taking the club head-on with his left hand had barely hurt at all, while he had thought that disabling his enemy with that palm strike would already have been impressive.

He had no idea whether it was the extraordinary physique of an advanced martial arts academy student, or whether Northern Dark True Qi was simply that overbearing. Either way, it was terrifyingly powerful!

The remaining two stared at the clubs in their hands, which had been smashed down to half-length, then at their companion's corpse. Their faces filled with terror as they looked at Ren Ze.

"Spare us, young hero! Please spare us!"

The two fell to their knees and kowtowed, begging for mercy.

"Qiao Feng worked so hard to win your Beggar Sect a reputation throughout the land for serving the nation and its people, yet trash like you rely on your martial strength to commit such deeds and prey on common folk. How do you still have the nerve to live in this world?"

Ren Ze looked at the two men who kept begging with utter disgust, an unnamable fire rising in his heart.

He had no intention of becoming some hero who saved the world, but since they had fallen into his hands, he might as well uphold justice on heaven's behalf.

Ignoring their pleas, he casually circulated the Northern Dark Divine Skill, pressed both hands against the crowns of their heads, drained away their inner strength, and sent them to their deaths.

Ren Ze had originally intended to take the little boy home, but the child stammered and could not say where his home was. Ren Ze could only deliver him to the local authorities.

"Have you heard? Doctor Xue has sent out Guangfa Hero Invitations at Gathering Virtue Manor, summoning heroes from every corner to discuss how to deal with that Khitan dog Qiao Feng."

"Who would have thought that Qiao Feng, the Beggar Sect's chief, who always carried himself like such a heroic man, was actually a Khitan? And he even committed such heinous crimes as murdering his parents and benefactor!"

"Good thing I made it in time."

Just as Ren Ze was about to order food and wine at a tavern, he heard martial artists at the next table discussing the matter loudly, leaving him deeply moved.

Ever since he had dealt with those three scum of the Beggar Sect and discovered that he was not completely useless, Ren Ze had been filled with anticipation for the martial world. He had actively gone looking for encounters with mountain bandits, robbers, rapists, and thugs, gaining quite a bit of inner strength and combat experience along the way.

Beyond those benefits, Ren Ze had unexpectedly discovered that the Star Map's energy bar was filling much faster than it had through natural growth before. The progress was encouraging; he no longer had to worry about spending more than eight years in the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils World before he could return. He just did not know whether it absorbed life essence, soul power, or some other kind of energy.

Of course, Ren Ze had not truly treated the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils World as a game and mindlessly drained people's inner strength. He had always maintained his own principles and bottom line.

In just half a month, Ren Ze felt that he had finally undergone a transformation. Not only was his inner strength abundant, but his hand techniques had also begun to take shape, while his Lingbo Micro-steps had reached minor mastery. In terms of combat ability, he should be able to exchange a few moves with second-rate martial artists. Unless he encountered a top-tier expert, escaping from an ordinary expert should not be a problem.

After hurrying to Gathering Virtue Manor, he found "Enemy of Yama," Doctor Xue, before the Gathering Virtue Manor assembly began and promptly presented Su Xinghe's handwritten letter.

"Xue Muhua, your nephew in the sect, greets Martial Uncle."

After reading the letter, Xue Muhua immediately bowed down before Ren Ze.

"Please rise, please rise..."

Ren Ze was still unaccustomed to receiving such a deep bow from an elder in his forties or fifties, so he quickly helped him up.

"I wonder what instructions Uncle-Master has for me on this visit?"

Xue Muhua asked in a low voice.

"There is something I need you to do at this Heroes' Assembly. You will have to sacrifice some of your personal reputation, but if you succeed, I will allow you to return to the Carefree Sect!"

Ren Ze went straight to the point.

"Please give your orders, Uncle-Master. This nephew will spare no effort!"

Xue Muhua's eyes lit up. The prospect of returning to the sect struck straight at his heart.

"When the Heroes' Assembly begins in a few days, Qiao Feng will definitely attend. He will bring an injured woman to you and ask you to save her. Agree to it! But demand a scripture from that woman as your consultation fee!"

"This nephew will certainly accomplish it!"

The Heroes' Assembly had originally been convened by Doctor Xue to discuss how to deal with Qiao Feng. Yet now he was to agree to save someone for Qiao Feng. His reputation would truly be dragged through the mud, but for the chance to return to the Carefree Sect, Xue Muhua was willing to go all out.

Just as Xue Muhua was about to introduce his uncle-master to the You Brothers of Gathering Virtue Manor, Ren Ze waved him off. "Just handle this matter for me. I won't show myself here for the time being. When the time comes for me to appear, I'll come."

He then leaned close to Xue Muhua's ear and gave him several detailed instructions.

Back at the inn, Ren Ze pondered things carefully. Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils was, in itself, a collection of great tragedies.

Of the three main protagonists, Xiao Feng's martial arts stood unmatched beneath heaven, yet his beloved A'zhu died by his own hand. In the end, for the greater cause of Song and Liao, he took his own life outside Yanmen Pass...

Xu Zhu had it a little better. Although he helplessly watched his parents die before his eyes, he inherited divine arts, became the head of the Carefree Sect, and married the Princess of Western Xia. Unfortunately, Ren Ze had already taken his opportunity from him. From now on, he could simply be a carefree little monk.

Duan Yu was the luckiest. Although the girl he first fell in love with turned out to be his own sister, the truth came to light after his parents died, and he married all his sisters before becoming the king of Dali...

As for the major supporting characters—Murong Fu, You Tanzhi, Wu Yazi, Li Qiushui, Wu Xingyun, Duan Yanqing, Abbot Xuan Ci, and so on—there was no such thing as the most tragic, only ever more tragic.

Unlike when he had obtained the Northern Dark Divine Skill and Lingbo Micro-steps before parting ways with Duan Yu, he now possessed some ability to protect himself. Should he involve himself in the Heroes' Assembly at Gathering Virtue Manor? Should he obtain the Yijin Jing and then retire into seclusion to train, regardless of spring, summer, autumn, or winter? Or should he take part in these great affairs of the martial world and perhaps even change the tragic fates of these people from the original story?

"Two eminent monks of Shaolin Temple, Xuannan and Xuanji, have arrived!"

"The elders of the Beggar Sect have arrived!"

Enemy of Yama, Doctor Xue, had sent out Heroes' Invitations, and his target was Qiao Feng, the most sensational figure in the martial world at present. On the day of the Heroes' Assembly, Gathering Virtue Manor was packed with carriages and horses. The servants greeting guests at the entrance barely stopped announcing arrivals, and nearly half the martial world had gathered inside the manor.

Ren Ze was currently in a tavern outside the manor. He still had not decided whether to change the plot, but since he had nothing better to do, he came nearby to observe from afar. He would watch the live version first and see how Xue Muhua handled things.

The Heroes' Assembly at Gathering Virtue Manor was truly a grand affair. The Beggar Sect and Shaolin Temple, the two great leaders, had both gathered there, along with several hundred martial artists from every corner. The place looked somewhat crowded.

These famous figures of the martial world had gathered together in tremendous bustle. Even from dozens of meters away, Ren Ze could hear them cursing Qiao Feng.

Just then, in the distance, a man drove a carriage slowly toward Gathering Virtue Manor. He looked to be a little over thirty, broad-backed and powerfully built, with a resolute face and thick palms covered in calluses.

"Qiao Feng has arrived!"

As the servant at the gate shouted those words, the noisy Gathering Virtue Manor seemed to have had its pause button pressed. Some looked astonished, some were doubtful, and some widened their eyes in disbelief.

For a moment, the gathered heroes of Gathering Virtue Manor were cowed by Qiao Feng alone.

"Damn! This isn't some primordial wasteland—why am I playing it so safe? Besides, after returning, I'll have to fight monsters face-to-face, not to mention the countless dangers in the cosmic starry sky! Since I have embarked upon the martial path, we martial artists should be as bold and heroic as Qiao Feng!"

Even Ren Ze's blood boiled as he watched the scene from afar, and he silently made up his mind.

"Qiao Feng heard that Doctor Xue and the You Brothers had set a banquet at Gathering Virtue Manor and invited the heroes of the martial world. I do not consider myself one of those heroes, and I did not come here to attend some martial arts assembly. I have only one matter for which I beg Doctor Xue's help."

Facing the several hundred people approaching him, Qiao Feng's expression did not change as he cupped his hands toward Xue Muhua.

"What is it that you need my help with?"

Xue Muhua asked despite knowing full well.

Qiao Feng walked to the carriage and carried down a young woman. "I ask Doctor Xue to save this young lady."

"Very well!"

To the utter astonishment of the gathered heroes at Gathering Virtue Manor, Xue Muhua agreed immediately without even a moment's thought.

"Doctor Xue! You must not!"

The moment Xue Muhua finished speaking, many people could not help crying out in alarm. Not only were they stunned, but even Qiao Feng himself was taken aback. He had not expected things to go so smoothly. The moment he spoke, the other party had agreed?

For a time, the heroes of Gathering Virtue Manor were in an uproar. Fine, they had come at his invitation to deal with Qiao Feng, yet he himself was going to help Qiao Feng save someone?

Listening to everyone talking at once, Xue Muhua looked rather awkward. But this was what his uncle-master had instructed, and he had already agreed to it. His return to the sect depended on this!

Remembering his uncle-master's instructions, he said, "Why can't I save her? A healer must have the heart of a parent. Besides, Qiao Feng could not possibly have brought a Khitan all this way for me to treat. We want to kill Qiao Feng because his crimes are monstrous and because he is Khitan. What does that have to do with my treating a Song girl? If Qiao Feng encountered an injured child on the road and carried the child here, would you all refuse treatment simply because Qiao Feng brought them?"

Xue Muhua's words left many people speechless, unable to offer a rebuttal.

"Take this young lady inside first. After that, we must have a proper discussion of the monstrous crimes you, Qiao Feng, have committed!"

Taking advantage of the moment, Xue Muhua instructed his servants to carry A'zhu into the manor first.

Hearing this, the martial heroes no longer had the mind to argue over the trivial matter of whether to save a young woman. One after another, they began accusing Qiao Feng of killing his adoptive father, adoptive mother, and Master Xuanku in recent days.

"Among the heroes gathered here are many of Qiao Feng's former friends. Since you wish to become my enemies today, any hero who wishes to kill Qiao may come drink a bowl with me. From this day forth, all past friendship shall be wiped clean. If I kill you, it will not be ingratitude. If you kill me, it will not be disloyalty. Let all the heroes beneath heaven bear witness!"

"Hold it!"

Just as Qiao Feng was about to drink the cup of severed friendship with his old companions and begin a slaughter, Ren Ze focused his energy and activated Lingbo Micro-steps. He crossed the manor wall, his entire figure like an exiled immortal—graceful as a startled swan, elegant as a swimming dragon—as he appeared before everyone inside the manor.

"This nephew, Xue Muhua, pays respects to Uncle-Master!"

Ren Ze did not even need to introduce himself. Xue Muhua played along at precisely the right moment.