Decisive and Ruthless

Master-uncle?!

The heroes in the manor had been startled by Ren Ze's youth and his superb movement technique. When they heard Doctor Xue address him as Master-uncle, discussion immediately broke out. Even Qiao Feng looked over in surprise.

"Ren Ze of the Carefree Sect greets Hero Xiao and all fellow martial artists!"

Ren Ze gave Qiao Feng a slight nod, then cupped his fists toward the surrounding crowd.

"You call me Hero Xiao?"

"You are a Khitan, with Xiao as your original surname. Naturally, I should call you Hero Xiao."

"You also say I'm a Khitan?" Qiao Feng frowned slightly.

"To explain the full story, we must begin with what happened at Yanmen Pass decades ago."

"After the Yan Kingdom fell, every generation of the Murong Clan had sought to restore Great Yan. Yet by Murong Bo's generation, there was still not the slightest hope. However, Murong Bo was an ambitious man. As frictions between Great Song and Great Liao grew increasingly frequent, he saw an opportunity."

"The Xiao family was also a prominent clan in Great Liao. After obtaining intelligence that year, Murong Bo sought out his close friend, who was now the abbot of Shaolin Temple, Master Xuanci, and told him that a group of Great Liao experts intended to go to Shaolin Temple and seize its martial arts manuals."

"Abbot Xuanci?!"

Qiao Feng had never imagined that the Leading Brother was actually Abbot Xuanci.

Shaolin Temple's two eminent monks, Xuannan and Xuanji, did not refute Ren Ze's words. With the events of the past now laid bare by Ren Ze, they were furious within, but could only quietly recite a few Buddhist invocations and remain silent.

"It was actually Abbot Xuanci?"

After all, he was Qiao Feng. Though this truth had shaken him to the core, he quickly composed himself, killing intent appearing on his face. "Abbot Xuanci may have been deceived back then, and thus somewhat forgivable. But to protect his own reputation, he murdered people to silence them, killing my adoptive father and mother in succession, even my martial arts teacher..."

All this time, he had believed the killer to be the Leading Brother from back then.

"Silence! How dare you slander Abbot Xuanci!"

Xuannan and Xuanji could not refute Ren Ze's words, but how could they endure hearing that Abbot Xuanci was the murderer? They immediately shouted in fury.

"Hero Xiao, the murderer is actually within the manor. Senior Xiao Yuanshan, will you not show yourself?"

Ren Ze shouted loudly.

Before his words had faded, a black-clad, masked man leaped into the courtyard. It was Xiao Yuanshan, who had been keeping watch in the shadows because he had not been at ease letting Xiao Feng come alone.

"Hahaha! The Central Plains martial world truly is vast and rich, concealing dragons and crouching tigers. I never expected a youngster like you to know even my identity."

Since his identity had been exposed, Xiao Yuanshan had no need to conceal it any longer. Laughing loudly, he tore off his face covering, revealing an aged face that bore an eighty to ninety percent resemblance to Qiao Feng's.

The gathered heroes of Gathering Virtue Manor looked at Qiao Feng, then at Xiao Yuanshan, and all came to the same conclusion.

"You..."

Seeing Xiao Yuanshan's face, Qiao Feng froze as well.

"You killed my martial arts teacher, as well as my adoptive father and mother?"

The killing intent in Qiao Feng's eyes was almost tangible.

Seeing Qiao Feng's bloodshot eyes, even Xiao Yuanshan felt a chill in his heart. Then, half explaining and half venting, he said, "That's right, I did it all! Who was it that led the men who killed your mother outside Yanmen Pass? They clearly knew, yet every one of them shielded him and refused to reveal his name. Feng'er, should they not have been killed?"

"Feng'er, do you know? This can also be considered the two of us avenging your mother!"

"Master Xuanku of Shaolin Temple personally taught me martial arts. For ten years, through heat and cold without interruption, everything I have today was thanks to my master's guidance. Yet you did not even spare him?"

Qiao Feng's face was filled with bitterness.

"These Central Plains martial artists are all sinister and cunning. What good could any of them be? Xuanku was killed by a single palm strike from me!"

Xiao Yuanshan grew more agitated as he spoke. "Among those who killed my beloved wife and stole my only son were the Beggar Sect's chief and experts from Shaolin Temple. They wanted to bury this bloody crime forever, turn my son into a Han man, have him take his mortal enemies as his masters, and make him the heir to the Beggar Sect's chief!"

"Feng'er, have these Central Plains people not humiliated and wronged us enough?"

Xiao Yuanshan's face was filled with savage rage.

Yet Qiao Feng's heart had turned to ashes. The great villain he had searched for so desperately was actually his biological father. How could he take revenge for this?

"I, Qiao Feng—no, I, Xiao Feng, have searched for the great villain for so many days. I never thought it would be you. Since these people were killed by you, it makes no difference from my having killed them. I have borne this evil reputation all along. It seems I did not bear it unjustly..."

Xiao Feng's appearance at that moment was truly heartbreaking.

"Young Master Ren, this old man hid in Shaolin Temple for over thirty years to investigate this matter. Though I found some clues, I never learned anything as clearly as you have described. Were the Leading Brother and the instigator that day truly Abbot Xuanci and Murong Bo?"

Xiao Yuanshan turned to Ren Ze again, seeking confirmation.

"Senior Xiao, my Carefree Sect has its own intelligence channels. As for whether it is true, why not confront the parties involved?"

"Abbot Xuanci is easy enough to find, but Murong Bo died long ago. How can we confront him? Wait! You mean...?"

"That's right! Murong Bo is not dead!"

"Oh? Where is that old bastard?"

Father and son, Xiao Feng and Xiao Yuanshan, both stared at Ren Ze.

"Senior Xiao, having hidden in Shaolin Temple for decades, you must have fought several times with an expert whose skill was no less than yours, correct?"

"It was him?!"

Xiao Yuanshan's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Feng'er, come. We're going to Shaolin Temple right now!"

Now that he knew the whereabouts of his enemy, Xiao Yuanshan could not wait another moment.

"Young Master Ren, I'll have to trouble you to look after A'zhu."

Before leaving, Xiao Feng entrusted A'zhu to Ren Ze.

If the Xiao father and son wished to leave, who could stop them?

The two eminent monks of Shaolin Temple glared at Ren Ze with eyes blazing in fury. If not for him, would Shaolin Temple have suffered such a calamity today?

"Masters, there is no need for anger. Bringing the matter of Yanmen Pass to a complete conclusion would be good for everyone. Besides, Shaolin Temple is an ancient temple with a thousand-year legacy. Even Hero Xiao and his son would find it difficult to shake its foundations. Rest assured."

Seeing Xuannan and Xuanji filled with rage, Ren Ze consoled them.

The most mysterious ultimate boss in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils was the Sweeping Monk. With him guarding the place, who would dare act rashly?

"I hope it is as you say, benefactor."

Upon hearing this, the two eminent monks could no longer spare the attention to quarrel with Ren Ze. They chanted a Buddhist invocation and hurried away.

"Everyone from the Beggar Sect, please wait. I would like to ask the Four Great Elders: does your sect know about the abduction of children and their mutilation to make beggars?"

Just as the Beggar Sect members were about to leave as well, Ren Ze's calm voice rang out, drowning out the surrounding clamor.

His gaze swept across the crowd. Some Beggar Sect disciples lowered their heads slightly, as though guilty of something.

"Young Master Ren, what do you mean by that? Our Beggar Sect supports the court and resists foreign enemies in the north. How dare you slander us?"

Wu Changfeng had a fiery temper. Raising his ghost-headed saber, he shouted furiously.

Bai Shijing and the other elders wore ugly expressions, each staring at Ren Ze in anger.

The Beggar Sect was the largest sect in the martial world, and everything it did benefited the country and its people.

If his words spread, where would the Beggar Sect's reputation be?

"Whether it is true or not, it has everything to do with Quan Guanqing!"

Ren Ze turned his gaze toward someone in the crowd.

Quan Guanqing suppressed his inner unease and shouted righteously, "You vile wretch, your intentions are sinister! How dare you slander the Beggar Sect?"

"Speak! Are you in league with that Khitan dog Qiao Feng?"

The Four Great Elders shot Quan Guanqing displeased looks. They still held Qiao Feng in high regard.

"Trying to pin a label on me? Quan Guanqing, do you think I'm Qiao Feng?"

Ren Ze sneered.

"Quan Guanqing, it does not matter whether you admit it or not. Today, you will not leave Gathering Virtue Manor!"

Hearing this, the Beggar Sect members could not help but feel anger rise within them. This man was truly arrogant. Did he think the Beggar Sect was so easy to bully?

"Good! Good! Good!"

Bai Shijing laughed in extreme anger, saying "good" three times. His gaze was savage enough to devour someone. "You have insulted the Beggar Sect. Today, allow me to experience your skills!"

Quan Guanqing sneered inwardly. He wants to kill me in front of all these people? What arrogant brat is this?

Ren Ze shook his head and said calmly, "I am only here to kill Quan Guanqing today. Elder Bai, surely you do not want the whole world to learn of your scandal with a certain person?"

"You!"

Bai Shijing was instantly alarmed and uncertain. His face flushed red, but he did not dare take another step forward, nor did he dare utter another word.

While the other Beggar Sect members were still wondering what leverage this man held over Elder Bai, Ren Ze moved.

He took several steps, crossing more than ten meters in an instant and arriving directly before Quan Guanqing.

"Quan Guanqing, I told you—you will not leave Gathering Virtue Manor today!"

Quan Guanqing looked at the man before him, his heart filled with terror.

At this critical moment between life and death, he desperately circulated all his inner strength and struck out with a palm using every ounce of his power.

"Die!"

Quan Guanqing's expression was crazed. His palm surged like raging waves as it struck toward Ren Ze's heart.

"Quan Guanqing, be careful!"

Faced with Quan Guanqing's killing blow, the Four Great Elders did not relax. Instead, their expressions grew grave as they called out warnings.

Unfortunately, Ren Ze did not even glance at Quan Guanqing. One hand shot out like lightning, seized his wrist, and clamped down tightly.

"This is bad!"

Quan Guanqing felt all the power in his body gush out through the acupoint on his wrist, leaving his entire body beyond his control.

"Ah!"

He screamed madly and tried to break free, but it was already too late!

"Helmsman Quan!"

Amid the cries of the Beggar Sect members, Quan Guanqing's body flew backward like a straw dummy.

He crashed to the ground, blood seeping from his mouth and nose. His body twitched a few times, then fell completely still.

"You're determined to fight the Beggar Sect to the death!"

Wu Changfeng was consumed by rage, his beard and hair standing on end.

The other members of the Beggar Sect looked no better. Ren Ze had trampled the Beggar Sect's dignity into the dirt today.

If they did not fight back, how could the Beggar Sect continue to hold its ground in the martial world?

"Not necessarily. I simply don't want you to be used like fools. While it's true that Qiao Feng is a Khitan, he has never done anything to wrong you. Yet every one of you fools is shouting to kill the sect leader who once lived and died alongside you."

If he had not been concerned for the safety of his martial nephew Xue Muhua and A'zhu, Ren Ze could not be bothered to explain. Even if he could not defeat so many people, could he not still run away?

"You!"

Elder Song clenched his fingers until they turned white and snapped, "Ren Ze, even if Quan Guanqing did such a thing, the Beggar Sect has its own rules to deal with him. You're meddling far too much."

"What a joke. Quan Guanqing got together with Madam Ma and accidentally killed Ma Dayuan. Then he turned around and exploited your sect rules, using Qiao Feng's background to frame him. What fucking use are rules like that? Isn't that right, Elder Bai?"

Ren Ze turned and shot Bai Shijing a faintly mocking look.

"What?!"

The Beggar Sect members present were greatly shocked upon hearing this, and all instinctively looked toward Madam Ma.

Madam Ma's face went pale beneath everyone's stares. Though she was usually silver-tongued and quick-witted, she had no idea how to defend herself now. She merely turned and ran backward on instinct.

Ren Ze did not pursue her. With a hook of his foot, he flicked up Quan Guanqing's fallen sword and kicked it out.

Whoosh!

The sword tore through the air. Several Beggar Sect elders capable of intervening were still too stunned by the earth-shattering revelation to react, while the disciples beside Madam Ma had no time to respond at all.

Madam Ma only felt her vision go dark, followed by a sharp pain in her back. Then she lost consciousness.

"I have long heard that the Beggar Sect serves the nation and its people. I truly would not wish to see such a fine sect turned into a den of filth by a few petty villains. Now that the chief culprits have been eliminated, farewell!"

After showing off, Ren Ze promptly fled into the rear courtyard.

The Beggar Sect elders looked at one another. Whether they chased him or not, neither option seemed right. In the end, they silently had their disciples gather the two corpses and leave.