The Vicious and Treacherous Woman

Bai Shijing and Quan Guanqing being seduced by Kang Min's beauty was one thing, but Elder Xu, with one foot already in the grave—how could you still play around so wildly?

"Hmph!"

Seeing that no one had come forward to pay their respects, Elder Xu could not help but snort coldly. "Qiao Feng, what kind of chief are you? Has the Beggar Gang now forgotten even the basics of respecting one's elders and teachers?"

"..."

Looking at Elder Xu's sanctimonious, elder-abusing manner, Qiao Feng and the others were speechless.

"Enough! Old man, stop throwing your weight around just because you're old. Are those two eyes beneath your eyebrows just there for decoration?"

The corner of Xiao Feng's mouth twitched as he pointed at Bai Shijing and Quan Guanqing in the distance. "Didn't you see that those two have already fallen? The affair between you three and Kang Min is already common knowledge."

"Y-You're talking nonsense! You're slandering me!"

With his dirty secret exposed by Xiao Feng, Elder Xu's face instantly flushed red. He blew his beard and glared as he shouted in rage.

Xiao Feng paid no attention to Elder Xu, that petty clown. Instead, he turned to the people behind him and asked, "Don't tell me you're Kang Min's lovers too? Otherwise, why would you stand up for this venomous woman who murdered her own husband?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Didn't Elder Xu tell us that Ma Dayuan was killed by Qiao Feng?"

"Could we have been deceived...?"

The renowned martial artists Elder Xu had invited as reinforcements all revealed uncertain, suspicious expressions.

"Everyone, we have already investigated Vice Chief Ma's death. That venomous woman Kang Min used her beauty to seduce Bai Shijing and forced him to murder Brother Ma."

Qiao Feng first cupped his hands to the crowd, then explained solemnly, "Bai Shijing personally confessed to it just now, and then took his own life out of guilt.

"Besides Bai Shijing, Kang Min also used her beauty to beguile Quan Guanqing and Elder Xu, intending to pin Brother Ma's death on me.

"Her goal was to force me to step down, so that she could take control of the Beggar Gang and seek revenge against Prince Zhennan of Dali, who had abandoned her after having his way with her!"

"Hiss..."

Hearing Qiao Feng's words, Lord Tan and the others drew sharp breaths and hurriedly moved away from Kang Min's sedan chair, as though avoiding something filthy.

"Giggle, giggle, giggle..."

A silvery laugh suddenly drifted from within the sedan chair. Immediately afterward, Kang Min, dressed in plain mourning white, emerged from it with endless charm.

As the saying went, a woman looked prettiest in mourning clothes!

Although everyone already knew that Kang Min was a vicious, venomous woman, they had to admit that she was truly a stunning beauty. No wonder Bai Shijing and the others had been unable to keep their lower halves under control.

"Qiao Feng, Qiao Feng, I truly underestimated you. I never thought you would uncover the truth so quickly."

Kang Min first cast Qiao Feng a seductive glance, then looked over at Bai Shijing and Quan Guanqing with undisguised contempt. "Had I known these two pieces of trash would be so useless, I should have slept with the Four Great Elders as well. Then they wouldn't have dared to back out halfway through."

Everyone present felt their scalps go numb. What a vicious woman!

If Kang Min had also bedded the Four Great Elders, then even if Qiao Feng remained Chief of the Beggar Gang, they would eventually strip him of all real power.

"Shut your mouth!"

Qiao Feng had not expected Kang Min to be so shameless. He roared furiously, "Brother Ma must truly have been blind not to see your venomous true face!"

"That fool Ma Dayuan brought death upon himself. If he had been willing to listen to me and expose your Khitan heritage, the position of Chief of the Beggar Gang would have been his long ago. I would never have had Bai Shijing kill him."

Since Qiao Feng and the others already knew the truth behind Ma Dayuan's death, Kang Min had no intention of leaving alive. Before she died, she intended to drag Qiao Feng down with her.

"What fucking bullshit! How could Chief Qiao possibly be a Khitan?"

"You venomous woman, even at death's door, you still dare spread such wicked lies to deceive the masses!"

"Kill her! Kill her! Kill her..."

Kang Min's words instantly aroused public outrage. The Beggar Gang disciples clenched their staffs tightly. At a single command from Qiao Feng, they would swarm forward and beat this venomous woman into pulp!

The current situation between Great Song and the Liao Kingdom was somewhat similar to that between China and the Island Country during the War of Resistance.

What Kang Min had just said was like claiming that some hero of the War of Resistance was actually from the Island Country.

"Qiao Feng, aren't you curious? Why did Wang Jiantong insist that you solve three great trials and establish seven great merits before he was willing to pass the position of Beggar Gang chief to you?"

Kang Min ignored the clamor of the Beggar Gang disciples, revealing a chilling sneer. "Because Wang Jiantong knew you were a Khitan descendant, and so he had always guarded against you.

"Before Wang Jiantong died, he deliberately left behind a handwritten letter and entrusted it to that fool Ma Dayuan for safekeeping. It recorded in detail the secret that you were a Khitan descendant.

"It is a pity that fool Ma Dayuan would rather die than expose that secret. Otherwise, I would have become the chief's wife of the Beggar Gang long ago."

Qiao Feng's tiger-like eyes widened. "Venomous woman, do you think I would believe your nonsense?"

"You may not believe me, but surely you recognize Wang Jiantong's handwriting?"

Kang Min pulled a letter from her robes and said in an openly provocative tone, "Qiao Feng, if you have the nerve, read this letter first. After that, whether you kill me or carve me up, I'll leave it entirely to you!"

Qiao Feng's expression changed slightly. Then he made a grasping motion with his hand and used the Dragon Capture Skill to draw the letter through the air into his palm.

When Qiao Feng opened the letter with mixed doubts and saw the all-too-familiar handwriting upon it, his entire body froze.

The letter read: "A written order to Vice Chief Ma of the Beggar Gang, the Elder of Instruction, the Elder of Law Enforcement, and all other elders: Should Qiao Feng ever show affection for Liao and betray the Han, aiding the Khitan in suppressing Great Song, the entire gang shall immediately join forces to kill him without error. Poisoning and assassination are both permitted. Whoever acts shall be credited with merit and bear no guilt. Handwritten by Wang Jiantong."

Below it was a specific date: the seventh day of the fifth month in the sixth year of Yuanfeng of Great Song—the very day Qiao Feng assumed the position of Chief of the Beggar Gang.

Although Wang Jiantong's handwritten letter did not explicitly state that Qiao Feng was a Khitan descendant, if he were not, why would his master have guarded against him so deeply?

For a time, Qiao Feng's mind was in utter turmoil. He recalled how his master had always treated him like a loving father—strict in instruction, yet deeply affectionate toward him—and yet had secretly left behind this final order. His heart filled with sorrow, and tears the size of beans spilled from his eyes.

"Amitabha. Good, good!"

Just as Qiao Feng did not know what to do with himself, an elderly monk in gray robes, with a square face, large ears, and a stern, imposing appearance, suddenly emerged from the nearby woods.