Early the next morning, the clouds in the sky slowly dispersed, and sunlight pierced through the thin layer of clouds, casting a warm glow upon the earth.
Jilin, Wang Yuyan, Ahu, Abi, and Bao Different faced the morning sun as they set off on their journey toward Apricot Grove, the Beggar Gang's stronghold in the Jiangnan region.
After a period of travel, they finally arrived at Apricot Grove. The environment here was serene and secluded, with lush trees and pleasant scenery, but the atmosphere at this moment appeared exceptionally tense.
A group of Beggar Gang disciples dressed in tattered garments stood within the grove. They wielded wooden staffs and wore stern expressions, their gazes filled with vigilance and hostility.
As one of the Four Great Retainers of the Murong family, Bao Different stepped forward first, announcing his name and stating the purpose of their visit.
"I am Bao Different, a subordinate of the Gusu Murong clan. We have come to your esteemed gang today to inquire about a few matters."
However, the Beggar Gang disciples seemed unresponsive to his words, instead surrounding them tightly with obvious distrust in their eyes.
At that moment, a resounding voice rang out: "Audacious scoundrels! How dare you trespass into the forbidden grounds of our Beggar Gang!"
Immediately following this, the Beggar Gang disciples launched their attacks, engaging Bao Different in a fierce battle. Although Bao Different possessed formidable martial arts skills, he gradually began to feel the strain against the collective onslaught of so many Beggar Gang disciples.
Seeing that the situation was turning unfavorable, Jilin promptly drew the longsword from his waist and stepped in front of Wang Yuyan.
His expression was resolute, his gaze sharp, and an imposing aura emanated from his entire body.
Upon seeing this, the Beggar Gang disciples turned their attacks toward him. Yet Jilin moved with agility, the longsword in his hand flashing with cold light as he easily repelled the attacks of the Beggar Gang disciples.
Meanwhile, Wang Yuyan was not idle. Well-versed in the martial arts of the world, she could spot the flaws in her opponents' moves at a glance and shouted out instructions from the side.
"Young Master Ji, the footwork of that man to the front left is unstable; that is his weak spot." Hearing this, Jilin immediately thrust his sword toward the direction Wang Yuyan indicated, successfully forcing that man to retreat step by step.
Through the tacit cooperation between Jilin and Wang Yuyan, the Beggar Gang disciples gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.
Just as tensions reached a breaking point, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out, and everyone turned to look in the direction of the sound.
A tall, upright man of extraordinary bearing was seen walking over. This person was none other than Qiao Feng, the Leader of the Beggar Gang, closely followed by several Beggar Gang elders.
Qiao Feng walked with steady strides, advancing like a towering mountain. His eyes were as sharp as a tiger's, and his piercing gaze quickly swept across the surroundings before finally coming to rest on Jilin.
He then strode directly toward Jilin, cupped his fists in a proper salute, and asked, "May I ask if Your Excellency is Young Master Murong?"
The corners of Jilin's mouth curved upward slightly into an elusive smile as he similarly cupped his fists in return.
"You flatter me. I am not Young Master Murong, but Jilin. I have long admired Leader Qiao's great name, and seeing you today proves that hearsay truly does not match reality!"
Qiao Feng burst into a hearty, uninhibited laugh. "Young Master Ji is too kind! I never expected Young Master Ji to possess such extraordinary skills at such a young age, which is truly admirable. I wonder what brings Young Master Ji here today?"
Jilin turned his head slightly, casting his gaze toward Wang Yuyan beside him to signal her to explain the reason to Qiao Feng.
Wang Yuyan parted her lips slightly, explaining her true identity and the purpose of their trip in a soft and melodious voice.
Qiao Feng listened quietly, his gaze focused and earnest, as if trying to see through Wang Yuyan's words to the truth of the matter.
As Wang Yuyan continued her account, Qiao Feng's expression gradually grew serious, his brow furrowing slightly as he fell into deep thought.
In his mind, he repeatedly replayed every word Wang Yuyan had spoken, attempting to glean clues and answers from them.
Hearing this, Qiao Feng felt a slight ripple in his heart, yet he maintained his composure and continued to ask, "Miss Wang, why are you so certain that Murong Fu has nothing to do with this matter? Do you have any evidence to prove it?"
Wang Yuyan shook her head. "Although I have no conclusive evidence, I know my cousin's character; he would never do such a thing. Furthermore..." At this point, Wang Yuyan paused, seemingly hesitant about whether to continue.
Seeing her hesitate, Qiao Feng pressed on, "Furthermore what? Miss Wang, please speak freely."
Wang Yuyan bit her lip and finally made up her mind. "Furthermore, even if my cousin wanted to kill someone, he wouldn't use such obvious methods."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Feng fell deep into contemplation. He knew full well that there must be other hidden maneuvers at play here. Yet, if not Murong Fu, then who was the murderer?
After a moment of silence, Qiao Feng spoke, "Miss Wang, thank you for telling me all this."
"However, I still need to find the true culprit to give Brother Ma an explanation. If Young Master Murong is indeed innocent of this matter, naturally I will not wrong him."
"With that said, the two of you may leave."
Wang Yuyan nodded gratefully. "Leader Qiao is truly righteous; Yuyan thanks you here. I hope Leader Qiao finds the real killer soon so that the deceased may rest in peace."
With that, Wang Yuyan cast a gentle glance at Qiao Feng before returning to Jilin's side, leaving Qiao Feng standing alone in place, gazing at her retreating figure with a tumult of thoughts in his heart.
By now, Qiao Feng was convinced that Murong Fu had nothing to do with the death of Ma Dayuan, but who could the murderer be? He resolved to reinvestigate the matter thoroughly to unmask the true culprit!
Just as Jilin and the others were about to leave, Apricot Grove suddenly became bustling with activity.
A group of Beggar Gang disciples emerged from all directions, wielding wooden staffs with solemn expressions, their eyes revealing a deep sense of hostility.
These Beggar Gang disciples formed ranks in an orderly fashion, led by Quan Guanqing, a nine-bag elder of the Beggar Gang. He was tall with a stern expression, his eyes flashing with undisguised hostility.
Observing the scene before him, Qiao Feng said in a grave and solemn voice, "My brothers, I, Qiao Feng, believe that Murong Fu had nothing to do with the murder of Brother Ma. As the Leader of the Beggar Gang, I will naturally investigate the truth and give everyone an explanation."
Quan Guanqing let out a cold laugh. "A fine explanation indeed! Do you really think the murderer is not Murong Fu?"
"Is there anyone in this martial arts world who does not know of the Murong family's art, 'A Tooth for a Tooth, A Salve for A Salve'?"
Hearing this, Qiao Feng felt the situation was growing chaotic, and a bad premonition arose in his heart. "I have no such intention; it is simply that the matter has not yet been thoroughly investigated, and we must not jump to conclusions."
At this moment, a Beggar Gang disciple stepped forward and said loudly, "Leader, we trust you, but this matter is of the utmost importance. We ask that the Leader uncover the true culprit soon and avenge Deputy Leader Ma."
Qiao Feng nodded slightly, a resolute look in his eyes. "Rest assured, I will get to the bottom of this and will not let anyone down!"
He turned his gaze back to Quan Guanqing, a trace of imperceptible helplessness flashing in his eyes, before turning to leave.
However, just as Qiao Feng prepared to turn away, Quan Guanqing suddenly shouted aloud.
"Fellow Beggar Gang brothers, do not be deceived by Qiao Feng! He is actually shielding Murong Fu for brutally murdering our Deputy Leader Ma, and is even sparing no effort to help him clear his name."
"In my view, Qiao Feng must be one of the murderers who killed Deputy Leader Ma! At this very moment, I hold conclusive evidence to prove this point!"
With that, Quan Guanqing produced a letter from his bosom, shaking it triumphantly with a smug expression.
Upon hearing this, Qiao Feng did not rush to defend himself; instead, a spark of curiosity arose in him, wishing to see what tricks Quan Guanqing was trying to play.
Quan Guanqing sneered mockingly, "Qiao Feng, you Khitan bastard, how can you hand over the century-old foundation of the Beggar Gang to be controlled by an outsider?" Qiao Feng's heart violently shuddered, truly not expecting Quan Guanqing to launch an attack on him at this moment.
He swept his gaze around and found that the other Beggar Gang disciples were also glaring at him with fury, evidently incited by Quan Guanqing.
Qiao Feng said in a deep voice, "Quan Guanqing, what do you mean by this? I, Qiao Feng, consider myself utterly loyal to the Beggar Gang and have never harbored any thoughts of betrayal. Why are you framing me?"
Quan Guanqing shouted loudly, "Hmph! What I hold in my hands is evidence, and I even have witnesses. Attempting to subvert the Beggar Gang—is this not treason? Today, I shall cleanse the sect for the Beggar Gang!" As he spoke, several more people walked over from a distance.
They were Elder Tan and his wife, Zhao Qiansun, Monk Zhiguang, and others, along with Ma Dayuan's widow, Kang Min.
Seeing this scene, Jilin could not help but smile. Along this journey—whether in Dali, Mantu Manor, or right here—the elderly female figures he encountered were all romantic entanglements of Duan Zhengchun, the ultimate Casanova of Tianlong.
And most of the young women he met turned out to be his daughters.
Take Kang Min, for instance; she too had shared a past romance with Duan Zhengchun, though unfortunately, she had borne a child that failed to survive.
Putting aside all else, who wouldn't be tempted by someone like Duan Zhengchun, who possessed formidable martial arts, an esteemed lineage, and striking good looks?
As Jilin pondered this in his mind, the atmosphere at the scene had been pushed to a climax.
Following the words and evidence presented by the various martial artists, the mystery of Qiao Feng's ancestry was finally unraveled—he turned out to be a Khitan! This revelation left Qiao Feng in utter disbelief, his thoughts plunging into complete chaos.
At this moment, holding the Dog-Beating Staff, the token of the Beggar Gang Leader, Qiao Feng stated in a low voice that he had decided to resign from his position as Leader, and invited any Beggar Gang disciple willing to shoulder the responsibility to step forward and take it over.
Yet, faced with this request, no one dared to step forward casually, and the scene lapsed into an awkward silence.
Left with no other choice, Qiao Feng could only hand the Dog-Beating Staff to the three elders for safekeeping before silently turning away, his figure appearing exceptionally desolate.
At that very moment, alarm bells rang loudly in Jilin's mind, and he immediately heightened his vigilance, scanning his surroundings. Sure enough, not long after, a fierce-looking group of troops charged aggressively forward, led by none other than General Helian Tiezhu of the Western Xia Kingdom.
Immediately following this, the bodies of everyone in Apricot Grove began to show symptoms of weakness and lethargy, collapsing to the ground one after another. As it turned out, they had all fallen victim to the Tragic Wind of Despair, a poison unique to the Yipin Hall of Western Xia.
Because Jilin had remained on guard, he did not fall victim to the poison. He quickly knocked the leading men off their horses and swiftly retrieved the antidote from their bosoms.
Then, after seizing a horse, he departed with Wang Yuyan.
Jilin rode at a gallop with Wang Yuyan all the way until he was certain there were no pursuers behind them before coming to a stop.
"This place is not safe for a long stay; let's find a secure spot to hide first." Jilin helped Wang Yuyan dismount and looked around to assess the surroundings.
"But... Young Master, Ahu and Abi are still back there. How can we just leave them behind..." Wang Yuyan said with a worried expression.
Jilin gritted his teeth. "I know, but the situation was critical back then, and I could only bring you away first. I trust that Hero Qiao will rescue them."
Wang Yuyan nodded slightly; she understood that Jilin's choice was the correct one—if they hadn't fled promptly, both of them would likely have been in danger.
"Where should we go now, then?" Wang Yuyan asked.
"Let's find a place to clear the poison from your system first, and then we'll figure out another plan." Jilin said with a resolute gaze, handing the antidote to her.
After helping Wang Yuyan detoxify, Jilin rode with her to find an inn where they could rest and recuperate.
Early the next morning, Jilin brought Wang Yuyan to the vicinity of Juluxian Villa.
This place was a gathering spot for martial artists and was well-informed; perhaps they could pick up news about Qiao Feng, Ahu, and Abi.
The two found a corner table to sit at and ordered some wine and food. While eating, Jilin kept his ears open to the surrounding movements.
"Have you heard? Master Xuanhuo of Shaolin Temple was also murdered by Qiao Feng." People at the neighboring table whispered among themselves.
Jilin felt a shock in his heart; it seemed the great battle at Juluxian Villa was imminent. He turned to look at Wang Yuyan and found that she, too, was listening with a worried expression.
"We need to find Qiao Feng as soon as possible. I suspect Ahu and the others might be with him," Jilin said.
"Yet with the world so vast, where are we supposed to find him?" Wang Yuyan wore a troubled expression.
Jilin pondered for a moment and said, "I have an idea. There is a renowned physician in the vicinity of Juluxian Villa right now—Xue Muhua, the King of Hell's Enemy. This man belongs to our Xiaoyao Sect; let's go find him."
Wang Yuyan nodded, feeling this was their only viable option at present. Thus, after finishing their meal, the two set off to search for Xue Muhua.
After making some inquiries, Jilin and Wang Yuyan finally located the residence of Xue Muhua, the King of Hell's Enemy.
They knocked on the door, and a disciple came out to greet them, informing them that Xue Muhua was currently treating a patient.
Jilin stated his identity and the purpose of his visit. After the disciple went inside to report, Xue Muhua quickly emerged. Upon seeing Jilin, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he instantly regained his composure.
"Martial Uncle Leader, why have you come? And this young lady is..." Xue Muhua asked.
Back when Jilin assumed the position of Leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, Su Xinghe, the Deaf Mute Scholar, had distributed portraits of Jilin to all surviving members of the Xiaoyao Sect.
This was to prevent friendly fire and ensure family members recognized one another.
Jilin briefly explained the sequence of events and requested Xue Muhua's assistance in locating Qiao Feng.
Xue Muhua thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. "Since it is the request of Martial Uncle Leader, I will certainly do my utmost."
"However, Qiao Feng must be a target of public criticism by now, and his whereabouts are elusive. I will mobilize my network and intelligence sources; the moment I have any news of him, I will notify you immediately."
Jilin shook Xue Muhua's hand gratefully. "Thank you, nephew. Please inform us promptly if there are any clues."
Xue Muhua smiled and said, "We are all family here; there is no need for such formalities. You two can rest here for a moment, and once I finish my current task, we can talk in detail."
Under Xue Muhua's arrangements, Jilin and Wang Yuyan were settled into a guest suite, eagerly awaiting news of Qiao Feng.
One day, while Jilin was practicing his martial arts, Xue Muhua came to inform him that Qiao Feng was currently waiting in the main hall with an ugly young maid.
Upon hearing this, Jilin hurriedly halted his cultivation, then brought Wang Yuyan to the main hall where they met Qiao Feng, who was accompanied by Ahu. Seeing the severity of Ahu's injuries, Wang Yuyan also rushed forward with concern.
Qiao Feng was surprised as to why Jilin and the others were also here, but at that moment, Jilin promptly instructed Xue Muhua to treat Ahu's injuries.
"Yes, Martial Uncle Leader."
Seeing Ahu being taken away for treatment, Wang Yuyan followed along. Jilin explained that he was the Leader of the secluded Xiaoyao Sect, and that this Xue Muhua was a member of their Xiaoyao Sect...
Following that, Jilin listened attentively as Qiao Feng recounted the series of inexplicable and sorrowful events that had transpired around him after the incident at Apricot Grove.
"As the saying goes, other places are full of pitfalls, but here in Tianlong, it's basically everyone digging traps for their own sons." Thinking this, Jilin quietly listened as Qiao Feng poured out his story.