Chapter 20

The group of beggars let out a loud cry and all stood up at the same time.

Duan Yu exclaimed in shock, "Big Brother, you!"

Even Wang Yuyan, who was an outsider, was frightened by the sudden change, her face turning pale as she blurted out, "Leader Qiao, you mustn't..."

Li Wuchang's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression changing dramatically.

Why did people like and admire Qiao Feng? Besides his magnanimity, this act of taking the blame for the four elders, regardless of his own safety, was even more touching and moving.

Li Wuchang had thought about stepping in to stop it, but in the end, he gave up. Whether Qiao Feng would agree or not aside, without this act, how could Qiao Feng's righteousness and loyalty be fully demonstrated?

Qiao Feng said, "Elder Bai, in our gang's rules, there is a clause: 'If a disciple of our gang breaks the rules, they cannot be easily pardoned. Even if the leader shows leniency, he must shed his own blood to cleanse the sin.' Is that correct?"

Bai Shijin's face remained as stiff as stone, and he slowly replied, "The rule does exist, but the leader must consider whether it is worth shedding his own blood to cleanse someone else's sin."

Qiao Feng said, "As long as it does not violate the ancestral laws, that is fine." He turned around and faced Elder Xi, saying, "Elder Xi, though you did not name yourself my master, you taught me martial arts, and in reality, you were my master. This is a personal favor. Think back to when Leader Wang was captured by the Liao Kingdom's five great masters and was held in the Black Wind Cave of the Qilian Mountains, where they forced our gang to submit to the Liao. Leader Wang was short and stout, and Elder Xi, who bore a slight resemblance to him, disguised himself as Leader Wang and willingly took his place to die, allowing Leader Wang to escape. This was a great service to the country and our gang, and I cannot let his sin go unpunished."

As he spoke, he pulled out the second ceremonial knife, lightly slashed the ox sinew binding Elder Xi's wrist, and then turned and stabbed the knife into his own shoulder.

His gaze slowly shifted to Elder Chen.

Elder Chen shouted loudly, "Leader Qiao, I have no close relationship with you, and I have offended you many times. I dare not ask you to shed your blood for me."

He flipped his arms, suddenly bringing them from behind his back to the front, though his wrists were still tightly bound by the ox sinew. It turned out that his "Through-the-Arms Fist" had reached a divine level, allowing his arms to extend and retract freely. He squatted down, and his arms lengthened, snatching a ceremonial knife.

Qiao Feng deftly grabbed the short knife with a reverse grip and said loudly, "Elder Chen, I, Qiao Feng, am a rough man who does not like to make friends with cautious and meticulous people, nor do I like those who do not drink, do not talk much, and do not laugh and shout. This is my nature, and I cannot force myself to change. Our personalities do not match, and we rarely speak kindly to each other. I also do not like Deputy Leader Ma's character, and I often avoid him, preferring to drink strong liquor and eat dog meat with the lower-ranking disciples. My temper, everyone knows. But if you think I want to get rid of you and Deputy Leader Ma, you are greatly mistaken. You and Deputy Leader Ma are steady and never get drunk, which is your strength, and I, Qiao Feng, cannot match you."

As he spoke, he stabbed the ceremonial knife into his own shoulder and said, "The great feat of assassinating the Liao Kingdom's Left Route Deputy Marshal Yelü Bulu, if others do not know, how could I not know?"

A murmur of voices immediately spread through the group of beggars, mixed with surprise, admiration, and praise. It turned out that a few years ago, the Liao Kingdom had launched a large-scale invasion, but several of their generals died suddenly, causing the invasion to fail and return without success, sparing the Song Kingdom a major disaster. Among the generals who died suddenly was the Left Route Deputy Marshal Yelü Bulu. Apart from the highest-ranking leaders of the Beggar Gang, no one knew that this was a great feat accomplished by Elder Chen.

Elder Chen, hearing Qiao Feng publicly praise his feat, felt greatly relieved and said softly, "I, Chen Guyan, am honored by the great kindness of the leader."

Qiao Feng walked to Wu Changfeng and said, "Elder Wu, in the past, you alone guarded Eagle Sorrow Gorge and fought against the experts of the Western Xia's 'First-Class Hall,' preventing their plot to assassinate the Yang family from succeeding. Just the 'Merit Gold Medal' given to you by General Yang alone is enough to absolve you of your sins today. Take it out for everyone to see!"

Wu Changfeng suddenly turned bright red, looking uneasy, and said, "This... this..."

Qiao Feng said, "We are all brothers. Elder Wu, if you have any difficulties, feel free to speak."

Wu Changfeng said, "My Merit Gold Medal, to be honest with the leader, is... this... that... it's gone."

Qiao Feng was surprised and asked, "How could it be gone?"

Wu Changfeng said, "I lost it myself. Um..." He steadied himself and said loudly, "One day, I had a strong craving for alcohol, but I had no money to buy it, so I sold the gold medal to a gold shop."

Qiao Feng laughed heartily and said, "Straightforward, very straightforward, but it's a bit disrespectful to General Yang." As he spoke, he pulled out a ceremonial knife, first cutting the ox sinew binding Wu Changfeng's wrist, and then stabbing it into his left shoulder.

Wu Changfeng shouted, "Leader, you are truly righteous and loyal. From now on, my life is yours. No matter what others say about you, I will no longer believe it."

After Qiao Feng pardoned the four elders, everyone felt a great relief, and all eyes turned to Quan Guanqing, thinking that he was the instigator of this rebellion. Even if Qiao Feng were magnanimous, he would certainly not pardon him.

Qiao Feng walked to Quan Guanqing and said, "Chief Quan, what do you have to say?"

Quan Guanqing said, "I rebelled against you for the sake of the Song Kingdom and the future of the Beggar Gang. Unfortunately, the person who told me the truth about your background is afraid and dare not show himself. You might as well kill me now."

Qiao Feng pondered for a moment and said, "What is wrong with my background? Speak freely."

Quan Guanqing shook his head and said, "No one will believe me if I just talk. You might as well kill me."

Qiao Feng, full of doubt, shouted, "A man of honor speaks his mind. Why be so hesitant, wanting to speak but not speaking? Quan Guanqing, if you are a true man, you are not afraid of death, so why are you afraid to speak?"

Quan Guanqing's words were vague, and Bai Shijin, eager to enforce the law, took the ceremonial knife to carry out the execution, which made Qiao Feng even more suspicious. He took the ceremonial knife from the law-enforcing disciple and said, "Chief Quan, you say you know the truth about my background and that it concerns the safety of our gang, but you dare not reveal the truth. You have incited rebellion, and death is inevitable, but for now, I will put it on hold. Once the truth is revealed, I will personally kill you. I, Qiao Feng, am not a man who buys favor with empty words. Once I decide to kill you, you will not escape my hands. Go, take off the cloth bag on your back, and from now on, there will be no such person in the Beggar Gang."

Quan Guanqing, hearing Qiao Feng order him to take off the cloth bag on his back, suddenly showed a murderous look in his eyes. He turned and snatched a ceremonial knife, flipping his wrist to point the tip at his own chest.

Qiao Feng looked at him coldly. Quan Guanqing held the ceremonial knife steadily, his arm not trembling, and turned to face Qiao Feng.

The two men stared at each other, and for a moment, there was not a sound in the apricot grove.

Quan Guanqing suddenly said, "Qiao Feng, you are so calm! Don't you really know?"

Qiao Feng said, "Know what?"