Chapter 22

Only the sound of the bones in Master Zhiguang's body cracking lightly could be heard, indicating that his life was hanging by a thread, the difference between life and death hinging on a single thought of Jiaofeng.

Suddenly, Zhao Qiansun sneered and said, "How laughable! How laughable! Han people are not necessarily superior, and Khitan people are not necessarily inferior to pigs and dogs! Clearly being Khitan, yet insisting on pretending to be Han, what kind of taste is that? Refusing to acknowledge your own biological parents, what kind of man are you calling yourself?"

Jiaofeng opened his eyes wide, staring at him fiercely, and asked, "Do you also say I am Khitan?"

Zhao Qiansun replied, "I don't know. But on that day at the Yanmen Pass, the appearance and build of that Khitan warrior were exactly the same as yours. This fight scared me, Zhao Qiansun, so much that my soul fled and my heart was shattered. I would never forget the face of that enemy, even if a hundred years passed. I saw Master Zhiguang holding the Khitan baby with my own eyes. I, Zhao Qiansun, am like a walking corpse, and in this world, there is no one I care about except Xiao Juan, and no matter I care about. Whether you become the leader of the Beggar Sect or not, what does it have to do with me? Why would I want to frame you? What benefit would I gain by admitting that I participated in the murder of your parents? Lord Jiaofeng, my martial arts are far inferior to yours. If I wanted to die, wouldn't I know how to commit suicide?"

Jiaofeng slowly laid Master Zhiguang down, then used the tip of his right foot to lightly kick Shan Jishan, sending his massive body flying and landing with a thud on the ground. Shan Jishan immediately stood up, completely unharmed.

Jiaofeng looked at Zhiguang, seeing his calm and sincere expression, and asked, "What happened next?"

Zhiguang said, "You found out later. When you were seven years old, you were picking chestnuts in the Shaoshi Mountains and encountered a pack of wolves. A monk from Shaolin Temple saved you, killed the wolves, treated your injuries, and then taught you martial arts every day. Is that correct?"

Jiaofeng replied, "Yes! So you knew about this too."

Zhiguang continued, "This Shaolin monk was entrusted by our leader to teach you from a young age, to ensure you did not go astray. For this matter, I, the leader, and Wang Bangzhu had a dispute. I said you should live a peaceful life as a farmer and not learn martial arts, to avoid getting entangled in the enmities of the martial world. The leader, however, said we had wronged your parents and should cultivate you into a hero."

Jiaofeng asked, "How did you wrong them? The Han and the Khitan have been killing each other for generations; what does it mean to wrong or not wrong them?"

Zhiguang continued, "The inscription on the stone wall outside Yanmen Pass still exists; you can go and see it yourself. Since the leader had this idea, Wang Bangzhu also favored it more. I could not argue with them. When you turned sixteen, you met Wang Bangzhu, who took you as his disciple. After that, many opportunities and coincidences arose. Your natural talent and hard work were extraordinary, but if it weren't for the leader and Wang Bangzhu's constant support, it might not have been so easy."

Zhiguang continued, "Initially, Wang Bangzhu was very cautious with you, but later, seeing your rapid progress in martial arts, your generous and heroic nature, your kindness to others, your respect for him, and your actions that pleased him, he gradually grew to genuinely like you. As you achieved more and gained greater prestige, the entire Beggar Sect, both inside and outside, looked to you as their future leader. But Wang Bangzhu was still hesitant, mainly because you are Khitan. He tested you with three major challenges, which you completed, but still required you to achieve seven great feats before he passed the Beggar Stick to you. At the Taishan Assembly, you defeated nine of the Beggar Sect's formidable enemies, making the Beggar Sect renowned. At that point, he had no hesitation in making you the leader of the Beggar Sect. To my knowledge, in the hundreds of years of the Beggar Sect, no other leader has had such a difficult path to the position as you."

Jiaofeng lowered his head and said, "I thought Master Wang was intentionally training me, making me endure hardships to prepare for great responsibilities, but it turns out... it turns out..." At this point, he was already about seventy to eighty percent convinced.

Zhiguang said, "This is all I know. After you became the leader of the Beggar Sect, I heard from the martial world that you upheld justice, benefited the people, and managed the Beggar Sect well. I was secretly pleased for you. I also heard that you thwarted several Khitan plots and killed several Khitan heroes. So our previous concerns about 'raising a tiger to one's own detriment' turned out to be groundless. This matter could have been left unmentioned, but someone revealed it. This is not beneficial to the Beggar Sect or to Lord Jiaofeng." He sighed deeply, his face showing great compassion.

Elder Xu said, "Thank you, Master Zhiguang, for recounting these old events, making us feel as if we were there. This letter..." He waved the letter in his hand and continued, "is from the leader to Master Wang, strongly advising him not to pass the leadership of the Begger Sect to Lord Jiaofeng. Lord Jiaofeng, you might as well take a look." He handed the letter over.

Zhiguang said, "Let me see first if it is the original letter." He took the letter, read it, and said, "Yes, it is indeed the leader's handwriting." He then used his left hand to tear off the signature at the end of the letter and put it in his mouth, swallowing it.

Jiaofeng never expected this venerable old monk to use such a cunning trick. He roared in anger, struck out with his left palm, hitting him in the pressure point, and immediately snatched the letter with his right hand. However, he was a step too late, and the signature had already been swallowed. Jiaofeng struck him again, releasing the pressure point, and said angrily, "What... what are you doing?"

Zhiguang smiled slightly and said, "Lord Jiaofeng, now that you know your true identity, you must want to avenge your father's death. Master Wang has already passed away, so that is not an issue. As for the name of the leader, I do not wish to reveal it to you. I participated in the ambush on your parents, and I am willing to take full responsibility for all the sins. If you want to kill or punish me, go ahead."

Jiaofeng said, "Whether it is true or not, I am not yet clear. Even if I were to kill you, it would not be in a hurry." He glanced at Zhao Qiansun.

Zhao Qiansun shrugged, seemingly unconcerned, and said, "Yes, I was involved too. This debt is on me. Whenever you are ready, just come and take action."

Tang Gong loudly said, "Lord Jiaofeng, think carefully before you act. If you provoke a conflict between the Han and the Khitan, all the heroes of the Central Plains will be your enemies." Although Zhao Qiansun was his rival, he still offered his help at this moment.

Jiaofeng sneered, his mind in turmoil, and read the letter by the light of the fire. After finishing, he stood there in silence.