Chapter 9

"Great Hero Qiao, oh no, Great Hero Xiao, if you want to see me, why wait for another day? I'll come out right now," a male voice suddenly rang out. The crowd at Juxian Manor turned to look, and saw a man in his early twenties, dressed in a white scholar's robe and holding a folding fan, walking out from the inner chambers of Juxian Manor.

"Who is this person? Why haven't we seen him before?" The heroes of Juxian Manor exchanged glances, and no one recognized him. However, from his words, many had their suspicions.

"Mr. Dongfang," the You brothers nodded in greeting, showing even more respect than before.

"Oh? Could this brother be the extraordinary person who can predict the future?" Qiao Feng turned around and sized up Dongfang Yu from head to toe. His expression then turned serious. "Why did you call me Great Hero Xiao just now?"

"You are of Khitan descent, originally surnamed Xiao, so it's natural to call you Great Hero Xiao," Dongfang Yu replied.

"You also say I am Khitan?" Qiao Feng's brows furrowed.

Though he had his own suspicions about his origins and even considered going to Yanmen Pass to see the stone tablet, he was still unwilling to believe he was Khitan until it was proven.

Originally, Qiao Feng was quite interested in extraordinary people who could predict the future, but when Dongfang Yu called him Khitan, he instinctively felt repulsed. He frowned and ignored him, asking loudly, "Where is the great physician Xue Shen?"

"I am here," Xue Muhua stepped forward and replied, then bowed to Dongfang Yu, "Uncle."

Uncle!?

The heroes of Juxian Manor were all shocked. Even the You brothers only knew Xue Muhua's name but not his background. The martial world naturally knew even less. This young man suddenly appearing as Xue Shen's uncle? What school did Xue Shen come from?

Qiao Feng also looked at Dongfang Yu in surprise, then said to Xue Muhua, "Great Physician Xue, this young lady is seriously injured. Please treat her."

Qiao Feng's words made many people inwardly sneer. Today's Heroic Assembly was jointly organized by the You brothers and Xue Shen, with the purpose of getting rid of this Khitan traitor. He actually asked Xue Shen to help him save someone?

"I can!" However, to the shock of the heroes of Juxian Manor, Xue Muhua immediately agreed without hesitation.

"Great Physician Xue! Absolutely not!" As soon as Xue Muhua spoke, many people couldn't help but cry out in alarm. Even Qiao Feng was taken aback, not expecting things to go so smoothly. He had just asked, and the other party agreed?

For a moment, the heroes of Juxian Manor were in an uproar. It was no wonder; they had come at his invitation to deal with Qiao Feng, and now he was helping Qiao Feng save someone?

Listening to the crowd's chatter, Xue Muhua's face turned awkward, but this was what his uncle had instructed, and he had already agreed. It was about his return to the sect, so he had to endure it.

Xue Muhua endured the criticism, and Dongfang Yu, feeling sorry for him, said, "Why can't he be saved? As a physician, one should have a heart like a parent. Moreover, Xiao Feng is Xiao Feng, and this young lady is this young lady. How can they be lumped together? If Xiao Feng found an injured child on the road and brought him here, would you also think he brought him here and refuse to treat him?"

Dongfang Yu's words left many people speechless, and for a moment, no one could respond. Qiao Feng looked at Dongfang Yu with gratitude, and the initial repulsion in his heart vanished.

"Twisting words, how can they be lumped together?" A woman's voice suddenly rang out.

A woman in plain clothes pushed through the crowd and said, "This Qiao Feng is ruthless, having killed Tan Gong, Tan Po, the Qiao couple, Master Xuanku, and others. Such a cruel and vicious criminal, how could he save a stranger? This young lady must be his mistress. Great Physician Xue, don't ignore righteousness and justice just because of your uncle's words."

"Right, Mrs. Ma is right," the speaker was none other than the wife of the deputy leader of the Beggar Sect, Ma Dachuan. Her words made many people nod in agreement.

"Mrs. Ma?" Dongfang Yu carefully examined the woman before him, the most notorious woman in *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*.

Though she was nearly thirty and dressed in plain clothes, her appearance was still captivating, exuding a mature and alluring charm that stirred the heart. If Dongfang Yu didn't know her true nature, he might have been tempted to look at her more.

"Mrs. Ma, who killed your husband? Do you really not know the details?" Dongfang Yu stared at Mrs. Ma, asking calmly.

"You, what do you mean?" A hint of panic flashed in Mrs. Ma's eyes.

"Oh? Brother, do you know the truth about Brother Ma's death?" Dongfang Yu's tone made Qiao Feng unable to resist asking. The Beggar Sect members also exchanged glances, looking at Dongfang Yu to see how he would respond.

"Ha ha ha, I, Dongfang Yu, am known as the greatest fortune-teller in the world. There are few things that can be hidden from me, and Ma Dachuan's case is not one of them," Dongfang Yu laughed loudly, his words calm but not trivial.

"Mr. Dongfang, can you tell me the cause of Brother Ma's death?" Qiao Feng, whose Khitan identity was linked to Ma Dachuan's death, naturally wanted to know the truth.

"Great Hero Xiao, though I respect your character, divination requires payment. What will you offer in exchange?" Dongfang Yu stared seriously at Qiao Feng.

As the youngest disciple of Wuyazi and a member of the Xian sect, Dongfang Yu had many skills and was not greedy for others' abilities. However, since he had proclaimed himself the greatest fortune-teller in the world, he expected many people to seek him out. He knew his limits and wanted to establish the image of charging for divination, so he could refuse requests for information he didn't have.

"Payment?" Qiao Feng thought for a moment. As the leader of beggars, how much money could he have? He remembered that Xue Muhua always learned the skills of those he treated. The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms were only for the Beggar Sect leader, so that wouldn't work. Qiao Feng said, "I know a technique for controlling objects from a distance, called the Dragon Seizing Hand. Would that be acceptable?"

The Dragon Seizing Hand!?

Qiao Feng's words made many of the heroes exclaim in surprise. In the original story, at the apricot grove, Qiao Feng used this skill to make the battle-loving Feng Bowei retreat, amazed by his prowess, showing how valuable this skill was.

"Dragon Seizing Crane, I have heard of this. Since Great Hero Xiao is offering the Dragon Seizing Hand as payment, I will certainly speak without reservation," Dongfang Yu smiled in satisfaction. Learning a technique for controlling objects would be useful in many situations.

"Humph, a hermit fortune-teller, spreading lies. Qiao Feng, the Khitan traitor, who killed his teacher and father, should be executed by all. You actually respect him and call him a great hero," Mrs. Ma sneered.

"Right, it seems you are on the same side. Don't spread lies here," Quan Guanqing of the Beggar Sect chimed in, shouting loudly.

Their words made many people look at Dongfang Yu with suspicion.

"Silence! My uncle is the greatest fortune-teller in the world. How can you slander him!?" Regardless of what others thought, Xue Muhua could not tolerate such slander and shouted angrily.

"Great Physician Xue, we respect your healing skills, which is why we came to this Heroic Assembly to deal with Qiao Feng. But your uncle is on Qiao Feng's side. We understand your respect for your teacher, but you cannot aid a villain," Quan Guanqing said, questioning him.

"You... you..." Xue Muhua pointed at Quan Guanqing, too angry to speak.

Though Xue Muhua's skills were not great, in the martial world, who did not treat him with respect? Being questioned in public today truly made him furious. In terms of eloquence, how could Xue Muhua compare to Quan Guanqing, known as the Scholar of Ten Directions?

"Why? Are you two trying to stop me from speaking because you are guilty?" Dongfang Yu glanced coolly at Mrs. Ma and Quan Guanqing and said.

"This is between me and Mr. Dongfang. If you want to listen, listen. If not, don't. Anyone who interferes will face my palm," Qiao Feng, who was outwardly rough but inwardly perceptive, understood Dongfang Yu's meaning and shouted, intimidating the villains. Quan Guanqing was momentarily silenced and dared not speak.

"Please, Mr. Dongfang, speak clearly," Qiao Feng bowed and said. The heroes of Juxian Manor also stared at Dongfang Yu, waiting to hear what he had to say.