Chapter 92

Inside the Bodhi Temple, Bai Xiaosheng, the six elders of the Beggar Sect, Xiao Feng, and the high monk Xuan Ci from Shaolin were seated around.

Bai Xiaosheng looked at Xiao Feng and Xuan Ci, feeling very strange, thinking to himself, "Could it be that Xiao Feng already knows that Xuan Ci is the leader of the group? Given the identity of the穿越客 (time traveler), this possibility is quite high!"

He asked his question, "Brother, why are you at Shaolin Temple?"

Xiao Feng smiled bitterly and said, "If I tell you, you might not believe me. After the Dan family was killed, I came to Shaolin." He took out a letter and handed it to Bai Xiaosheng. Bai Xiaosheng noticed that the envelope had already been opened, indicating that Xuan Ci and others had already read it.

Pulling out the letter, Bai Xiaosheng quickly scanned through it. As he had guessed, Xiao Feng's appearance at Shaolin was due to his master's actions.

The person did not tell Xiao Feng about his family's grudge, only that he was Khitan. His master happened to pass by the scene of the incident and saved him. The master did not say much more, but to prevent his disciple from repeating the mistakes of the past, he left two letters. One was the one Xiao Feng had already opened, and the other was to be kept until Xiao Feng knew who the "leader of the group" was.

After learning of the Dan family's death, he opened the first letter, which told him to rush to Shaolin to clear his name.

Indeed, not long after he arrived at Shaolin, news of the deaths of Mr. Tan, Mrs. Tan, and Master Zhiguang of Tiantai spread in the martial world. It seemed that Xiao Feng was at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain, and there were even witnesses, which helped Xuan Ci remove his suspicions.

When Xuan Ci read the letter, he was greatly shocked. He never thought that someone outside would know about the incident from back then.

After finishing the letter, Bai Xiaosheng looked up at Xuan Ci and said, "Master, if my brother is not a suspect, why would the martial world spread the rumor that he is the murderer?"

Xuan Ci shook his head and said, "This poor monk does not know. At first, everyone was just guessing who the murderer was, but suddenly, the news spread that Mr. Xiao was the murderer. At that time, Mr. Xiao was at Shaolin, and he certainly did not have the time to travel a thousand miles to commit the murders. So we at Shaolin knew that this must be a frame-up, intended to sow discord. However..." He hesitated for a moment and then continued, "However, Mr. Xiao's Khitan identity..."

He did not finish, but Bai Xiaosheng and the others understood. Since Xiao Feng was Khitan, he was at a disadvantage. Even if he was not the murderer, people would not treat him kindly. The once-respected hero Xiao Feng had become a Khitan dog in the eyes of the public.

"Alas!" Bai Xiaosheng looked at his brother Xiao Feng and sighed softly. The others also felt sorry, wishing that Xiao Feng were Han Chinese.

Xiao Feng, seeing the expressions of the others, laughed loudly and said, "Everyone, my master once said that one's birth is not within one's control, but one's actions are. Whether a person is good or bad does not depend on their birth but on their actions. Although I am Khitan, I can say with confidence that I have never violated the code of chivalry. In the future, if I do something that offends heaven and earth, may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death."

Hearing Xiao Feng's words of great righteousness, everyone was deeply moved. Bai Xiaosheng, in particular, recalled the scene in the apricot grove, where a great hero had sworn never to harm any Han Chinese.

Xiao Feng is Xiao Feng, no matter what, he is a great hero and a great man!

"Amitabha!" Xuan Ci recited a Buddhist chant, his face showing remorse. "All beings are equal! Mr. Xiao's words are in line with Buddhist principles, and they make this poor monk feel ashamed. Alas!" He sighed and then said something that stunned everyone. "Mr. Xiao, you bear a deep grudge. Do you know who your enemy is?"

Everyone was stunned, and the faces of the Shaolin monks changed dramatically. Xuan Ku, standing beside Xuan Ci, grabbed his arm and whispered, "Brother..."

Xuan Ci waved his hand and continued, "Of course, this poor monk was misled by false words, thinking that the Khitans were stealing Shaolin's scriptures. So I invited my martial friends to ambush and kill the Khitans. At that time, I was arrogant and impetuous, and without thoroughly investigating, I acted with murderous intent, leading to the death of your family at our hands. Mr. Xiao, the leader of the group back then was Xuan Ci!"

His tone was sorrowful, filled with endless regret, shocking the six elders of the Beggar Sect and Xiao Feng, who did not know the truth.

With a whoosh, Xiao Feng stood up, his tiger-like eyes fixed on Xuan Ci, and he roared, "You are the so-called 'leader of the group'?"

Xuan Ci nodded silently, slowly closed his eyes, and softly recited a Buddhist chant, saying nothing more. Behind him, several Shaolin monks changed their expressions and rushed forward to protect Xuan Ci, preventing Xiao Feng from attacking.

"Amitabha!" In the tense atmosphere, Xuan Ci recited a Buddhist chant, slowly pushed the others aside, and walked to Xiao Feng, saying softly, "I deeply regret what happened back then, but the great wrong has already been done, and all regrets are now useless. Today, I have come to understand Mr. Xiao's character, and I know that he is a great hero and a great man. Therefore, I am telling you the truth. Mr. Xiao, I am willing to offer my life to resolve your hatred."

With that, he lowered his head and closed his eyes, presenting himself for any action Xiao Feng might take. The other monks looked at him with pity, wanting to stop him, but their senior brother had made his decision and told the truth, so they could not intervene.

"Good, good, good..." Xiao Feng gritted his teeth, his eyes red, his aura surging, and his palms trembling with immense power. Bai Xiaosheng saw the danger and quickly pulled Xiao Feng back, whispering, "Brother Xiao, don't forget the letters left by your master. It's not too late to read them."

Xiao Feng was stunned, remembering his master's teachings and knowing that his master would not harm him. He calmed down and said, "Abbot Xuan Ci, my master left me two letters. One was to be opened after the Dan family's death, which you have already read. The other is to be opened after I know the identity of the leader of the group. I do not know what it contains, but since my master gave this instruction, there must be a reason. Now, I will ask everyone to read it together."

With that, he took out the letter and opened it.

Bai Xiaosheng and Xiao Feng were right in front of him, so they could see clearly, while the others, though not far away, were in front and could not see well. They were all curious and leaned in, losing their dignity as monks and elders.

"Xiao Feng, now that you know the leader of the group, you should understand the person. Although Xuan Ci is a bit rigid, he is upright and would never kill indiscriminately. The incident back then was quite mysterious, so I went to the Khitan Empire to investigate your father, Xiao Yuan Shan. Xiao Yuan Shan was the leader of the Khitan imperial guards, a moderate who did not want war between the Khitan and Song dynasties, which would cause suffering to the people. Such a person would not be killed by Shaolin monks, as it would only sow discord between the Khitan and Song, benefiting others. Later, I went to the place where Xiao Yuan Shan jumped off the cliff and found no body. I suspect that your father may not be dead."

Reading this, not only was Xiao Feng greatly surprised, his eyes wide open, but Xuan Ci was also shocked. Xiao Yuan Shan not dead? How could that be?

"You have opened the second letter, so you must have opened the first one. At that time, the Dan family must have been dead. They all knew the identity of the leader of the group. If they were not killed by you, they must have been killed by your father. This should prove my theory."

This part of the letter shocked everyone. Xiao Yuan Shan not dead? Xiao Yuan Shan the murderer? Sir, you are dead, why are you saying such shocking things?

Everyone's minds were in a fog, stunned. Xuan Ci and Xiao Feng's lips trembled, wanting to say something but unable to.

The letter not only revealed that Xiao Yuan Shan was not dead but also detailed the investigation, essentially recounting the plot. It said that if Xiao Yuan Shan was not dead and had killed the Dan family, he must have come to seek revenge. The incident was about Shaolin's scriptures, so it must involve Shaolin. If Xiao Yuan Shan was alive, he was most likely hiding near Shaolin, possibly even stealing scriptures to clear his name and avenge himself.

The entire letter, though speculative, was logical and reasonable, leaving everyone in awe of Xiao Feng's master. Was he human? He must be a god!

At the end, he concluded, "Although Xuan Ci is the leader of the group, everything started because of false words. If you want revenge, you must find the real culprit."

He did not mention Murong Bo, as that would be too divine. If he said it, he would truly be "Bai Xiaosheng."

Xiao Feng held the letter, his body trembling. The content of the letter was a huge shock. His father not dead? Could that be possible?

He was dazed, and Xuan Ci was also puzzled, unable to stop thinking about the messenger and the death of his junior brother Xuan Bei. Could the letter be true?

Among the group, Bai Xiaosheng was the calmest, as he already knew all this. He was thinking about how to use this opportunity to expose the Murong family, to reduce the suffering of everyone and to bring Murong Bo to justice, so he would stop harming people from behind the scenes.