Me and countless me.

Chapter 532 Two Useless Schemes

Qiao Feng hurriedly tried to stop him and wanted to help Xiao Yuanshan up, but just as he was about to help Xiao Yuanshan up, he saw Xiao Yuanshan tear open his clothes.

Upon seeing this, the surrounding Beggars' Sect disciples immediately flew into a rage.

"Hey! Someone actually dared to try and scam us Beggars' Sect today! Let me tell you, old man! We beggars have used this trick a million times! It won't work on you!"

This disciple couldn't help but think of the ways he used to make a living when his martial arts skills were low. This was his old skill, but it had changed after Qiao Feng became the leader of the gang and established...

However, Xiao Yuanshan ignored him and simply pulled open his clothes, revealing the wolf's head on his chest!
"Qiao Feng! You also have this wolf's head on your chest! Isn't that right?!"

When Qiao Feng saw the wolf head, he was struck dumb, because he also had an identical wolf head on his chest!

The moment he saw the wolf's head, he felt a tremor in his heart. The Beggar Clan disciple also stepped back in astonishment, trying his best to make himself unnoticed.

Qiao Feng didn't hesitate and directly pulled open his clothes, revealing a wolf's head. Upon closer inspection, it was identical to the one on Xiao Yuanshan's chest!
A thousand thoughts immediately arose in his mind, while the Beggar Clan elders around him looked at each other in bewilderment, especially Elder Bai Shijing and Quan Guanqing on the side.

Their purpose in summoning Qiao Feng back was to expose his Khitan origins and remove him from his position of supreme authority within the Beggars' Sect, so that they could take control of the sect. However, the witnesses hadn't arrived yet, which is why they hadn't acted yet.

But now Qiao Feng's biological father has arrived?!
What is this?
Is the intelligence they gathered still useful?

To be precise, is there any point in all that they've done?

Given Qiao Feng's character, the other party would definitely refuse the position of Beggar Clan leader once they knew he was a Khitan!

Did they succeed, or...?

Elder Bai Shijing's face showed a conflicted expression, because he truly believed that Qiao Feng was a good person. So at this moment, he felt conflicted and sad, but also fortunate that he could achieve his goal without turning against Qiao Feng.

However, Quan Guanqing couldn't help but get anxious. If Qiao Feng were to step down as the leader of the Beggars' Sect, where would he, Quan Guanqing, get the prestige from killing the great villain of the Khitan?
So he instinctively wanted to speak, but the next moment he saw Li Ke.

Quan Guanqing took a step back, because he had recognized Li Ke's identity, which was why he was so shocked!

"Ah! The Silver Water Kirin! Duke Li! Why has Your Excellency come here?!"

He screamed, but Li Ke ignored him and just watched Xiao Yuanshan and Qiao Feng reunite. Moreover, Xiao Yuanshan did not forget his instructions before he came and told him all about Qiao Feng's background without any delay.

Qiao Feng immediately took a step back, feeling a sudden dizziness.

His adoptive parents, Qiao Sanhuai and his wife, were not his biological parents. The abbot of Shaolin Temple, where his mentor worked, was the culprit who killed his mother and caused his separation from his father. He was also someone who was deceived by Murong Bo!
Qiao Feng instinctively didn't want to believe any of this, but the wolf totem on his chest and Li Ke beside Xiao Yuanshan proved that it could only be true!

He believed that Li Ke wouldn't deceive him with something like this, because there was simply no need for it!

Pain, entanglement, helplessness—looking at Li Ke and Xiao Yuanshan, who claimed to be his father, Qiao Feng was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

If this is true, why did Li Ke bring Xiao Yuanshan here instead of bringing him privately? If it's false, what is Li Ke's purpose?
Was it because the imperial court ultimately couldn't tolerate the Beggars' Sect, so it ordered Li Ke to disband it?

And even if he wasn't a Khitan, after this incident, wouldn't someone else try to harm him using this method? Or were the Li brothers unaware of the truth and simply deceived by those in the Beggars' Sect who were vying for power?
If I, Qiao Feng, were truly a Khitan, how could I possibly establish myself in this world?

The thought that those he had fought so hard against were his own people made Qiao Feng feel like his whole body was burning, but the thought of those people slaughtering the Song people made his hands and feet go cold, and he dared not think about it.

"Moreover, after these people who love me know my identity as a Khitan, will they still love me? Will they still support me? Or will they see me as a traitor, and consider my experience of becoming the leader of the Beggars' Sect through my own abilities and skills as a treacherous scheme by the Liao Kingdom?"

Qiao Feng felt increasingly dizzy and lightheaded as he thought about it, but fortunately, he had profound internal strength and a resolute heart, so after only a few moments of confusion, he regained his usual heroic spirit and straightforwardness.

So he took a deep breath and slapped Elder Bai Shijing next to him, scaring Bai Shijing, who was filled with countless inner conflicts, so much so that he wet himself!

"Elder Bai, this matter concerns Qiao Feng's background and the Beggars' Sect's great cause. Before the truth is found out, I am no longer able to shoulder the responsibility of the Beggars' Sect leader. I beg you to convene the other elders to discuss the matter. I'm afraid Qiao Feng is no longer able to take on such a great responsibility!"

Regardless of whether he was a Khitan or not, to avoid suspicion, he absolutely could not become the leader of the Beggars' Sect if people said he was a Khitan. If he was, then everyone could part ways amicably; if not, it didn't matter. After all, even if he wasn't the leader of the Beggars' Sect, Qiao Feng was still a man of great stature! There would be no setbacks or delays in what he wanted to do!

However, Quan Guanqing couldn't care less about Li Ke anymore. Seeing that Qiao Feng wanted to escape the trap they hadn't set up, he blurted out something without thinking!

"Qiao Feng! Since you might be a Khitan, why don't you prove your innocence instead of trying to just leave?"

The moment he uttered those words, he wanted to slap himself, because they were incredibly stupid! They practically revealed his true intentions.

So he immediately wanted to make amends, but Li Ke spoke up instead.

"Brother Qiao, if you don't mind, please allow me to accompany you. Also, since you are no longer the leader of the Beggars' Sect, would you be interested in being recommended by me to become a garrison commander and help me manage some small businesses, so that the people of our Great Song and Liao Kingdom can live in peace? As for whether they are Khitan or Song people... for a fine man like you, anyone who cares about this is really up to ulterior motives and would be good at splitting the two countries."

Li Ke's words immediately attracted everyone's attention. Bai Shijing stared at Li Ke in astonishment, unable to believe that the dignified Duke of the Great Song Dynasty would invite a Khitan to become his subordinate, and even talk about the Song-Liao alliance!

Even Qiao Feng was stunned, but he couldn't help but think of Li Ke's previous views that the people of Song and Liao should live in peace, and he couldn't help but laugh. All his doubts about Li Ke disappeared instantly.

Because once Li Ke spoke, even if he really was a Khitan, he would never end up being universally hated in the Song Dynasty!
If Li Ke were to travel as a江湖人士 (jianghu person, someone who walks the martial arts world), people would at most call him "Minor Duke." But if Li Ke were to recommend him for an official position, and he were here in that capacity as "Minor Duke," most members of the Beggars' Sect wouldn't even be qualified to approach within ten feet of him.

Therefore, Li Ke's words defined him! Even if he was a Khitan, he was not a traitor! Rather, he was someone who wanted to maintain good relations between the two countries! Although he was still not a Song citizen, no one would attack or kill him, otherwise it would be considered that he didn't care about the face of the imperial court! Qiao Feng didn't care about the position of leader of the gang, but he also didn't want to fight with his former brothers and be completely out of the same camp. It can be said that Li Ke's conditions were the perfect conditions for him.

As for the possibility of having to address Li Ke as Shangguan in the future, he didn't care, and Li Ke obviously wouldn't care either.

Judging from Quan Guanqing's expression, it was clear that someone in the Beggars' Sect was dissatisfied with him, and Li Ke's intervention was entirely to protect him!
"Thank you, brother! I will never forget your great kindness! But please allow me to investigate the truth and then accept your recommendation!"

He glanced at Quan Guanqing, said nothing more, simply helped Xiao Yuanshan up, and then prepared to leave.

Quan Guanqing stamped his feet anxiously, but couldn't utter a single word. Even the Duke said it didn't matter whether Qiao Feng was a Khitan or not. What could he, a person without official rank, with insufficient martial arts skills, and whose status in the Beggars' Sect was somewhat insignificant, possibly say?
People say that anyone who uses this as a pretext is malicious and trying to divide the two countries. Quan Guanqing really can't bear such a huge burden!

And most importantly, it's about Duke Li's attitude!

Given the attitude that Duke Li has shown towards the Beggars' Sect, won't the Beggars' Sect suffer a severe blow as a result?
However, as Bai Shijing watched Qiao Feng leave, his lips trembled for a long time, and he could only manage to utter one sentence.

"Good riddance to Chief Steve Jobs... Good riddance..."

He ignored Quan Guanqing, who wanted him to say something. Qiao Feng, who didn't care about his status as the leader of the Beggars' Sect at all and only cared about his own ambitions and path, reminded him of the original leader of the Beggars' Sect. In the end, he could only sigh and turn away.

The other members of the Beggars' Sect wanted to persuade them to stay, but they also noticed Quan Guanqing and Bai Shijing's strange behavior. In addition, Qiao Feng seemed completely unaffected, so these lower-ranking Beggars' Sect disciples scratched their heads and dispersed.

However, after Li Ke caught up with Qiao Feng, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Chief Qiao, it seems the Beggars' Sect is doomed to fall apart."

Li Ke's words silenced Qiao Feng, but he could only sigh.

"That depends on how long the things left behind by Chief Wang and Qiao can last."

When he first became an elder of the Beggars' Sect, the sect was actually quite chaotic. Many elders and disciples were local thugs, bandits, bullies, and even those who practiced forced mutilation and torture.

He couldn't stand by and watch, and since Wang Jiantong also intended to reorganize the Beggars' Sect, he used him as a tool to carry out a series of reorganizations against the Beggars' Sect.

Although the behavior of local ruffians still exists, things like raping and mutilating people have disappeared, and they have even started to fight against these things and resist the Liao Kingdom.

However, this also reduced the Beggars' Sect's income considerably, so they had to recruit some wealthy people and impoverished scholars to join the sect, establishing a new Beggars' Sect with the primary goal of resisting invasion. As a result, many heroes and ambitious individuals joined, and even the government developed a kind of unspoken cooperation with them.

It can be said that since Wang Jiantong and him, the Beggars' Sect of today is basically a different thing from the Beggars' Sect of the past. The beggars who join the Beggars' Sect will still beg, but they will no longer disturb the people. The other businesses of the Beggars' Sect can be used to train in martial arts and then intercept those Liao spies to serve the country.

However, as he left, Qiao Feng could clearly sense that many of the elders in the Beggars' Sect had their own ulterior motives, and many of the newly joined disciples were unwilling to fight against the Liao Kingdom, but only wanted to seize power and profit. Unfortunately, he could no longer control them, so he could only sigh in his heart.

"Let's get to the bottom of what happened to Qiao first. Once this is over, I'll repay Brother Li by working like a slave!"

He sighed, no longer dwelling on the matter, and instead boarded the carriage provided by Li Ke, heading towards Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, intending to get to the bottom of things!

However, at this very moment, news of the destruction of Juxian Manor also reached the Beggars' Sect. Quan Guanqing looked at the news in front of him and pursed his lips.

He genuinely wanted to become the leader of the Beggars' Sect, but he lacked Qiao Feng's abilities and magnanimity. Therefore, he had to turn the former leader, Qiao Feng, into a ruthless villain and then step on Qiao Feng, who was unwilling to lay a hand on his brothers, to rise to power!

So when Quan Guanqing saw the intelligence about Juxian Manor, which was clearly a frame-up against Qiao Feng and Li Ke, he took a deep breath, crossed out Li Ke's information, and then handed it over to his trusted confidant.

"Go! Get to work! Tell everyone that the great villain Qiao Feng and the deceived Duke Li Ke are on their way to Shaolin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Beggars' Sect disciples who were loyal to him quickly left. At the same time, there were also people like Li Ke and the others who were planning to go to Shaolin Temple.

And these people were none other than Kumārajīva and You Tanzhi!

"Benefactor, although my disciple's poison technique can save your life, from now on you will never be able to return to a normal person, you will be unable to reproduce, and you will have to endure the pain of being devoured by thousands of ants at all times. However, it will also open up all the meridians in your body and make you immune to all poisons. Moreover, once you cultivate the special martial arts that are combined with the poison technique, you will become incredibly strong, invulnerable to blades and spears, and able to recover from physical damage at will. In just a few days, you will become a master. Only the iron spear of the Hong family can possibly break through your defenses... Afterwards, this humble monk is even willing to seize the Yi Jin Jing from Shaolin Temple to help you quickly master martial arts so that you can take revenge. But I want you to agree to one condition!"

Kumārajīva sat upright on the high platform. Most of his fractures had healed, and his martial arts skills had become increasingly refined and obsessive due to his hatred for Ding Chunqiu.

He desperately wanted to obtain Li Ke's Sunflower Manual or Li Ke's martial arts skills, and he was willing to do anything for it!
"I need you to kill Ding Chunqiu for me!"

You Tanzhi, who was being boiled in a large pot with countless poisons, endured the excruciating pain of being devoured by the poisons by his hatred. He didn't care whether Kumārajīva wanted to use him or that's why he saved him; he only wanted revenge!

Even now, he feels it would be better to just kill himself and give himself a quick death, and he's almost been tortured to the point of forgetting the pain, but he still wants revenge!

Moreover, even he had heard of Ding Chunqiu's infamous reputation! He knew that Ding Chunqiu was a heartless villain.

So he only has one word.

"it is good!"

(End of this chapter)