The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

Hearing Qiao Feng say this, Bai Shijing felt even more distressed.

At the same time, Dali's personal guards suddenly became alert, and there was a hint that they were about to spread out to restrain the Beggars' Gang.

Seeing this, Mr. Fang quickly said, "Prince Duan! Dali is a good friend of our Great Song Dynasty. This matter has nothing to do with you. Princess A'Zhu must have been deceived by the Qing dogs. Although it is a royal marriage, Dali and the Manchu Qing have no dealings..."

"What a joke! My daughter married the great hero Qiao Feng, it has nothing to do with the Manchus, but I, Duan Zhengchun, have already agreed to this, how could I let you despicable villains succeed?" Duan Zhengchun rebuked the Beggars' Clan while ordering, "Today, I, Duan Zhengchun of the Dali Duan Clan, stand with Qiao Feng, this has nothing to do with the Dali royal family, but if there is any harm, the Dali Kingdom shall not retaliate..."

This was a normal performance. In the original work, A'Zhu had already died by this time, but Duan Zhengchun, remembering Qiao Feng's kindness in saving him, stood on Qiao Feng's side. However, compared to the three brothers, Duan Zhengchun didn't have much of a role to play and was "taught a lesson" by Murong Fu.

Startled by Mr. Fang's "coaxing," the martial arts practitioners present were immediately convinced that "the Qing dogs are secretly laughing at the lack of talent in the Central Plains," especially the anti-Qing forces who had come for the Turtle Killing Conference, and they all prepared to make their move.

Knowing the relationship between Qiao Feng and their leader, the Righteous Alliance members were on high alert, ready to fight at any moment.

"Chief Fang! I didn't respect you before, but we brothers respect you now!"

"Excellent, Chief Fang, Elder Chen, give the order! If the Dali Duan family wants to intervene, what do we have to fear?"

"Even if the Righteous Alliance comes... we'll lose a head, a scar the size of a bowl, kill the Qing dogs, and avenge Vice Chief Ma!"

"Revenge! Revenge!"

Seeing that the Beggars' Sect disciple was the first to get into a fighting stance, Chu Luren also secretly focused his mind. If it really came to the point of taking action, he would have to capture the leader first.

Murong Jiu was unaware of "Mr. Fang's" identity. At this moment, she discussed with Shangguan Haitang whether they should remain on the sidelines.

Wan Sanqian, who was using the alias Shen Laoshi, then suggested to Shangguan Haitang and Murong Fu that they should take action when necessary, and that they could absolve themselves of any involvement by remaining on the sidelines.

However, at that moment, Bai Shijing shouted, "Enough!" His voice cracked from shouting.

The Beggars' Sect disciples looked at this once revered elder of law enforcement, only to see him now acting as if he were having an epileptic seizure, his whole body trembling like a leaf, his face covered in sweat, his pupils sometimes focused and sometimes unfocused, his gaze wandering...

Seeing the situation was turning sour, Chen Youliang, though not entirely convinced that Bai Shijing would actually reveal his weaknesses, still spoke up to avoid further complications: "Elder Bai has long been on good terms with Qiao Feng and has been deeply deceived by him. If you are unwilling..."

"Shut up! Go to hell, Chen Youliang! Don't you know who killed Ma Dayuan?" Bai Shijing shouted in a shrill voice, his breath scattered, a stark contrast to his usual dignified demeanor.

Not to mention the Beggars' Sect disciples, Song Xi, Wu Chen and the other four were also stunned—most of the former assumed that Qiao Feng was the murderer, while the latter... they didn't know who the murderer was either!

Why does Bai Shijing look like this now...?

He knew? Chen Youliang knew too?

"Elder Chen, Elder Bai, who killed Brother Ma? Tell me!" Wu Changfeng immediately said.

"Is Elder Bai confused? He should rest..." Quan Guanqing wanted to go over and help Bai Shijing, but Bai Shijing shook him off.

"Don't touch me! Hahaha... Who killed Brother Ma? Who killed Ma Dayuan? Waaaaah... I'll tell you!"

"Elder Chen! You're not even conscious..." Quan Guanqing hurriedly tried to step forward again, but before he could react, Bai Shijing directly struck his acupoints.

"It wasn't Murong Fu, nor Qiao Feng! It was...it was after that poisonous woman drugged him, and that's how it happened..."

As Bai Shijing spoke, he grabbed Quan Guanqing directly. Caught off guard, no one had time to stop him. With a "crack," Quan Guanqing's throat was crushed by Bai Shijing—his eyes widened, and he fell to the ground, just like Ma Dayuan, who died from a throat-locking grappling technique…

"Master Quan!"

"you you……"

"Elder Bai... what did Bai Shijing just say?"

The Beggars' Sect disciples were stunned on the spot. The fighting spirit that had just been stirred up vanished by more than half. They didn't know whether to be surprised that Bai Shijing had killed Quan Guanqing on the spot or to be surprised that Bai Shijing admitted that... Vice Chief Ma was actually killed by him!

"It was me, it was me who killed Brother Ma! I, Bai Shijing... the Law Enforcement Elder? I'd rather have learned from Yue Buqun and practiced self-castration to end it all, then there wouldn't be so much trouble! One wrong step leads to another!"

Regardless of how many Huashan disciples were caught in the crossfire, especially Linghu Chong who happened to be passing by, when Chen Youliang's confidants, at his signal, wanted to step forward and subdue Bai Shijing to stop him from talking nonsense, the four veteran elders, Song, Xi, Wu, and Chen, surrounded them and stopped them from taking action.

"Elder Bai... you..." Wu Changfeng had already vaguely understood what Bai Shijing meant.

So, he committed adultery with Madam Ma and killed Ma Dayuan?

"Just for that woman, you..." Elder Xi, who wasn't very tall, was about to puff up in anger.

Zhou Dian, unaware of anything, strolled over to a spot near the Beggars' Sect and pointed at Bai Shijing repeatedly, saying, "Tsk tsk tsk, even Chen Guyan isn't as ruthless as you! At least Chen Guyan wasn't killed! Otherwise, how come he's just an ordinary elder, while you're an enforcement elder?"

Chen Guyan, Shuobude, and other elders of the Beggars' Sect: ...

After saying that, before anyone grabbed him, he quickly disappeared back into the crowd...

Bai Shijing then drew the execution knife that he had hidden at his waist without anyone knowing: "This knife... I've kept it on my person ever since the Apricot Grove incident, but I've never dared to take it out! Today we'll settle things clearly!"

Qiao Feng's earlier words became the final straw that broke Bai Shijing's psychological barrier...

"I slept with women myself, and I have only myself to blame. But, but that poisonous woman Kang Min learned from Ma Dayuan that he has evidence that Chief Qiao is a Manchu! First she came to me... hehe, she should also have come to the old but vigorous Xu Chongxiao, and you Chen Youliang, to help her bring down Chief Qiao!"

I...I was afraid things would get exposed, so I killed Ma Dayuan, who had been drugged with Mongolian medicine. I've let down Brother Ma, I've let down Chief Qiao, I've let down all the brothers in the gang. My brothers...you must learn from my mistakes!

As Bai Shijing spoke, he raised his magic knife and pierced his own heart with it...

Chu Luren could have stopped him in time, but at this point, it was better not to, and he remained silent.

The Beggars' Sect had completely lost its previous arrogance and fighting spirit...

They're even eagerly watching Shaolin make a fool of themselves!

Xuanci was just a monk having an affair, but what is this?

The elder in charge of law enforcement stole his sister-in-law, and the most senior elder stole his nephew's wife? At least Ye Erniang didn't make Xuanci kill his other fellow disciples in Shaolin!

Chapter 786 False Bodhisattva

The fighting spirit that Mr. Fang and Chen Youliang had painstakingly stirred up among the Beggars' Clan members vanished with a bang after Bai Shijing fell.

"Elder Chen! Did you already know about this?" Wu Changfeng stepped forward, leaning on his sword, and asked Chen Youliang.

"How would I know?" Chen Youliang said with a disdainful look.

"you……"

"After we get back, we must confront that poisonous woman!" Xi Sanqi gritted his teeth in anger, thinking that Ma Dayuan had been harmed by that poisonous woman, and that even Qiao Feng's affair was caused by a woman.

"Elder Xu is advanced in years and not fit for the long journey, so he will stay at the main altar to take care of Kang Min..."

Someone whispered that Xu Chongxiao was indeed old, after all, he was Wang Jiantong's uncle, but considering what Bai Shijing had just said, he was... still vigorous in his old age.

"What do you mean by the words of an old madman?"

"It was clearly Bai Shijing who killed Ma Dayuan, and then he just spouted nonsense!"

"This person has always been loyal to Qiao Feng; he might very well be the one instigating this..."

Many of the gang members present were Chen Youliang's men, so they naturally denied it and even turned around and accused him.

Mr. Fang was also furious, his face under the mask turning black – the Beggars' Clan members were too unreliable, and they soon started arguing among themselves.

Yuanshan, however, did not wait any longer and directly challenged the masked Mr. Fang, saying, "Heh! We can talk about the Beggars' Sect's affairs later. Since you old man insist on sticking your neck out, then make your move!"

Yuanshan took the initiative and engaged in a fierce battle with Mr. Fang—he had clearly recognized the other party's identity.

Although I don't know the other party's name, I have encountered them many times in the library over the years and we have even fought each other. How could I not remember them?

The moment the two exchanged blows, it was clear they were unparalleled masters, and moreover...

The techniques used also shocked the Shaolin disciples—six or seven out of ten moves were Shaolin's secret techniques!

However, unlike Chu Luren and Kumārajīva before them, when these two used Shaolin's unique skills, they did not seem to have much Zen spirit. They only pursued the exquisiteness of the moves and appeared very "hard".

When Kumārajīva uses the "flower-plucking finger" technique, he also smiles while plucking a flower. When he uses the Prajna Palm technique, one can feel the great wisdom and will. But these two people in front of us only have the form... no, it should be said that they only have the power!

Although they didn't see any harm, Zen Masters Guanxin and others all shook their heads at this point.

As Murong Jiu watched the two exchange blows, her brows furrowed more and more—Shaolin techniques were one thing, but why were the other moves, and even the style of their transitions, somewhat similar to…

Seeing that his father was evenly matched with the others, Qiao Feng did not attack the group of thugs, but instead remained vigilant about his surroundings.

Chu Luren was already 90% certain of the man's identity, and quickly reminded him, "Uncle Yuanshan, this person is hiding his true identity; he must be ashamed to face others!"

How could we not hurry?

Once he becomes more obvious, Chu Luren won't be able to shout like that in front of Murong Jiu!

Upon hearing Chu Luren's words, Mr. Fang glanced at him briefly, while Yuanshan sneered and immediately changed his attack, aiming straight for Chu Luren's face...

As expected, the opponent was "ashamed to be seen" at this time. In order to protect his mask, he was immediately at a disadvantage for several moves. Then, when the opponent attacked Yuanshan with a palm strike of "Burning Wood Knife Technique", Mr. Fang used his strength to return the force of the attack!

"Huh?" Murong Jiu suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

Shangguan Haitang looked at him in surprise and asked in confusion, "What did the Prince Consort discover?"

"No." Murong Jiu frowned but did not answer.

Just then, something unexpected happened to Xuan Ci. After being hit over a hundred times, Xuan Ci suddenly felt... that it didn't hurt anymore?

At first, Xuanci thought that he was about to die, so he began to recite scriptures and repent for the innocent people who died because of him.

However, Xuan Ci gradually felt something was wrong; he was clearly not yet at the end of his life!

Xuan Ci first sighed and looked at the monks of the Discipline Hall who were carrying out the executions on both sides, but found that... although their faces were full of grief, they did not show any mercy.

Startled and suspicious, Xuan Ci took the initiative to speak, "Who is this master who is secretly protecting me? I am deeply grateful, but I am guilty of grave sins and do not deserve such kindness."

Upon hearing Xuanci's words, all the monks present, as well as the martial arts practitioners around them, were stunned. Ding Busan immediately sneered, "Shaolin, you're too ruthless! Can't you just give the old abbot a quick death?"

"That's right, that's right, they've even made them hallucinate!" Ding Busi chimed in.

Although no one else spoke, they all thought the same thing: who would help him?

However, after being reminded of this, everyone noticed something strange – why did Xuan Ci's seated figure remain motionless as the cane fell, as if... he was completely unaffected?

There was clearly no one around, and nothing seemed amiss...

“Tsk tsk, Third Brother, I heard that the yamen runners have all mastered the skill of hitting hard but lightly. If the prisoner pays money or the county magistrate gives a hint, they can hit him very lightly, but it looks like they are using all their strength... I didn’t expect that Shaolin monks also have this skill?” Ding Busi continued to mock.

Xuan Ci ignored the others and lowered his eyes, saying, "I beg you, sir, not to add to my sins... The punishment of the disciple will be disregarded after the first hundred strokes! Then he will be punished again!"

Just as everyone was wondering whether Shaolin was just making a fuss or... there really was something mysterious going on, the simple and honest-looking young man next to Ding Busan and Ding Busi sighed and said, "Master Xuanci, why are you doing this?"

"Zeng Aniu, what are you interrupting for?" Ding Busan patted the dramatic young man on the shoulder, but... his hand was brushed away!

It wasn't that "Zeng Aniu" intentionally flicked him, but rather that the force of the cane still struck him, and the impact was felt on him.

When Ding Busan slapped him, Zeng Aniu's true colors were revealed. In a daze, everyone seemed to see a Tai Chi symbol of two fish appear on the ground. The yin eye of the yang fish was where Xuan Ci was sitting, and the yang eye of the yin fish was right under the young man's feet!

The force of the cane, when it struck Xuan Ci, vanished without a trace, while its effect on "Zeng Aniu" went unnoticed by everyone unless Ding Busan slapped him...

What kind of martial art is this? Is this... really martial arts?

And... Yin-Yang fish?