The three poisoned darts that had been fired struck Quan Guoqing's Qihai, Shimen, and Guanyuan acupoints perfectly. Damage to these three points meant one thing—Quan Guoqing's dantian had been completely destroyed.
More terrifying than the pain was the fact that his internal energy was draining away at a terrifying speed.
"Ah! He crippled my martial arts!"
Quan Guoqing wailed miserably, staring at Chu Yang with venomous hatred.
Chen, Wu, Song, and Xi—the four elders—were all taken aback. Their expressions changed drastically as they glared angrily at Chu Yang. In their view, even if Quan Guoqing had been verbally offensive, crippling his martial arts was far too severe.
Huang Rong was also startled and quickly turned back to look at Chu Yang.
"Elder Quan was at fault first. A lesson would have been enough—why destroy decades of painstaking cultivation? Such ruthless methods… do you truly not place the Beggars' Sect in your eyes at all?"
Elder Xi clenched his fists, flames of anger burning in his eyes.
"Poor Elder Quan… he only just rose from branch leader to elder," Elder Chen sighed, glancing at Quan Guoqing and shaking his head helplessly.
Quan Guoqing had helped Kang Min frame Qiao Feng, then used underhanded methods afterward to secure an elder's position. He had been riding high—only to run into Chu Yang, a living calamity.
"You people are quite interesting," Chu Yang said with a faint smile. "He threw poisoned darts at me, so I returned them. He reaped what he sowed—yet you blame me instead."
"Heroes who reason like this—calling it a Dog-Bear Assembly really fits."
Then Chu Yang added calmly, "But you are right about one thing. Without Qiao Feng, the Beggars' Sect truly isn't worth my regard."
The moment those words fell, the entire crowd erupted in shock!
That was the largest sect in the martial world!
To be humiliated like this in public!
The four Beggars' Sect elders trembled with rage, pointing at Chu Yang, unable to speak for a long while.
"Little Chu… did I cause you trouble?" Huang Rong quietly retreated to Chu Yang's side, feeling uneasy. She knew he hated trouble more than anything.
"You're overthinking it. The threshold for 'trouble' is much higher with me. At best, they're just roadside trash."
Chu Yang didn't raise his voice, but anyone with functioning ears could hear him clearly.
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
This was practically defecating on the Beggars' Sect's head.
How could they possibly endure this?
If they swallowed this humiliation, how would the Beggars' Sect ever hold their heads up again?
Elder Xi, hot-tempered by nature, stepped forward, eyes blazing. The surrounding onlookers immediately retreated, afraid of being dragged into it.
"Elder Xi is our sect's foremost external-style expert, skilled with the iron staff and specifically counters hidden weapons," Elder Wu said, still trying to be fair before the fight began. "If you kneel and beg now, he may spare your life."
Chu Yang glanced at him, seeing that he meant well, and smiled. "Since you warned me, I won't take his life."
"You little wretch—how dare you!"
Elder Xi roared, gripping his iron staff and leaping into the air. The staff traced a silver arc as it smashed down toward Chu Yang's face. The sheer force caused his arms to tremble.
As an external-style expert, his strength was terrifying—one full strike could turn a man's skull into pulp.
Some onlookers with weaker nerves turned away, unable to bear watching.
Chu Yang remained calm and confident. With a slight shift of his body, he narrowly slipped past Elder Xi at the critical moment.
Elder Xi was short and stocky, not agile at all. Unable to turn in time, he exposed his back—just in time for Chu Yang to plant a kick squarely into his lower back.
In full view of the crowd, Elder Xi went sprawling—face-first into the ground.
For a moment, silence reigned.
Then the crowd burst into laughter.
Elder Xi scrambled up, furious. The kick hadn't hurt much—but the humiliation was devastating. For a famed martial expert, this was unbearable.
Huang Rong clapped delightedly. "A dog-eats-dirt fall suits a Beggars' Sect disciple perfectly! Why not thank my Little Chu properly?"
Mu Nianci hurriedly covered her mouth.
Elder Xi's temples throbbed, his face flushing crimson as he entered a full rage.
Even without Observation Haki or the Rinnegan, Chu Yang could easily dodge Elder Xi's attacks—their speeds weren't even close.
Elder Xi continued swinging his iron staff. What should have been overwhelming, crushing techniques now looked clumsy and heavy against Chu Yang's graceful movements.
After only a few exchanges, Wu Changfeng realized Elder Xi was no match and began to stir.
Group fighting had always been the Beggars' Sect's proud tradition. If ten could fight one, they'd never send nine. This was common knowledge—and they felt no shame about it.
Seeing no opening after so long, Wu Changfeng stopped waiting and drew his ghost-head saber.
True to his name, Wu Changfeng moved like the wind. His saber techniques were exquisite, and having fought alongside Elder Xi for years, the two coordinated seamlessly, compensating for each other's weaknesses.
And yet—
Even together, they failed to change the tide.
They were still being toyed with.
"Elder Chen! Elder Song! If you don't act now, the Beggars' Sect will lose all face today!"
Quan Guoqing howled from the ground. Hearing this, Elders Chen and Song abandoned restraint and joined the fight.
The four great elders of the Beggars' Sect were all well-known experts. Anyone capable of facing all four at once and maintaining absolute dominance was unquestionably a top-tier master.
The problem was—
Despite the sheer number of martial artists present, not a single one recognized this scholar fighting the four elders.
No such figure had ever been heard of in the martial world.
He didn't look foreign, appeared incredibly young—and yet terrifyingly strong.
Gradually, the spectators became more interested in Chu Yang's identity than the fight itself.
After watching for a while, Mu Nianci leaned close to Huang Rong and whispered, "Brother Chu could have defeated them long ago. Why hasn't he gone all out?"
Huang Rong chuckled softly. "He usually won't spar seriously with us when practicing the Nine Yin Manual—he's afraid of hurting us. Now that he has a few sandbags to test techniques on, of course he's going to savor it."
"Oh—!" Mu Nianci suddenly understood, her gaze toward Wu Changfeng and the others turning sympathetic.
Chu Yang's ghostlike figure weaved endlessly among the four. Over time, even the dullest among them realized what was happening.
A crushing sense of humiliation flooded their hearts.
Meanwhile, the Heroes' Assembly at Juxian Manor was about to begin. More and more invited martial experts arrived—
Only to gather outside watching Chu Yang battle the four Beggars' Sect elders.
The vast Juxian Manor stood deserted, its doors ignored.
Inside the hall, the You brothers waited endlessly, exchanging uneasy glances.
"Big brother… could we have gotten the date wrong?" You Ji asked hesitantly.
"Nonsense!" You Ji snapped. "You alone might misremember, but everyone in this manor did?"
They fell into silence.
If the date wasn't wrong, then it meant no one had come to attend their Heroes' Assembly.
How could they bear that?
"Master! Second Master! People are fighting outside the manor!" the steward shouted as he rushed in.
You Ji frowned. "No one coming is bad enough—now people are causing trouble right outside our manor?"
"Who exactly is causing trouble?" You Ji demanded.
"At first it was the Beggars' Sect elders—Chen, Wu, Song, and Xi—against a young scholar. I'm not sure of the cause, only that a newly appointed Elder Quan spoke disrespectfully and had his martial arts crippled by the scholar."
"Hiss—crippling someone over words alone? That scholar sounds far too domineering—not like someone righteous."
"That's what I thought as well."
"But the four elders are all renowned experts. Surely they wouldn't need to gang up on a junior. Are you mistaken?"
"I'm not, Master. The four elders joined forces and still couldn't win. Three of them were crippled, just like Elder Quan—only Elder Wu Changfeng fared slightly better. Later, Abbot Xuannan and Master Xuji of Shaolin passed by and tried to reason with the scholar. They fought as well…"
"Wait!" You Ji jolted upright. "What did you just say about the elders?!"
The steward forced a bitter smile. "Three of the four—Chen, Wu, Song, and Xi—are crippled. Only Wu Changfeng remains mostly intact."
The You brothers sucked in sharp breaths simultaneously.
"Qiao Feng has arrived?" they blurted out together.
The steward shook his head vigorously.
You Ju said gravely, "What a terrifying expert! Those elders are no pushovers—especially not all four together. To cripple three of them…"
You Ji nodded in awe. "Utterly domineering."
Then he asked, "You said Abbot Xuannan fought him as well? What happened?"
The steward answered fearfully, "Both masters were defeated. After capturing them, the scholar used their Zen staffs to knock their heads—like temple monks striking a wooden fish. Their dignity was utterly destroyed."
"Later, Tan Gong, Tan Po, and Zhao Qiansun arrived and finally freed the masters."
Cold sweat poured down You Ji's back. "Those two masters surpass the elders in skill. With Tan Gong, Tan Po, and Zhao Qiansun assisting, they should have been able to take him down."
The steward replied miserably:
"Both masters—and all three seniors—had their martial arts crippled by that scholar."
Another case of crippling martial arts!
What kind of demonic cultivator was this—so brazen and unrestrained?
The You brothers felt their limbs turn icy, their entire bodies trembling.
Every martial expert they had invited to this Heroes' Assembly had failed to even step through the gates of Juxian Manor—each had been crippled outside instead. If word of this spread, Juxian Manor would become a laughingstock of the martial world for decades to come!
You Ju froze, then suddenly grabbed at a lifeline and asked, "What about Hero Shan and his sons?"
The steward shook his head. "Hero Shan himself didn't fight that scholar…"
The man known in the martial world as the "Iron-Faced Judge," Shan Zheng, had been one of the key figures who exposed Qiao Feng's Khitan identity at Apricot Forest. His five sons were collectively called the Five Tigers of the Shan Family.
You Ju finally let out a breath. "That's good. At least the Shan family wasn't affected."
"It was!" the steward said with a sob. "Hero Shan didn't fight the scholar himself, but his sons fought with the little girl beside the scholar—and all of them were crippled!"
"In his grief, Hero Shan vomited blood and fainted on the spot."
You Ji closed his eyes, tears welling up. This was it—what Heroes' Assembly? All the so-called heroes had been crippled.
Seeing the steward hesitate as if there was more to say, You Ju's heart sank. He shouted angrily, "Spit it out already! At this point, what else is there to fear?!"
The steward replied shakily, "When Elder Tan and Madam Tan were fighting the scholar, one of their hidden weapons accidentally struck Physician Xue, who was watching nearby…"
You Ji's eyes snapped open. "What happened to Physician Xue?!"
The steward barely dared to breathe. "Physician Xue… died on the spot."
You Ji's face turned ashen.
The Heroes' Assembly had only been possible not just because of the You brothers' influence, but largely due to the reputation of Xue Muhua—the famed 'Nemesis of Yama.'
As the saying went, if you wandered the martial world, you were bound to get injured sooner or later. No matter how strong you were, once gravely wounded, you needed Physician Xue to keep you alive.
And now?
Sigh…
The Nemesis of Yama had encountered the true King of Hell.
Xue Muhua's death meant Juxian Manor would bear responsibility. In the future, the You brothers would surely become targets of endless condemnation from martial artists—people who wouldn't care about right or wrong, only about venting their anger.
The thought sent You Ji's limbs numb, his body ice-cold as blood rushed to his head.
Pff!
He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed unconscious.
"Big Brother!!!"
You Ju cried out as he caught You Ji's limp body.
Not long after, Qiao Feng arrived at Juxian Manor carrying A'Zhu, whom he had accidentally injured at Shaoshi Mountain. He had come seeking Physician Xue to save her life.
Qiao Feng knew the Heroes' Assembly was meant to deal with him—but for A'Zhu's sake, he could only walk straight into danger.
Carrying her, he entered Juxian Manor.
The once-boisterous Heroes' Assembly had ended in utter desolation. With the manor lord vomiting blood and collapsing, a pall of gloom hung over the estate.
Servants whispered among themselves. You Ju heard it all, but could only pretend ignorance with a bleak expression.
At that moment, a bold, resonant voice rang out:
"Qiao Feng pays a visit to Juxian Manor!"
You Ju's face changed drastically. Disaster—why did this curse choose now to arrive?!
It was over. Completely over!
Today, Juxian Manor would know no peace.
Moments later, a towering man with a square face, thick brows, sharp eyes, and a broad mouth strode out from behind the screen wall, carrying a frail woman in his arms.
His steps were like those of a dragon and tiger, his presence overwhelming. Who else could it be but Qiao Feng?
You Ju collapsed weakly to the ground, muttering, "If you wish to kill or punish, do as you please. Juxian Manor's luck has run out—suffering calamity after calamity in a single day."
"Aren't heroes supposed to have gathered here to take my head?" Qiao Feng frowned. "Why is only you here? Where are the rest?"
He felt inexplicably insulted—did the You brothers think they alone were enough to deal with him?
You Ju broke down crying. "It's over! All over! What Heroes' Assembly? Before you even arrived, someone else had already gone on a killing spree!"
Qiao Feng: "..."
A killing spree?
Who was he talking about?
Qiao Feng was utterly confused. This assembly was meant to target him—how had some unknown figure barged in instead?
"Brother Qiao… is Physician Xue not here?" A'Zhu asked weakly from his arms.
Qiao Feng hurriedly questioned You Ju. "Where is Physician Xue? I have urgent business! He contributed greatly to this assembly—he should be staying here!"
At the mention of Xue Muhua, You Ju looked as if his own mother had died, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Has something happened to Physician Xue?" Qiao Feng asked in alarm.
If Xue Muhua was gone, then A'Zhu was doomed.
Who else in the world could save someone whose internal organs were shattered?
You Ju stared blankly until Qiao Feng set A'Zhu down and grabbed his arms, shaking him. Only then did he nod unconsciously.
Qiao Feng's body shuddered violently. He dared not turn around to look at A'Zhu, fearing the despair he might see on her face.
But A'Zhu reached out and tugged his sleeve. "Brother Qiao, don't worry about me. This is fate."
Qiao Feng clenched his fists. "After searching everywhere for doctors, we finally found hope—how can heaven be so cruel?"
A'Zhu didn't look sad. Instead, she smiled. "Heaven isn't cruel at all. Otherwise, it wouldn't have let you stay with me."
Qiao Feng felt comforted—yet even more pained.
"Brother Qiao… I'm curious. Who exactly ruined the Heroes' Assembly? How does his martial arts compare to yours?" A'Zhu gently changed the subject.
Qiao Feng pondered, then turned to You Ju. "Please explain everything that happened."
Disrupting the Heroes' Assembly had inadvertently helped him—but Xue Muhua's death made their situation far worse. Qiao Feng desperately wanted to know who was responsible.
By now, You Ju had somewhat regained his composure. Looking at the frail A'Zhu, a thought occurred to him.
"The one who ruined the assembly was a scholar. His true target was Physician Xue—he came specifically to kill him."
"Many martial heroes tried to protect Physician Xue and were crippled as a result. In the end, they still failed to save him."
You Ju embellished the story, shifting all blame onto Chu Yang, making it sound as though Chu Yang had acted deliberately—so Qiao Feng would naturally assume the man was targeting him.
A'Zhu, weak from blood loss and exhaustion, sensed inconsistencies in the story but lacked the strength to think deeply, her eyes already struggling to stay open.
Qiao Feng reflected and began to suspect that this mysterious scholar might be connected to the shadowy figure who had murdered his parents and mentor.
Both seemed to target people close to him.
His fury surged. He immediately pressed You Ju for more information.
Since You Ju hadn't seen Chu Yang himself, he summoned the old steward who had witnessed everything.
The trembling steward described the appearances of Chu Yang and the two girls. Qiao Feng fell silent.
Three striking figures together would be highly noticeable—not difficult to track down.
Cradling A'Zhu, Qiao Feng decisively took his leave.
The steward, having survived the ordeal, nearly wet himself when he suddenly heard the second manor lord burst into laughter.
"Heh—when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits! I truly am Zhuge reborn!"
The steward looked at the smug second lord, his trousers already soaked, despair filling his heart.
If those two calamities didn't end up fighting each other, the ones to suffer would be Juxian Manor.
Outside, many bystanders who had witnessed the earlier battle still lingered. Qiao Feng questioned them one by one and soon learned the direction Chu Yang and the others had taken.
A'Zhu, barely conscious, kept urging him not to go.
The opponent was clearly a top-tier expert. Carrying her as a burden meant Qiao Feng was already at a disadvantage.
But Qiao Feng wouldn't listen.
At the same time, Chu Yang and the others returned to the inn, retrieved their carriage, and prepared to continue their journey.
They had only wanted to watch the spectacle—never expecting to become the spectacle itself.
"What a pity," Chu Yang muttered. "Didn't even get to see Leader Qiao carrying a boombox into a fight…"
Chu Yang tugged on the reins and led Little Red Horse to the front of the carriage, sighing with some regret.
"What's a speaker?"Huang Rong blinked her eyes curiously.
"Uh… a kind of musical instrument,"Chu Yang didn't know how to explain it and just brushed it off in a few words.
"Brother Chu, that scene just now was terrifying, and you're still thinking about playing music for fun…"Mu Nianci complained. "Haven't we offended far too many people? Especially Shaolin Temple—I've heard it's the number one sect in the Northern Song martial world."
Huang Rong stroked Little Red Horse's mane and snorted indifferently."What's there to be afraid of? We're not staying here anyway. Once we leave, that's it. When we reach Mongolia, who's going to care about them? If they're not convinced, let them chase us—see if I don't beat them until they're crawling all over the ground."
Mu Nianci sighed softly.
"Alright, stop overthinking it. Get in the carriage," Chu Yang said. "Once we leave Northern Song, we still have to pass through Great Ming before reaching Mongolia. The road ahead is long—better get moving early."
Chu Yang finished adjusting the reins and urged the two girls into the carriage. They had wandered around the city for most of the day and were indeed exhausted.
Yawning, Huang Rong climbed into the carriage. Mu Nianci subconsciously reached out to take the reins from Chu Yang, but he waved her off.
"Go inside. You can drive tomorrow."
Mu Nianci nodded obediently. She really was tired—she'd been far too tense while watching the fight, and now that she relaxed, fatigue washed over her like a tide.
Little Red Horse was very perceptive. Once the two girls entered the carriage, without needing any urging from Chu Yang, it slowly pulled the cart out of the inn. Chu Yang sat sideways on the shaft, closed his eyes, and rested.
Today's battle had allowed him to use the General Principles of Martial Arts from the Nine Yin Manual to dismantle the weaknesses of various schools' techniques. The results were far better than expected.
Not only could he find flaws, he could even reverse-derive the complete routines of those martial arts. Combined with the Rinnegan's ability to see the flow of internal energy, all martial arts under heaven were, in his eyes, like exam papers with the answers already written.
"Just by fighting someone, I can learn their martial arts… this isn't stealing—it's outright robbery,"Chu Yang chuckled happily. The whole thing was pure profit at others' expense.
Xuannan of Shaolin specialized in the Vajra Palm and Vajra Finger; Xuanyi specialized in the Indian Buddha Finger and the One-Strike, Two-Break Palm. Elder Tan excelled in palm techniques, while Madam Tan was strong in boxing.
All these fist and palm techniques had now fallen into Chu Yang's hands. As for everyone else's martial arts—he couldn't even be bothered to look at them.
"That Ghost Slayer guy asked me to find high-level sword techniques. Now that I think about it, it shouldn't be hard—just fight a few sword masters."
"Most sword experts are concentrated in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, which is set in Great Ming. I'll probably get some leads once we reach that side."
"As for Northern Song…"Chu Yang thought for a moment."Other than the Six Meridian Divine Sword, there's really nothing worth referencing."
Just as he was thinking, a thunderous shout suddenly exploded by his ear.
"Villain, stop right there!"
A burly man with a broad back and thick waist landed in front of the carriage. His face was weathered, his eyes sharp, and his presence imposing.
Sitting on the carriage shaft, Chu Yang dug a finger into his slightly numb ear.
Good grief!I thought someone set off firecrackers right next to my ear.This guy's voice is loud as hell.
Chu Yang's first impression of Qiao Feng was not great—rude and prone to shouting nonsense.
"Just from appearances alone, which one of us looks more like a 'villain' to you?"Chu Yang pointed at his own clean, tidy clothes, then at Qiao Feng's tattered beggar outfit.
Qiao Feng glanced down at his ragged clothes and, for a moment, found himself unable to refute that.
"This ragged-looking brother here, please move aside," Chu Yang waved him off."What you're doing right now isn't begging—it's blocking the road and robbing people. That'll land you in jail."
Qiao Feng said in a deep voice, "You caused chaos at Juxian Manor and killed Physician Xue. What exactly are you trying to do?"
Chu Yang replied in confusion, "What the hell does that have to do with you?"
Qiao Feng choked, then roared angrily, "Did you know in advance that I needed Physician Xue to save a life, so you deliberately killed him? The deaths of my parents and my benefactor—were they also related to you?!"
Chu Yang was even more baffled and looked at him sincerely."Is there something wrong with your head?"
Qiao Feng flew into a rage and leapt into the air, unleashing a palm strike. His vast inner strength instantly transformed into a golden flying dragon that charged straight at Chu Yang.
A dragon's roar shook the air!
"Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms…"
Chu Yang's eyes lit up. He immediately understood who the man before him was. He stood up and pushed out a palm of his own.
A golden palm appeared before Chu Yang, its lines and details vivid and lifelike—the Vajra Palm he had just "borrowed" from Shaolin's Xuannan.
The golden palm slammed into the flying dragon, shattering it with overwhelming force. The palm itself cracked apart but continued flying toward Qiao Feng.
Qiao Feng struck again, waves of qi surging around him as his violent palm force shattered the remaining golden palm.
It was only a simple exchange, yet Qiao Feng was already deeply shocked.
"That move just now looked like Shaolin's Vajra Palm… but how could it have such terrifying power?"
Qiao Feng's expression grew solemn. Vajra Palm was formidable, yes—but it should never surpass the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms in sheer ferocity. The only explanation was that the user himself was monstrously strong.
"You're not a Shaolin disciple. How do you know one of Shaolin's Seventy-Two Ultimate Techniques—the Vajra Palm?"
Qiao Feng gathered strength in both palms, ready at any moment.
"At Juxian Manor, two bald monks used this move on me earlier," Chu Yang said casually."I thought it looked interesting, so I learned a bit. Turns out it's pretty handy."
Chu Yang jumped down from the carriage and walked toward Qiao Feng step by step. Since he'd run into Leader Qiao, there was no way he was letting this opportunity slip—this wool was getting sheared no matter what.
He had already dismantled that move completely in his mind. All that was left was to use the Rinnegan to record the circulation of internal energy.
Qiao Feng didn't waste words and directly "warmed up" Chu Yang with one move after another, afraid Chu Yang might not learn fast enough.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Huang Rong stuck her head out, glaring angrily at Qiao Feng.
"You thick-browed, big-eyed brute, how can you be so unreasonable? It was those so-called heroes who surrounded and attacked us—how did it turn into us causing chaos at Juxian Manor?"
"And that man surnamed Xue was clearly killed by his own people's hidden weapons in the middle of the brawl. What does that have to do with us?!"
"Don't slander us!"Qiao Feng froze for a moment and almost got hit in the face by Chu Yang, hurriedly raising his arms to block.
He wanted to ask more, but Chu Yang's attacks were too fast and relentless, leaving him no room to speak. He could only grit his teeth and keep fighting.
Huang Rong didn't stay idle either. While Chu Yang fought, she stood on the carriage and hurled insults nonstop.
Her mastery of sarcastic verbal combat was devastating. Qiao Feng was so enraged he nearly suffered qi deviation. With his poor verbal skills, he could only swallow his anger, his strikes growing heavier and heavier.
Chu Yang, however, remained calm and unfathomable, like a deep, still pool placed before Qiao Feng, leaving him utterly helpless.
The Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms—both hard and soft—were neutralized by Chu Yang using the most basic force-redirecting techniques.
Seeing this, Qiao Feng successively used the Dragon Claw Technique and the Demon-Subduing Palm, both among Shaolin's Seventy-Two Ultimate Techniques, only to have them countered by Chu Yang's Vajra Finger.
Founding Emperor's Long Fist, Capturing Dragon Skill, Paired Cloud Palms—Qiao Feng unleashed every last trump card he had, yet all were steadily dismantled by Chu Yang using the Nine Yin Manual's martial principles.
After fighting for a long time with neither side gaining the upper hand, Qiao Feng began to grow anxious.
To keep A'Zhu from being caught in the battle, he had placed her in a forest five li away. If he didn't return soon, her life might be in danger.
What Qiao Feng didn't know was that before the fight even began, Chu Yang had quietly told Mu Nianci where A'Zhu was and asked her to bring A'Zhu over.
Xue Muhua was dead, and Qiao Feng had no second person who could treat A'Zhu's injuries. Chu Yang understood his urgency.
Strictly speaking, although they hadn't started the chaotic battle that led to Xue Muhua's death, they did bear some responsibility.
Just as Qiao Feng was being nearly drained dry by Chu Yang, Mu Nianci brought A'Zhu back and handed her to Huang Rong to examine.
Huang Yaoshi was a rare all-round genius, top-tier even in medical arts. As his daughter, Huang Rong had been immersed in it since childhood and was no slouch herself.
After a brief examination, Huang Rong immediately saw that A'Zhu's internal organs were severely damaged—under normal circumstances, completely beyond saving.
"Rong'er… how is she?"
"I can't treat her, but Little Chu definitely can. Hurry and stop them—saving her comes first!"
Mu Nianci hurriedly shouted toward the two men locked in fierce combat, "Brother Chu, stop fighting! Come save her now!"
Qiao Feng turned his head and saw A'Zhu lying in Huang Rong's arms. Shock and fury surged through him at once, afraid they might harm her.
Chu Yang smiled faintly, leapt up, stepped on Qiao Feng's shoulder, and flipped back onto the carriage.
Qiao Feng was just about to pursue when his body suddenly pitched forward. Lowering his head, he realized his legs had somehow been tightly bound by thick tree roots.
Chu Yang placed his hand on A'Zhu's forehead. Pure life energy flowed into her body like a spring, repairing her damaged organs.
The pallor on her face quickly faded, replaced by a healthy flush.
A few breaths later, Qiao Feng broke free of the bindings and sprinted toward the carriage.
"You two, get down."
Huang Rong and Mu Nianci obediently jumped off the carriage.
With one hand still pressed to A'Zhu's forehead, Chu Yang turned sideways to face the onrushing Qiao Feng. Kneeling on the carriage shaft, he fought with one hand.
In the blink of an eye, several more exchanges passed.
Qiao Feng's fists were as fast as lightning, thunderous booms echoing with each strike. The momentum was terrifying, yet he couldn't get close at all. In his anxiety, he exposed an opening and was shoved off the carriage by Chu Yang's horizontal palm strike.
At that moment, A'Zhu awoke. Feeling a warm current enveloping her body, she immediately realized what had happened and cried out urgently, "Brother Qiao, stop!"
Hearing A'Zhu's voice, Qiao Feng halted, asking anxiously, "A'Zhu, how are you?"
A'Zhu looked gratefully at Chu Yang and said excitedly, "Brother Qiao, I'm fine. This gentleman cured my injuries."
"What?!" Qiao Feng was stunned and hurried forward to examine her.
No one knew A'Zhu's condition better than he did. Even Divine Physician Xue could never have healed her in such a short time.
The moment he grasped her wrist, Qiao Feng's expression turned to shock.
Her pulse was steady and strong.
This was no pulse of a dying person at all.
It was the pulse of someone perfectly healthy!
"How can such a miraculous thing exist in this world?"
Qiao Feng released A'Zhu's wrist and stared at Chu Yang in disbelief. The man had actually managed to heal someone while simultaneously fighting him.
"Your methods are truly godlike. Qiao Feng is sincerely impressed."
Completely convinced, the Beggar Gang leader clasped his fists toward Chu Yang. He understood now that if Chu Yang had been willing to save A'Zhu, there was no way he would have killed Divine Physician Xue just to target him.
"Now you know how to be impressed? Where did that murderous attitude from earlier go? I even spoke up for you in front of those dog-bears and ended up stirring up a huge mess for nothing!"
After hearing Qiao Feng introduce himself, Huang Rong was already seething. She looked down her nose at him as she spoke.
Given A'Zhu's keen mind, she had already pieced things together. She tugged on Qiao Feng and whispered in his ear, "Brother Qiao, we should apologize first."
Qiao Feng nodded, then clasped his fists and sincerely apologized to Chu Yang and the others.
Having already stripped Qiao Feng of the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms and numerous other techniques, Chu Yang was in an exceptionally magnanimous mood. He smiled and said, "It was all a misunderstanding. Leader Qiao need not take it to heart."
A'Zhu began asking about the sequence of events.
Huang Rong didn't explain anything. She merely snorted and turned her head aside, clearly still holding a grudge.
At Chu Yang's signal, Mu Nianci took the initiative to recount what had happened outside Juxian Manor, while A'Zhu explained how You Ju had deceived them.
Before long, both sides understood the truth of the matter.
Qiao Feng was filled with guilt as he clasped his fists toward Huang Rong. "Miss Huang, Qiao was reckless. I never imagined you spoke up for me and brought trouble upon yourself. If you're still angry, you may beat or scold me as you wish—I will accept it without complaint!"
"Forget it, forget it. Since you're loyal and devoted, at least you live up to my father's high opinion of you. I won't hold your earlier rudeness against you!"
Huang Rong was still a girl at heart. Seeing Qiao Feng brave Juxian Manor for A'Zhu's sake deeply moved her.
It reminded her of how Chu Yang had once gone alone to confront Wanyan Honglie to save her.
It all felt as if it had happened just yesterday.
Her gaze softened, her deep eyes like a star-filled night sky, all their light falling on Chu Yang alone.
"Sir Chu, you saved A'Zhu. I have no way to repay such kindness. If there's ever anything you need from me, please say the word."
Qiao Feng spoke earnestly.
"It was nothing," Chu Yang replied with a polite smile. "Since Miss A'Zhu is well, we should be on our way. Farewell for now—may we meet again someday."
A'Zhu smiled sweetly. "May Sir Chu have a smooth journey."
"Take care," Qiao Feng said, clasping his fists.
"Huh? That's it?" Huang Rong ground her teeth. "I still wanted to beat up that guy surnamed You!"
Chu Yang rubbed her head. "I've read the brothers' physiognomy. They weren't destined for long lives. There's no need to go back and trouble ourselves."
Huang Rong was puzzled—after all, they hadn't even entered Juxian Manor and didn't know what the You brothers looked like…
But since Little Chu said they were short-lived, they probably wouldn't live long anyway. Thinking that, the corners of her mouth lifted and her mood improved.
"Rest assured, Miss Huang. I'll be paying Juxian Manor another visit myself."
Qiao Feng lifted A'Zhu down from the carriage shaft. Her cheeks flushed as she lowered her head, saying nothing.
In truth, A'Zhu's body had already fully recovered—it was just that Qiao Feng was so used to caring for her that he hadn't realized it yet.
Seeing happiness written all over A'Zhu's face, Chu Yang hesitated for a moment, then had Huang Rong take out a sheet of paper and write something on it. He sealed it in a wooden box and handed it to Qiao Feng.
"Leader Qiao, if one day you encounter something you can't be certain about, or if knowing certain truths leaves you trapped in indecision, you might consider opening this box."
Qiao Feng accepted the box, curiosity in his eyes. "What exactly is inside this box?"
"You'll know when the time comes."
As he spoke, Chu Yang and the two girls were already back on the carriage. Little Red Horse snorted and pulled the carriage away.
After watching them depart, Qiao Feng immediately wanted to open the box, but A'Zhu stopped him.
"Brother Qiao, since Sir Chu said to look at it later, don't act rashly." She pressed a hand atop the box, her expression serious. "That Sir Chu doesn't seem like an ordinary man. When he treated me, he used neither medicine nor needles—I don't even know how I was healed…"
"If it was internal energy, that doesn't seem right either. To heal a dying person in an instant like that—such inner power is unheard of."
The more Qiao Feng thought about it, the more unsettling it felt. He lowered his head to look at the box, hesitated, then tucked it into his robes.
The moon hung bright among sparse stars.
The carriage stopped by a small stream. Chu Yang got down and loosened Little Red Horse's reins. The horse affectionately rubbed against the back of his hand before lowering its head to drink.
Huang Rong and Mu Nianci were resting inside the carriage. Chu Yang estimated they'd sleep straight through till dawn.
He had no intention of staying long—just letting the horse drink some water. He didn't wake the two girls, instead sitting by the stream, listening to the murmuring water while planning his next steps.
The combination of the Nine Yin Manual and the Rinnegan was terrifying—so terrifying that even the Shaolin Seventy-Two Ultimate Techniques and the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms could be mastered with ease.
This far exceeded Chu Yang's expectations.
If that was the case, perhaps he could learn Taiji Fist the same way. Should he make a trip to Mount Wudang on the way to Mongolia?
"I think I overlooked something…"
"When exactly did Taiji Fist come into existence?"
"This world's timeline is so chaotic that there's no real reference. What if Zhang Sanfeng hasn't created Taiji Fist yet? Wouldn't that be a wasted trip?"
After some thought, Chu Yang decided to stick to the original plan.
First, go to Mongolian Tantric Buddhism to obtain the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill. On the return trip, he'd visit Mount Wudang—if he didn't get Taiji Fist, it wouldn't be a loss of time.
With his mind made up, over the next half month Chu Yang crossed the Northern Song at full speed, then headed straight for the border between Mongolia and Great Ming.
Meanwhile, several days after parting ways with Chu Yang, Qiao Feng returned to Juxian Manor to settle matters with the You brothers.
He'd originally planned only to teach them a lesson. Instead, the brothers—lacking skill but overflowing with temper—committed suicide the moment their weapons were shattered, dying on the spot.
They didn't even give Qiao Feng a chance to save them.
After their deaths, Kumārajīva, the Tibetan National Preceptor, arrived at Juxian Manor with Duan Yu and Wang Yuyan in tow—and ran straight into Qiao Feng. A fierce battle broke out.
Inspired by his fight with Chu Yang, Qiao Feng's martial arts had become even more refined, returning to true simplicity.
Kumārajīva, having learned part of the Six Meridian Divine Sword, thought himself invincible. Instead, he ran into an upgraded Qiao Feng, was beaten until he spat blood several times, and fled in panic.
(End of Chapter)