The Villain's Counterattack

Chapter 415 Return to Wuxi, Meet Ma Dayuan Again

After having a good meal and a drink, Murong Fu, Qiao Feng, Shan Zheng and the others rode away on horseback. Hundreds of them paraded through the city in a mighty procession, but they did not attract any intervention from the government. The large banner embroidered with the word "Murong" was the best signboard for them. Wuxi was close to Suzhou, and even if Murong Fu intended to restrain himself, the officials in Wuxi were quite in awe of him and would not dare to disobey him in the slightest.

Shan Zheng is quite prestigious in the martial arts world, but if you say that his martial arts skills are really high, it depends on who you compare him with. Today, Murong Fu is already a top master in the martial arts world. Even if Qiao Feng is slightly inferior, he is still above the top and barely makes it into the top ranks. However, given his physical characteristics, his actual combat power is still higher, and he is definitely a top-notch master.

However, the top masters in the martial arts world are also divided into different levels. The Shaolin Sweeping Monk and the Three Free and Easy Elders (Tienshan Tonglao, Wuyazi, and Li Qiushui) are definitely better than top masters like Murong Bo, Xiao Yuanshan, and Jiumozhi, and they may even be more than one level better. Although they are all top masters, they can still be distinguished.

Murong Fu's martial arts skills have now reached the top level. He has also practiced with Wuyazi to confirm that his martial arts skills are definitely better than his father's and Jiumozhi's, but he does not dare to claim to be the best in the world. At least Wuyazi, who has recovered 70% to 80% of his strength, is not inferior to himself. If he is in his prime, he may not be able to defeat him now.

However, he is now in a period of rapid improvement in strength. In another three to five years, he will have the confidence to challenge the Sweeping Monk. However, if he can obtain more inheritance from the Xiaoyao Sect and improve his Tianshan Six Yang Palm and Beiming Divine Art, the time can be shortened.

The large number of people and horses would naturally affect the speed. In addition, Qiao Feng was in a bad mood, so Murong Fu took the initiative to propose a fight to relieve his pressure. Both of them were top fighters in the martial arts world, and a simple warm-up would take them a hundred moves or so, which stunned the surrounding onlookers.

They stopped and walked along the way, and it rained heavily halfway. Before they returned to Gusu City, a horseman came galloping towards Murong Fu, bringing some not-so-good news: a master from the Yipintang of Western Xia had attacked Xingzilin, and a master from the Beggar Gang who was present was careless and captured.

Qiao Feng was shocked when he heard this. The Xixia military intelligence intercepted by Elder Xu suddenly flashed through his mind. He couldn't help but say in frustration, "Elder Xu actually never made this information public, and we were caught off guard by those Xixia barbarians?"

The man who came was a clerk from the Murong Trading Company, or what could be called a spy for the Murong family. He whispered everything that had happened, and finally said, "If it hadn't been for the unfortunate rain that forced them to find a place to rest, they would have taken the Beggars' Gang far away. When I arrived, I found out that they were temporarily staying in Tianning Temple. As for their current situation, I don't know."

Murong Fu looked at Qiao Feng, who shook his head and said, "Although I am no longer the leader of the Beggars' Sect, the friendship we have shared over the years cannot be easily destroyed. I will certainly come to your rescue."

After hearing his words, Shan Zheng praised loudly. Murong Fu then asked if there was any news about Deputy Gang Leader Ma, Master Xuanbei and others. The spy just said that there was none for the time being and they had to wait for reports from other brothers. Then they all rode back to Wuxi, but the return journey was much faster without any delay.

The group galloped straight to Tianning Temple. Before they arrived at the temple, a group of people came towards them. The leader was Duan Yu, the prince of Zhennan. Qiao Feng also recognized him. There were two old monks behind him. They were none other than Master Xuanbei and Monk Huangmei.

Duan Yu was overjoyed to see Murong Fu and Qiao Feng. They greeted each other. Ma Dayuan jumped up from the carriage and walked quickly to Qiao Feng. With tears in his eyes, he hugged him. Qiao Feng's shoulders were trembling and he patted his shoulders hard.

Before the two could confide in each other, Murong Fu said, "You've arrived just in time. The Xixia Yipintang used drugs to ambush the Beggars' Sect masters and imprisoned them in Tianning Temple. We were planning to rescue them, and with your help, our chances of success will be much better."

Upon hearing that the top leaders of the Beggar Gang were almost wiped out, Ma Dayuan was shocked and asked the reason. Qiao Feng sighed and pulled him aside to tell him the whole story. When Ma Dayuan heard what his wife had done, he became even more confused. However, after thinking carefully and looking through his memory, he finally found a scene deep in his memory.

His wife had actually read the suicide note of the previous gang leader Wang long ago, and wanted him to use it to ruin the future of the gang leader Qiao Feng. For this, he slapped her for the first time and even threatened her that if this matter was exposed, he would definitely kill her.

Could it be that his wife, Xiao Min, was the real cause of his murder? Was the reason simply that slap he had given her?!

Ma Dayuan suddenly felt unwell. Seeing his downcast expression, Qiao Feng couldn't help but say, "Brother Ma, there's no need to be like this. My background must be ascertained. But there's one thing: whether I'm Han or Khitan, Song or Liao, the feelings we've had over the years will never change. You'll always be my Brother Ma!"

Ma Dayuan shuddered upon hearing this, patted his shoulder vigorously and shouted angrily, "How can you not understand that this bunch of short-sighted people doesn't understand that it wasn't the Beggars' Sect that made Northern Qiao Feng what it is today, but Northern Qiao Feng that made the Beggars' Sect what it is today. Leader, there's nothing more to say. I won't accept the position of leader from anyone but you! If you insist on leaving, then the Beggars' Sect will be leaderless!"

Qiao Feng was very excited. You know, although the deputy leader Ma Dayuan seemed to have great power, it was only internal power. He still needed his approval for external wars. If he left, the first choice for the leader of the Beggars' Sect would be this deputy leader. However, he would rather leave the position of leader vacant and force the top leaders of the Beggars' Sect to invite him back. He needed to remember this friendship.

Ma Dayuan: The leader of the Beggars' Sect is the target of public criticism. The previous leader, Wang, was targeted many times and was even captured by Liao warriors at one point. It was because he was injured in the battles that he could not endure and eventually passed away. When Qiao Feng was in power, he encountered masters from other countries many times. If it were not for his superb martial arts, he would have died long ago. Since I have little ability, it is better not to force my way forward.

Besides, in the absence of a real leader, he, the deputy leader, would be the uncrowned king and the most powerful person in the entire Beggars' Sect. As long as he did not succeed the leader in a legitimate way, the danger would not be so great, and his power would not be small at all. Why not do it?

Alas, I feel unsafe without a strong man protecting me. If I can't trick Qiao Feng into staying, it would be better to find a thug of similar or stronger strength to lead the way.

He looked around and finally set his sights on Murong Fu. However, when he turned around and thought about the status and position of the head of the Murong family, he sighed inwardly and gave up the idea. He was afraid that the other party would not look down on this position.

If it really doesn't work, the worst that can happen is that he can be a wandering deputy leader, only enjoying the rights and conveniences of the deputy leader of the Beggars' Sect, and staying with Qiao Feng to protect himself. Qiao Feng is a well-known master in the entire Central Plains martial arts world, and he must be safe around him.

But before that, he had to try his best to see if he could turn the situation around. Thinking of this, he pulled Qiao Feng to Murong Fu and asked him to help him with advice and accompany Qiao Feng to rescue the Beggars' Sect.

"This won't be difficult. Gang Leader Qiao, Master Xuanbei, and I will go together and attack Tianning Temple head-on. Qiao Feng to the north, Murong to the south, and a Shaolin monk will surely alert them and force them to mobilize their experts. Then, Deputy Gang Leader Ma, the Duan Yu brothers, Master Huangmei, and the old hero Shan will join forces with my uncle and the four professors to secretly infiltrate Tianning Temple from behind and protect the Beggars' Sect. Once the attack is successful, we'll immediately send out an alert, and the rest of the troops will rush out to help them escape."

The plan wasn't particularly brilliant, but it had the highest success rate. Everyone nodded in agreement upon hearing it. Qiao Feng, however, was somewhat concerned about accidentally injuring the Beggars' Sect members, who couldn't use their martial arts. Murong Fu smiled and said, "If we were to fight in an open area, accidental injuries would be inevitable. But since they've been captured and imprisoned indoors, we only need to send experts to guard the doorway to keep them safe. Then, these many second-rate experts will rush in and surely defeat them."

"I have confidence in my men!" After hearing Murong Fu's words, Qiao Feng finally felt relieved.

Murong Fu suddenly said, "I also know something about Sad and Clear Breeze. The antidote is a bunch of things with a very strong odor. Smelling them will cure it. When you rescue the Beggars' Sect, you can search the guards and perhaps find something."