FVN Chapter 30 All Past Grudges Resolved
Chapter 30 All Past Grudges Resolved
Qiu Qianren waved his hand, and dozens of burly men in black behind him stepped forward and opened the chests they had brought. As the lids were lifted, the glittering jewels shone brightly in the moonlight, dazzling the eyes.
Each person held a tray in their hands, bowed, and walked up to Huang Rong. The trays were glittering with gold, silver, jewels, jade, and agate, all of which were priceless.
The beggars, who had been filled with rage, were now utterly astonished upon seeing such a vast amount of treasure. Having roamed the martial world for years, they had never witnessed anything like it.
For a moment, the only sound on the high platform was the night breeze.
Even Huang Rong, with her vast experience and knowledge, having grown up on Peach Blossom Island and seen countless treasures, was still dazzled by the glittering jewels before her. She composed herself, a smile playing on her lips, but remained silent.
Qiu Qianren took in everyone's reactions, a hint of smugness flashing across his lips. He said calmly, "Although the Iron Palm Clan has some resources, they can't afford such a generous gift. This gift was entrusted to me by Prince Zhao of the Great Jin Kingdom."
Upon hearing this, the beggars' expressions all changed.
Previously, Ouyang Ke and Huang Rong had both identified Yang Kang as the young prince of the Jin Kingdom, leaving some doubts in everyone's minds. Now that Qiu Qianren had personally confirmed it, it was tantamount to sealing the deal.
Not long ago, they actually honored such a person as their leader, almost handing over the Beggars' Sect's thousand-year-old foundation to someone else. They were shocked, angry, and ashamed.
When Yang Kang heard Qiu Qianren mention his father, a hint of pride involuntarily surfaced on his face, and he puffed out his chest. But as soon as he felt the disdainful gazes from all around, that pride froze on his face, turning into embarrassment and resentment.
Qiu Qianren, seemingly oblivious, continued, "Prince Zhao admires the exceptional skills of your gang's heroes and has specially ordered me to personally present gifts and establish a relationship. The north is bitterly cold, barren, and impoverished, making it difficult for your steeds to roam freely. Prince Zhao cannot bear to see your gang's disciples suffer in the north, while the south and Hubei are warmer and more prosperous. Why don't your brothers head south to rest? That would be far better than staying in the bitter cold north."
His words revealed his true intentions: a blatant attempt to bribe with gold and silver, and to lure people with promises of wealth and status.
Wanyan Honglie was a shrewd and calculating man who had long prepared two plans. If Yang Kang could successfully take over the Beggars' Sect, then the two sects would join forces to help the Jurchens march south and destroy the Song Dynasty; if this plan failed, he would bribe him with gold and silver. He had been an envoy to the Southern Song Dynasty many times and had seen many greedy and lustful officials, and he thought that even the heroes of the world could not escape the word "profit".
Huang Rong and Guo Jing exchanged a glance, both seeing determination in each other's eyes.
She smiled slightly, her voice clear and melodious: "I appreciate Chief Qiu's kindness. However, while the gold and silver are fine, they are not for us."
Qiu Qianren raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled: "Oh? Why is that?"
In his view, the Song Dynasty court was utterly corrupt, with the emperor and his ministers indulging in wine and women, completely neglecting their duty to launch a northern expedition to recover lost territories. Back then, the Iron Palm Clan was wholeheartedly committed to resisting the Jin Dynasty, but instead of rewarding them, the court sent troops to suppress them, leading to the death of their leader, Shangguan Jiannan, filled with resentment. Why should such a court expect these people to be loyal to it?
Huang Rong said solemnly, "As Han Chinese, how can we submit to the Jurchens? Besides, my master is known throughout the land as the 'Northern Beggar.' The foundation in the north is the result of the hard work of successive leaders of the Clan; how can we easily abandon it?"
Qiu Qianren's expression darkened slightly, and his tone turned cold: "So, the Beggars' Sect is rejecting the goodwill of this old man and Prince Zhao?"
Guo Jing suddenly stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Elder Chief Qiu, there is something I don't understand. May I ask for your guidance?"
Qiu Qianren's gaze fell on the young man. He noticed his thick eyebrows, large eyes, and honest expression, yet he possessed an aura of righteous indignation, which secretly impressed him. He said calmly, "You speak."
Guo Jing said, "The Iron Palm Clan has been renowned in the Southwest for many years, and is a famous clan throughout the land. Its leaders have always been chivalrous and righteous, eliminating evil for the people. I have heard that your clan's previous leader, Elder Shangguan, was devoted to resisting the Jin and was deeply respected in the martial world. Why then does Elder Qiu choose to side with the Jin today?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qianren's expression changed slightly.
He paused for a moment, then said coldly, "Those who understand the times are heroes. The Southern Song court is incompetent and tyrannical, persecuting loyal officials. Back then, Marshal Yue Fei was determined to be punished, but ended up with a fabricated result. Why should we risk our lives for such a court?"
His master, Shangguan Jiannan, was originally a general under Han Shizhong. Dissatisfied with the corrupt officials in power, he joined the Iron Palm Clan. After reorganizing the clan, he made it grow to be as famous as the Beggars' Clan.
Later, Shangguan Jiannan convened a gathering of heroes at Iron Palm Mountain to plan a northern expedition. However, the imperial court, merely fearing the Jin dynasty, not only failed to reward the Iron Palm Clan but also sent troops to suppress them. The Iron Palm Clan, outnumbered and outmatched, eventually lost their stronghold. Shangguan Jiannan was severely wounded and died on Iron Palm Peak.
From then on, the Iron Palm Clan lost all respect for the Southern Song Dynasty.
However, Huang Rong and the others were naturally unaware of this matter.
His words were powerful and resounding.
Upon hearing this, the beggars were speechless for a moment.
Yue Fei died unjustly at Fengbo Pavilion, Han Shizhong was stripped of his military power, and so many loyal ministers and generals met tragic ends. Who in the martial world doesn't know these things? The actions of the imperial court have indeed chilled the hearts of heroes across the land.
Guo Jing shook his head, his expression sincere: "Elder Qiu, the court is corrupt and incompetent, and I have nothing to say. But what is the purpose of us martial artists? If it is only for wealth and glory, how are we any different from those corrupt officials? Although I am not talented, I do know one principle: we were born on Han soil, how can we help the wicked and harm our own compatriots?"
He paused, his gaze fixed on Qiu Qianren, and said, word by word, "The Jurchens have occupied our land and slaughtered our people; this hatred is irreconcilable. We practice martial arts to protect our homes and country, to safeguard the common people. If we were to surrender to a foreign race for temporary gain, how would we be any different from beasts?"
These words were resounding and righteous.
Upon hearing this, the beggars were all filled with awe. Although they had just acknowledged Huang Rong as their leader, they hadn't taken this simple-minded young man seriously. Now, after hearing his words, they realized that this man possessed profound wisdom and extraordinary bearing.
Ouyang Ke stood aside, his eyes filled with admiration.
In his previous life, he had only read novels about Guo Jing and knew him as honest and simple. Now, hearing him speak out and defend himself, he finally understood why this man could become a great hero. Such integrity and sense of responsibility are truly admirable.
Huang Rong, her eyes filled with tenderness, gazed at Guo Jing, her heart brimming with pride. She clapped her hands in praise, "Brother Jing is right!"
Qiu Qianren's face darkened, and he was speechless for a moment.
He had been famous for decades, a figure of great influence in the martial arts world, and had never been refuted like this before. Yet, every word the young man spoke made sense, leaving him speechless. Enraged and humiliated, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he slightly raised his palms.
Just then, he glanced at Ouyang Ke beside him and saw that the man in white was looking at him quietly with clear eyes.
Their eyes met, and Qiu Qianren felt a chill run down his spine. He slowly lowered his raised hands.
He looked around and saw that the beggars had surrounded the platform. Although they hadn't made a move, they all gripped their weapons tightly and glared angrily.
Guo Jing and Huang Rong stood side by side, one honest and resolute, the other clever and quick-witted, both rare talents.
Add Ouyang Ke to the mix. If a fight really breaks out, he is confident he can kill three people, but he may not be able to kill all the beggars.
With Beggar Clan disciples all over the world, once this matter spreads, Qiu Qianren will inevitably offend the three great masters—Eastern Heretic, Northern Beggar, and Western Poison—at the same time.
It should be noted that even if Wang Chongyang were to be resurrected, he would still have to give way to these three people working together.
Over the years, he has secluded himself to diligently cultivate his martial arts, but he knows that his skills are far from sufficient to deal with the combined attack of the three.
After weighing his options carefully, he finally suppressed his murderous intent and said coldly with a gloomy face, "Fine, since that's the case, I won't force you."
He turned to Qiu Qianchi and Yang Kang, and said in a deep voice, "Sister Lian, Young Prince, let's go!"
Now that things had come to this, he no longer needed to conceal Yang Kang's identity and directly addressed him as "Little Prince." Upon hearing this, the beggars looked at Yang Kang with eyes full of disgust and contempt.
Yang Kang was already restless and only wanted to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible. Hearing this, he felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly replied, "Thank you for your trouble, Chief Qiu!"
As Qiu Qianchi walked through the crowd, her gaze deliberately fell on Ouyang Ke, and she coldly snorted, "Next time, I'll experience your martial arts again!"
Ouyang Ke bowed slightly but did not reply.
Seeing Yang Kang and his group about to leave, some of the beggars were itching to stop them. But Qiu Qianren's imposing presence remained; with such martial arts, who would dare to stand against him? They instinctively looked at Huang Rong, waiting for her command.
Huang Rong's eyes flickered slightly, and she was about to speak when Guo Jing gently grasped her hand.
Their eyes met, and Huang Rong saw a hint of reluctance in his eyes, realizing that her beloved Jing was still thinking of their past relationship.
But she couldn't help but soften her heart, sighed softly, and ultimately didn't say anything to stop him.
In fact, she also understood that Qiu Qianren's martial arts skills were too high, and if she forced a fight, the Beggars' Clan would inevitably suffer heavy casualties tonight.
Her master entrusted her with the position of gang leader; how could she let her brothers die in vain because of her own personal resentment?
Yang Kang lowered his head, quickly crossed the platform, and came to Qiu Qianren's side. The group turned and walked down the mountain, and the beggars simply watched them go without stopping them.
Qiu Qianren took a few steps, then suddenly stopped and looked back at Ouyang Ke.
Under the moonlight, the man in white leaned on a cane under his arm, exuding an elegant demeanor, his gaze calm as still water.
Qiu Qianren slowly said, "Young Master Ouyang, although you are young, your martial arts skills are beyond what I have seen in many years. Next year at the Mount Hua Sword Tournament, I will definitely want to personally experience Brother Ouyang's superior skills."
Ouyang Ke smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "This junior will certainly convey Elder Qiu's words."
"good!"
Qiu Qianren dropped the word, turned around, and strode away.
The group walked further and further away, the torchlight gradually disappearing at the end of the mountain path. Watching the departing figures, the tension in the beggars' hearts finally eased, and many of them let out a long sigh of relief.
Guo Jing turned around and solemnly clasped his hands in thanks to Ouyang Ke: "Thank you for your help, Brother Ouyang. Otherwise, Rong'er and I would have been in real danger."
Ouyang Ke's lips twitched slightly, about to reply, when suddenly his face turned deathly pale, his body swayed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood!
"Brother Ouyang!"
Guo Jing was shocked and reached out to help him up.
Ouyang Ke waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to come closer. He slowly sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his internal energy. The Nine Yang Divine Skill was running on its own. A faint white mist swirled around him, and his clothes fluttered without wind, clearly indicating that he was focusing on healing his injuries.
It turns out that when he and Qiu Qianren clashed with that palm strike just now, it seemed to be evenly matched, and he even gained a slight advantage with his "Great Subduing Demon Fist," forcing Qiu Qianren to take a step back.
But in reality, Qiu Qianren's Iron Palm skill was extremely profound, and that sinister palm force had already penetrated into his body.
Knowing full well that a formidable enemy was nearby, he had been holding on tightly, refusing to reveal the slightest weakness. But now that Qiu Qianren had left, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, and his injuries could no longer be suppressed.
Guo Jing reached out to Ouyang Ke's shoulder, intending to help him with his internal energy, but was gently repelled by the spontaneously circulating true energy within Ouyang Ke's body. Guo Jing was taken aback, then immediately understood.
Ouyang Ke's internal energy cultivation is extremely profound, and he is currently healing himself. It would be more harmful than beneficial for outsiders to interfere.
He withdrew his hand and said softly, "Brother Ouyang has profound internal strength; he should be fine."
Huang Rong looked at Ouyang Ke's pale face, then at the shocking pool of blood on the ground, a complex look flashing in her eyes. She recalled how Ouyang Ke had saved her earlier, and then she remembered how he had helped her brother Jing in Niujia Village.
She suddenly asked, "Brother Jing, how badly is he injured?"
Guo Jing shook his head: "Brother Ouyang's internal energy cultivation is extremely exquisite, far surpassing mine. He is currently healing himself, so let's not disturb him."
Huang Rong was silent for a moment, then said softly, "It seems he has indeed changed."
The firebird perched on Ouyang Ke's shoulder, let out a soft "coo," and nuzzled his cheek with its head. Its human-like behavior seemed to offer silent comfort.
Li Sheng and his nephew Yu Zhaoxing stood not far away, watching Ouyang Ke sitting cross-legged to heal his injuries, and couldn't help but whisper, "Hero Guo, Chief Huang, this man is truly..."
Huang Rong glanced at them and said seriously, "That's right, he really is Ouyang Ke, but the Ouyang Ke of the past is no more."
Her gaze fell on Ouyang Ke's broken legs, which she had caused, and a sudden, indescribable sense of guilt welled up within her. Back on Mingxia Island, she had tricked him into breaking his legs; though it was in self-defense, it was still… She shook her head, unwilling to think about it any further.
Suddenly, she remembered something.
Back in Guiyun Manor, Father had taught Senior Brother Lu Chengfeng a set of "Whirlwind Sweeping Leaves Leg Techniques," saying it could heal leg injuries. While that technique couldn't regenerate broken bones, it could strengthen muscles and bones and improve blood circulation. If…
As she was thinking, she suddenly saw Ouyang Ke open his eyes.
Their eyes met, and Huang Rong, surprisingly, took the initiative to speak: "You're awake?"
Ouyang Ke was slightly taken aback, then nodded. His face was still a little pale, but much better than before.
Huang Rong took out a porcelain bottle from her bosom and handed it over in a seemingly indifferent manner: "This is the Nine-Flower Jade Dew Pill, which will be beneficial to your healing."
Ouyang Ke stared at the porcelain bottle, his gaze momentarily pausing. He took the bottle, uncorked it, and a delicate fragrance wafted out. He poured out a vermilion pill, swallowed it without hesitation, and then closed his eyes again to circulate his internal energy.
The medicine, combined with the healing effects of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, proved to be twice as effective with half the effort. In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, his complexion had recovered to about 80-90%.
Seeing that he was getting better, the firebird chirped incessantly, its little eyes fixed on the porcelain bottle, clearly begging for it.
Seeing its greedy look, Huang Rong couldn't help but smile slightly, and took out another Nine-Flower Jade Dew Pill, handing it to the firebird. The firebird swallowed it in one gulp, chirping happily and jumping around on Ouyang Ke's shoulder, thoroughly enjoying itself.
Seeing this amusing scene, Guo Jing and Huang Rong couldn't help but smile at each other.
The night breeze blew across Xuanyuan Terrace, and the moonlight shone on the three of them, creating a rare sense of peace.