Chapter 110: One Month Later! The Letter!

Of course, if he were to use the Liyumai Shenjian¹ to expel the alcohol, that would also work.

But when drinking wine, such measures were unnecessary.

Qiao Feng burst into hearty laughter:

“Mr. Fang, you are far too modest! Among all the friends I have known, your drinking capacity ranks among the very best!”

These words were indeed from Qiao Feng’s heart.

Among the friends of the jianghu he had drunk with, those who could match him in such merriment were but a handful.

Now that he had encountered another, for a man like Qiao Feng—who lived for good wine—his heart was naturally overjoyed!

Finishing his words, he rose and cupped his fists:

“Mr. Fang, I still have trivial matters within my sect that must be attended to, so I cannot remain as company. Though today’s drinking was joyous, it was far from enough! When next we have the fortune to meet, let us drink together once again!”

Hearing this, Fang Han sighed inwardly.

I fear that after this trip of yours, there will never again be such carefree joy…

During their conversation just now, Fang Han had inquired about Qiao Feng’s reason for traveling south.

And indeed, it was as the original course of fate dictated: within the Beggars’ Sect, an esteemed elder of the wulin had been killed by his own unique martial skill.

All rumors pointed to it being the work of “Nan Murong,” the one famed for using others’ techniques against them.

Thus, Qiao Feng had journeyed south to investigate this matter.

By chance, he had run into Fang Han and his companions, who had traveled upriver and arrived in Suzhou.

Fang Han knew the path of Qiao Feng’s destiny.

Next would be Wuxi City’s Xingzilin, where great upheaval would erupt within the Beggars’ Sect, and Qiao Feng’s true heritage would be revealed.

What followed was the death of his foster parents, the death of his teacher, and in his pursuit of the truth, he would discover in horror that the hand behind all of it was none other than his own birth father…

How could the word tragic even begin to describe it?

Fang Han gazed at the towering, heroic man before him, and after a brief moment of hesitation, his good impression compelled him to offer a warning:

“Chief Qiao, this journey will be perilous. Please take care.”

Qiao Feng froze slightly at the words.

He looked at Fang Han, seeing the solemnity on his face, and felt a faint chill stir within him.

This Mr. Fang—I have already come to know him as a calm and steady man.

If there were nothing to fear, he would never have spoken of danger.

Since he has said so, there must be profound meaning behind it!

Could it be… that he truly knows something?

His journey was to investigate matters concerning “Nan Murong.”

If there was peril to be had, then it must lie within this very affair.

But was “Nan Murong” truly so formidable?

To pose such danger?

Qiao Feng’s expression shifted subtly. Yet he was, after all, a straightforward man. He cupped his fists deeply:

“Many thanks to Mr. Fang for the reminder!”

Fang Han merely shook his head:

“No need.”

Qiao Feng saluted once more before leaving with his sect brothers, departing the tavern.

Fang Han’s face grew shadowed as he watched Qiao Feng’s figure recede into the distance, silently and wordlessly.

“You’ve drunk so much wine. Best have some tea.”

Miss Cheng, lost in thought, poured him a cup of tea and handed it over, then asked curiously:

“Big Brother Fang… it seems you know something?”

Fang Han inclined his head lightly:

“I do know a little. That Chief Qiao’s path ahead will be fraught with danger.”

Mu Wanqing and Miss Cheng exchanged a glance, their curiosity only deepening:

“How does Fang-lang know this?”

They had only just set foot in these lands, yet Fang Han already knew of Qiao Feng and the Beggars’ Sect.

The more they pondered, the more incredible it seemed.

The two girls, having spent so much time at Fang Han’s side, had naturally noticed oddities.

Li Qingluo had even though Fang Han possessed supernatural powers.

Though Cheng Lingsu and Mu Wanqing did not go so far, they too were filled with curiosity.

Fang Han chuckled but did not elaborate.

Such matters could not be explained clearly—too much like fantasy.

He could hardly say, I read it from a book, could I?

Though he could easily invent an explanation, Cheng Lingsu and Mu Wanqing were women who filled his heart with sincerity. He was unwilling to deceive them, even in small matters like this.

So, he said no more.

Fortunately, both girls were not the sort to press endlessly. Seeing he did not speak, they did not inquire further.

By then, their meal had been long finished.

Though Fang Han had suppressed the alcohol with his internal strength, a trace of drunkenness still lingered.

After paying the bill, the three sought out a nearby inn to rest.

Traveling all the way by boat had not afforded them proper rest.

The next morning, they retrieved their horses and continued on toward Leigushan.

One month later, Qiao Feng returned to Suzhou once again, seeking out that same tavern.

By now, his face bore marks of hardship, and between his brows lay a clouded heaviness.

For at Xingzilin in Wuxi, he had endured earth-shaking upheaval!

He, who had always regarded himself as a man of the Song, leading the Beggars’ Sect to fight against the Khitan and Jurchen, killing countless foes—

never would he have imagined that he himself was of Khitan blood!

If it had merely been slander by villains, it could have been dismissed.

But men of high renown within the jianghu, even venerable elders of the sect, had all spoken with one voice.

Even the relic left behind by his master Wang Jiantong clearly recorded the secret of his lineage.

The words therein declared outright: should he show even the slightest inclination to submit to Liao, the entire sect, without hesitation, must unite—openly and in secret—to strike him down…

Even one such as Qiao Feng, tempered by storms beyond counting, could not help but feel utterly lost.

In the haze of despair, he suddenly recalled the subtle warning from that Mr. Fang:

This journey will be perilous.

At the time, he had thought it merely concerned Murong.

But only now, looking back, did he realize with shock:

That Mr. Fang… perhaps he knew the truth all along!

🍃

His thoughts thus turning, he returned to Suzhou, to the very place where they had shared wine and meat.

There, he inquired with the tavern keeper.

A man like him, bold and striking, was impossible to forget!

Especially with his overflowing heroism and thousand-cup-intoxication-proof drinking that day.

At once, the waiter recognized him, exclaiming:

“Oh my! I remember you, sir! A month ago, you came here and drank with a certain honored guest!”

Qiao Feng’s heart jolted, a wave of excitement flashing across his face.

“Yes! Do you know where that gentleman went?”

Truthfully, he had come without much hope.

After all, a full month had passed.

Mr. Fang had surely long since departed.

But when he saw the waiter’s expression turn slightly unusual, a spark of hope kindled within him.

The waiter drew from his bosom a slightly wrinkled letter and handed it over:

“That esteemed guest left not long after you. Before leaving, he borrowed a pen and paper to write this letter. He said that if you returned seeking him, I was to give this to you.”

Overjoyed, Qiao Feng seized it at once and opened it.

Though there were not many words upon it, after a brief look, his whole body shuddered violently.

His expression changed drastically.

Thanking the waiter, he left in haste!

🍃🍃🍃

Footnotes

1. 1. 1. 1. Liumai Shenjian (六脉神剑)– “Six Meridians Divine Sword,” the Duan family’s supreme internal energy technique, projecting invisible sword-qi from the fingers.

1. 1. 1. 1. Nan Murong (南慕容)– “Murong of the South,” a title for Murong Fu, famed for the skill of using others’ techniques against them.

1. 1. 1. 1. Jianghu (江湖)– Literally “rivers and lakes,” the martial underworld of wandering heroes, sects, and vendettas.

1. 1. 1. 1. Wulin (武林)– “Martial Forest,” the community of martial artists and sects.

1. 1. 1. 1. Leigushan (擂鼓山)– “Drum-Beating Mountain,” a location within the story.

1. 1. 1. 1. Xingzilin (杏子林)– “Apricot Grove,” in Wuxi, where the Beggars’ Sect assembly and great upheaval take place.