Chapter 15: Continuing to Deceive

Chapter 15: Then the Persuasion

Zhang Fang did not rush to answer Qiao Feng’s question. Instead, he leisurely stretched and glanced out the nearby window, just in time to see two children gathered around a vendor’s stall selling sweets, while their father, with a mixture of helplessness and affection, took a few copper coins from his pocket to pay.

Witnessing this warm, human moment, a faint smile tugged at Zhang Fang’s lips. He then turned back and looked at Qiao Feng again, asking, “Hero Qiao, surely you don’t think that all the martial artists gathered here at the Gathering of Heroes came solely for you, do you?”

“Isn’t that the case?”

“Of course not!” Zhang Fang corrected earnestly. “At least seventy percent of the heroes here came out of respect for Divine Doctor Xue. For them, whether you are Han or Khitan, good or bad, matters little. But at this gathering, having the chance to meet and befriend Divine Doctor Xue is very important to them…”

Zhang Fang briefly explained the interests of the majority attending the heroes’ gathering, then added, “These people have no desire to fight you to the death; they just need an excuse. And the fire I started conveniently gave them that excuse. Compared to battling a peerless expert like you, joining the firefighting effort is far safer.”

He paused slightly before continuing, “Besides, firefighting is a noble and righteous cause, and afterward, no one can say they did wrong by helping.”

Hearing Zhang Fang’s reasonable analysis, Qiao Feng finally believed that his arson was motivated purely by goodwill. Reflecting on his earlier misunderstandings and ridicule, a sense of guilt arose within him.

[Qiao Feng’s favorability toward you has been activated. Current favorability: 20 points (Acquaintances).]

Upon hearing the system notification of increased favorability, Zhang Fang smiled faintly and continued on his own: “Aside from those seventy percent, another twenty percent of heroes are here for fame. Seeing the two eminent Shaolin monks, Xuan Nan and Xuan Ji, attending this gathering, they also came. Roughly speaking, that grants them a comparable status in the martial world.”

“They wouldn’t miss such a chance to show their face. They might even fight you if the odds favor them. But…”

Zhang Fang’s lips twitched at the corner: “Most of that seventy percent have already rushed to fight the fire, so the odds for these fame seekers suddenly shrink. They naturally don’t want to die at your hands and have no choice but to join the firefighting.”

“With these two groups at the fire, nine out of ten heroes are occupied. The remaining ten percent have no chance against you and must fall silent.”

Zhang Fang fixed his calm gaze on Qiao Feng: “Given your noble character, even in urgent rescue, you wouldn’t stoop to exploiting the chaos for personal gain.”

“Thus, although my fire cannot completely avert this battle, it can at least delay it by a day or two. This buffer provides a chance to resolve the problem.”

He shrugged. “That’s the whole motivation behind my arson.”

Zhang Fang’s sincerity and meticulous reasoning impressed Qiao Feng, who began to look at him with newfound respect. Yet one thing puzzled him, so he asked, “I don’t recall ever having met you before, yet you seem to know a lot about me.”

Here it came!

Zhang Fang knew the other plot he had planted was about to bear fruit. He turned his gaze toward the horizon outside the window, as if lost in a memory: “An elder once told me more than once about you. He said you not only possess extraordinary martial talent but also a chivalrous heart and great capability—a pillar of the martial world seldom seen in a century.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Feng immediately guessed and anxiously asked, “That elder also taught you the ‘Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms,’ didn’t he?”

Zhang Fang’s expression darkened slightly as he withdrew his gaze. “That elder thought I was too slow. After practicing a single palm technique for half a month without progress, he forbade me from mentioning him or revealing that he taught me martial arts.”

“Hero Qiao, you are magnanimous. Surely you would not want me to become a man of broken promises?”

Though Zhang Fang avoided naming the elder directly, Qiao Feng’s suspicions were confirmed.

Who else in the world both masters the ‘Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms’ and knows Qiao Feng so intimately?

No one but his revered master and former Beggar Sect leader, Wang Jiantong.

Qiao Feng had already reasoned why Wang Jiantong passed on the “You Tanzhi” palm technique. Due to Qiao Feng’s mysterious origins, Wang Jiantong valued him but remained uneasy. During an outing, he encountered the cunning “You Tanzhi.” After some interaction, he grew to trust him and decided to teach him the ‘Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms’ as a backup for Qiao Feng, in case of unforeseen circumstances that might sever the Beggar Sect’s lineage.

Unfortunately, while “You Tanzhi’s” personality, thinking, and abilities were all exceptional, his martial talent was disappointing.

Thus, after teaching him only one palm technique, Wang Jiantong abandoned his original plan, ceased further instruction, and forbade him from revealing the matter.

In this way, with Qiao Feng’s mental deduction, Zhang Fang not only avoided the hassle of explaining the technique’s origin but also deepened their relationship.

Had Qiao Feng been narrow-minded, he might have resented Zhang Fang’s potential as his substitute.

But he was not.

Upon understanding Zhang Fang’s true identity, Qiao Feng’s gaze toward him grew warmer than before.

So this youth was my long-lost junior apprentice brother!

[Qiao Feng’s favorability toward you increases to 30 points (Friendly Acquaintance).]

After Zhang Fang’s eloquent persuasion, Qiao Feng’s favorability toward him soared from an initial negative ten to a positive thirty. Feeling a strong connection, he led Zhang Fang downstairs to the inn, ordered food and wine, and engaged in lively conversation.

During this, Zhang Fang declined to drink, citing the need to think about resolving their conflict. Qiao Feng didn’t mind and drank alone, continuing their spirited discussion.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Fang’s deft words, built on his understanding of the original story and Qiao Feng’s character, gently probed sensitive spots with seemingly casual remarks. Soon, Qiao Feng’s favorability climbed to 40 points. Yet this appeared to be the limit of Zhang Fang’s verbal charm—no matter how hard he tried, he could not raise it further.

Though unexpected, this outcome was reasonable. Like in real life, one can grow fond of someone through pleasant conversation, but winning someone’s full trust with mere words is difficult.

Seeing favorability maxed out, Zhang Fang did not fret over the small loss. Instead, he decisively changed the subject, asking about the details of the Beggar Sect gathering in Apricot Grove and Qiao Feng’s movements afterward.

With 40 points of favorability as a foundation, Qiao Feng, now in high spirits, answered everything candidly. He recounted his experiences from the Apricot Grove gathering to seeking medical aid at the Gathering of Heroes, omitting only the part about disguising with A’Zhu to enter Shaolin, but otherwise providing detailed accounts.

Overall, Qiao Feng’s experiences matched the original narrative closely, without the obvious deviations seen within the Gathering of Heroes.

After listening, Zhang Fang remained silent, frowning deeply in thought. His right index finger tapped rhythmically on the table—an unconscious, meaningless gesture.

Noticing this, Qiao Feng, who had just taken a big sip of wine, asked with curiosity, “Brother You, what’s on your mind?”

As Qiao Feng’s favorability rose, calling Zhang Fang “Brother You” felt increasingly natural.

“There’s a problem! A big problem!” Zhang Fang finally ceased tapping and met Qiao Feng’s eyes. “According to what you said, at the Apricot Grove gathering, the suspicion that you killed Deputy Chief Ma cannot be entirely cleared, but at least it cannot be proven.”

“Yet among those attending the Gathering of Heroes here, your killing of Deputy Chief Ma has become an established fact, with no one raising any doubt.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Feng’s expression darkened. “Brother You thinks I’m lying.”

“I feel someone is meddling behind the scenes!” Zhang Fang calmly summoned the Eternal Life Sacred Qi to his eyes, making them gleam with sharp intelligence. “I sense an invisible hand orchestrating this Gathering of Heroes.”

“This is definitely a conspiracy—a conspiracy against you!”

Qiao Feng’s heart tightened. “Brother You, do you think the mastermind behind this might be the same person who killed my foster parents and my master, the Venerable Master Xuan Ku?”

That was a grave question, potentially involving a formidable enemy Qiao Feng was not ready to face.

Zhang Fang dared not climb that vine. He quickly shook his head. “It’s too early to link the two. But I believe that once we uncover the mastermind behind this gathering, we may have a chance to dissolve tomorrow’s martial world chaos before it begins!”

(End of chapter)