Chapter 21: The Counterattack Begins, Setting Sights on Shan Zheng

Chapter 21: The Counterattack Begins, Pointing the Sword at Shan Zheng

Shan Zheng was so fixated on eliminating Qiao Feng that he tore off his mask the moment Zhang Fang showed signs of wanting to mediate. This only served to confirm Zhang Fang's previous suspicions.

However, to Shan Zheng’s cross-examination, Zhang Fang did not provide a direct response. Instead, he shook his head slightly and said, “I have already stated that the only factor that can determine the truth of my words is time, not these messy, tangential questions.”

Shan Zheng’s smile widened. “Are you unable to answer?”

Xue Muhua, standing to the side, frowned and chimed in, “Tanzhi, since Mr. Shan is asking, you should just answer his questions.”

“No problem!”

Since the Divine Physician Xue had spoken, Zhang Fang naturally had to show respect. “My conversation with Qiao Feng was strictly regarding recent major events in the martial arts world; I was merely trying to use the opportunity to gather some intelligence. As for the agreement Brother Shan mentioned, it was that after Qiao Feng asked about the origins of my palm techniques, he offered to teach me the complete ‘Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms,’ commissioning me to return them to the Beggar Sect once matters at Juxian Manor were settled.”

Upon hearing this, the area where the Beggar Sect heroes were gathered erupted in an uproar. Elder Xu, in particular, could not help but ask, “That Qiao Feng... has he already taught you the ‘Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms’?”

“No!”

Zhang Fang spread his hands, his tone filled with helplessness. “Didn’t I just say? We had barely left the town when we ran into my uncle, who had arrived severely wounded. After that, we were busy saving lives; where would we have found the time to teach or learn anything?”

The excuse Zhang Fang fabricated was perfectly sound. The Beggar Sect members could only sigh, lamenting their sect's ill fortune. However, upon learning that Qiao Feng intended to return the “Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms” to the sect, the elders were even less inclined to see Qiao Feng meet his end at this juncture. This was not out of personal selfishness, but to ensure that the sect’s most vital heritage would not be severed by Qiao Feng’s death.

For Zhang Fang, as long as they harbored such thoughts, his goal had been achieved.

After addressing Shan Zheng’s questions, he turned his gaze back to Shan Boshan. “Brother Shan, I have answered your father’s questions. Now, shouldn’t you tell me whether my description of the timeline surrounding the incident matches your investigation results?”

“This…”

Shan Boshan stammered. He wanted to shamelessly claim that Zhang Fang was lying, but such a matter could be easily debunked by a simple inquiry to the innkeeper and his staff. If he did that, their position as father and son would only become more precarious.

After a long hesitation, Shan Boshan could only shake his head. “We did not inquire about those details at the time.”

“You didn’t ask?” Zhang Fang sneered, his tone turning dismissive. “You should know that one of the most important criteria for determining if someone is a criminal is establishing whether they were at the scene of the crime at the time of the incident, or if it was even possible for them to be there.”

“If you didn’t even ask about that, could it be that Senior Shan Zheng sent his sons on a journey of dozens of miles not to uncover the truth, but because he had already decided Qiao Feng was the culprit before even arriving? Was your only goal to find evidence to frame Qiao Feng, or to implicate me in collusion with him, while turning a blind eye to all other clues?”

“I have long heard that the ‘Iron-Faced Judge’ Shan Zheng hates evil with a passion and always intervenes when he encounters injustice in the martial arts world. So, this is how you handle things? You have truly opened my eyes—truly opened my eyes!”

The father-son duo was left speechless by Zhang Fang’s sharp, barbed retort. They were furious, itching to argue back but finding nothing to say, and could only stand there with dark, sullen expressions.

At this moment, Divine Physician Xue’s face darkened slightly. He scolded in a low voice, “Tanzhi, Mr. Shan is a senior in the martial arts world. Do not be disrespectful.”

Zhang Fang knew that Xue was trying to give Shan Zheng a way to save face, so he followed suit and bowed respectfully, giving the man the courtesy he demanded. However, he immediately shifted the conversation. “Actually, there is one more thing I learned during my conversation with Qiao Feng that is quite interesting. Although none of you seniors asked, I feel I must speak. I hope you will forgive me if my words offend any esteemed elders, but this matter concerns the lives of many heroes present here, and I hope you will allow me to finish.”

Hearing this, Elder Xu of the Beggar Sect chuckled and said, “Speak your mind. If anyone tries to stop you, this old bag of bones will be the first to object!”

In truth, ever since Elder Xu learned the source of Zhang Fang’s palm techniques, he had been paying special attention to him. A youth capable of being chosen by the late Sect Leader Wang as a potential successor must surely have his merits. Having already admitted that his own martial arts talent was lacking, the elder figured the boy’s strength must lie in his handling of affairs. If he could observe the boy’s performance, he could judge whether his previous words were true.

The facts proved that Zhang Fang’s performance was indeed extraordinary. Not only did he show no fear before so many senior experts, but every one of his answers was logical and well-founded. He had even silenced the “Iron-Faced Judge” and the Five Tigers of the Shan family in a direct confrontation.

This proved he was indeed qualified to be noticed by the late Sect Leader Wang! More importantly, based on what Zhang Fang had said, he had nearly learned the complete “Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms” from Qiao Feng and was willing to return them to the sect. Even though the process was interrupted by an accident, the Beggar Sect was now on hostile terms with Qiao Feng, and the hope of reclaiming their legacy ultimately rested on this youth. Since he needed the boy’s help, if he didn’t step up to curry favor now, he would have lived his decades in vain.

With Elder Xu having spoken, the stance of the Beggar Sect was clear.

Bolstered by such strong support, Zhang Fang felt more confident. “Before I state my point, I need to verify something with the seniors of the Beggar Sect. I hope you will answer truthfully.”

Elder Xu replied generously, “Ask.”

Zhang Fang did not hold back. “Previously, the Deputy Sect Leader Ma Dayuan was murdered in his home. At the Xingzilin Assembly, was it officially confirmed that Qiao Feng was the murderer? Note that I mean fully confirmed, the kind of final verdict with absolutely no doubt!”

Elder Xu hesitated, exchanged glances with the other elders, and replied after careful consideration, “When Deputy Sect Leader Ma was murdered, Qiao Feng did indeed have suspicions against him. But to say he was definitely the culprit...” He shook his head, his face full of helplessness. “There is currently no ironclad proof to identify who the true killer is.”

Hearing this, Zhang Fang shook his head slightly. “But the information I received was not like that.”

As he spoke, Zhang Fang reached into his robes and produced a letter. “This is a letter Senior Shan Zheng wrote to my father a month ago. In it, the language is absolute, denouncing Qiao Feng’s wolfish ambition and claiming he brutally murdered Deputy Sect Leader Ma to cover up his Khitan heritage.”

“Yesterday, I verified with Uncle Xue that he also received a letter from Senior Shan Zheng with nearly identical content. Both letters expressed the hope that Uncle Xue, my father, and my uncle would step forward to unite the heroes of the world and discuss how to eliminate Qiao Feng.”