The two of them were eating and drinking when Qiao Feng asked, "Brother, do you not know your high-sounding name?"
"High-sounding name? What are you talking about? I'm just an obscure figure in the martial world, and my name is Yang Xuan," Yang Xuan replied nonchalantly, seemingly unaware of his own reputation in the world of the Condor Heroes.
"What? You're the Dark Scholar," Qiao Feng exclaimed in surprise. The Beggar Clan's disciples were spread far and wide, and Qiao Feng had heard about this matter early on.
Σ(°△°|||)︴ Yang Xuan broke into a cold sweat on his forehead.
"Qiao brother, when did I get this nickname? Are you sure it's me?" Yang Xuan asked helplessly, pointing at himself.
Qiao Feng examined Yang Xuan again and said, "It's definitely you. You wear black scholar's robes, your words always astound, and you never carry any weapons."
"Qiao brother, who gave me this nickname?" Yang Xuan was starting to regret it.
"I don't know for sure. In the martial world, there are always busybodies giving people nicknames," Qiao Feng replied.
"In the martial world, is there anything they say about me? Am I considered a good or bad person? What's the general opinion?" Yang Xuan asked curiously.
Qiao Feng paused for a moment and then chuckled, "In the martial world, there are rumors about the Dark Scholar. You're known for your unconventional actions, and you often demand martial arts secrets from others. However, you always trade fairly. In the battle with the Wuliang Sword Sect, you returned a favor and destroyed the Shennong Cult. In Dali, you obtained the Six Meridians Divine Sword for the price of helping the Tianlong Temple. It is said that your origins are mysterious, and your martial skills are profound and unpredictable. According to the disciples of the Wuliang Sword Sect at the time, you seemed to have descended from the heavens."
Yang Xuan had a bewildered expression on his face. Was this ancient times? How could information spread so quickly?
Yang Xuan awkwardly took a bite of his food and said, "Actually, I can't help it. Some people practically offer themselves up to me, and I have no choice. Besides, I have a weakness; I can't resist when I see secret martial arts manuals."
Just as Qiao Feng was about to say something, a beggar hurriedly ran up the stairs. "Reporting to the Clan Chief, a group of people just came to cause trouble, claiming to be from the Murong family."
Qiao Feng thought for a moment and said, "Very well, this matter needs to be resolved."
"Qiao brother, can I come along? I have some misunderstandings with Murong Fu, and I hope we can resolve them," Yang Xuan lied.
"Sure, let's go together," Qiao Feng agreed.
After settling the bill, Yang Xuan made a special request to the innkeeper to take care of his horse. Then, he followed Qiao Feng to the scene.
From a distance, they could hear a loud, coarse voice, "Our young master Murong personally came to pay respects to your Beggar Clan's Luoyang headquarters. Your Clan Chief shouldn't have left for Jiangnan on his own. By doing so, he's practically given our young master the slip."
Qiao Feng arrived at the gathering point, and the Beggar Clan members immediately knelt down and saluted, saying, "We pay our respects to the Clan Chief."
Yang Xuan couldn't help but feel envious. Being a Clan Chief seemed pretty cool. You had many subordinates to handle various tasks, and everyone showed you respect. After all, Yang Xuan was only 24 years old.
Darn it, why was Duan Yu still around? Wasn't he the son of Duan Yanqing, the son of the heavens? This plot correction ability was truly invincible. Wang Yuyan was here too, and the more Yang Xuan looked at her, the more beautiful she seemed.
In the main world, there were many beautiful girls, but Yang Xuan had seen his fair share of them. Typically, the most beautiful ones were unbearable, the more enduring ones weren't as attractive, and the beautiful ones lacked grace. However, Wang Yuyan was different—she was beautiful, had grace, and was easy on the eyes. Truly unbeatable.
As Yang Xuan was lost in his thoughts, Feng Boe and Bao Bu Dian started arguing with the Beggar Clan members, trying to figure out how Ma Dayuan had died.
Feng Boe and Bao Bu Dian also tried to fight the elders of the Beggar Clan but were obviously defeated. Qiao Feng managed to defuse the situation.
At this moment, Feng Boe saw Yang Xuan, who was dressed uniquely in a black scholar's robe and didn't carry any weapons. Because black and white were both taboo colors in ancient times, it was rare to see someone dressed in black in the martial world.
Feng Boe loudly exclaimed, "You are Yang Xuan, the one who stole our Murong family's martial arts manuals!"
"Not at all. He goes around wearing mourning clothes and commits all sorts of nefarious deeds," Bao Bu Dian chimed in.
Yang Xuan launched a couple of moves from the Shaoze Sword and Shaoshang Sword styles toward the two of them, piercing Bao Bu Dian's hat and putting a hole in Feng Boe's knife. It was clear what the effect would have been if it had struck them directly.
"You two have quite a lot of nerve. If you want to die, just say the word. I hope your martial skills are as impressive as your boasts. Bao Bu Dian, why don't you try saying something about me again, and Feng Boe, feel free to attack me with a move," Yang Xuan said, filing his nails.
Upon hearing Yang Xuan's words, the two men immediately backed down. Yang Xuan was a recent celebrity in the martial world, but his reputation was terrifying due to his ruthless nature. They didn't want to risk provoking him and possibly meeting their end here.
At that moment, Qiao Feng began recounting his friend Murong Fu's experiences, proving that Xuan Bei and Ma Dayuan were not killed by Murong Fu.
When proof was provided, Feng Boe and Bao Bu Dian decided to take the opportunity to leave.
Qiao Feng then spoke to the four senior elders, but suddenly, disciples from the Beggar Clan began to surround them from all sides. The atmosphere grew tense.
"Duan Yu, the four of you, go to the side to avoid any misunderstandings," Yang Xuan said. He wanted to make sure that Zhu Zhan, Ah Bi, and Wang Yuyan were safe. Qiao Feng had displayed such dominance earlier that Zhu Zhan's eyes were practically glowing green. Ah Bi was familiar to Yang Xuan, and as for Wang Yuyan, he couldn't bear to see her get hurt.
Quan Guanqing stepped forward, criticizing Qiao Feng with sarcastic words about the four knives on his body, but he stopped talking when Qiao Feng knocked him out with a finger strike.
Qiao Feng was indeed powerful. Despite his outwardly heroic appearance, he was quite sensitive and able to handle situations efficiently, taking control of the situation.
In the following events, Yang Xuan had seen them countless times, and this was the turning point in Qiao Feng's destiny.
Quan Guanqing incited the four senior elders to imprison the senior elders loyal to Qiao Feng and the leader of the headquarters in an attempt to usurp power.
Once the imprisoned senior elders were rescued, the four senior elders had no way out. However, Qiao Feng still inserted four knives into his body as a gesture to smooth things over.
Yang Xuan was moved to tears as he performed the Four Yang Fingers, stopping Qiao Feng's bleeding.
"Thank you, Yang brother," Qiao Feng said without any formality.
At that moment, Tan Gong, Tan Po, and Shan Zheng arrived. As seniors, Qiao Feng warmly welcomed them.
Tan Po began by mockingly commenting on the four knives on Qiao Feng's body, but he quickly removed them with a palm strike and had Tan Gong use golden medicine to treat Qiao Feng's injuries.
Zhao Qian Sun jumped out and bantered with Tan Gong, Tan Po, and Shan Zheng, lightening the atmosphere.
Being of a childish temperament, Ah Zhu imitated Zhao Qian Sun's tone and spoke some cheesy words, making everyone burst into laughter.
Tan Po had enough of it and was about to slap Ah Zhu. After all, he was a famous expert in the martial world. However, Yang Xuan intervened with a single move of the Shaoshang Sword, creating a hole in the ground in front of Tan Po. "If you have an issue, speak about it. Don't make things difficult for these four people. I'll vouch for them, but if you make a move, you'll die."
Tan Po glared at Yang Xuan, but after observing him for a while, he realized who he was. He hurriedly stopped Tan Gong, whispered a few words in his ear, and then ceased talking to Yang Xuan.
Yang Xuan felt frustrated. Why were people so easily intimidated now? He hadn't absorbed life energy for a long time, and he was getting annoyed.
