Murong Bo realized he had become an utter laughingstock.
He had dedicated his entire life to stirring up strife between the martial world and the rival kingdoms, only to discover in the end that he was not even a descendant of the Murong family.
Now, watching the unstoppable momentum of the realm being united—which negated every effort he had ever made—the single taut nerve holding his mind together snapped instantly.
"I am Murong Bo, my son is Murong Fu, my son is the emperor..."
Repeating these words over and over, as if hypnotizing himself, he leaped madly down from the arena stage and charged straight toward Qin Zheng.
"Kill you! Once you're dead, my son can become emperor!!"
Before the soldiers could react, Qiao Feng unleashed Proud Dragon Repents. A domineering blast of palm force whistled through the air toward Murong Bo.
With a resounding crash, Murong Bo was sent flying backward onto the arena stage, his ribs fracturing with loud cracks as a mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.
Immediately following, Xiao Yuanshan recovered from his shock and shouted furiously, "His life is mine—no one take him from me! Murong, you old scoundrel, meet your death!"
The moment the words left his mouth, he raised his palm and brought it crashing down onto Murong Bo's forehead.
With a sharp crack, Murong Bo's skull fractured. After a couple of twitches, he moved no more.
Xiao Yuanshan paid no further attention to the corpse. Turning his bloodshot eyes toward Xuanci, he demanded in a loud voice, "Xuanci, where on earth did you send my son?!"
Xuanci smiled bitterly. "Qiao Feng is your son. I placed him into the hands of Qiao Sanhuai and his wife myself. I never expected things would turn out like this..."
With that, he looked toward Qiao Sanhuai and his wife below the stage.
Qiao Sanhuai sighed and said to Qiao Feng, "Feng'er, you truly aren't of our flesh and blood, but whether you are Xiao Yuanshan's child, even I cannot say for certain."
Qiao Feng turned to Qin Zheng. "Second Uncle, when you gave me that tattoo back then, was it to conceal that I am a Khitan?"
Qin Zheng admitted it openly: "Indeed. Back then, I gave you that tattoo to cover up the wolf's head on your chest, lest someone seize upon it to strip you of your position as sect chief.
"Now that the world is united, there's no need to hide it from you any longer. Gradually, I will distribute land to the Beggar Gang's disciples and settle them properly. For now, continue overseeing the Beggar Gang and make sure none of the ill-intentioned disciples take advantage of the chaos to commit evil."
Qiao Feng smiled wryly. "No wonder... Back then I thought the tattoo on my chest looked like a wolf's head, but you insisted it was a cat's head and made it into that bizarre shape... So, Xiao Yuanshan really is my father?"
Qin Zheng nodded. "Indeed."
Xiao Yuanshan was overjoyed. "I've found my son! I've finally found my son!"
Leaping down from the stage, he grabbed Qiao Feng by the shoulders. "Son, I'm your father! I'm your father!"
Qiao Feng barely restrained the urge to strike him, saying with utter helplessness, "Don't get so worked up just yet. Let me process this, or it'll feel like you're cursing at me..."
At a loss, Xiao Yuanshan released his grip and hurriedly nodded. "Take your time getting used to it. It's all too sudden—take your time and catch your breath!"
With that, he turned back toward Xuanci and laughed aloud.
"Xuanci, I've found my son! All for the Murong family's grand cause of restoring their kingdom, you schemed and plotted your entire life, only to end up utterly alone! Truly, Heaven has eyes!"
Xuanci wore a look of sorrowful dejection. "This poor monk truly is not of the Murong family, nor have I schemed against anyone..."
Looking toward Qin Zheng, he asked, "Benefactor Qin, could you permit this poor monk to see Murong Longcheng's testament? I wish to understand what truly happened."
Qin Zheng blinked, putting on an earnest expression. "I'm afraid that letter can't be shown to you. The last time Duke Shun of Liao went down to the lake to bathe, he accidentally drowned. I dove into the water to save him, but not only did I fail to rescue him, I also accidentally ruined the letter, soaking it into pulp."
"What?"
Xuanci stood dumbfounded. "Soaked into pulp? How could it be soaked into pulp..."
Xiao Yuanshan looked at the dazed, bewildered Xuanci, his eyes turning cold and stern. "Xuanci, today I will avenge my wife and clansmen who died wrongfully! Prepare to die!"
Using his arm as a cudgel, he unleashed King of Qin Whips the Stone, smashing it toward Xuanci's neck.
With a crisp snap, Xiao Yuanshan's arm violently broke his neck. Seeing that Xuanci had neither dodged nor parried, Xiao Yuanshan pulled back his arm, frowning. "Why didn't you dodge?"
Blood trickled from the corners of Xuanci's lips as he smiled bitterly. "I committed wrongdoing in the first place, so naturally I must bear the karmic consequences. Evading it for so many years only bred countless inner demons within me. I do not wish to run away any longer.
"Besides, vast though Heaven and Earth may be, there is no longer any place for me. Let the enmity between us end here."
Having said this, he looked down at the crowd below the stage with deep sorrow. "Benefactor Qiao Feng, this poor monk has wronged you. Back then, preyed upon by my inner demons, I influenced Chief Wang not to pass the leadership to you. I am truly sorry.
"Erniang, I know you... Alas, I have wronged you."
With that, he sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and breathed his last.
With his great vengeance finally avenged, the stifling gloom in Xiao Yuanshan's chest dissipated entirely. Reflecting upon his life, he could not help but feel a lingering sense of melancholy.
After some time had passed, the people of the martial world gathered on Leigu Mountain began to disperse one after another. Xiao Yuanshan walked up to Qiao Feng, his expression forlorn. "Feng'er."
Having braced himself mentally, Qiao Feng called out, "Father!"
Xiao Yuanshan showed a smile. "You are a fine man, Feng'er. Go follow Qin Zheng and build great deeds; you don't need to concern yourself with me. I've been away from my homeland for too long, and I want to go back and see it for myself."
Qin Zheng's eyes lit up. "If you have spare time, you can head northeast. With your level of internal energy, if you put it into clearing wasteland, you could plow at least ten mu of land a day!"
Xiao Yuanshan choked on his words, glaring. "You're trying to work me like an ox!"
With a grunt, he strode off into the night.
By this time, Ye Erniang and Xuzhu had collected Xuanci's body and dug a grave to bury him.
When it came time to erect a tombstone, Xuzhu scratched his head and asked, "Mother, what should be written on the stone?"
Ye Erniang hesitated for a moment. "I don't know his secular name either. Just write Murong Xuanci."
Xuzhu inscribed the characters "Tomb of Murong Xuanci," and beneath them, added a line in smaller script: "Erected by his dutiful son, Xuzhu!"
Ye Erniang shuddered. "Xuzhu, you..."
Xuzhu pressed his palms together. "Though I am dull-witted by nature, I have studied the Dharma with Benefactor Qin for so long that my mind has opened. Even if I could not grasp it then, I understand the reason now.
"Mother, you did not let me acknowledge my father out of fear that his enemies would seek vengeance upon me. And Prince Duan acknowledged me out of the kindness of his heart.
"Yet I am a monk. Knowing the truth in my heart while pretending ignorance is using deceit to conceal sin, violating a fundamental precept."
With mixed emotions, Ye Erniang said, "Good child, seeing you like this, your mother can depart in peace. Bury me beside your father. I want to keep him company."
With that, the Heart-Devouring Gu flared up inside Ye Erniang. Turning deathly pale, she collapsed before Xuzhu.
Xuzhu closed his eyes and began chanting sutras to guide her soul, then dug another pit and buried her beside Xuanci's grave.
When Xuzhu stood up and turned around, he found that Qin Zheng was standing behind him at some point. Qin Zheng glanced at him and asked, "Where do you plan to go from here?"
Xuzhu pressed his palms together. "This humble monk wishes to continue tempering myself in the secular world, advancing my understanding of the Dharma while helping others."
Qin Zheng nodded. "That path won't be an easy one. If you ever grow weary, go settle at Chengtian Temple in Huangzhou. By now, probably no one there will disturb anyone's peace in the middle of the night."
Inside a courtyard where officials were temporarily detained, Su Shi suddenly sneezed violently. Rubbing his nose, he shook Zhang Huaimin awake beside him: "Brother Huaimin, are you asleep?"
Zhang Huaimin glared at him, rolled over, and snapped, "Asleep!"
Su Shi paused, baffled. "You can talk in your sleep??"
Chapter 60