test intention of harm, even if I did kill them, how could I be guilty of ‘killing my father and mother’? Father XuanKu is my savior and master, if ShaoLin Sect admits that he’s my master, then I would be a ShaoLin disciple. How could you gang up on a ShaoLin disciple like this?”

“Hmph! How could you stoop so low as to resort to such sophistry and equivocation?” XuanJu replied.

“If it justified and consistent, then it isn’t sophistry or equivocation. If you guys don’t regard me as a ShaoLin disciple, then don’t accuse me of killing my master. As the saying goes, ‘One could always trump up charges if one’s out to condemn me’ (yu jia zhi zui, he huan wu ci). If you guys want to kill me, then just do it like a man. Why bother accusing me of all these inconsistent and deceitful charges?”

Even as he was debating, he never stopped fighting: fist hitting Dan ShuShan, kick landing on Zhao QianSun, elbowing a green clothed man that he didn’t see the face of, and palm striking a white bearded old man that he didn’t know the name of. While arguing, he knocked down 4 people in a row. Knowing that these people weren’t bad people, he held back with his strikes, of the 18 or so people that he had knocked down, none had lost their life. As for his brothers in the Beggar Clan, he didn’t even touch them, when Elder Xu attacked him, he just ducked out of the way.

But with so many people at the gathering, as soon as he knocked 10 people down, another 10 people took their place. “If this keeps up, I’ll eventually die of exhaustion. It’s probably the best to find a place to escape first.” Qiao Feng figured as he carefully surveyed for an escape route as he fought.

Zhao QianSun was lying on the ground, unable to move. But he was still able to see that Qiao Feng was looking to escape.

“Everyone, attack him! Don’t let this despicable dog bastard get away!” He shouted.

Adrenaline pumping, Qiao Feng could feel his fury gradually taking over, hearing Zhao QianSun’s words finally sent him over the edge.

“This dog bastard is going to start off his killing spree with you!” He howled as his palm came screaming down upon Zhao QianSun.

“No!” XuanNan and XuanJu simultaneously shouted as both of them stuck out with their right hand, trying to save Zhao QianSun’s life.

Suddenly a human form appeared in mid air as a sickening scream reverberated around the hall. XuanNan and XuanJu’s blows landed on the person’s chest as Qiao Feng’s palm landed squarely in the middle of the back. Caught in the middle of those 3 powerful and violent forces, the person’s ribs immediately shattered and internal organs collapsed. Blood gushing out of the person’s mouth, the body collapsed onto the ground like a pile of mud.

Not only was XuanNan and XuanJu shocked, Qiao Feng was caught by surprise as well. Turned out that this person was Fast Sabre Qi Liu. He had been hanging in midair for quite some time now. Rattling back and forth, he was finally able to pry loose his sabre and fall. Quite unfortunately, he just happened to fall in between those 3 strikes, it was as if 2 gigantic steel slabs came slamming together on him. There was no chance of him surviving.

“Amida Buddha,” XuanNan was first to say something. “Qiao Feng, have you not sinned enough?”

“I only half responsible! You 2 are just as responsible as I for his death, why are you guys dumping it all on me?” Qiao Feng screamed in fury.

“Amida Buddha. Amida Budda. Had you not sinned first, would there have even been a fight today?” XuanNan replied.

“Alright, ok, it’s all my fault. So what!” Qiao Feng screamed back as he finally let his anger take over, which instantly turned him into a wild beast.

He grabbed somebody with his right hand, who happened to be Chan Zheng’s second son Chan ZhongShan. Snatching his sabre with his left hand, he let go of his body and immediately slammed down with his right hand, caving in the top of Chan ZhongShan’s head. The rest of the people gasped in horror and anger.

Now that the killing started, Qiao Feng’s fighting became even more desperate and violent. Slashing ferociously with the sabre in his left hand and switching periodically between palm and fist with his right, he was not to be stopped. Slowly but surely, the white walls was becoming more and more covered with small droplets of blood as the hall began to fill up with corpses. By now he did not worry about past friendships anymore, even that of the Beggar Clan. Not even waiting to make out his foe’s faces anymore, his eyes were blood-shot as he killed whoever that he happens into. It was like this that Elder Xi died under his sabre.

Of the people that were at the gathering, 9 out 10 of them had killed before. After all, to become known in the martial world required more than just making friends and talking a good show. And those who had not killed before had witnessed such events many times before. But none of them had ever seen such a violent and horrifying battle as the one that was unfolding in front of their eyes. There was only one foe, but he was like a crazed tiger, a possessed demon, charging back and forth, attacking and chopping left and right indiscriminately. Many a master had stepped up to challenge him, but all were mowed down by his faster, stronger, fiercer, better moves. Nobody present was a coward who was afraid to die, but in front of them was an crazed opponent whose kungfu skills nobody could stand against as their eyes were filled with images of blood and flesh were flying across the hall, of human heads were rolling on the floor and their ears were filled with the desperate and stunned screams of death, most of them wanted to run away as soon and as quickly as possible. Was Qiao Feng guilty or wasn’t he? They did not care for it anymore.

Seeing the situation quickly deteriorate, the Brothers You each brought up their circular shield with their left hand and a weapon in their right hand, one had a short spear while the other had a sabre. With a whistle, the 2 of them attacked Qiao Feng from 2 sides with the shields protecting their body.

Even though Qiao Feng was letting it all out for the fight, he was still completely coherent and not a least bit panicked as he easily and quickly picked apart every opponent’s move, hence why he still hadn’t been wounded. Noticing that the You Brothers were charging in, he immediately chopped down the 2 men by his side and, trying to grab the initiative, attacked You Ji. You Ji brought his shield up at the last moment. With a loud clang, Qiao Feng’s sabre bounced back. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the blade of the sabre had curled up, rendering it completely useless. The shields in the You Brothers’ hands were melded using the finest of metals that had been melted and reshaped over hundreds of times, even priceless swords could not penetrate them, much less that ordinary iron sabre that Qiao Feng grabbed out of Chan ZhungShan’s hands.

Immediately after deflecting his foe’s attack away, You Ji immediately struck the short spear in his right hand from underneath the shield, like a snake striking out of its hole, aiming towards Qiao Feng’s stomach. At this precise a moment, there was a cold flash as the shield that was in You Ju’s hand came flying in at Qiao Feng’s torso.

With one glance, Qiao Feng could tell that the edges of the shield were incredibly sharp, like those of an ax. If it hit him, it would surely slice him in two. A truly vicious move.

“Excellent!” Qiao Feng shouted as he threw down the sabre in his hand and punched out with his left fist.

With a tremendous bang, his fist landed squarely in the middle of You Ji’s shield. He then shot out his right fist, which was followed by an equally deafening bang as it hit You Ju’s shield directly at its center.

The You Brothers felt half of their bodies go numb as Qiao Feng’s overwhelming power shook them to their very core. Stars appeared in their eyes as they, losing all their strength in their arms, dropped their shields and weapons onto the floor. The place where the base of their thumb and index finger came together bursted and split open, covering their hands in blood.

“Great, thanks for lending me 2 weapons!” Qiao Feng chuckled. He bent down, picked up the shields, and gave each a twirl. The shields were truly amazing devices that could be used to attack or defend. Several dying screams went up as 5 people fell by the shields. The You Brothers’ faces looked shamed and defeated.

“Brother, remember what master said? ‘Shield lives, we live. Shield dies, we die!'” You Ji shouted.

“After such humiliation, how could us brothers have any face left to live on this world?” You Ju replied.

With a slight nod toward each other, both of them picked up their weapons and stabbed them into their hearts, dying instantly.

“No!” Everyone shouted in dismay. But with Qiao Feng waving his shields around as he was, who had enough courage to venture to within 10 meters of him to drag the bodies out. Who could have ventured within 10 meters him?

The screams of a young man could be heard above the chaos: “Daddy! Daddy!” It was that of You Ju’s son, You DanZhi.

Qiao Feng paused in shock, never expecting that the You Brothers, the Masters of JuXian Mansion would commit suicide. His back felt cold as he suddenly sobered up a great deal.

“Why did you do that, Brothers You? Here, let me return these shields back to you.” Qiao Feng said with regret as he bent down and laid the shields at the You Brother’s side.

He hadn’t quite straightened himself back up yet when a girl suddenly shouted: “Watch out!”

Qiao Feng immediately side-stepped to the left letting a green flash shoot by as a sword barely missed him. Had it not been for Ah-Zhu’s timely warning, even though he probably would not have been hit, he would have been at a very disadvantageous position. The perpetrator of the sneak attack was Grandpa Tan, who, as soon as he missed, dashed away to safety.

As everyone was concentrated on fighting Qiao Feng, Ah-Zhu curled up in a corner as she became weaker and weaker. Seeing everyone ganging up on Qiao Feng, remembering that it was because he was trying to save her that he put himself into such great danger, she could not but be greatly moved and worried. Noticing Grandpa Tan sneaking up from behind Qiao Feng as he laid down the shields, she had to call out and warn him.

“Oh is that it you little devil you!” Grandma Tan was furious. “We don’t bother you so you go and help him?” With a flash, her palm came crashing down at the top of Ah-Zhu’s head.

Just as her palm was about to hit Ah-Zhu, Qiao Feng arrived. Grabbing Grandma Tan by her collar from behind, he forcefully pulled Grandma Tan to a stop and tossed her aside, sending her crashing onto a priceless carved pear wood chair. Even though she was not hit, Ah-Zhu was severely frightened and her body just gave out.

“The life force in her body is about to be completely drained.” Qiao Feng thought to himself. “But at this moment, how could I help her?”

“Her life force is about to run out, are you going to prolong her life with your own inner force?” Divine Doctor Xue coldly spoke out. “If she stops breathing, then even real divine goddesses couldn’t bring her back to life.”

Qiao Feng was in a bind, he knew that what Divine Doctor Xue said was the truth, but if he help Ah-Zhu, the people around him would immediately bear down upon him. Some of the people lost sons, others lost friends, so none of them would be the least bit hesitant at finishing him off. But was he supposed to just watch her die and do nothing?

He had taken such a risk to get her here to Gathering Virtue Mansion and it would a shame if it was all for naught if she died because she ran out of life force before Divine Doctor Xue could treat her. However, if he was going to keep her alive by transferring his inner force into her, it would be the equivalent of exchanging his own life for hers. For all she was, Ah-Zhu was still just merely a maid that he met in his travels. He had no real feelings toward her, just that helping people out and saving people were something that he’d normally do. But to exchange his life for hers was too much to ask.

“She’s not a relative of mine, and I am not beholden to her at all. I had tried my best to get to here and done all that I could. I got to get out of here as soon as possible. Whether or not Divine Doctor Xue could save her would be just depend on fate and her luck.” Qiao Feng thought.

So he picked the 2 shields up from the floor and continuously performed “Roc Spreading Wings” several times, creating 2 rings of white light around him that rolled towards the exit as he charged.

Despite the numerical advantage, Qiao Feng’s moves were too vicious and those 2 shields too great of weapons. So nobody was able to get within several meters of Qiao Feng’s body to stop him.

Having made it to the exit in several steps, Qiao Feng had just stepped over the threshold with his left foot, he suddenly heard a raspy old man shout defiantly: “Kill the girl first, then let’s worry about getting him for revenge!”

It was Iron Faced Judge Chan Zheng that said that. His eldest son Chan BoShan immediately responded with a “yes” and lifted up his sabre in preparation to bring it down upon Ah-Zhu’s head. In the heat of the moment, Qiao Feng didn’t have to think and just threw the shield in his left hand out. It whirled violently as it exploded through the air.

“Watch out!” Seven or eight different people shouted at the same time. Chan BoShan immediately brought his sabre around in an attempt to parry. Qiao Feng’s toss was too forceful and the edge of the shield too sharp.

“Crash!” Chan BoShan’s body and sabre were cut in half. Still going strong, the shield kept on flying. “Zeng!” It cut through one of the huge columns that supported the hall, sending dust and roof tiles into the air and onto the ground.

{Chan Zheng had 5 sons, they were introduced earlier in the book.}

Chan Zheng and the 3 of his sons who were still alive screamed in sadness and fury. But with Qiao Feng standing there in all his menace and glory, they did not dare to go up to him. Instead, they, along with 6 or 7 others, charged toward Ah-Zhu.

“Have you know shame!” Qiao Feng cursed at them and let loose 4 straight palm strikes, which shook those people enough to stop them.

Quickly flying to her side, Qiao Feng picked Ah-Zhu up with his left arm and shielded from the others her with the shield he had left.

“Master Qiao, I’m not going to make it.” Ah-Zhu pleaded. “Don’t worry about me, just… leave!”

Seeing so many “heroes” stooping so low as to pick on Ah-Zhu, a defenseless and dying girl, aroused Qiao Feng’s indomitable sense of pride.

“Now that it has come to this, they would never let you live. Let’s die together!” He replied in a booming voice.

Reaching out with his right hand, he snatched a sword from someone and began slicing and dicing his way towards the door. Carrying Ah-Zhu, his movements were slowed on top of the fact that he had now one less hand to fight with, putting him in a very disadvantageous position. But he had long put his life on the backburner as he made the sword dance around him. He had only taken 2 steps before a pain shot up from his back, someone had slashed his back with a sabre.

{Ok, even more evidence that fighting with one arm stinks, JY explicitly stated so here. Qiao Feng was not even touched, now he got hurt after only 2 steps.}

He lifted his leg and kicked back, sending that man flying for almost 100 meters before crashing into another person, killing both of them instantly. At that moment, a spear stabbed Qiao Feng on his right shoulder, which was soon followed by a sword thrusting into his right chest.

Qiao Feng let out a thunderous howl and screamed: “Qiao Feng would rather kill himself than to die in the hands of you low lives!”

But the other fighters were, by now, so completely absorbed in the fight that there was no way that they were going to allow him the luxury of ending his own life. A dozen or so people charged up together. Gathering his strength and spirit, Qiao Feng suddenly reached out with his right hand, grabbed XuanJu by the “Mid-Chest Pressure Point”, and lifted his body up in the air. Everyone involuntarily gasped in shock and instinctively took a couple of steps back.

His pressure point being hit, XuanJu was completely paralyzed and could not move despite his incredible kungfu skills. Looking down, he saw that his neck was only centimeters away from the edge of the the shield, Qiao Feng only needs to lift his left arm a little or give his right arm a push and his head would have been chopped off. Resigning himself to his fate, XuanJu sighed and closed his eyes, awaiting death.

The incredible pain on his back, his chest, and his right shoulder felt like someone had poured acid on the wounds. Qiao Feng gritted his teeth and said: “All the martial arts in my body had originally come from ShaoLin. How can I kill a high monk of ShaoLin? Qiao Feng is doomed to die today anyway, what’s the good in killing one more?”

Gently, he put XuanJu down onto the ground and let go. “Well? Come on! Finish this!” He said at the top of his lungs.

The fighters looked at each other, all moved by his courage and spirit. Nobody could bring himself to take his life. Still some more thought: “He wouldn’t even harm XuanJu, how could he possibly take the life of his master Father XuanKu?”

However, Iron Faced Judge Chan Zheng, heartbroken and furious over the death of 2 of his sons, did not hesitate. With a loud yell, he charged up and thrust his sabre directly at Qiao Feng’s heart.

Qiao Feng knew that with his severe wounds, he could not possibly fight his way out anymore, so he just stood there motionlessly. In that instant, an infinite amount of thoughts flashed through his mind: “Am I really Han or am I Khitan? Who killed my parents and master? I have always lived honorably and tried to the do the right thing in my life, why did I kill all these heroes and good men today for no good reason? I wanted to save Ah-Zhu, but ended up giving my own life away, would all the heroes in the world laugh at me for such stupid actions?”

Seeing Chan Zheng’s dark and contorted face, eyes bugging out and charging at him with a sabre aimed at his heart, Qiao Feng’s heart was suddenly overwhelmed by sadness and anger. Not able to hold it back anymore, he suddenly snapped out and howled up into the heavens like a proud and dying beast.