and look at the rest of the people. Hundreds of captives all knelt down, only one juvenile man stood upright and refuse to kneel.

The youth was around 16 years old, his face elongated, with a tapered chin, his expression was wavering and uncertain, Xiao Feng ask: “Boy, where do you live?” The youth replied: “I have an important secret, I have to tell you face to face.” Xiao Feng said: “Fine, come over and tell me.” The hand of the youth was bound by thick ropes, he said: “Please move away from your subordinates, this matter cannot be heard by others.” Xiao Feng curiosity was piqued and he pondered: “Such a young boy, what kind of important secret he holds? Yes, he came from the south, he may have information pertaining to the military movements in Great Song.” The boy was a citizen of Song, by revealing secrets to Khitan, he will be a shameless traitor, Xiao Feng scorn such people but since the boy said he holds important secrets, there’s no harm in listening, he rode forward 10 zhang and beckoned: “Come over here!”

The boy followed, raising his hands he said: “Please cut the ropes binding my hands, I wish to present an item I kept in my bosom.” Xiao Feng unsheathe his sabre and chop straight ahead, the force in this chop was sufficient to split the boy in half, but the sabre’s positioning was extremely accurate, it only cut the ropes binding the boy’s hands. The youth had a huge shock, he retreated two steps, and gaze blankly at Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng smiled, sheathe his sabre, and ask: “What is the item?”

The youth stick his hands into his bosom, felt the item and said: “You will know once you see it.” And he walked towards Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng stretch out his hand to receive it.

Suddenly, the youth threw the item fiercely at Xiao Feng’s face. Xiao Feng wave his whip and struck down the item, white powder came flying out, the item was just a small cloth bag. The bag fell on the floor and white powder spilled out of the bag, it was quicklime. This shameless item is used by despicable thieves in the martial world, if the powder landed on a person’s face, the quicklime will irritate the eyes and the person will eventually be blinded forever.

Xiao Feng groaned and pondered: “This boy is bold, it seems his not a traitor.” He nod his head and said: “What is your name? Why do you seek to harm me? “the boy closed his lips firmly and did not answer. Xiao Feng said in an amiable manner: “Just tell me the truth, I will spare you life.” The youth said: “I failed in taking revenge for my parents, what is left to say.” Xiao Feng said: “Who is your parents? Did I really kill them?”

The youth took two steps forward, his expression full of grief and anger, pointing to Xiao Feng he shouted loudly: “Qiao Feng! You killed my father, mother and my uncle, I… I can’t wait to eat your meat, skin you and remove your tendon, dismember you into pieces!”

Xiao Feng listen to the boy used his old name, “Qiao Feng”, and that he killed his parents and uncle, it must be former enemies from the Central Plains, he ask: “Who is your uncle? Who is your father?”

The boy replied: “Since I don’t want to live anymore, I will let you know, the men from You family of JuXian village are not afraid of death.”

Xiao Feng made an “Oh!” sound and said: “So you are the nephew of the You brothers, your father is You Ju second master You, right?” he paused for a while and continued: “That day I was surrounded by numerous heroes in the manor, I was forced to fight, it is not something within my control. Your father and uncle died by committing suicide.” as he said this he shook his head and continued: “Sigh, they lost their shield and this forced them to commit suicide. What is your name?”

The boy straightens his body, and said loudly: “I am called You TanZhi, I don’t need you to kill me, I will follow my uncle and father good example!” his right hand reached into his trouser and took out a short-knife, he plunge it at his chest. Xiao Feng waved his whip, wrapped it around the knife and seized it. You TanZhi was furious and shouted: “I am not even allowed to commit suicide? You damnable Liao dog, aren’t you too vicious!”

At this moment, AhZi had reached Xiao Feng’s side and she shouted: “You little punk, you dare to insult people? You want to die? Hehe, it won’t be so easy!” Upon seeing such a delicate beautiful lady, You TanZhi was stunned and rendered speechless. AhZi said: “The punk called Zhi, later you will know what it feels like to be blind.” She turned and said to Xiao Feng: “Brother-in-law, this kid is so vicious, he tried to harm you with quicklime, we will use this quicklime to blind both his eyes before deciding how to deal with him.”

Xiao Feng shook his head, he said to the captain of the troops: “The Song captives you captured during the raid, can you give them all to me?” The captain was overjoyed and said: “You Highness honoured me with your presence, I would like to thank your Highness for bestowing kindness.” Xiao Feng said: “All those who hand over the captives, go back to my residence and claim your reward.” The troops said happily: “We sincerely dedicate it to your Highness, we do not require reward.” Xiao Feng said: “Leave the captives here and return back to the city, remember to claim your rewards.” The troops bowed and gave their thanks, the captain said: “There are many wild beasts out here, is your Highness using these Song pigs as live targets? The previous Prince of Chu likes to do this. Unfortunately, we mostly caught aunties and old ladies, they can’t run fast. Next time we will catch able-bodied Song pigs for your Highness.” he bowed and left with his troops.

“Using these Song pigs as live targets”, these words drilled into his ears, Xiao Feng cannot help but feel startled, he could visualize the cruel actions of the previous Prince of Chu: A few hundred Song people howling and running around like wild beasts, the Khitan nobles laughing, drawing their bows, shooting and killing the people one by one. Some Song people fled to the distant, the Khitan will chase with their horses, akin to shooting deer or fox, they will kill every single person. This kind of cruel stuff, the Khitan narrated it as if it was no big deal, it must be a common practice. He looks at the captives, their face yellowed and they shivered under the cold wind. Some of these captives understood Khitan’s language, they heard of “Shooting live human targets” before, they are scared out of their wits.

Xiao Feng gave a long sigh, looking south at the layers upon layers of clouds hovering at the mountains, he pondered: “If my parentage was not revealed, today, I will still treat myself as citizen of Great Song. We speak the same language, eat the same food, how am I different from them? Everyone is human, but why do we insist on differentiating Khitan people, Great Song, Jurchen, Korea? You come to my borders to raid, I go to your borders to murder and commit arson? You curse me as Liao dogs? I curse you as Song pigs?” his thoughts keep gushing forth like tidal waves.

Seeing the troops that captured the captives had all left without a trace, he said to the captives: “I’ll release you today, run quickly!” the captives thought Xiao Feng was making them run before shooting arrows and killing them, they hesitate and did not move. Xiao Feng said again: “After returning home, move far away from the borders so as not to get captured during the raid. I saved you this time, but I may not be able to save you the next time.”

Now the captives believed his words, the applauses was thunderous, they knelt down and kowtow: “The kindness of your Highness is as high as a mountain, we will go back home and pray for your everlasting health and fortune.” They knew that once they got captured during the raid, unless they are wealthy people who can bribe with gold and silk, they will surely die without a trace. Song and Liao have been warring for successive years, the wealthy families had long escaped to mainland. All these captives are poor people, where would they find gold and silk to redeem their life? They knew their fate was far worse than oxen and horses, but this Lord from Liao Empire actually released them back home, they were really overjoyed at this unexpected news.

Xiao Feng saw their happy expression, they help and supported each other to travel back south, he pondered: “My Khitan people captured and drag them here, now I release them back, they have to suffer many hardships along the way, how did I show them any kindness?”

The captives gradually walked far away, but You TanZhi was still standing upright, Xiao Feng said: “Why aren’t you leaving? You are returning to Central Plains, do you have enough money?” he stretch his hand into his bosom, wanting to give him some gold or silver, but he did not carry any money, but as he felt around he retrieved a small oilcloth bag. Xiao Feng heart soured, contained in this oilcloth bag is a Sanskrit version of Tendon-Changing Sutra, it was stolen by AhZhu from Shaolin Temple, and she insisted that he kept it, now she is dead but the Sutra is still around, how it is not sad? He promptly kept the oilcloth bag back into his bosom and said: “I don’t have any valuables with me now, if you need money, you can follow me back to the city.”

You TanZhi said loudly: “The one surnamed Qiao, kill me if you want, cut this act, why disgrace me further with these schemes? Even if I die of poverty, how can I even take a single cent from you?”

Xiao Feng thought his words were correct, he did cause his father death, there’s a saying that one cannot live under the same sky as one’s enemy, this hatred cannot be eliminated, it’s pointless to argue further, he replied: “I won’t kill you! If you want revenge, you are welcome to try anytime.”

AhZi said: “Brother-in-law, you can’t release him! This kid won’t use proper skills when duelling you, he will only use contemptible dirty tricks. You need to destroy the source of trouble so as to avoid future disaster.”

Xiao Feng shook his head: “Difficulties are everywhere in the martial world, every step is perilous, but I survive them all. This young man won’t be able to harm me. That day I angered his uncle and father into committing suicide, although it is unintentional, but I will always owe this blood debt, why harm the nephew of the You brothers? “as he said this, his enthusiasm dulled and he said: “Lets just go back, there’s nothing much to hunt today.”

AhZi pout and thought: “I just had a great idea to torment this boy, it’s really interesting! But you insist on releasing him, once I return to the city, what is left to play?” but she dare not defy Xiao Feng’s words, she turn her horse and followed Xiao Feng back, after travelling for a few zhang, she turn her head back and said: “Boy, go back and practise you martial arts for 100 years before you seek revenge from my brother-in-law!” she gave a girlish smile, cracked her whip and gallop off quickly.