Chapter 11: Setting Fire to the Manor!

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Chapter 11: Set the Manor Ablaze!

Qiao Feng’s sudden appearance was certainly a major and wholly unexpected variable. It would even be fair to say that it had completely disrupted Zhang Fang’s previous plans.

Still, matters remained within his control.

Compared with situations beyond his ability to influence, it was naturally more important to secure the mission rewards that were already within reach!

Less than two seconds had been wasted, and another 2,400 points had been credited to his account. Added to the 600 points he already had, the total came to exactly 3,000.

What a delightful haul!

Just as Zhang Fang was happily counting his gains, You Ji suddenly barked sternly from nearby, “Tanzhi, didn’t I just warn you that Qiao Feng had arrived? Why did you continue attacking Senior Qi the Sixth?”

Zhang Fang stared at him blankly and replied in some confusion, “You only said that Qiao Feng had arrived. You never told us to stop.”

You Ji was momentarily rendered speechless. Instinctively, he felt that Zhang Fang’s words made perfect sense, yet the more he thought about them, the more he felt that something was wrong.

Before he could say anything else, however, Zhang Fang’s expression turned solemn. With righteous indignation, he continued, “You taught me from childhood that a true man, born beneath Heaven and Earth, must see everything through to the end, whatever he does. I have never dared forget your earnest instruction for even a moment. Everything I have done today has likewise been in accordance with your painstaking guidance.”

As he spoke, he clasped his fists and bowed slightly, lowering his head. “If there was anything improper in my conduct, I am willing to accept whatever punishment you deem fit!”

His words were reasonable and well founded, and his speech, attitude, and manners were beyond reproach. Even You Ji, who had originally intended to reprimand him and give Qi the Sixth a way out, found himself at a loss for words.

After remaining silent before everyone’s eyes for quite some time, he finally managed to squeeze out, “The matter we discussed earlier is canceled. Return to your room for now.”

Qiao Feng was just about to ask where Zhang Fang had learned the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms when he saw You Ji trying to send the young man away. He immediately called out, “Wait!”

You Ji stepped forward at once, raising his shield to protect Zhang Fang while urging him in a deep voice, “Go back!”

At the same time, You Ju also stepped forward, holding his bladed shield across his body and adopting the stance of a man prepared to advance or retreat alongside his elder brother. Following close behind were Elder Xu and the Beggars’ Sect contingent. They too moved forward, taking up position behind the You brothers and keeping Zhang Fang far away from Qiao Feng. After them came the Shaolin monks Xuannan and Xuanci, the entire Shan family, Master Tan, Madam Tan, Zhao Qiansun, and the others.

Seeing the Beggars’ Sect protect that youth so fiercely while guarding against him as though he were a thief, Qiao Feng felt a wave of desolation wash over him.

He inwardly reflected that he was no longer a member of the Beggars’ Sect. Where the boy had learned the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, and how he chose to use them, had nothing to do with him.

With a silent sigh, he abandoned his original plan to question Zhang Fang and allowed him to leave the front courtyard with a flourish, passing through the side entrance of the main hall and returning to the rear courtyard of Worthy Heroes Manor.

Once he was alone in the rear courtyard, Zhang Fang’s previously relaxed brows immediately drew tight.

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After exchanging those glib remarks with You Ji, he had already figured out the key issue concerning Qiao Feng’s appearance.

Judging from everything he had seen and heard since awakening, the mission world he now occupied resembled the original story of The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, yet was not quite the same.

The overall course of events and the principal characters remained unchanged, but many details differed considerably from the original narrative.

For instance, Xuannan and Xuanci had arrived ahead of schedule. And then there was the fact that preparations for this Heroes’ Gathering had begun an entire month earlier.

None of that matched the original account.

Moreover, in the original story, before Qiao Feng came to pay his respects at the manor, he had already sent word of his arrival to the assembled heroes through three wandering martial artists. Zhang Fang vaguely remembered their names: Bao Qianling, Xiang Wanghai, and...

Quick Blade Qi the Sixth!

These details were completely at odds with the original story Zhang Fang knew so well!

Since almost no information about Hell-difficulty instances could be found online, Zhang Fang had no idea whether these were unique variables of a Hell-difficulty reincarnation world, or whether a reincarnationist’s first instance simply possessed some special characteristics.

Qiao Feng’s early appearance was probably another consequence of such a change.

But it was not a serious problem!

The moment he saw Qiao Feng, Zhang Fang had already devised a way to break the deadlock. It was not as foolproof as making preparations in advance, but postponing the crisis for a day or two would present no difficulty.

He swept his gaze around and immediately spotted a familiar figure wandering nearby.

Zhang Fang’s eyes brightened. He beckoned to the man and, using the commanding tone You Tanzhi commonly employed, said, “You Tiao, go to the storehouse and bring me the two barrels of kerosene the manor bought yesterday.”

You Tiao looked at him in surprise. “Young Master, what do you need kerosene for?”

“My father said that if something is none of your concern, you don’t ask questions!”

Hearing that the order came from You Ji, You Tiao shuddered in fright. How could he dare say another word? He immediately answered, “Yes,” then hurried off toward the storehouse.

...

Meanwhile, in the broad courtyard before the main hall—

With Zhang Fang, the interloper who had stolen his spotlight, gone at last, Qiao Feng finally enjoyed the treatment properly owed to the protagonist and smoothly became the center of everyone’s attention.

First, he engaged Xue the Divine Physician and a host of martial heroes in a fierce war of words over whether A’Zhu should be treated.

Later, when Tan Qing, the Soul-Chasing Staff wielder and disciple of Duan Yanqing, began causing trouble alongside Yun Zhonghe, Qiao Feng displayed his prowess. He first used Tan Qing to warm up, breaking the man’s Thousand-Mile Transmission technique with a thunderous shout and causing him to die from the backlash of his own secret art.

Then he struck with a palm attack known as the Dragon Regrets, using Yun Zhonghe as his target and showing everyone exactly what the true Dragon Regrets was supposed to look like.

With nothing more than that single shout and single palm strike, he proved through action what people meant when they spoke of Qiao Feng of the North!

However, although the display established his authority, it also inflamed the assembled heroes’ stubborn concern for their dignity.

Do not assume that because the martial artists gathered at Worthy Heroes Manor could be beaten into retreat by Qiao Feng, they were merely a rabble, no different from the assorted weaklings Bao Butong had chastised at Listening Fragrance Waterside Pavilion.

In truth, these men were highly accomplished.

In the original story, before Qiao Feng struck Yun Zhonghe, there was a passage that read:

“There were truly many experts at this Heroes’ Gathering. In terms of actual skill, between fifty and eighty men present were superior to Yun Zhonghe. Yet he had seized the initiative, catching everyone off guard. Moreover, his lightness kung fu was extraordinarily refined. Once he reached the top of a wall, no one could catch him.”

Yun Zhonghe was a major villain who appeared throughout the original story, so his strength could hardly be underestimated. Yet within this manor alone, there were between fifty and eighty experts capable of defeating him. Among them were the eminent Shaolin monks Xuannan and Xuanci, as well as such first-rate masters as the Beggars’ Sect’s Elders of Transmission and Discipline.

What an extravagant lineup.

If, under such circumstances, they were cowed by Qiao Feng’s martial might and meekly accepted his conditions without even having the courage to fight him, how could they ever continue to make their way through the martial world?

A severed head left only a bowl-sized scar. They could not afford to lose face like that!

From the expressions on everyone’s faces, how could Qiao Feng fail to realize that his show of intimidation had produced the opposite effect?

Knowing that a battle with the heroes of the Central Plains would soon be unavoidable, his mood sank to the lowest depths. He clasped his fists toward the You brothers and said, “Brother You, I have encountered many old friends here today. From this point onward, we shall be enemies rather than friends, and the thought fills me with profound sorrow. I would like to ask you for a few bowls of wine.”

Just as the scene of a “wine of severance” was about to unfold, and a brutal bloodbath seemed imminent, a loud cry suddenly came from the rear courtyard:

“Disaster! Fire! The manor is on fire! Everyone, come quickly and help put it out!”

Following the sound, they saw a young man force his way out of the crowd and emerge into the square before the main hall.

His clothes, previously bright and splendid, were now scorched black and covered in soot. His pale, delicate face had been smoked until it was pitch-black, making him look utterly ridiculous.

It was none other than You Tanzhi, the role Zhang Fang was playing in this reincarnation world.

He shouted while waving his arms wildly and pointing toward the rear of the main hall.

Everyone followed the direction of his finger.

What met their eyes was a blaze surging into the heavens, already engulfing the main hall of Worthy Heroes Manor.

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End of Chapter