Chapter 16: Sharing Blessings and Bearing Hardships Together
Chapter 16: Sharing Blessings and Bearing Hardships Together
After listening to Zhang Fang’s thorough analysis, Qiao Feng felt a mix of agreement, admiration, and, above all, deep emotion.
Unlike their previous casual conversations, Qiao Feng could sense that this time Zhang Fang was truly sincere in wanting to help him!
[Qiao Feng’s favorability toward you has increased, current favorability is 46 points (heartfelt trust).]
It turned out that 40 points was not the upper limit of favorability but merely the ceiling reached through verbal exchanges alone. To raise favorability further, one must invest genuine emotion alongside words.
Moved, Qiao Feng could not help but ask, “Brother You, my identity is now in doubt. Am I Han or Khitan? Even I no longer understand. In this situation, why do you still help me so earnestly?”
“You’ve misunderstood, Brother Qiao,” Zhang Fang smiled gently and shook his head. “I don’t help you solely for your sake.”
Pausing briefly, his expression grew serious. “Don’t forget, the Heroes’ Assembly is being held at Gathering Virtue Manor, where two of my elders serve as hosts alongside the manor’s owners. If you were to enter conflict with the heroes, those two must stand at the forefront, both by duty and by sentiment.”
“At that time, whether injury or death befalls you or my elders, it would be the outcome I most dread.”
Though Zhang Fang’s words were clearly from his own perspective, to Qiao Feng, they conveyed another meaning entirely.
Brother You did not want harm to come to his elders, nor to himself. Could it be that in his heart, he already regarded this sworn junior brother as equal to You Ji and You Ju?
Could this be what they call “An elder brother is like a father”?
[Qiao Feng’s favorability toward you has increased, current favorability is 50 points (heartfelt trust).]
Zhang Fang was puzzled as to why Qiao Feng’s favorability had suddenly risen, but he continued along the previous topic: “As for your identity… Han or Khitan? Heh…”
With a solemn face, Zhang Fang looked straight into Qiao Feng’s eyes and said, “You were raised by the Song people, living a farming life, learning benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith. Even your astonishing martial skills come from the legacies of Shaolin and the Beggars’ Sect.”
“Moreover, before the Apricot Forest Assembly, you led the Beggars’ Sect and other heroes to fend off foreign invaders, winning numerous merits. Through your deeds, you have long proven your capability and loyalty to the Great Song.”
“At the very least, this shows your strong sense of belonging to the Great Song.”
Here, Zhang Fang touched his chest with a finger and said earnestly, “We cannot choose our parents, but we can choose the path we walk.”
“To me, no matter what blood runs through your veins, your heart is that of a Song man!”
Zhang Fang’s words were heartfelt, and his gesture of touching his heart gave a genuine impression.
[Qiao Feng’s favorability toward you has increased, current favorability is 60 points (heartfelt trust).]
Qiao Feng’s early life had been mostly smooth sailing, even triumphant, with few setbacks that were overcome to reach fulfilling outcomes.
But since the Apricot Forest Assembly, everything changed…
Because of one letter left by Chief Wang, Qiao Feng went from being the revered Beggars’ Sect chief, a pillar of the martial world, the famous Northern Qiao Feng, to a hunted Khitan traitor and villain!
Even many former brothers and friends turned against him, treating him like an enemy.
The more difficult the time, the warmer Zhang Fang’s words felt to Qiao Feng.
Suddenly!
Qiao Feng stood up, slightly warmed by wine, his eyes burning as he looked at Zhang Fang and said, “I, Qiao Feng, have considered myself a hero, with many friends, yet it turns out the one who understands me best is you, Brother You, whom I have never met before.”
“If you don’t mind, shall we swear brotherhood today, though of different surnames?”
Zhang Fang never expected such a proposal from Qiao Feng. Even though Qiao Feng had been one of his idols in his earlier, more idealistic days, and he had dreamed of befriending him, this sudden proposal of sworn brotherhood was quite unexpected.
Startled, Zhang Fang instinctively replied, “Well…”
[Hidden plot triggered: “Sworn Brotherhood.” Do you wish to activate it?]
[Sworn Brotherhood: Qiao Feng proposes to swear brotherhood with you, sharing blessings and hardships from this day forth.]
[After swearing brotherhood, your relationship with Qiao Feng will be locked as “Eight Bow Brothers,” granting an extra 20 points of favorability. Additionally, activating this hidden plot grants an unexpected reward.]
Such a good thing?
In the Reincarnation Tower’s system, favorability often determines the likelihood of receiving higher-value tasks from story characters.
Zhang Fang did not know the exact calculation, but he understood that higher favorability was always better.
This “Eight Bow Brothers” status could raise favorability by 20 points on top of the current total!
That was quite amazing.
It meant that by agreeing to swear brotherhood, Zhang Fang could boost Qiao Feng’s favorability effect to 80 points.
In the Reincarnation Tower’s setting, the maximum favorability for story tasks was only 100 points!
Only a fool would refuse such a boon!
Thus, after hearing the hidden plot prompt, Zhang Fang immediately changed his mind and replied firmly, “I accept! Brother Qiao, I truly did not expect to be so honored one day. The surprise has come so suddenly, I was caught off guard—please forgive my awkwardness.”
Seeing Zhang Fang accept, Qiao Feng laughed heartily, slapped a piece of broken silver on the table, said “settle the bill,” and then pulled Zhang Fang outside the inn.
As they walked swiftly, Qiao Feng asked, “Brother, how old are you this year?”
“Eighteen,” came the reply.
“In that case, you can’t be my second brother,” Qiao Feng laughed freely. “Because before you, I swore brotherhood with another named Duan Yu, who is a year older. So you’ll be the third brother.”
“Two older brothers all at once—how lucky I am!” Zhang Fang said happily.
…
In the martial world, sworn brotherhood was less formal than among scholars. Given Qiao Feng and Zhang Fang’s special situation, they kept it simple.
They didn’t even need an incense burner or a statue of Guan Yu. After leaving the town, they knelt side by side and kowtowed eight times toward the readers watching on screen.
These eight kowtows had special meaning.
According to ancient texts, each kowtow represents a different wish:
First, for collection; second, for recommendation; third, for monthly votes; fourth, for praise; fifth, for harmonious interaction; sixth, for support of the original work; seventh, to wish all readers well; eighth, to thank readers, the providers of sustenance!
With these eight kowtows, their sworn brotherhood was officially complete.
For Zhang Fang, the benefits and risks of this oath were equally clear.
Because…
[You have completed the hidden plot “Sworn Brotherhood.” Your relationship with Qiao Feng is now locked as “Eight Bow Brothers,” activating the hidden effects “Sharing Blessings” and “Bearing Hardships Together.”]
[Sharing Blessings: As Qiao Feng’s sworn brother, you will share in his martial insights. Reward: Martial Insight Card x1!]
Martial Insight Card: Contains some of Qiao Feng’s martial insights; using it with any martial art increases that art’s proficiency by 10,000 points!
Ding! Critical bonus system activated; rewards received by the host gain 100% critical enhancement!
Reward received: Random Martial Upgrade Card!
Random Martial Upgrade Card: Using this will randomly boost the proficiency of one martial art you know by 20,000 points!
[Bearing Hardships Together: You and Qiao Feng are sworn brothers, not necessarily born in the same year or month, but may you die in the same year, month, and day.
You are obligated to help bear the disasters in Qiao Feng’s fate!
Please strive to resolve Qiao Feng’s three great calamities: the Battle of Gathering Virtue Manor, the death of Ah Zhu, and the rejection between Hu and Han.
Resolving each calamity grants corresponding rewards. But if any calamity is not resolved and occurs, the Reincarnation Tower will impose a divine punishment on you accordingly!]
(End of chapter)