Chapter 20: Confrontation at the Brink

Chapter 20: A Meeting of Equals

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Fang stood tall and proud just outside the main hall of the Gathering Virtue Manor, choosing not to enter.

He needed to ensure that throughout this interrogation, he remained within the sight of everyone present, and that every word he spoke reached each of their ears.

Facing the Divine Doctor Xue, Zhang Fang cupped his fist and replied loudly, “After Qiao Feng abducted me, he immediately took me to the Yue Lai Inn in Xujiaji. He requested a room upstairs, threw me onto the bed, then sat by the window practicing his internal energy breathing techniques. During that time, I was immobilized due to pressure points being struck, but my face was always turned toward him. I can confirm he never left that spot.”

Pausing briefly, he added, “More importantly, this timeline does not match the time the rescue team was ambushed.”

Divine Doctor Xue nodded repeatedly. “I examined the injuries of the young lady named A Zhu. Without Qiao Feng continuously channeling his internal energy to sustain her life, she would not have survived until yesterday. Qiao Feng expended significant energy on her and then immediately began his own recovery—it makes perfect sense.”

Xue’s analysis was reasonable, and none of the assembled heroes doubted him. The usually taciturn Shaolin Master Xuannan spoke up, “What happened next? Where did you go?”

“We ate in the dining hall on the first floor of the inn,” Zhang Fang answered honestly. “Qiao Feng used my safety as leverage to compel Uncle Xue to treat A Zhu, so naturally, he wouldn’t let me starve. This lasted until Uncle Jia appeared severely injured. At that time, the inn’s proprietor, the staff, and other patrons dining there all witnessed these events. Whether I speak the truth or not can be easily verified.”

Hearing this, Divine Doctor Xue frowned. “We do not distrust you, but the three surviving heroes who were ambushed are certain the attacker was Qiao Feng. Could it be that Qiao Feng has mastered some form of duplication technique?”

At this, Zhang Fang’s expression brightened.

He had to admit, Xiao Yuanshan’s intervention was unexpected. But upon reflection, Zhang Fang was pleasantly surprised—Xiao’s actions were an incredible boon for his main mission.

“It’s quite simple!” Zhang Fang spread his hands naturally. “There are indeed people in this world who look remarkably alike—though rare, they do exist. Moreover, the various disguise techniques in the martial world are well known. So, it is not impossible for two Qiao Fengs to appear simultaneously in different locations.”

“What is truly strange is that both Qiao Fengs possessed astonishing martial arts skills.”

The heroes present shuddered at this revelation.

Consider the martial prowess of the You brothers—while not the strongest among them, their coordination and self-preservation skills were exceptional. Even the combined efforts of the Shaolin Masters Xuannan and Xuanji would find it difficult to injure them.

Furthermore, when they left, they had seven or eight assistants—each a famed expert in the martial world. For one person alone to seriously wound all of them, their skills would have to rival Qiao Feng’s.

One Qiao Feng was already formidable; two at once was terrifying beyond measure!

Seeing the reactions of his audience, Zhang Fang sensed the moment was ripe. He shifted his tone, “According to what I heard from Seniors Tian Meng and Wang Liu, the heroes were driven by a sense of justice in their desperate fight against Qiao Feng. His greatest crimes were said to be the murder of Qiao Sanhuai and his wife outside the Shaolin Temple, and the grievous assault on his master, the venerable Xuan Ku, within the temple, leading to the master’s death.”

“Now that there are two Qiao Fengs, both possessing extraordinary martial arts, can we still label him as a criminal? Or should he be considered merely a suspect?”

“In my opinion, until this matter is thoroughly investigated and the truth revealed, it would be unwise for all of you heroes to rush into battle with Qiao Feng.”

Over eighty percent of the assembled men nodded slightly, sensing the wisdom in his words. After all, most of them had not come solely to fight Qiao Feng.

Who did not know Qiao Feng’s unparalleled skill? If it could be avoided, it was better not to risk one’s life unnecessarily.

“Ha ha...”

Just as many of the heroes were swayed by Zhang Fang’s reasoning, a burst of laughter echoed from within the main hall, instantly drawing every eye.

Those outside could not discern the source, but the powerful figures inside, along with Zhang Fang standing proudly at the door, immediately turned toward the old man whose laughter disrupted the solemn atmosphere.

It was none other than the “Iron-Faced Judge,” Shan Zheng!

Having successfully captured everyone’s attention, Shan Zheng’s laughter abruptly ceased. His fierce tiger-like eyes fixed on Zhang Fang like a beast ready to pounce. “Two Qiao Fengs? What a ridiculous notion!”

“You, You Tanzhi, base all your analyses and conclusions on your own single-sided account. Creating the illusion of two Qiao Fengs is not difficult... because you are lying!”

That old fox could no longer hold back.

Zhang Fang met Shan Zheng’s gaze calmly and replied evenly, “I am not relying on a one-sided story. I just said, before we left the inn, the proprietor and staff witnessed everything. The inn is no more than a short tea-time journey from the town’s edge, while from there to where my father and others were ambushed is a full ten li. Ten li one way, twenty li round trip—it would be impossible for even Qiao Feng to cover that distance in under half an hour. There is a clear time gap between the two events. All you seniors need to do is inquire carefully in Xujiaji to verify the truth of my words.”

Hearing this, Shan Zheng’s face darkened further. “Do you think we haven’t already done so?”

He paused slightly, then said, “Bosan, come explain to the seniors what you discovered during the investigation.”

“Yes!”

As he spoke, Shan Zheng’s eldest son, Shan Bosan, stepped forward from behind his father. After saluting the heroes, he said, “Yesterday, after You Tanzhi returned with the wounded, my father sensed something was amiss and sent us five brothers to investigate in Xujiaji. According to the accounts of the inn’s proprietor and staff, the general situation aligns with what Young Master You described. However...”

Shan Bosan turned to Zhang Fang. “According to the innkeeper and staff, You Tanzhi and Qiao Feng talked amicably, leading them to believe you were old friends. Later, the two of you seemed to reach some agreement, laughing and chatting as you left the inn together.”

Upon hearing this, Shan Zheng’s face twisted into a malicious smile. “You Tanzhi, care to explain to these heroes what you and Qiao Feng discussed and what agreement you reached?”

(End of Chapter 20)