The frozen river had just thawed, and the cold wind still blew fiercely. Surrounded by desolate mountains and wilderness with no signs of human presence, Meng Qi never expected that he would actually disturb someone’s peaceful dream.
“Apologies, apologies. I was overwhelmed by unexpected good fortune and lost my composure,” Meng Qi, always courteous, bowed and said.
At the same time, his heart grew wary. Someone who could approach within two or three miles without his noticing was no ordinary person. Aside from the possibility of having no ill intentions, the opponent’s strength was formidable—either a Grandmaster or someone possessing a secret technique for concealing one’s presence.
From the dense woods emerged an elderly man with grizzled hair. He wore tattered, patched-up clothes and leaned on a thick green bamboo staff as thick as a bowl’s rim. Eight cloth sacks hung from his shoulder. His eyebrows were thick and heavy, and wrinkles lined his eyes and forehead. Yet, despite his appearance, there was no trace of ferocity or frailty in his aged features. His eyes were as clear and innocent as a child’s.
An eight-sack elder of the Beggars’ Sect? Meng Qi quietly inhaled, startled. He had a complicated history with the Beggars’ Sect. Suddenly encountering one here, without having changed his appearance, naturally stirred emotional fluctuations.
Of course, if the other party insisted on confrontation, he wouldn’t be afraid either. He believed in meeting force with force and water with earth. He had offended too many experts and masters to count; the Beggars’ Sect would just have to line up and wait their turn!
The old beggar examined Meng Qi from head to toe. “You’re young, full of vigor, and brimming with ambition. I understand. I was young once too. Hmm…”
He suddenly paused, eyeing Meng Qi suspiciously. “Could you be ‘Wild Blade’ Su Meng?”
“Junior?” Meng Qi, pondering the title, replied thoughtfully, “Indeed, I am. May I ask the senior’s identity?”
He doesn’t seem to harbor hostility?
The old beggar coughed and spat out a glob of phlegm, showing no sign of a martial expert’s dignity. He chuckled, “The river flows forward, each wave pushing the one before. I dare not call myself a senior; I’m just a few decades older.”
An eight-sack elder of the Beggars’ Sect, fond of appearing dirty and unkempt… Meng Qi recalled the intelligence from the Six Gates. He carefully examined the old beggar and noticed he was missing an ear. Suddenly understanding, Meng Qi bowed with a smile: “So you are the ‘Mad Staff’ elder.”
“Mad Staff Divine Beggar” Ling Yue, a direct disciple of the Beggars’ Sect, cultivated the “True Almsman’s Manual.” Known for his fiery temper and disregard for etiquette, he was upright and righteous, always ready to support younger martial artists. He never tolerated corruption within the sect. It was precisely due to heroes like him that the Beggars’ Sect had not been branded as heretics.
Seeing that Meng Qi recognized him, Ling Yue smacked his lips, seemingly satisfied. “Don’t worry about the Jiangdong incident. Those traffickers deserved to die. Had I encountered them, I would have acted out of righteous anger too. Alas, our sect’s founding ancestor was born in poverty, begged as a child, and after gaining extraordinary powers, vowed that all beggars should help and support one another. Yet, many beggars commit crimes and are scoundrels. Killing them is better than aiding them!”
He spoke openly, even criticizing the sect’s founding principles.
Those who, with hands and feet intact, still end up begging—though not all, at least half are not good people.
Indeed, he is as fiery and straightforward as the reports described… Meng Qi inwardly praised the accuracy of the intelligence and wasn’t particularly bothered by Ling Yue’s words. Within the Beggars’ Sect, villains outnumbered the virtuous. With only a few righteous individuals unwilling to defy the founding ancestor’s teachings, it was difficult to change the overall atmosphere. Meng Qi knew he had little to worry about—there would certainly be many “sympathizers” among the Beggars’ Sect who would seek revenge, though they might try to hide it.
Fortunately, he never expected to maintain friendly relations with the Beggars’ Sect.
“I didn’t know the senior was resting here. I’ve disturbed you greatly. I’ll take my leave now. Please forgive me,” Meng Qi intended to depart.
Ling Yue nodded first, then suddenly said, “Wait. There’s a matter I’d like Master Su to witness.”
“Witness?” Meng Qi asked, puzzled.
Ling Yue smiled. “Old beggar and Master Shi Tianqi from Stone Fortress have known each other for years. Our strengths have always been comparable. We’ve dueled many times, with neither side gaining the upper hand. Neither of us would admit defeat. Now, both of us have reached the threshold of the second heavenly ladder, needing only one final step. Thus, we intend to engage in a true life-or-death battle to stimulate our potential, break through the barrier, and become Grandmasters.”
“Although we’ve already signed a life-and-death contract—where neither sect nor family will seek vengeance regardless of who dies—the agreement was hastily made. We couldn’t find a respected, impartial witness outside both the Beggars’ Sect and Stone Fortress. A mere contract alone isn’t convincing enough.”
“With Master Su’s current status and reputation in the martial world, rivaling most Grandmasters, meeting you here is truly fate’s blessing. I humbly request your assistance. Tonight, right here, will be our duel.”
Stone Fortress was a renowned martial arts stronghold in the Northern Zhou, and Shi Tianqi was a celebrated martial hero. He primarily conducted trade between the Northern Zhou and the grasslands, maintaining intricate ties with aristocratic families and martial sects. His twin judge’s brushes were famed as “marking life and death, deciding fate.” He was among the top experts most likely to ascend to Grandmaster status.
Although Meng Qi naturally enjoyed being in the spotlight, he had little interest in witnessing a duel between two top experts. Just as he was about to decline, he suddenly heard Ling Yue’s final words.
My current status and reputation in the martial world rival most Grandmasters? Meng Qi inwardly rejoiced, unable to help but lift his head slightly, somewhat proudly responding, “To be held in such high esteem by the senior, this junior cannot refuse.”
As a renowned righteous young hero, how could he not have witnessed others’ life-or-death duels before?
Ling Yue laughed heartily and gave a thumb-up. “Indeed, bold and generous. No wonder you’re known as the Wild Blade.”
If you say that, I almost want to take it back… Meng Qi’s smile froze for a moment before he began chatting with Ling Yue about his past exploits—such as galloping thousands of miles to ambush Jin warriors raiding from the grasslands, infiltrating the grasslands to rescue captured righteous heroes, or offending the Cui Clan of Gezhou simply for the sake of justice.
These stories made Ling Yue beam with joy. Before a life-or-death battle, who wouldn’t want to reminisce about past glories?
Time passed like flowing water. The full moon gradually rose overhead. Ling Yue frowned, soared into the air, and scanned the surroundings, muttering, “Why hasn’t Master Shi arrived yet? He’s always kept his word…”
“Could something have happened to Master Shi, or perhaps an urgent matter arose?” Meng Qi speculated.
Ling Yue’s brow furrowed tighter. “Half an hour has already passed. Let’s wait another half. If he still hasn’t arrived, I’ll go personally to inquire.”
He and Shi Tianqi had developed deep friendship through repeated duels, which was why they had arranged this today.
Meng Qi knew almost nothing about Shi Tianqi. The Yuxu Divine Calculation technique was of no help. Since the matter had nothing to do with him, he remained calm and patiently waited with Ling Yue.
The cold moon began to sink westward. Ling Yue could no longer sit still. “Master Shi is always known for his integrity and trustworthiness. Even if something came up, he would have notified me. Something must have happened. Master Su, please accompany this old beggar to Stone Fortress to confirm that he did not attend the duel.”
Meng Qi considered briefly and agreed.
Two streaks of light pierced the clouds like meteors, speeding toward the northern Stone Fortress.
After more than half an hour, the fortress, built on perilous terrain, came into view. Its thick walls and defensive enchantments made it resemble a fortress.
Below, chaos reigned.
When Ling Yue and Meng Qi landed, only a few experts from Stone Fortress reacted promptly. The rest appeared panicked and disoriented.
Shi Tianqi’s son and daughter were both in their early twenties. The son was sturdy and strong, with sharp features. The daughter wore purple and was beautifully delicate, clearly in a state of confusion.
Upon seeing Ling Yue and Meng Qi, they hurried forward. “Uncle Ling, Father’s soul lamp has gone out!”
“What?” Ling Yue was greatly startled but quickly steadied himself. “Tell me slowly.”
“Who is this?” Shi Xiaoxiu, tearful, noticed Meng Qi, the stranger.
Ling Yue introduced, “This is ‘Wild Blade’ Su Meng.”
“Wild Blade” Su Meng? For a moment, the martial experts of Stone Fortress fell silent, seemingly stunned. This was a figure even more renowned than Senior Ling himself!
Shi Xiaoxiu suppressed her shock, bowed, and spoke tearfully, “Before nightfall, Father suddenly left without a word. At midnight, my second brother, who was guarding the ancestral shrine, discovered that Father’s soul lamp had already extinguished. Please, please help Stone Fortress seek justice!”
If something could make Stone Fortress’s master leave in such haste, it must be extremely important… Meng Qi frowned slightly, remaining relatively calm since it did not concern him directly.
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