(Thousands of Li Were Hazy Like a Dream)

The 2 of them immediately went southward, bypassed Yanmen Pass via the mountain ridge and came to a small town. They went to an inn. Without waiting for Qiao Feng to say anything, A’Zhu told the waiter of the inn to bring them 20 Jin (0.6 kg) of wine. Seeing that the 2 of them did not look like a married couple or siblings, the waiter already felt surprised, hearing her tell him to take out 20 Jin of wine, he was even more astonished, hence he only looked at them in a trance without going to fetch wine and also without replying. Qiao Feng gave him a stare; he was not angry yet his look was commanding. That waiter was frightened. Only now did he turn around while mumbling: ’20 Jin of wine? Use wine to bathe?’

A’Zhu laughed and said: ‘Great master Qiao, we’re going to find Elder Xu but it looks like in 2 days we’ll be detected by other people. There’d be lots of fun if we fought and killed all the way but I’m afraid Elder Xu would flee at the mere sight of us coming towards him. Then, we wouldn’t be able to find him.’

‘Ha-ha,’ Qiao Feng laughed and said: ‘You don’t need to flatter me, if we fought all the way, there’d be more and more enemies coming, and eventually the 2 of us wouldn’t be able to avoid getting killed…’ A’Zhu said: ‘There’re unlikely to be dangers. It’s just that if every one of them flees at the sight of us, it may be hard to handle.’ Qiao Feng said: ‘Then according to you, is there any way for us? How about resting in the inns during daytime and going quickly at nighttime?’

A’Zhu smiled and said: ‘If you wanna make it impossible for them to recognize us, it couldn’t be easier. But I don’t know if Great hero Qiao who is famous all over the land under heaven is willing to disguise?’ Speaking to the last, it was the word ‘disguise’ yet again.

Qiao Feng laughed and said: ‘I’m not a Han so basically I don’t wanna wear these Han clothes already. But if putting on Khitan clothes, it’ll be very hard to travel in the Central Plains. A’Zhu, who you think should I disguise as?’

A’Zhu said: ‘You’re imposing in stature, as soon as we stop or go out you’ll make everyone take notice. It’d be best if you disguise as an ordinary-looking man in jianghu who doesn’t have any unusual characteristic. It’s possible to run across several hundreds of men of this type on roads every day, so no one would keep their eye on you.’

Qiao Feng slapped his leg and said: ‘Brilliant! Brilliant! After drinking wine we’re gonna disguise.’

When he drank up 20 Jin of wine, A’Zhu immediately started to disguise. A great variety of things such as flour, paste and ink glue were combined and the extraordinary features of Qiao Feng’s face disappeared one by one. Next, A’Zhu gave him a sparse mustache on the upper lip. When looking in a mirror, even Qiao Feng could not recognize himself. After that, A’Zhu disguised herself as a middle-aged man.

A’Zhu laughed and said: ‘Your appearance has been changed completely, but as soon as you talk or drink wine, other people would know who you are.’ Qiao Feng nodded and said: ‘Um, then I must talk less and drink less wine.’

Going south this time, he really talked very little, he also drank only 2 or 3 Jin of wine each meal as a formality.

That day, arriving in Sanjia town in Jinnan, while the 2 of them were eating noodles in a small noodle shop, they suddenly heard 2 beggars talking to each other on the outside. 1 beggar said: ‘Elder Xu died a really miserable death. All the bones in his chest and his back were broken. That evil traitor Qiao Feng must’ve committed murder again.’ Qiao Feng was slightly shocked and thought: ‘Elder Xu has died?’ He and A’Zhu looked at each other.

He heard another beggar say: ‘The day after tomorrow the session for receiving condolence will start in Weihui, Henan. All the Elders and brothers of the Society will go to the memorial ceremony. We must discuss a way to capture Qiao Feng.’ The 1st beggar then said a few slangy sentences of the Society. Qiao Feng certainly understood what he meant. The beggar said that Qiao Feng had a formidable influence hence they were not allowed to talk as they pleased and to be overheard by his subordinates.

After eating noodles, Qiao Feng and A’Zhu left Sanjia town and went to the outskirts. Qiao Feng said: ‘We should go to Weihui to have a look. Maybe we’ll see a clue.’ A’Zhu said: ‘Yes, we must go to Weihui. Great master Qiao, most of the people who’ll go the memorial ceremony are your former subordinates, so don’t give yourself away in your words and behaviors.’ Qiao Feng nodded: ‘I know.’ They immediately turned to the east and went towards Weihui.

On the 3rd day, they arrived in Weihui and entered the city. They only saw that there were full of the Beggar Society’s disciples on the streets and alleys. Some occupied tables in restaurants and ate with no manners, some slaughtered dogs and pigs in alleys and some even importuned and expropriated on streets. Qiao Feng felt unhappy when he saw that the Beggar Society which was known as the number 1 large society in jianghu was slack in rules and no longer had the strict and thriving atmosphere of the days when he had been in charge of it; if this situation continued, soon it would be regarded with contempt by the common people. Even though he and the Beggar Society were no longer friends and had become the enemies of each other, seeing that his painstaking efforts in many years had been nullified in a very short time, he still felt sorry for it.

Hearing several disciples of the Beggar Society say some slangy sentences, he knew that the memorial tablet of Elder Xu was placed in an abandoned garden in the west of the city. Qiao Feng and A’Zhu bought some incense sticks, candles, joss money, a pig head, a bull head and a goat head then went to the abandoned garden along with other people and kowtowed to Elder Xu’s memorial tablet.

He saw that Elder Xu’s memorial tablet was imbued with fresh blood. That was a custom of the Beggar Society which meant that the deceased had been killed by someone and the members of the society had to avenge him. All the people in the mourning hall inveighed against Qiao Feng, but they did not know that he was beside them. Seeing that all around him were the leading people of the society, Qiao Feng feared that his flaws would be noticed by someone. Not wanting to stay here for long, he immediately took leave and walked out alongside A’Zhu. He thought: ‘Elder Xu’s already dead. The number of people who know that leading big brother in the world has been reduced by 1.’

Suddenly he caught a glimpse of a person at the end of the alley, who was a woman with a tall and big stature. With his sharp eyes, Qiao Feng recognized her as Granny Tan. He thought: ‘Very good, she must’ve come here to attend Elder Xu’s memorial ceremony. I’ve wanted to find her.’ After that, he saw another person flash by the alley. This person also had a very good lightness skill, but he was Zhao Qiansun.

Qiao Feng was surprised: ‘These 2 people are sneaky. Is there anything strange?’ He knew that these 2 people had originally been shixiongmei (apprentice brother and apprentice younger sister) of each other and the emotional entanglement between them had not been broken off until now. He thought: ‘Both of them are 60 or 70 years old already. Could it be that they’re still secretly dating and having an affair?’ At first he did not like to meddle in other people’s business, but he thought that Zhao Qiansun knew who the ‘leading big brother’ was and that Grandpa Tan and Granny Tan were also likely to know him, if he could find some chinks in their armors, he would be able to seize the opportunity and force them to reveal the truth. Hence he immediately put his mouth close to A’Zhu’s ear and said: ‘You wait for me in the inn.’ A’Zhu nodded. Without delay, Qiao Feng chased in the direction that Zhao Qiansun had gone.

Zhao Qiansun only chose secluded places to go along, sometimes hiding in the corners of walls on the eastern side and sometimes shrinking under the edges of roofs on the western side. With a stealthy behavior, he went out of the Eastern gate of the city. Qiao Feng followed Zhao Qiansun from a distance and all along did not let him detect himself. He saw that Zhao Qiansun went to the side of a canal, bent his body and got into a big wooden boat. Qiao Feng raised his internal energy and ran very quickly. After leaping several times, he already reached the side of the boat. He gently jumped onto the roof of the boat and put his ear against it to listen.

In the cabin, Granny Tan let out a deep sigh and said: ‘Shige (elder apprentice bro), you and I are already this old. It’s too late to regret the things of our young years. What’s the point in mentioning past events again?’ Zhao Qiansun said: ‘This life of mine has been ruined. It’s already too late to regret. Xiao Juan, I’ve arranged to meet up with you here for no other reason than to beg you to sing those several songs of the past once again.’ Granny Tan said: ‘Alas, you’re always silly to the point of being laughable. When my hubby came to Weihui and saw you again, he was already very displeased. He’s a suspicious man so you’d better trouble me less.’ Zhao Qiansun said: ‘What are you afraid of? Us shixiongmei are on the up and up. What’s wrong with talking about past events?’ Granny Tan sighed and softly said: ‘Those songs of the past, those songs of the past…’

Seeing that her mind had been stirred, Zhao Qiansun pleaded more: ‘Xiao Juan, today the 2 of us have met but I don’t know when we’ll meet again. I’m afraid my life is not long, when you want to sing to me again I won’t have the blessing of coming to hear you.’ Granny Tan said: ‘Shige, don’t say that. If you definitely want to hear me, then I’m gonna gently sing a song.’ Zhao Qiansun said happily: ‘Good, many thanks, Xiao Juan, thank you very much.’

Granny Tan leisurely sang: ‘At that time, when you went over on the bridge, I was washing clothes next to it…’

When she had just sung 2 sentences, with ‘ka-la’ sounds, the door of the cabin was pushed open and a man rushed in. After Qiao Feng had been disguised, both Zhao Qiansun and Granny Tan were not able to recognize him. The 2 of them jumped out of their skin at first, but when they saw that he was not Grandpa Tan, they immediately calmed down and shouted: ‘Who?’

Qiao Feng coldly looked at the 2 of them and said: ‘One is frivolous and immoral, seducing a married woman; the other is slvtty and shameless, secretly meeting the boyfriend without the husband’s knowledge…’

When he had not yet finished saying, Granny Tan and Zhao Qiansun split up and attacked simultaneously from the left and right sides. Qiao Feng slightly leaned to one side, turned his hand over and grabbed Granny Tan’s wrist. After that, he struck out with his elbow, aiming at Zhao Qiansun’s left side. His attack was delivered later but came earlier than Zhao Qiansun’s. As experts in wulin, both Zhao Qiansun and Granny Tan only thought that in 1 stance they would be able to subdue the enemy and never could they have expected that this mediocre-looking man had such extraordinary martial arts that he could go on the offensive from a defensive position in just 1 stance. The space in the cabin was narrow hence their limbs could not be used to the fullest, but Qiao Feng was good at both long-range and close-quarters combats, in the cabin which was less than 1 zhang square, he still executed grasping hand techniques and short-range skills very cleverly. Fighting to the 7th bout, Zhao Qiansun was hit by a finger attack in the waist. Scared, Granny Tan fought a bit more slowly. She was instantly hit by a palm attack in the back and collapsed on the floor.

Qiao Feng coldly said: ‘The 2 of you please have a rest here. In the abandoned garden in Weihui city, not just a few heroes and brave men are paying respects to Elder Xu’s memorial tablet, I’ll invite them to here to comment on this matter.’

Zhao Qiansun and Granny Tan were frightened and tried to channel their internal energies, but their acupuncture points were already blocked, and they was unable to move even the tips of their little fingers. The 2 of them were already old, they no longer had any sexual desire, they arranged to meet each other here only to talk about the past, and there was nothing unethical between them. But that time was in the Northern Song Dynasty, everyone was very serious about protecting the rules of etiquette, and if any hero or brave man in jianghu violated a taboo about sex, they would be despised by the many. When there were 1 man and 1 woman quietly meeting up in this boat, who was willing to believe that it was only to sing a song and to talk some silly sentences? If everyone came here to see, afterward how would the 2 of them be able to live? Even Grandpa Tan would no longer have any honor and glory.

Granny Tan hastily said: ‘Hero, we haven’t done anything that offended you, if you could show some mercy, I… I’ll definitely repay your kindness.’ Qiao Feng said: ‘There’s no need to repay me. I only ask you 1 sentence, please answer in 3 words. If you say the truth, I’ll immediately unblock your acupuncture points and leave, and I’ll never mention the incident of today to anyone else.’ Granny Tan said: ‘As long as I know, I’ll certainly inform you.’

Qiao Feng said: ‘Someone wrote a letter to Chief Wang of the Beggar Society, talking about the Qiao Feng matter. Many people call the writer of the letter ‘leading big brother’, who’s this man?’

Granny Tan hesitated. When she had not yet replied, Zhao Qiansun shouted loudly: ‘Xiao Juan, you mustn’t say. No matter what, you mustn’t say.’ Glaring at him, Qiao Feng asked: ‘You’d rather lose all your reputation than say it?’ Zhao Qiansun said: ‘Then Laozi (your father here – arrogantly calling oneself) would die, that’s all. I’m indebted to this leading big brother so Laozi definitely won’t say his name.’ Qiao Feng said: ‘Then if Xiao Juan loses all her reputation, you won’t care either?’ Zhao Qiansun said: ‘If Grandpa Tan knows about today’s incident, I’ll immediately kill myself in front of him and use death to express my regret, that’s all.’

Qiao Feng turned towards Granny Tan and said: ‘You may not necessarily be indebted to that man. If you say, everyone will be safe and sound, you’ll save Grandpa Tan’s and your reputations, and you’ll save your shige’s life as well.’

Hearing him threaten to take Zhao Qiansun’s life Granny Tan could not help but shiver and said: ‘Ok, I’m gonna tell you. That man is…’

Zhao Qiansun hurriedly called out: ‘Xiao Juan, you mustn’t say. I beg you, beg you. This man is prolly Qiao Feng’s subordinate, if you say, that leading big brother’s life is gonna be in danger.’

Qiao Feng said: ‘I’m Qiao Feng. If you two don’t say, there’ll be endless future problems.’

Frightened, Zhao Qiansun said: ‘No wonder your martial arts are so good. Xiao Juan, in my life I’ve never begged anything from you. This is the only thing I beg from you, you must agree, no matter what.’

Granny Tan thought that for the past several decades he had been cherishing her, had very deep feelings for her, she herself had let him down many times, and he had never said what he had wanted to beg from her, but this time, in order to cover up for the person who he was indebted to, he was willing to die, hence she herself simply could not ruin his righteous act. She then said: ‘Chief Qiao, today’s matter, doing good deeds or doing evil with it is totally up to you. I and my shixiong have a clear conscience which can be expressed to Heaven and the Sun. Please forgive me for not being able to tell you what you want to know.’ Even though she said these sentences politely, her words showed her determination not to reveal the truth at any cost.

Zhao Qiansun happily said: ‘Xiao Juan, thank you very much. Thank you very much.’

Qiao Feng knew that it was useless to force them again. He uttered a ‘humph’ sound, pulled out a jade hairpin from Granny Tan’s head then jumped out of the cabin, returned straight to Weihui city and asked about the place where Grandpa Tan was staying at. Because he was in disguise, no one was able to recognize him. Grandpa Tan and Granny Tan were staying at Rugui inn in Weihui city. This was not a secret matter therefore he knew about it immediately after asking.

When he entered the inn, he saw Grandpa Tan putting his hands together at his back and walking back and forth in his room, looking very fretful. Qiao Feng stretched out his hand and right at the middle of his palm was that jade hairpin of Granny Tan’s.

After seeing that Zhao Qiansun had followed them very closely to Weihui, Grandpa Tan had always felt depressed and worried, and now, because he had not seen his wife for half a day, he was worried about her and was wondering where she had gone to. Suddenly seeing his wife’s jade hairpin, he was both surprised and happy, and asked: ‘Who are you? Did my wife ask you to come here? What do you want to instruct me?’ As he finished saying he held out his hand and took that jade hairpin. Qiao Feng let him take the hairpin then said: ‘Your honorable wife has been captured by other people. She is about to be put in danger.’ Grandpa Tan was frightened and said: ‘My wife’s martial arts are very good. How could she be captured easily by other people?’ Qiao Feng said: ‘It’s Qiao Feng.’

As Grandpa Tan heard the 3 words ‘It’s Qiao Feng’, he was no longer doubtful about this, but he was even more anxious and worried and hastily asked: ‘Qiao Feng, alas! If it’s him then this’s really troublesome. My… my wife, where’s she?’ Qiao Feng said: ‘If you want to see your honorable wife alive, it’s very easy, if you want to see her dead, it’s also easy.’ Grandpa Tan was a stable man, even though he was worried, he still maintained his composure and asked: ‘Please instruct me.’

Qiao Feng said: ‘Qiao Feng has 1 matter to ask Grandpa Tan, if you say the truth, he will immediately let your honorable wife go and won’t dare to harm a single hair of hers. But if you don’t say, he’ll have no choice but to put her to death and bury her corpse and Zhao Qiansun’s corpse in the same grave.’

Hearing the last sentence, Grandpa Tan could no longer restrain himself. He then let out a furious shout and sent a palm attack towards Qiao Feng’s face. Qiao Feng slanted his body and slightly moved backward, that palm attack hit the air. Grandpa Tan was frightened, thinking that this palm attack of his had been fast like lightning and had not been something trivial but unexpectedly this man had dodged it so easily as if nothing had happened. Immediately he stretched his right palm out obliquely and struck out horizontally with his left palm. Qiao Feng saw that the inside of the room was narrow which made it impossible for him to dodge therefore he immediately held up his right arm to receive the attack. With a ‘pai’ sound, the palm attack hit his arm. Qiao Feng’s body did not shake. He turned his right arm over and pressed down onto Grandpa Tan’s shoulder.

In an instant, Grandpa Tan felt as if there was a rock which weighed several thousand Jin put on his shoulder. He immediately channeled his internal energy in order to stand upright but the weight on his shoulder was like that of a mountain or a mound, pressing him down to the point that his backbone produced ka-ka-ka sounds nonstop and were almost broken, hence he had no choice but to bend his knees and kneel down. Not willing to yield, he exerted himself and made another effort to stand up, but he was unable to take another breath, his knees became weak and he knelt down. He really could not help kneeling down like this, but his knees and joints had already become weak, thus when pressed down by such heavy force, it was impossible for him not to bend his knees.

Qiao Feng intended to defeat Grandpa Tan’s pride hence after he had knelt down the pressure still did not decrease, making Grandpa Tan’s back bend like a bow and his forehead almost touch the floor. The whole face of Grandpa Tan had become very red and he could barely sustain the pressure. He used all his strength to resist and hold his body up. Suddenly Qiao Feng’s arm let go of him. The pressure on the shoulder of Grandpa Tan suddenly disappeared which was unanticipated by him hence it was too late for him to take back his strength. As a result, he immediately jumped up for over 1 zhang. With a ‘peng’ sound, the top of his head hit a beam heavily and all but broke it.

When Grandpa Tan was falling down from mid air, Qiao Feng did not wait until his feet touch the floor to stretch out his own right hand and grab his chest. Qiao Feng’s arm was very long while Grandpa Tan was short and small in stature hence no matter how he punched or kicked, he was unable to touch Qiao Feng’s body. Moreover, when his feet were in mid air, even if his martial arts were much better, he would not be able to use them. As soon as Grandpa Tan was in that urgent situation, he understood and shouted: ‘So you’re Qiao Feng!’

Qiao Feng said: ‘Of course it’s me!’

Grandpa Tan said furiously: ‘You… You… Fvck you! Why do you wanna get that brat Zhao Qiansun involved in this?’ What Grandpa Tan was angry about the most was Qiao Feng’s words that after killing Granny Tan he would bury her corpse and Zhao Qiansun’s in the same grave.

Qiao Feng said: ‘Your wife wants to drag him in. Why does it have anything to do with me? Do you wanna know where Granny Tan is now? Do you wanna know who she is saying loving words and singing love songs to?’ Hearing that, Grandpa Tan immediately guessed that his wife and Zhao Qiansun were staying together and could not help but want to go see the whole story. He then said: ‘Where’s she? Please take me there.’ Qiao Feng laughed coldly and said: ‘What have you done for me? Why do I gotta take you there?’

Recalling what Qiao Feng had said previously, Grandpa Tan asked: ‘You said you wanna ask me something. What do you wanna ask?’

Qiao Feng said: ‘That day in the apricot forest outside Wuxi city, Elder Xu brought along a letter which was written to the former Chief of the Beggar Society Wang Jiantong. Who wrote this letter?’

Grandpa Tan’s limbs slightly trembled. At this moment, he was still being lifted up by Qiao Feng and his body was in the air. If Qiao Feng sent internal energy out from the palm, he would take his life instantly. But unexpectedly he did not fear and said sternly: ‘This man killed your father so you bear a huge grudge against him. I definitely can’t reveal his name. Otherwise you’d find and take your revenge on him, and then wouldn’t it mean I’ve caused him to get killed?’ Qiao Feng said: ‘If you don’t say, you’ll get killed first.’ Grandpa Tan laughed ha-ha and said: ‘What kind of man do you think I am? How could I be mortally afraid of death and sell off my friends?’ Seeing him take care to preserve personal loyalty, Qiao Feng rather admired him. Had this been a different matter, he would have already stopped questioning him. But how could the grudge involving the deaths of his parents be something ordinary? Therefore he said: ‘You don’t care about your own life, but do you not cherish even your wife’s life? Grandpa Tan and Granny Tan’s reputation going through the floor, leaving behind a world-scale disgrace, don’t tell me that you ain’t afraid of it either?’

People in wulin cherished reputation the most and it was usual for brave men in jianghu to attach more importance to their names than to their lives. After hearing these 2 sentences, Grandpa Tan said: ‘I, Tan, sit firmly and stand upright, all my life I’ve never done anything wrong to my friends, how could you say the words ‘reputation going through the floor, leaving behind a world-scale disgrace’ to me?’

Qiao Feng sternly said: ‘Granny Tan may not sit firmly and stand upright and Zhao Qiansun may do wrong to his friends.’

In an instant, Grandpa Tan’s face completely reddened then turned livid. He frowned and glared fiercely at Qiao Feng with glaring eyes.

Qiao Feng unloosed his hand and put Grandpa Tan down on the floor then turned around and went out. Silent as the grave, Grandpa Tan followed him. The 2 of them, 1 ahead and 1 behind, went out of Weihui city. On the way, not just a few brave men in jianghu recognized Grandpa Tan and respectfully made way and saluted him. Grandpa Tan only let out a ‘humph’ sound and walked past them. Not long afterward, the 2 of them arrived at the side of that big wooden boat.

In a flash, Qiao Feng jumped onto the head of the boat. He pointed into the cabin and said: ‘You come and see by yourself!’

After that, Grandpa Tan got on the boat. When he looked into the cabin, he saw his wife and Zhao Qiansun were leaning on each other affectionately and cuddling up in a corner of the cabin. Boiling with anger, Grandpa Tan sent a fierce palm attack towards Zhao Qiansun’s head. A ‘peng’ sound was heard, Zhao Qiansun did not make a move, nor did he strike back, and he did not dodge the attack either. When Grandpa Tan’s palm touched the top of Zhao Qiansun’s head, he felt something wrong. He hastily stretched out his hand to touch his wife’s cheek and felt that it was ice-cold. It turned out Granny Tan had already been dead for a long time. The whole body of Grandpa Tan trembled but he was unwilling to give up, he held out his hand again to check her breathing, but she no longer breathed. Dumbfounded, he touched Zhao Qiansun’s forehead and also felt that it was ice-cold. Grandpa Tan was extremely grieved and indignant, he turned around and glared fiercely at Qiao Feng, his eyes looked as if spouting fire.

Seeing that Granny Tan and Zhao Qiansun suddenly had died together unnaturally, Qiao Feng was also very astonished. When leaving the boat, he had only blocked some acupuncture points of the 2 of them, how could the 2 experts suddenly die like this? He lifted the corpse of Zhao Qiansun up and took a quick look at it. He saw that there was not any wound caused by weapons on the corpse, nor was there any bloodstain. He then pulled the clothes on Zhao Qiansun’s chest, with a ‘chi’ sound, they were torn off. He saw a big black bruise on the chest of the corpse. Obviously Zhao Qiansun had been hit by a heavy palm attack. What stranger was that unexpectedly it looked like this serious injury had been caused by his own palm attack.

Grandpa Tan carried Granny Tan, turned around and unfastened her clothes to see the bruise on her chest. Her injury and the injury that Zhao Qiansun had suffered were exactly alike. Grandpa Tan wanted to cry but no tear came out. He said in a low voice to Qiao Feng: ‘You’re a beast in human face, such savagery!’

Amazed, Qiao Feng was speechless for a period of time, he only thought: ‘Who used heavy palm attacks to kill Granny Tand and Zhao Qiansun? The killer’s internal energy is profound and very extraordinary. Could it be that it’s also my adversary who came here? But how could he know that the 2 of them were in this boat?’

Feeling grieved at the violent death of his beloved wife, Grandpa Tan channeled internal energy into his 2 arms and struck towards Qiao Feng with all his strength. Qiao Feng dodged to one side, only loud ka-la-la sounds were heard, the palm force of Grandpa Tan had struck down one side of the boat’s hood. Qiao Feng put out his right hand, grabbed Grandpa Tan’s shoulder and said: ‘Grandpa Tan, I definitely didn’t killed your wife, do you believe me?’ Grandpa Tan said: ‘If it wasn’t you then who?’ Qiao Feng said: ‘Now your life is in my hands. If I wanna kill you, it’d be as easy as turning my hand over. What’s the good of deceiving you?’ Grandpa Tan said: ‘You only wanna find out who killed your father. My martial arts aren’t as good as yours but how can I be fooled by you?’ Qiao Feng said: ‘Okay, you tell me the name of the enemy that killed my father, I’ll bear the responsibility to avenge your wife’s death on behalf of you.’

Grandpa Tan laughed wildly in a sorrowful voice. He tried to use his strength continuously 3 times to break loose from the enemy’s grasp, however the power of the palm that Qiao Feng was lightly putting on his shoulder varied according to his power. Grandpa Tan struggled with powerful force but the force of the enemy’s palm became stronger accordingly, therefore from beginning to end he was unable to escape from it. Grandpa Tan flew into a rage. He put his tongue between his 2 sets of teeth and gave it a powerful bite, severing it. With his mouth being filled with fresh blood, he spouted it towards Qiao Feng. Qiao Feng hastily dodged to one side. Grandpa Tan quickly ran over, sent the corpse of Zhao Qiansun away in a fierce kick and carried the corpse of Granny Tan tightly in his arms. His neck then loosened up and he died.

Seeing this kind of devastation, Qiao Feng also felt sorrowful and rather sorry for them. Even though he had not killed the Tans and Zhao Qiansun with his own hands, they had died because of him. If he wanted to obliterate the corpses and destroy the evidence, he only needed to stamp his foot to create a hole in the bilge of the boat, and the boat would sink to the bottom of the river. But he thought: ‘If I hid these 3 corpses, wouldn’t it look like I have a guilty conscience?’ Hence he immediately got out of the cabin and disembarked, wanting to look for a footprint or clue on the river bank, but no trace was found.

He hurriedly returned to the inn. All along, A’Zhu had been waiting for him at the gate. Seeing him return unharmed, she was very happy, but seeing that he had a doubtful expression, she knew that his stalking of Zhao Qiansun and Granny Tan had been in vain. She said in a low voice: ‘How was it?’ Qiao Feng said: ‘All died!’ A’Zhu was slightly shocked. She asked: ‘Granny Tan and Zhao Qiansun?’ Qiao Feng said: ‘Grandpa Tan as well. The 3 of them died altogether.’

A’Zhu only thought that he had k