nyslfriends Chapter 28 The Truth Revealed
Chapter 28 The Truth Revealed
As soon as Huang Rong was freed, she pointed at Yang Kang not far away and cursed, "Wanyan Kang, you are truly despicable, shameless, and utterly vile!"
She was favored by Huang Yaoshi from a young age. She was indeed very intelligent, but she rarely interacted with ordinary people. The only curses she could utter were a few.
At this moment, her chest heaved, her jade-like face was filled with murderous intent, and her lively eyes were full of anger. However, the words she uttered made Ouyang Ke, who was quietly watching from the side, twitch his lips slightly.
This girl, her tone when she's scolding sounds like she's being coquettish.
Yang Kang's face was ashen, but he didn't look at her; his gaze was fixed on Ouyang Ke.
The person he hated most in his heart was Ouyang Ke.
Back in the East Sea, he declined his father's invitation under the pretext of a leg ailment.
I thought we still had feelings for each other when we met tonight.
But Ouyang Ke suddenly intervened; otherwise, Guo Jing and Huang Rong would have already been beheaded, and the position of Beggar Clan leader would have been his for the taking.
Unfortunately, he not only ruined his good deed, but also revealed his identity in public, clearly intending to force him into a desperate situation!
At this moment, as he stared at the figure in white, his eyes were filled with resentment that almost overflowed, yet they were also mixed with a fear that he himself was unwilling to admit.
Qiu Qianchi stood beside him, her gaze sweeping lightly over Huang Rong before landing on Ouyang Ke.
She was unruly and rarely dared to disrespect her; in the past, she would have already taught them a lesson.
However, her internal energy was still churning, and the lingering force of the previous palm strike had not yet dissipated, leaving her right arm still slightly numb. She could only endure it for the time being, her gaze lingering on Ouyang Ke, which made her even more wary.
This man was more difficult to deal with than she had imagined.
Elder Peng, having caught his breath, pointed at Huang Rong and shouted, "You little vixen, how dare you be disrespectful to the leader!"
Huang Rong ignored him completely, took a deep breath, and shouted loudly:
"Listen up, brothers of the Beggars' Sect! Chief Hong has not passed away; it's all a lie spread by treacherous villains!"
Her voice, imbued with her inner strength, resonated across the summit of Mount Jun, reaching the ears of every Beggar Clan disciple.
The beggars were taken aback by what they heard and all looked at Yang Kang.
Yang Kang's heart tightened, and he shouted, "I am the gang leader! Brothers, heed my command! Capture these three immediately!"
The Beggars' Sect had strict rules, and the leader's orders were absolute. Although the beggars sensed something was amiss, they still marched forward. Dozens of disciples in the front row had already gripped their bamboo sticks, ready to swarm forward at the first command.
Ouyang Keli stood still, observing coldly.
Since his appearance, apart from defeating the four elders, he has remained silent.
Seeing the beggars stirring, he lightly tapped the ground with his crutches, his white robes fluttering slightly. Although he didn't make a move, the invisible pressure he exuded caused the people in the front row to involuntarily slow down.
They had just witnessed this person defeat the four elders in a short time; such martial arts were far beyond their ability to match.
Huang Rong continued, "Brothers, Chief Hong is perfectly fine in the Imperial Palace in Lin'an. He's simply too busy enjoying the imperial cuisine to leave, so he's appointed me to act as his successor. Once he's had his fill, he'll meet with you all!"
Who in the Beggars' Sect doesn't know that Chief Hong is a glutton?
That statement was about 70-80% believable. However, to have this delicate young girl take over as gang leader seemed far too absurd. Whispers rippled through the crowd; some believed it, some didn't, and most were skeptical.
Lu Youjiao struggled to his feet, his voice hoarse: "Miss Huang, is the old gang leader really still alive?"
He had been struck by Ouyang Ke's elbow earlier, and his leg meridians were still throbbing with pain. But upon hearing the good news that Hong Qigong was still alive, he no longer cared about his injuries.
Huang Rong smiled slightly at him, a smile that was sincere and composed: "Elder Lu, you know better than I how much Seventh Master loves to eat. Otherwise, how could he bear to let these people cause trouble? Just think about it, with Seventh Master's martial arts skills, who in the world could easily harm him?"
Lu Youjiao was taken aback upon hearing this, and turned to look at Yang Kang with a look of doubt in his eyes.
Yes, Hong Qigong was a master of the Five Greats, and his Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms were renowned throughout the world. Even if he were surrounded, escaping would not have been difficult. How could he have been killed so easily?
The beggars below the stage were mostly disciples of the Dirty Clothes Sect. Upon hearing that their old leader was not dead and seeing Lu Youjiao's wavering expression, their hearts were immediately unsettled. Their steps, which had been advancing forward, gradually came to a halt.
Elder Peng became extremely anxious and shouted sternly, "Are you trying to rebel?"
But before he could finish speaking, he noticed that the dense crowd below the stage remained completely still. The Dirty Clothes Sect disciples simply stared at him coldly, as if he were a clown jumping around on a beam. The two elders, Jian and Liang, exchanged a glance, realizing the situation was amiss, but unsure how to handle it.
Ouyang Ke's lips curled slightly.
The hearts and minds of the people are now clear.
Although he stood silently, he clearly understood the situation. Yang Kang, the leader of the gang, was like a tree without roots or water without a source. Once the beggars became suspicious, his position would be unstable.
Huang Rong pressed her advantage, raising her voice: "This man's surname is Wanyan, and he is the only son of Wanyan Honglie, the sixth prince of the Great Jin Kingdom!"
The beggars erupted in uproar.
Ouyang Ke had previously revealed Yang Kang's identity, but at the time, no one believed him.
Now that Huang Rong had repeated herself, and given the circumstances, they had no choice but to believe her. Countless gazes fell upon Yang Kang, some filled with anger, some with disdain, and others with disbelief.
Yang Kang's face turned deathly pale, but he forced himself to say, "You're spouting nonsense! I'm a Han Chinese, how could I possibly have anything to do with the Jurchens?"
Huang Rong laughed and said, "Since you keep saying that the Seventh Master will pass the throne to you, do you dare to have a match with me?"
Lu Youjiao and the others all turned their gazes to Yang Kang.
Yang Kang was caught in a dilemma. He knew his martial arts were inferior to Huang Rong's, but to refuse would be tantamount to admitting his guilt. He glanced at the group of beggars below the stage, then at Qiu Qianchi beside him, and had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Why wouldn't I dare?"
Qiu Qianchi frowned, her gaze sweeping over the group of people behind her. One of them nodded slightly, his hand already resting on the signal tube at his waist, waiting for her command.
Yang Kang, holding his dog-beating stick, stood in the center of the platform, fully alert. He knew this battle was a matter of life and death, and dared not be careless in the slightest.
Huang Rong stepped forward and smiled, "Please."
After saying this, she gracefully bowed to Yang Kang.
Yang Kang was taken aback, and subconsciously returned the greeting.
In that instant, Huang Rong moved.
With her arms bent inward and elbows forward, she rammed into Yang Kang's chest like an arrow!
This move is the unique skill of Peach Blossom Island, "Spirit Turtle Step". The Spirit Turtle Step has such a strange name because when performing this martial art, you need to lower your head, bend your arms inward and point your elbows forward, like shooting an arrow to hit the enemy's chest. It is an offensive defense that attacks the enemy's vital points.
Although it's powerful, its movements and postures look just like a turtle's.
Caught off guard, Yang Kang raised his staff to block, but Huang Rong's two right fingers were already aimed straight at his eyes, while at the same time her left foot flipped up, firmly pressing down the bamboo staff.
This move was the "Stealing the Staff from the Mastiff's Mouth" technique personally taught by Hong Qigong, and it was always accurate. Huang Rong's main objective was to seize the staff, while her aim was to get the eye out. However, she struck too quickly, and her finger actually poked Yang Kang's eyeball, causing him to feel dizzy from the pain and instinctively let go and retreat.
Huang Rong, holding a bamboo staff, laughed and said, "You can't even hold the Dog-Beating Stick properly, how dare you be the leader of the Beggars' Sect?"
Despite the excruciating pain, Yang Kang stubbornly argued, "This is our sect's staff! What 'dog-beating stick' nonsense? Don't spout such rubbish!"
Upon hearing this, the beggars' expressions all changed.
The Dog-Beating Stick is indeed the Dog-Beating Stick; everyone in the Beggars' Sect knows it. His words clearly indicate he doesn't even know the stick's real name. Lu Youjiao sighed deeply, and the two elders, Jian and Liang, exchanged a glance, the last trace of doubt in their eyes disappearing.
Huang Rong smiled slightly and extended her bamboo staff: "If you want it, take it."
Yang Kang was overjoyed and was about to step forward when Elder Peng stopped him. Elder Peng whispered, "Chief, we'll protect you." With that, he leaped onto the high platform first, followed closely by Elders Jian and Liang.
Huang Rong generously handed over the bamboo staff. Yang Kang cautiously reached out to take it, but just as he grasped the staff, Huang Rong swiftly snatched it back with her left hand, her left foot leaping up, and her right hand reaching forward.
He snatched the cane twice, each time faster than the last.
Guo Jing shouted, "Don't you understand who Chief Hong passed the Dog-Beating Staff to?"
The beggars below the stage were buzzing with discussion, their eyes shifting back and forth between Huang Rong and Yang Kang. Even the most oblivious person could see at this moment that Huang Rong was Hong Qigong's true disciple.
The two elders, Jian and Liang, exchanged a glance. Having followed Hong Qigong for many years, how could they not see that this was the old gang leader's martial arts?
But if they sided with Huang Rong, what status would the Clean Clothes Sect have in the gang in the future? The two were hesitant and didn't know what to do.
Seeing the two men wavering, Lu Youjiao knew he couldn't miss the opportunity, so he immediately stepped forward with a grin and blocked Yang Kang's way.
"Wait a moment, allow me to say a few words."
As he spoke, his gaze was fixed intently on Guo Jing and Huang Rong.
When Guo Jing's eyes met his, he felt dizzy and weak all over, and even felt drowsy.
Huang Rong sensed something was wrong, but found herself unable to look away, as if she were being held captive by something. She tried to turn her head away, but those eyes seemed to have a magical power, making her stare at them involuntarily.
A hint of smugness flashed in Elder Peng's eyes.
They captured those two using this mind-controlling technique in the first place. Now, it's the perfect time to use the same trick again.
Yang Kang was overjoyed and was ready to tear them to pieces as soon as they fell.
But just then, a cold snort came.
"A trivial skill."
Ouyang Ke stood quietly to the side, his gaze clear and calm, like a still well.
Back at Yueyang Tower, Ouyang Ke had already mastered the "Soul Transfer Technique" from the "Nine Yin Manual" to perfection. Now, Elder Peng was using the Mind Control Technique in front of him, which was tantamount to showing off his skills in front of an expert!
Elder Peng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately used all his strength to subdue this man as well. His eyes shone brightly as he stared intently into Ouyang Ke's eyes.
However, after a few breaths, Ouyang Ke remained calm, while Elder Peng himself felt his mind turbulent and utterly exhausted. The mind-controlling technique had vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.
"Overestimating one's abilities."
Ouyang Ke said calmly.
Elder Peng was terrified and tried his best to calm himself down, but the more panicked he became, the less he could control himself. He felt the white-clad figure in front of him becoming more and more blurred, while his consciousness became more and more scattered.
Just then, a sharp bird cry pierced the night sky!
The sound was piercing, straight to the heart. Elder Peng felt an itch all over his body, his chest churning, and he felt indescribably uncomfortable. He wanted to cover his ears, but found that his hands would not obey his commands.
Immediately afterwards, a burst of fire rushed towards us!
Elder Peng had no time to dodge; he felt a sharp pain in his eyes, and everything went black.
He screamed and covered his face, blood gushing from between his fingers. The screams echoed in the night sky, sending chills down one's spine.
The firebird landed back on Ouyang Ke's shoulder, gently preening its feathers as if it had done nothing of importance. Its small, coral-like eyes swept over the crowd with a hint of disdain.
The two elders, Jian and Liang, paled terribly and were about to step forward when they heard Ouyang Ke coldly say:
"Let's see who dares to make a move."
The sound wasn't loud, but it felt like a thousand-pound hammer, pinning the two men to the spot. Remembering how this man had effortlessly routed all four of them in an instant, they dared not make a move.
Ouyang Ke slowly stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the beggars below the stage before settling on Yang Kang's face.
"With Chief Hong still alive, you're already rushing to recognize a thief as your father." His tone was calm, but every word was like a knife. "This man is the young prince of the Jin Kingdom, and the woman beside him is the younger sister of Qiu Qianren of the Iron Palm Clan. They joined forces to seize the Beggars' Clan, and their next step is to help the Jin people march south and flatten Lin'an."
The beggars paled in horror.
Everyone present had witnessed Qiu Qianchi's exquisite Iron Palm technique during her fight with Ouyang Ke. It might be believable that she was the sister of the Iron Palm Clan leader. However, the Iron Palm Clan had been renowned in the Southwest for decades, and Qiu Qianren was a figure on par with the Five Greats. How could he possibly collude with the Jurchens?
For a moment, the beggars were skeptical, their eyes scanning Qiu Qianchi back and forth.
Yang Kang's face turned deathly pale. He knew his identity had been exposed and he was likely doomed today. He subconsciously looked at Qiu Qianchi, his eyes filled with terror.
"Sister Lian..."
Seeing his appearance, Qiu Qianchi sighed inwardly.
This irresponsible man was the one she had her eye on. Spoiled by her brother since childhood, she had never imagined that she would go to such lengths for a man. But it was too late; there was no turning back.
She stopped looking at him and raised her hand to make a gesture.
A man in a yellow shirt behind him understood and raised his hand, unleashing two beams of blue light. The beams shot into the sky, standing out conspicuously against the night sky and illuminating half of the heavens.
The beggars looked up in astonishment, not knowing what this meant.
Moments later, three red rockets rose up several miles away, followed by green rockets shooting up one after another from the foot of the mountain, weaving a net of light in the night sky.
Lu Youjiao's expression changed, and he said in a deep voice, "The Iron Palm Gang has arrived. Judging from this signal, there are probably no fewer than several hundred of them."
The two elders, Jian and Liang, exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with solemnity.
The signal coming from the foot of the mountain meant that at least several hundred people had arrived. If the Iron Palm Clan really did come out in full force, Junshan would likely be a river of blood tonight.
Although the group of beggars was large, most of them were ordinary disciples of the Dirty Clothes Sect, and no more than half of them were capable of fighting.
With the Iron Palm Clan mobilized in full force, and a top figure like Qiu Qianren in charge, the outcome of a real fight would be unpredictable. Moreover, the dozen or so men in yellow robes surrounding Yang Kang had already formed a circle, protecting Qiu Qianchi and Yang Kang.
These men were all composed and collected, clearly skilled fighters from the Iron Palm Clan. If they were to attack now, they might not be able to eliminate this group before the Iron Palm Clan's main force arrived at Junshan. Once a prolonged battle ensued, the situation would become difficult to manage once reinforcements arrived.
For a moment, the beggars were caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to advance or retreat. They could only surround the group and wait and see what would happen.
Lu Youjiao looked at Huang Rong and whispered, "Chief, how should we handle this?"
Huang Rong pondered for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the dozen or so men in yellow robes, then looking at the faintly rising firelight below the mountain, and slowly said, "We'll meet force with force, and water with earth. Let's see what their intentions are before we make a decision."