Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 523 Invitation to Fight

Xuan Ci and Wang Jiantong exchanged a glance. Their first reaction was that the news of this matter had been leaked and that this person had come to interfere. However, the other party spoke with certainty and sincerity, and did not seem to be faking it, so it was difficult to make a judgment for the time being.

Xuanci then asked, "May I ask where this old man obtained this information?"

Xiao Feng had already prepared an explanation and replied, "My ancestral home is Luoyang, and I have served in the Western Army of the Great Song Dynasty for many years. I only returned to my hometown from the Qin-Feng area in the last two years. Some time ago, the Shaolin Sect issued a call to heroes from all over the world, summoning them to Shaoshi Mountain for a meeting. I have a nephew who was taught martial arts by me when he was young and happened to participate in this meeting. Afterwards, my nephew told me about this. I felt that there was something fishy about this."

"Since the Battle of Chanyuan, the Liao Kingdom and the Song Dynasty had had some friction over the years, but there had been no major wars. Why would they suddenly take such a provocative action sixty years later? This is one reason."

"Secondly, I believe you heroes are unaware that battlefield combat is not about individual martial arts skills, but rather about teamwork. As the saying goes, military orders are like mountains, and military law is merciless. On the battlefield, amidst thousands of troops and facing a hail of spears and swords, individual martial arts skills are useless. The so-called Liao masters going south to seize the Shaolin School's secret manuals must be someone trying to sow discord, attempting to provoke a conflict between the Song and Liao dynasties so as to profit from the chaos and fish in troubled waters."

"Thirdly, I have learned through various channels that the person passing through this area tomorrow is Xiao Yuanshan, the instructor of the Liao army. Mr. Xiao Yuanshan is taking his wife and young son to his maternal grandmother's house for a full-month celebration. Although Instructor Xiao is a Liao person, he has always advocated peace between the Song and Liao dynasties. If you heroes do not believe this, please wait here with me. Tomorrow, we will confront Mr. Xiao Yuanshan and find out the truth."

Xuan Ci and Wang Jiantong exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and doubt in each other's eyes: this old man, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, spoke with such conviction and logic that it was hard to find fault. But this matter was of great importance; how could they easily believe him based on just one side of the story?
But if what the old man said is true, and this whole thing was a false rumor spread by someone, wouldn't that harm innocent people and cause a great war between the Song and Liao dynasties, resulting in widespread death and destruction? Wouldn't that be a huge sin for them?
Xuan Ci spoke to Wang Jiantong: "Brother Jianran, what do you think of this matter?"

Wang Jiantong said, "Senior Brother Xuanci, what this old man said seems reasonable, but it is actually nonsense, full of loopholes, and cannot stand up to scrutiny at all."

Xuan Ci was greatly surprised: "Brother Jian Ran, what brings you to this?"

Wang Jiantong said, "This old man claims to be a soldier of the Western Army, yet he has connections with the instructor of the Liao army. Who knows if he's not colluding with the Khitans, deliberately staging a play to wipe out all of us Song heroes here? That's one reason. Secondly, since we twenty-one people set off from Shaoshi Mountain in batches on the eighth day of last month, we've all taken different routes, meeting up in groups, our whereabouts extremely secretive, practically foolproof. How did this old man learn of our whereabouts?"

"It's only possible that this person learned of the news and followed us all the way here. However, since we outnumbered them, the old man didn't want the Khitan warriors to be ambushed by us, so he revealed himself to stall us. Once the main force of Liao warriors arrived, they would coordinate an attack from within and wipe us out in one fell swoop!"

Wang Jiantong sneered, "Old sir, you were able to secretly follow a group of experts like us without being noticed. That's quite a feat, but the methods you used were rather underhanded, and you underestimated the heroes of the Central Plains."

Xiao Feng and Xuan Ci were both startled.

Xiao Feng was filled with complex emotions as he faced this man who was both his mentor from his previous life and the enemy who killed his parents. On one hand, he wished he could grind him to dust to avenge his parents; on the other hand, he was grateful for the years of careful nurturing he had received.

Xiao Feng thought to himself: The tragedy at Yanmen Pass has not yet occurred. Chief Wang is also being misled by villains and does not know the truth. I should talk to him properly and must not fight with him and harm his life.

However, what Wang Jiantong said made a lot of sense. Anyone would have thought the same way in this situation. As for himself, not only was his background unclear, but he also had no evidence whatsoever. How could he gain anyone's trust with just empty words?
Xiao Feng's silence only strengthened their conviction, and their expressions turned cold.

Xuan Ci said coldly, "Your Excellency has come here so late at night, you must have something to say. If you don't give me an explanation today, you may stay here forever!" Xiao Feng laughed and said, "I originally thought you were all heroes of the Song Dynasty, but I didn't expect you to be a bunch of cowardly rats who rely on numbers and bully others."

Wang Jiantong was furious and immediately wanted to take action, but Xuan Ci stopped him.

"You are arrogant and underestimate us heroes. You must have some amazing skills." Xuan Ci took a step forward and looked up at Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng thought to himself that, given the current situation, the only solution was to use superior martial arts to provoke these people into fighting him, subduing them by force, and then explaining the reasons later. Although this would inevitably worsen the misunderstanding, it was the best solution at the moment.

Xiao Feng laughed and said, "It wouldn't be considered amazing, but I do have some skill. It's just laughable that some people have mediocre martial arts skills but insist on meddling in other people's business, being deceived and taken advantage of without even realizing it. Anyway, no matter what I say now, you guys won't believe me, so let's see who's the real deal. If you don't care about your reputation, then all of you can rush at me. Let's see who lives and who dies based on their own abilities and fate."

Wang Jiantong's anger surged: "Senior brother, let me teach this damned old geezer a lesson!"

Xuan Ci raised his hand and stopped Wang Jiantong.

A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes: "Judging from your words, you underestimate the heroes of this world?"

Xiao Feng laughed and said, "I dare not underestimate the heroes of the world. What I mean is that none of you here can be considered heroes. If we all gang up on each other, we might have a chance of winning. But if it's a one-on-one fight, hehe!"

Xiao Feng knew the nature of Wang Jiantong and the others, so he used these words to pressure them, because he did not want to fight them to the death.

As expected, Xuan Ci, though realizing the other party's intentions, sighed and said, "Your arrival late at night to interfere in our important affairs must have a reason, but this matter is of great importance and we cannot easily believe it. Your words are meant to provoke us, which is not the behavior of a hero, but we cannot allow you to underestimate the heroes of Han China. Since you are willing to challenge us to a duel, how about Brother Wang and I each have a friendly exchange with you?"

Although everyone present was skilled, in terms of martial arts, he and Wang Jiantong were the most powerful. Therefore, Xuanci decided that he and Wang Jiantong would test the old man's abilities. Secondly, Xuanci also felt that something was amiss and did not want the heroes of the Central Plains to fight this mysterious old man in this place, resulting in casualties on both sides.

Xiao Feng said, "The Beggars' Sect and the Shaolin Temple are the pillars of the Central Plains martial arts world, and they are certainly worthy of being mentioned. But what if you two lose?"

Xuan Ci pondered for a moment and then said, "What do you think should be done?"

Xiao Feng said, “What I mean is that you all might as well retreat, lest you make a mistake that you’ll regret forever. However, I’ve been talking until my saliva is dry, and neither of you believed me. I suppose you two won’t agree either. Since that’s the case, if you two are defeated by me, then please restrain yourselves and wait here. When Lord Yuanshan passes by tomorrow, send someone to negotiate with him properly, and the truth will naturally come out. What do you say?”

(End of this chapter)