Sword drawn from the constellations, poison as its edge.

Chapter 140 Unexpected Changes in the Apricot Grove

Before Qiao Feng could speak, he suddenly heard a lot of footsteps all around. He turned his head and saw dozens of beggars with somber faces walking out from the east, west, south, and north.

Bao Butong exclaimed, "Well, the Beggars' Sect thinks so highly of my brother and me, they've actually set up a series of ambushes."

Jiang Mingzhe sneered, "With your abilities, do you really need someone to ambush you?"

His gaze swept over the four elders, finally settling on Qiao Feng: "Chief Qiao, although my experience in the martial world is limited, I know that managing a gang is not easy. Small gangs can be maintained by brotherhood, but a large gang like your Beggars' Clan, which is spread all over the place and has countless members, must be very strict about rules. But it seems that these members don't follow the rules at all. Don't they even need to greet the chief?"

A tall, thin elder with extremely long arms coldly said, "Who are you? What right do you have to speak on matters concerning our gang?"

Jiang Mingzhe chuckled and shook his head, saying, "A dignified Nine-Bag Elder speaks so shallowly. Your Beggars' Sect is the number one sect in the world. Since you have become the number one sect, you should be a role model in everything you do and set an example in everything you do. Only in this way can you earn the admiration of your fellow martial artists. I am also a member of the martial arts world. Seeing that you have no manners at all, why can't I speak up?"

He laughed again and said, "Besides, you won't let me leave, and you won't even let me speak. What, is this apricot grove your prison? Have I become your prisoner?"

The long-armed elder was about to retort, but seeing Qiao Feng's face as gloomy as water, he snorted and turned his head away without saying a word.

When Bao Butong saw that Jiang Mingzhe had clashed with the Beggars' Sect elders, he was overjoyed and quickly shouted, "Those old men are famous throughout the martial arts world. They don't think much of you because you're so young. Go and beat those four up, and maybe they'll treat you better."

Jiang Mingzhe glanced at Bao Butong. The man's thin face was covered with beads of sweat the size of soybeans, clearly indicating that he was in great pain from his severed arm. Yet, he was still grimacing and sowing discord. Jiang Mingzhe couldn't help but admire his toughness.

He then said, “Miss Azhu and Abi, you should know some healing techniques, right? Why don’t you straighten Feiye’s broken bones and put on a splint? Otherwise, if it goes on for too long, she will become disabled and unable to practice martial arts. She will have to practice her tongue skills twice as much, which is not a good thing for the martial arts world.”

Upon hearing this, Azhu and Abi were indeed worried. They quickly picked up Feng Bo'e's single-edged sword, shaved several straight pieces of apricot wood, and tore off a corner of their skirts to bandage Bao Butong's bones.

The two women, one on each side, were responsible for one arm. Although they knew a little about treating external injuries, they were not professional doctors and were inevitably clumsy.

When trying to straighten the broken bone, it just wouldn't cooperate. After repeated attempts, the cracking sound was incessant.

Bao Butong was sweating profusely, but he still forced a smile and said, "You're smart enough to know that Mr. Bao's tongue skills are already unparalleled in the martial arts world. If you continue to practice, it will be incredible. Your three-inch tongue can shake the sky, and your two rows of teeth can shake the earth. Even if Zhuge Liang were to be resurrected, he would be scolded to death by me."

Qiao Feng sighed, "Of all the people I've ever met, you, Mr. Bao, have the toughest tongue."

Bao Butong forced a smile and said, "You've seen it all, haven't you? In ancient times, Guan Yu played chess and had his bone scraped; now, Bao Butong laughs and talks to continue his bone healing. These are both timeless tales. When history records my experience, it will inevitably mention you as well. Aha, you will all be remembered in history thanks to my care. You might as well say thank you now."

Qiao Feng shook his head and smiled, stepped forward, picked up Bao Butong's arm, casually tore open the sleeves, gently adjusted it, and the broken bones were neatly aligned. He turned around and said, "Elder Wu, do you have your Ox-Tiger Bone-Regenerating Ointment with you?"

The other three elders looked at Elder Wu. Elder Wu hesitated for a moment, then took out a small jar and threw it out.

Qiao Feng took the package, opened it, and with a flick of his finger, applied a thin layer to Bao Butong's broken bone. He then took the apricot wood and the hem of his skirt from A Zhu and tied them securely to Bao Butong's wound.

Bao Butong scoffed, "If you're going to be a good person, you should go all the way. What's the point of applying such a tiny bit? You're just a beggar's leader, so stingy."

Azhu stamped her foot and said anxiously, "Brother Bao, Chief Qiao kindly treated your injuries, how can you talk like that? If you continue to be so unreasonable, Abi and I will no longer talk to you."

Qiao Feng remained unfazed, picked up his other arm, and did the same.

Bao Butong chuckled and said, "Your third brother has always had this temper. If he can't stand it, he can just not treat me. He thinks he can control me, Bao Butong, with just two arms? Little Azhu, you're helping outsiders teach your third brother a lesson. Could it be that you've fallen in love with him because of his thick eyebrows and big eyes? Oh dear!"

Bao Butong let out a scream and looked angrily at Qiao Feng, only to see Qiao Feng expressionless as he bandaged his arm.

Bao Butong angrily retorted, "A'Zhu and I were just joking, it was a matter between us siblings, and you actually broke my bones?"

A'Zhu subconsciously looked at Qiao Feng, who gently released Bao Butong's arm and said indifferently, "With acting skills like Mr. Bao's, he should go back to performing in operas." After saying that, he turned and left. A'Zhu angrily said, "Brother Bao, Chief Qiao kindly treated your injuries, how could you have the nerve to wrong him like this? I, I really won't talk to you anymore!"

Abi stomped her foot and said, "I'm not going to talk to you either."

Bao Butong stared in disbelief, then suddenly looked at Feng Bo'e: "Fourth brother, that woman surnamed Qiao clearly broke my bones, yet they don't believe me."

Feng Bo'e shouted, "Yes, that's outrageous! Those two little girls can't even tell the difference between inside and outside!"

Then he whispered in a low voice, like a mosquito's buzz, "Third Brother, that's enough. Qiao Feng is a generous and upright man. How could he be the kind of person to do such petty things? If you're going to wrong someone, you should wrong that Jiang guy."

Bao Butong was so angry that his hair stood on end, and he was so angry that he almost became withdrawn.

Qiao Feng walked back to the center of the crowd, his eyes sweeping around like lightning, and asked in a deep voice, "Where are the Transmission Elder and the Enforcement Elder now?"

Many members lowered their heads when he swept his gaze over them, and the four elders did not dare to meet his eyes. However, no one answered the question Qiao Feng asked.

Qiao Feng waited a moment, sighed softly, and nodded, saying, "Four elders, your attitude must mean something major has happened. Let my brother, these two men and two women go first. As for the rest of our gang's affairs, let's discuss them among ourselves, shall we?"

The long-armed elder glanced at Jiang Mingzhe and shook his head, saying, "This brother just said that our gang has no rules, presumably to stand up for Chief Qiao. I think he's right. Our gang is the number one gang in the world. How can we let our actions be laughed at by our fellow martial artists? It's better to let him stay and see the whole story clearly, so that he doesn't go out and spread nonsense and ruin our gang's reputation with only a half-baked understanding."

Qiao Feng stared at him coldly for a moment, took a breath, and looked at Jiang Mingzhe, saying, "Brother, we met by chance, but we hit it off immediately. I am grateful for your kindness in helping me deal with Yipintang, but unexpectedly, this has happened and dragged you down. I am deeply ashamed."

Jiang Mingzhe smiled and said, "Since you, Brother Qiao, call me brother, why are you saying these things? Besides, it's not a matter of being a burden or not. Although the Beggars' Sect is large, in terms of martial arts, apart from you, Brother Qiao, I don't take anyone else seriously."

His words were extremely arrogant. The gang members who arrived later had not seen him make a move, but they saw him speaking wildly at such a young age, and they all started cursing him.

Feng Bo'e shouted, "What are you arguing about? This guy surnamed Jiang can't even beat me, Feng Bo'e, or Bao Butong. Dealing with you beggars is as easy as peeing and pooping for him!"

Upon hearing this, Bao Butong suddenly came to his senses and shook his head, saying, "No, no, what Fourth Brother said is not accurate. If the man surnamed Jiang had hemorrhoids or constipation, beating these beggars would be much easier than defecating."

Feng Bo'e nodded repeatedly, his face full of sudden realization: "Third Brother is indeed very thoughtful. Look at the appearance of this Jiang fellow, he is also a young and charming man. If he goes to a brothel to listen to music and catches a venereal disease, beating them will be as difficult as taking a piss."

Jiang Mingzhe glanced at the two men and said, "You two gentlemen are eloquent, but I wonder if you can still be so quick-witted without teeth?"

Bao and Feng both took a step back. Bao Butong laughed and said, "You're so ignorant. Since you've already said you're quick-witted, how can you be sharp without teeth?"

Feng Bo'e nodded and said, "Third Brother is right. This is obvious upon thinking about it, so there's no need to try it."

Bao Butong said, "Yes, it's obvious. Only a fool would try it. Forget it, it's not appropriate for us to get involved in the Beggars' Sect's internal affairs. Since Chief Qiao tells us to leave, let's go."

Feng Bo sneered, "That makes sense, that makes sense! Third Brother, please!" "Fourth Brother, please!"

The two exchanged a polite greeting and were about to leave when a middle-aged beggar suddenly stepped out from the Beggars' Sect. He had a handsome appearance and eight burlap sacks hanging from his waist. He coldly said, "You're not allowed to leave!"

Qiao Feng looked at the man and frowned, saying, "Chief Quan, are my words no longer valid?"

The leader of the entire gang said with a stern face, "Vice Leader Ma's grievances have not yet been cleared. These two are the owners of Jinfeng Manor and Xuanshuang Manor under the command of Murong of Gusu. They are our gang's greatest enemies. How can we let them return to the mountains?"

(End of this chapter)