Yang Guo travels back in time to become Duan Yu, a different kind of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.

Yang Guo guessed that Madam Ma probably had another trick up her sleeve, so he cooperated by asking, "You said a petty thief stole a dozen taels of silver, what evidence do you have? Even if it really happened, what does it have to do with my elder brother?"

A glint flashed in Madam Ma's eyes, and she replied frankly, "Of course there is. That day I found something, which I think was dropped by that thief in his haste to come and go. When I saw it, I was terrified, and realized that this matter was no small thing."

Elder Song quickly asked, "What is that thing? Why is it so extraordinary?"

Madam Ma slowly took out an object about eight or nine inches long from her bundle, handed it to Elder Xu, and said, "Please, uncles and elders, make the decision."

As soon as Elder Xu took the object, she collapsed to the ground and burst into tears.

Yang Guo observed coldly and saw that Madam Ma was only wailing but no tears were falling. He had a thought: this person's relationship with Ma Dayuan was probably not as close as it seemed. Ma Dayuan's death was probably due to other hidden reasons.

Everyone looked at Elder Xu, and saw that he unfolded the object, which turned out to be a folding fan.

Sure enough, this fan belongs to Qiao Feng!

Yang Guo cupped his hands in greeting to Elder Xu and said, "Elder Xu, please forgive my intrusion, but may I have the honor of viewing this fan?"

Elder Xu didn't understand what Yang Guo wanted to do, but he still handed the fan to Yang Guo. With so many people present, he wasn't afraid that Yang Guo would destroy the evidence.

Yang Guo took the fan and walked to Kang Min's side, saying, "This old lady is too hesitant. If she wants to say that Chief Qiao is an assassin, she should just say so directly. This roundabout way is really annoying."

If Madam Ma's gaze could kill, Yang Guo would have been torn to pieces by now. However, at this moment, Madam Ma could only rage helplessly.

Yang Guo walked to Qiao Feng's side and said, "Brother, please don't take offense."

Yang Guo tucked the folding fan into Qiao Feng's waist and then pulled Qiao Feng around in a circle.

"hehe!"

"Ha ha!"

Some members of the Beggars' Sect laughed out loud, including Tan Gong and Tan Po.

The scene was simply too abstract. Qiao Feng was originally a northern man, tall and strong, wearing a somewhat tattered patchwork robe, but now he had a fan stuck in his waist like a scholar, which was really awkward and ridiculous.

At this time, Qiao Feng was feeling distressed and depressed about his origins, and since he trusted Yang Guo's character, he let Yang Guo do as he pleased. After he understood Yang Guo's intentions, he was filled with gratitude towards Yang Guo.

Although Yang Guo didn't defend him, his actions were more convincing than a thousand words.

"Come here!" Yang Guo beckoned to a two-bag Beggar Clan disciple who had been standing next to Qiao Feng.

The other person looked at Elder Xu, who nodded, and then the person walked up to Yang Guo.

Yang Guo asked, "What's your name? What are your duties?"

The disciple looked at Elder Xu, who nodded and said, "Answer whatever he asks you, except for secrets of the gang."

Upon seeing Elder Xu's agreement, the disciple replied, "My surname is Li, and my given name is Jiahao. I usually deliver messages for the gang leader."

Yang Guo continued, "How long have you been working for your Chief Qiao?"

Since the question didn't involve any Beggars' Sect secrets, Jiahao honestly replied, "I've been delivering messages for Chief Qiao for over three years."

Yang Guo nodded and said, "Have you ever seen your Chief Qiao wear a fan?"

Jiahao scratched his head and thought for a moment before saying, "I've never seen the gang leader carry any fan."

Yang Guo patted Jiahao on the shoulder, then turned to the group of beggars and said loudly, "Has any of you ever seen your leader use a fan like this before?"

No one answered.

After a while, someone said, "Chief Qiao is naturally generous, how could he use something that only pretty boys would use? I've been a member of the Beggars' Sect for seven years and I've never seen Chief Qiao use a fan."

This statement received widespread approval.

Yang Guo took the fan from Qiao Feng's waist and returned it to Elder Xu. He then said to Kang Min, "This thief is really something! He went to steal something but ended up carrying an item he doesn't usually use, yet which is a way to prove his identity, and then unfortunately left it behind. Madam Ma, don't you agree?"

Yang Guo kept calling her "Old Madam Ma," which made Madam Ma so angry that she wanted to tear him apart piece by piece.

Quan Guanqing suddenly looked up, his eyes red, and roared, "Qiao Feng doesn't need this fan, but you can. This paper fan must have been a gift from Qiao Feng to you. You are a member of the Duan family of Dali. Perhaps it was your Dali clan that coveted my Beggars' Sect and conspired to kill Vice Chief Ma!"

"Ha ha ha ha."

Yang Guo laughed loudly, and suddenly the Shaoshang Sword, Shangyang Sword, Zhongchong Sword and Guanchong Sword were drawn at the same time. Quan Guanqing's four limbs were broken by Yang Guo and he fell limply to the ground.

"stop!"

"Wait a minute!"

Yang Guo attacked too quickly, and the Six Meridians Divine Sword arrived in an instant. By the time everyone reacted, Quan Guanqing had already fallen.

Yang Guo went all out this time, and even if Quan Guanqing recovered later, his limbs would only serve as decorations on his body. He could still practice martial arts, but he could only learn from Qiu Qianchi a hundred years in the future.

"Young Master Duan, you injured my Beggars' Sect disciple in public. Do you think my Beggars' Sect has no one to rely on?"

Elder Xu, his face ashen, slowly took two steps forward, pointed at Yang Guo, and a group of Beggar Clan disciples rushed into the arena, forming a formation to surround Yang Guo.

"Huh? That's strange." Yang Guo's face showed a mocking expression. "Wasn't this person expelled from the Beggars' Sect just now? When did he become a member of the Beggars' Sect again?"

Yang Guo stopped his mockery, his face gradually darkening as he said, "If he is still a disciple of the Beggars' Sect, then does what he just said represent the Beggars' Sect's conclusion? Or was it instigated by Elder Xu of your Beggars' Sect? If so, then your Beggars' Sect is ruining the reputation of my Dali Duan Clan! I demand an explanation from you! The filth of my Dali Duan Clan is not so easily smeared."

Upon hearing the words "Dali Duan family," Madam Ma's resentment intensified, but Yang Guo's attention was focused on the Beggars' Sect, and he didn't notice them at the moment.

Yang Guo anticipated that things would not end well today, so he decided to stand still and fight. Don't be fooled by the fact that the Beggars' Clan is known as the number one gang in the martial arts world. In Yang Guo's eyes, they are nothing special. The only one in the entire gang who is respectable is Brother Qiao. Without Brother Qiao, what can these chickens and dogs do?

"Stop!" Qiao Feng, clearly unwilling to see Yang Guo fight with the Beggars' Sect, roared and stepped forward, saying, "Enforcement Elder, is the enforcement decision made against the Great Wisdom Sect Leader valid?"

Bai Shijing replied, "The leader's decision remains valid!"

Qiao Feng said to Elder Xu in a deep voice, "Since it's effective, then this person is no longer a disciple of our Beggars' Sect. Why should the Beggars' Sect fight for this person?"

Elder Xu continued to argue, "Even if he is not a member of the Beggars' Sect, it is still wrong for him to hurt someone. Our Beggars' Sect should step in to help him out."

"If Elder Xu wishes to uphold justice, he may step forward himself. I am unworthy, but I have long admired the older generation of martial arts masters. I hope Senior Xu will not hesitate to enlighten me!"

Yang Guo took two steps toward Elder Xu and challenged him to a duel, which startled Elder Xu so much that he couldn't help but take two steps back. Then, realizing that his behavior was somewhat embarrassing, he couldn't help but blush.

"My dear brother..."

Yang Guo waved his hand and said, "Since Elder Xu is not ready yet, let's fight another day. However, compared to fighting the old man, I have a more reasonable guess about the death of Deputy Chief Ma. At least it is much more reasonable than the conspiracy between Murong Fu and Qiao Feng."

Qiao Feng knew his brother was exceptionally intelligent. He himself had been somewhat stunned by the series of news and hadn't quite processed it yet. It was better to hear his brother's opinion. Turning to Yang Guo, he said, "Brother, please speak. If you can uncover the truth and avenge my brother Ma, the entire Beggars' Sect will remember you..."

"The bond between us brothers is based on our shared heart, there's no need for such formalities," Yang Guo interrupted Qiao Feng, saying, "Today's events, to put it bluntly, are all about this position of beggar leader. Although you may not care about this position, it doesn't mean the others in your gang aren't envious of the dog-beating stick used by the gang leader."

"Although the throat-locking grappling technique is Ma Dayuan's unique skill, it is not considered a very profound skill. I suppose his close acquaintances in the Beggars' Sect could have learned a thing or two from his daily practice."

"As for the contents of that letter, whether it is true or false is another matter. However, it is not difficult to see the contents of the letter without sealing wax. Finally, there is your fan, brother. Although you do not usually carry this fan with you, if someone wants to steal this fan from where you keep it and frame you, there is only someone in the Beggars' Sect who knows Chief Qiao well."

Yang Guo's words were like a thunderbolt, leaving the Beggars' Clan members utterly astonished. This reasoning was far more plausible than ideas like Qiao Feng colluding with Murong Fu to assassinate Vice Chief Ma.

If that's the case, then the murderer who killed Ma Dayuan is most likely...

The Beggars' Sect members all turned their gazes toward Quan Guanqing. Although he had been helped up by the Beggars' Sect disciples, he was in a terrible state.

Suddenly, Quan Guanqing burst into laughter: "Hahaha! What a fine Duan Yu of Dali! I never imagined you were not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also so cunning and scheming!"

He suddenly turned to Qiao Feng and asked, "Qiao Feng, let me ask you this: was the will of the gang leader in Elder Xu's hand a forgery?"

Qiao Feng pondered for a moment, then said frankly, "No. I was taken in by Chief Wang when I was a little over ten years old, and I recognize his handwriting. That message was indeed written by Chief Wang himself; there's no way it's fake."

He was honest and upright, and even if it was extremely disadvantageous to him, he would not lie.

Quan Guanqing shouted, "Although I, Quan Guanqing, am a branch leader in the Beggars' Sect, I am merely a nobody in the martial arts world. Even if I were to frame Chief Qiao, would Elder Xu and all the other senior martial artists in the sect agree to lie and frame you?"

Qiao Feng remained silent. What Quan Guanqing said made sense. These senior martial arts masters and renowned figures were probably not people Quan Guanqing could persuade, and they would not lie or frame anyone for anyone.

Yang Guo thought to himself that it was hard to say. Just because Quan Guanqing couldn't persuade him didn't mean that others couldn't. Putting aside everything else, this Elder Xu was of extremely high seniority. With him stepping forward, most of the people present could probably persuade him.

Yang Guo remained calm, planning to give Quan Guanqing a proper welcome after today's events were over. He wanted to see how many accomplices Quan Guanqing still had under the influence of the Soul Transfer Technique.

"Very well! Qiao Feng, even if you didn't kill Vice Chief Ma, do you, a descendant of the Khitan, still have the right to be the leader of the Beggars' Sect?" Quan Guanqing shouted madly.

Qiao Feng said, "I am deeply ashamed of my background and origins, as I myself am not certain of them. However, since so many seniors have testified, I must do my best to find out the truth. I should naturally step down from the position of Beggar Clan leader and hand it over to a more worthy person."

As he spoke, he reached into a long bag on the outside of his right trouser leg and pulled out a crystal-clear, emerald-green bamboo staff—the Dog-Beating Staff, the symbol of the Beggars' Sect leader. Holding it with both hands, he raised it high and said, "This staff was bestowed upon me by Chief Wang. Although I, Qiao, have not accomplished much in leading the Beggars' Sect, I have also fortunately committed no major offenses. Today I step down. Which hero is willing to take on this responsibility? Please come and receive this staff."

According to the Beggars' Sect's long-standing rule, when a new leader assumes office, the previous leader must pass on the Dog-Beating Stick to him. Before passing on the stick, the Dog-Beating Stick Technique must be taught. Even if the previous leader suddenly dies, the successor has already been designated, and the Dog-Beating Stick Technique has already been taught, so there has never been any dispute over the position of leader.

Qiao Feng was in his prime, and it was estimated that it would be at least twenty years before he selected young heroes from the gang to teach them the Dog-Beating Staff Technique. At this moment, seeing him standing proudly in front of everyone, holding a bamboo staff, who among the beggars dared to step forward and withstand his blow?

Qiao Feng asked three times, but no one from the Beggars' Sect answered. Qiao Feng said, "Qiao Feng's background is unclear, so I dare not accept the position of sect leader under any circumstances. Elder Xu, Elder Chuan Gong, and Elder Fa Zhi, please keep the sect's prized Dog-Beating Staff safe. When a sect leader is appointed in the future, the three of you can pass it on together."

Elder Xu nodded and said, "That makes sense. As for the Dog-Beating Stick Technique, we'll have to deal with that in the future." As if he was certain that Qiao Feng would not return to take over the Beggars' Sect, he then prepared to take over the baton.

Elder Xu reached out to take it, but just as his right hand grasped the bamboo stick, he saw Qiao Feng press down on one end of the Dog-Beating Stick with his left hand, grip the stick with his right thumb below and the other four fingers above, and suddenly smash it down.

Elder Xu suddenly felt a jolt, as if struck by lightning, from his palm to his arm, and from his arm to his entire body. He hurriedly let go, and the dog-beating stick ended up plunging straight into the ground about a foot deep.

Qiao Feng clasped his hands in a fist salute to the crowd and said, "The green hills remain unchanged, the green waters flow forever. My good brothers, farewell. Whether I am Han or Khitan, I will never harm a Han person in my lifetime. If I break this oath, may this blade be with me." With that, he stretched out his left hand and lunged forward to grab Shan Zheng.

Dan Zheng felt a sudden jolt in his wrist, his grip on the single-edged sword faltering. His fingers loosened, and the sword was drawn to Qiao Feng. Unexpectedly, just as the sword was about to fly into Qiao Feng's left hand, it suddenly changed direction and flew towards Qiao Feng's right.

Qiao Feng was startled at first, then swung his right hand to grab it, but before his hand was even halfway there, Yang Guo had already firmly grasped the hilt of the knife.

Qiao Feng was slightly taken aback and asked Yang Guo, "Brother, what do you mean by this?"

Yang Guo laughed and replied, "Haha, elder brother's oath is truly laughable. I dare not agree with it, which is why I stepped in to stop elder brother's reckless actions."

Qiao Feng, puzzled, continued, "What's so funny about my vow just now?"

Yang Guo replied, "Although the distinction between Han and non-Han peoples is not without reason, the distinction between Han and Khitan people is not black and white. There are bad people among the Han people, and good people among the Khitan people. There are despicable and hateful people among the Han people, and respectable and lovable people among the Khitan people. If a Han person commits an unforgivable crime, or endangers your life, would you really not kill him?"

Yang Guo had contact with more people than Qiao Feng. The Yelü siblings were Khitans, Wanyan Ping was a Jurchen, and even he himself could be considered a Jurchen, since Wanyan Kang was on the family genealogy back then.

No matter which ethnic group, there are good and bad. Seeing that Qiao Feng was about to make the oath, Yang Guo quickly stepped in to stop him.

After hearing Yang Guo's explanation, Qiao Feng seemed to understand and quickly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Brother, you are right. I have finally seen the light and will never act so impulsively again."

"But I need to get to the bottom of Brother Ma's death!"

Qiao Feng suddenly looked up, leaped in front of Quan Guanqing, grabbed Quan Guanqing's collar with his right hand and lifted him up.

"Hahahaha! Deputy Gang Leader Ma... I didn't kill him... Pfft... It wasn't me..."

He spat out a mouthful of blood, which splashed onto Qiao Feng's face. Yang Guo went over to take a look and saw that Quan Guanqing had already shattered his heart meridian and committed suicide.

Yang Guo cursed his bad luck. With Quan Guanqing dead, it would be a bit more troublesome to find out the truth. But it would only be a bit more troublesome. Although Quan Guanqing was dead, Madam Ma was not, and the Soul Transfer Technique could still be used on her.

There are too many people here, making it inconvenient to make a move; there will always be times when you're alone.