Chapter 71: United in Adversity

  As expected, Wu Ming only heard Bai Shiming shake his head and say: "The leader's plea for leniency on behalf of Song Changlao was actually quite reasonable, but as the law enforcement elder, I'm afraid I cannot agree."

  He paused for a moment, then continued in a loud voice: "The reason I cannot agree is that our gang's rules state: 'Betraying the gang is a great sin, and it must not be forgiven. Even if there are great merits, they cannot be redeemed.' This is the legacy left by our predecessors in the Beggar Gang. As the law enforcement elder, how can I abandon it? We cannot ruin the rules passed down by generations of gang leaders."

  Wu Ming was secretly laughing in his heart. Bai Shiming seemed to attach great importance to the rules of the gang, but as a law enforcement elder, he had an affair with the wife of a brother in the gang and killed brothers within the gang. By his own words, he should have died a hundred times already.

  Song Zhang laughed miserably and stepped forward, saying: "Thank you, Master, for pleading on my behalf. Actually, Bai's words were not wrong at all. Since we can become elders of the gang, who among us has not made contributions in the past? If having contributions can exempt one from capital punishment, then what crime cannot be committed? If everyone is like this, what significance does the gang's rules have? Master, I beg of you, allow me to end my own life."

  Wu Ming listened and couldn't help but feel a deep respect. This old Song was indeed old, but his calm and composed demeanor in admitting his guilt was something that even the great Guan Qing couldn't match.

  Qiao Feng was in a difficult situation after hearing this, and at that moment, he only heard two "ka" sounds, and Song Lao suddenly broke the cow tendon tied to his wrist.

  Everyone was moved, Wu Ming looked at it and couldn't help but nod in approval. The cow tendon was tough and resilient, not easy to break. Generally, a martial artist would use a knife to chop it, but even then, it wasn't certain that they could cut it off immediately. This showed that Song's martial arts skills were indeed impressive, worthy of being an elder of the Beggar Clan.

  After breaking the cow tendon, Song Zhanglao turned around and went to pull out the Fa knife inserted on the wooden stake.

  Just as his hand was about to reach out and grab the hilt of the knife, a strong gust of wind suddenly struck.

  Wu Ming saw clearly that it was Qiao Feng who took the initiative to attack and blocked Song Chang's attempt to take out his knife.

  Song Changlao's face changed color, still thinking that the leader would not allow him to commit suicide. He immediately called out: "Leader, you..." At this time, he suddenly saw Qiao Feng quickly pull out the first wooden knife on the left side of the wood.

  "Alright, alright," sighed Old Song. "I've had thoughts of killing you before, and it was well-deserved. Master, take action."

  Wu Ming knew that next, Qiao Feng would inevitably self-inflict a wound to use his blood to clear the names of the four elders. He couldn't help but feel some difficulty in making a decision - should he step forward to stop him or let things take their course and fulfill his emotional debt?

  Qiao Feng's martial arts skills were roughly the same as Wu Ming's. When Wu Ming hesitated for a moment, wanting to stop him from self-inflicting injury, it was already too late. A cold light flashed, and Qiao Feng's flying knife had quickly stabbed into his own left shoulder.

  "Wu Ming couldn't help but shout: 'Big brother...'"

  "Ah......" The crowd on the scene was shocked and stood up spontaneously.

  Duan Yu couldn't help but rush forward and asked in surprise: "Big brother, what's going on?"

  Even Wang Yu Yan and the other three women couldn't help but lose their composure, crying out: "Qiao Bang Zhu, don't...!"

  Qiao Feng nodded at Wu Ming and Duan Yu, making a gesture with his eyes that meant he could handle the situation and they shouldn't interfere.

  Qiao Feng had a short knife inserted into his shoulder, and the wound was bleeding profusely with bright red blood, which was heart-wrenching to see.

  Wu Ming and Duan Yu exchanged a glance, though they felt reluctant, but could only give up.

  Wu Ming said, "Big brother is indeed the most emotional and righteous hero in Jin Yong's novels. I'm not disappointed to have a brother like him on our journey with Tian Long." Just as he thought this, a clear prompt sound suddenly appeared in his mind.

  "Ding Dong!"

  "Congratulations, you have triggered the Book Immortal System task [ Shared Difficulty]."

  "Task content: On behalf of his brother, replace Qiao Feng and stab himself once."

  "Deadline: Promptly."

  "Quest Reward: Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms."

  Upon hearing this task, Wu Ming knew that it was his own sincerity from just now that triggered this task.

  Not to mention the task reward, even if there wasn't one, since he had considered Qiao Feng as a sworn brother in his heart, what's wrong with taking a knife for him? Wu Ming didn't hesitate at all and immediately decided to go along with it.

  Jiao Feng didn't kill himself but instead stabbed himself once. Song Chang was shocked and had no idea what Jiao Feng wanted to do by doing this.

  At this time, only heard Qiao Feng lightly say: "Bai Changlao, is there a rule in our gang that says 'Disciples of the gang who break the rules cannot be pardoned lightly. If the leader wants to show leniency, he must also shed his own blood to wash away their sins.' Is this right or not?"

  Bai Shiming's face was stiff, his heart was suffocating, but he said: "That's right, there is such a rule in the gang rules. But these people want to kill you and rebel, the leader hurts himself, and uses blood to atone for their sins, is it worth it? Please think thrice, leader."

  Qiao Feng said calmly: "It doesn't matter, as long as you don't break the rules left by our ancestors, that's fine."

  As he spoke, he suddenly turned around and said in the direction of Xi Changlao: "Xi Changlao once guided my martial arts skills, although not as a master, but with the reality of a master. Of course, this is his personal kindness to me, I will thank him here."

  Qiao Feng paused for a moment, then changed the subject and continued: "But there is one thing that I must plead on his behalf. In those years, our leader Wang was ambushed by the five great experts of the Khitan nation and imprisoned in the Black Wind Cave of Mount Qilian, trying to force our Beggar Clan to surrender. At that time, Elder Qi resembled Leader Wang in three aspects, so he disguised himself as Leader Wang, willing to die for him, and rescued Leader Wang from danger. This is a great merit to the country and our clan, I must plead for his pardon."

  As he spoke, Qiao Feng pulled out the second knife from the wooden head, lightly cutting off the ox tendon on Xi Changlao's hand. Just as he was about to turn the knife around and stab it into his own shoulder, a fierce whirlwind suddenly arrived, carrying strong suction power, almost causing Qiao Feng to lose control of the knife in his hand.

  Qiao Feng was shocked, but at this moment, he saw Wu Ming come to his front and loudly said: "Big brother, wait a minute, let me say one more sentence."

  "Third brother, you tell me, I'm listening." Qiao Feng naturally knew that Wu Ming had just intervened to stop himself. Thinking of his third brother's kung fu, he couldn't help but feel deeply impressed.

  Wu Ming smiled faintly and said, "Big brother, you, me, and Second Brother Duan Yu - the three of us are like old times. We're just like the Oath of the Peach Garden in Wuxi City, where we all made a vow to Heaven that we'd share good fortune and bad together. Now, seeing big brother hurt himself, how can I as his brother not take care of him? You've already been injured once, so this second wound will be borne by me instead."

  Everyone was moved after listening, and they couldn't help but admire Wu Ming. Qiao Feng's heart was also deeply moved, but he shook his head and said: "Third brother's kindness, big brother is very grateful, but this is big brother's matter, how can I let third brother suffer for me?"

  "Wu Ming shook his head and said, 'Big brother, we agreed to share good fortune and bad together. Is this oath just empty words? If you refuse to agree this time, then it means you don't consider me your brother.'"

  Qiao Feng hastily said: "Third brother, how could Big Brother not treat you as a brother? Only this is an internal affair of the gang, and you are not a member of the Beggar Clan. For you to interfere in this matter would be unreasonable."

  Wu Ming sighed after hearing this, and indeed it was a problem. At this time, he could only hope that Bai Shijian would show mercy, so he gritted his teeth and asked: "Bai Lao, they say brothers are one body, can I take my brother's place and receive this punishment?"

  Bai Shiming shook his head and said, "Brother Wu, this doesn't seem quite right..." Just as he was saying that, he suddenly heard Wu Ming's voice in his ear, "Bai Zhi Fa, you'd better agree to let me take the punishment for Big Brother, otherwise I'm afraid I won't be able to control my mouth later and might say some unfavorable rumors about you, such as something about Madame Ma..."

  Bai Shiming's whole body shook, and he involuntarily glanced at Wu Ming, only to find Wu Ming giving him a cold smile, the meaning of which was extremely clear: if he didn't agree, then he would publicly reveal some secrets.

  Wu Ming's martial arts skills were extremely formidable, and as the sworn brother of the leader of the gang, Bai Shiming hesitated for a moment, knowing that he couldn't afford to offend him now, so he could only wait for an opportunity to get rid of him later.

  At this time, Wu Ming again loudly implored: "Bai, I beg of you, my elder brother has already stabbed himself once, please consider his deep feelings and righteousness, and let me, as his younger brother, take the second knife in his place, I beg of you..."

  Wu Ming's words had a hidden warmth, like a spring breeze sweeping through the hearts of the crowd. Those with slightly lower cultivation seemed to feel an inexplicable warmth, and they couldn't help but exclaim: "Well said, White Elder! You should agree to it!"

  "Agree with him...... agree with him......" Suddenly, the crowd was stirred up and actually helped Wu Ming to surrender, one reason being that Wu Ming had infected the masses, and the other being that they did not want to see their boss suffer another blow.