Chapter 22: The Terrifying Beauty Trap
"Clang!"
Feeling a deadly threat, Feng Bo'e instinctively tried to block the wind blade with his saber. However, the moment they touched, the saber was sliced into two.
"Roar——"
Just as Feng Bo'e was about to be split in half by the azure wind blade, a high-pitched dragon roar suddenly resounded. Following that, a somewhat illusory golden dragon shadow appeared out of thin air, forcibly shattering the azure wind blade.
Xiao Feng furrowed his sword-like eyebrows and turned to look at Qiao Feng, who had just saved someone. With a displeased expression, he said, "Chief Qiao, what is the meaning of this?"
"Young Master Xiao, please forgive me. What you just said is too shocking. I cannot, based on your word alone, believe that the Murong family intends to rebel."
Qiao Feng cupped his hands towards Xiao Feng and then, with a hint of probing, said, "Moreover, our Beggar Sect's Deputy Chief Ma was killed by his own famous technique not long ago. Some people already suspect that it was done by Young Master Murong. If another member of the Murong family were to die here today, regardless of whether Deputy Chief Ma was killed by Young Master Murong, our Beggar Sect would have an irreconcilable grudge with the Murong family. If there is indeed some misunderstanding, wouldn't it play right into certain people's hands?"
"…"
Xiao Feng was slightly taken aback, then laughed and said, "So, Chief Qiao suspects me of having ulterior motives?"
"Young Master Xiao, please forgive me. Your appearance is too coincidental for me not to be suspicious."
It wasn't Qiao Feng's fault for suspecting Xiao Feng. Given the strength he had just displayed, he couldn't be an unknown figure in the martial world.
Unless Xiao Feng had never been involved in the martial world before, it would be impossible for the Beggar Sect's intelligence network not to have heard of him.
Coupled with Xiao Feng's untimely appearance, right when the Beggar Sect was looking to seek an explanation from the Murong family for the Deputy Chief's death, he suddenly showed up out of nowhere.
Therefore, Qiao Feng had reason to suspect Xiao Feng of having ulterior motives, possibly intending to instigate a conflict between the Beggar Sect and the Murong family.
Given the status of both the Beggar Sect and the Murong family in the martial world, if they were to go to war, the entire martial world would be thrown into turmoil, providing an opportunity for many ambitious individuals to rise.
Looking at Qiao Feng's righteous demeanor, Xiao Feng shook his head playfully and said, "Chief Qiao, you are quite a responsible leader of the Beggar Sect. Unfortunately, your disciples are busy planning to overthrow you!"
"Rubbish! How could we possibly betray our chief?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"This guy is definitely trying to sow discord, with ulterior motives…"
The Beggar Sect disciples present immediately began to curse loudly upon hearing this. If not for the fear of Xiao Feng's demonstrated strength, some disciples might have already attacked him.
"Chief Qiao, if you don't believe me, why not ask the four elders present?"
Xiao Feng ignored the furious disciples and said to the visibly angry Qiao Feng, "Ask them if they've been misled by Quan Guanqing, thinking that you colluded with Murong Fu to kill Ma Dayuan, and if they plan to take you down today and remove you from your position as chief."
Upon hearing Xiao Feng's words, Qiao Feng suddenly turned to look at the four elders. Noticing their guilty expressions, he couldn't help but angrily ask, "Do the four elders truly see me, Qiao Feng, as such a despicable person who would harm my own brothers?"
"Well…this…"
Faced with Qiao Feng's questioning, the four elders were like ants on a hot pan, anxious to explain but not knowing how.
"Chief Qiao, there's no need to press them further."
Xiao Feng suddenly spoke again, "The masterminds behind this are Quan Guanqing and Kang Min. They are merely being used as pawns!"
"Kang Min?"
Qiao Feng's face changed slightly, frowning deeply, "Young Master Xiao, what does this have to do with my sister-in-law?"
"You suspect Murong Fu of killing Ma Dayuan because he died from his own famous technique, the Lock Throat Hold, correct?"
Xiao Feng shook his head, "But what you don't know is that Ma Dayuan was drugged by Kang Min. Unable to move, he had his neck crushed by Bai Shijing to frame Murong Fu."
"Impossible! Elder Bai is the Beggar Sect's law enforcement elder, known for his impartiality."
Qiao Feng's pupils contracted sharply, immediately refuting, "Moreover, he has no grievance with Deputy Chief Ma. Why would he kill him?"
It was well-known that Qiao Feng loved to make sworn brothers, and Bai Shijing was one of them. Naturally, he didn't want to believe Bai Shijing was such a person.
"As the saying goes, heroes fall for beauties. Although Kang Min is no longer young, she is still a rare beauty."
Xiao Feng paused, pointing to the Beggar Sect disciples, "Ask yourselves, who among you hasn't secretly glanced at Kang Min a few times? If Kang Min used her charms on you, how many of you could resist? If she set it up so that Deputy Chief Ma discovered your affair, would you choose to commit suicide in atonement or collude with her to silence him?"
"…"
Hearing Xiao Feng's words, everyone looked at each other, seeing guilt and fear on each other's faces.
Though they were reluctant to admit it, recalling Kang Min's seductive demeanor, few dared to guarantee they could resist her charms.
"If Chief Qiao still doesn't believe me, I can let you see for yourself how terrifying a beauty trap can be."
A hint of mischief flashed in Xiao Feng's eyes as he turned to Duan Yu, "Young Master Duan, if Murong Fu were killed by the Beggar Sect, and Lady Wang offered herself to you in exchange for killing Chief Qiao, would you agree?"
"I would never…"
Duan Yu instinctively wanted to say he wouldn't. But upon seeing Wang Yuyan's beautiful face, he seemed to be enchanted, unable to say the words.
Seeing this, Xiao Feng wasn't surprised. He smiled at the visibly angry Qiao Feng, "Chief Qiao, now you should understand how terrifying a beauty trap can be."
Qiao Feng didn't expect his newly sworn brother to be so weak, but this made him somewhat believe Xiao Feng's words, that Bai Shijing might have indeed fallen for the beauty trap.
"Young Master Xiao, I still have one question."
Qiao Feng cupped his hands towards Xiao Feng, "I have no grudge with that wicked woman Kang Min. Why would she harm me?"