BTTH: Breaking The Simulation

The four elders of the Beggars' Sect saw the visitor and immediately showed respect, bowing to greet him. The gray-robed old monk before them was Reverend Zhiguang of Tiantai Mountain. Though his name wasn't widely known in the martial world, he was a true saint.

Years ago, when a plague broke out in the Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong regions, Reverend Zhiguang risked his life to save the innocent people infected by the plague. He traveled across the sea to collect rare tree bark from distant lands.

Though Reverend Zhiguang eventually cured the plague, he fell seriously ill twice and lost all his martial arts skills as a result.

"The poor monk came today at the invitation of Elder Xu of the Beggars' Sect and Judge Shan of Mount Taihang. However, I did not expect there to be another reason for this."

Reverend Zhiguang put his hands together and said, "Chief Qiao, although you are indeed a descendant of the Khitan, you were raised and taught by Shaolin monks and Chief Wang of the Beggars' Sect. How are you different from the Song people? Do not trouble yourself with unnecessary worries."

"Chief Qiao, the old monk is right. You don't need to trouble yourself with unnecessary worries."

Xiao Feng nodded slightly and said, "Although there are frequent conflicts between the Liao and the Song, not all Khitans are bad. Some have always worked for peace between the two countries. Your biological father, originally named Xiao Yuanshan, learned martial arts from a Han master from a young age. His martial arts were exceptional, and he was deeply trusted by the Khitan Empress Dowager Xiao, who appointed him as the chief instructor of the army's elite forces.

Influenced by his mentor, Xiao Yuanshan devoted himself to fostering peace between the Liao and the Song.

He frequently persuaded the Khitan Emperor Daozong to refrain from using force, earning the admiration of people from both nations.

Unfortunately, thirty years ago, when Xiao Yuanshan returned to Yanmen Pass with his wife and child, he was ambushed and attacked by twenty-one martial arts experts from the Central Plains.

Because Xiao Yuanshan had vowed never to kill a Han person, even when he was attacked, he showed mercy, only injuring and driving the attackers away.

However, those who ambushed Xiao Yuanshan were dishonorable.

Seeing that they couldn't defeat him, they turned their attention to his defenseless wife and child. Seeing his wife and child killed before his eyes, Xiao Yuanshan went mad with rage and began killing indiscriminately!

By the time he came to his senses, most of the martial arts experts who ambushed him were dead.

Xiao Yuanshan, overwhelmed with grief and having no will to live, chose to throw himself off a cliff with the bodies of his wife and child, intending to die with them.

But Xiao Yuanshan didn't realize that his son hadn't been killed, only temporarily unconscious.

Upon discovering his child was still alive, Xiao Yuanshan used his last strength to throw the infant back up the cliff.

That child was later taken in by Qiao Sanhuai at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain and was named Qiao Feng.

Among the martial arts experts who ambushed your father were your mentor Wang Jiantong and this old monk here. You owe them nothing; instead, they owe you a great debt."

"Crack, crack, crack..."

Hearing this, Qiao Feng couldn't help but clench his fists, his tiger eyes turning red. "Reverend Zhiguang, is what Xiao said true?"

"Amitabha…"

Reverend Zhiguang sighed deeply and said, "This benefactor Xiao speaks the truth. I have saved countless people in my life and have a clear conscience. But regarding that incident, I indeed have much to be ashamed of."

"Why?!"

Qiao Feng suppressed his anger and said, "My father worked for peace between the Liao and the Song. Why did you ambush and kill him? Was it just because he was a Khitan?"

"Thirty years ago, the heroes of the Central Plains received information that a large group of Khitan warriors planned to attack Shaolin Temple to steal the martial arts secrets stored there for centuries."

Reverend Zhiguang said helplessly, "If those martial arts secrets had fallen into the hands of the Khitan warriors and been spread throughout their army, how could the Song soldiers have stood a chance against them in future battles?

This was a matter of utmost importance. If the Khitans had succeeded, the Song dynasty would have faced the threat of destruction. We had no time to verify the information.

Upon learning that the Khitan warriors would pass through Yanmen Pass, we, led by our leader, rushed there day and night to set up an ambush.

What happened next was as Benefactor Xiao described.

Originally, we didn't know we had killed an innocent man. It was only after Xiao Yuanshan left a message in Khitan script on a rock wall outside Yanmen Pass before jumping off the cliff.

We copied the text and found someone who understood Khitan to translate it, only then realizing the grave mistake we had made."

"Who was your leader?"

Upon learning the truth, Qiao Feng felt a burning anger with no outlet. He grabbed Reverend Zhiguang's shoulder and shouted with red eyes, "Tell me quickly, who was your leader?"

"Chief Qiao, our leader was also deceived into making such a grave mistake. He is now a highly respected figure in the martial world. If this matter were to be publicized, it would damage his and Chief Wang's reputations. Please forgive this poor monk for not being able to say."

Seeing Qiao Feng on the verge of losing control, Reverend Zhiguang put his hands together and said, "If Chief Qiao wants revenge, you can kill me with one palm. I only hope that Chief Qiao can let go of his hatred."

"You..."

Qiao Feng raised his right hand in anger, but seeing Reverend Zhiguang's expression of resigned acceptance, ready to embrace death, he couldn't bring himself to strike.

To be honest, Qiao Feng admired people like Reverend Zhiguang. Even knowing he was involved in his father's murder, he believed that Zhiguang had been misled and didn't want to harm him.

"Hahaha..."

Just as Qiao Feng was caught in this dilemma, a mocking laugh suddenly rang out, drawing everyone's attention.

Xiao Feng, with a look of disdain, said, "Old monk, do you know that the leader you are so determined to protect actually has a son in secret? And the mother of his son is none other than the infamous villain, Ye Erniang!"

"Impossible! You lie!"

Reverend Zhiguang's face changed dramatically upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but shout angrily, "The leader is highly respected, and he... How could he have a son with Ye Erniang?"

One reason Reverend Zhiguang chose to become a monk was his deep sense of guilt, but another was the influence of their leader.

Reverend Zhiguang had always idolized the leader. Now, learning that he not only broke his vows but also had a child with Ye Erniang, was more painful than death for him.

"Benefactor Xiao, do you know who the leader is?"

Qiao Feng respectfully bowed to Xiao Feng and said, "Please tell me, Benefactor Xiao, and I will be eternally grateful!"

"No!"

Ignoring Reverend Zhiguang's protest, Xiao Feng loudly announced, "This person is none other than the current abbot of Shaolin Temple, Abbot Xuanci!"