Chapter 154 Entrustment and Agreement

To say that he never held back is nonsense. If Qiao Feng was a reckless man, he would have died in the martial arts world long ago.

After stretching lazily, they watched Duan Yu fill the glasses with wine. The four of them raised their wine bowls and drank them in one gulp.

They caused quite a stir, and the new abbot of Shaolin Temple, the Murong family, the Duan family of Dali, and other forces that had not yet left the mountain, all gathered in the back mountain of Shaolin Temple.

Looking at the four people in the fire, no one dared to breathe.

Deng Baichuan raised his head slightly and glanced at the rain of dirt that was still slowly falling. He had already overestimated Murong Ji's strength as much as possible.

It is really unimaginable that his strength has reached such an outrageous level.

In the world today, who among the people he knows can be their enemy?
No!
If Li Qingluo's warnings and challenges made him dare not have any evil thoughts.

Murong Ji’s current strength made him even more terrified.

He exhaled slowly, turned his head slightly and said, "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, the two of you go to help Madam. There are still many people who haven't come down the mountain yet, so be careful."

"OK" x2.

By dawn, the four of them had drunk up several jars of wine. Murong Ji was still somewhat sober. His inner strength could automatically soothe the alcohol. He glanced at Xu Zhu and Duan Yu who were staggering.

Xu Zhu was really drunk. Within one day, he recognized his parents and lost them again. He took the opportunity to vent.

Duan Yu was holding a jar of wine and dozing off. He was really sleepy.

"Brother Murong."

Murong Ji looked up and saw that Qiao Feng was also a little drunk at this time, with a gloomy and sad look on his face. Murong Ji couldn't help but sigh softly. In his whole life, he was only happy before he was thirty years old.

At that time, I had nothing but practiced martial arts and had the love of my adoptive parents.

"Brother Qiao, you still have the Qiao family elders to support."

Qiao Feng came back to his senses in an instant, wiped the dirt off his face, and was no longer drunk. He stared blankly at the wine bowl on the table, "It's just that this world is too bitter."

Murong Ji remained silent. Whether it was hell or heaven, it all depended on one's attitude. "Haha, Brother Qiao, you are now the King of the Northern Courtyard of Liao, and you still say that this world is too hard?"

"Have you never seen how miserable the people at the bottom of society are? How miserable are the women trapped in brothels?"

Qiao Feng sighed and emptied the jar of wine, but there was not a drop of wine left.

Coincidentally, Deng Baichuan came over with a jar of wine. He opened the jar, poured wine for Murong Ji and Qiao Feng, saluted with his fists, and turned to leave.

Qiao Feng looked at Deng Baichuan's back and said, "The four great ministers of the Murong family are truly heroes among men."

Murong Ji didn't even raise his head. "That's what big brother thinks. I'm still on guard against him. Big brother knows about the relationship between Murong Fu and I."

Qiao Feng did not ask any more questions, as this was someone else's private matter. Murong Ji changed the subject: "Big brother and Yelu Hongji have sworn brotherhood?"

Qiao Feng was a little hesitant. He was not sure about Murong Ji's intentions. Was he trying to find out about the situation of the Liao Dynasty with the intention of restoring the country?
He nodded and said nothing more.

"Yelü Hongji, haha, big brother, do you know the situation of the Liao Kingdom? Oh, the relationship between the Xiao family and the Yelu royal family?"

Murong Ji knew without hesitation that Qiao Feng was being plotted against by Yelu Hongji.

He said directly: "Since Empress Dowager Xiao came to power, Liao has had the capital and confidence to compete with Song Dynasty."

"It was also after Empress Dowager Xiao that the King of the North Courtyard almost became the exclusive property of the Xiao family. I think my eldest brother also knows how great his power is."

"The fact that the Xiao family was able to plan a rebellion and force Yelu Hongji to almost death shows the conflict between the Xiao family and the royal family."

"Then, brother, what do you think Yelu Hongji is thinking?"

Qiao Feng's face did not look good, he just kept drinking. Just by looking at this moment, Murong Ji knew that Qiao Feng's life in Liao Kingdom was not very satisfactory.

The King of the North Courtyard was like the second emperor of the Liao Kingdom. He had so much government affairs to deal with every day, but Qiao Feng still had time to go hunting.

"The Song Dynasty is poor and weak now, but it is still extremely powerful compared to the Liao Dynasty. We can be strong for a while by raising an army, but we will never be able to break through Yanmen Pass."

"If I'm right, Yelu Hongji will force you to go south. First, he wants to sever the last bit of friendship between you and the Song Dynasty, second, he wants you to lose the battle and lose your prestige, and third, he wants to find out the remnants of the Xiao family besides you."

"The current situation of the Liao Kingdom is not good. The Jurchen tribes in the east are not honest, and the Mongolian tribes in the west are blocking it. Under such circumstances, it is the stupidest decision for Yelu Hongji to send troops to attack the Song Dynasty."

Murong Ji had said this to this extent, if Qiao Feng still couldn't understand, it would be totally wrong.

After taking a look at Qiao Feng, Murong Ji understood in his heart that Qiao Feng's heart was dead.

If his previous search for the truth was his struggle against fate, and he finally returned to Liao, and neither country would tolerate him, and now he is in Shaolin Temple, trying to determine who the murderer of those people is.

Qiao Feng's heart was completely dead.

Perhaps, he had already gone with the girl named Ah Zhu...

At this point, Murong Ji said no more, as he had nothing to say.

In fact, Qiao Feng understood many things, and his tacit consent to A Zi's secret return to the Song Dynasty was enough to prove his attitude.

"Brother Qiao..."

Qiao Feng picked up the wine bowl and motioned to Murong Ji to drink. Murong Ji sighed, picked up the wine bowl, clinked the bowl together, and drank it all in one gulp.

It’s getting late, it’s time to go home.

Murong Ji did feel a little uncomfortable and sour in his heart. In this world, there is always some kind of person who makes you feel very comfortable and like being bathed in spring breeze when you get along with him.

You don't need to worry about what he's thinking about you, nor do you need to guess what he's thinking. He's straightforward, even if he doesn't speak nicely, but he's very relaxed. But such people don't live long.

Just as Murong Ji was about to speak, Qiao Feng raised his hand to interrupt him, "Brother Murong, I, Qiao Feng, have done things with a clear conscience. One day..."

"Ah, if that day ever comes, please help me take care of my parents. In the next life, Qiao Feng will definitely..."

"Brother Qiao!" Murong Ji interrupted immediately, "Uncle and aunt, you don't have to worry as long as I'm here."

Qiao Feng suddenly smiled, clasped his fists towards Murong Ji, and said nothing more. He then took out a booklet from his bosom and stuffed it into Murong Ji's hand.

"I come from the Beggars' Sect. No matter what, the chivalry of the Beggars' Sect is worth promoting. It's just that I was deceived by a villain for a while..."

"If there are any good talents in the Beggars' Sect in the future, please accept them as disciples on my behalf and pass down this palm technique. Thank you very much!"

After saying this, Qiao Feng turned around and left, heading straight down the Shaoshi Mountain towards the rising sun.

Murong Ji looked at the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms in his hand, especially the seventeenth palm, which was not yet named.

From Murong Ji's perspective, the seventeenth palm strike was Qiao Feng's most brilliant and perfect one.

Although the eighteenth palm had been completed, it was not perfect, and Qiao Feng did not have time to push it to perfection.

Murong Ji watched Qiao Feng disappear into thin air, and murmured, "A ram hits a fence, its horns are shattered. It can neither retreat nor advance."

At this moment, Qiao Feng seemed to be arranged by the predetermined fate. He wanted to break through, but ultimately found himself powerless. His heart was dead, like a dead tree.

Suddenly I thought of a poem written by Su Shi in his later years, which fits Qiao Feng's current situation very well: "My heart is like a dead tree, and my body is like an untied boat."

The Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty no longer had a place to stay.

Coming back to his senses, Murong Ji saw Xu Zhu and Duan Yu being helped away.

Turned and walked towards Shaolin Temple.

"Master, should we take another day off?" Deng Baichuan asked in a low voice, leaning his head slightly beside Murong Ji.

"No, let's go back today. Please prepare some hot water for me to take a shower."

"Yes."

After descending Mount Shaoshi, Murong Ji looked back while riding on his horse, feeling complicated emotions in his heart. He couldn't describe what he felt, but it just felt... quite ridiculous.

The trip to Shaolin Temple seems to be a turning point in the destiny of many people. The more beautiful and smooth the previous life is, the more painful the future life will be.

"drive!"

A few days later.

After returning to Gusu, Murong Ji began to arrange people to investigate Mount Emei.

At that time, Mount Emei was not yet as prosperous as it is in later generations, gathering the eight Buddhist sects, six Taoist sects, the Five Flowers and Eight Leaves, and other martial arts schools.

There are only Buddhism, Taoism and some martial arts sects.

Murong Ji looked at the information in his hand and frowned slightly. Mount Emei is very large, and many places with sects can be ruled out.

Since no sword techniques or sword skills have been reported from Mount Emei, it is obvious that they have not been discovered yet.

Murong Ji then set his sights on the deserted deep forest.

"Master of the house."

Murong Ji looked up and saw Deng Baichuan coming in with a letter and handed it to him. Then he said, "Master, there is news from Xixia, recruiting a prince consort..."

Having said that, she subconsciously glanced at Yang Yueman. After all, she was the mistress of the family. If she were to make things difficult for him, it would be really hard for him.

Murong Ji put down the letter and said, "Let Xu Zhu go and find his Menggu."

After half a month of preparation, Murong Ji was about to set off for Mount Emei when his uncle Wang Xian received a letter saying that the Queen Mother Gao Taotao was seriously ill!
Emperor Cheoljong is still young and has no prestige yet, and is also at an age when he is most easily influenced by others.

If Gao Taotao died, the future direction and fate of the Song Dynasty would become uncertain.

A letter from his cheap brother-in-law Yang Bangyu followed closely.

When Murong Ji opened it, he did not say anything about the Queen Mother being seriously ill. He only said one sentence, about the promise of giving her a sword.

Murong Ji instantly recalled the middle-aged Confucian scholar he met at the beginning, Emperor Shenzong.

He reached out and touched the Tianwen Sword on the table. Is this a good sword? Yes, it is a rare good sword in the world.

A sword forged with the Song Dynasty's most advanced craftsmanship.

Once Gao Taotao died, Emperor Zhezong would take over the government, which involved all aspects of power.

During the Song Dynasty, the rights and development of military generals were restricted, but the development of literati and scholars was greatly promoted.

It's a good thing and a bad thing.

In this era, a rebellion by a military commander would inevitably fail, but it was extremely easy for a scholar to seize power.

To rule the world together with the scholars and officials, just one sentence is enough.

The seizure of power turned into co-governance, and there would be no problem as long as the emperor was still a member of the Zhao family.

(End of this chapter)