308: Chapter 88 The New Leader of the Beggars' Sect

In an Inn at a Market Town at the foot of Tian Shan, a few Jianghu travelers were gossiping.

One of them said, "Gentlemen, have you heard? The Beggars Sect has a new Beggars Sect Leader recently."

"A new Beggars Sect Leader? Who is it?" someone nearby asked curiously.

"That man is surnamed Quan, named Quan Guanqing."

"Quan Guanqing? Never heard of him. Which backwater did he pop out from?"

"I've heard of him. This man is an Elder of the Beggars Sect, with the nickname 'Scholar of the Ten Directions.' It is said that he is resourceful and has made many great contributions to the Beggars Sect..."

The person who knew about Quan Guanqing's deeds talked eloquently.

At a table not far away, Meng Li, upon hearing the news that Quan Guanqing had become the new Beggars Sect Leader, paused slightly while picking up food, but returned to normal in an instant.

Wu Ya Zi, who was nearby, noticed this and asked curiously, "Sect Head, do you know this Quan Guanqing?"

Meng Li nodded, "I have met him once."

Wang Yuyan had a good memory and had some recollection of this. After thinking for a moment, she remembered and helped explain, "Previously, because their Deputy Sect Head Ma Dayuan died from his own famous Martial Arts technique, the people of the Beggars Sect suspected that the murderer was my husband and came to Canhe Village to demand an explanation."

"This Quan Guanqing tried to incite Qiao Feng and my husband to fight, and was injured by my husband with the Mixed Finger Technique."

Wu Ya Zi, Old Woman of Tian Shan, and Li Qingluo then suddenly realized.

Subsequently, Li Qingluo snorted coldly, "If such a sinister villain can become the Beggars Sect Leader, the Beggars Sect is truly going downhill."

Old Woman of Tian Shan said, "The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms that Qiao Feng used last time were not bad. I wonder how much this man surnamed Quan has learned."

Wu Ya Zi stroked his beard and said, "The Dragon Subduing Palm is the Legacy martial art of the Beggars Sect. Disciples of the Beggars Sect who have made contributions have the opportunity to learn a move or two. Generally, only the Beggars Sect Leader can learn the full set, and what each Beggars Sect Leader learns is passed down by the previous generation's Beggars Sect Leader."

"But Qiao Feng was forced to abdicate by the people of the Beggars Sect, and at that time, the Beggars Sect had not determined a successor, so he likely did not leave this palm technique behind."

Old Woman of Tian Shan immediately sneered, "Then this man surnamed Quan will likely find it difficult to convince the masses. I fear he won't be able to sit in this Beggars Sect Leader position for long."

Meng Li nodded slightly.

Although he did not know how Quan Guanqing became the Beggars Sect Leader, the situation he understood was indeed as Wu Ya Zi and Old Woman of Tian Shan had said.

In the original story, Quan Guanqing was an opportunist with ambition who wanted to rise to power, but his ability and conditions were lacking: his Martial Arts were mediocre, far inferior to Qiao Feng. His prestige and status within the Beggars Sect were also average among the high-level members; one could only say he was top-tier among ordinary Elders.

Above him were the Protector Elders, the Skill Transmission Elder, the Law Enforcement Elder, the Deputy Sect Head, and the Beggars Sect Leader.

It was precisely because of this that even though Quan Guanqing forced Qiao Feng away, he still could not ascend to the position of Beggars Sect Leader.

Even in the Late Stage, when the Beggars Sect was left with only a handful of members, he could only support the Puppet You Tanzhi to take the position while he hid behind the scenes. Then, once he achieved success, he got carried away and actually incited You Tanzhi to lead the Beggars Sect members to challenge the Shaolin Monastery to boost their reputation, but as expected, it backfired.

Now that Quan Guanqing himself has become the Beggars Sect Leader, I wonder if he will still stubbornly rush to challenge the Shaolin Monastery.

If he is still that brave, there will be a show to watch.

Soon, the group finished their meal, rested, and continued to advance toward Lingjiu Palace.

Not long after the group left the Market Town, they were met by members of Lingjiu Palace who had received the news in advance.

Afterward, the group headed straight for Lingjiu Palace.

Upon arriving at Lingjiu Palace, Old Woman of Tian Shan summoned the high-level members of the Nine Heavens and Nine Divisions to inquire about the affairs and situations after her departure.

Meng Li, Wang Yuyan, and Li Qingluo were led by Mei Jian and Zhu Jian to get settled.

Li Qingluo, not knowing what she was thinking, took Wang Yuyan to live with her.

Although Meng Li was somewhat unhappy, he could not say anything while outside.

Taking advantage of the moment Li Qingluo pulled Wang Yuyan away, Meng Li went to see Murong Bo.

Although this old man liked to stir up trouble and sabotage his son, he was, after all, his biological father in this life. After being "converted" by him using the Mi Xin Great Technique, he had been living in seclusion at Lingjiu Palace for some time. To avoid exposing his identity, he did not even return to attend his wedding, so he could be considered completely settled.

Since he was settled, Meng Li naturally did not mind showing some concern, which could be considered fulfilling a bit of father-son affection.

When he arrived at the place and looked, the old man was in the courtyard feeding two vultures.

Besides the vultures, there were many flowers and plants in the courtyard, and even vegetables.

Meng Li was not surprised.

He had learned about this from Old Woman of Tian Shan and Wu Ya Zi before.

Since coming here, Murong Bo had entered retirement mode: every day he would tend to flowers, grow vegetables, feed the vultures, and then play chess and drink tea with Wu Ya Zi.

Seeing Meng Li arrive, Murong Bo was somewhat surprised, "Why are you here? Come in."

As he spoke, he stopped feeding and opened the courtyard gate.

"I came to see you," Meng Li replied casually and walked into the courtyard.

Before long, the two sat opposite each other and began to chat.

They did not chat for long before Meng Li left.

Because there was nothing much to talk about; adult father and son, especially in the Chinese context, were mostly like this.

There was affection between them, but it was difficult to have a pleasant, long conversation.

Leaving the small courtyard where Murong Bo lived in seclusion, Meng Li soon encountered Wang Yuyan, who was looking for him everywhere.

"Husband, where did you go?"

"I walked around a bit." Meng Li replied casually, then continued, "The scenery of Tian Shan is very different from Suzhou. Since there is an opportunity, I will take you to look around and appreciate the scenery here."

"Okay." Wang Yuyan agreed happily.

The two, holding hands, had just left Lingjiu Palace when they met Li Qingluo.

"Yu Yan, Fu'er, where are you going?"

"We plan to walk around and appreciate the surrounding scenery."

"Take your mother along."

"This... alright."

Wang Yuyan was actually not very happy.

Although she did not understand what a third wheel was, she knew that after Li Qingluo joined, she and her husband were not as comfortable and sweet as when they were alone.

However, since Li Qingluo had spoken, she could not refuse.

Meng Li did not mind; after all, his relationship with Li Qingluo and Wang Yuyan was about the same.

Even if there was unhappiness, he could find an opportunity to get it back later.

Just like this, the three began to wander around Lingjiu Palace, and it was like this for several days, even leaving Piaomiao Peak to go to other areas of Tian Shan.

Majestic towering mountains.

Chilling glaciers.

Vast and continuous forests.

Endless grasslands.

These landscapes, so different from Jiangnan, made Wang Yuyan and Li Qingluo feel very novel, as well as the animals: argali, yellow weasels, pikas, red deer...

Wang Yuyan and Li Qingluo, with their interest piqued, directly changed into tight-fitting outfits to go hunting.

A few days later, the time for Old Woman of Tian Shan to rejuvenate arrived.

A figure quietly sneaked onto Piaomiao Peak, and at the same time, an erratic voice arrived with the wind.

"Senior Sister, where are you?"

"Your Junior Sister has come to find you, come out and see me."

"If you don't come to see me, I will go in and find you."

"Alright, Junior Sister, come on in. Senior Sister has prepared a big surprise gift for you."

Li Qiu Shui: "???"