293: A chance encounter at the Misty Rain Pavilion

The Yihua Palace Disciples didn't dare to ask questions; they complied and began handling the matters Moon Invitation had assigned.

The news of the Twelve Zodiac Animals being turned into human stumps and hung on the city walls for public display quickly spread throughout the entire Martial World.

For a moment, the entire Jianghu was in an uproar.

"Have you heard? The Twelve Zodiac Animals were killed, and they met a miserable end—turned directly into human stumps. It's said that every one of them had a pained and hideous expression, dying with their eyes wide open. Clearly, they suffered immense agony before death."

"Haha... serves them right! Those Twelve Zodiac Animals were notorious in the Jianghu; they haven't done a single good deed since they started. A good death, a well-deserved death!"

"I just wonder who killed the Twelve Zodiac Animals. You know, their leader, Toothless Wei, was a Great Grandmaster level Master."

"Moreover, the Twelve Zodiac Animals were born cunning and insidious; one could easily be plotted against if not careful. Who could be so powerful as to wipe them all out at once?"

"I heard it was done by the Grand Palace Mistress of Yihua Palace, Moon Invitation."

"It was also the Disciples of Yihua Palace who hung them on the city walls for public display."

"I had long heard that the Twelve Zodiac Animals provoked the Grand Palace Mistress of Yihua Palace, and now it seems it was true."

"It's not surprising that Palace Mistress Yaoyue has such methods."

"Indeed, Moon Invitation of Yihua Palace has always been ruthless; none who offend her come to a good end, especially men, whose fates are even worse."

"The Twelve Zodiac Animals got what they deserved, receiving their due punishment."

"Hmph, if you ask me, letting the Twelve Zodiac Animals die like that was too easy on them. They should have been executed by Lingchi and then thrown into an ant pile to suffer the torment of ten thousand ants gnawing their bones."

"People like that simply don't deserve to be called human."

When people in the Jianghu talked about the Twelve Zodiac Animals, there wasn't one who didn't hate them, feeling that letting them die like that was too lenient.

Over the years, countless families had been shattered because of the Twelve Zodiac Animals; dying like this really didn't vent enough frustration.

On this day, Duan Zhengchun and Moon Princess arrived at the Misty Rain Tower in the Great Song territory. Looking at the Misty Rain Tower, Duan Zhengchun felt a sense of nostalgia.

This place was where many people in the Martial Forest had made their names.

He just wondered if something would happen here today.

As soon as the two arrived, the Waiter's eyes lit up, and he hurried over to greet them.

"Young Master, Young Lady, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

As a Waiter of the Misty Rain Tower, he certainly had an eye for people.

The aura of Duan Zhengchun and Moon Princess clearly showed they were no ordinary people.

Aside from anything else, these tall horses weren't something ordinary people could afford. Moreover, the two had an extraordinary bearing, and the lady held a precious sword; one look told him they were not simple.

"It's getting late. Two upper rooms. And prepare some good wine and food," Duan Zhengchun nodded slightly.

"Right away! Please wait a moment, guests, and follow me." The Waiter happily led Duan Zhengchun and Moon Princess inside.

However, just at that moment, a Little Beggar came running over, looking back from time to time as if someone were chasing him.

In his haste, the Little Beggar lost his way and bumped straight into Duan Zhengchun's arms.

"Ouch! Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean it, I didn't mean it!" the Little Beggar quickly apologized.

Without waiting for Duan Zhengchun to speak, he tried to keep running.

But he was caught by the arm and pulled back by Duan Zhengchun.

"Young Master, I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it. Please just let me go." Being held, a flash of panic crossed the Little Beggar's eyes, though he masked it well.

Duan Zhengchun didn't say anything; he just held out his open palm in front of the Little Beggar.

The Little Beggar was stunned and looked at Duan Zhengchun with a face full of confusion.

But when he saw Duan Zhengchun's appearance, the Little Beggar was momentarily dazed.

"So handsome... how can there be someone so handsome in this world?"

Seeing the Little Beggar staring at him in a daze, Duan Zhengchun frowned slightly.

"Hand it over..." His tone was calm but filled with unquestionable authority.

Duan Zhengchun's words brought the Little Beggar back to his senses, and he suddenly felt his cheeks burning.

Fortunately, his face was covered in grime and his body was filthy, so his blushing couldn't be seen.

"Huh? What?" The Little Beggar looked at Duan Zhengchun with a bewildered expression.

"I don't want to say it a second time..." Duan Zhengchun's tone grew cold as he looked at the Little Beggar with a calm gaze.

Stared down by Duan Zhengchun, the Little Beggar suddenly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, a chill rushing from his tailbone straight to the back of his head.

A Master—this was definitely a Master.

The Little Beggar also knew that although his own methods were clever, they weren't enough to pass in front of a Master.

"Uh, I'm used to it. Sorry, please don't lower yourself to my level."

"I have no choice either. I haven't eaten for three days." With a look of grievance, the Little Beggar took out a money pouch and placed it in Duan Zhengchun's hand.

"With your skills, why not do something else? Why must you be a thief!" Duan Zhengchun looked at the Little Beggar calmly.

"I'd like to, but I can't carry things or lift much; nobody wants me."

"Young Master, why don't you be kind and give me something to eat? I haven't eaten for three days, and my stomach is flat from hunger."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't do such a thing." The Little Beggar looked very aggrieved.

Looking at the Little Beggar before him, Duan Zhengchun felt something was off; this plot seemed a bit familiar.

Suddenly, Duan Zhengchun thought of a possibility, and his expression immediately became strange.

He stared at the Little Beggar and began to size him up.

The Little Beggar grew a bit nervous under Duan Zhengchun's gaze, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at Duan Zhengchun warily.

"You—what do you want to do? I'm telling you, although I'm hungry, I... I will absolutely not do anything that crosses my bottom line." The Little Beggar looked at Duan Zhengchun nervously.

"Oh? Things that cross your bottom line? It seems stealing isn't within your bottom line then." Duan Zhengchun looked at the Little Beggar playfully.

"What does that count for? I'm forced by circumstances; this is actually the behavior of a gentleman." The Little Beggar said stubbornly.

"Oh? Since when has stealing been the behavior of a gentleman?" Duan Zhengchun looked at the Little Beggar with some amusement.

"Tch, that's just your lack of knowledge. Don't you know what a 'Gentleman on the Beam' is?" The Little Beggar tilted his head back proudly, with an expression that was somewhat asking for a beating.

"Pfft... stop flattering yourself. 'Gentleman on the Beam' describes a Chivalrous Thief who gives what they get to the poor; that's why the term exists."

"You're doing it just to fill your own stomach; can you be called a gentleman?"

"Besides, you're just a little girl; how can you be called a gentleman?" Duan Zhengchun looked at the Little Beggar with a half-smile.

"You... how do you know I'm a girl?" The little girl looked at Duan Zhengchun nervously.

"Your skin is so white, you have a faint scent of orchids on you, and you have ear piercings but no Adam's apple."

"Come on, tell me which of these fits the characteristics of a man." Duan Zhengchun looked at the Little Beggar leisurely.

That's right, this Little Beggar was none other than Huang Rong, the precious daughter of Old Evil Wang, the Master of Peach Blossom Island in the East Sea.

But he hadn't expected Huang Rong to still be a little girl. What was going on with Guo Xiang then?

The Mount Emei Founding Ancestral Master Guo Xiang apparently might still be alive, so why was Huang Rong just a little girl?