Chapter - 363 Before the Xuanyuan Dais (7) (1/2)
Qiu Qianren said, ”My visit today is to ask an important favor from your precious Clan; in return, I am going to offer something to you.”
”We don't dare,” Jian Zhanglao replied, ”But please Qiu Lao Bangzhu tell us.”
Qiu Qianren said, ”Recently some brothers from my clan received the Old Man's order to take care of some business. I don't know how they had provoked two friends from your precious Clan that they were beaten and suffered heavy injuries. My brothers' skills were unrefined, so there is nothing I can say; but if this matter is spread out within the Jianghu, the Iron Palm Clan will certainly lose our face. Old Man does not know the good from evil; I want to ask for some lessons from the two friends from your precious Clan.”
From the start Yang Kang did not have the slightest bit of care toward the Beggar Clan; how could he dare to offend Qiu Qianren for the sake of two Beggar Clan disciples? Immediately he said, ”Who has dared to cause trouble and fight with friends from the Iron Palm Clan without authorization? Quickly come out and apologize to Qiu Lao Bangzhu.”
Ever since Hong Qigong became the Clan Leader of the Beggar Clan, they had never lost power and prestige within the Jianghu. Now as soon as Hong Qigong was dead, the new Clan Leader was this weak; as the crowd of beggars heard this order, they were filled with contempt and resentment. Li Sheng and Yu Zhaoxing came out several steps from among the crowd. With a clear voice Li Sheng said, ”Reporting to Bangzhu: our Clan's fourth commandment clearly states that every one of us must uphold justice and chivalry; helping others in suffering. The day before yesterday while we were on our way the two of us saw some friends from the Iron Palm Clan bullying common people, taking some women captive. We could not hold our patience; we stepped forward to stop them. We fought and in the end have injured the friends from the Iron Palm Clan.”
Yang Kang said, ”No matter what you have to apologize to Qiu Lao Bangzhu.”
Li Sheng and Yu Zhaoxing looked at each other; they were furious. If they did not apologize, they were disobeying their Clan Leader's order; if they apologized, this humiliation was difficult to bear. Li Zheng loudly called out, ”Brothers, if Lao Bangzhu was still alive he would not allow us to throw this face away. Today Xiao Di [little brother, referring to himself] prefers to die rather than be disgraced!” With a smooth motion he pulled a short dagger from his leg and stabbed it into his own heart; he died immediately. Yu Zhaoxing pounced forward to snatch the short dagger, then he stabbed his own chest; he died on top of Li Zheng's body.
The crowd of beggars saw these two would rather commit suicide than to be insulted; their hearts were tumultuous, but the Beggar Clan's regulation was extremely strict, without the Clan Leader's command, nobody dared to move.
Qiu Qianren smiled wryly, he said, ”Let this matter be settled this way then. Now I want to give your precious Clan a gift.” His left hand waved; a dozen or so men dressed in black behind him opened a chest they brought along. Each one held out a tray and respectfully presented the tray to Yang Kang. The trays glittered brightly, they were full of gold, silver, jewels and pearls. The crowds of beggars were astonished to see them suddenly present these jewels.
Qiu Qianren said, ”Although the Iron Palm Clan has enough food to eat, we cannot afford to present you with any appropriate gift. This gift is from Zhao Wangye [Prince Zhao, lit. King Zhao] of the Great Jin who asked the Old Man to pass along to you.”
Yang Kang was pleasantly surprised; he asked quickly, ”Where is Zhao Wangye? I must see him.”
Qiu Qianren replied, ”Several months ago Zhao Wangye sent his people to deliver this gift along with his message for the Old Man to pass them along to your precious Clan.”
Yang Kang uttered an 'Hmm', he thought, ”It was before father even made a plan to go south. I wonder what he had in mind with these beggars.”