Chapter 60

"Had it not been for the slight filial piety you still have, I would have bled you dry like a pig or a cow! Go back and learn how to be a person from Zhu Tong! And you pack of lackeys, killing one of you is the same as killing two. If I see you still up to no good, I will show no mercy with my blade! All of you, scram!"

In Wang Lun's loud rebuke, the bruised and battered bailiffs, supporting each other, tumbled and crawled out of the hotel's main door. Among them, Lei Heng was the most severely injured, as he had been given special attention by Mi Fei. His entire body was a mess, his face a mix of red and purple, and his mouth swollen like a pig's intestine. The extremely disheveled Chief Lei was being carried on someone's shoulder, his legs spinning like a top, completely losing the dignity of a county chief. The once mighty and fierce Tiger with Wings was now reduced to a plucked chicken.

As this group of over ten people turned onto the road, they saw dust flying in the distance. A troop of cavalry was rushing towards them, numbering nearly a hundred. These people, seeing them as saviors, were overjoyed. They thought, "We've heard that the Liangshan bandits lack horses. Who else but the soldiers stationed in Jizhou could have so many good horses? We have been纵横县中十数年, yet we have never suffered such humiliation. Now that we have encountered the army, we can finally avenge this great shame!"

These people, while planning in their hearts, did not hesitate to act. They all stretched out their hands and shouted, "We are the bailiffs of Yuncheng County. There are Liangshan bandits in the hotel over there, only a few of them. Please, sirs, help us capture them!" Wang Lun had not revealed his identity, and these people were putting on a show, deliberately exaggerating the situation, fearing that the soldiers would pass by without helping.

Lei Heng, lying by the roadside, though in pain, was still thinking clearly. Seeing that the people in the hotel were not to be provoked, he had long abandoned any thoughts of revenge. Now, his subordinates were stirring up trouble again, and he cursed them in his heart, "Fools!" Even if these people were captured, who could guarantee that the matter would end there? These people did not seem to be without backing. This time, they might have really stirred up a hornet's nest! Thinking of this, Lei Heng tried to stop them, but how could he get through to these people, who were consumed by anger?

In an instant, the cavalry galloped up to them. A military officer with a leopard head, ringed eyes, and a tiger's beard waved to stop the horsemen and asked, "Where are the Liangshan people?"

The bailiffs vied to lead the way, but the officer roared, "Bind them all!" Immediately, over twenty horsemen dismounted and seized these unfortunate souls, who had just escaped the tiger's mouth only to fall into the wolf's den. Seeing this, Lei Heng lamented, "They've delivered us again..." He sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and resigned himself to his fate.

The other soldiers also dismounted, and the officer turned back and said, "Brother, the others are here!"

A fat monk laughed and said, "I didn't expect them to be so quick, only three days behind me!"

At this, the people in the hotel heard the commotion and came out to watch. The officer, seeing the person standing at the hotel's entrance, his expression changed dramatically. He rushed over, leaving his horse behind, and the fat monk came up to take the reins, smiling.

"Brother!" The officer, tears streaming down his face, could only manage one word before choking up, bowing deeply.

It turned out that this person was Lin Chong, who had hurriedly come down from the mountain upon receiving the news from the hotel.

"Brother, I have been away for two months, and I have not failed in my mission. Now I have brought your family back together!" Wang Lun tried to help Lin Chong up, but Lin Chong was like a boulder, immovable.

Just then, Instructor Zhang came out, and Wang Lun turned to him, "Instructor, this..."

Instructor Zhang said, "My nephew deserves a bow from my son-in-law!" He then slowly bowed himself, saying, "Even I must bow to you, deeply grateful for your kindness in reuniting my family!"

Wang Lun quickly came to help Instructor Zhang. At this moment, Zhang San led Lin's wife, Lin Chong's mother-in-law, and Little Jin'er down the stairs. Seeing this, the two women and the maid all bowed. Wang Lun, not wanting to stand and accept their gratitude, also bowed to the family.

At this moment, the cold wind blew leaves around, and the surroundings were silent. Time seemed to stand still. Lei Heng, lying on the ground, wondered why no one was binding him. Suddenly, he noticed the unusual silence around him. He opened his eyes and was struck with terror, as if the sky was falling. This scholar... this scholar is... This thought flashed through his mind, and Lei Heng broke out in a cold sweat. A cold wind blew, and the man lying on the ground shivered uncontrollably.

Wang Lun and Lin Chong's family bowed to each other for a long time, and no one dared to step forward to help. Even Mi Fei and Jiao Ting, who were usually rough, felt it was not appropriate to intervene. After a long while, Xu Ning's wife spoke up, "Sister Lin, how can you let Wang Leader bear this? If you don't get up, how can he? Sister, if you don't get up, do you want me, a pregnant woman, to help you?"

Lin's wife, tears streaming down her face, realized she was right and went to help her husband up. Seeing his wife, Lin Chong's legs automatically straightened. The others, seeing Lin Chong stand up, came forward to help Wang Lun and Instructor Zhang and his wife. Jiao Ting, seeing this, tried to help Little Jin'er, but she gave him a fierce glare, and he quickly lost his smile.

Lin Chong, looking at his wife, tears streaming down his face, choked out, "It's all my fault that I have dragged you down!"

Lin's wife, already a sobbing mess, said, "If it weren't for Uncle saving me from the beam on New Year's Eve, I... I might never have seen Brother again!"

Lin Chong was shocked to hear this, not knowing that such a crucial event had occurred. Lu Zhishen had not told him about this. He felt a mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, and endless regret. His eyes turned red, and he tried to bow to Wang Lun again, but this time, Wang Lun, having learned his lesson, pulled Mi Fei and Jiao Ting to stop him. However, Lin Chong was determined to kneel, and even the three of them could not stop him. Mi Fei was amazed at the man's strength.

Wang Lun sighed and, seeing the bound group, changed the subject, "Brother, I just let these people go, why did you capture them again?"

Lin Chong, seeing Wang Lun ask, finally spoke, "These bailiffs thought we were the Jizhou soldiers and asked for help to capture you. I had them all brought back."

Mi Fei, hearing this, was furious and shouted, "Lei Heng, you bastard! My brother, the strategist, kindly let you go, and you turned around and betrayed him. It seems you are seeking death!"

Lei Heng, hearing this, felt like dying. He was filled with indignation and wanted to hold up a sign of "Injustice" to plead his case before these bandits, but he finally held back, keeping his head down and silent. Lu Zhishen saw this and said, "They all shouted, but this man did not, so he was not bound."

Looking at the bailiffs tied up like mummies, Wang Lun sighed, "Heaven's wrath can be forgiven, but one's own actions cannot be forgiven!"

Lin Chong, hearing this, the usually gentle and polite man, without a word, rushed to the bailiffs, snatched a long knife from a nearby bandit, and in one breath, eliminated these unrepentant evil officials. The ferocity he displayed made even his mother-in-law fear, and she quickly covered her daughter's eyes. After Lin Chong finished, he threw the knife away and returned to Wang Lun, bowing, "Brother, I have completed the task."

Wang Lun, seeing Lin Chong's red eyes and unusual behavior, sighed and whispered to him, "You are always my brother, but not my enforcer!"

Lin Chong, hearing this, was like a man struck by a thunderbolt. After a moment, the red in his eyes faded, and the murderous aura around him disappeared. He said, "No matter what Lin Chong becomes in the future, Brother will always be Lin Chong's brother!"

<End of Chapter>