Chapter 61

As Lin Chong finished speaking, the two brothers, who had entrusted their families to each other, embraced, and everyone was moved by their brotherly affection. Little Jin'er, standing nearby, couldn't help but wipe away her tears secretly. Suddenly, she saw an object similar to a handkerchief being offered to her. Little Jin'er, feeling both embarrassed and angry, stomped her foot and said nothing, but quickly took the handkerchief and secretly wiped the tears from her face.

After an unknown amount of time, Wang Lun patted Lin Chong on the shoulder, and the two finally let go. Wang Lun pointed to Xu Ning and said, "I don't need to introduce Brother Xu to you, do I?"

Xu Ning took off his mask and exchanged a glance with Lin Chong. The two former comrades-in-arms of the Imperial Guard had the same deep and weathered eyes. Thinking about the unpredictable fate that had made them both victims of the same person and then helped by the same person, and now meeting again at this time and place, how could they not feel a mix of joy and sorrow?

Lin Chong's wife and Xu Ning's wife stood hand in hand on the side, each feeling the joy and sorrow on their husbands' faces.

After a long moment of eye contact, the two men nodded at each other, and their faces finally broke into smiles of reunion. Seeing this, Wang Lun pulled over Mi Fei and introduced him to Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen. Before the two could speak, Mi Fei said, "Monk, we didn't finish our fight that night. How about another round?" Lu Zhishen laughed and said, "Sure, I'm not one to sit idle anyway!" Mi Fei was delighted and said to Lin Chong, "Brother, you have such strength. My brother Jiao Ting and I couldn't even hold you back!" It was clear that three people had been supporting Lin Chong, but this straightforward man had simply ignored Wang Lun.

Lin Chong smiled and said, "I've heard my senior brother speak of a hero with unparalleled axe skills. I didn't expect it to be you, brother. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Seeing that they had finished their conversation, Wang Lun said to Lin Chong, "This is a hero I met on my way to Tokyo. He will follow me from now on!"

"He's called Jiao Ting, and everyone calls him 'Faceless'!" Seeing the big man just staring at his master and smiling foolishly without speaking, Little Jin'er was anxious and blurted out.

Lin Chong, surprised, glanced at his maid and then carefully examined Jiao Ting, saying, "A hero chosen by my brother is indeed extraordinary!"

Finally, Wang Lun introduced Wen Huanzhang, saying, "This is my senior, who possesses the talents of Sun Wu and Zhuge Liang. We hit it off immediately, and he joined us on Liangshan! When his family escaped from Tokyo, they stayed at this senior's home!"

Hearing this, Lin Chong hurriedly bowed and said, "Is it Professor Wen? I am deeply grateful for your protection of my family! I have heard much about you in the capital, and to meet you today is truly a matter of fate!"

Wen Huanzhang replied, "I have long heard that Lin Instructor is an outstanding talent in the Imperial Guard. It was unfortunate that you were harmed by Gao Qiu. I regret not being able to help you, alas!"

Lin Chong hurriedly thanked him. After the two finished speaking, Mi Fei said, "Brother Lin Chong, why didn't Wang Lun come down to welcome our strategist brother? Is he really so lacking in magnanimity?"

Lin Chong was taken aback, and Wang Lun laughed and said, "Wang Leader probably has important matters to attend to on the mountain. Why are you so petty? If you keep this up, you'll be no different from him!"

Mi Fei said, "I knew it, he can't stand my strategist brother!" With that, he returned to the inn, and everyone laughed, except for Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen, who were still in the dark. They asked, "Brother, what's going on?"

Wang Lun laughed and explained the events on the road to them. Xu Ning and Zhang Instructor also added a few words, and the two finally understood, bursting into laughter, saying how adorable this man was! After more laughter, everyone entered the inn together.

At this time, in a forgotten corner of the road, Lei Heng, who had been lying on the ground waiting to die, opened his eyes. Seeing that there was no one from Liangshan around, he subconsciously touched his neck, feeling as if he had just returned from the gates of hell. Looking at his dead subordinates and the inn where the scholar was, his heart was filled with mixed emotions as he struggled to his feet and limped away on the country road.

...

"I must learn to ride a horse this time. I only wish these two legs could turn into four, it's really frustrating!" said Ruan Xiaoqi, walking briskly at the front of the group.

"Brother, you're in a hurry, but aren't we all in a hurry? Look, who wants to stay in the mountain camp? We all hope to see our brother as soon as possible!" Du Qian laughed in response.

"Ha! Fortunately, Brother Zhu Fu returned to the mountain today. We took his shift, making him stay in the camp to watch the house!" Song Wan laughed.

Zhu Gui coughed, and Song Wan saw this and laughed, "I said the wrong thing, I should be punished!"

Ruan Xiaoqi sighed, "Who made us these six unlucky ones unable to ride horses? Otherwise, we could have gone with Brother Lin Chong and Master Lu to see our brother earlier!"

Ruan Xiaoe and Ruan Xiaowu laughed heartily, feeling especially fulfilled. They thought they could finally repay their brother's expectations. The water army of the mountain camp was now well-established, with just the combat troops numbering five hundred, not to mention the family members who could fish in their spare time.

The six of them walked and chatted, followed by over a thousand small bandits. The passersby were not afraid but gathered to watch and commented, "Who is the next one to suffer? They must have invited the heroes from Liangshan to come down and eliminate the threat!"

After more than an hour of walking, they finally reached Zhu Gui's new inn. Ruan Xiaoqi said, "Brother Zhu Gui, why did you open your inn so far away? If it were in Tokyo, my legs would be worn out!"

Zhu Gui laughed and, seeing the inn's assistant looking at the group, waved. The assistant hurriedly went inside to report, and soon Wang Lun came out to greet everyone. When the two groups met, Du Qian said, "Brother, you left just after my good news. I won't let you leave the mountain again, it made me so worried!"

Wang Lun laughed and said, "I won't be absent when my nephew has his full moon celebration!"

Song Wan laughed, "I've been waiting for you to return on the mountain. Now it's all good! Otherwise, I always felt uneasy, without a leader!"

Du Qian laughed, "Brother, you're looking forward to your brother coming back to get you a wife, aren't you!" Everyone burst into laughter. The Ruan brothers stepped forward and said, "We haven't let you down, brother. The water army now has five hundred men. We three brothers have fulfilled your trust and can report back!"

Wang Lun looked at Ruan Xiaoqi and laughed, "Your brothers want to quit, but no way! Five hundred is just the beginning. There will be five thousand, fifty thousand in the future. I think you brothers won't have much leisure time!"

Wang Lun's words made the three Ruan brothers laugh heartily. Zhu Gui then stepped forward, looking sincerely at Wang Lun. Wang Lun said, "I feel at home when I reach Brother Zhu Gui's inn!" Zhu Gui humbly thanked him, and after a few words, Wang Lun introduced the new leaders. Everyone had already heard about Lu Zhishen, so they were not surprised, but they looked at Mi Fei and said, "We haven't heard Master Lu mention this man, he's quite impressive!"

Mi Fei asked the group, "Why hasn't Wang Lun come down to welcome my strategist brother? He's so arrogant!"

The six who had just arrived looked at each other, not understanding what he meant. Wang Lun was right there, but they wondered if this man had a close relationship with Wen Huanzhang. They had heard from Lu Zhishen that Wen Huanzhang didn't sit in a chair, so how did he become a strategist? They were puzzled, but Ruan Xiaoqi said, "Hey! Are you looking for Brother Wang Lun?"

Mi Fei loudly said, "Yes! That guy, why is he sitting in the mountain camp waiting for my strategist brother to come and bow to him?"

"Who is your strategist brother?" Ruan Xiaoqi asked.

Mi Fei pointed at Wang Lun and said, "Isn't this my strategist brother! Why don't you know? Do I have to say it?"

Wang Lun, somewhat helplessly, said, "Brother, don't blame me for deceiving you. I am Wang Lun! You know, if I had told you the truth then, you would have left, and I would have lost a good brother!"

Mi Fei was astonished, said nothing, and turned to go into the inn. Everyone guessed the situation and quickly stopped him, trying to persuade him. Mi Fei said loudly, "If you deceive me once, you'll do it again. That's what my mother said!"

Wang Lun, unable to laugh or cry, said, "Brothers, be my witnesses. If I ever deceive Brother Mi Fei again, I will let him leave the mountain without any hindrance!"

Suddenly, Mi Fei looked up at Wang Lun and said seriously, "You deceived me because you love me, so I won't hold it against you! From now on, I will always call you my strategist brother, and you won't be deceiving me!"

Everyone was stunned, and then a thunderous burst of laughter echoed.

Note: I recommend a book by a friend: "The Beauty of the Empire." If you enjoy stories about the Sui and Tang dynasties, you can check it out. The link to the book is in my author recommendations. Here's the summary:

In the seventh year of the Sui Dynasty, it seemed to be a time of prosperity. Emperor Yang of Sui launched a campaign against Liaodong, aiming to become a great emperor for all time. However, soon the fires of war spread, and the land was filled with smoke and the clash of weapons. The Sui Dynasty lost its power, and the whole world vied for it.

The empire is like a painting, and the beauty of the country has drawn countless heroes into conflict. In this vast and tumultuous era, a young man rises from the grass, wielding a three-foot bow to pluck the stars and the moon, and with a hero's staff, he stirs the mountains and rivers. Riding eagles and wolves, he sings and chases the deer, looking down on the two capitals and the changing empire. In ten years, a commoner stands proud among the nobles. A song of the pipa brings the noble