Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 615 The Wrath of Revenge!
The blazing sun hung high above the summit of Yanshan Mountain, baking the entire village in an intense white light.

The blinding sunlight relentlessly scorched the mountain rocks, clearly reflecting the horrific traces of last night's bloody battle.

The dark red bloodstains splattered on the stone wall had not yet dried, and the eerie white marks left by swords and knives crisscrossed, silently telling the howls of the dead.

Inside the mountain stronghold, however, was filled with the ecstatic joy and clamor of those who had survived the catastrophe.

The officers and soldiers had already completely surrendered!
The number of prisoners was so great that they were like locusts swarming across the mountains and fields, and the simple cages at Yanshan Village could not hold them all.

What's even more troublesome is that the sudden influx of several thousand mouths to feed is enough to devour the already meager grain reserves of the mountain stronghold.

Left with no other choice, the group had to drive the non-martial artists and low-value soldiers down the mountain like livestock, leaving only the leaders and experts with martial arts skills.

Even so, dealing with these unruly warrior prisoners was still no easy task.

Fortunately, the officers and soldiers were already terrified and demoralized, like lambs to the slaughter, completely at the mercy of others.

This made the cleanup work for the Yanshan bandits much smoother.

The entire mountain stronghold should have been immersed in the excitement of a great victory and the jubilation of looting.

however……

A heavy gloom descended silently, making even the clamor seem somewhat unreal.

Because a piece of terrible news, like a cold, venomous snake, quietly coiled around everyone's heart—

The chieftain, "Proud Blade Hero" Yin Leiling, has been poisoned by the Six Doors' rare poison and doesn't have much time left!
This profound grief overwhelmed the joy of victory.

Outside the Hall of Righteousness, several old brothers who were devoted to Yin Leiling stood guard like silent stone statues.

The gate was tightly closed, shutting out the noise and light from the outside world.

The hall was dimly lit and deathly silent.

There were only two of them.

In the main seat, Yin Leiling was deeply slumped in the tiger-skin chair that symbolized his supreme authority.

The poison had long since seeped into his bones; his face was ashen, tinged with an ominous, deathly blackness, and each breath was as labored as a broken bellows.

His once tall and imposing body, as straight as a pine tree, was now trembling slightly, as even maintaining a sitting posture had exhausted his remaining strength.

But he stubbornly straightened his back, his withered fingers gripping the cold handrail tightly, veins bulging.

Even at the end of his life, he would use his last strength to defend the dignity that belonged to "Proud Blade Hero"!

The only person accompanying him was Bai Yi, the "white-robed scholar".

This strategist, known for his wisdom and composure, felt his heart ache as he gazed at the emaciated, lifeless figure on the seat. An indescribable sorrow and bitterness welled up in his throat.

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

He followed Yin Leiling for many years and witnessed firsthand how this hero dominated the bandit world, gathered heroes from all directions, and single-handedly built the foundation of this Yanshan stronghold.

The glorious past, the battles fought side by side, the joys and sorrows, all seem to reappear vividly yesterday.

But in the blink of an eye, the brothers who fought side by side withered and passed away like autumn leaves.

Now, even the pillar supporting Yanshan Mountain is about to collapse!
"The leader of the village..."

Bai Yi's voice trembled uncontrollably as he struggled to hold back a sob:

"Your subordinate... Your subordinate is incompetent!"

He suddenly knelt down on the cold floor tiles, his forehead slamming heavily against the ground with a dull thud.
“I ordered those officers and soldiers to be interrogated again! Over and over again! But… but…”

He looked up, and tears finally welled up in his eyes:

"Even Li Muyun, the commander of the Six Doors of Changzhou, doesn't know the antidote for the 'Wood God Pill'! I'm afraid... I'm afraid only that scoundrel Qin Feng knows!"

"Now that Qin Feng is dead, this poison... this poison..."

He choked up, unable to speak any further, and could only bury his face in the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, his shoulders shaking violently.

Despair, like an icy tide, completely overwhelmed him.

Yin Leiling used all the remaining strength in her body to tense every muscle and try her best to maintain an upright sitting posture.

He took a long, extremely slow breath, then exhaled slowly, with a desolate air of having seen through fate:

"It's all about timing... it's all about fate..."

The voice was hoarse, like sandpaper being rubbed:
“I, Yin Leiling… have lived a life of unparalleled power… It’s better to die from poison today than to die at the hands of those corrupt officials… or be betrayed by petty scoundrels…”

A complex light flashed in his cloudy eyes:
"Besides... that Song Jiang... in the end... gave me a final bit of dignity..."

Before he finished speaking, Yin Leiling's weak hand, covered with poison spots, suddenly stretched out and gripped Bai Yi's shoulder tightly like an eagle's claw!

The force was so great that Bai Yi, caught off guard, was jolted and looked up in astonishment.

A final, unusual glint appeared in Yin Leiling's eyes—a flame mixed with intense resentment and a faint hope.

He stared intently into Bai Yi's eyes, his voice urgent and full of expectation:
"Bai Yi! If... if I were to pass the position of chieftain... to you..."

He practically spat out those words through gritted teeth:
"After I die... will you... be able to control Song Jiang?"

"Can we prevent...Yanshan Village...from falling into...the hands of others?"

This almost delirious question revealed his last and most unrealistic struggle deep within his heart.

He was absolutely unwilling to watch the empire he had built fall so easily into Song Jiang's hands!

Bai Yi was stunned, and his heart sank.

Looking at the faint yet stubborn flame in the chieftain's eyes, he longed to utter a comforting lie, even if it was deception.

But... he couldn't do it.

His loyalty to Yin Leiling was etched into his very bones; he had never uttered a single false word to this man who was both his brother and his master.

Moreover, this matter concerns the very survival and prosperity of the entire stronghold. A rash promise could drag everyone into an abyss of no return!
Struggle and pain surged in his eyes.

In the end, Bai Yi could only shake his head with difficulty and extreme slowness.

The movement was so heavy it felt like a thousand-pound burden.

The flame in Yin Leiling's eyes went out with a "poof" as Bai Yi shook his head.

The last glimmer of hope was utterly shattered.

He let go of Bai Yi's shoulder, his hand falling limply to the cold armrest.

He slowly closed his eyes, and a long, heavy sigh, as if drawing out the last of his strength, echoed faintly in the deathly silent Hall of Righteousness.

That sigh contained endless despair and utter resignation.

He himself knew perfectly well that his expectations were nothing but a mirage.
Now, Song Jiang, with the might of defeating the government troops, especially his figure at dawn that turned the tide like a god descending to earth, has long been etched into the hearts of all the villagers.

His prestige was at its zenith, and no one could shake it.

"Bai Yi..."

Yin Leiling's voice was so weak it was almost inaudible, his breath barely a whisper:

"In my life... I have no more attachments... The only thing I can't let go of... is this Yanshan Village..."

He paused, each word seeming to be uttered with all his might:

"After I die... please... continue... helping Yanshan Stronghold..."

He didn't say "help Song Jiang," but both of them knew perfectly well that Song Jiang would be the master of Yanshan Stronghold in the future, and if Bai Yi wanted to stay, he would have no choice but to be subordinate to him.

A bitter smile curved Bai Yi's lips, tinged with deep self-mockery and sorrow:

"That Song Jiang might not tolerate me..."

He raised his eyes, gazing into the void, his voice filled with resolve and weariness:
"Your subordinate... intends to retire from the martial world and spend the rest of his life guarding the chieftain's tomb."

He was all too aware of his situation.

He was not a direct subordinate of Song Jiang, and had even been at odds with him for a long time.

More importantly, in this war concerning the survival of the mountain stronghold, his supposedly brilliant strategies repeatedly backfired, which was enough to make any new leader despise him.

Song Jiang probably wouldn't even give this "outdated" strategist a second glance.

Upon hearing this, Yin Leiling shook his head slightly with difficulty, making a hoarse sound from his throat:
"No...your abilities...your wisdom...cannot be...let go..."

He tried to focus his unfocused gaze and stared intently at Bai Yi:
“That Song Jiang… has… a capacity for tolerance… otherwise… he would have killed me long ago… he… would definitely have tolerated you…”

A fleeting, urgent light flickered across his withered face:

"Bai Yi! The future of Yanshan Village... I... I won't be able to see it... Please... take a look for me!"

"Take a good look for me... what heights Yanshan Stronghold can... reach under Song Jiang's leadership!"

He gripped the handrail tightly, his fingernails almost digging into the wood, and a final glimmer of light appeared in his eyes—his most weighty entrustment before his death:
"This...is my...last... request to you!!"

Before he could finish speaking, Yin Leiling's expression suddenly changed drastically!

A thick, inky stream of black blood gushed from his mouth and nose, dripping down his beard and staining the tiger skin that symbolized power with startling dark spots!
"Zhaizhu!"

Bai Yi was terrified, cried out in alarm, and hurriedly grabbed the medicinal soup that had been prepared beforehand.
"Quick! Take your medicine!"

Yin Leiling used his last bit of strength to suddenly swing his hand and knock the medicine bowl to the ground!
Brown medicine splattered everywhere, and the shattered porcelain shards mirrored his broken life.

He knows his own body best.

These ordinary herbal medicines offered absolutely no help to his situation.

That tiny flame that sustains life has swayed to its limit in the wind.

"Help me...out..."

He spoke with difficulty in a breathy voice, his gaze fixed on the tightly closed gate, and beyond the gate... on his mountain stronghold and his brothers.

Bai Yi felt a lump in his throat, and tears welled up in his eyes again.

He suppressed his immense grief and carefully helped Yin Leiling's almost weightless body to her feet.

That once majestic body, as imposing as a mountain, now floats lightly and trembles precariously.

Every step Yin Leiling took was accompanied by suppressed, painful gasps.

"Squeak!"

Bai Yi slowly pushed open the heavy doors of the Hall of Righteousness with his shoulder.

In an instant!
The intense, blinding midday sun poured in like a golden torrent, abruptly connecting the two worlds inside and outside the door, and completely enveloping the two people standing supporting each other on the porch.

The sunlight was scorching, yet it couldn't dispel the thick, unyielding aura of death emanating from Yin Leiling.

"The chieftain has come out!"

A cry choked with sobs was like a pebble thrown into water.

In an instant, the crowd in the stronghold seemed to be drawn by a magnet, silently and quickly gathering towards the entrance of the Hall of Righteousness from all directions, with different expressions.

Sadness, fear, confusion, awe... all sorts of emotions silently intertwined and permeated the air.

More and more people gathered, layer upon layer, a dense, dark mass.

With Bai Yi's full support, Yin Leiling stood quietly in the dazzling halo of light, like a candle flickering in the wind.

His cloudy eyes pierced through the crowd, as if searching intently for something.

at last.

A commotion arose at the back of the crowd, like the tide parting.

Surrounded by his trusted confidants Lei Zhen and Zhong Lihan, Liang Jin strode over with a powerful and unrestrained gait.

He stood tall and walked with a steady gait. The invisible aura emanating from him made the crowded people involuntarily make way for him.

Yin Leiling's gaze finally caught that figure.

With great difficulty and with very slight movement, he nodded in the direction of Liang Jin.

It was a silent handover, the end of one era and the beginning of another, a final and solemn tribute.

Then, Yin Leiling took a deep breath, which almost depleted the last bit of air in his lungs.

With the last of his strength, he uttered his final words to the dark mass of people before him:

"Brothers..."

The voice was hoarse and intermittent, yet it echoed with unusual clarity above the deathly silent mountain village:

"I, Yin Leiling... am poisoned... my time has come..."

These words were like a death knell.

Those loyal old brothers could no longer contain themselves and wept bitterly, tears streaming down their faces.

The entire mountain village was gripped by a profound sense of desolation.

Regardless of the past, Yin Leiling is ultimately the old village chief who led them through thick and thin.

Seeing his current state of exhaustion and hanging by a thread, a heavy sense of sympathy weighed on everyone's hearts.

The scene was deathly silent.

Only suppressed, intermittent sobs, like the whistling of a cold wind, rose and fell among the crowd.

Bai Yi used all his strength to support Yin Leiling. He could clearly feel that the chieftain's body was rapidly losing its support, becoming heavier and softer.

He was only able to maintain his standing posture by tightly gripping his arm, which was infused with his internal energy.

If he relaxes his guard even slightly, this once-powerful "Proud Blade Hero" will collapse like a piece of rotten wood.

This realization, like a cold dagger, repeatedly cut into Bai Yi's heart.

A hero's end has come to this!
How could one not feel heartbroken and sigh with deep regret!

Yin Leiling's gaze slowly swept over familiar and unfamiliar faces, his withered hand gripping Bai Yi's arm tightly, as if it were the last rope connecting him to this world.

Gathering the last vestiges of clarity in his life, he declared, word by word, as if carving a stone:
"A country cannot be without a ruler for a day... a mountain stronghold cannot be without a master for a day..."

"I... am about to die... but the stronghold still needs... heroes... to continue leading..."

"Therefore... I have decided... to pass on the position of chieftain... to... to..."

Yin Leiling closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently, as if he were engaged in a battle between heaven and man.

Time seems to have frozen.

In front of the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, you could hear a pin drop; everyone's heart was in their throat.

Finally, he suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes filled with resigned defeat and his final decision.

He trembled as he struggled to raise one of his withered arms.

With his last ounce of strength, Yin Leiling pointed to the figure in the center of the crowd, a figure that seemed to attract everyone's attention like a magnet—

Liang Jin!

"Passed down to...Song Jiang!!"

"From now on... Song Jiang... will be... the leader of the stronghold..."

"With him... leading the stronghold... I... can die... without regret..."

As the last word faded, the entire hall remained deathly silent.

This outcome had already been anticipated by everyone a thousand times over.

The succession of Song Jiang, whose strength and prestige were at their zenith, was the popular choice and the only possibility.

Countless gazes, as if drawn by invisible threads, instantly focused on Liang Jin.

That gaze contained intense respect, fervent worship, and absolute trust, as if looking up to a deity!
Liang Jin, with a solemn expression, met everyone's gaze, clasped his hands, and was about to speak...

"Pfft!"

A dull thud broke the silence!

Yin Leiling's arm, which had been raised high to designate the successor, suddenly slumped down and crashed onto his body like a puppet with its strings cut!

Then, his proud head drooped limply downwards, and his eyes closed forever.

After the last breath escaped from his chest, there was no more sound.

he died.

The legendary outlaw hero, "Proud Blade Master" Yin Leiling, has passed away suddenly!
The breath of life, like a candle in the wind, was extinguished completely.

"Chieftain—!!!"

A heart-wrenching scream erupted instantly!
Those old brothers, as if their spines had been ripped out, cried out and fell to the ground, kowtowing frantically.

Many more people were struck by this immense grief, and cries of sorrow and indignation rose and fell.

Bai Yi's tears finally broke free!

He held tightly, with all his might, Yin Leiling's rapidly cooling and stiffening body, using his own body as a final support to prevent this fallen hero from falling!

He wanted the chieftain to walk the last leg of his journey in this world standing up!
This tragic scene spread like wildfire throughout the entire village.

A profound sadness swept over everyone.

The sounds of crying and wailing blended together.

More and more people's knees buckled, and they knelt down heavily before the figure of the deceased standing tall in front of the Hall of Righteousness, bathed in the blinding sunlight!
"Chieftain!!!"

"Old Chieftain!!!"

The cries of grief shook the heavens!

Even many of the bandits surrounding Liang Jin, moved by Yin Leiling's past achievements and dying wish, knelt down with tears in their eyes.

Respect for the dead is paramount; kneeling to send off the old village chief on his final journey is a matter of course in their hearts.

However, this overwhelming display of kneeling worship made Liang Jin frown!

His eyes instantly turned sharp as knives.

Even on his deathbed, Yin Leiling posed a thorny problem for him—

To kneel or not to kneel?

If he does not kneel, he will appear cold and heartless in this moment of grief. His newly established supreme prestige will inevitably be tarnished, and the hearts of the people may waver.

If he kneels, his image as a god who turns the tide and reigns supreme at dawn will be tarnished.

More importantly, it's about making him kneel before someone who was once his adversary.
This thought stirred a strong sense of displeasure and resistance within him.

For a time, Liang was caught in a dilemma!

An invisible pressure was pressing in from all directions.

At this critical moment, someone needs to break the deadlock!

Even... someone needs to play the "villain" to divert this heavy focus.

Liang Jin glanced quickly at Lei Zhen and Zhong Lihan beside him out of the corner of his eye.

The two men's brows were furrowed with resentment, their chests heaving violently, clearly showing their extreme aversion to the kneeling scene and their absolute unwillingness to kneel.

Liang Jin shook his head secretly in his heart.

These two men are both fierce and skilled at charging into battle.

But expecting them to figure out the superior's intentions and resolve the predicament at such a delicate moment is asking too much of them.

At this suffocating stalemate!

A sharp, venomous, and provocative voice, like a poisoned dagger, abruptly tore through the atmosphere of grief, piercing everyone's eardrums:

"Yin Leiling?! He should have been kicked out of his position as chieftain long ago!"

"How many times?! Because of his stubbornness and misjudgment, how many good brothers have been killed?!"

"If he hadn't listened to that damned 'Master Thief' nonsense, my father Meng Guang wouldn't have died such a gruesome death! He didn't even leave behind a complete corpse!!"

This vicious accusation is like pouring cold water on boiling oil!

It instantly ignited everyone's anger!

Countless murderous gazes turned and glared at the source of the sound!

A tall, handsome young man suddenly burst out from behind the crowd like a mad dog.

It was none other than Meng Wei, the "Jade-Faced Mountain-Crushing" who had long been out of power!
His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted with hatred, and he rushed straight toward the corpse of Yin Leiling, who was being supported by Bai Yi!

"Stop him!"

"Meng Wei! Are you crazy?!"

The crowd is furious!
Several burly men immediately rushed forward, shouting angrily, and blocked Meng Wei, who seemed to be going crazy.

Each gaze was like a red-hot iron, as if they wanted to burn holes in him!
Although Yin Leiling made some strategic mistakes in last night's battle, his desperate rearguard action allowed many brothers to retreat safely back to the mountain stronghold.
He suffered immense torture after being captured and was even poisoned to death by the government!

The body is barely cold, yet someone dares to desecrate it like this?
This is absolutely challenging everyone's bottom line!
Meng Wei was held back by the crowd, struggling and roaring like a trapped beast:
"What? Now that my father is dead and I, Meng Wei, have lost power, you dare to stop me?!"

His facial muscles were contorted, with a kind of desperate, reckless madness:
"I, Meng Wei, may not be capable, but I'm still a man! I'll say what I mean!"

"Yin Leiling is incompetent! He deserves to die!"

These unrepentant and arrogant words thoroughly enraged everyone.

Their fists clenched so tightly they cracked, their eyes blazing with fury. If they hadn't retained a shred of reason, they would have pounced on this madman and torn him to pieces!

"Meng Wei! Shut up!"

Bai Yi was so angry that he trembled all over, his hair and beard stood on end, and he shouted angrily!

If he had to support the chieftain's corpse, he would have loved to rush over and kill this ungrateful wretch with his own hands!

Meng Wei, however, seemed to be completely ignited by this rebuke. He abruptly turned his head and let out an even more piercing sneer at Bai Yi:

"Bai Yi! Who do you think you are?! You dare tell me to shut up?!"

He pointed at Bai Yi's nose, spitting as he spoke:
"Didn't you call yourself 'Yanshan's top strategist'? It was you! You made the wrong judgment time and time again! That's why so many brothers lost their lives in vain!"

"You are the one who killed them! How dare you stand here?!"

Bai Yi was so enraged by these hurtful words that his vision blurred and his chest heaved violently.

His finger trembled as he pointed at Meng Wei, but he couldn't utter a single word; he only felt a metallic taste in his throat!

Just when things were in chaos and anger was about to spiral out of control!
Liang Jin's gaze fell on Meng Wei, who seemed to be insane, and a subtle glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

During last night's battle, this man remained hidden, neither surrendering to the enemy nor contributing any effort; he was as if he were invisible.

After his father Meng Guang died, he lost all his spirit and imprisoned himself in his room.

But at this crucial moment, when everyone was kneeling in worship and he was caught in a dilemma, he suddenly jumped out like a mad dog, his spearhead aimed directly at the prestige of Yin Leiling and Bai Yi...

"Was he... trying to get me out of a tight spot?"

Liang Jin's mind raced, several thoughts flashing through his mind in an instant:

"Or... just a completely broken, indiscriminate piece of trash?"

The answer will be revealed once you try it.

If it's the former, then it might be worth using.

If it's the latter... a cold killing intent flashed in Liang Jin's eyes.

That would be a perfect opportunity to use his life to allow everyone to vent their emotions, establish his authority, and completely break the unpleasant kneeling stalemate!

Having made up his mind, Liang Jin no longer hesitated.

With a slight movement, an invisible, overwhelming aura, as powerful as a collapsing mountain, suddenly spread out!
Everyone who stood between him and Meng Wei felt their breath catch in their throats, as if they were being pushed aside by an invisible hand. They involuntarily and respectfully stepped aside, instantly clearing a path straight to Meng Wei.

Liang Jin walked steadily, each step seemingly treading on the heartbeats of the crowd, toward Meng Wei.

As Meng Wei watched Liang approach step by step, the madness on Liang's tall and handsome face froze instantly, replaced by an uncontrollable fear!

His throat bobbed violently, and large beads of cold sweat uncontrollably seeped out and rolled down his forehead and temples.

When Liang Jin finally stood in front of him, Meng Wei felt his heart almost jump out of his throat!
Although Liang Jin was not as tall as him, he appeared as a towering mountain in his eyes, radiating a terrifying pressure that made his soul tremble!
Liang Jin's gaze was cold and sharp, like a tangible blade, firmly fixed on Meng Wei.

moment.

He finally spoke, his voice not loud, yet it contained the power of thunder, clearly resounding throughout the entire venue:

"presumptuous!"

"Old Chief Yin has devoted himself to the village and made outstanding contributions. How dare you spout nonsense and slander him like this?!"

These words were like a stabilizing force, resounding and powerful.

It instantly resonated with all the grieving and indignant villagers!

"Chief Song is right!"

"Meng Wei, you scoundrel! Shut up!"

……

In an instant, cheers and angry shouts erupted.

Liang Jin's gaze remained fixed on Meng Wei's face, observing his most subtle reactions.

If Meng Wei were wise, he should back down now and cooperate with Liang Jinhua to get out of this predicament.

If he were truly a mad dog, he would continue barking and directing his anger at me.

That would be perfectly justified, allowing us to kill the dog and establish our authority!
Upon hearing Liang Jin's righteous and stern rebuke, Meng Wei's madness receded like a receding tide, replaced by immense panic and... bewilderment.

His eyes darted around, avoiding Liang Jin's gaze.

In the end, under Liang Jin's invisible pressure, as if his bones had been removed, he lowered his once proud head deeply and dejectedly, remaining silent!
No rebuttal, no barking!
Liang Jin understood.

He had already understood Meng Wei's intention.

Liang Jin immediately took another step forward, his voice suddenly rising in a commanding tone that brooked no argument:
"Your Majesty!"

"I bow my head and beg forgiveness from Elder Yin!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Wei trembled violently, but did not hesitate at all.

"Plop" sound.

He slammed his knees heavily onto the hard ground, kicking up dust!

He raised his hand and slapped himself hard across his handsome face with both hands, leaving two clear, red, swollen finger marks instantly!

"Brother Song... Brother Song is right! I was foolish! I was blinded by greed!"

Meng Wei's voice was choked with sobs and a deliberate humility. He turned towards Yin Leiling's corpse, his forehead slamming heavily against the ground with a resounding thud.

"Old Chieftain Yin! Meng Wei has lost his mind! He said some nonsense! I, Meng Wei, am not human!"

"I lost my composure due to the grief of losing my father and took my anger out on you! I beg your spirit in heaven... to forgive me!"

As he rambled on incoherently, he kowtowed three more times with resounding thuds.

His forehead instantly turned purplish-blue and slightly swollen.

The anger on the faces of the bandits subsided slightly when they saw this scene.

At the same time, the awe they felt towards Liang Jin deepened even further!
Even the strategist Bai Yi couldn't stop this mad dog. With a single shout from Chief Song, he made him slap himself in the face and kowtow to admit his guilt in front of everyone!
His prestige and imposing presence are truly unmatched!
Looking at Meng Wei's pathetic, groveling appearance, Liang Jin's lips curled into a faint smile.

"If you know your mistakes and can correct them, there is no greater good."

His voice regained its calmness, yet carried an irresistible force:
"Meng Wei, get up."

However, instead of getting up, Meng Wei crawled towards Liang Jin on his knees as if grasping at a straw!

His face was covered in blood, tears, and dust; he was a disheveled mess, and his eyes held only the most humble pleading.
"Brother Song! No! No! Chief Song! Chief Song, Your Excellency!"

He spoke incoherently, his voice shrill with fear:
"I was blind before! I deserve to die! I was so stupid! I offended you!"

"Please! Please have mercy on me! Give me a way out! Give me a chance to reform!"

Tears streamed down his face as he slammed his forehead against the ground again, each impact producing a dull thud, and blood quickly stained the ground in front of him.
"From now on, I will be your most loyal dog, Chief! If you tell me to go east, I will never go west! Whoever you tell me to bite, I will bite!"

"Please, take my worthless life! I beg you! I beg you!"

The relentless thud of kowtows, like the drumbeats of despair, continued unabated.

There was indeed a past grudge between him and Liang Jin.

Meng Wei dared to oppose Liang Jin in the past simply because he relied on his father and believed that he could afford to offend Liang Jin.

But now... everything has changed!

After her father's sudden death, her last possible protector, Yin Leiling, also passed away!
And Liang Jin... with the blessing of mountains of corpses and seas of blood and godlike battle achievements, has ascended to the pinnacle of power in the mountain stronghold!

When Liang Jinfu took over as the chieftain, he would inevitably have to sort out and reorganize the personnel of the mountain stronghold during the power transition.

Old-school members like Meng Wei, who had lost power and influence and had a grudge against the chieftain, were undoubtedly the first to be purged.

Even though Liang Jin spared him out of old friendship and expelled him from the mountain stronghold.

For Meng Wei, who had already made countless enemies and was now being firmly accused by the government of the heinous crime of "plundering disaster relief funds," it was tantamount to a dead end!
The world is so vast, yet there is nowhere else for him to find refuge!

Survival!

At this moment, survival is the only overwhelming desire!

Beneath Meng Wei's seemingly manic performance lies an icy, lucid mind.

After his father's death and his complete loss of power, he became incredibly clear-headed and realized how foolish he had been before.

He shrewdly seized the fleeting opportunity and used insults against Yin Leiling to tarnish his own stance. While seemingly reckless, this act precisely "extricated" Liang Jin from his predicament and served as a "pledge of allegiance."

At this moment, he crawled on his knees, kowtowed, and humiliated himself as a dog, declaring his complete submission in the most humble way!

Faced with absolute power and the chasm between life and death, hatred and dignity are crushed by the instinct for survival!
Only by groveling and begging for mercy can one hope to gain a meager chance to survive!

The bandits around him, seeing Meng Wei's obsequious and spineless demeanor, felt their disgust reach its peak.

"Bah! Boneless!"

Someone unabashedly spat a mouthful of phlegm onto the ground.

"You've really disgraced Master Meng Guang!"

A buzz of disdainful whispers arose.

Outlaws value integrity above all else and despise those who wag their tails and beg for mercy!
Looking at Meng Wei, who was kowtowing repeatedly at his feet with his forehead covered in blood, Liang Jin's smile finally became clearer.

He slowly reached out his hand.

Upon seeing this, Meng Wei, like a startled rabbit, immediately bent his tall body even lower like a lapdog, and offered his head to Liang Jin's palm.

Liang Jin's hand, with a casual, condescending air, patted Meng Wei's head, which was covered in blood and dirt, twice as if he were patting an obedient pet.

Meng Wei not only felt no shame, but his fawning expression grew even stronger.

Liang Jin's voice carried a hint of gentle laughter:

"Meng Wei, what are you saying? We're all brothers in the village, how can you say we're offending you?"

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming serious:

"Moreover, there is an important matter at hand that I cannot do without you."

Meng Wei suddenly raised his head, his eyes bursting with unbelievable ecstasy!

The chieftain is willing to let him do things?!
This means... his life... is saved?!
Liang Jin looked at him and said clearly:
“Your father, Meng Guang, and Chief Yin are sworn brothers, as close as siblings. In terms of kinship, you should be Chief Yin’s nephew or niece.”

"It is most right and proper for you to handle the funeral arrangements for Chief Yin, and it will be the best way to comfort his spirit in heaven."

His gaze swept over the crowd, and his voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable air of authority:
"Remember! You must do it in style! In a respectable manner!"

"Let Chief Yin depart with honor! Let all the bandits witness the righteousness and spirit of Yanshan Village!"

Meng Wei was stunned by this sudden blessing and huge turn of events, followed by the ecstatic joy of surviving a disaster!
He was so excited he was trembling, and he made incoherent promises:

"Rest assured, Chief! Rest assured, Chief! I will do my utmost to make this a resounding success! I will never let you down!"

Liang Jin nodded in satisfaction.

Meng Wei is very sensible, so he still has value.

When it comes to personnel selection, leaders should not only employ upright and virtuous individuals, but also be able to utilize despicable and petty people.

Liang Jin now has many loyal and righteous men around him, but he lacks people who know how to read the emperor's mind, are capable of doing dirty work, and are willing to bear the blame.

Meng Wei is the perfect candidate to fill this position.

Then, the smile on Liang Jin's face suddenly vanished.

He stepped past the crowd and climbed onto a nearby high platform in a few steps.

His gaze was like lightning, sweeping across the entire room; his voice boomed like thunder, instantly drowning out all the weeping and murmurs.
"At the same time, issue a wide-ranging obituary! Spread the word throughout the Green Forest! Send invitations to all the leaders and heads of all mountain strongholds, river strongholds, and gangs in every prefecture and state!"

"Let me tell you, I, Yanshan Village, respectfully invite heroes from all over the world to come and send off Elder Yin on his final journey!"

This resounding command carried a sense of grandeur, as if it were a declaration to the world!

Immediately afterwards, Liang Jin's voice suddenly became impassioned and filled with grief and indignation:
"Brothers! Old Chief Yin! Who killed him?!"

He asked sharply.

"Corrupt official! The Six Doors!"

A roar erupted from the crowd.

Liang Jin nodded slightly:

"Yes! He died from a deadly poison inflicted by the imperial court's henchmen!"

"This is an irreconcilable feud! Should we—take revenge?!"

Everyone shouted at the top of their lungs:

"That newspaper!!"

The overwhelming response instantly ignited everyone's suppressed anger!

The agonizing struggle and unbearable agony of Yin Leiling after being poisoned reappeared before everyone's eyes!
Blood debts must be repaid in blood!
Liang Jin suddenly waved his hand, pointing down the mountain, as if pointing to the vast land of Changzhou:

"Now that the main force of the government troops has been defeated in one fell swoop, the troops in Changzhou are sparsely armed! This is a golden opportunity for us to avenge Chief Yin!"

His eyes were blazing, like a burning flame:
"Changzhou City is teeming with corrupt officials! Let's use their heads to appease the spirit of Elder Yin! Therefore—Changzhou City is our first target!"

"The Prince of Pingcheng! He is arrogant, extravagant, and licentious! He preys on the people! His palace is filled with the blood and sweat of the common people that he has squeezed out of us! We must rob him! We must take back what belongs to us! Therefore—the Prince of Pingcheng's palace! Is our second target!"

Liang Jin's voice rose to its peak, booming like thunder, carrying unparalleled persuasive power and iron-willed heroism:

"This time! We'll kill the corrupt officials! We'll seize the Prince's mansion!!"

"Use the blood of corrupt officials! Use the wealth of the royal palace! To comfort the spirit of Old Chief Yin! To avenge Old Chief Yin!"

Kill the corrupt official! Seize the Prince's Mansion! Avenge the old chieftain!
Liang Jin's command, though brief, direct, and blunt, struck right at the heart of the outlaw heroes.

It was like a spark that ignited a beacon, precisely igniting the most primal desires deep within the bones of all the bandits!
The thrill of revenge!
Greed for plunder!
A surge of rage, suppressed for too long, that needed to be released!

My blood was instantly boiling!

"revenge!!!"

Lei Zhen was the first to raise his arm and roar, his voice like thunder!
"revenge!!!"

Zhongli Han followed closely behind, his eyes bloodshot!

"revenge!!!"

"revenge!!!"

"revenge!!!"

……

The entire Yanshan Village was in an uproar!

The roars from thousands of throats converged into a vengeful torrent powerful enough to shake mountains and tear through the clouds!

The sound waves rose higher and higher, repeatedly surging in the sky above Yanshan, and lasting for a long time!

The bandits of Yanshan will send off their former master with blood and fire, and declare war on the entire Changzhou!

(End of this chapter)