Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

"I pretended to be injured just now to test you again. If you ignore me, you're not a truly good person, and I naturally won't save you."

The lean man explained, "As for why I didn't tell you directly, it's because I was worried you wouldn't trust me. Rather than wasting time explaining, I'd rather just lead you away."

"What you're saying makes no sense. How do you know we won't believe you if you don't try?" Qiongying shouted.

How do you know I haven't tried it?

The lean man chuckled.

"My appearance is unusual, and I am skilled at scaling walls and breaking into houses to steal. Even if I do a good deed, no one will believe me."

"...Are you a thief?" Qiong Ying asked, frowning.

"So what if he's a thief? Can't a thief stand up for justice and do a good deed?"

The lean man snorted, then dismounted.

"Here's your horse back. Anyway, I've said everything I needed to say. If you don't believe me, then keep going down that path. You'll lose your lives, and then you'll regret it!"

At this moment, Zhao Yuan, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up and asked,

"Brother, are you Shi Qian, known as the Flea on the Drum?"

Chapter 110 Cautious Times, Bianxiang Robbery

The lean man was startled, turned around, and asked in surprise,

"How do you know me, sir?"

"Haha, I didn't expect it to be Brother Shi Qian after all,"

Zhao Yuan laughed loudly, and seeing that Shi Qian still had some doubts, he also introduced himself.

"I am Zhao Dalang, the chieftain of Liangshan Mountain, from Tokyo."

"Are you Zhao Da-Lang, the one who killed the tiger with a single punch?"

Shi Qian took two steps forward with an excited expression, but then suddenly stopped.

He scrutinized Zhao Yuan for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Don't try to fool me, sir! I've traveled all over the country!"

Shi Qian scoffed, "I've long heard that Zhao Dalang of Dongjing has a dark complexion and a short beard, while you, sir, have a yellow face and a long beard. How could you be him?"

"this......"

Zhao Yuan was at a loss for words, both amused and exasperated.

Qian was indeed cautious, but now that he was in the middle of nowhere, where could he find materials to disguise himself as Zhao Dalang's black face?

"You're such a troublemaker!"

Jiao Ting said impatiently, "My brother is of course Zhao Dalang, the tiger hunter. He just used some tricks to cover his face."

"How do I know you're not trying to extort me from the past?" Shi Qian still seemed somewhat skeptical.

"Brother Shi Qian, how about this?"

Zhao Yuan thought for a moment and said, "We are now going back to Chai Jin's manor. You can come with us. Chai Jin can then verify my identity. What do you say?"

"That's fine too!"

Shi Qian pondered for a moment. When he was pretending to be the wounded man, he did hear that Zhao Yuan and his group's destination was Chai Jin's mansion.

After mounting his horse, Shi Qian slowly rode over, but still refused to get too close to Zhao Yuan and the others.

"You're such a coward!" Jiao Ting said disdainfully.

“If we’re not careful and timid in our line of work, wouldn’t we have been caught by the authorities long ago?” Shi Qian chuckled.

"You have a shifty, rat-like face, and with that smile, you look even less like a good person!"

Qiong Ying chuckled and said, "No wonder you were worried we wouldn't believe you!"

"Girl, don't make fun of other people's appearance!"

Zhao Yuan rebuked him.

"Understood, brother!"

Qiongying responded and was about to apologize when...

At that moment, Qian waved his hand and said, "It's alright. I know what I look like. Young lady, please feel free to laugh."

After exchanging a few jokes, Qian became anxious when he saw Zhao Yuan and the others about to return to the path.

"Why won't you listen to me? Didn't I just say there are bandits robbing ahead!"

"Haha, brother, do you think we'd be afraid of a few bandits?" Lin Chong laughed.

Shi Qian then realized that if what Zhao Yuan had just said was true,

The group in front of them were the best of the best among the bandits; how could they be afraid of a few petty thieves from the mountains?

However, despite thinking this way, he was unsure of Zhao Yuan's identity.

Shi Qian simply followed far behind the group, ready to make a run for it if he saw anything amiss.

The group walked north along the path.

As they reached a mountain hollow, shouts suddenly erupted from the forests on both sides.

Immediately afterwards, thirty or forty strong henchmen wielding knives, spears, and clubs surged out.

The leader was about nine feet tall, with a three-pronged mustache covering his mouth, a square face, broad shoulders, upright eyebrows, and round eyes.

His arms were bulging with muscles, as if he had the strength of a water buffalo.

The man, wielding a large axe, shouted, "Dismount now and hand over your money, and I'll spare your lives!"

"Brother, I didn't expect there to actually be bandits here?"

Qiongying covered her mouth and chuckled, while the others also couldn't help but smile.

Even Pan Jinlian, after spending a long time with Zhao Yuan and his group,

Knowing their abilities, he had no worries whatsoever.

"What's your name, sir? How dare you rob us?" Zhao Yuan asked with a smile.

"I am Bianxiang. You need not say any more. I do not wish to kill you. If you hand over your money quickly, I guarantee I will not harm your lives!" the burly man with the axe said impatiently.

"You dare to rob me if you dare!"

Qiongying sneered. Bianxiang realized that this group didn't take him seriously.

He immediately flew into a rage, brandishing a large axe, and charged forward.

Just as Zhao Yuan was about to make a move, Lin Chong laughed and said...

"Brother, I'll take care of this man!"

Having said that, he rode his horse, spear in hand, and charged forward!

Although Bian Xiang fought on foot, he seemed unafraid.

He wielded a large axe with fierce power, a display of Lin Chong's spear skills.

········Requesting flowers·· 0

They couldn't subdue him in a short time.

Zhao Yuan then remembered that Bianxiang, in the original timeline,

He was a general under Tian Hu, and once fought against the combined attack of Shi Jin (Nine-Tattooed Dragon) and Hua Rong (Little Li Guang), and the two remained evenly matched for more than thirty rounds.

Now, seeing that he could hold off Lin Chong for so long using only foot combat,

I couldn't help but feel a sense of appreciation for his talent.

Zhao Yuan was about to speak when Bian Xiang, having temporarily forced Lin Chong back with his axe,

He suddenly shouted, "You are on horseback, while I am on foot. This battle is unfair, I will not fight!"

"You're quite a laughable man,"

Lin Chong said helplessly, "You're the one who wants to rob us of our money, not the other way around."

"Then I won't rob you. You all go quickly!" Bian Xiang waved his hand.

one . ...

"You cunning scoundrel! You clearly saw that Instructor Lin was no match for you, so you came up with this excuse!" Jiao Ting shouted.

“Who says I can’t defeat him? If he dismounts, I will surely defeat him!” Bian Xiang retorted loudly.

"Very well, I'll dismount and fight you!"

As Lin Chong spoke, he was about to dismount.

A sly glint flashed in Bian Xiang's eyes as he gripped his large axe, ready to fight Lin Chong again.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yuan suddenly spoke up.

"Brother, please rest for a moment. Let me handle this man."

Seeing that Zhao Yuan had dismounted, Lin Chong, holding a broadsword, walked towards Bian Xiang.

Without saying anything more, he rode back.

Zhao Yuan walked up to Bian Xiang, but instead of making a move, he asked,

"You're quite skilled in martial arts, why bother robbing people in this desolate place? Wouldn't it be better to join a large stronghold?"

How do you know I don't want to join the army?

Bian Xiang chuckled: "I'm robbing people here to gather a thousand strings of cash and a hundred or so men, so I can join Tian Hu's rebellion!"

"If you intend to surrender to Tian Hu, you can just go directly there. Why bother to gather a thousand strings of cash and over a hundred men?" Zhao Yuan asked curiously.

"I've heard that Tian Hu's forces are so powerful that anyone who brings money, provisions, and men to join him can become a local leader and even receive official titles."

Bian Xiang explained, "I've been robbing people here for two months, and I've gathered enough money—a thousand strings of cash. The only problem is finding those hundred-odd men. Even now, after all this hard work, I've only managed to gather half."

Chapter 111 Bianxiang Gambling Battle, Shi Qian Snatches Wine

"Last year, Cangzhou was flooded, and there were refugees everywhere. As long as you have money and food, you can easily recruit men and horses."

Zhao Yuan asked in confusion, "Why can't you recruit anyone here?"

"You're just spouting nonsense, you rich man!"

Bianxiang said helplessly, "You said it yourself, we need money and grain. Although I have a thousand strings of cash that I robbed, I have no grain. Even if I go to buy some, there is no market for it. Those damned landlords and grain merchants are hoarding grain and are unwilling to sell! My henchmen are following me and can't even get enough to eat, so naturally I can't recruit any more men."

At this point, Bian Xiang glanced at Zhao Yuan and his group, and suddenly laughed.

“Sir, how about this, you come with me to join Tian Hu! I saw that the man’s spear skills were sharp, and I think you are no less skilled. If we go with Tian Hu, we might be able to get a high-ranking official position.”

"You're inviting me to join Tian Hu's cause?"

Zhao Yuan found it amusing, but Qiong Ying, Lin Chong, and the others behind him couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"You people, if you don't want to, you don't want to. What's so funny about that?" Bian Xiang said unhappily.

“Brother, you don’t understand. I am Zhao Dalang from Dongjing, and I am now the leader of Liangshan. How could I possibly go and join Tian Hu?”

Zhao Yuan offered an explanation, then extended an invitation.

"I see you have great skills, brother. Why don't you come with me to Liangshan?"

"Liangshan?"

Bian Xiang was taken aback: "I heard that the current leader of Liangshan is a hero who can kill a tiger with one punch. Is that really you?"

"Replace it if it's fake!"

"The Lord of Liangshan..."

Bian Xiang pondered for a moment, then suddenly had a plan in mind.

"If that's the case, do you dare to make a bet with me?"

"A contest? You should explain clearly first, how will the contest be conducted, and what are the stakes?" Zhao Yuan asked.

"You and I fight on foot,"

Bian Xiang pointed at the two men: "If I lose, I will take my men and follow you to Liangshan. If you lose, you must take your Liangshan men and follow me to surrender to Tian Hu!"