Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 123 Those Who Block My Way Will Die

"This isn't Hu Sanniang's behavior, but rather the attitude of Hu Taigong, and indeed the entire Hu Family Village."

Looking at Hu Sanniang, who was blushing and biting her lip, Zhu Biao's mind raced, and he instantly pieced together a clear picture.

Today, he has exposed the captured bandits, making it impossible to hide the matter of wiping out White Tiger Stronghold any longer. The Hu family must have already received word of it.

White Tiger Stronghold has over 500 henchmen, nearly 200 of whom are elite. It is hidden deep in the mountains and forests, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack, far more difficult to conquer than the Hu Family Compound.

Zhu Biao was capable of annihilating the mountain stronghold, and naturally he could also destroy the Hu family.

They were undoubtedly afraid, and they also saw the terrifying potential that Zhu Biao possessed. The batch of grain and supplies brought by Hu Sanniang was not like a gesture of condolence, but more like spending money to buy peace.

Hedging is a basic tactic employed by local gentry and wealthy families.

Of course, the pressure to get married was genuine. With such a capable son-in-law as Zhu Biao, who was destined for great success, the Hu family certainly didn't want to miss out.

"In that case, it would be impolite of me to refuse."

Thinking of this, Zhu Biao grinned and turned to Zhu Ping, saying, "Zhu Ping, take some men to collect these grains and cloths, and register them carefully."

"yes!"

Zhu Ping responded weakly.

After only a few days in charge of money and provisions, his eyes were visibly darkened. The camp was not large, but there was so much work that it was impossible to finish it all.

Immediately afterward, Zhu Biao turned to Hu Sanniang.

"It's getting dark, and my camp is too simple to accommodate you. Third Sister, please return home soon and thank Grandfather for me."

""

"Third Brother Zhu, are you chasing me away again?"

Hu Sanniang could no longer bear it. Her eyebrows shot up and she bit her cheeks so hard they made a grinding sound.

"Otherwise what?"

Zhu Biao couldn't help but smile wryly.

"This isn't the Zhu Family Fortress; there are no private rooms for you. You're a young woman still unmarried; are you perhaps planning to stay here overnight?"

Although the Song Dynasty was not as conservative as the Ming Dynasty, which emphasized strict adherence to etiquette and rules, it still upheld and observed etiquette.

Hu Sanniang wasn't a true heroine of the martial world. No matter how fierce her personality was, she still had her pride. Staying overnight in the Zhu family's guest room was already the limit for her.

"I didn't come alone, so who would dare to gossip?"

Her tone softened noticeably, but she couldn't bring herself to back down, so she had to be defiant.

Hu Sanniang had a squad of female soldiers who followed her, totaling fourteen or fifteen people, all of whom were skilled in martial arts. Zhu Wu's wife, Yunniang, was one of them.

She brought six female soldiers with her this time.

"That would be even more inappropriate."

Zhu Biao chuckled.

"Third Sister, my camp is full of rough men, and there are hundreds of captured bandits. If you bring a few beautiful young women here, isn't that like sending sheep to a pack of wolves?"

"Who is the sheep?"

She tried to argue, but Zhu Biao grabbed her shoulder.

"Alright, I'll take you home."

Suddenly being pulled into an embrace, such intimate contact made Hu Sanniang's body stiffen slightly, but she did not break free, and two blushes rose on her cheeks.

"Are you going to take me home?"

Zhu Biao nodded.

"Yes, it's been a long time since I've seen Grandpa Hu. He's sent me so many things. I should thank him properly."

"Third Brother actually put his arm around her. That Hu family brat is shameless."

At the entrance of the warehouse, Pang Qiutang's back teeth were almost ground to powder, and his fists were clenched so tightly that they made a cracking sound.

When she saw Su Fang bring over the charcoal, and the two of them mount their horses and ride away side by side, she could no longer resist and wanted to chase after them.

"No, I want to go too!"

However, she had barely stepped across the threshold when Bai Qiniang grabbed her tightly.

"Seventh Sister, why are you pulling me?"

Pang Qiutang was puzzled, and her brows furrowed suddenly. She saw Bai Qiniang shaking her head vigorously, her eyes full of anxiety.

"No, don't go."

Why?

As she spoke hastily, Bai Qiniang's stuttering worsened.

"If you go, my husband will feel embarrassed and secretly resent his wife."

Upon hearing this, Pang Qiutang frowned even more deeply, but she didn't go any further.

"But Third Brother wants to go home with her."

Bai Qiniang breathed a sigh of relief and gently patted her arm: "It's alright, I just took her home. My husband has no feelings for this young lady, and he'll be back soon."

"real?"

Pang Qiutang's eyes widened.

"Really, my wife, believe me."

Bai Qiniang said firmly.

"Then I'll believe you this once."

Bai Qiniang's lips twitched slightly.

"Besides this Lady Hu, it seems the young master has another wife by his side?"

Pang Qiutang nodded.

"Yes, Sister Ruyi will be here soon. She can write and draw, and she was personally appointed as a female advisor by Third Brother."

Bai Qiniang's eyes flickered slightly, and she said in a low voice, "My lord's feelings for this Ruyi lady are quite extraordinary."

As the sun sets, it paints the earth a deep crimson.

Zhu Biao and Hu Sanniang rode side by side on their horses, very close, but neither of them spoke, yet the scene was anything but quiet.

Charcoal Head was snorting happily and rubbing its big head against the rouge.

"Did you really destroy White Tiger Stronghold?"

Hu Sanniang suddenly spoke up and asked.

""

Zhu Biao's response was indifferent, but Hu Sanniang couldn't hold back any longer and almost blurted out, "With only sixty or seventy men under your command, how did you manage to kill and capture more than two hundred bandits?"

"On New Year's Eve, while their main force is drunk, we will set fires and launch a night attack."

Charcoal Head, that rogue horse, actually wanted to smell Rouge's buttocks. Zhu Biao quickly tightened the reins and half-jokingly replied.

"Back then, how many people did you kill?"

"A dozen or so, I can't remember exactly."

Upon hearing this, Hu Sanniang's face stiffened, and her throat moved involuntarily.

You've changed.

Her voice trembled slightly.

"Yunniang once said that you had made a great name for yourself and achieved great things outside. I didn't believe it before, but now I do."

Zhu Biao said calmly, "People change. Killing and drawing blood is just the quickest way."

Hu Sanniang fell silent, lowered her head and thought for a long time. Suddenly, she raised her head and asked bluntly, "Zhu Laosan, do you look down on me now? Do you think I'm unruly and willful, and are you already considering breaking off the engagement?"

Zhu Biao gave her a deep look, and instead of answering, asked, "Third Sister, why do you think I left the Zhu family and came to live alone in Tiger Sorrow Gorge?"

"Wasn't he kicked out by Boss Zhu and Boss Zhu?"

"Heh~"

Zhu Biao sneered.

"Those two think they can drive me away?"

"Then why did you leave home?"

He successfully piqued Hu Sanniang's curiosity.

Zhu Biao took a deep breath, and just then, the last rays of the setting sun sank below the horizon, as if he had swallowed up all the light in the world.

"Because I want to do great things, and the Zhu family will only hinder and drag me down."

He turned his head and stared intently at Hu Sanniang.

"If even your own father and brothers are like this, what will become of your Hu family?"

"Are you willing to relinquish your military power? Are you willing to obey my orders? And where did my elder brother, that laughable patrol inspector, come from? Don't tell me the Hu family doesn't know about this!"

Hu Sanniang was speechless. At this moment, she felt that Zhu Biao's gaze was like an ice pick, piercing her body and making her skin stand on end.

Zhu Biao hit the nail on the head.

Her maternal uncle was the city's clerk, and Zhu Long's position as patrol inspector was proposed by Li Ying, with both families contributing money and her uncle personally handling the arrangements.

Moreover, after discussing it at home, the family made their stance clear: they would never hand over their family soldiers, and they would not obey Zhu Biao's orders to promote the local militia in the future.

Why must one do great things?

Hu Sanniang turned her face away, avoiding Zhu Biao's piercing gaze, and said in a muffled voice, "Wouldn't it be better if the three families lived in peace as before?"

"Nothing's wrong?"

Zhu Biao curled his lip in mockery.

"The Zhu family is powerful and influential. That scoundrel Li Ying has been plotting to turn Dulonggang into Dulongzhai and make himself the chieftain, while your Hu family is just sitting on the fence, swaying to both sides."

He suddenly stopped his horse and pointed to the official road.

"Furthermore, there are countless bandits on the western route, and the Liangshan Marsh blocks the eastern route. If the bandits grow too powerful, or if they collude with each other, how should our three families deal with it?"

His tone suddenly turned solemn, sharp as a knife, each word ringing out with force.

"Staying put up in Dulonggang leads nowhere! I'm going to fight my way out, kill my way out! Whoever stands in my way, shall die!"

After hearing what he said, Hu Sanniang was stunned, as if struck by lightning, and sat blankly on her horse.

At this moment, Zhu Biao suddenly put his hand on her shoulder and changed the subject.

"Third Sister, we've been childhood sweethearts, so I certainly don't want to break off the engagement."

"But what if I have a falling out with the Li and Hu families in the future, or even turn against them with weapons? How will you face them then?"

"Young Master!"

Just then, a group of people suddenly appeared from the front, led by Zhu Jiu and Zhu San, followed by a carriage.

The carriage curtain was being lifted slightly, revealing half of Ruyi's pretty face and a pair of bright, clear eyes.

Though no words were spoken, they spoke volumes.

"Third Sister, please convey what I said to Grandfather Hu. Think it over carefully yourself. The main road is just ahead, so I'll leave you here."

Before he finished speaking, he had already spurred his horse away, his back view showing utter determination.