Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Pang Qiutang's heart was in her throat as she entered the city gate alone.

The guards from the Chai family did indeed glance at her a few more times, but they did not suspect her identity; they were simply lusting after her beauty.

These guys made no attempt to hide their comments and criticisms of Pang Qiutang, occasionally letting out quiet chuckles.

However, they didn't dare to go any further, and didn't even check Pang Qiutang's travel permit before letting her pass.

Zhu Biao's guess was correct; the capital of the Song Dynasty was still maintaining a fragile order on the surface.

However, he was stopped when he entered the city.

A middle-aged guard who appeared to be the leader looked him up and down, then glanced at the two horses he was leading.

"Where do you come from, you man?"

Zhu Biao frowned slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then pointed to his mouth.

"Aba, aba~"

The old guard pursed his lips, his interest clearly waning, but he still didn't give up.

"So he was mute? Where's your travel permit? Let me see it."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow and subconsciously placed his hand on the hilt of his knife. The old guard, however, showed no fear and was instead amused.

He rubbed his chin and said jokingly:

"What? You mute? You think you can act tough in Tokyo with that piece of junk tucked in your belt? Or are you going to try and bully the Liang family?"

"Hey, that's tough!"

The other guards also gathered around with smiles, arms crossed, looking at him with ill intent.

Call ~

Zhu Biao's chest heaved noticeably, and he pursed his lips. After a few breaths, he reached into his robes, pulled out the travel permit, and handed it over.

The old guard unfolded the travel permit, glanced at it briefly, and then folded it back up. However, instead of returning it to Zhu Biao, he gave his companion a wink.

His companion immediately understood, staggered over to Zhu Biao, and poked him in the chest:

"Dumb man, my brothers and I were dragged out to do errands early this morning, and now we're cold and hungry. How about we borrow a few coins for a bowl of hot wine?"

quack!

Zhu Biao clenched his teeth, his face turning ashen, while the guards' smiles grew even more amused, some of them even laughing out loud.

They were Liang Shicheng's bodyguards, and they usually acted with impunity in Tokyo.

If Zhu Biao dares to make a move and gives them even the slightest sense of justification, they will dare to injure or kill them.

At this moment, Pang Qiutang, who had walked dozens of steps out of the city gate, stopped and turned around, only to see Zhu Biao suddenly look up.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to glare at the guard, he spared a glance and gave her a fierce look.

She shuddered, turned around, wiped her eyes, and quickly left.

"Ah, ah~"

At the same time, Zhu Biao took out his money bag, pulled out a string of copper coins, and was about to hand it to the guard who was trying to extort money when the guard snatched the money bag away.

"Give it all to me!"

Zhu Biao was about to reach out and snatch it back when the old guard kicked him in the waist, causing him to stagger.

"roll!"

The old guard, his hand on the hilt of his sword, said coldly:

"Hey, you idiot from out of town, remember this: this is Tokyo, the capital city. If you're a dragon, you have to coil up; if you're a tiger, you have to lie low."

A moment later, at a corner about half a mile from Fengqiu Gate, Pang Qiutang rushed out hurriedly, her eyes red.

"Third Brother, are you alright?"

"Hehehe~"

Zhu Biao laughed, looking delighted.

"What could have happened? It only cost a few hundred coins, plus a kick. I think it was too easy."

Looking around at the bustling streets and the endless stream of pedestrians, he let out a long sigh.

"Tokyo City, I've finally made it in!"

Lin Chong's house is very easy to find, only a few hundred steps from Fanlou, but Lin's wife has now returned to her parents' home, while Zhang Jiaotou's house is not so easy to find.

Even though Lin Chong gave the detailed address, Bianliang City was simply too big.

In a city with a population of over a million, there are no high-rise buildings, but countless mansions occupying several acres, tens of acres, or even hundreds of acres.

The streets and alleys are as dense as a spider web, resembling a giant maze.

Zhu Biao was unfamiliar with the place and dared not ask questions openly for fear of alerting the enemy. Therefore, he could only patiently try to get information out of them.

He had been wandering around the city for two hours by noon before he finally found the place.

In the south of the city, at the easternmost end of Ganjing Lane, there is a small, secluded courtyard. Not far away is a rather large Hu's Blacksmith Shop.

"Shopkeeper, please give me a bowl of tofu pudding, a few steamed buns, and a bowl of mutton soup with extra mutton and extra vinegar."

Not far from the courtyard, there was a restaurant. Zhu Biao found a table by the door and called out in a deep voice.

"Okay!"

The waiter responded.

At the next table, two rascal-looking guys glanced at him sideways, exchanged a silent look, and then continued drinking.

Seeing the two scoundrels keeping watch, and glancing furtively at the smoke rising from the courtyard, and noticing that there was no mourning cloth hanging at the door.

Zhu Biao felt a sudden heat in his eyes, and instantly felt a sense of weakness, his back slumped slightly.

Damn it! I made it in time, Madam Lin isn't dead!

When he left Zhujiazhuang, he set three main goals.

First, intercept Lin Chong.

Second, kill Gao Yanei and rescue Lin Niangzi.

Third, sell grain to buy horses.

Befriending Chai Jin and Lu Junyi was a secondary objective; as for Wu Song, Pang Wanchun, Pang Qiutang, Yue Fei, Shi Qian, and Liang Siqi...

And the encounters along the way were all unexpected and unpredictable.

He had anticipated this; given the current terrible road conditions, encountering unexpected events was almost inevitable on the more than two thousand miles north and south.

The soup noodles at this restaurant are quite authentic. The broth is made from lamb bones, and the lamb is very flavorful. It also has dogwood and coriander added, making it both fragrant and spicy.

After finishing the bowl, sweat was already beading on Zhu Biao's forehead. He wiped his mouth and exclaimed.

"Good soup noodles! Shopkeeper, please cook another bowl for me."

At the next table, a rascal with triangular eyes rolled his eyes at him, curled his lip in disdain, and seemed about to make a sarcastic remark, but was patted on the arm by his dark-faced companion.

"Don't cause trouble, important matters are more important."

"What important business is this?!"

With her triangular eyes and thin face flushed from eating, she angrily slammed the peanut shells onto the table.

"Damn it! That Instructor Zhang is so incompetent. He doesn't even take on the job of Chief Instructor of the Palace Guard, and just stays at home all day. How can the young master accomplish anything?"

The dark-faced rogue was still somewhat wary. He glanced at Zhu Biao out of the corner of his eye and saw him eating tofu pudding with gusto, which put his mind at ease.

"Heh, even if that instructor Zhang accepts the assignment, the young master won't be out for a while."

He picked up a peanut, popped it into his mouth, and said with a wry smile.

Upon hearing this, the man with the triangular eyes became even angrier and slammed his wine bowl down heavily.

"Who says otherwise? I don't know what's gotten into the Grand Commandant, locking his son in the mansion. We brothers can only suffer every day."

Zhu Biao, who was eavesdropping, suddenly tightened his grip on the bowl, and his heart skipped a beat.

Damn it! The worst-case scenario has occurred.

Why was Gao Yanei imprisoned in the mansion of that old scoundrel Gao Qiu? The Grand Commandant's mansion—how the hell could he kill someone there?

At this moment, the dark-faced ruffian shook his head helplessly.

"Sigh, it's all my fault for losing my mind and trying to seduce that crazy woman from the Liang family. The Grand Commandant locked him up for his own good."

day!

Zhu Biao was instantly struck dumb, nearly crushing the bowl in his hand.

That scoundrel Gao Yanei is really audacious, daring to covet Liang Siqi. This young lady's family background, scheming, and methods completely overwhelm him; she could easily torment him to death.

The next moment, a sudden inspiration flashed in my mind.

However, if Gao Yanei can't come out, then we only need to deal with these two lackeys who are tailing him.

Zhu Biao was somewhat lost in thought and couldn't help but glance at them.

"Hey you birdbrain, what are you looking at?"

The dark-faced ruffian noticed his gaze and demanded an explanation.

Zhu Biao snapped out of his daze and said with sharp eyes:

"What business is it of yours if I'm looking at my soup dumplings?"

At this moment, the waiter was bringing out a bowl of soup noodles on a tray from the back room. The shrew's expression softened, but his triangular eyes were not happy about it.

Bang!

He slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

"A bumpkin from out of town, daring to act tough in Tokyo?"

Boom!

Zhu Biao also suddenly stood up and slammed the curved sword, still in its sheath, onto the table.

"You thieving bastard! Do you want a beating?"

Upon seeing the knife, the man with the triangular eyes instinctively shrank back. A scoundrel, by nature, bullies the weak and fears the strong, and dares not fight to the death.

However, he refused to back down verbally, patting his neck and tauntingly retorting.

"You son of a bitch! Trying to scare your grandpa with a knife? Come on, come on, if you've got the guts, hack here!"

"You~"

Zhu Biao was embarrassed and angry. He gripped the knife handle tightly, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"No, no!"

At this moment, the dark-faced rogue stepped forward to smooth things over. He first pushed the triangular-eyed man back a little, and then clasped his hands towards Zhu Biao.

"Brother, I misjudged you just now. Please forgive me."

At the same time, he leaned close to the triangular-eyed man's ear and whispered:

"Don't provoke him. This guy is a fool. His eyes look strange; he's probably a desperado."

The young waiter also put down his tray and tried to persuade Zhu Biao.

"Please calm down, sir. Peace brings wealth!"

"snort!"

Zhu Biao, taking advantage of the situation, snorted coldly, glared at the triangular-eyed man, and slowly sat down.

Along the way, his acting skills have improved much faster than his martial arts skills, and now they can be described as consummate.

If this were placed in their "old home" in their past life, it would be worthy of an Oscar.