Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 81 Beating Up Ximen Qing

Upon hearing the voice, Zhu Biao looked up at the person who had come.

He was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, with a fair complexion, a straight nose, and a pair of bright, almond-shaped eyes beneath thick eyebrows—truly a handsome man.

This person was very tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He wore a magnificent brocade robe adorned with a hundred flowers, and deerskin boots with upturned toes. He also had a large, bright red flower pinned to each of his temples.

Zhu Biao felt it was incredibly vulgar, but he had to admit that it was the most fashionable outfit at the time.

The newcomer quickly glanced at the guards and servants kneeling on the ground before finally bowing deeply to Zhu Biao.

"Qing is guilty, but I don't know where these incompetent lackeys have offended our distinguished guest?"

"Heh~"

Zhu Biao glanced at him with a half-smile, and after a long while, he finally spoke.

"Ximen Qing, is it? Don't try to be nice. I'm not some honored guest, but rather an unwelcome one. I am Meng, the supervisor of the Imperial City Guard."

"Greetings, Lord Meng."

Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing quickly bowed again.

"Lord Meng's arrival brings great honor to my humble abode. But I wonder what I have done wrong to provoke such a thunderous wrath from you?"

Tsk, whether this guy is a lecherous fiend or not is still unknown, but one thing is certain: he is definitely a shrewd and calculating person with a deep mind.

Zhu Biao thought to himself, but his face remained as cold as ice.

"I don't know what's wrong? Ximen Qing, let me ask you, where is Wang Po from Zishi Street?"

Zhu Biao didn't beat around the bush; he simply overturned the table.

"Uh~"

Caught off guard, Ximen Qing's expression froze for a moment.

"That old woman, Wang Po, had a past relationship with Qing. Yesterday, she ignorantly offended the magistrate. This afternoon, she went to Dongping Prefecture to hang out with Qing's uncle, Judge Guan Zhe."

This guy reacted quickly, immediately came to his senses, readily admitted it, and even took the opportunity to bring up his backer.

"Oh? Your uncle is a judge in Dongping Prefecture?"

Zhu Biao gave a cryptic smirk.

"Exactly."

Ximen Qing bowed to him for the third time.

"I implore you, sir, to be lenient and grant me this favor, and let the matter rest. I will surely repay you handsomely."

Assessment complete! He's knowledgeable and shrewd, but limited in his abilities; Zhu Biao already has a good grasp of that.

This fellow, perhaps relying on his uncle's influence, has become arrogant in the vicinity of Yanggu, overestimating the judge's power and underestimating the prestige of the Imperial City Guard.

Even his uncle, when facing the real Imperial City Commander, had to be humble and obedient.

"Heh~"

Thinking of this, Zhu Biao smiled.

"Let me ask you again, across from Wang Po, that pancake seller Wu Da, was it you who found a pretext to have someone lock him up?"

Ximen Qing's eyes suddenly darted away.

"Wuhan University? Qing doesn't acknowledge it~"

Snapped!

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Biao raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

"Are you blind?!"

'

"A mere prefectural judge, a nobody, what's he to me? Go ask old man Cheng Wanli if he dares to act arrogantly towards me!"

Cheng Wanli was the prefect of Dongping Prefecture, and was someone his uncle usually fawned over. But now Zhu Biao addressed him by his first name and even called him "old man."

Ximen Qing was already stunned by the sudden slap, and upon hearing these words, his mind went blank for a moment.

"You, you dare hit me?"

The next instant, the flames of ignorance flared up, Ximen Qing's handsome face flushed red, and his eyes widened.

"ha!"

Zhu Biao smiled contemptuously and slapped Ximen Qing again, but Ximen Qing stepped back and dodged it.

"Um?"

Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

He wasn't surprised that Ximen Qing knew martial arts.

However, the movement technique that guy just displayed was quite remarkable. In terms of fist and foot skills alone, he might not be weaker than him, and might even be better.

Could it be that the Ximen Qing I've encountered is some kind of superhuman version of Wu Song? Someone who can go toe-to-toe with Wu Song?

His face stung with pain, and Ximen Qing's ferocity seemed to be unleashed.

He lifted his robe as if to retaliate, but was quickly grabbed by the bearded guard who whispered something in his ear.

"snort!"

A few breaths later, Ximen Qing gritted his teeth and let out a cold snort.

"Even if the Imperial City Guard is arrogant, they can't just barge in and beat people up, can they? Lord Meng, how about we go to the Dongping Prefecture government office and reason things out?"

"What I say is the truth!"

Zhu Biao arrogantly shouted, then turned to Wu Song and called out, "Second brother, teach this bastard a lesson and show him the rules of the Imperial City Guard!"

With Wu Song, a powerful henchman, by his side, Zhu Biao wouldn't be foolish enough to personally engage in combat, risking exhaustion if he won and losing face if he lost.

As for the proficiency level in boxing, he no longer cares about it.

"Yes, Your Majesty! I obey!"

Wu Song wasn't stupid either. He clasped his hands in response, shoved the short stick into Zhu San's hand, and strode towards Ximen Qing.

Snap!

As he walked, his fists clenched so tightly they kept cracking.

The situation was now clear: Wu Da had been locked up and imprisoned, and Ximen Qing was the mastermind behind it all. Wu Song had long been unable to contain himself.

Zhu Biao's arrangement was exactly what he wanted.

"S-Sir!"

The bearded guard was about to say something to smooth things over when he heard Wu Song roar like a tiger.

"Take this!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly lunged forward, throwing out both fists simultaneously, delivering a powerful blow that engulfed both of them at the same time.

Having already witnessed Wu Song's incredible strength, the bearded man's expression hardened, and he instinctively took a half-step back.

"You think I'm afraid of you!"

Ximen Qing, however, lost his temper, stepped forward, and raised his fist to meet the attack.

Bang!

The next instant, their fists collided.

Ximen Qing suddenly stumbled backward, but luckily the big-bearded man had anticipated this and pulled him back in time, preventing him from falling.

Wu Song's martial arts skills were not actually top-notch; he was only slightly better than Ximen Qing.

But his speed, reaction time, and especially his strength are top-notch.

As the saying goes, brute force can overcome any skill; if you don't plan ahead, you're bound to suffer losses when you start.

Having seized the initiative, Wu Song didn't stop. He suddenly stepped forward and kicked Ximen Qing in the head.

Ximen Qing dared not take the blow head-on again and retreated to avoid it. However, the bearded man noticed the opening and raised his hand to strike Wu Song in the abdomen.

Unexpectedly, Wu Song's high kick was a feint, and the opening was deliberately created. His raised thigh slammed down like a giant axe.

Bang!

Although the bearded man tried his best to raise his arms to support himself, the force from the leg forced him to take several steps back, and he finally sat down on the ground.

After knocking down the bearded man, Wu Song didn't even glance at him. As he landed, he unleashed a powerful punch, aimed straight at Ximen Qing's face.

Bang!

Ximen Qing took another step back, barely managing to block the attack with his fist, but the pain made his face twitch and sweat bead on his forehead.

Next, Wu Song launched a fierce attack, his fists and feet moving like a storm, fast and heavy, causing Ximen Qing to stagger backwards repeatedly, struggling to defend himself.

Bang!

A prolonged defense will inevitably lead to defeat. A dozen or so breaths later, Ximen Qing was caught off guard and punched in the shoulder, causing him to stagger to the side.

Wu Song did not stop. Taking advantage of his wide-open chest, he quickly added a kick to him, striking him in the chest.

Pfft!

Ximen Qing was sent flying half a zhang away, crashing heavily to the ground with a "thud."

He opened his mouth, and a sour, foul odor gushed out, causing him to vomit up his entire dinner.

Wu Song, still seemingly not satisfied, strode forward and raised his foot to kick, but Ximen Qing suddenly raised a hand and shouted hoarsely, "Stop hitting me! I was wrong."

Upon seeing this, Wu Song abruptly stopped and subconsciously turned his head to glance at Zhu Biao.

At this time, he had never seen blood, was not ruthless enough, and did not have any irreconcilable hatred for Ximen Qing, such as the Green Sister-in-law killing his brother.

I just punched and kicked him, but my anger has subsided considerably.

"Ha, you were just wrong? You didn't admit defeat?"

At this moment, Zhu Biao chuckled and picked at his ear.

"Second brother, give that filthy mouth of his absurd, beat it until he's choked!"

"No, no, I~"

Upon hearing this, Wu Song grinned widely and, before Ximen Qing could finish speaking, slapped him.

clap~

How strong was his hand? It was comparable to an iron fan. After a few slaps, Ximen Qing's handsome face visibly swelled up like a pig's head.

"Wofoluo, Foluo~"

At this moment, Ximen Qing's hairpin was shattered, his hair was disheveled, and he was begging for mercy incoherently. Where was the slightest trace of his dashing demeanor?

"alright."

Only when one of his back molars splattered out mixed with blood did Zhu Biao lazily raise his hand.

Pfft!

As soon as Wu Song let go, Ximen Qing collapsed to the ground like a limp rag.

Zhu Biao walked up to him unhurriedly, looked down at him condescendingly, and asked mockingly, "Are you convinced now?"

"Buddha has fallen, Buddha has fallen."

Having been beaten so badly, Ximen Qing quickly replied, even concealing the resentment in his eyes.

"I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Bring Wu Da back to me safe and sound, and hand over that Granny Wang as well."

"Su, Su."

Ximen Qing dared not argue any further and nodded vigorously.

The idea that Wang Po went to the judge's house to hang out is pure nonsense. Zhu Biao didn't believe a word of it. That old hag was probably hiding in his house.

Zhu Biao still had some doubts.

Ximen Qing was a smart man; why should he stand up for her and risk confronting the Imperial City Guard?