A secret alliance in the pine forest under the moon
Chapter Quote: Meeting old friends in the pine forest on the cliff, the secrets are shocking and terrifying. The shadow of the imperial city appears in the water, each with his own thoughts and plans for the future.
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Midnight approached, and Liangshan Lake was shrouded in the thick darkness. Yan Qing, dressed in dark gray, silently traversed the familiar path like a civet cat blending into the shadows, avoiding three visible sentries and two hidden checkpoints, and arrived at a desolate cliff in the back mountains. Beneath the cliff lay a dark abyss, the sound of water murmured, and a dense pine forest on the edge rustled in the night wind, like countless whispers.
He didn't immediately reveal himself, but instead hid behind an old, dragon-like pine tree, holding his breath and concentrating his awareness to the utmost. Aside from the sounds of wind, pine waves, and water, he didn't notice anything unusual.
At the appointed time, steady footsteps echoed from the depths of the pine forest, not deliberately concealed. Lu Zhishen's tall figure parted the branches and emerged. He wore no cassock tonight, only a simple brown shorts. The large wine gourd hung from his waist, and his iconic water-milled Zen staff was nowhere to be found.
"Brother Yanqing, you're on time." Lu Zhishen's voice was loud and could be heard from far away in the quiet night, but he seemed not to care.
Yan Qing came out from behind the tree and said with a bow, "Master Lu has summoned me, it must be something important. Yan Qing dare not neglect it."
Lu Zhishen walked to the edge of the cliff, looked at the inky black water below his feet, took a big gulp of wine, wiped his mouth, and then turned around. His copper-bell-like eyes sparkled in the moonlight, and his face no longer had the usual rough smile, replaced by a rare solemnity.
"Brother, I've made some inquiries about the sneaky men who were spying outside your window that night." He went straight to the point, his voice lowered a bit, but every word was as firm as a hammer. "They weren't Wu Yong's sour-looking men, nor were they the assassins from the 'Netherworld Palace' you mentioned. Judging from their movements and traces, they look more like... those patrolmen employed by the 'Imperial City Division' under that official in Tokyo!"
Imperial City Division!
Yan Qing's heart trembled violently, as if struck by a silent thunderbolt! This title represented the most secretive eyes and ears of the Song Emperor, his sharpest claws! They spied on officials and the people, using brutal methods and infiltrating every possible means! Their tentacles had already quietly extended into this 800-li marshland? Were they trying to monitor the growing "bandit problem" in Liangshan, or... were they aiming for something else? When had he entered their sights?
"Master, how did you know that? Is there any solid evidence?" Yan Qing suppressed the shock in his heart and kept his voice steady.
Lu Zhishen snorted, his face revealing undisguised disgust. "Do you know what my useless disciple, 'Knife-wielding Ghost' Cao Zheng, did for a living in Tokyo before he came up the mountain?"
Yan Qing thought for a moment and said, "I heard that Brother Cao Zheng once ran a large butcher shop on the banks of the Bian River in Tokyo. Because of his superb knife skills and brave temperament, he was called the 'Knife-wielding Ghost'."
"That's right!" Lu Zhishen nodded. "His shop is right next to the Imperial Street. Everyday, there are cooks from various government offices, palace procurement agents, and even stewards from the residences of some imperial guards. Cao Zheng is a very outgoing person, and he knows a lot of people from all walks of life. A few days ago, he went down the mountain with his team to buy wine and meat. While waiting at the ferry, he accidentally caught a glimpse of a familiar face in the crowd. That person had worked as an assistant in his shop many years ago, but his behavior was not very clean, so Cao Zheng kicked him out. Later, I heard that he had somehow managed to sneak into the 'Imperial City Bureau' and work as a spy!"
Yan Qing's eyes narrowed. "Brother Cao Zheng, are you sure? That man is in Liangshan now?"
"Although Cao Zheng looks rough and stupid, he's actually quite clever and has a good memory," Lu Zhishen confirmed. "He didn't dare to make a public announcement at the time, but secretly observed the man. He discovered that the man was disguised as a peddler selling groceries, blending in with the caravans traveling to Liangshan, and was stationed in the menial area near the water in the rear camp! Cao Zheng also noticed that the man was accompanied by several other unfamiliar 'peddlers'. Although they pretended not to know each other, their glances showed a tacit understanding. Their behavior was definitely not that of ordinary merchants!"
Yan Qing immediately grasped the key point: "So, the Imperial City Administration sent a team to infiltrate this time? Was the person outside my window that night the one that Brother Cao Zheng recognized?"
"That's not the case." Lu Zhishen shook his head. "Cao Zheng recognized someone else. According to his observation, this group has a clear division of labor, and each has their own strengths. The one who spied on your residence was obviously an excellent Qinggong and skilled in concealment. He is not the same person as the one Cao Zheng recognized. They are targeting you probably because you have been so popular recently, and you have been in and out of Lu Junyi's camp as an envoy. Your identity is sensitive, so you have become one of their main targets of attention."
Yan Qing remained silent, his mind racing. The Imperial City Division's infiltration signaled a shift in the imperial court's strategy against Liangshan, from simple military suppression to a more complex and insidious campaign of intelligence infiltration and internal dismantling. It was only natural that a "newly promoted" leader with an "ambiguous position" like him would be targeted. But was this merely routine surveillance? Or had he inadvertently uncovered a deeper secret?
"Do Brother Gongming and the military advisor know about this matter?" Yan Qing asked tentatively.
Lu Zhishen scoffed, a hint of disdain in his voice. "Brother Song Jiang is so obsessed with the amnesty that if he knew the Imperial City Bureau's scouts were inside his own village, he'd be overjoyed, thinking it was a gesture of 'goodwill' from the court, a prelude to amnesty. He wouldn't even consider the dangers involved. He might even set up an incense table and secretly negotiate! As for that pedantic Wu Yong..." He snorted coldly, "He's a man of deep thoughts. Even if he knew, he'd feign ignorance, observing from the sidelines, perhaps even finding ways to exploit them, turning even these Imperial City Bureau spies into pawns on his chessboard. He'd never easily alert them. He probably only cares about the pros and cons, never the ties of brotherhood or the safety of his village."
Yan Qing nodded slowly. Although Lu Zhishen had a rough temperament, his analysis was very insightful. He saw through Song Jiang's fantasy of "loyalty to the emperor" and Wu Yong's "scheming" nature.
"Master, you have shared this secret with Yan Qing. I am deeply grateful to you." Yan Qing solemnly clasped his fists. "But why did you trust Yan Qing alone to share this secret?"
Lu Zhishen looked at him, his eyes burning, as if he wanted to see into his heart: "Although I am a rough man, I have some accuracy in judging people! Since you, Yanqing, came up the mountain, you seem to be obedient, but in fact, you have your own ideas. You saved Bai Sheng, that rat, and you may have your own calculations, but the look in your eyes when you look at those ordinary minions and craftsmen does not have the cold indifference of Wu Yong, who treats people as worthless, nor the hypocrisy of Song Jiang, who buys people's hearts. You have a scale in your heart, the people you want to protect, and your bottom line! The Imperial City Bureau is a group of the emperor's lackeys. They act without scruples and are vicious and cruel. Being targeted by them is like being entangled by a poisonous snake. If you are not careful, you will be doomed! I tell you this so that you can be aware of the situation and take precautions early. Don't fall into their trap and die without knowing how!"
He paused, his voice deepening with a sense of desolation from someone who had seen through the world. "Furthermore... I've often felt lately that while Liangshan may appear prosperous and flourishing, it's actually riddled with holes and peril. Surrounded by the imperial army on the outside and the strife of various factions within, the brothers appear harmonious, yet each harbors their own agenda. If this continues, chaos will surely ensue! It's better to make plans early and leave a way out than to simply surrender when disaster strikes!"
These words, spoken from the heart, reveal Lu Zhishen's deep concern for the future of Liangshan and his own calculations. He told Yan Qing this as both a warning and a gesture to seek allies in the chaotic situation.
"Master, your words are so valuable and wise, and I will take them to heart." Yan Qing was touched, knowing that Lu Zhishen was truly concerned for him and the future of Liangshan. "The situation is volatile right now, and we must plan ahead. Master, your kindness today, Yan Qing will never forget you. If you need anything in the future, or if the situation changes, Yan Qing will stand by you."
This was a clear response to the alliance. On Liangshan, where dangers abounded, having an ally like Lu Zhishen meant a greater hope of survival.
Lu Zhishen patted his shoulder heavily, and everything was said without words.
At that moment, Yan Qing's ears twitched slightly, and he suddenly raised his hand to signal silence, his eyes shooting like lightning towards the darkness on the other side of the pine forest. Almost at the same time, Lu Zhishen also noticed something unusual, and his muscles instantly tensed, like a tiger ready to pounce.
A figure slowly emerged from the darkness. His figure was as tall and straight as a pine tree, his steps steady and silent. The moonlight outlined his gaunt and resolute face, as well as the 10-foot-long snake spear in his hand, which exuded a chilling aura.
It’s Lin Chong.
He actually came to this secluded pine forest at this moment!
Lin Chong walked closer, his eyes slowly sweeping across the faces of Yan Qing and Lu Zhishen, finally settling on Yan Qing. His voice was low and calm: "I didn't mean to pry. I was feeling depressed, so I came here to practice spear to relieve myself. I happened to hear you mention...Imperial City Division." He deliberately paused slightly on the three words "Imperial City Division".
Yan Qing and Lu Zhishen exchanged a quick glance, each seeing the solemnity and questioning in the other's eyes. How much had Lin Chong heard? Was he just passing by, or...
Lin Chong seemed to see through their doubts and said calmly, "I only heard the second half. The patrolmen from the Imperial City Division... As expected, the court has never truly trusted Liangshan, nor has it ever given up on surveillance and infiltration." There wasn't much surprise in his tone, only a kind of coldness and fatigue that had been expected and penetrated deep into his bones.
Lu Zhishen snorted, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere. "Master Lin, since you've heard it, I won't hide it from you. Right now, Liangshan is surrounded by government troops from outside, while inside, Song Jiang is thinking about recruiting, Wu Yong is plotting, and there's a bunch of people who just want to fight and kill. Now, there are also the henchmen of the Imperial City Bureau lurking in the dark... Hehe, it's really fucking lively! This ship is about to enter the whirlpool!"
Lin Chong remained silent, the moonlight casting deep shadows on his angular face. He didn't respond to Lu Zhishen's words, but instead looked at Yan Qing again. A subtle ripple seemed to rise in those eyes, as still as ancient wells. "How...are you going to respond?"
Yan Qing knew this was a crucial moment. Lu Zhishen had already made his stance clear, and Lin Chong's attitude would determine the weight of this secret alliance. He took a deep breath, met Lin Chong's scrutinizing gaze, and said calmly, "Yan Qing is a lowly figure with little influence and little power. All I seek is to preserve myself in this chaotic situation, and... to protect the people I care about. Whether it's the Imperial City Division or any other force, I will fight them all, but I will never sit idly by and wait for death. As for the future..." He paused, his voice firmer, "If we truly reach the end of our rope, or are forced to make a decision, Yan Qing only wishes to act with a clear conscience."
He did not make passionate oaths or draw up grand blueprints, but only had the simplest purposes and the most fundamental principles, which made him more authentic and credible.
Lin Chong looked at him intently. Those eyes, long frozen by blood feuds and the helplessness of reality, seemed to be slowly cracking and melting. He remembered Yan Qing's seemingly unintentional words from the day before, but they struck at the softest part of his heart: "Perhaps harboring this thought is better than complete despair."
The sound of pine trees rustles, the moonlight casts a shadowy shadow. Beneath the cliff, the water is deep and serene, seeming to harbor endless secrets and murderous intent.
After a long moment, Lin Chong slowly exhaled the pent-up air in his chest. Although his voice was soft, it carried a desperate determination: "If the day ever comes when I have to find a way to survive... count me in."
There was no explicit mention of "that day," no promise of specific actions, but the words "count me in" weighed a thousand pounds. They signified that the instructor of the 800,000-strong Imperial Guard, after enduring so much betrayal and despair, had finally chosen to believe again, to seek a glimmer of light amidst the darkness.
Yan Qing felt relieved and bowed solemnly, "With the coach's words, Yan Qing feels more at ease."
Lu Zhishen also grinned. Although the situation was still dangerous, having a strong ally like Lin Chong was always a good thing. "Alright! Today, the three of us are standing here in the pine forest under the moonlight. Let's make a pact! If a storm comes, we can look after each other!"
Yan Qing, Lu Zhishen, and Lin Chong, three people with very different backgrounds and personalities, but all worried about the current situation in Liangshan and looking for a way out, reached a silent, fragile, but potentially far-reaching alliance under the pine forest on this dangerous night.
This alliance is not intended to cause any immediate waves. It is more like a tacit understanding to support each other and overcome difficulties in the stormy waves, a seed sown in advance for an unpredictable future.
"The matter of the Imperial City Administration is of great importance. We will pretend to be ignorant of it for now and just keep an eye on it secretly. We must not alert the enemy." Yan Qing said in a deep voice as the initial consensus of the alliance.
Lu Zhishen and Lin Chong both nodded in agreement. It would be unwise to act rashly before clarifying the true purpose of the Imperial City Administration and the instigators behind it.
The three of them said no more, exchanged a knowing look, and then turned around. Just like when they came, they quietly blended into the dark night and disappeared in different directions of the pine forest.
Silence returned to the cliffside, only the moonlight still sprinkled coldly on the rugged rocks and swaying pine branches, reflecting the bottomless and turbulent undercurrent of the 800-mile lake below.
The wind seems to be even colder.
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Chapter 46 End
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