First time entering Liangshan to watch the tiger
Chapter Quote: It was not my intention to be trapped in Liangshan, I watched from the sidelines to distinguish between loyalty and treachery. I met an old acquaintance in front of the gathering hall, and undercurrents surged, hiding my sharp intentions.
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The waters stretch endlessly, and the reeds sway. Riding on the boat sent by Liangshan, Yan Qing crossed the vast waters and set foot on the Golden Beach, the main camp of Liangshan Lake, where his fate was entangled in past and present lives.
There were numerous passes, flags waving, soldiers in shining helmets and armor, and the sound of drills was endless. Compared to the small strongholds in my past life, Liangshan Lake at this time was already a powerful place, with well-trained soldiers and sufficient food, and a solemn atmosphere.
Hua Rong, Lu Zhishen, and Liu Tang escorted Yan Qing straight to the Gathering Hall. The Liangshan leaders and minions they encountered along the way, upon seeing Yan Qing, a stranger, especially one accompanied by Hua Rong and the others, all cast glances at him, some curious, some scrutinizing, and some with a hint of hostility.
Yan Qing's face remained calm, but his eyes scanned the sights along the way. He saw Hu Yanzhuo, the "Double Whip" (who had surrendered to Liangshan), training the cavalry in the parade grounds, Jiang Jing, the "Divine Calculator," transporting provisions, and several sinister-looking figures who seemed unkind.
In front of the Juyi Hall, a crowd of heroes gathered. Some stood, some sat, some talked, some remained silent. There were dozens of leaders of all kinds. Yan Qing spotted several familiar figures.
The man sitting second from the top, with a fair complexion, three wisps of mustache, holding a feather fan, chatting and laughing with others, who else could it be but Wu Yong? He felt Yan Qing's gaze and looked up. A trace of imperceptible coldness flashed in his eyes, which then turned into a gentle smile and a slight nod, as if all the previous calculations had never happened.
Below Wu Yong sat a short, fat man with a dark complexion and short stature, yet his gaze was filled with dignity. It was none other than Song Jiang, the "Timely Rain." Upon seeing Yan Qing, he immediately stood up, a warm smile on his face, and quickly approached him. He took Yan Qing's hand and spoke earnestly:
"This must be Brother Yan Qing, the righteous and righteous prodigal son under the command of Mr. Lu of Daming Prefecture, right? Song Jiang has long heard of your name, and it's like thunder in his ears! Meeting you today, he's truly a handsome man, a true hero!"
His attitude was cordial, his words sincere, and anyone unaware of the situation would undoubtedly be moved. However, Yan Qing knew that he was a thick-skinned and ruthless person, so he simply withdrew his hand calmly and bowed slightly, "Chief Song, your compliments are truly unbelievable. Yan Qing is deeply appreciative."
"Ah, brother, you're too modest!" Song Jiang pulled Yan Qing and led him into the hall, shouting to everyone, "Brothers! Today, Liangshanpo has added a new young hero! It's Brother Yan Qing! He's a master of martial arts, unparalleled in loyalty and righteousness, and has had many... uh, misunderstandings with Liangshan. But today, Brother Yan Qing understands the greater good and is willing to come up the mountain to join us in this cause. It's truly a blessing for Liangshan!"
Reactions varied among the people in the hall. Roughnecks like Li Kui and Wang Ying, upon hearing of Yan Qing's martial prowess, cheered loudly. More reserved figures like Lin Chong and Xu Ning (whose name had already become known, though he hadn't yet ascended the mountain) simply observed in silence. Meanwhile, those who had a grudge against Yan Qing or knew his true identity, such as Liu Tang, whom Yan Qing had previously captured (though rescued by Hua Rong, he still harbored resentment), and some of Wu Yong's closest associates, expressed sullenness.
Wu Yong waved his feather fan and said with a smile, "Brother Gongming is right. Brother Yanqing is a dragon and phoenix among men. If he can come up the mountain and join our group, we will be even more powerful. The few misunderstandings in the past were just because we each served our own master. From now on, we are one family, so let's not talk about it anymore."
He spoke beautifully, but his eyes were always scrutinizing.
Yan Qing sneered in his heart, but his face remained calm. He bowed and looked around: "Yan Qing is new here. I hope you leaders will give me guidance in the future."
Seeing that he did not turn hostile or resist violently on the spot, Song Jiang felt relieved and arranged a banquet to welcome Yan Qing.
During the banquet, Song Jiang, Wu Yong and others took turns to urge Yan Qing to drink. Most of their words praised Liangshan's purpose of "doing justice on behalf of heaven", described the joy of the brothers "drinking big bowls of wine and eating big chunks of meat", and the future prospects of "being granted titles for wives and children", in an attempt to soften Yan Qing.
Yan Qing accepted everyone who came to him and drank until the glass was empty, appearing to be very "generous", but his eyes were always clear and he responded appropriately, neither trying to please nor appearing distant.
He secretly observed the behavior of each of the leaders present. He saw "Leopard Head" Lin Chong, who, though seated in the front row, had a lingering look of resentment between his brows and often drank alone. He saw "Flowery Monk" Lu Zhishen, seemingly rough and rude but actually attentive, and quite compatible with Wu Song, Yang Zhi, and the others. He saw "Black Whirlwind" Li Kui, who followed Song Jiang's orders blindly and was completely lost in thought. He also saw "Divine Military Advisor" Zhu Wu (according to his past life memories, Zhu Wu should be in Shaohua Mountain at this time), who was not at the table...
After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere seemed lively. Suddenly, a sarcastic voice sounded:
"Brother Yan Qing is such a hero. I wonder what position he plans to take when he comes to Liangshan?"
Everyone looked over and saw that the speaker was a thin man sitting at the bottom, with a pointed chin and monkey-like face. He was Bai Sheng, also known as the "Day Rat." He had been captured by Yan Qing in Dongping Prefecture and nearly died, and he had always held a grudge.
The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell silent. Seating arrangements were one of the most sensitive topics in Liangshan.
Song Jiang's face darkened slightly, and he was about to open his mouth to scold.
Yan Qing had already put down his wine glass and smiled calmly, "Brother Bai Sheng, you're joking. I came up the mountain not for a seat, but to appreciate Chief Song's sincerity and... to find a place to settle down. As for the seating, I will leave it to Brother Gongming and the military advisor to arrange. I have no objection."
His answer was flawless, which not only made his attitude clear but also kicked the ball back to Song Jiang, appearing to be very tactful.
Song Jiang's expression brightened slightly, and he said with a smile, "Brother, you are very understanding of the great principles. Song Jiang admires you! The seating arrangement will be decided by the public later. Come, drink this cup to the full!"
After a few more rounds of drinking, Yan Qing excused himself from the alcohol and left. Song Jiang then ordered his men to take him to the lodgings that had been arranged for him.
Leaving the bustling Juyi Hall, Yan Qing, led by his lackey, headed towards the rear camp. Passing by a secluded courtyard, he suddenly heard a suppressed cough and the strong smell of medicine.
He was moved and asked casually, "Brother, who lives here? Why is the smell of medicine so strong?"
The henchman whispered, "Leader Yan, this is the residence of the great doctor An Daoquan. He was treating the plague for the brothers a while ago, but he himself contracted it and has never recovered."
An Daoquan? A strange light flashed in Yan Qing's eyes. This "miracle doctor" had also been forced to ascend the mountain in his previous life, and it seemed his trajectory remained unchanged in this life. He fell ill? Was it true?
He didn't ask any more questions, but silently noted the location and continued to move forward with his minions.
The place assigned to Yan Qing was an independent wooden house. Although not luxurious, it was clean and tidy. After the henchmen left, Yan Qing closed the door, and the drunkenness on his face disappeared instantly.
He walked to the window and looked out at the night view of Liangshan Lake. The vast lake, dotted with lights, seemed calm, but in fact it was hiding countless whirlpools.
Today, I've just arrived at Liangshan. It seems smooth sailing, but in reality, every step is filled with fear and trepidation. Song Jiang's hypocrisy, Wu Yong's cunning, the complex attitudes of the other leaders, and the assassins lurking in the shadows from the "Netherworld Mansion"... all foreshadow the difficult and dangerous journey ahead.
But now that he is here, he will not sit still and wait for death.
He needed to find out the personnel factions and power structure within Liangshan as soon as possible, find possible targets to win over or exploit, and always be vigilant about Wu Yong's next move.
And An Daoquan... perhaps, he can be a point of contact?
Yan Qing took a deep breath, feeling the still dull pain from the wounds in his body, but his gaze became more determined.
He is determined to break into this dangerous place!
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Chapter 36 End
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