Returning from success, a dark tide arises
Chapter Quote: A horse returns to Liangshan after completing his mission, seemingly in glory but hiding hidden dangers. A clever scheme temporarily appeases everyone, but where will the internal strife arise?
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It was dusk the following day when Yan Qing rode back to Liangshan Lake alone. The setting sun, blood-red, stained the eight-hundred-mile lake a golden crimson. The shimmering waters reflected the endless rows of fortified posts and banners, creating a strange calm amidst the solemnity. He stepped onto the fort's dock, the crisp clatter of horse hooves echoing on the bluestone pavement. He immediately felt countless gazes cast upon him from all directions. Curiosity, scrutiny, suspicion, and even undisguised hostility wove an invisible net, enveloping him.
A spy had already reported in. Before he could reach the broad stone steps in front of the Gathering Hall, he saw Song Jiang and Wu Yong, leading dozens of other leaders, coming out to greet him. Song Jiang, dressed in a ochre-yellow robe and a smile of exaggerated enthusiasm, bowed from afar and said loudly, "Brother Yanqing, thank you for your hard work! Riding alone into a vast army, deciding the outcome with a single word, you are truly a pillar of Liangshan! Come in and invite us!"
Wu Yong followed closely behind, gently waving a feather fan, with his usual unfathomable smile on his face, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, sweeping across Yan Qing's body, as if he wanted to see through his dusty green clothes and see everything in his heart.
The leaders all wore different expressions. Guan Sheng stood stroking his beard, his face calm. Lin Chong's eyes were complex, hinting at a subtle concern. Qin Ming, Suo Chao, and other generals wore expressions of indignation, clearly harboring resentment over the failure to reach an agreement. Li Kui's eyes bulged, and he mumbled incoherently. Wang Ying, Bai Sheng, and their ilk huddled at the back of the crowd, their eyes flickering, as if they were contemplating something.
Yan Qing took it all in, but his expression remained calm. He dismounted calmly and bowed to Song Jiang, Wu Yong, and the others, saying, "Thank you, Brother Gongming, Military Advisor, and all the other brothers for welcoming me. I feel bad for not accepting this opportunity."
The crowd surrounded him like stars surrounding the moon, returning to the Juyi Hall. The hall was already brightly lit, and leaders of all ranks gathered together, all eyes focused on Yan Qing, waiting for the news he would bring back.
After the host and guest took their seats, Song Jiang leaned over impatiently and asked, "Brother Yanqing, what was the result of this mission? What was the attitude of Mr. Lu and Governor Cheng?" There was a hint of deliberately suppressed urgency in his tone, and the hall suddenly fell silent, and even the breathing seemed to be lighter.
Yan Qing stood up and clasped his fists around him again, his expression calm and composed. He recounted clearly and concisely how he had arrived alone at the allied camp, how he was stopped by Dong Ping and led into the central army tent, how he met with Lu Junyi and Cheng Wanli, how he had presented the pros and cons, analyzed the advantages of a ceasefire and the disadvantages of a fight to the death, and ultimately how he had persuaded Lu and Cheng to agree in principle to a ceasefire and peace. His words were concise and well-organized, explaining both the outcome and the key considerations behind their agreement: Lu Junyi's need to stabilize the internal situation, and Cheng Wanli's desire to protect the territory and the people.
"...Mr. Lu and Governor Cheng have promised to sign an alliance with Liangshan. We will limit ourselves to the existing borders, not invade each other, and trade with each other as appropriate. The specific details require both sides to send special personnel to select a place for detailed consultation. Fortunately, Yan Qing has fulfilled his mission." He finally concluded, his voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard in every corner of the hall.
Silence.
Deathly silence lingered for several breaths. This outcome was both within the expectations of some and beyond the imagination of many. Defeating the enemy without achieving victory was undoubtedly the best strategy, but the fact that it was achieved so "easily" left some feeling unbelievable, even... disappointed.
"Is that... the end?" Li Kui was the first to break the silence. He stood up abruptly, ruffling his messy hair with his large, fan-like hands, his face filled with disbelief and dissatisfaction. "I, Tie Niu, have been sharpening my axe for days, just waiting to chop off some of those crooked officials' heads to enjoy with my wine! And that Lu Junyi is a complete idiot, frightened by a few words from Brother Xiao Yi? How unpleasant!"
Qin Ming also groaned, his face not looking good: "Showing weakness like this, even if we can avoid a fight, I'm afraid that if the news gets out, my friends in the martial arts world will laugh at me, Liangshan, for being afraid of Lu Junyi and Dongping Prefecture!"
The complaints of the pro-war faction were like a stone thrown into a lake, stirring up ripples. Some leaders who were already skeptical of Yan Qing, or simply eager for military exploits, also echoed them, and the hall was filled with discussion and noise.
Wu Yong took in everyone's reactions, gently waving his feather fan, the unfathomable smile on his face became more intense. He looked at Yan Qing, his voice was not loud, but it easily drowned out the noise: "Brother Yan Qing really lived up to everyone's expectations. He is eloquent and insightful. Without spending a single soldier of mine or losing a single grain of food, you resolved a huge disaster and put an end to the war in the north. This achievement... is really not small!" He deliberately dragged out the ending tone, and the meaning in his tone was difficult to grasp.
Yan Qing bowed slightly, his attitude humble. "Military Advisor, you are too kind. How dare Yan Qing take credit for it? It is entirely due to Brother Gongming's reputation for benevolence, the military advisor's strategic wisdom, and the might of our Liangshan army that we have managed to intimidate Mr. Lu and Governor Cheng and make them willing to sit down and talk. Yan Qing simply happened to be there at the right time and was simply running around to pass on the message. Without the support of the mountain stronghold, even if Yan Qing had the eloquence of Su Qin and Zhang Yi, it would be useless."
He cleverly attributed the credit to Song Jiang, Wu Yong and Liangshan as a whole, praising those in power while appeasing those leaders who were dissatisfied for not being able to fight. His words were sincere and impeccable.
Song Jiang's smile widened upon hearing this, clearly delighted by Yan Qing's thoughtfulness. He laughed heartily, stood up, and placed his hands in a hollow gesture to silence the chatter in the hall. "Alright! Brothers! Brother Yan Qing has performed such a great deed, saving the lives of countless brothers and safeguarding the foundation of Liangshan. This is a cause for great joy! A little empty fame is nothing to worry about! Pass the word down; a feast will be held in the Juyi Hall tonight to welcome Brother Yan Qing back and celebrate his achievements! Let's drink three cups together, everyone in the stronghold!"
The leader spoke, and everyone naturally stopped talking. However, the complex emotions that filled the air could not be easily resolved with a single command.
That night, the Juyi Hall was ablaze with lights, bustling with voices, and the aroma of wine and meat filled the air. Song Jiang, seated at the head of the table, toasted Yan Qing repeatedly, his words filled with flattery and flattery. Wu Yong, also holding a glass of wine, chatted and laughed with Yan Qing, as if the daytime trials had never occurred. Many leaders, whether sincere or not, came forward to offer congratulations and toasts to Yan Qing.
Yan Qing never refused anyone who came to him, drank until the glass was empty, and always had a gentle and appropriate smile on his face. He socialized with everyone, neither arrogant because of his achievements nor timid because of suspicion. His manners were calm and graceful, which made some people who originally had complicated impressions of him secretly admire him.
After several rounds of drinking, the atmosphere seemed warm and harmonious. Wu Yong, holding his wine glass, walked over to Yan Qing and put his arm around his shoulder, seemingly affectionately. The scent of alcohol mixed with the faint aroma of ink filled his face. He lowered his voice, so that only the two of them could hear, and said, "Brother Yan Qing, this time you've reunited with your former master, Mr. Lu, and had a private conversation in the tent... I'm sure it must have been a strange experience. Has he, out of consideration for our old friendship, promised you anything privately?" His words were like a venomous snake, carrying a cold, testing tone.
Yan Qing sneered in his heart, but his face showed a complexity and melancholy at the right time. He sighed softly: "Military advisor, you are joking. Each of us serves a master, and the camps are clearly divided. Although there are old masters in the tent, there are more enemy generals. Mr. Lu... although he did not make things difficult for me out of consideration for the old friendship, there was a clear boundary in his conversation, and most of his words were about weighing the pros and cons. It is rare to hear the old name 'Xiao Yi'. As for the benefits..." He shook his head in self-mockery, "I am lucky to be able to escape unscathed and bring back the alliance. How dare I ask for anything else? After all... things are different now." The loneliness and helplessness in his tone were just right, as if he was really sad about the change in identity and the difficulty of continuing friendship.
Wu Yong stared at his profile, his eyes sharp as a knife, as if trying to find flaws in every subtle expression. But Yan Qing's eyes were clear, with only a hint of sadness and calmness. Wu Yong chuckled twice and patted Yan Qing's shoulder vigorously: "Brother, you can see through the barriers of friendship and loyalty, put the overall interests of the stronghold first, and endure what ordinary people cannot endure. You are truly the material for great things! I admire you! Come, in recognition of your hard work and contribution, let me drink this cup to the full!"
"Please come in, Military Advisor!" Yan Qing raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp, concealing the cold light deep in his eyes.
A raucous celebration lasted until late at night. Yan Qing, diligently supported by two lackeys, stumbled back to his residence. Closing the door, shutting out the outside noise, the drunkenness on his face instantly faded, and his eyes regained clarity, like a cold star in the dark night.
He walked to the window, opened it a crack, and gazed out at the dark night. The lights of Liangshan Lake flickered on the water like countless prying eyes. The croaking of frogs and the chirping of insects only added to the eerie stillness of the night.
Today, he seemed to be on a roll, having achieved great success, earning Song Jiang's admiration and temporarily silencing the gossip. But he knew this was merely the calm before the storm. Wu Yong's seemingly affectionate embrace and whispers were more dangerous than direct questioning. The suppressed resentment of the pro-war leaders smoldered like a smoldering fire, ready to ignite at any moment. And the lurking eyes of those in the shadows, fueled by his "great achievements," were countless.
The truce he reached with Lu Junyi was merely a fragile balance, a balance that could be shattered at any moment by an imperial decree, a power shift within Liangshan, or even some unexpected event.
"I can't wait passively any longer..." Yan Qing muttered to himself, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the window frame. He needed to be more proactive in this dangerous place, he needed his own spies and power, he needed to find more fulcrums that he could rely on, or at least exploit.
His thoughts raced. The craftsmen and low-level leaders in the back mountains, who had grown familiar with him and had developed a favorable impression of him, could perhaps be developed into the most basic spies. Lin Chong's suppressed grief and dissatisfaction with the status quo, and Guan Sheng's concerns about Liangshan's strategy beneath his calm exterior, were all opportunities for subtle influence. Even a greedy and despicable villain like Bai Sheng, if he could get a handle on him, could be turned into a hidden chess piece...
However, just as he was concentrating on thinking and outlining the outline of the future chess game in his mind, a very subtle sound came faintly from the darkness far away outside the window, but it was definitely not the sound of wind, nor the sound of a night owl flapping its wings and breaking through the air!
The sound was as light as floating cotton wool and disappeared in a flash, so fast that it almost made people think it was an illusion.
But Yan Qing's muscles instantly tensed, his breath held, and all distracting thoughts were instantly cast aside. He stood still in the shadows by the window, as if petrified, only his eyes flashed a sharp light in the darkness, carefully scanning every inch of the area outside that was swallowed by darkness.
They were not Wu Yong's men. Wu Yong's surveillance was more systematic and continuous, not so abrupt and covert.
This style of light Kung Fu, with a feminine and strange aura, is quite similar to the "Netherworld" killer encountered in the forest that day, but also seems different.
Who is it?
Had the Netherworld Palace not given up? Or... besides Wu Yong and the Netherworld Palace, was there a third, or even a fourth, force lurking on Mount Liangshan that had its eyes on Yan Qing?
The night deepened, thicker and thicker. The crisis was like a poisonous crocodile lurking in the depths of the swamp, just showing its claws, then disappearing into the endless darkness and fog.
Yan Qing gently closed the window and retreated to the center of the room. He knew that from this moment on, he would not only have to face the swords and guns in the open and the cold arrows in the dark, but also be wary of those who pry from the unknown shadows.
The road ahead is becoming increasingly dangerous and unpredictable.
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Chapter 44 End
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