Chapter 4: Lin Chong Descends the Mountain in Search of Heroes, Zhang Yue Meets Heroes at the Inn

Zhang Yue recalled his master’s parting words, combining them with the many things that had happened to him recently. Especially the phrase “kill because of Gao,” it seemed that Master Zhizhen had foreseen that Zhang Yue would encounter Gao Qiu and even kill him. So, what about the phrase “rise because of Tong”…

Zhang Yue seemed to suddenly remember something and turned to look at Chen Ming beside him…

Chen Ming had a habit of not disturbing Zhang Yue’s thoughts unless things were very urgent. He had run to the training ground early in the morning to tell Zhang Yue that Guo Tong had been making a fuss in her room since she woke up, scolding Zhang Yue for being a liar. She had said that he would take her to the capital to find her husband, but he had brought her to the manor instead. She had been staying there for more than ten days, and all he did was practice with his spear. When would he take her to find her husband?

“Let’s go, Uncle Ming, let’s go see Miss Tong’er!” Zhang Yue learned of Chen Ming’s intentions and turned to him.

The master and servant walked one after the other, passing through the training ground, the main hall, and several small courtyards, winding their way to the Peony Courtyard where Guo Tong was staying.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard Guo Tong’s complaints:

“Zhang Yue, you big liar, you promised to take me to the capital, but you tricked me into this manor and ignored me…”

“Miss Tong’er, I didn’t lie to you. It’s just that the journey to the capital is long, and I need to make some preparations.” Zhang Yue looked at Guo Tong’s pretty face and said.

“When will you be ready, Master Zhang?” Guo Tong hadn’t seen Zhang Yue for a few days, and her little face was flushed with nervousness.

Since ancient times, which beautiful woman didn’t love a hero, especially a hero who saved her life. Although Guo Tong claimed to be married, her affection for someone couldn’t be hidden.

Looking at Guo Tong’s appearance, Zhang Yue also smiled slightly.

“Okay, a man’s word is his bond. Miss Tong’er, pack your things, and we’ll leave tomorrow.”

“Really? You won’t take me to that manor again this time?” Guo Tong spoke like a cute little girl.

“Is Young Master really going to the capital?” Chen Ming also asked curiously.

Zhang Yue nodded heavily, puffed out his chest, and looked into the distance, “Uncle Ming, a good man’s ambition lies in all directions. The Song Dynasty’s rivers and mountains are so beautiful, I should go out and see the world.”

“Besides, I also promised Miss Tong’er that I would take her to the capital to find her fiancé!”

Zhang Yue looked at Guo Tong, who had a well-proportioned figure and a beautiful physique. He suddenly felt that she didn’t belong in the countryside, she should go to the capital.

The next day, Zhang Yue took Guo Tong on the road to the capital.

For the sake of convenience, Zhang Yue refused Chen Ming’s suggestion to bring a few servants and a carriage to escort Guo Tong to the capital. Instead, they traveled light, two people and two horses.

Because he knew that the government at that time was incompetent and bandits were rampant. Almost every prefecture had strongmen occupying it. Driving a carriage through the streets was not the best choice.

Two people riding horses, a smaller target, more flexible and mobile, was safer.

They set off in the morning and reached the foot of Liangshan at noon. The area had just been ravaged by Gao Qiu’s troops and was exceptionally desolate. They finally found an inn called “South Mountain Inn” to rest.

Strangely, the inn was unusually lively. As soon as they dismounted at the entrance, the innkeeper ran over to take their horses and enthusiastically welcomed them inside.

As soon as they sat down, a shrewd, short man in the back hall was carefully observing them from the shadows. He then stared at Zhang Yue’s long spear again and again.

After nodding slightly, he ran to the back room. A man stood with his back to the door in the room. He was eight feet tall.

Hearing someone enter, he turned around. He had a leopard head and round eyes, a swallow jaw and tiger whiskers, three parts elegance, three parts bravery, and four parts sorrow.

“Instructor Lin! It’s him, he’s here.”

“Are you sure? Is it really him?”

“I wouldn’t be mistaken. His spear is unique, unforgettable.”

“Oh, then quickly invite him in to talk!”

The short man was about to run to call Zhang Yue.

“Wait! Take me to see him.” Lin Chong strode out of the room.

Zhang Yue had noticed someone staring at him since he entered the inn. The short man’s every move did not escape his eyes.

But based on his intuition, he judged that the other party had no ill intentions, so he pretended not to know and was having tea with Guo Tong.

“Innkeeper, give this brother a good pot of wine, put it on my tab, Lin Chong!” Lin Chong walked towards Zhang Yue enthusiastically and bowed.

Zhang Yue quickly got up and was about to return the salute, but Lin Chong suddenly knelt down with a thud.

“Don’t do that, Instructor Lin, please don’t do that! You’re humbling me…”

Zhang Yue quickly helped Lin Chong up.

“Instructor Lin? Are you Leopard Head Lin Chong?” Guo Tong exclaimed.

“Don’t be alarmed, Miss. Everyone in this inn is a Liangshan bandit.” Zhu Gui, holding a wine jar in one hand and a bowl in the other, walked over.

Zhang Yue immediately understood that this inn was a secret Liangshan outpost opened by Zhu Gui at the foot of Liangshan for secret communication.

He laughed heartily and said, “My name is Zhang Yue, and this is Miss Guo, my companion. We are going to the capital. We didn’t expect to have the honor of meeting all of you heroes. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

After exchanging pleasantries, they learned that Song Jiang had sent people down the mountain to investigate after learning of Gao Qiu’s death.

Lin Chong was afraid that Song Jiang’s men would find the person who killed Gao Qiu and, in order to gain credit for the imperial pardon, would hand him over to the court. Therefore, he had been guarding the inn day and night, secretly searching for the hero’s whereabouts.

Heaven favored those who worked hard. Today, he finally saw Zhang Yue. Lin Chong had a thousand words to say, but he couldn’t say them here. He grabbed the wine jar from Zhu Gui’s hand, filled a bowl, and offered it to Zhang Yue with both hands.

Zhang Yue naturally knew the weight of this bowl of wine. Without saying a word, he drank it down in one gulp.

Lin Chong continued to fill the bowl, and Zhang Yue drank it down again.

Zhang Yue drank eighteen bowls in a row. Wu Song, who had been silently watching the show in the corner, finally couldn’t sit still.

“Brother! You have the same spirit as me, Wu Er, back in the day!”

Wu Er? Wu Song! Zhang Yue looked in the direction of the voice and saw a man slowly standing up from the table in the corner. He had a majestic physique and a handsome appearance.

His eyes shot out cold stars, and his two eyebrows were as black as ink. His chest was broad, with the air of a thousand men unable to defeat him. His words were lofty, with the ambition of a thousand miles of clouds.

His heart was bold and daring, like a lion shaking the heavens from the clouds. His bones were strong and his muscles were powerful, like a ground-shaking Pi Xiu sitting on a throne. He was like a demon-subduing master descended from heaven, truly a god of the earth.

“Brother Wu Er! I am truly fortunate to have met the Walker here. Come, I’ll drink a toast to you!” Zhang Yue held a full bowl of wine and staggered towards Wu Song.

Wu Song stepped forward, stretched out his strong and long arms, and his powerful hands took the bowl and drank it down in one gulp.

“Brother Zhang, you killed Gao Qiu in a fit of anger and saved thousands of people. I should be the one toasting you!”

“Hahaha, Gao Qiu, the traitor! If we hadn’t killed him, a god-sent savior would have taken his life.” The heroes in the inn were filled with heroic spirit, and their laughter echoed through the heavens.

“That’s right! The one who killed Gao Qiu is none other than me, the god-sent savior, Zhang Yue!” Zhang Yue slammed his bowl of wine heavily on the ground.