Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

(First, a few points: 1. If a character in the original Water Margin doesn't have a specific nickname, I'll create one based on their characteristics. Note that this refers to characters not explicitly mentioned in the 120-chapter version of the original Water Margin, such as those mentioned in other versions like *The Tale of the Suppression of Bandits*. 2. The upcoming southward recruitment isn't like the easy mode of collecting characters in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, where you can just recruit whomever you want. It has to be logical. Many people have commented about Du Xue and Li Zhu… these two were Wang Qing's most important early core members. Chronologically, they should already be with Wang Qing. How can we recruit them? Even if we wanted to, it wouldn't be now. This isn't a mindless, invincible story; it has to be logical, logical, logical. I'm saying it three times because it's important.)

"Brother Ma Ling, are you planning to go up the mountain, or come south with us first?"

Ren Yuan asked with a smile.

"Since I've already met my brother, I'll go wherever he goes."

Ma Ling was also very quick-witted and immediately expressed her opinion.

"Alright. Shi Qian, from now on, Brother Ma Ling will lead the Sky Curtain Camp alongside you, serving as a co-commander. What do you think?"

In Ren Yuan's mind, Ma Ling and Shi Qian were a perfect match.

One is the world's number one thief, the other the world's fastest! (Don't bring up any stories about Lei Jiang descending from heaven in "The Water Margin" or anything like that. Let me reiterate that this book is not based on "The Water Margin," and the characters in "The Water Margin" are unlikely to appear. Based on the 120-chapter version of "Water Margin," the 120-chapter version explicitly mentions Ma Ling as the fastest.) These two combined are invincible scouts.

"Hehe, if my brother says so, then of course there's no problem. But Brother Ma Ling, I see you have pretty good footwork. How about we have a match?"

Shi Qian could tell that Ma Ling's legwork was superb. She had jumped down from the tree just now, landing silently without disturbing the dust; her lightness skill was absolutely top-notch. (To reiterate, because this book doesn't have any Daoist magic settings, all the "divine speed techniques" have been replaced with lightness skills. Don't argue with me about "divine speed techniques"; since this book doesn't have them, they simply don't exist.)

However, Shi Qian still wanted to test the skills of this future comrade.

"Since Chief Shi Qian is interested, I will certainly accompany him."

Ma Ling smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. Having roamed the martial world for so many years, he had certainly heard of the name "Flea on the Drum."

"Let's use that crooked tree as our reference point. We'll go over there, get to the top of that crooked tree, and then come back. Let's see who gets there first, shall we?"

Shi Qian thought for a moment, then suddenly pointed to a crooked tree on a hillside in the distance and said.

Ren Yuan looked in the direction Shi Qian was pointing and estimated that... this tree was at least 3 kilometers away from here, and the round trip would be at least 6 kilometers.

Yes, that's a pretty good test.

"Then please wait a moment, brothers. Leader Shi Qian and I will be back soon."

Ma Ling also checked the distance and felt there was no problem.

"Then I really must witness this; it's a rare display of light-footed skills among the outlaws of the Song Dynasty."

Lu Zhishen was also very interested, and the others looked excited as well.

"Any brothers want to play a game? Those betting on Shi Qian, stand on the left; those betting on Lao Ma, stand on the right. Brother, I'll start this betting, no problem, right?"

Qiao Daoqing spoke with a smile.

"No problem, I'll stand with Shi Qian."

Ren Yuan laughed too. What's wrong with brothers opening a betting pool? Open it! Open it boldly!

"Hehe, brother, I'm on Ma Ling's side this time."

Lu Zhishen chuckled and chose an option different from Ren Yuan's.

"Me and my brother!"

Mi Sheng unconditionally supports Ren Yuan.

"Then I'll side with Ma Ling."

Sun An stood with a smile on his face next to Ma Ling.

"I stand with Shi Qian, my brother!"

"I support Ma Ling!"

Although Lü Fang and Guo Sheng had joined Liangshan together, they still enjoyed competing with each other.

"Daoqing, aren't you going to stand?"

Ren Yuan asked Qiao Daoqing.

"Hehe, brother, I'll be the dealer."

Qiao Daoqing also smiled, and then said to Shi Qian and Ma Ling:

"You two tell me, when do we start?"

Shi Qian and Ma Ling exchanged a glance, and sparks seemed to fly in the air.

"anytime!"

"Then I'll count to three, and you can begin."

Qiao Daoqing, he even took on the role of starter!

This surprised Ren Yuan greatly. He never expected that Qiao Daoqing would be like this!

"one two Three!"

"Whoosh!"

"Shu~"

Two figures rushed out in an instant, and as everyone looked up, they saw two figures rapidly disappearing into the distance on the official road.

"Brother Maling, go even faster!"

As everyone could see, on the straight official road, Ma Ling was faster, and had even left Shi Qian several steps behind.

"Brother Shi Qian's lightness skill is more about dodging and weaving; in a straight line, he is indeed not as fast as Ma Ling."

Ren Yuan and the others observed the current situation and provided explanations as they watched.

"But once we go into the mountains, that will be Shi Qian's domain."

Ren Yuan also had confidence in Shi Qian. He wasn't the kind of person who was extremely fast, but he was actually more formidable in complex terrain.

As expected, although Ma Ling went first on the mountain path, after everyone waited for a while, that ethereal and agile figure appeared on top of the crooked tree first, and then quickly returned.

However, Ma Ling was not slow either. A few breaths later, his figure also appeared on the treetop, and then he returned as well!

"These two are really amazing. I'm also a hunter by trade, but I can't outrun them at all in the mountains."

This was also the first time Mi Sheng had seen Shi Qian run up close. He never expected to witness two masters of light-body skills at once.

"In Jiangzhou, there is another officer from the two academies, who is also a master of lightness skills. It's just a pity that this officer has some issues with his character."

Ren Yuan said slowly.

"Brother, are you talking about that 'Divine Traveler'? I've heard of him before. He does have some issues, but prisons are tight-knit, and it's hard to stay true to yourself in that kind of environment."

Qiao Daoqing's tone was also full of regret.

"What's the name of the person my brother mentioned?"

Lu Zhishen was somewhat curious.

“Dai Zong, a pitiful man who went astray. If he hadn’t become that damned director of the two academies, things might be different now.”

"Brother, they're back!"

While everyone was still discussing it, Lü Fang and Guo Sheng suddenly screamed.

Everyone immediately looked toward the official road and saw Shi Qian leading the way, rushing out of the woods with ghostly speed as he made his way toward the finish line.

A few breaths after he rushed out, Ma Ling moved with lightning speed, smashing through the bushes and chasing after him in a straight line!

The distance between the two people is visibly shrinking!

Ten meters from the finish line! Ma Ling has caught up!

Five meters!

The two of them stood side by side!

Crossing the finish line last!

They arrived at the same time!

"A tie?"

Looking at the two people who were still calm and collected after crossing the finish line, Mi Sheng scratched his head. It seemed that the two of them came over at the same time. So who won?

"Hmm, a tie."

Ren Yuan saw it clearly just now; they did cross the finish line at the same time.

However, at the last moment, Ma Ling seemed to slightly pull back his foot.

"Brother Ma Ling, welcome to Sky Curtain. We'll be relying on you a lot in the future."

Shi Qian smiled and extended his hand.

Ma Ling smiled and reached out to shake hands with Shi Qian.

"From now on, we'll be brothers sharing the same rice bowl, Chief Shi Qian, please take good care of me."

"Hey, wait, who actually won between you two?"

Mi Sheng, this curious little one, really wants to know the answer.

"Haha, Mi Sheng, since it's a draw, the bookmaker must have won, so this time, I won. Come on, brothers, just give me what you think is fair."

Qiao Daoqing smiled and rolled up his sleeves, extending his hand.

"Brother, what did you say?"

Sun An glanced at Qiao Daoqing, who seemed pleased with himself, and then turned to look at Ren Yuan.

"Brothers, grab Brother Daoqing, then give him a good kick with your big feet!"

"Hehe, I agree!"

"I'll listen to my brother! Strategist Qiao! I'm sorry!"

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? Can't you take a joke? Brother, you can't do this..."