Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"Brother, where are we going?"

Shi Qian had no family or home, so he stayed by Ren Yuan's side.

"Shaohua Mountain, have you ever heard of it?"

Ren Yuan led him into the inn, where they ordered three or four catties of beef, two jars of wine, and a few steamed buns.

The two chatted about interesting stories from the martial arts world while eating. Shi Qian was very curious as to why Ren Yuan, as the leader of Liangshan, would travel alone.

"I've heard of Huayin County. It's said that three bandits have recently joined the outlaws."

"Great, you're very well-informed."

Ren Yuan couldn't help but praise Shi Qian. He knew about the Three Heroes of Shaohua Mountain because he was familiar with history. Shi Qian wasn't from Huayin County, yet he still knew about them. That was truly impressive.

"Hehe, don't laugh at me, brother. Cats have their ways, and mice have their ways. In our line of work, being well-informed is essential."

Shi Qian was quite frank and knew what he had done.

“Even thieves have their code of honor. You just said you never prey on the poor, and that’s enough. But Shi Qian, once you return to the mountain, unless absolutely necessary, don’t use your masterful thieving skills. I think there’s a very important position on the mountain that would be more suitable for you.”

Ren Yuan put down the steamed bun in his hand, looked at Shi Qian, and said very seriously.

"As my brother has instructed, Shi Qian will do his utmost."

In the past half month, the name of Liangshan has begun to spread throughout the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world), especially their act of opening granaries and distributing grain, which has made many poor people secretly cheer. Some people have already secretly prepared to go to Liangshan to appeal their grievances, hoping that Liangshan can come to their villages as soon as possible to punish the tyrant.

Some people even brought their entire families to prepare to go up the mountain.

It can be said that Liangshan is one of the most promising and powerful strongholds among the outlaws of the Song Dynasty. How could Shi Qian be unwilling to contribute to this stronghold?

"The stronghold is expanding rapidly, so it's crucial to gather intelligence from all directions. After you arrive, lead a battalion of men to be the stronghold's eyes and ears, gathering information from all sides. What do you say?"

"Shi Qian originally did petty theft, but thanks to your kindness, brother, you have entrusted me with such an important task. I, Shi Qian, hereby swear that I will live up to your expectations. As for my superb thieving skills, I will never use them again without your permission."

Shi Qian patted his chest and assured him that in the Song Dynasty, a man's promise was quite convincing; at least a promise was a promise.

"Okay, let's eat!"

Ren Yuan didn't say much. He believed in Shi Qian. This hero was not bad at heart. It was just that Song Heizi didn't know how to use him. He could only let him steal chickens and dogs. He was unsuccessful all his life and finally died of illness in Hangzhou. It could be considered a peaceful end.

In this life, we absolutely cannot let him repeat the same mistake.

Nothing more was said that night. The next day, Ren Yuan packed some more dry food from the shop and set off again with Shi Qian. The two traveled for two or three days, and Ren Yuan learned more and more about Shi Qian.

Shi Qian's light-footed skills and masterful thieving techniques are said to have been passed down from the bandit Zhi of the Warring States period, so he also has his own pride and would generally not target poor people.

Shi Qian also understood his leader better. No wonder he couldn't break free after being captured that day. The boxing style passed down from Zhou Tong made Ren Yuan a first-class grappling expert.

"Brother, there's a hotel up ahead!"

The two were walking along the road when they were feeling a bit thirsty. Suddenly, Shi Qian, with his sharp eyes, spotted a hotel ahead.

Ren Yuan was about to get some dry rations when he heard Shi Qian's words. He was a little surprised and looked around. It was a small hillside, and the hillside was deserted with no houses in sight.

To be honest, this shouldn't be a place with hotels.

But just a short distance ahead, at the foot of a hill, there were several thatched huts, and a wine banner was hanging out from the willow trees by the stream. Hey, it really was a hotel!

"Come on, have a drink of water first, cheer up, and then we'll go take a look."

Ren Yuan, with his years of experience and caution, first took out his water bottle and took a big gulp of water, and then gave Shi Qian a big gulp as well. Only after they were both refreshed did they continue walking together.

When they reached the hotel, Ren Yuan led the way and stopped, not for any other reason than that the hotel was too eerie.

In front of the hotel, the first large tree stood out from the withered trees, growing exceptionally lush and eerily.

The tree trunk was so thick that it would take four or five people to encircle it. Looking down the tree, one could see a damp, sticky, dark red patch at the base, resembling human blood, dripping into the soil.

"Brother, there's a smell of blood."

Shi Qian bent down, brought his nose close to the tree root, and then stood up with a serious expression.

"This is not good. There's something very wrong with this store."

Ren Yuan also looked serious.

He knew very well that the outlaws of the Song Dynasty had a particularly disgusting practice.

That's cannibalism.

The original Water Margin also mentions more than once that some black-hearted innkeepers would use sleeping potions to incapacitate passersby, then murder them for money, skin them, remove their bones, cut off the flesh, use the fatter pieces to make meat buns, and throw the rest of the offal into the river. A living person would just disappear without a trace.

Ren Yuan strongly opposed this behavior, so after taking over Liangshan, one of his orders was that all the inns in Liangshan must stop doing such things.

Similarly, Ren Yuan had absolutely no liking for those who enjoyed eating human flesh.

Especially the infamous couple Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang from Water Margin, these two cannibalistic monsters...

Wait!

Ren Yuan suddenly woke up with a start!

This hillside, this tree, good heavens, could this be the Big Tree Cross Slope?

So this shop is the shady one!

"Shi Qian, prepare your broadsword."

Ren Yuan's tone had become somewhat unfriendly.

Since I've run into this place, there's no need for this shop to exist anymore.

As for Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang, those two murderers and cannibals, this day next year will be the anniversary of your deaths!

"Yes, brother."

When Shi Qian sensed Ren Yuan's murderous aura for the first time, he immediately became serious, realizing that there must be something wrong with the shop in front of him, otherwise his brother wouldn't be so angry.

"When you go inside, don't eat anything. Just be prepared for whatever happens."

Ren Yuan gave Shi Qian a few words of advice, then strode towards the hotel.

He believed that with his physique, the people in the hotel would definitely kill him, chop him into mincemeat, and sell him.

Just as Ren Yuan was leading Shi Qian toward the hotel, a woman came out of the hotel carrying a wooden basin full of something unknown. Upon seeing Ren Yuan and Shi Qian, she was momentarily flustered, but then exclaimed happily, "Please come in, esteemed guests! I'm coming right away!" With that, she hurriedly turned and went inside with the basin.

Shi Qian's nose twitched; the smell of blood became even more pronounced. His expression changed, and he tightened his grip on the broadsword, nodding to Ren Yuan.

"hehe."

Ren Yuan sneered and continued walking into the hotel.

As Ren Yuan approached the hotel entrance, he saw a small sign standing by the window. He stopped and looked at it, and it read:

"Speak little among the crowd, return home early if there's nothing to do. I often recall the day I left home, and the way my parents patted my back. Dismount before crossing the bridge, and don't take a boat if there's a road. Find lodging before nightfall, and check the sky again at cockcrow..."

Before Ren Yuan could finish reading, the woman who had just gone in came out again, empty-handed and smiling.

What did she look like?

Her hair was adorned with a headdress of bright yellow hairpins and wildflowers, and her face was covered in rouge and powder. A green gauze shirt was visible above her, tied with a bright red silk skirt. Her chest was bare, revealing a peach-colored gauze bodice with gold buttons. Ignoring the biting cold, she was solely focused on flaunting her body.

Hehe, it really is you, Sun Erniang!