Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

“Teacher Luan, you have been more than kind to the Zhu family. You should leave now. You are not a member of the Zhu family, and you are very skilled. If you surrender to Liangshan, you can also get a seat.”

Zhu Biao looked at Luan Tingyu, the "Iron Rod" beside him. This was the teacher who taught the three brothers their skills. In fact, he was similar to a master. As the saying goes, "When a bird is about to die, its song is mournful; when a person is about to die, their words are kind." At this moment, he sincerely hoped that Luan Tingyu could survive.

"Young Master, I also injured their leader and can't get down."

At this moment, "Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu couldn't help but smile bitterly. Over the years in Zhu Family Village, he had indeed enjoyed some wealth and luxury, living a life of fine clothes and sumptuous food. In other words, this was a life he might not have been able to live even after fighting in the army for ten years.

However, with his life hanging in the balance, if you ask him if he regrets it, he probably does have some regrets in his heart.

After all, when everyone reaches the end of their road, they will imagine what would have happened if they had taken another path...

Luan Tingyu was also thinking, and he seemed to recall his youth when he and his junior brother "Sick Yuchi" Sun Li made a grand vow to serve the country and bring peace to the people...

Perhaps he'll still be in the military, and may not achieve any great merit, but at least he'll be more like the boy he was in his youth...

"Teacher Luan, there's a Liangshan bandit who specifically wants to see you. He claims to be your fellow disciple, named Sun Li!"

"what?"

"Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu was taken aback. He never expected to meet Sun Li at this time, and he never expected that Sun Li would actually join the Liangshan bandits!

"Teacher Luan, are any of your fellow disciples among the Liangshan bandits?"

Zhu Biao couldn't help but ask a question.

"It must be him. This man is my junior brother who studied martial arts with the same master. He is known in the martial arts world as 'Sick Yuchi' Sun Li. He was originally a military commander in Dengzhou. Although I haven't visited him for many years, I never expected him to join Liangshan... Well, in the end, it's better for him to see me off than for me to die at the hands of someone else. I'm going to see him!"

After saying this, "Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu grabbed the iron rod, mounted his horse, and headed down the hill. Not far away, he saw "Sick Yuchi" Sun Li holding a golden spear, and stopped his horse there.

"Senior brother, how could I have foreseen that our meeting would be like this!"

Sun Li couldn't help but sigh.

"Yes, I never imagined you would become a thief!"

"Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu raised his voice in annoyance, his gaze towards Sun Li was extremely complicated, seemingly containing resentment, incomprehension, and disappointment. In short, a thousand emotions were mixed together, and his initial feelings were no longer visible.

"Yes, brother, I did go to steal, but I'll stand tall with my head held high!"

Sun Li remained extremely calm despite hearing Luan Tingyu's mocking and half-insulting words.

“Back then, we studied under the same master and made a great vow to protect our country and make a difference for the people. Later, you went to Zhujiazhuang and I went to Dengzhou. Over the years, I have been law-abiding, fought on the battlefield, and fulfilled my duties without ever letting the court down.”

"But what was the result? I was framed, and my superiors forgot all my past achievements and wanted to imprison me. What did I, Sun Li, do wrong?"

Sun Li had been holding this grudge for a long time. He had served the court for more than ten years, but his superiors wanted to arrest him just because they believed slander. He felt wronged and frustrated.

"This……"

Luan Tingyu, nicknamed "Iron Rod," had not seen Sun Li for years and was unaware of Sun Li's current situation. Hearing Sun Li complaining, he was at a loss for words.

"Although I joined Liangshan today, I was initially unwilling. But Chief Li acts on behalf of Heaven, never harming the poor and needy, only punishing corrupt officials, local tyrants and bullies. He is also kind-hearted, distributing money and goods to the poor and robbing the rich to help the poor. He is a true man and I admire him. I, Sun Li, have spent half my life as an official, but I have never done anything practical for the people. Now that I have followed Chief Li, I can say that I have done something for the people. Even if I die, I will have no regrets!"

Sun Li, the "Sickly Yuchi," suddenly changed the subject and asked Luan Tingyu, the "Iron Rod," "Back then, we made an oath, and I wouldn't say I broke it! But my senior brother, in all these years in Zhu Family Village, have you done a single good deed?"

Sun Li pointed his golden spear at Luan Tingyu, saying repeatedly, "Back then, you felt the court was unjust, so you joined the Zhu Family Village, greedy for wealth and glory. You helped the Zhu Family raise such beasts as the three Zhu sons, who committed countless evil deeds. You also helped the Zhu Family Village build up its ranks and train its soldiers, making them untouchable far and wide. They wantonly cheated and harmed the people, accumulating countless blood debts. Although you weren't directly involved, you were the biggest accomplice. What right do you have to lecture me here!"

"I...I..."

Luan Tingyu's face turned as red as a purple eggplant. Subconsciously, he didn't want to be scolded like this by his junior brother who had lost his virginity and become a thief, but in fact, what Sun Li said was completely correct, and he couldn't refute it.

“A true man is born between heaven and earth and should stand tall and upright. You have done nothing for the country and the people all these years. Instead, you have allowed the Zhu family to run rampant in the village, aiding and abetting evil and acting as their accomplices. Compared to me, a thief, you deserve to die even more. How dare you stand here and speak in the name of the virtuous and noble? I have never seen such a shameless person!”

"I, I, I'm so angry!"

Although "Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu also had a tongue and a mouth, he was clumsy with words and couldn't out-argue Sun Li. He could only brandish the iron rod in his hand and say, "Right and wrong are determined by Heaven. Don't try to win me with your words today. Since you are a member of Liangshan, you are my enemy. Let's settle this with our strength! I'm going to clean house!"

"Hmph! I was originally sent by Chief Li to persuade you to join Liangshan, but it seems you're unwilling now. Fine, we've been separated for years, let's see how much we've improved!"

Sun Li, nicknamed "Sick Yuchi," knew his senior brother's temperament very well. Even if he really wanted to persuade him to surrender, he would have to win the battle and capture him alive first. Otherwise, even normal communication would be impossible.

"Take this!"

Since "Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu had already said all that, he didn't hold back and swung his iron rod at "Sick Yuchi" Sun Li. The two of them had only learned ordinary martial arts, but Zhou Tong had taught Sun Li how to use the Divine Spear, which Luan Tingyu did not know. Sun Li also did not know Luan Tingyu's Four-Door Staff or Flying Hammer, so they each had their own strengths.

Sun Li raised his golden spear, deflected the iron bar, and then thrust forward with a distraction. The two had been separated for many years and neither knew whether the other's skills had improved over the years. As soon as they exchanged blows, they were both cautious and probing each other.

After going through a dozen or so rounds, the two realized that each other's martial arts skills had improved significantly over the years, and that a minor skirmish would not determine a winner, so they both prepared to go all out.

"Wow!"

Meanwhile, Luan Tingyu, nicknamed "Iron Rod," secretly took the flying hammer in his hand, preparing to use his signature flying hammer technique to decide the outcome in one move.

Sun Li also raised the Tiger Eye Steel Whip from his wrist, twisted the Golden Spear in his left hand, and held the steel whip in his right hand, using the "whip and spear combined technique".

This was a concept given to Sun Li by Zhou Tong, the Iron-Armed Hero of Shaanxi, who instructed him to combine whip and spear techniques, which could be used at close and long range, greatly increasing their power. However, this was quite difficult, as it required him to use his mind to do two things at once. Moreover, the whip and spear techniques were different, meaning he had to practice both the whip and the spear with both hands. At that time, Sun Li was not capable of doing this.

However, after years of hard work, he finally mastered the "whip and spear combined technique," which was his trump card that he had kept hidden for many years and his "life-saving secret" to deal with Luan Tingyu's flying hammer one day.

Seeing that "Sick Yuchi" Sun Lizhen had picked up the whip and spear with both hands, Luan Tingyu's expression changed. He knew that Sun Li had not mastered the "whip and spear combined technique" back then, but judging from the current situation, it seemed that he had!

"I can't believe you actually mastered it!"

"Senior brother, I'm offended!"

Sun Li didn't stand on ceremony. He spurred his horse forward and first thrust his golden spear at Luan Tingyu's forehead. Luan Tingyu raised his staff to meet the spear, deflected it, and then struck again with his staff.

Although they passed each other on horseback, Sun Li's golden spear couldn't return in time to provide support, but he still had the Tiger Eye Steel Whip in his hand. He blocked the iron rod and lashed out with the whip, causing Luan Tingyu to dodge. At this moment, Sun Li had already turned his horse around and was thrusting repeatedly with his golden spear in his other hand. He used the spear to thrust at a distance and the Tiger Eye Steel Whip to protect himself at close range. His attacks were continuous, yet they were both offensive and defensive, leaving no room for error.

Luan Tingyu, nicknamed "Iron Rod," unleashed four different staff techniques, striking four times in a row, yet he couldn't touch Sun Li at all. He was filled with mixed emotions, thinking to himself that this "whip and spear combined technique" was indeed powerful, and Sun Li's current strength was at least twice that of his normal state!

Luan Tingyu couldn't beat Sun Li in terms of staff technique, so he had to spur his horse and quickly create distance before using his flying hammer!

"Go!"

Luan Tingyu threw his flying hammer at Sun Li, who had been waiting for this moment. He threw his golden spear like a javelin, following the trajectory of the flying hammer.

The spear and hammer collided in mid-air, both with considerable force. Although the flying hammer was powerful, the spear was too long. Upon impact, the spear spun once in mid-air and stuck into the ground, thus neutralizing the force of the flying hammer.

The flying hammer, however, landed on the ground and failed to perform its intended purpose.

Originally, "Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu carried two throwing hammers, but he didn't retrieve one of them when fighting "Three-Strike Axe" Cheng Da in the previous battle, and now he has lost this one as well, and has no more throwing hammers!

Sun Li rushed forward, drew his golden spear, and used it in combination with his whip to attack Luan Tingyu.

"Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu called out to "Sick Yuchi" Sun Li that he had broken the Flying Hammer technique, and Luan Tingyu couldn't help but panic. Facing Sun Li who was rushing over, his staff technique slowed down. But Sun Li used his left and right whips and spears to block the iron rod with one long and one short weapon. With a slid left and right movement, he forced Luan Tingyu to drop the iron rod.

Sun Li raised his tiger-eye steel whip and struck "Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu on the shoulder, knocking Luan Tingyu off his horse. He held back and did not use much force, otherwise Luan Tingyu would have had an arm broken!

Bao Xu, nicknamed "Death God," caught up from the infantry behind, grabbed Luan Tingyu, and held his broadsword to Luan Tingyu's neck, capturing him alive.

Zhu Biao, the third son of the Zhu family, witnessed the entire process, but he neither helped nor stopped it.

He knew that as long as Luan Tingyu could be captured by Liangshan, he would have a way to survive. After all, there was still a fellow disciple at Liangshan who wouldn't harm him.

However, he knew that this time he couldn't escape it no matter what.

So Zhu Biao turned to the hundreds of villagers and said, “Heroes, now there are only us left in Zhu Family Village. If you are afraid of death, put down your weapons. I’m sure Liangshan will not make things difficult for you. If you are willing to go to the Yellow Springs with me, then follow me and fight. Killing one is enough, killing two is a bonus!”

Having said that, Zhu Biao mounted his horse and charged downhill with his plum blossom spear in hand. Of the remaining Zhu Family Village troops, seventy percent had lost their will to fight, laid down their weapons, and waited on the spot for the Liangshan troops to capture them alive.

Another 30% of the men were willing to follow Zhu Biao and fight their way out of the factory.

"kill!"

At this moment, "Red-faced Tiger" Yuan Lang took the lead, wielding two claws as he charged towards Zhu Biao. He was new to the area and had no opportunity to show his skills. Now that Zhu Biao was the only one left, he couldn't let anyone else have him!

"Oh!"

Yuan Lang slammed his steel-hardened tiger claws heavily onto Zhu Biao's spear shaft. Zhu Biao was no match for a fierce general like Yuan Lang, and was almost knocked back by the spear shaft, which hit his chest.

But at this moment, Zhu Biao was already fighting to the death, resigned to his fate, and no longer cared about life or death. He used all his strength to push away Yuan Lang's weapon, and with his plum blossom spear, he only defended and did not attack, but thrust forward fiercely.

Seeing the boy fighting desperately, Yuan Lang also wanted to show off his skills. He used his left hand to grip the tip of Zhu Biao's spear with a water-polished steel mace. His two water-polished tiger claw steel maces were shaped like two human hands with five steel hook fingers, which could lock and hold the enemy's weapon.

At this moment, Zhu Biao's spearhead was restrained, and Yuan Lang's other steel claw, the Water-polished Tiger Claw, struck directly in Zhu Biao's chest. The five steel hooks tore apart the elm-leaf plum blossom armor on Zhu Biao's chest, leaving five deep wounds on Zhu Biao's chest, which were estimated to have damaged his internal organs!

"puff!"

Zhu Biao endured the pain, spat out a mouthful of blood, and with a sudden burst of strength, broke free from Yuan Lang's control of the spearhead. With his last bit of strength, he thrust it towards Yuan Lang.

With a flick of his wrists, Yuan Lang sent Zhu Biao's plum blossom spear flying into the air. He then cleaved Zhu Biao's chest and abdomen, the ten steel hooks digging deep into his flesh and tearing it open, ripping open his guts, shattering bones and tendons. He tore open Zhu Biao's chest, ripping his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, intestines, stomach, and abdomen to shreds. More than a dozen ribs on both sides were broken, and Zhu Biao was instantly killed!

Even Lin Chong, nicknamed "Leopard Head," felt that Yuan Lang, nicknamed "Red-Faced Tiger," was extremely cruel, saying that even disemboweling and ripping out one's heart wouldn't have been more cruel!

With Zhu Biao dead, the remaining Zhu Family Village lackeys who dared to resist were nothing but a rabble. "Death God" Bao Xu led his infantry forward, hacking and slashing until the battle was over. "Death God" Bao Xu was having a great time killing, shouting that he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

The last remaining fighting force of the Zhu Family Village was completely wiped out at this moment.