Chapter 774: Chapter Thirteen: The Second Clash with Shi Yi

Jiangnan has long suffered under the Huashi Gang; Zhu Mian and his son have almost stripped Jiangnan bare. Originally the populace of the Great Song liked to form societies, and now the missionaries of the Ming Cult have flourished, linking together a great number of the poor. Hangzhou city is a world of decadence, but not far beyond the city walls the fish‑and‑rice region of Jiangnan also sells children, its people destitute. Bai Lang has never seen Fangla, nor the rebel commanders who rose later, probably because the timing has not yet arrived.

Later Bai Lang took a boat back to Shandong and arrived at Shi Dalang's place, where he heard that Shandong's Ji Shi Yu had been captured and was being escorted to Qingzhou. "Speaking of it, I have never seen that Hei Pi Sanlang," Bai Lang said. "Nothing special, his martial skill is just ordinary." Shi Yi replied, and also mentioned that the Heavenly King Chao Gai wanted to pull him onto Liangshan. Shi Yi laughed, "Nothing special either; Liangshan's marshes have no decadence. Can't I just eat meat in large pieces and drink wine here? Why must we go to some bird‑named Liangshan?"

Zhu Village, Hu Village and Li Village are not far from where Shi Yi is, and they usually interact—these days befriending bandits is no big deal; which local tiger hasn't he made friends with? One day a brave man named Liu Kai arrived, trying to persuade Shi Yi to intercept Song Jiang on the road for rescue. "Shandong's Hu Baoyi, saving him is enough; it counts as a friendship." Shi Yi nodded. To both him and Bai Lang this was ordinary; the two had already killed officials, why care about robbing a condemned prisoner?

"Our household also wants to get a look at that filial‑minded Hei Pi Sanlang." Having no ill will toward Song Jiang does not conflict with wanting a look. At that moment Shi Yi and Bai Lang finished their business and rode off. In the village there were more than ten horses; the two led four of them, saving horsepower while also being able to carry weapons. Liu Kai is not among the One Hundred and Eight Stars; he merely regards Song Jiang as his elder brother, and his martial skill is just average.

When Huang Xin was escorting Song Jiang at Zhen San Shan, a cavalry unit burst out nearby, led by Hua Rong, who raised an arrow and shot the tassel on Huang Xin's helmet, forcing him to retreat his horse. At that moment Bai Lang and Shi Yi arrived, but they did not charge; instead Liu Kai rushed to seize the prisoner cart, only to be shot dead by an official army archer. "He can win people's hearts," Bai Lang sighed. From the looks of it, there was no need for Shi Yi or Bai Lang to act; Hua Rong's troops alone could rescue Song Jiang.

Sure enough, Huang Xin feigned a move and fled. Originally three bandit leaders from Clear Breeze Mountain were supposed to help Song Jiang, but all three had already been killed by Bai Lang. Hua Rong's troops were few, unlikely to hold off the government troops led by the thunder‑fire Qin Ming. The rescued Song Jiang first wept over Liu Kai's death, then straightened his appearance and walked to Shi Dalang and Bai Lang to give thanks. Song Jiang's looks were rather that of a gentleman, and he bowed directly to Shi Yi in gratitude.

"Thank you, Xiao Ming Wang Shi Dalang, for your assistance; thank you, Chief White, for saving a brother's life." Song Jiang's posture was indeed impressive. Shi Yi and Bai Lang naturally did not bow immediately. "Since Hei Pi Sanlang is safe, we'll return." Shi Yi said, and Bai Lang nodded; following Song Jiang was absolutely impossible. The later affairs they would handle themselves; Bai Lang vaguely recalled that to earn Qin Ming's ascent, Song Jiang's deeds were no better than Wu Yong's.

"I recall this man burned civilian houses outside Qingzhou Prefecture, prompting the Prefect of Qingzhou to kill Qin Ming's family… Indeed, not all families enter the same door; the clever star Wu Yong should be employed by Song Jiang." Bai Lang thought he would still have to make a trip; Qin Ming's family was one thing, but what guilt do the civilians outside Qingzhou have? Bai Lang could not claim to love the people like a son, but he certainly despised wanton burning and looting.

As the Qingzhou troops marched out, Thunder‑fire Qin Ming led them, brandishing a spiked club and flaunting his might at the front. "Dalang, how confident are you in slaying this person?" Bai Lang asked offhand. Shi Yi glanced and said, "Without a three‑step combo, I can stab him from horseback." Bai Lang laughed, watched the Qingzhou troops head toward Clear Breeze Mountain, and he and Shi Yi leisurely rode to the main road of Qingzhou Prefecture, dismounted, and drank tea at a roadside stall.

Could Qin Ming win the battle at Clear Breeze Stronghold? Hard to say; according to the book he lost, falling into Song Jiang's scheme. Even Qin Ming was captured, and later Song Jiang used a poisonous plot to get Qin Ming up the mountain. As a result, Bai Lang and Shi Yi lingered inside Qingzhou Prefecture for three days, and Thunder‑fire Qin Ming surprisingly returned victorious—he defeated Hua Rong of Clear Breeze Stronghold, and Hua Rong fled with Song Jiang, disappearing without a trace. Their escape ultimately prevented Qin Ming from achieving complete success.

"We're not needed, perfect timing." Shi Yi and Bai Lang each mounted their horses to depart, but a clerk from the government office saw the Qingzhou troops return and shouted, "Shi Yi, who kills officials and robs the imperial authority, is here!" Bai Lang laughed, "Hahaha, Dalang, you've been recognized. This man is truly bold; let him go, you deal with Qin Ming's formation yourself." Bai Lang casually grabbed a horse lance, and neither Shi Yi nor Bai Lang wore armor; if men of their stature put on armor again, the frail Song horse might not hold up.

Thunder‑fire Qin Ming roared loudly, brandishing his spiked club and charging. Shi Yi also rode forward, brandishing his spear to meet him, while Bai Lang rode casually to block the troops behind Qin Ming. The focus was on Shi Yi's display; his bright silver spear, like a heroic dragon's gall, produced dozens of spear shadows, accompanied by a long "ding" sound, and Qin Ming's spiked club swung high backward. "Dalang's strength and eyesight are impressive; thirteen spears struck almost at the same point, instantly flinging Qin Ming's spiked club away."

It was pure showmanship; otherwise a single jab at Qin Ming's flesh would have killed Thunder‑fire already. Shi Yi thrust his spear casually, piercing Qin Ming's shoulders without harming his body but lifting him onto the spear; with a flick, the Thunder‑fire fell to the ground. Shi Dalang laughed heartily. "With such skill, you still call yourself Thunder‑fire?" The Qingzhou troops shouted and tried to scatter, but Bai Lang's horse was swift; he speared a few of the fast runners dead, causing the Qingzhou troops to halt.

Shi Yi did nothing else, simply spurred his horse and left; Bai Lang tapped the Thunder‑fire's shoulder with his horse lance and also rode away. The Thunder‑fire truly turned into black‑red flame, let out a roar and tried to draw a sword to kill himself, while his nearby personal guards hurriedly rushed out to save him…

Among the two, Shi Yi's latest deeds would again make his name known across the world, and the mountain villa he built might not survive. Sure enough, rumors spread in the jianghu that the authorities would dispatch troops to attack Xiao Ming Wang; pity that Xiao Ming Wang's entire force was barely a hundred horses, yet the Great Song government mobilized three thousand troops to assault. The troops came from Dongping Prefecture, led by the double‑spear commander Dong Ping, and directly stormed the villa Shi Yi had established. Shi Yi and Bai Lang still held a grand banquet in the villa, paying no heed to the Dongping Prefecture troops.

My throat itches, my whole body feels a bit weak; it's probably just a cold.