Chapter 776: The Fifteenth Chapter: White Dragon Temple

Watching beheadings is one of humanity's common pastimes across ages and nations; centuries later, on French Square, the Parisian crowd that watches the guillotine daily numbers in the tens of thousands, and now in Jiangzhou Prefecture, at the vegetable‑market gate, dragging Song Jiang's group out for execution naturally draws Jiangzhou townsfolk, old and young, to come watch the spectacle. "Look, isn't that the Heavenly King and his crew?" Bai Lang patted Shi Yi, and Shi Yi looked that way and indeed saw it; the group had disguised themselves as woodcutters and peddlers to slip into the execution ground.

By bearing alone many people managed to slip into the execution ground, but Shi Yi and Bai Lang were not dressed as woodcutters at all; they wore splendid official robes. Bai Lang carried a wrapped long sword in his left hand, while Shi Yi led two horses, each bearing a fully assembled Grand Dragon Gall with its spearhead wrapped. The two swaggered, shouting all the way, forcing their way through the Jiangzhou townsfolk and standing at the edge of the execution ground.

Shi Yi was also in high spirits—because all along he kept jostling with the locals, constantly hurling the insult "scoundrel," and with his towering stature and noble appearance the townsfolk dared to insult him but not to act, which Shi Yi found amusing. As for Bai Lang? No one dared to insult his face; generally people just treated him like a quail.

The two, leading their horses, stood conspicuously outside the execution ground, laughing and waiting to watch the beheading, especially if Heipangzi Sanlang were dragged out and forced to kneel, with Shi Yi and Bai Lang watching him from a few yards away, what expression would he make? Bai Lang told Shi Yi that they would probably feel relieved. After all, Song Jiang would think the other "heroes" have simple motives—if they come, it's to rescue him.

Sure enough, after a short while, a prison cart arrived, dragging out a black fat man and a skinny tall fellow, who knelt on the execution ground, awaiting the execution officer to hand the blade for the beheading. "That ghost‑head sword's not bad; it's already taken about thirty lives," Bai Lang said as he glanced at the execution sword. "Too bad the blade's material is poor; it won't last." At that moment, a black man suddenly appeared on the roof of the tavern; the man was ugly, naked, wielding two great axes, let out a roar and leapt down.

The onlookers were startled; the black man led the charge, hacking at people. At that moment Bai Lang's figure flickered, and when the black man was about to slash an old man, Bai Lang thrust his long sword to block. The black man, like a raging tiger, after his first axe was blocked, brazenly swung his other axe at Bai Lang's head. "Huh? How fierce," Bai Lang said, thrusting the cloth‑wrapped long sword forward, the hilt smashing into the black man's chest and abdomen, making the scoundrel gasp for breath.

The man immediately gasped, collapsing to the ground, and at that moment Shi Yi also drew his long spear, vaulted onto his horse, and with a thrust sent the executioner flying, then swept Dai Zong and Song Jiang off the platform with a sweeping motion. At the same time, Chao Gai and his companions rushed in, pulling Song Jiang up and preparing to flee. "We'll cover the rear; you go first," Bai Lang said, tipping his sword; the black man Li Kui rose like a cloud, soaring, and tangled with the Song Jiang rescued by Chao Gai.

Bai Lang also vaulted onto his horse, and together with Shi Yi they charged recklessly; although they hadn't killed anyone, they had cleared a path for Chao Gai's group. The dozen or so fled quickly. "Dalang, you blaze the trail; we'll cover the rear," Bai Lang said, and Shi Yi spurred his horse, leapt over the crowd, and surged ahead. Bai Lang kept his horse at a loose rein, roaming behind, ready to strike any officials or soldiers that gathered. Jiangzhou Prefecture didn't have many troops, but the militia squads were numerous.

The group quickly rushed out of Jiangzhou Prefecture with Song Jiang and the others, reaching the riverbank but finding no road; a boat then arrived. Shi Yi turned his horse to meet Bai Lang. "Since Song Gongming's recognized heroes have come to rescue, and the three of the Ruan family are also here, you should board the boat quickly. We still have horses in the city; once we retrieve them we'll rendezvous with the village chief." Bai Lang took the lead for Shi Yi, and then led Shi Dalang back toward Jiangzhou.

Great Song's warhorses are valuable; the two were rotating four horses, losing two would be a loss—horse prices even exceed Xiaoyi Heisanlang's reward. The pair swaggered back to Jiangzhou, retrieved the horses they had left at a reputable stable, and rode off in broad daylight. No wonder the Great Song officials are incompetent; they remain chaotic, having failed to dispatch enough troops to chase the thieves who robbed the execution ground.

They hadn't even figured out what kind of thieves they were— they only identified one: the black man was Li Kui, a well‑known figure, but the others were uncertain, not knowing where they fled. So Bai Lang and Shi Yi went back out again, and no one captured them. The two leisurely followed the river, and when they finally caught up with Chao Gai's group, they were at a place called White Dragon Temple.

"Whoa, there are a lot of people. We didn't see so many at the execution ground," Shi Yi said. "Yeah, if Chao Tianwang hadn't arrived quickly, those behind would have only been able to collect Song Gongming's corpse," Bai Lang added. Had Shi Yi not acted swiftly, the ghost‑head sword would have already severed Song Jiang's head, and Dai Zong might have had to wait longer. Upon their arrival, there were quite a few dissatisfied onlookers.

For example, the Black Whirlwind was the first to leap up, shouting, "Thief scoundrel! Don't block my rescue of my brother!" He raised his axe to strike, as if the earlier incident where Bai Lang casually knocked him down had never happened. Bai Lang chuckled, while Song Gongming Song Jiang reacted fastest, lunging to grab Li Kui, "Don't!" before he could finish, Li Kui's axe was already in Bai Lang's hand. "It can only be a burst of blood‑courage; your martial skill is terribly slack," Bai Lang said, snatching the axe barehanded as easily as if he had taken it from Li Kui's hand.

He casually tossed the axe to the ground; Song Jiang had already clasped Li Kui, whose mind seemed to clear. Though he still wanted to curse, Song Jiang held him back, "Tie Niu, don't act so rashly! You two are Shandong heroes, here solely to rescue me; if Shi Dalang's spear hadn't been swift, my head would already have been cut off." Song Jiang spoke sharply, and Li Kui, fearing him, knelt and bowed his head, "Thank you for saving my brother, Gongming!"

"But Shandong Xiao Ming Wang Shi Yi Dalang?" the others asked in surprise. Chao Gai smiled, and Song Jiang praised, "And this one is Dalang's instructor, Bai Lang White Jade Pillar." Song Jiang remembered that well, but he truly didn't know Bai Lang's nickname. At that moment Shi Yi, with a mischievous grin, said, "Wu Shengren, our family's instructor, Wu Shengren Bai Lang." Someone objected, such as the fellow whose weapon was a Fang Tian Halberd—a halberd that looked more like a stage prop; as a cavalry weapon it was a bit too short.