Chapter 779: The Zhu Family

Bai Lang was not armored at this moment; with his physique and weapon, any further armor would have stalled his warhorse under the saddle. He wore only a robe, a soft‑booted headgear with a tiger‑whisker crest, and held a horse spear one zhang eight chi long, urging his horse forward slowly. When he saw Luan Tingyu leading a group of cavalry, he simply squeezed his horse, set the mount into a charge. Bai Lang thrust out his long spear, and as soon as the iron rod of Luan Tingyu met his spear, he realized it was a mismatch.

After a parry and block, he rode away, while Bai Lang had already felled more than ten riders; Luan Tingyu seized the chance to flee. The cavalry of Zhu Jia Zhuang naturally broke into a chaotic retreat, and some even dismounted quickly to kowtow and beg for mercy. Bai Lang did not bother to clean them up, just rode his horse back at his own pace. At this time, under Shi Dalang's lead, Song Jiang's defeated troops had already found an exit, streaming out in waves. After leaving the village they met Lin Chong and Chao Gai outside, and Song Jiang counted the horses, discovering that out of ten stalls three were gone—a rather heavy loss.

Eight leaders were captured, and fortunately Chao Gai arrived, Lin Chong was also present; the only ones truly capable of fighting were Bai Lang and Shi Yi, with Hua Rong able to lead troops as well. "Reorganize the troops and fight again!" Shi Yi shouted, and Song Jiang could not give up—Xiao Yi Hei Sanlang was actually quite resilient, a defeat could not crush his spirit. "Though not as far as Xuande Gong, the opponent we face is not a powerhouse like Mengde Gong." Bai Lang glanced at Wu Yong, "At this distance the prime minister is far beyond reach; even calling it a gap between heaven and earth would insult the prime minister."

Yet they have strong men under their command; aside from Bai Lang himself there is Shi Yi, whose skill, even in the chaotic late‑Han and Three Kingdoms era Bai Lang experienced, could hold his own in a Tiger‑Leopard Cavalry, at least half the caliber of Liao Hua. Lin Chong could at least match half a Liao Hua, and the 800,000 Imperial Guard instructor sounds impressive, but in reality probably cannot command troops. He also firmly opposes surrender, though being staunchly anti‑surrender is different from lacking moral character.

When Shi Yi called, Chao Gai naturally agreed, and Song Jiang, eager to wash away the shame of defeat, immediately reorganized the troops; after a night's preparation they charged again toward Du Long Gang. This time Shi Yi led the charge, meeting Zhu Long, Zhu Hu, and Zhu Biao head‑on; Shi Yi's advance forced the three to hold their positions without engaging, also fearing Shi Dalang. Shi Yi kept pressing forward, and Liangshan's morale was lifted, driving the troops ever onward.

At that moment Luan Ling's bell rang, and a female warrior burst from the formation, riding a blue‑mane horse, brandishing Sun‑Moon twin blades toward Shi Yi. "There are still brave women, but unfortunately she's not a man from Zhu Jia Zhuang. Yi Zhang Qing!" Bai Lang casually planted his horse spear aside, remarking that he was clearing the formation for Shi Yi. In Bai Lang's view this was similar to Guo Jia's formation—such a formation breaks with a single strike. Seeing Hu San Niang enter the fray, Shi Yi's eyes lit up.

"How did you, woman, come here? Go back to doing needlework." Shi Yi said, then was blasted by Hu San Niang's tirade, "How dare you look down on me! Today I'll take you, little thief!" Hu San Niang charged forward. Shi Yi smirked, did not fight on horseback, but stopped his horse on the spot, relying solely on his hands to swing the Grand Dragon Gall and clash with Hu San Niang. The Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix Spear could not withstand Hu San Niang's Sun‑Moon twin blades. A thousand strands of glittering silver snow swirled around her like a flock of birds diving.

Soon Hu San Niang was panting, forced to dismount and flee, yet she refused to concede and tossed a red cotton lasso. Shi Yi jabbed his spear into the lasso, then pulled, tightening it and giving another powerful swing; even Hu San Niang could not hold the rope and was dragged off her horse by a great force. Shi Yi rode forward, his ape‑like arm lightly sweeping, and with a single motion he seized Hu San Niang, lifted her onto his horse, and returned to his own formation.

Bai Lang merely smiled, "Capturing an enemy on horseback—that's all Zhu Jia Zhuang is capable of." Seeing Hu San Niang captured, Zhu Biao could not hold back, spurred his horse and charged; Bai Lang smoothly intercepted him, and as Luan Tingyu immediately surged forward, rallying Zhu Long and Zhu Hu, the four rushed at Bai Lang to slaughter him. Bai Lang simply wielded his horse spear, taking on the four in a whirlwind of combat, and turned the tables to suppress them all.

Bai Lang thrust casually; the opponents had to sweat profusely and endure countless hardships just to block, so by now the four could only muster enough strength to parry, lacking any power to counterattack. Suddenly Bai Lang stretched his arm, grabbed one and flung them down; after a few swings he had thrown Zhu Long, Zhu Hu, and Zhu Biao to the ground, only Luan Tingyu's spear and rod together managed to hard‑block Bai Lang's casual grab. "Fine skill." The next moment Luan Tingyu was still seized by Bai Lang and taken back to his original formation.

Thus Zhu Jia Zhuang was considered broken; Liangshan soldiers surged forward, subduing and recruiting many of Zhu Jia Zhuang's troops, and storming the estate they released the captured leaders from the prison. Zhu Long, Zhu Hu, and Zhu Biao immediately bowed and declared their surrender, while Luan Tingyu was quietly released by Bai Lang, "Knowing you do not wish to 'join the thieves', I'll let you go."

Liangshan grew stronger again; Hu San Niang originally refused to surrender, yet somehow she also yielded, and now spends her days learning martial arts from Shi Yi, while the lecherous couple seemed on the verge of colluding—no one knows what will become of Zhu Biao. In any case, both Shi Yi and Bai Lang have already left a terrifying impression in the hearts of the Zhu family, and the two have secured the top two seats of Liangshan's martial hierarchy.

This episode even drew Pu Tian Diao of Li Jia Zhuang into the fold, and Song Jiang's influence on Liangshan kept expanding. A few months later, after discussions with Song Taigong, Shi Yi decided to marry Hu San Niang; Bai Lang received the gifts, and after the wedding he bade farewell to Chao Gai and the others. "Now Dalang has started a family, and this instructor should go out and see the world." Chao Gai's followers on the mountain, as well as Song Jiang and Shi Yi, tried to retain him, but ultimately could not keep him.

Bai Lang's next destination is the Liao Kingdom, to wander the Jurchen lands; he is now too lazy to continue handling Liangshan affairs—at most, when he returns he might kill Sun Erniang and the others, and that would be it. Yet thinking carefully, Liangshan's scum are indeed many: Dong Ping counts as one, Sun Li's betrayal of his own senior counts as another, Li Kui being disabled could be excluded.

"If he's disabled, we can leave him out. Among the 108 heroes, at least seven or eight are scum. The proportion is not small."