Chai Village Attracts Guests from All Over the World, But True Heroes Are Hard to Find

Wang Lun sat down on the ground, speechless for a long time! He was filled with gratitude for Pei Xuan, but also resentful of Qiangwei's exile to Cangzhou.

As if knowing Wang Lun's thoughts, Du Qian comforted him, "I know your heart is filled with resentment, but this is the best possible outcome! If he had truly been sentenced to immediate execution, how could the two of us have managed to storm this prison and execution ground once the Ministry of Justice's document arrived! Exile to Cangzhou is certainly unpleasant, but as long as he's alive, there's still any possibility!"

Wang Lun was astonished that Du Qian, this burly man, could utter such insightful words! He asked gratefully, "What should we do next?"

Du Qian said, "There is a hero in Cangzhou who is famous throughout the land. Why don't we go and seek refuge with him? If he is willing to help, you and your cousin will be reunited in no time!"

Wang Lun was taken aback and asked, "Who is it?"

Du Qian was somewhat helpless. This man was really a bookworm. Anyone who had ever traveled the world knew about the heroes of Cangzhou, but this Wang Lun was like a simpleton!

Shaking his head, Du Qian said, "This man is a descendant of the Later Zhou royal family, none other than Little Whirlwind Chai Jin! Because he is generous and righteous, and likes to make friends with heroes from all over the world, anyone who goes to his manor can receive his protection. He is known as the Mengchang Lord of our time. It would be better for us to go to his manor together than to just stand here and watch helplessly!"

Wang Lun hesitated for a moment before asking, "Could we forcibly rescue Qiangwei on her way to exile?"

Du Qian said in a low voice, "Pei Xuan is always meticulous in his work. He sent six skilled men to Cangzhou to protect her. Besides, they traveled along the official roads. Not to mention how could I possibly be a match for those six men, the official roads are full of soldiers and post stations. How could I possibly make a move?"

Wang Lun really wanted to kneel down and kowtow three times to Pei Xuan, from the bottom of his heart! But he didn't dare to see Pei Xuan, so he could only wait until later!

Seeing Wang Lun still hesitating, Du Qian spoke up: "They'll be setting off in a few days. As a man, you must be decisive and not hesitate!"

Wang Lun nodded and said, "In that case, I'll do as you say!"

The two had little luggage and little money, so they had to steal some dry biscuits to eat on the road!

After waiting outside the city for several days, they finally saw Rose being escorted out of the city by several men. She looked even more haggard than before, her face devoid of color. Her already frail body was now even more delicate, and a hideous golden mark was shockingly visible on her cheek. Looking at the wounds on her hands, she must have suffered a lot in prison. A seven-and-a-half-pound shackle made it even more difficult for her to walk, which was already weak.

Wang Lun's heart was bleeding. Du Qian whispered, "Pei Xuan is here too!"

A handsome and imposing young man followed them out of the city, took out five taels of silver, and handed it to several soldiers, saying, "Weak woman, let's remove these shackles! The journey to Cangzhou is long, so please be careful on the road. This woman has had a hard life; don't bully her!"

A man who appeared to be the leader bowed and said, "Pei Kongmu, please rest assured. With us here, we will definitely protect her!"

Pei Xuan nodded and said, "It's still early, you can set off now!" After saying that, he turned around and walked into the city.

The two traveled a long and arduous journey, eating fruit or stealing dry rations when hungry, drinking from streams when thirsty, and simply resting by the roadside when tired. After more than a month of traveling under the stars and moon, traversing mountains and rivers, they finally arrived in Cangzhou!

Several times, Wang Lun saw his lover right in front of him, but he couldn't go to her rescue. This torment made him feel like he was dying!

Fortunately, Du Qian was always by his side, which made his bitterness feel a little better!

After resting for a day, Du Qian took Wang Lun to Chai Manor in Cangzhou. This Chai Manor was very grand, and Wang Lun had never seen such a grand manor in his life!

There, a wide harbor opens at the gate, and a towering peak rises behind. The gate faces the Yellow Road, and the mountain connects to the Azure Dragon. Thousands of locust and willow trees form a sparse grove, and hundreds of pavilions cluster together. Twenty or thirty villagers practice martial arts, and a few guesthouses are set up to recruit talented individuals. Cattle, sheep, mules, and horses graze in the deep courtyard, while ducks, chickens, and geese swim in the fragrant pond. Cranes frolic and leap in front of the courtyard, and birds roam leisurely within.

Du Qian pulled Wang Lun and walked into the village. After crossing a wide plank bridge, a large gate came into view!

Upon seeing the two men, the gatekeeper, who was sitting at the entrance, stepped forward and asked, "Who are you two, and what brings you here?"

Du Qian stepped forward and said, "We two have long admired Master Chai's reputation and have come here specifically to seek his assistance!"

The gatekeeper, seeing the two men's simple clothes and pale faces, knew they were probably just idlers coming to freeload. He immediately said disdainfully, "The master is not in the manor right now. You've come at the wrong time!"

His tone was quite unpleasant, and he showed no intention of inviting the two into the manor!

Du Qian was a clever man, so he knew that this person looked down on him and Wang Lun and was trying to get rid of him!

He nodded and said, "In that case, we won't bother you any longer!" As he left, he even stamped his feet to remove the dust, as if to say, "Your Chai family won't take a single speck of dust with you!"

A servant happened to be returning from the other direction. Seeing the two men leave, he asked the gatekeeper, "What were those two doing here?"

The gatekeeper scoffed, "Look at the vast and powerful Chai family! These are just two beggars coming to our door for food!"

Du Qian, who had already left, was instantly enraged upon hearing this. He turned around and shouted, "How dare you be so rude! You're asking for a beating!" He then swung his fist at the man.

The man sneered, "How dare you, a beggar, act so presumptuously here?" He then faced the fist head-on without any fear. As the gatekeeper of the Chai family, this man was naturally skilled in martial arts. He would never take someone he considered a beggar seriously. He encountered countless such people every day. Today, he was itching to teach him a lesson, so that some ruffians wouldn't come knocking on his door demanding favors in the future.

Du Qian, who had been venting his anger for days, saw the man rushing over and shouted, "How dare you!"

With a sidestep, he closed the distance to within half a zhang of the man, and with his left hand, he swept his palm up the platform like lightning, grabbed the man's chin and pushed him forward. The gatekeeper stumbled, and Du Qian took the opportunity to kick him to the ground!

Seeing that his own people were being taken advantage of, the farmhand grabbed a carrying pole and swept it across!

Du Qian took a half step back to dodge the attack, then drew a small knife, jumped up, and chopped heavily at the carrying pole. With a crack, the carrying pole was split in two!

The two stood there, and Du Qian coldly said, "Master Chai is renowned throughout the land for his generosity and righteousness, yet his subordinates are all such unruly servants who make things difficult for those who come to him. It truly chills the hearts of heroes across the land! I, a man of integrity, stand tall and upright; I'd rather not serve Chai Manor!"

Wang Lun was also taken aback. He had known Du Qian for so long, but he never expected that Du Qian would be so skilled!

"This valiant warrior is honored with his name. My men were ignorant and neglected him; I apologize on their behalf!"

A man in his thirties, dressed in a long gown, walked out of the manor gate!

"My name is Du Qian, and this is my brother Wang Lun. Due to a family tragedy, we fled here. We heard that Master Chai is a man of great loyalty and integrity, unparalleled in the world, so we came to seek refuge with him. However, we were repeatedly humiliated by the gatekeeper, which was truly shameful and infuriating. Therefore, we could no longer tolerate it and took action to teach him a lesson. May I ask who this gentleman is?"

The man laughed and said, "I am merely a minor steward of the Chai family, responsible for receiving and sending off heroes from all over the world. I arrived a little late tonight, and such a thing has happened. Please forgive me! Please come inside the manor, both of you!"

After saying this, he turned to the gatekeeper and said, "You've always looked down on people and offended many heroes. From now on, you're no longer a member of the Chai family. Go to the accounting office, collect your money, and leave immediately!"

The man dared not say more, and glared at Du Qian with hatred!

Upon entering the manor, the man led Wang Lun and his companion to a separate room. The room was small, containing two beds, a table, and two chairs.

On the table were a plate of fish, a bowl of pickles, a small bowl of rice, and a pot of wine. A servant brought two sets of clothes and said, "Please, gentlemen, bathe and change!"

The steward laughed and said, "You two heroes must be hungry. This food was brought up by the servants. Please eat first, and after you finish eating, take a bath and change your clothes so you can look presentable!" After saying that, he took his leave and left.

Wang Lun had never seen such a scene before and was stunned for a moment. Du Qian, on the other hand, was really hungry and ate a bowl of rice by himself.

Seeing that Wang Lun still hadn't sat down, Du Qian laughed and said, "Since you're here, make the best of it!"

After the two finished eating, took a bath, and changed their clothes, a servant came up and took their clothes away!

Wearing brand-new clothes, Wang Lun felt somewhat incredulous, as if he were dreaming. He had been subjected to all sorts of difficulties before entering the manor, but who would have thought that he would receive such courtesy after entering!

Du Qian smiled and said to Wang Lun, "The Chai family is the most prominent family in Cangzhou. Master Chai is good at making friends, so it's not unusual for people to come to him looking for something. However, that fellow's words were really hurtful, so I taught him a lesson. I think the steward was already behind the door, but he deliberately didn't come out, just wanting to see me show off my skills!"

Wang Lun smiled wryly, "I never imagined that after traveling with you for so long, I would have been unaware that you possessed such extraordinary skills!"

Du Qian laughed heartily and said, "Brother Wang, please don't flatter me. My meager skills are nothing to boast about. Otherwise, our entry into Chai Manor wouldn't have been as simple as a plate of fish! There are many masters in the martial world; don't judge a book by its cover!"

Wang Lun exclaimed, "This journey has been like a dream! I wonder what kind of person Master Chai is!"

Du Qian yawned and said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow! I'm feeling a bit sleepy!"

Wang Lun nodded and said, "In that case, let's rest."

Exhausted from their hurried journey, Du Qian soon fell asleep on the bed, while Wang Lun, eager to see Chai Jin, tossed and turned in bed.

The next morning, one servant brought water for washing and a towel, while another servant brought steamed buns and pickled vegetables. After the two men ate, the steward from the previous day came into the room and said with a smile, "My two gentlemen, my master invites you!"

The sky was already bright, and the sunlight filled the courtyard, as if laying a golden carpet over this vast Chai Village!

By this time, Chai Village was already bustling with activity. Some of the heroes who had come to Chai Village were training the Chai family's servants, while others were practicing martial arts on their own, their moves powerful and impressive!

The two followed the steward all the way to the main hall. They encountered people who greeted the steward from time to time, so he must have been of high status!

Inside the hall, a person dressed in a magnificent brocade robe was facing away from them, seemingly writing something furiously! The two could only wait to the side, while the steward took his leave first, as he was extremely busy every day and would not wait with them!

According to the rules of Chai Village, Chai Jin would receive anyone who came to him, and their treatment and status would be determined by their abilities! If someone truly wanted to serve Chai Jin and had the ability, their treatment would be the envy of others; if they were just temporarily fleeing, their treatment would be somewhat worse!

Half an hour passed quickly. After the man finished writing, he turned around and looked at the two men, smiling, "You two heroes have been waiting for a long time. Please have a seat!" Soon, a servant brought tea.

Wang Lun observed that the man was not yet thirty years old, with dragon-like eyebrows, phoenix eyes, white teeth, and red lips. His noble demeanor made the two of them pale in comparison!

Chai Jin took a sip of tea and smiled, "I've heard about what happened yesterday. Are you two heroes fleeing or seeking refuge?"

Du Qian bowed and said, "I was somewhat presumptuous yesterday, I hope you will forgive me, sir!"

Chai Jin waved his hand and laughed, "It's alright. Sometimes servants are a bit too rude. They'll learn their lesson and be more restrained in the future. Otherwise, how will heroes come to our door!"

Du Qian bowed and said, "Sir, you are very magnanimous. We are just refugees who have fled here!" Although Chai Jin did not hold a grudge against Du Qian, Du Qian had still hit Chai Jin's men, so he apologized to Chai Jin as soon as he arrived.

Of course, as long as you are capable and sincerely serve Chai Jin, beating a servant or even a steward is no big deal!

Chai Jin nodded and said, "Since you've fled here, I wonder if you'd truly be willing to serve me!"

Wang Lun quickly replied, "We are willing to wholeheartedly serve you!"

"Who is this?" Chai Jin did not know Wang Lun's name and thought he was just Du Qian's follower!

"This is my elder brother, Wang Lun!" Du Qian introduced. He wasn't wrong; Wang Lun was a year older than Du Qian.

Chai Jin laughed and said, "Brother Wang Lun doesn't seem to be a martial artist. I wonder what he's good at?"

Chai Jin himself was a martial arts expert, and he could tell at a glance that Wang Lun was a scholar who couldn't even kill a chicken!

Wang Lun said in a low voice, "I'm just a failed scholar!"

After thinking for a moment, Chai Jin said, "Brother Du Qian has some martial arts skills, so he can work as a guard. Brother Wang Lun should be quite literate, so he can be in charge of teaching the servants' children to read and write! The two of you will receive one tael of silver per month, and you can eat and stay in the same room as before. What do you think?"

Du Qian pulled Wang Lun into a deep bow and said, "Thank you, sir!"

Seeing Wang Lun's hesitant expression, Chai Jin asked, "Brother Wang Kun, is there anything else you want to say?"

Wang Lun knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Please, sir, save my wife!"

Chai Jin was taken aback. Although he was somewhat displeased, knowing that Wang Lun was using a feigned retreat to wait for him, he still helped him up and said, "Tell me what you have to say!" He neither agreed nor refused, but was ready to see what Wang Lun had to say!

Wang Lun recounted in detail his journey to Chai Village to take the imperial examination and his subsequent visit to the village.

After hearing the whole story, Chai Jin frowned. This matter was neither difficult nor simple!

The woman Wang Lun mentioned, he could indeed rescue her; he had several ways to do so. But the question was whether the price to pay was worth it for Wang Lun's sake. The answer was obvious: no!

After some thought, he said to Wang Lun, "This matter is of utmost importance. Although I am a former member of the royal family, I have received imperial favor for generations. If she comes to Chai Village with you, I can certainly protect her. However, since she is imprisoned by the authorities, I don't have many ways to save her from jail!"

Wang Lun was somewhat disappointed after hearing this, but Chai Jin changed the subject and said, "But in Cangzhou, many people will still give me, Chai Jin, some face. I can guarantee that no one will dare to touch her in prison, and she will be reunited with you when she comes out!"

Having said all that, Wang Lun had no choice but to thank Chai Jin. He knelt down and kowtowed three times to Chai Jin. This time, Chai Jin did not help him up.

The two settled down at Chai Village. Three days later, while Wang Lun was teaching a group of mischievous children to read the Analects, Du Qian rushed into the school and said, "Those officials have come to visit Chai Village! Your cousin is with them too!"

Wang Lun was in no mood to do anything else at this moment, and immediately followed Du Qian to the hall!

Chai Jin is not at the manor today; Steward Chai is entertaining several men dressed in official robes!

The person in the lead was the same one who spoke with Pei Xuan in Shen County that day!

The man, seeing Wang Lun, exclaimed in surprise, "So it was you! I didn't expect you to arrive at Chai Village before me!"

Manager Chai laughed and said, "Brother Wang Lun is now a teacher in our manor!" The implication was that Wang Lun was now a member of Chai Manor!

The man looked at Wang Lun and said, "If I really wanted to arrest you, do you think I wouldn't have known that you and that big man beside you had followed me all this way? If it weren't for Pei Kongmu knowing that your case was injustice and telling me not to arrest you, I could have taken you and that big man down the moment you left Shen County with me!"

Du Qian nodded and whispered, "This man wasn't lying; I'm no match for him!"

Wang Lun said gratefully, "Thank you, sirs! Now that you know my cousin and I are innocent, could you please spare my cousin? I would repay your kindness even if I had to serve you like a slave!"

The man shook his head and said, "No, although I can't bear to separate such a loving couple, this is against reason and law. I can only let you meet once at most before taking her to the Cangzhou camp!"

Wang Lun said gratefully, "I'm content just to have met you once!"

The man chuckled, "She's taking a bath and changing clothes; please wait a moment!"

After a while, Rose slowly walked out, supported by a woman.

The gold smear on her face did not detract from her beauty; instead, it added a unique charm to her appearance! After changing out of her prison uniform, her graceful figure was like a lotus emerging from the water, exquisitely beautiful, and Wang Lun was mesmerized!

Rose smiled sweetly and said, "Cousin!"

Wang Lun could no longer hold back his tears, which welled up in his eyes!

Rose was also in tears, and the two embraced tightly. This time, no one would disturb them!

After a long while, the two separated, and Wang Lun knelt down and said, "What virtue or ability do I, Wang Lun, possess to have the honor of meeting several officials, Lord Pei, as well as Master Chai and Brother Du Qian!"

The leader said, "Pei Kongmu has always felt that the massacre of Wangjia Village by the bandits of Luyashan Mountain was unusual, and he is currently investigating the matter. I also believe that the truth will eventually come to light! Without further ado, we must continue our journey!"

As they parted, Rose bowed gracefully, turning back to look at everyone as she walked out the door, filled with reluctance. After all, it was not yet time for reunion!

Several months have passed in the blink of an eye. There is hope for the future, and life is much happier!

That day, Wang Lun was drinking with Du Qian in their room when a servant suddenly pushed open the door and shouted, "Guard Du, someone has come to cause trouble and injured seven or eight of our brothers!"

Du Qian picked up an iron spear and said to Wang Lun, "Brother, please sit down first. I'll be back shortly!"

Wang Lun, still worried, said, "I'll go with you!"

Inside the manor, seven or eight servants were lying sprawled on the ground!

A group of farmhands surrounded a man, but none of them stepped forward!

The man was laughing wildly, brandishing a wooden stick, and spouting arrogant words: "Cangzhou Chai Village is famous, yet it doesn't even have a decent expert!"

Du Qian could no longer contain himself. He gripped his iron spear and jumped out, shouting, "Hey, who is this madman who dares to spout such nonsense and cause trouble here!"

The man sneered, "You're no match for me either, get lost!"

Du Qian could no longer restrain himself and thrust out with his spear, but in his anger, he held back three-tenths of his strength to avoid killing the man!

The man shouted, "Well done!" He used the "Raising Fire to Burn the Sky" technique to parry the iron spear, and then used a stick instead of a spear to thrust out a similar strike. This strike was three parts fierce and powerful, three parts unstoppable, three parts counterattack, and one part room for maneuver!

Du Qian quickly retreated two steps, dodging the attack in a sorry state. Seeing that his first strike had missed, the man immediately intensified his attack. A wooden stick in his hand was impenetrable, powerful and heavy, fierce and majestic, like a silver snake probing its cave or a dragon emerging from the sea!

Du Qian was completely overwhelmed by this swift offensive and was unable to retaliate at all!

The man trembled and leaped three feet into the air, slamming his club down heavily. Du Qian raised his twin spears to block the storm of attacks, but his hands trembled and the iron spears fell to the ground.

The man laughed loudly, "You're not bad, you blocked several of my blows, you're better than them!"

Du Qian's face darkened. Although this man was extremely arrogant, he had ultimately been defeated by him and had nothing to say!

"Impressive skill!" This was Chai Jin, who rushed over upon hearing the news! Seeing Du Qian lose to this person, he praised him!

The man dropped the wooden stick he was holding, stepped forward, bowed, and said, "My name is Hong Jin. I've been skilled with spears and clubs since childhood. Hearing that you, sir, are recruiting heroes from all over the land, I've come to ask for a living!"

Chai Jin laughed and said, "Your martial arts are extraordinary, so stay at my manor as an instructor. Today, let's have some wine together!"

Although everyone felt resentful, they didn't say anything because Chai Jin was so polite to them!

Du Qian sighed, shook his head, and returned to his room.

Wang Lun said worriedly, "I'm afraid our lives will be difficult from now on!"

Sure enough, ever since Instructor Hong arrived, Chai Jin became much more distant from Du Qian and Wang Lun, but was extremely enthusiastic towards Instructor Hong, treating him to good wine and meat every day. Seeing their master treat him this way, the other servants naturally became much more neglectful of Wang Lun!

Life was no longer as carefree as it had been at the beginning. He had to be mindful of others' opinions every day, and Du Qian felt that this kind of life was better than nothing, so he decided to leave!

Unexpectedly, Chai Jin approached the two men first and said, "Brothers, how have I, Chai Jin, treated you?"

Wang Lun nodded and said, "Sir, you are too kind to treat us so well; it's as if you've been given a second chance!"

Chai Jin took out a box and placed it on the table, saying, "Here are five hundred taels of silver; please accept them!"

Wang Lun was startled and quickly asked, "Does Your Excellency intend to send us away?"

Chai Jin laughed and said, "Not at all. I recently learned that there is a vast lake in Jizhou, Shandong, with a huge island in the middle. I think you guys should go there to develop some influence. I'll provide the money and provisions for you in the first place!"

Du Qian said, "Does Your Excellency mean for the two of us to become mountain kings?"

Chai Jin nodded and said, "That's true and false, but remember, you mustn't mention me to anyone!"

Wang Lun nodded and said, "Since it is the master's order, we will set off immediately!"

Chai Jin said, "Once you arrive at Liangshan, send someone to tell me, and I'll have some of my men help you develop Liangshan! As for your cousin, don't worry, I'll take care of her. When there's a general amnesty, I'll personally bring her to reunite with you!"

Wang Lun said gratefully, "Thank you, sir!"

The next day, Wang Lun and Du Qian rushed to Shandong!

At this time, there was a severe drought, and not everyone could be like the Chai family, who had no worries about food and clothing and even had extra money to support a group of farmhands! The roads were full of people fleeing the disaster!

At this time, Wang Lun was also alone and powerless. After discussing with Du Qian, he bought a lot of rice and cooked porridge along the roadside. Soon, he attracted about two hundred people to follow him. However, it was unknown how loyal these two hundred people were!

In Shandong, he encountered a large man who wanted to steal his rice. Du Qian refused, and the two fought for thirty rounds without a clear winner!

Seeing that the man had some skill, Wang Lun quickly tried to recruit him. The man didn't hesitate and introduced himself as Song Wan. Since he was already starving, he followed Wang Lun to Liangshan!

Unfortunately, ideals are often grand, but reality is harsh. Wang Lun never dreamed that someone would take the lead and occupy Liangshan, let alone that he would almost report to the King of Hell!