Chapter 70: Wishing To Return To Liangshan, The Troops Divide Into Three Paths

In a hotel by the Yangtze River, the Chief of the Mountain Stronghold Wang Lun looked at Old Man Wang, the father of Lively Granny Wang Dingliu, and asked with a smile:

“Old man, are you truly unwilling to go to Liangshan?

You must know that after your son Wang Dingliu joins me at the mountain stronghold, you will have fewer to rely on here!

If something were to happen, even if we wished to help, we might be too far away, a thousand li away, to do so…”

Before Wang Lun could finish, Old Man Wang cupped his hands and shook his head:

“This old man is getting on in years and truly doesn’t wish to travel long distances anymore!

Therefore, I appreciate Grand Tutor Cai’s good intentions, but I will accept them humbly!”

Wang Lun was about to persuade him further when he heard Wang Dingliu cupped his hands and say with a smile:

“Since my father is unwilling to leave his homeland, older brother, please do not try to persuade him any longer!

Anyway, we don’t have any enemies here on a daily basis, so I don’t think it will be a problem for Father to stay!

Besides, my legs are fast. If the mountain stronghold is peaceful, I’ll just come back more often!”

Hearing this, Wang Lun nodded and smiled:

“Since Old Man Wang is determined to stay here, I will not press the matter further!

If Old Man Wang ever has any trouble in the future, you must send word to Liangshan, and I will come as quickly as possible!”

After Old Man Wang thanked him, Wang Lun looked at the people before him and smiled:

“Coming to Jiankang Prefecture this time, I never expected to meet so many heroes, which is truly an unexpected joy!

However, if so many of us were to return to Liangshan together, it would inevitably attract attention!

Therefore, I plan to divide into three groups!

Shen Ran, Xing Yao, Zhu Ke, Yuan Peng, Zhu Xuan!

All five of you are officials, and you will lead five hundred Divine Arm Bow guards and take the main road to Liangshan!

Brother Wang Dingliu, your legs are fast, so you should go to Jiangzhou first!

See how your mother is doing!

If her condition has improved, then you can travel by water to the marsh with Brother Zhang Shun!

The remaining Shi Bao and Xu Tao will accompany me, Liqing, and Hui Niang, and we will pass through Jingke Mountain and the prefectures of Huai River West to return to the stronghold!”

Upon hearing this, everyone cupped their hands in unison and agreed, then each went to prepare!

Wang Lun then looked at Fang Baihua, the Female Tiger, and smiled:

“It is truly my honor to meet the Saintess Baihua of the Mani Cult this time!

What are your plans next, Saintess Baihua? Will you return to the Mani Cult of Jiangnan, or…”

Before he could finish, Fang Baihua smiled softly and said:

“Please don’t call me Saintess, Grand Tutor Cai. Just call me Baihua!

To be honest!

I left Muzhou this time because I had a disagreement with my older brother, so I decided to travel around the world to clear my head!

Therefore, I won’t be returning to Muzhou for the time being!

If you don’t mind, Grand Tutor Cai, may I follow you to Liangshan to have some fun?”

“Haha! What are you saying, Miss Baihua?” Wang Lun laughed when he heard this.

“If Miss Baihua is willing to go to Liangshan, it will truly bring glory to my humble stronghold!

I would be delighted to welcome you, how could I dare to refuse?”

Fang Baihua was about to say more when suddenly Powderless Beauty Tong Saihua snorted from the side:

“Hmph! Since Grand Tutor Cai is inviting the Saintess of the Mani Cult to Liangshan, then if I, the sister of the current Commissioner of Military Affairs, go to Liangshan, you won’t refuse me, will you?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Lun couldn’t help but shake his head and smile:

“Miss Saihua has peerless martial arts. If she is willing to join the group at Liangshan, I would naturally welcome her with open arms!

However, it might not be appropriate for her to visit the mountain stronghold as a guest!

After all, you are the biological sister of the current Commissioner of Military Affairs Tong Guan, and the heroes of Liangshan Marsh do not align with the Imperial Court.

Since our paths are different, we cannot conspire together.

If Miss Saihua gets too close to us, won’t people start gossiping?”

Tong Saihua heard this and couldn’t help but glance at Tong Jiaoxiu beside her, then smiled:

“My brother is Tong Guan, that’s true, but he is him, and I am me!

Grandma has always been her own person and does whatever she wants!

Whoever dares to gossip, I will twist their head off!

Besides, my niece told me on the way to this hotel!

She admires your heroic spirit, Grand Tutor Cai, and wants to spend more time with you to cultivate your relationship!”

Hearing this, Wang Lun couldn’t help but look at Tong Jiaoxiu and smile:

“Miss Jiaoxiu’s romance with Two-Headed Taishui Wang Qing in Dongjing was truly spectacular!

Almost everyone knew about it!

How is it that after just meeting me, you’ve fallen for someone else?

I fear I cannot accept your admiration!

This time I chose to go through Jingke Mountain and Huai River West because I wanted to fulfill your wish and send you to Nanfeng City on the way…”

As she was speaking, Tong Jiaoxiu put on a pitiful look, her pretty face filled with sadness:

“Does Grand Tutor Cai mean that he dislikes my fragile beauty?”

“Or is it because I am the niece of Commissioner Tong, the granddaughter of the current Grand Tutor Yang Jian, and the future granddaughter-in-law of Grand Tutor Cai Jing!”

“Grand Tutor Cai fears offending those powerful figures in the Imperial Court if he gets too close to me, and that’s why he refuses me?”

Hearing this, Wang Lun couldn’t help but shake his head and smile:

“If I were afraid of those powerful officials in the Imperial Court, how would I dare to kick Gao Yanei to death in front of everyone?”

“Then why are you afraid to accept me?” Tong Jiaoxiu said pitifully.

“Is it because you fear the revenge of that faithless scoundrel Wang Qing?

If that is the case, then please rest assured!

It is true that I had a romance with that scoundrel in the past!

But later, due to the obstruction of my uncle, maternal grandfather, and Grand Tutor Cai, Wang Qing and I did not end up together.

When Wang Qing was exiled to Xijing that day, it was entirely thanks to me threatening to die and begging him that his life was saved!

If not for that, that scoundrel would have been dismembered long ago!

By that account, he still owes me a favor!

But that scoundrel, after leaving Dongjing Bianliang City, cut off all contact with me…”

As she was speaking, Tong Saihua continued from the side:

“Ever since that scoundrel Wang Qing was exiled, Jiaoxiu has been weeping in secret every day, and has even considered ending her life several times!

Seeing her so depressed and not eating or drinking every day, I decided to take her out to relax!

We heard that Wang Qing has forces in Huai River West, so we came here!”

As she spoke, Wang Lun suddenly hesitated:

“Since you know Wang Qing is in Huai River West, you should have gone there to find him!

Why did you two ladies come to Jiankang Prefecture?”

Hearing this, Tong Saihua shook her head and said:

“Jiaoxiu and I are not ordinary people!

Although we are wandering around the world to relax, we cannot travel aimlessly!

Tong Shu, the county lieutenant of Jiankang Prefecture here, is my distant older brother!

Therefore, I brought Jiaoxiu here first!

It was from him that I learned that Wang Qing not only occupied many prefectures and had a large force in Huai River West, but he also took several wives and concubines!

Imagine Jiaoxiu weeping every day for him, yet he married another woman!

Such a faithless person, is he still worth longing for?

Therefore, Jiaoxiu now admires Grand Tutor Cai instead, and I fully support her!…”