Water Margin: From a White-Robed Scholar to Donning the Yellow Robe

Chapter 40 Wu Song Punches Ximen Qing

Pan Jinlian was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she could only shake her head repeatedly.

She was already retired from the military and could retire. She curled up in a corner, sobbing softly.

Seeing her appearance, Wu Song still couldn't bring himself to kill a defenseless woman and child. He turned around and said, "What use is such a slut? I beg Master Gongsun to do me a favor. My brother will dictate a letter of divorce, and you can write it down. My brother Wu Da will have nothing to do with this slut from now on."

Upon hearing this, Wu Dalang felt a pang of reluctance. He glanced at Pan Jinlian, only to see her eyes suddenly light up as she looked up at Wu Song.

Wu Da was stunned, and then felt utterly hopeless. Yes, he had written the letter of divorce so she could go find Ximen Qing.

He agreed with tears in his eyes.

Wu Song turned around and went downstairs, picked up the unconscious Wang Po at the bottom of the stairs, and pushed the door open to go out.

Gongsun Sheng quickly gave him a wink, and Zhao Si followed him out.

Wu Song, carrying Wang Po as if she were an old hen, stood at the entrance of Wang Po's teahouse, looked around, and said loudly, "This vicious woman intended to kill my brother Wu Da, but I have captured her."

As soon as he spoke, the neighbors and passersby looked over. They were all surprised to see Wang Po being carried by Wu Song. After hearing what Wu Song said, everyone suddenly understood.

After all, the story of Wu Yueniang and Wu Da catching the adulterer the day before yesterday had already spread far and wide. Everyone knew that Ximen Qing had seduced Pan Jinlian, and that Ximen Qing was a regular customer of Wang Po. The adultery incident also took place in Wang Po's teahouse.

So, it was Wang Po who brought Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian together.

Everyone glared at Wang Po, wishing Wu Song would chop her down with a single stroke. What was the point of keeping such a scourge on the world alive?

As the saying goes, it's better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage. Whether Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian were a good match is another matter, but Wang Po's actions were enough to earn her condemnation.

Hearing what Wu Song said, Wang Po was even plotting to kill Wu Dalang, which made her even more hateful.

Just then, a head popped out from Wang Po's teahouse, looking outside suspiciously; it was Ximen Qing.

Upon seeing Ximen Qing, Wu Song was filled with rage and used Wang Po as a weapon to smash at Ximen Qing.

Upon seeing a dark object hurtling towards him, Ximen Qing grabbed a long bench and slammed Wang Po, who was in mid-air, to the ground, shouting, "Captain Wu, what are you doing?"

Wang Po was hit on the ground with a stool by Ximen Qing, and almost her life was lost. She lay motionless on the ground.

Wu Song ignored him, stepped forward and kicked Wang Po away, cursing, "You beast, you seduced my sister-in-law and tried to kill my brother. Do you think I, Wu Song, am an easy child to bully?"

Ximen Qing's expression was uncertain. After all, the other party was a captain and had the skill to kill tigers. He couldn't fight him head-on. He had to think of a way.

Before they could come up with a solution, Wu Song's fist, as big as a sandbag, was already coming. Even before the fist arrived, the gale-force wind from it was already hitting them. The power of this punch was truly terrifying.

Without hesitation, Ximen Qing used the stool in his hand to block the way.

Then, with a loud crash, the bench was smashed to pieces by Wu Song's punch.

Ximen Qing quickly retreated a few steps, grabbed a stool, and threw it at Wu Song.

Wu Song twisted his waist, stood firm on his left foot, and kicked out with his right foot. This kick not only shattered the stool, but also struck Ximen Qing directly in the chest, causing him to fall backward.

But Ximen Qing was also skilled in martial arts. Although he was in pain when he fell to the ground, he flipped himself up with a somersault and said angrily, "Wu Song, I thought you were a good man and I always let you have your way, but you kept pressing me. Don't be ungrateful."

Wu Song strode forward and said in a deep voice, "Then why don't you let me try?"

Ximen Qing threw a heavy punch, but Wu Song neither dodged nor avoided it, letting the punch land on his chest, and laughed, "Is that all the strength you've got?"

He grabbed Ximen Qing's wrist, sneered, and said, "You beast, you dare to poison my brother. If you were alive, who knows how many people you would harm."

With a sharp crack, he broke Ximen Qing's hand.

Ximen Qing was in so much pain that sweat beaded on his forehead. He raised his other hand to punch again, but Wu Song punched him right in the face, breaking Ximen Qing's nose and causing blood to flow uncontrollably from his nostrils and mouth.

Wu Song kicked him, slamming him to the ground, then punched him in the face, cursing, "Why don't you take a good look at yourself in the mirror? What right do you have to compete with my brother for a woman?"

Ximen Qing was immediately overcome with tears, snot, and blood. He tried to beg for mercy, but the blood flowed back into his throat, and he couldn't speak.

Wu Song clenched his fist, ready to strike again, when Zhao Si rushed in and pleaded, "Captain Wu, please have mercy! Your punch has the force of a thousand pounds; if you keep hitting him, he'll die."

Wu Song did not continue the attack, but his anger remained high. He said, "People like him deserve to die."

Zhao Si helped Wu Song up and said, "But you've gotten yourself into trouble with the law for killing such a beast."

Wu Song then stood up and stepped on Ximen Qing's knee, and with another "crack," the kneecap shattered.

"The chieftain once said that if Wu Song wanted to kill Ximen Qing, he ordered us to do everything we could to stop him and leave everything to the magistrate to judge." Seeing that Wu Song no longer wanted to kill Ximen Qing, Zhao Si said with a smile, "The chieftain is still in jail. Please, Wu Song, save him."

Wu Song nodded and said, "Please ask a few men to take Ximen Qing, Wang Po, and that slut to the county office and wait for me. I'll go rescue the chief first."

Without waiting for Zhao Si's reply, he went out and left like the wind.

Wu Song was always decisive in his actions. Thinking that Wang Lun had been very kind to him and that his imprisonment was due to his family affairs, he naturally wanted to thank such a righteous man. He bought a large gourd of wine on the way and carried it to the prison in Yanggu County.

Upon seeing that it was Wu Song, the prison guards eagerly stepped forward to greet him.

Wu Song was able to fight tigers with his fists and was also easygoing. He disregarded his status and often drank with these lowly yamen runners, so although he had only been in office for a short time, he had excellent interpersonal relationships.

"I have an older brother who is locked up in jail. It's not a big deal; he just got into a fight in the street. I'm here to release him."

Wu Song was not polite at all and stated his purpose directly.

Street fights are a minor matter. Even yamen runners like them often get into fights. They are usually only detained for a few days before being released. If someone in their family spends money to bribe officials, most of them won't spend the night in jail.

Upon hearing Wu Song's words, the jailer immediately asked for the man's name.

Wu Song couldn't wait any longer and walked straight inside, saying, "Wang Lun, the scholar in white, should be easy to recognize."

Gongsun Sheng only said it was Wang Lun, without mentioning that Wang Lun had disguised himself as a Taoist priest. The jailer was taken aback and shook his head, saying, "There is no such person."

Wu Song ignored them and went straight into the prison, looking at each cell one by one. He looked at several cells but didn't see a single person dressed in white.

Just as they were wondering what was going on, they saw a man standing in the center of the cell, his hands behind his back, facing away from Wu Song and towards a small hole in the wall. A ray of sunlight shone through the hole, illuminating the man and making him appear extraordinary.

Beside this man stood a dark-skinned man who glared at Wu Song and said, "What are you looking at?"

Wu Song hesitated for a moment, then asked, "May I ask if your surname is Wang and your given name is Lun?"

Wang Lun suddenly turned around and looked at the big man in front of him. His demeanor, his bearing, his tone of voice, and the wine gourd he was carrying perfectly matched the image of Wu Song in his mind.

"Wu Song, the tiger slayer?"

Wang Lun's voice trembled slightly.