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

Chapter 89 Lin Chong's Fierce Battle with Luan Tingyu

Upon arriving at the training ground, Lin Chong was carried by soldiers behind him carrying his spear.

Luan Tingyu also raised an iron spear.

Both sides stood facing each other, both cautious and apprehensive.

Although Lin Chong had just spoken arrogantly, he knew that Luan Tingyu was highly skilled in martial arts, so he dared not be careless in the slightest.

He held his spear horizontally and said, "Brother Luan, please make your move."

Luan Tingyu didn't hold back either, thrusting his spear forward and moving with it, inadvertently arriving in front of Lin Chong.

Lin Chong parried with his spear, and with a clang, both men tested each other's strength.

Gunfire flashed as the two engaged in combat.

The Zhu family members, along with Hu Cheng and his sister, Shi Qian, and Shi Xiu, watched the battle from the sidelines, their blood boiling with excitement.

A battle between masters is a rare sight, especially since Hu Cheng is very fond of martial arts. After learning martial arts from Yang Zhi, his spear skills have greatly improved, and he was already very confident. However, after seeing Lin Chong and Luan Tingyu's moves, he immediately lost his confidence.

Seeing Hu Cheng's expression, Hu Sanniang whispered her advice: "You have only been learning martial arts from Master Yang Zhi for a short time, and you have already made great progress. Instructor Luan and Instructor Lin are both masters of spear fighting and have long been famous in the martial arts world. It is only natural that you are not as good as them."

Hu Cheng nodded and focused his attention on watching.

Lin Chong and Luan Tingyu fought for dozens of rounds, with Lin Chong becoming more and more courageous as the battle progressed. Lin Chong, in particular, had already mastered his spear technique to the extreme and found it difficult to make any further progress. Being able to spar with a master was an opportunity for him to break through his limitations.

In an instant, Lin Chong unleashed his full power, and the serpent spear in his hand truly seemed to be alive. His moves were ever-changing, and his strength was incredibly swift. After another ten or so moves, Luan Tingyu was at a disadvantage.

He was skilled in using iron spears, iron rods, and flying hammers. He carried a pair of meteor hammers on his horse and would use them to injure people when his spear skills were no match for theirs, but he no longer carried them with him.

After falling into a disadvantageous position, Luan Tingyu gradually became anxious, thinking that if he had the flying hammer, he might be able to gain the upper hand.

Lost in thought, Luan Tingyu found himself increasingly outmatched. Lin Chong's spear swept across, and Luan Tingyu raised his own to block it.

Little did Lin Chong know that this was just a feint. He hurriedly withdrew his spear, and with a flick of the spearhead, struck Luan Tingyu squarely in the lower abdomen, causing Luan Tingyu to stagger back several steps, his forehead sweating with pain.

Having succeeded in one move, Lin Chong did not continue, but instead raised his spear, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Thank you for your concession."

Luan Tingyu lost a move due to carelessness and was too embarrassed to fight again, so he could only return the greeting and say, "Instructor Lin's martial arts are indeed superb. I, Luan, concede defeat."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I also possess the skill of throwing hammers, but it's not suitable to use it right now. If we meet on the battlefield another day, we can fight again."

Lin Chong laughed and said, "Alright, let's have a contest then."

Zhu Chaofeng's face was gloomy, but he also knew how strong Lin Chong's martial arts were. If it came down to spear and staff alone, Luan Tingyu was indeed no match for him. If Luan Tingyu added his flying hammer, perhaps he could fight him.

"Master Zhu, then as agreed, I, Lin, will descend the mountain first."

Lin Chong clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Zhu Chaofeng's mind raced, and seeing his three sons winking at him, he knew what they were thinking. At that moment, they all rushed forward and captured Lin Chong as well, forcing Wang Lun to hesitate before taking any action.

But if that were the case, Wang Lun would definitely be locked in a life-or-death struggle with the Zhu Family Village.

Now that Liangshan has well-trained and well-supplied troops, if things really come to that, how could the Zhu Family Village possibly stand against them?

The best course of action now is to be patient, secretly transport the grain and fodder from outside the village into the village for storage, and then ask the Li Family Village for help. Only by combining the strength of the three villages can we perhaps defeat Liangshan.

Having made up his mind, Zhu Chaofeng said in a deep voice, "Send Instructor Lin away."

The three sons were very anxious, but dared not disobey their father's wishes, so they had no choice but to send Lin Chong and the others away.

But then they saw Hu Cheng and Hu Sanniang discussing in hushed tones before they also came to say goodbye.

Zhu Biao flew into a rage: "Third Sister, what do you mean by this?"

Hu Sanniang said, "The Hu Family Village, the Zhu Family Village, and Liangshan have all formed an alliance. It is really inconvenient for us to interfere in the affairs of the two families. My brother and I cannot make the decision. We can only go back and listen to our father's arrangements."

"Third Sister, you are my betrothed. Even if you ally with Liangshan, so what? Can you bear to watch your husband's family be killed by Liangshan?"

Hu Sanniang hesitated. Logically, she should have sided with the Zhu Family Village, but Liangshan had indeed formed an alliance with the Hu Family Village, and her father had even received a grand gift from Liangshan.

This is not a good situation.

Hu Cheng said, "As my sister just said, we siblings can't make this decision ourselves. We should go back and ask our father for instructions."

Zhu Biao's voice turned serious: "Hu Cheng can leave, but San Niang cannot."

Hu Cheng's expression immediately changed: "You want to keep my sister as a hostage?"

Zhu Biao said, "Since we are family, why are there hostages? Third Sister and I are engaged. Now that we are facing a great enemy, I might die in battle tomorrow. Tonight, I will consummate our marriage with Third Sister so that she can have an heir."

Hu Sanniang angrily retorted, "Without the help of gossipy relatives and a grand sedan chair, how can you force me into marriage? I, Hu Sanniang, am not someone to be slaughtered at will."

Zhu Chaofeng scolded, "Sanlang, what are you saying? If you want to marry Sanniang, it's up to me and Master Hu to decide. What are you doing here?"

Zhu Biao then stopped talking and glared menacingly at the Hu siblings.

Hu Cheng then pulled Hu Sanniang to prepare to go out.

But Zhu Chaofeng said, "However... Third Sister can leave, but Nephew Hu Cheng can stay and fight alongside us."

The Hu siblings were greatly alarmed.

But they saw that the guards had already surrounded them, and since they were inside the Zhu Family Manor, the two of them were no match for them.

"Uncle Zhu, what do you mean by this?"

Hu Cheng gritted his teeth and suppressed his anger.

Zhu Chaofeng looked at Hu Sanniang and said, "Please tell your father that the Zhu, Li, and Hu villages have long been allied. Now that the Zhu family village is under attack by Liangshan enemies, please ask him to send three thousand soldiers to help."

The Hu siblings immediately understood that Zhu Chaofeng was afraid that the Hu family village would no longer help them, so he kept Hu Cheng behind, forcing the Hu family village to send troops.

What a cruel heart.

Hu Sanniang knew she had no choice but to comply; if a fight broke out, neither she nor her brother would escape.

Lin Chong, watching from a distance, didn't interfere. He knew that this was a matter he couldn't meddle in; if he did, Zhu Chaofeng would become ruthless, and no one would be able to escape.

He then said, "Hu Sanniang, then you should go back and discuss this carefully with your father. He will have an idea of ​​what to do."

Hu Sanniang understood perfectly well that as long as one person could leave, that was fine. She glanced at her brother Hu Cheng, and the two siblings nodded to each other before Hu Sanniang left with Lin Chong and the others.

The group followed the village servant who was leading the way out of the village, joined up with the Liangshan soldiers, and then quickly rode away.

Lin Chong was truly apprehensive. If the Zhu Family Manor really intended to fight to the death, none of his men would survive. He could only sigh inwardly at how Wang Lun had entrusted him with such a dangerous mission.

But then he realized that only he could defeat Luan Tingyu with a spear and club, and only then could he intimidate the Zhu Family Village. Everything was planned by Wang Lun.

Upon returning to the Liangshan camp, especially upon seeing Wu Song, Hu Sanniang immediately burst into tears: "The Zhu Family Manor has kept my brother as a hostage, what should I do?"

Wu Song was taken aback, thinking to himself, "You're asking me what to do? How would I know what to do?"

Seeing Hu Sanniang in tears, Wu Song became determined and said, "Brother, give me a squad of men, I'll charge in and slaughter everyone to rescue Hu Cheng."

Hu Sanniang's eyes immediately lit up, and her beauty was even more apparent through her tears. She thought to herself that Wu Song was indeed a man of great spirit.