Chapter 757: Chapter 46 Stirring Trouble in Living Fish Valley (Conclusion) Chapter 757: Chapter 46 Stirring Trouble in Living Fish Valley (Conclusion) The sudden turn of events came too fast and too urgently. Shark Biao originally wanted to say something, but the words reached his mouth and he swallowed them back down.

The Golden Blade Female General, who had just chased away the impostor Red Flag at the entrance of Living Fish Valley, watched with concern and couldn’t contain herself, “Grandfather, with Commander Shi heavily wounded and not yet recovered, if that boy from An Nan really wins by chance, are we truly going to submit to his lead?”

Shark Biao lowered his voice, “Although Zhang He is already yesterday’s news, the scattered forces of the Taiping Bandits still cannot be underestimated. Ruan Zhanhui is one of the few remaining Taiping Bandit leaders and a hero in defending Guangzhou City. Having him command the Xiang Army… might not be a bad idea.”

Whether it was the Xiang Army, Han Liu, Taiping Bandits, or other heroes from all corners of the land, they were all captivated by the magical duel between Monk Shi and Ruan Zhanhui on the Dharma Platform.

On the edge of the crowd, a young Xiang Army female soldier, holding a freshly polished golden blade, ran toward the direction of the Dharma Platform. She was only about fourteen or fifteen years old, draped in a large hemp robe with a yellow turban on her head, exposing only her young face. Although her face wasn’t very clean, upon closer inspection, her features were indeed quite delicate.

However, just as she passed an uninhabited military tent, suddenly a dark figure fell from the sky behind the girl, one hand covering her mouth and the other seizing the back of the golden blade, dragging both her and the blade into the tent.

“Girl, don’t be afraid; I’m a good friend of your brother Yao, and I even visited your home for a drink two years ago, do you remember me?”

Tang Yingying’s eyes widened; the man before her was a tower of a man with thick eyebrows and eyes, and a python-sized braid coiled around his neck, his whitewashed hemp jacket bulging with blocks of muscle.

She nodded; she indeed remembered him, as one would not easily forget someone with the appearance of Hong Liangyu.

“You, your surname is Hong, are you Big Brother Hong?”

“What a fine memory.”

Hong Liangyu nodded and released her, “Your brother killed someone, and is now wanted by the authorities everywhere, so he can’t come to see you anymore, which is why he asked me to look after you. I went to Tang Family Village, only to find out you were taken away by the Xiang Army. Thank heavens, I came just in time.”

“Is my brother alright?”

“His skin is thick and his flesh is tough; he’s not so easy to kill. But you, think carefully, do you want to go with me?”

Tang Yingying was taken aback, “Go with you?”

Hong Liangyu nodded.

Tang Yingying fell into thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Big Brother Hong, when did you enter Living Fish Valley, and how did you find me?”

After Hong Liangyu explained everything from beginning to end, Tang Yingying exclaimed, “This valley is full of cliffs and sheer drops, and there are many guards; how could you just walk in without even announcing yourself at the door?”

Hong Liangyu laughed heartily, “The watch of the Xiang Army is somewhat methodical, sufficient to deal with the common warrior types, but they’re nothing in my eyes. In this Living Fish Valley, I walk as if on flat ground, coming and going freely. Let alone just me, even if I were to take you, a little miss, and fly far away, we could do so without anyone being the wiser.”

After laughing for a while, Hong Liangyu became serious again, “Miss, I am not jesting with you. If anyone forced you to join the Xiang Army and brought you to this Living Fish Valley against your will, making you suffer, just tell Big Brother Hong! I won’t say more — dispatching three or five leaders would be a breeze, I’ll pluck their heads off to vent your anger before taking you away.”

“No, no one abducted me. It was my own choice to join the Xiang Army.”

Tang Yingying replied firmly. Hong Liangyu nodded, having observed in secret for a long time and suspecting as much. Then he sighed, “Although you’re a woman, you have a fiery spirit, something Big Brother Hong likes. But making war and rebelling is the world’s hardest and most terrifying business. Maybe these past few days you’ve grown accustomed to seeing death, but you don’t understand that when the government acts cruelly, ripping out hearts and peeling off skin is just routine, not something that can be settled simply by death. Furthermore, as a woman… I won’t even discuss that,”
“I know you’ve had a hard life, not a delicate child. You can endure hardship. But everyone has a moment of impulsiveness; if you’re willing, I’ll take you away. It’d be fine to send you back to Tang Family Village, or to come home with me. Although I’m a simple man, what I say, I do. I promise you, as long as Hong Liangyu still breathes, I’ll never let you suffer. If I have a bite to eat, I’ll never let you go hungry. I’ll cherish and love you like your own brother, certainly better than you staying with the Xiang Army, girl. Think it over before you answer me.”

Hong Liangyu’s heartfelt speech left Tang Yingying momentarily stunned. Her eyes reddened a bit, but then she laughed, “Big Brother Hong, my real brother Tang Yao is hot-tempered and doesn’t really care for home. All my life, I’ve never heard such considerate words. You’re more of a kinsman to me than my own brother, Big Brother Hong. With your honesty, I don’t want to give you a perfunctory answer. Now I’m the personal guard of Mrs. Peng of the Xiang Army, and she treats me very well. I want to be like her, to kill all those local tyrants and evil gentry, and create a peaceful world where no one has to suffer like me again.”

All Hong Liangyu could do was shake his head, “Create a peaceful world… Hah, the Xiang Army, at most, counts four or five thousand men, even fewer with battle experience, only a few hundred muskets, and including farm tools, not even two thousand proper weapons. They’ve only taken a few county towns, small fries at best. Girl, did you know that your brother Tang Yao and I were sailors of the past Five Flags? Under Tianbao Dragon Head’s orders, the Five Flags together had a force of a full hundred thousand, with more than two thousand warships and over a thousand cannons, to say nothing of countless muskets and blades. We took Macau from the Portuguese and broke through the British-held Guangzhou port. Even with such formidable waves, we wouldn’t dare claim to create a peaceful world, let alone the Xiang Army, which is but a tiny ripple.”

“Girl, I’m not afraid to tell you the truth; through the eyes of us old Red Flag men, the Xiang Army is nothing but a rabble not worth mentioning.”

“Big Brother Hong, what you’re saying is wrong!”

Tang Yingying bristled with anger.

“I’ve heard of Tianbao Dragon Head’s fame, and I admire your skills, Big Brother Hong. But when my family was destroyed and I faced death, neither Big Brother Hong nor Tianbao Dragon Head could save me. The local officials and gentry were in collusion. My brother became a wanted criminal–where was justice in the world? When Monk Shi’s ripple hit me, it saved my life! I lack your insight, and while you may find it trivial, I am eternally grateful. I’ve long considered the Xiang Army my family. I am resolved to live and die with my brothers and sisters here. Big Brother Hong, thank you for your kindness. My brother is fortunate to have a friend like you, but please don’t try to persuade me anymore.”

Realizing his gaffe, Hong Liangyu fell silent for a moment.

“Big Brother Hong, I need to return this knife to Mrs. Peng. If I’m gone much longer, they’ll notice. Please wait for a while; I’ll come back to entertain you soon.”

Once Tang Yingying left the tent, Hong Liangyu exhaled deeply, mocking himself bitterly, “Hong Liangyu, oh Hong Liangyu, once you thought your abilities outstanding, a first-rate hero. How come you’re rendered speechless by a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, truly regressing the older you get.”

Suddenly, the tent was filled with alarmed shouts and cries. Amid the cacophony of arguments and cursing, many voices could be heard.

“Monk Shi has been defeated!”

“The Taiping Bandit has beaten Monk Shi.”

Ruan Zhanhui rolled several times on the Dharma Platform, desperately casting the Sweet Dew Skill and the Universal Salvation Curse from the Taiping Document’s Yang Skill onto his arm. It took a good while before he put out the sacred flames. Once he steadied himself, he looked toward Monk Shi who had been cast down from the platform, his face flushing with a rush of victory, “Monk Shi, what do you have to say now?”

The situation fell into an awkward silence.

Monk Shi took a deep breath, but before he could speak, someone in the crowd shouted, “The Five Dragon Sect Church was also invited by Monk Shi; Sect Leader Tianbao once led the Five Flags. No one in the South Seas disputes this. If he is fated to have this Buddhist treasure, what then?”

“Hahahaha.”

Ruan Zhanhui burst into loud laughter, “Lantau Island was overrun by the authorities, forcing that Tianbao rascal to abandon the Red Flag’s century-old foundation. Even Zheng Xiu, that little wench, left him behind and took off on her own to Borneo. Tianbao, who spoke so bravely of fighting to the death on Lantau Island, ended up scurrying away to save his own skin. Now he’s in Fujian, playing a holy man. With no Red Flag forces to back him, how can he pretend to be the leader of the Five Flags?”

Having just defeated Monk Shi and riding high on momentum, he left everyone momentarily speechless.

Inside the tent, Hong Liangyu, already frustrated and pent up since leaving Lantau Island, felt the last comment trigger all his pent-up resentment and anger. A vein throbbed on his forehead as he flung the tent aside and strode toward the Dharma Platform, growling with the quiet ferocity of a dozing lion:
“Bullshit! Who’s the dog that dares to insult my Tianbao Dragon Head? If you’re a man, stand up and answer!”