145. A Hundred Boats Race into Yunmeng

Clear Breeze Courtyard.

Shen Yanxi looked across the table at Lu Wei, feeling somewhat dazed. Lu Wei did not actually have a kind-looking face, and the saber scar across the corner of his eye was particularly terrifying. Given that he was a water bandit by trade, he should have been cruel and merciless. Yet, after hearing him recount all this, even Shen Yanxi felt a twinge of sympathy for him; his situation was truly miserable.

And yet, despite being such a man, his words were sincere and frank. Shen Yanxi finally understood why her husband had sworn brotherhood with him.

Realizing that these people had been living in such wretched conditions lately, and that the ultimate cause of it all was none other than her own husband, Shen Yanxi hardly knew what to say.

"It is my failure as a brother. Had I known, I should have stayed right by Big Brother's side to live and die alongside all of you."

Upon hearing of Lu Wei’s recent life of displacement—hounded before and pursued from behind—Lu Jun also felt a wave of emotion. Of course, he could never breathe a word of the fact that he himself was the primary culprit.

Listening to her husband, Shen Yanxi was somewhat speechless. She knew he was just being polite to his sworn brother, but it still irritated her. If he hadn't returned, she feared she would have grown ice-cold long ago.

"How can you blame yourself, brother? If it weren't for your encouragement to me and the men back then, I doubt we would have made it this far. But from here on out, things will be difficult indeed," Lu Wei said with a melancholy sigh.

"Big Brother is too modest. You are a hero of this generation, and what you are facing now is merely a tiger trapped in the lowlands. Please do not lose heart, Big Brother," Lu Jun encouraged him.

"Brother, to think that in such desperate straits, you still hold me in such high regard. I... I don't know what to say," Lu Wei said, deeply moved.

"Rest assured, Big Brother, with me here, I am not a man given to empty boasts. I invited Big Brother here today precisely to honor our bonds of brotherhood. Even if I must die, I will die in the exact same place as Big Brother!" Lu Jun declared with intense emotion.

"Ah, brother, you..." Lu Wei’s eyes grew moist. Why would someone with such a fine life and such a stunning sister-in-law throw caution to the wind like this?

Beneath the table, Shen Yanxi's small hand kept pinching him continuously. He really dared to say anything! Lu Jun simply had to endure it; he had no choice—maintaining control over this faction relied entirely on the bonds of brotherhood.

Given the influence and power he currently possessed, he could certainly cast Lu Wei aside and play the game on his own. The problem was: whom could he appoint to lead the water bandits? Jiang Shangxing? Shen Qingshan? Lu Jun trusted neither of them. There were simply no other candidates.

"Husband, perhaps we should serve the meal first? You can eat and talk at the same time," Shen Yanxi suggested.

"Yes, yes, I was so caught up in reminiscing with Big Brother. It is all my fault for being a poor host. Shuqing, set the banquet in the main hall to welcome my big brother."

"Oh, brother, we already ate just a moment ago," Lu Wei said anxiously.

"Listen to your brother, Big Brother. It is not easy for you to make the trip here; how could I let you leave with a cold heart? Besides, I just returned from outside myself and need to change my clothes first.

"Shangxing, take Big Brother and Fourth Brother to the main hall later and wait for us there," Lu Jun instructed.

"Understood, Master."

"Then I must trouble both you and my sister-in-law," Lu Wei said politely.

"Big Brother Lu need not stand on ceremony. Consider this place just like your own home."

Temporarily parting ways with Lu Wei and Xu Zhong, Lu Jun and Shen Yanxi returned to their quarters.

"What does my wife think of this Big Brother of mine?"

"Though his appearance is fierce, he seems to be a loyal and honest man. But people's hearts are easily changed, and my husband must still guard against him."

"What my wife says is true."

It wasn't that he couldn't trust the current Lu Wei, but rather that his wife's words were absolute truth. Today, as a lowly water bandit, Lu Wei naturally abided by the code of the martial world. But what if he grew truly powerful? Without even thinking, Lu Jun knew what kind of challenges he would face.

Human desires are insatiable, and the abyss of greed is hard to fill. To maintain this brotherhood while retaining absolute control over the faction required more than just fraternal loyalty—it demanded method and strategy.

In other words, from this moment on, the brotherhood between him and Lu Wei was no longer pure.

Well, truth be told, it had never been pure to begin with.

-----------------

When Lu Jun and Shen Yanxi arrived at the main hall, Lu Wei and Xu Zhong were already waiting inside.

Compared to their martial attire from earlier, Lu Jun and Shen Yanxi now wore formal garments that were dignified, opulent, and overwhelmingly imposing. Lu Wei and Xu Zhong felt as though they had just been dug out of the earth after being buried alive for fifty years.

"Big Brother, Fourth Brother, please, sit, sit. I was delayed a bit of time, please do not take offense, Big Brother." Lu Jun stepped forward to grasp Lu Wei's arm, his smile as warm as a spring breeze.

"Not at all, not at all," Lu Wei hurriedly replied with courtesy, a storm of mixed emotions churning in his heart. Was this really the same person sitting across from him at the same table?

"Shuqing, serve the dishes." Once the pleasantries were exchanged and everyone was seated, Shen Yanxi promptly instructed the maidservants to bring out the food.

"Shuqing, fetch me the fine wine. I am going to have a proper drink with Big Brother and Fourth Brother."

"Understood, Master." Shuqing hurried away with a smile. The young master was different from before, radiating an aura of grand boldness.

Dish after exquisite dish was placed upon the low tables amidst the smiles of beautiful maidservants.

With fine tableware, delicate dishes, and clear-as-water premium liquor, both Lu Wei and Xu Zhong stared in a daze, involuntarily swallowing hard. Was this the kind of food a water bandit was supposed to eat?

"There is fine wine under heaven, and the Lanchang Spring of the Great Liang is among them. This first cup of wine, on behalf of my wife and myself, I offer to welcome Big Brother and Old Xu to Clear Breeze Courtyard. Please!" Lu Jun raised his cup high, speaking with spirited passion.

"Good, good," Lu Wei said as he raised his cup. He had never tasted wine of this caliber before, and his heart fluttered with nervous trepidation. But as a man of the rivers and lakes, surely a cup of liquor couldn't do him in.

"Cough, cough... Ah, brother, this wine of yours..." With a single gulp of the wine, the burning sensation brought tears to Lu Wei's eyes. What kind of wine was this?

Looking up at Lu Jun, he saw him calm and composed, with only a slight flush on his cheeks.

"Take it slow, Big Brother. This wine is different from others; it has quite a kick, which suits us men of the rivers and lakes best. After a few cups, Big Brother will get used to it," Lu Jun advised.

After a long while, Lu Wei and Xu Zhong finally recovered their breath and took a few bites of the food. Though the dishes were delicious, the two brothers remained on edge throughout, unable to truly appreciate the flavors.

"This second cup of wine is to offer my congratulations to Big Brother!" Lu Jun raised his cup once more, utter sincerity in his tone.

"Ah? Brother, what do I have to congratulate myself for?" Lu Wei looked at Lu Jun with a face full of confusion. If not for his brother's genuine nature, he would have thought he was being mocked on purpose. He was practically living the life of a refugee; where on earth was the cause for celebration?

Neither Lu Wei nor Xu Zhong—nor even Shen Yanxi and Jiang Shangxing—could make sense of it. Seeing how wretched the two men were, how could there possibly be anything to celebrate?

"Does Big Brother not know?" Lu Jun looked utterly astonished.

"Ah? This..." Lu Wei wore an awkward expression. Thinking back on it, there truly wasn't anything. Could it be...?"

"Brother, do you mean our reunion as brothers?" Lu Wei asked with pleasant surprise. Of course! When he was in the depths of despair and facing certain death, his sworn brother had appeared, not only rescuing the third brother but tracking him down specifically.

"Ah? Well, no. The life-or-death bond between us was cemented the day we met, so there is no need to speak of that as a cause for joy." Lu Jun could only awkwardly cope; that wasn't what he meant at all.

"Then brother has left me rather confused. As things stand, your older brother is destitute and fallen..." Lu Wei sighed.

"Stop!" Lu Jun shouted suddenly, startling the others in the room. Lu Wei froze, staring blankly and pleadingly at Lu Jun. What did this mean?

"It is precisely because Big Brother has spent these past days facing life-or-death uncertainty, teetering on the edge of survival, and reaching the end of his hero's road that I must congratulate you, Big Brother!" Lu Jun declared, raising his cup with intense emotion.

"Ah~" Lu Wei and Xu Zhong looked even more stupefied.

Shen Yanxi, however, came to her senses, lowered her head, and let out a soft chuckle. Though she didn't know what game her husband was playing, there would undoubtedly be a grand narrative behind it.

As for Jiang Shangxing, he was completely lost. Since he wasn't familiar with anyone's background, he simply looked on with a face full of shock.

"Big Brother does not know. As the Sage says: When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility upon a man, it will first jade his heart and mind, toil his sinews and bones, expose his body to hunger, subject him to extreme poverty, and confound his undertakings. Thus is his mind stimulated, his nature hardened, and his incompetence remedied."

"That Big Brother was able to endure these trials today and escape from the jaws of death means you have passed the test of Heaven! How can your brother not offer congratulations?" With these words, Lu Jun raised his cup once more.

"Ah? I am a crude man, brother. I honestly didn't catch the meaning of those words just now. Could you explain?" Lu Wei said awkwardly. It sounded very impressive, but he truly hadn't understood much.

*(⊙ꇴ⊙)* Lu Jun was speechless. If you react like this, isn't my grand theatrical performance going to waste?

"Pfft!" Seeing this scene, Shen Yanxi could no longer hold back her laughter.

"Big Brother Lu, what my husband means is that the ancient sages once said that whenever Heaven wishes to entrust a great mission to a hero, it deliberately plunges him into mental anguish, physical exhaustion, starvation, and hardship, causing all his endeavors to meet with obstruction. This is actually Heaven's way of using adversity to stimulate his mind, temper his character, and cultivate his talents," Shen Yanxi explained.

"And now, though Big Brother Lu has fallen upon hard times, you have successfully passed Heaven's rigorous tests. The time has come for Big Brother Lu to accomplish great deeds." After finishing her explanation, Shen Yanxi didn't forget to shoot a glare at her husband. Couldn't he have spoken in simpler terms?

Lu Jun was equally speechless. If he had spoken too simply, would anyone believe those were the words of a Sage? It would sound more like *his* words.

"Ah, this... this... Brother, did the Sage really say that?" Lu Wei's previously darkened mood instantly flared with excitement.

"Big Brother, would your brother dare speak falsely? Big Brother mentioned it yourself just now: have you ever wondered why, every time, Big Brother managed to avert disaster and cheat death while everyone else perished by the riverbanks?" Lu Jun asked with a look of profound grief.

"Ah? This... this..." Lu Wei was almost incoherent. Indeed, every time it had felt like there was no way out, yet somehow, by some freak stroke of luck, he had survived. Could Heaven truly have meant it this way? The more Lu Wei thought about it, the more excited he became. Having already consumed the potent liquor, his face flushed a deep red.

"Congratulations, Big Brother!" Lu Jun raised his cup again.

"Congratulations, Big Brother Lu!" Naturally, Shen Yanxi followed her husband's lead.

"Good, good! Every time I listen to my brother speak, I benefit immensely." Lu Wei's grand ambitions reignited. Had he known Heaven intended it this way, he would have tried to act even more heroic!

Of course, Lu Jun wasn't just playing games. Following this devastating blow, Lu Wei had clearly lost his ambition. But Lu Jun still needed his name and banner, so Lu Wei must not be allowed to fall.

"Brother, even if I have passed the test, we only have a handful of men left now..." Lu Wei sighed.

"Is Big Brother familiar with the other water bandits in the surrounding area?" Lu Jun asked, deflecting the topic.

"Is brother thinking..." For a split second, Lu Wei assumed Lu Jun wanted to ally with other water bandits, given that their current forces were too weak to accomplish anything.

"Big Brother!" Across the low table, Lu Jun reached out and grabbed Lu Wei's arm once more.

"Do you remember what your brother told you upon my return? To hide one's brilliance and bide one's time! Big Brother has passed Heaven's test, and now the opportune moment has arrived!" Lu Jun said with such deep emotion he was nearly moved to tears.

"Ah? Where is this opportune moment?" Lu Wei was somewhat bewildered.

"Big Brother, a few days ago, the Bairong army breached Dingbian and is currently marching toward the capital! The imperial court has already issued decrees mobilizing troops from across the country to defend the capital, and the troops of Jiangzhou must certainly go as well. How could they possibly still have time to hunt us down? Our Lanchang River Bandits have won a breathing space, and you and I, brothers, must rise up together with the momentum of thunder to sweep through Yunmeng and unify the Lanchang River!"

"Is this true?" Lu Wei asked excitedly. Good heavens! He had just passed the test, and the opportunity had already arrived?

"Second Chieftain, is what you say true?" Xu Zhong asked, finding it hard to believe.

"Would your brother deceive our two chieftains? The opportune moment for us brothers has arrived!" Lu Jun declared passionately.

"Big Brother Lu, my husband speaks absolute truth," Shen Yanxi chimed in.

"Good, good, good! I am well acquainted with the surrounding strongholds, but with just this..." It was indeed a prime opportunity, but what could a mere hundred or so men accomplish? Since Heaven had chosen him, why hadn't it sent down some heavenly soldiers and generals to assist him?

"Big Brother need not worry. Do you remember my words from before?" Lu Jun's bold spirit surged forth.

"Today, your brother's ambition remains unchanged, and his heart does not waver. I am determined to help Big Brother pacify both banks of the Lanchang River!" Lu Jun's imposing aura erupted forth.

"Tonight at the Hour of Yin, accompany your brother once more into Yunmeng, and let us see who under heaven can dare stand against us brothers!"

Shen Yanxi smiled inwardly. Her husband really had a trick for every occasion; no wonder he had been able to handle the den of water bandits with such effortless ease back then.

"Good! May my brother's auspicious words come true! What of a hundred odd men? Back then, Big Brother started out with nothing more than a broken boat, didn't I? We brothers shall do it all over again!"

"Big Brother speaks the very truth!"

Cups clashed, sealing their destiny over Yunmeng.

At the Hour of Yin the following day, the main force had already boarded the vessels and prepared to set sail.

"Wife, are all arrangements made?" Lu Jun asked, turning back as he boarded the ship.

"Rest assured, Husband. Uncle Fifteen will handle everything properly."

"Good. Come with your husband and see this rivers-and-lakes world!"

Amidst the morning mist of dawn, three large ships, escorted by over a dozen smaller boats, quietly departed from Qingfeng Flat and steered straight toward Yunmeng Marsh.