Chapter Twenty-Five: The Heroes of Twin Dragon Stronghold

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Perhaps they needed to arrange something in Qingyang County, for after the conflict with Magistrate Xue, the uncle and nephew of the Gu family lingered in Qingyang for several days without leaving. The constables of Qingyang, all raised in the county town and intimately familiar with its modest expanse, could find every household with their eyes closed. With them around, the Gu uncle and nephew were watched closely, unable to escape scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Li Yun, Chief Constable Li, spent his days not only keeping an eye on the Gu family’s movements but also immersing himself in the library of the county academy. Though Qingyang was a small county and its academy’s collection sparse, it was still far richer than the books in the Cangshan stronghold. Li’s understanding of this era remained fragmentary, and he was eager to learn as much as possible through reading.

He preferred books over questioning people, firstly because most folk of this era, indeed the majority, were illiterate and knew less than even the simplest book. Secondly, books do not speak; asking questions like who the current emperor is, or who was the previous ruler, could easily arouse suspicion.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Li Yun was again at the county academy, borrowing and reading books. The academy’s instructor, knowing Li Yun to be a benefactor of the magistrate’s household, did not hinder him, allowing him to read as he pleased—sometimes for an entire day, tireless and engrossed.

As the saying goes: one does not fear powerful bandits, but educated ones! Li, master of the stronghold, was determined to become a learned brigand.

That afternoon, after several days of devouring books, Li Yun casually picked up a lighter, more entertaining storybook, resting it on his lap. As he became absorbed in its pages, a shadow fell across his vision. He looked up instinctively, and before he could speak, he recognized the familiar figure before him.

“You’ve been here every day?” It was Xue Yun’er.

This time, Xue Yun’er was not alone; a maid followed behind her. The maid was named Dong’er. On the day of Xue Yun’er’s wedding, Dong’er had accompanied her, but when the fighting broke out and Cangshan stronghold abducted people, Dong’er was spared, not taken up the mountain.

Now, the maid regarded Li Yun with curiosity, as if eager to see what the famed hero Li Zhao looked like.

Li Yun closed his book and smiled. “Of course, not every day. But whenever I have free time, I come here to sit.”

“What is it?” He looked up at Xue Yun’er and smiled. “Miss Xue, are you here to read as well?”

It had been five or six days since their parting. The frail, pitiful air that once clung to Xue Yun’er had faded, and she was no longer so timid.

Hearing Li Yun’s question, she replied softly, “My father’s study holds far more books than this academy.”

Li Yun laughed. “Then why not have the magistrate donate some to the academy?”

“Such glib talk.” She bit her lip gently, looking at Li Yun. “Come outside, I have a few questions for you.”

With that, Miss Xue turned and walked out. Li Yun closed his book, hands clasped behind his back, and followed. They came to a pavilion, where Miss Xue turned and looked at him, somewhat hesitant. “A few days ago, the Gu family came and spoke with my father. What did they say?”

She spoke softly. “That day, my father was so angry he skipped his meal. When I asked him, he wouldn’t tell me. Only you were present…”

Li Yun considered, then smiled. “What does Miss Xue wish to hear?”

“I want to know what the Gu family said…” Miss Xue clenched her fists. “They must have spoken ill of me to make my father so furious.”

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Li Yun recalled the events of that day and began, “If it’s ill words, about you, Miss Xue, they were quite circumspect.”

He tapped his nose. “But when it came to me, they spoke plainly.”

Xue Yun’er blinked. “They don’t even know you, what did they say?”

“They called me a beast.” Li Yun smiled gently. “I remember it well.”

“Ah…” Miss Xue exclaimed, frowning. “The Gu family is supposed to be scholarly—how could they be so rude?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Li Yun waved his hand. “I’m a magnanimous man, I don’t mind.”

“As for what they said about you…” Li Yun smiled. “They merely claimed you’d tarnished their family’s reputation, and that the marriage should be annulled. That’s what angered your father—he and Gu Zhang had a fierce argument, but little else was said.”

“Hmph… Family reputation.” Xue Yun’er was angry too, biting her lip. “What reputation does the Gu family have? All that boasting—”

“Constable—” Xue Yun’er’s words were interrupted by a distant shout. A young man, Chen Da, ran over in haste.

As he approached, he noticed Xue Yun’er and was momentarily flustered.

Li Yun stepped forward and asked quietly, “News?”

Chen Da nodded. “The two of them are about to leave Qingyang.”

“Good.” Li Yun patted his shoulder and smiled. “Who has been watching them these days?”

“Myself and another brother.”

Li Yun took a small piece of gold from his pocket and handed it to Chen Da, saying quietly, “Split this for drinks, and speak of this to no one.”

In this era, gold and silver were not currency; only copper coins were real money, while gold and silver were merely precious metals. Silver was heavy, so Li Yun carried some gold instead.

Chen Da hesitated. “Constable, we haven’t even paid our respects to you—how can I accept—”

“Take it as told.”

They had watched the Gu uncle and nephew for two days. If something “unexpected” happened after they left town, speculation would follow. Now was the time to seal their lips and ward off future trouble.

Chen Da nodded, took the gold, and bowed his head. “Rest assured, none of us ever met those two.”

“Good, go.”

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Chen Da bowed to Miss Xue, then hurried off.

Li Yun turned back to Xue Yun’er, smiling. “That’s all there was—nothing but severing a bad match, so don’t dwell on it.”

“I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Where are you going…” Xue Yun’er watched him, asking, “Is it out of town?”

“Once you go… will you return?” she asked.

Li Yun turned to leave, smiling. “What comes after, who can say?”

“You could stay on as constable, it would… it would be good enough.”

“The mountain…” Xue Yun’er stammered, “The mountain… has so many mosquitoes.”

Li Yun laughed softly, clasped his hands in salute. “I understand.”

With that, he strode away, borrowed a horse from the county yamen, and departed the town.

He had never ridden before, but Cangshan stronghold had once seized a few horses, and the original Li Yun had known how. After a short while, Li Yun got the hang of it.

About ten miles out of town, he spotted a familiar mark beneath a roadside tree and followed it. Soon, under a large tree, he found Liu Bo and Zhang Hu.

Li Yun dismounted, and the two greeted him. Seeing the horse, they both looked envious. “Second Brother, you’re amazing—just a few days in town, and you’ve got a mount.”

“Borrowed.” Li Yun shot them a look and smiled. “How many came down from the mountain?”

“Not many, seven or eight,” Liu Bo said, excited. “Second Brother, are we about to do something?”

“Almost.” Li Yun glanced towards the county town. “This time, we’re to abduct two people and take them up the mountain. If we succeed, we’ll make a good profit.”

“But before we start, remember—”

“We are no longer the bandits of Cangshan stronghold.”

Zhang Hu was confused. “Second Brother, then we are…”

Li Yun grinned.

“We are the righteous men of Erlong stronghold…”

“We’ve come to avenge ourselves against the Gu family!”