Chapter 348: The Spirit of Chivalry Must Not Be Lost

Upon Wang Er’s words, everyone’s hearts couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

White Cat said: “Big Brother, this is too dangerous. Have you forgotten about Zhuang Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu? If we want to leave the group, we can just go straight away. Going back to tell them would not be good.”

Wang Er said: “Just because others don’t follow the rules, must I do the same? The incident with Zhuang Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu was painful. But the rules of being a person and the spirit of chivalry—I must still uphold them firmly. If I left Wang Jiayin and others without a word of farewell, that would mean I had abandoned brotherly devotion, and there would be no real difference between me and Zheng Yanfu and Zhuang Guangdao.”

Everyone was silent.

Aren’t you stupid?

Several people almost blurted this out.

But Li Daoxuan did not mock him; instead, he was quite moved.

Chivalry really wasn’t wrong!

The ones who were wrong were probably those who thought chivalry was wrong, right?

When did the word chivalry start being mocked?

He couldn’t remember!

He only knew that everyone was becoming more and more selfish, putting their own interests first. Yet they had forgotten many basic truths of being human, forgotten the spirit of pushing forward even against thousands of adversaries, forgotten that there are some things worth practicing even at the cost of one’s life.

Li Daoxuan spoke up: “Let him go, but tell him to ensure his safety and not let something like Zhuang Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu ambushing him happen again.”

After Gao Yiye conveyed his words, Thirty-Two and Bai Yuan said nothing more. The two nodded together: “Alright, Brother Wang, you should go!”

Wang Er clasped his fists: “Thank you for your support, brothers.”

After saying this, he hardened his expression and said seriously: “Wang Jiayin’s current goal is to enter Huanglong Mountain and use it as a base. But when he passed through Yichuan County, he faced Hong Chengchou, and an army of fifty thousand couldn’t even defeat Hong Chengchou’s militia of less than two thousand men. After that lesson, he no longer dared to enter Huanglong Mountain through Yichuan County. So he must inevitably attack Qiachuan Port to land, then enter Huanglong Mountain via the route through Heyang County and Chengcheng County…”

Bai Yuan chimed in: “That means, whether you leave Wang Jiayin’s forces or not, he will definitely strike Qiachuan Port and enter Heyang County and Chengcheng County?”

Wang Er nodded: “Yes! I’m telling you this early. If I can persuade Wang Jiayin to surrender and join Gaojia Village, that’s naturally best. But if I go and don’t return, you must prepare for battle to counter Wang Jiayin’s assault—his force of fifty thousand men shouldn’t be underestimated.”

Bai Yuan nodded: “Then I wish Brother Wang a safe return.”

Wang Er clasped his fists, left Gaojia Village, swiftly passed through Heyang County, and reached Qiachuan Port. The fleet was still waiting for him at the dock. He left the villagers from Wangjia Village who were most loyal to him on the shore, boarded the fleet, and planned to head back north to see Wang Jiayin.

White Cat also leaped onto the boat.

Wang Er turned his head and shouted: “White Cat, you and the Wangjia Village people stay. I’ll go back alone.”

White Cat said: “How could that work? I want to be with Big Brother.”

Wang Er said: “If you slow me down, I won’t be able to flee even when I have to.”

White Cat paused slightly, understood, clasped his fists, and no longer followed. He returned to shore, took the less than one hundred Old Villagers from Wangjia, and stayed at the port.

Wang Er took a group of subordinates who had joined him later, and they started paddling upstream.

Wang Er paddled double oars, the small boat pushing through the waves, swaying gently as it went. It passed Hancheng, then Yichuan, continued north, and arrived at Qingshui Bay in Yanchuan. On the shore, a ramshackle fishing village appeared, filled with many listless rebels lying or sitting in defeat.

He had found Wang Jiayin…

Wang Er jumped off the boat and walked into the small fishing village.

Inside, the scene was one of bleak decay.

In recent years, everywhere Wang Er had been, all places looked this bleak and decayed. It had made him believe the entire world was this way. But this time, when he visited Gaojia Village, he learned that in Shaanxi, there was still a place where common folk could live and work in peace and contentment.

This world was not entirely bleak!

There was still hope in this world!

Wandering and plundering everywhere could not create a good life—at least, nothing like the happiness found in Gaojia Village.

We could no longer remain roving bandits, for that would save no one.

Wang Er strode with resolute steps, one after another, into Wang Jiayin’s tent.

The tent was quite crowded!

Besides Wang Jiayin, several other leaders were present. Wang Jiayin’s brother-in-law Zhang Liwei, fellow villager Wang Guozhong, Zijin Liang (Wang Ziyong), the King of Disruption, and others had all gathered inside the tent, seemingly discussing some crucial matter.

With a casual glance, Wang Er spotted two unfamiliar faces in the tent.

They looked fierce and menacing—clearly not ones to be trifled with.

Upon seeing Wang Er, the pair dared not act disrespectfully. Both bowed, with one saying, “I am Nan Ying Eighth Great King. Greetings, Brother Wang Er.”

The other added, “I am Xi Ying Eighth Great King. I have long admired Bai Shui Wang Er’s reputation. Now that I finally meet you, your imposing presence truly lives up to your legend.”

Wang Er noted that while Nan Ying Eighth Great King referred to himself as “I,” Xi Ying Eighth Great King used the humble “in my humble self.” This subtle difference in address spoke volumes—Nan Ying Eighth Great King seemed a typical brutish bandit, while Xi Ying Eighth Great King appeared marginally more cultured.

Wang Jiayin smiled as he introduced them. “Brother Wang, you’ve returned just in time. These two Eighth Great King have recently risen in rebellion and come to join our ranks—heroes of valor indeed.”

Wang Er returned the salute with clasped hands.

His gaze swept first over Nan Ying Eighth Great King. The latter lowered his eyes immediately upon meeting Wang Er’s stare, unable to confront it.

Next, Wang Er glanced at Xi Ying Eighth Great King, who showed not a trace of timidity. Instead, he smiled back, holding Wang Er’s gaze steadfastly.

This man is someone to watch, Wang Er thought.

Meanwhile, Xi Ying Eighth Great King pondered: So this is Bai Shui Wang Er, whose fame stretches far and wide. He truly is a formidable man. If I could win him over, he’d be an unrivaled warrior on the battlefield—a man fiercely loyal to the jianghu code, who would never betray his master.

Wang Jiayin inquired, “How were your gains this time, Brother Wang Er, as you followed the Yellow River south?”

Wang Er answered, “In fact, I wished to discuss this very matter with you, Brother.”

Being one who favored forthrightness over secrecy, he spoke openly amidst the gathered crowd in the tent: “In Chengcheng County, where I rose in rebellion, there exists a band of heroes—rebels, possibly from Guyuan. They now hold several villages, most of the county seat, and even parts of Huanglong Mountain. From what I saw, they governed excellently, and the people under them lived happily…”

He deliberately avoided naming Gaojia Village, keeping his descriptions vague.

This was something Zheng Yanfu and Zhuang Guangdao had taught him!

One should never intend harm, yet one must always guard against it. Naming Gaojia Village carelessly might invite disaster upon it—but attributing it to the Guyuan rebel band posed no such threat.

Wang Er recounted his travels, describing how well the Guyuan rebels had flourished and how content the civilians were. He concluded: “Brother Wang, I suggest we join them instead. Far better than this life of burning, killing, plundering, and scattering without purpose.”

…

That Xi Ying Eighth Great King was Zhang Xianzhong.

He first took the title “Eighth Great King” when he rebelled, only to discover another had adopted the same name. Their overlapping identities proved awkward.

To avoid confusion, the other renamed himself “Nan Ying Eighth Great King,” while Zhang Xianzhong adopted “Xi Ying Eighth Great King.” Thus, their titles no longer clashed. How cute and endearing!

The eunuch yet again couldn’t resist a complaint—Good heavens, these men really lack creativity in naming things.