Chapter 49: Li Jun: Brother, you have ruined me!

"Life-taking Judge" Li Li had always been a man with few friends. Even after joining Liangshan, where the mountain was filled with valiant heroes, the only person he truly got along with remained Li Jun.

"Mixed-River Dragon" Li Jun and he had once occupied Jieyang Ridge, forming the "Three Overlords of Jieyang" alongside Mu Hong and Mu Chun of Jieyang Town, and Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun of the Xunyang River. Mu Hong, Mu Chun, Zhang Heng, and Zhang Shun were all biological brothers; only Li Jun and Li Li were friends brought together by fate. The two of them had banded together, holding their ground against the other two factions.

In truth, Li Jun also had few friends. Although he belonged to Song Jiang’s prominent faction, Song Jiang’s subordinates were further divided into numerous smaller cliques—such as the Qingzhou faction, the Jiangzhou faction, the Qingfeng Mountain faction, the Huangmen Mountain faction, and so on. Li Jun belonged to the "Jieyang branch" of the Jiangzhou faction. The Jieyang branch included Li Jun and Li Li of Jieyang Ridge, Tong Wei and Tong Meng, Mu Hong and Mu Chun of Jieyang Town, and Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun of the Xunyang River.

However, Li Jun’s relations with Mu Hong, Mu Chun, Zhang Heng, and Zhang Shun were far from harmonious. Making a living in Jieyang meant inevitable competition. It was only because the three-legged balance of power prevented any single side from overpowering the others that they had managed to maintain a peaceful coexistence, each minding their own business.

Logically speaking, after ascending Liangshan, since they all came from the same region, they should have drawn close for mutual support. Yet, a new conflict had arisen between Li Jun on one side and Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun on the other: Li Jun had secured the first chair of the naval forces.

The Liangshan navy had been built entirely from scratch by the three Ruan brothers. Could the Ruan brothers possibly accept Li Jun being parachuted in to take the supreme command of the navy? Furthermore, Zhang Shun’s aquatic skills were unrivaled under heaven; neither Li Jun nor the Ruan brothers could match him. Hailing from the same Jieyang, newly arrived at Liangshan, and lacking any prior contributions, why on earth should Zhang Shun submit to Li Jun?

In the original narrative, right up to the very end, Li Jun never completely won over Zhang Heng, Zhang Shun, and the Ruan brothers. Otherwise, when he eventually left Song Jiang, he would not have taken only his original core followers, Tong Wei and Tong Meng.

Especially now that Li Jun was suddenly placed at the head of the naval forces, it was no exaggeration to say he was entirely isolated among the naval personnel. Moreover, the naval camp was situated independently from the main fortress, leaving Li Jun largely unacquainted with the commanders of the cavalry and infantry.

Consequently, Li Jun’s current days were far from easy. Having yet to find his true purpose in life, he could only drift along with the tide.

Today, Li Jun had brought the two brothers "Dragon Emerging from Cave" Tong Wei and "Mirage Rising from Water" Tong Meng to find Li Li for drinks. The back kitchen of the North Mountain Tavern led directly to the lakeside; the three of them disembarked from their boat and entered the tavern through the back kitchen.

Who could have anticipated that the moment they stepped inside, they would witness a fierce, burly giant swinging a broad-headed saber to sever Li Li’s head!

Li Jun was utterly shocked and hastily roared at the top of his lungs:
"Show mercy under the blade!"

Yet the burly giant acted as though he heard nothing, hacking down the head of the "Life-taking Judge" Li Li in a single stroke!

A cloud of bloody mist erupted into the air, and the thick, pungent smell of blood instantly made Li Jun’s nose sting with acidity!

The burly giant even flashed a ferocious grin at him, asking what mercy he wanted under the blade...

At that exact moment, a surge of hot blood rushed to the top of his head. Consumed by burning fury, Li Jun snatched up his broadsword and charged forward!

"Swish—"

Without a second word, the burly giant launched a preemptive strike, slashing directly at Li Jun!

The giant’s blow came with ferocious momentum. Without time for thought, Li Jun instinctively raised his broadsword to block.

"Clang—"

A crisp metallic crash echoed as the broad-headed saber collided with the broadsword, and Li Jun’s broadsword snapped in half on impact!

What a fine blade!

Li Jun’s complexion changed drastically. He retreated without hesitation, only to crash directly into Tong Wei and Tong Meng, who were rushing up behind him!

Normally, Li Jun should have leaped back three paces, but blocked by Tong Wei and Tong Meng at his back, he only managed to retreat a single foot...

*My good brothers have doomed me!*

Li Jun’s face turned deathly pale as he watched the gleaming edge of the blade flash right before his eyes!

"Slash!"

With a soft sound, Li Jun’s flowing, elegant bangs were sliced off cleanly by the razor-sharp edge, leaving him with an awkward, blunt fringe...

*What... the... hell...*

At that instant, a chill ran through Li Jun’s entire body, and without a second thought, he screamed at the top of his lungs:
"The heroes of Liangshan are right here! Who are you, and why have you slaughtered your way onto Liangshan?"

"Swish—"

The broad-headed saber rolled forward like towering waves, coming to an abrupt, screeching halt right in front of Li Jun!

The dazzling glare of the blade blinded Li Jun, and the biting, bone-chilling aura forced goosebumps to erupt all over his skin...

Radiating an overwhelming aura of murderous intent, the burly giant stared coldly and demanded:
"You are a hero of Liangshan?"

"Precisely!"

Though still shaken to his core, Li Jun had once been an overlord in his own remote territory; putting aside his fear, he asked defiantly:
"I am Li Jun, 'Mixed-River Dragon,' a chieftain of the Liangshan naval forces. Why did you murder my brother of Liangshan?"

"Oh?"

The burly giant glanced at Li Li’s severed head, a mocking smirk playing at the corners of his mouth:
"This scoundrel is also a hero of Liangshan?"

"Indeed he is!"

Li Jun shoved aside Tong Wei and Tong Meng, who had nearly gotten him killed. Since the burly giant was willing to talk, Li Jun regained his confidence.

Backed by the might of Liangshan, Li Jun demanded righteously:
"This brother of mine was known as the 'Life-taking Judge' Li Li. He was tasked by Brother Song Gongming to stay here at the North Mountain Tavern to gather intelligence and welcome arriving guests! How dare you slaughter my brother Li Li? Do you presume the swords and sabers of Liangshan are blunt?"

The burly giant burst into laughter: "My blade is no less sharp!"

***

The Hall of Loyalty and Honor.

Song Jiang was playing a game of Go with Wu Yong.

Hesitating over where to place his piece, Song Jiang once again drifted into idle chatter with Wu Yong:
"Military Advisor, Master Lu and Wusong set off for Tokyo to gather intelligence, and I wonder if they have arrived yet. Though Master Lu possesses formidable martial arts, he is rough and reckless. Should he stir up trouble in Tokyo..."

"Rest assured, Brother."

Wu Yong, long accustomed to Song Jiang’s delaying tactics, calmly waved his goose-feather fan and smiled:
"Master Lu is astute beneath his rough exterior. Besides, there is the bold and meticulous Wusong; he will not ruin your grand plans, Brother."

Song Jiang had yet to figure out his next move and could only continue stalling:
"And then there are Lu Junyi and Cai Fu... Having caused a massive uproar in Daming Prefecture twice in succession, making such a grand display only to suddenly vanish without a trace... For the past few nights I have been unable to sleep in peace, constantly feeling that they might unleash even greater turmoil..."

"Have no fear, Brother."

With a calm smile of absolute confidence, Wu Yong replied:
"Since they rescued Yang Xiong, Shi Xiu, and Director Dai from Daming Prefecture, it proves they intend to defect to Liangshan. Vanishing without a trace is likely to avoid prying eyes, traveling by night and resting by day. Brother, look at this game..."

Just as Wu Yong attempted to steer the conversation back to the Go board, he suddenly saw Song Jiang clutch his chest, his face twisting in agony!

"Brother, what ails you?"

Wu Yong scrambled to his feet to support Song Jiang.

Song Jiang raised a single hand, signaling Wu Yong not to move him. In truth, after just two breaths, Song Jiang managed to catch his breath, though his face remained deathly pale and words failed him.

After another moment, breaking out in a cold sweat, Song Jiang let out a heavy sigh:
"For some reason, a sudden, sharp pain struck my heart... I know not why, but I feel as though I have lost something, sensing it dimly in the nether realms..."