Chapter 52: Li Kui: I Swear to Lock Horns with This Rogue, Fighting to the Death!
Truly, it was as if he had lost his very parents; no greater grief could compare. Those who heard it were heartbroken; those who witnessed it wept.
The heroes of Liangshan were men of feeling, and seeing Song Jiang weep so bitterly, they too could not help but shed tears.
“Brother, don’t cry! Iron Ox must pay his blood debt with blood!”
The blind giant, Da Xiong, seeing Song Jiang wailing uncontrollably, was instantly enraged, leaping into a fury! Grabbing two great axes, his eyes blazing red like a bull in heat, he lunged at Lu Junyi.
“Die, you bastard!”
Disaster!
Song Jiang, who had been sobbing into Hua Rong’s arms, suddenly changed expression, struggled free, and shouted:
“Iron Ox, don’t—”
But Da Xiong’s muscles bulged like tombstones, his hair bristled in anger, eyes bloodshot and fierce as a demonic star descended!
“Whoosh—”
The huge axes, as large as wagon wheels, screamed through the air, aiming straight at Lu Junyi’s face!
Ha!
Lei Heng sneered coldly:
Though “Black Whirlwind” Li Kui’s martial skills were mediocre, he was a born fiend, terribly fierce.
Even those more skilled than Li Kui were no match for his deadly ruthlessness in battle.
He had once crossed blades with Lu Junyi and found the so-called “Jade Qilin of Hebei” far from the legend.
At such close range, could Lu Junyi dodge the furious assault of Li Kui?
Hmph!
Li Jun wore a sinister grin:
He had once toyed with Lu Junyi on the water and found him no better than the rumors claimed.
At first, he did not care whether Lu Junyi joined Liangshan; after all, he was only a naval captain.
But when Cai Fu killed “Death Judge” Li Li, he immediately opposed Li Jun.
He unconsciously flicked his fringe and longed to see rivers of blood flow!
“Ahhhh—”
Li Kui’s roar was like thunder, his bloodshot eyes fixed fiercely on Lu Junyi as he swung his massive axes in a wide arc!
Suddenly, his vision darkened!
“Smack—”
The long, black, thick steel shaft of a spear struck Li Kui’s face fiercely!
Li Kui was struck as if by lightning, his eyes went dark, and his sturdy body involuntarily fell backward!
“Boom—”
Like a mountain collapsing, Li Kui crashed heavily to the ground, a rough blood scar across his broad face!
All the Liangshan heroes gasped in unison:
This fellow was truly terrifying!
Song Jiang had tried every means to win over Lu Junyi, making many Liangshan heroes resentful.
Especially after their crushing defeat at Zengtoushi, where even the great chief Chao Gai had perished...
When Song Jiang heard the great monk Dayuan at Longhua Temple in Daming Prefecture praise Lu Junyi, he had exalted him to the skies.
Saying things like “A master of martial arts, unmatched with rod or club...”
“Liangshan would fear no government troops nor worry about armies if they had this man among them...”
Though Song Jiang’s words praised Lu Junyi, they also mocked the rest of the Liangshan heroes as useless.
Song Jiang certainly admired Lu Junyi’s skills, but there was a double meaning behind his words.
The Liangshan heroes took the bait; any with a shred of ability wanted to compete with Lu Junyi.
So when they took turns teasing Lu Junyi, they were so happy; when they forcibly kept him at Liangshan, they were so arrogant; when Song Jiang wanted to yield leadership to Lu Junyi, they were so resentful...
Because of Lu Junyi’s earlier performance at Liangshan, they had yet to realize his true strength.
Until now, when Lu Junyi casually flicked the spear planted in the ground, its shaft knocked Li Kui sprawling, they finally understood:
This fellow was truly terrifying!
If it had been an ordinary man, like “Iron Fan” Song Qing, that blow would have killed outright.
Fortunately, Li Kui’s skin was tough, his body like steel, so the strike only knocked him down.
In the original tale, during the campaign against Tian Hu, Li Kui encountered “Jade Arrow” Qiu Qiongying.
Her flying stone technique was on par with Zhang Qing’s.
She repeatedly injured generals like Hu Sanniang, Sun Xin, Lin Chong, and Xie Zhen with flying stones.
Especially Lin Chong, who was struck in the face, bleeding profusely, forcing him to retreat with his spear.
But when Qiu Qiongying’s flying stone hit Li Kui’s forehead, his tough skin and bones only felt pain; no injury occurred.
Li Kui was startled but soon enraged, his tiger whiskers bristling, eyes wide, and he roared as he charged forward.
Only when Qiu Qiongying struck his forehead twice did blood flow.
This reveals much.
Now, Li Kui’s head buzzed, yet his ferocity grew.
Wiping his face, he scrambled up.
“Fight again!”
Though he knew he was no match for Lu Junyi, Li Kui was filled with murderous energy, fearless of death!
“Stop!”
This time Song Jiang’s words finally took effect, as Qin Ming and Hua Rong held Li Kui tightly.
Li Kui struggled and shouted:
“Let me go! I want to settle this face to face, life against life!”
Heh.
Lu Junyi merely smiled disdainfully, making Li Kui even more furious, burning with rage.
“Iron! Ox!”
Song Jiang, tears brimming, his face dark as water, sternly scolded to restrain the raging Li Kui.
Li Kui paused, sensing Song Jiang’s genuine anger, and stopped his outburst, glaring fiercely at Lu Junyi.
You villain!
Cai Fu’s lips curled into a mocking smile:
Li Kui had always been a bewildered born fiend!
Now trained by Song Jiang like a mastiff, he recognized only one master; whoever Song Jiang commanded, he obeyed!
Had Li Kui been like in Jiangzhou days, Cai Fu might have taken him in out of pity for his dull wits.
Trained well, he could be sent to kill the Liao and Jin dogs—a proper use.
But the Li Kui now was a murderous fiend who would even strike children!
How could Cai Fu care for him?
Stopping Li Kui, Song Jiang, tears in his eyes, trembling yet trying to stay composed, asked:
“Brother Li Li was investigating news at Beishan Inn, inviting guests, with no grievances against Jie Ji.
Why did Jie Ji strike with such cruelty?”
“No grievances?”
Cai Fu sneered, slapping the wine jar on the table:
“Who among you dares drink a bowl from this jar?”
Song Jiang instinctively looked at Wu Yong.
Wu Yong frowned; he already guessed what Li Li had done.
But now that the matter stood thus, he had to feign ignorance; otherwise, others might think he had orchestrated it...
“I dare!”
Li Kui jumped up, pushing aside Qin Ming, Hua Rong, Mu Hong, Mu Chun, Lei Heng, Li Jun, Yan Shun, Wang Aihu, Zheng Tianshou, Lu Fang, Guo Sheng, Kong Ming, Kong Liang...
He rushed forward, hoisted the wine jar high, and opened his mouth wide to catch the waterfall of wine:
“Glug glug glug...”
Good grief!
Song Jiang was speechless: Why not just drink it all at once!
“Burp!”
Li Kui took a deep gulp, set down the jar, burped loudly, and with a big grin laughed heartily:
“Refreshing!”