Chapter 48 Something’s wrong
"Master?"

The two men holding the whip turned around and clasped their fists at the same time. The man who beat Wu Song answered first: "Today, I was drinking with a few acquaintances in the inn on the small road ahead, and I met this thief who was looking for trouble and beat me up."

The apprentice was not as skilled as the other, so he gritted his teeth and "sued his parents", putting all the blame on Wu Song, and angrily expressed his intention to beat him to death to vent his anger.

The short man with a dark face did not respond and turned his gaze to Yang Chang again.

“Then this one.”

"This bird is his companion. He just fought with us while protecting the monk and injured seven or eight of our farmhands."

Yang Chang was also looking at the newcomer. He was more than six feet tall, with a small black hat covering his dark face, and his hands crossed in his sleeves to keep warm, just like a black bird watching the excitement at the entrance of the village.

After hearing the introduction, Hei Cuoniao immediately showed a questioning look, pointing at Yang Chang and asking, "He injured seven or eight farmhands?"

"Yes, although this bird is skinny, it has great strength. Ten or twenty people cannot get close to it. Master, please make way for me. I want to continue beating it to vent my anger."

"and many more."

Black Bird stopped his disciple, walked up to Yang Chang, frowned and asked: "Sir, you are so brave, you must be famous in the martial arts world. May I ask your name?"

"Ahem, I just entered the martial arts world and my name is..."

Yang Chang thought of his previous experience in Tokyo and was considering whether to use a pseudonym to cover up, when he was immediately hit on the leg with a cane.

"My master asked you a question. Why are you hiding it? Are you a person of the Ten Evils?"

"Come and fight me, don't hurt my brother!"

Wu Song had sobered up long ago and saw that the man was none other than Song Jiang. However, he was tied to a tree, beaten and humiliated, so he was too embarrassed to acknowledge him.

Seeing Yang Chang being tortured and beaten, he couldn't bear it and started roaring to attract Song Jiang's attention.

Song Jiang felt as if he had been electrocuted when he heard this, and turned around to look at Wu Song carefully.

"Aren't you Brother Gongming?"

"Erlang?"

Song Jiang hurriedly brushed aside Wu Song's messy hair and finally saw the familiar face. "It's really my brother Wu Song. Quickly untie him. This is the hero who killed the tiger on Jingyang Ridge!"

"what?"

The big man beaten by Wu Song was named Kong Liang. After hearing this, he was so shocked that his eyes widened and he swallowed his saliva. He immediately threw away the rattan stick to untie the rope, while his brother Kong Ming next to him was also at a loss.

"Brother, there are my brothers!"

"What are you standing there for? Why don't you move?"

"oh oh."

When Wu Song was untied by Kong Liang, he still reminded Yang Chang that he was tied up. After being scolded and reminded by Song Jiang, Kong Ming also dropped the rattan and went forward to untie the ropes.

It turned out that a flood had washed away the Dragon King Temple. The farmhands nearby had all seen what was happening, so they hurriedly brought over the stripped clothes, enthusiastically wrapped them around Wu Song and Yang Chang, and then escorted them to Kongjiazhuang.

After a while, everyone arrived at the main hall of Kongjiazhuang.

After being introduced by Song Jiang, Kong Ming and Kong Liang bowed to Wu Song and Yang Chang and apologized, and asked people to add more charcoal basins for heating.

When the temperature in the hall rose, Wu Song and Yang Chang finally looked better.

Along the way, Song Jiang spoke nice words and acted as a peacemaker.

Wu Song immediately gave up, stood up and apologized: "Brother, please don't say anything more. It was Wu Er's drinking that caused the trouble. He didn't care about the Kong brothers' affairs, but caused Sanlang to suffer."

"Saburo?"

Song Jiang took off his cap and looked at his head in confusion, thinking, what does this have to do with me?
“Brother, Brother Yang Chang, you are also the third in the family.”

"Oh, that's a coincidence, Xiaoke is also called Sanlang, but he is Black Sanlang, haha."

Seeing Song Jiang mocking himself, Wu Song hurriedly stopped Yang Chang and said, "Sanlang, I had a headache just now because of the cold, and I forgot to introduce you. This is Brother Song Gongming from Yuncheng. He is known as the timely rain in the Jianghu, and he is a very righteous man."

"Erlang, please don't praise me. Song Jiang really doesn't deserve it."

"So it's Brother Gongming. I'm new to the martial arts world and don't have much experience, but since Second Brother recommended it, it must be right."

Yang Chang immediately stood up and greeted him. He actually didn't have a good impression of Song Jiang, but since he had decided to go to Liangshan, he couldn't just ignore the leader of the stronghold.

"It doesn't matter who achieves success first." Song Jiang helped him sit down with a smile, and continued to praise him: "Little brother, you are so young, but your martial arts are amazing. In time, you will surely be famous all over the world."

"I just learned a few tricks from my second brother."

Kong Ming and Kong Liang were sitting next to them. The more humble Yang Chang was, the more embarrassed they became. Wu Song observed their expressions and took over the conversation.

"Brother Gongming, you don't know that my brother was born with supernatural powers, so he has an advantage in martial arts."

"I was saying it, his physique doesn't look like it, it turns out that strength is innate, which is rare."

"Please stop bragging, hiss."

Yang Chang suddenly closed his eyes and showed a very painful expression.

"Sanlang? Is it serious?"

"Brother Yang Chang?"

Seeing everyone looking at him with concern, Yang Chang smiled awkwardly.

"I just got hit by some sticks and fists. I didn't feel it when it was cold, but now that it's warm, it really hurts."

"You two, don't even bother asking questions."

In order to save Wu Song's face, Song Jiang pretended to complain to the Kong brothers.

Hearing Song Jiang's tone, brother Kong Ming hurriedly said with a smile: "I have some good medicine for healing in my farm. How about I help brother Yang to the guest room to rest and apply the medicine to you to apologize?"

"How is this possible?"

"You don't have to be polite, my dear brother. The Kong brothers are not outsiders. As the saying goes, there is no acquaintance without fighting. You two can get closer."

"Go ahead, Brother Gongming is right."

"Sorry for bothering me then."

With the support of Song Jiang and Wu Song, Yang Chang did not bother to be polite with Kong Ming and was supported and walked straight to the guest room.

Seeing Yang Chang staggering, Song Jiang asked Wu Song, "How is Erlang? Do you want to apply the medicine as well?"

"Let's talk about it later. I can still bear the minor injuries, right?"

Wu Song finished speaking casually and accidentally patted Kong Liang on the back. Kong Liang frowned in pain immediately, but he still had to agree and say it was right.

It's true that you only had superficial injuries, but you beat me up pretty hard and it will take at least 10 to 20 days to heal.

"Master, Wudutou, I will go and help my brother. You two can have a good chat."

"Just go."

Song Jiang was just about to talk to Wu Song alone, and Kong Liang's excuse to leave was exactly what he wanted. Song Jiang then asked Wu Song why he was there, and Wu Song then told him about his exile to Mengzhou.

Just when they were about to reach the critical moment, Grandfather Kong came out and said that the manor had prepared wine and food to entertain Wu Song and Yang Chang.

Wu Song immediately dropped the topic and followed Song Jiang and Kong Taigong to the flower hall to drink.

Soon, Kong Ming and Kong Liang also came with Yang Chang.

At that time, Song Jiang and Kong Taigong were sitting in the main seats on the north side, Wu Song was sitting on the west side to Song Jiang's right, Yang Chang then sat next to Wu Song, and the Kong brothers accompanied him in the southeast.

Song Jiang was worthy of being a leader. When Kong Taigong asked him to serve wine and entertain the guests, he took the lead and soon made the atmosphere in the hall lively. Everyone was drinking and chatting happily.

The table was filled with chicken, duck, fish and meat, and the wine was aged in the cellar on the estate. It was a world apart from the previous village shop.

Wu Song suffered from the cold and was beaten, but he was generous and open-minded. He toasted and ate heartily. On the contrary, Yang Chang was uncharacteristically shy when eating.

Based on my previous impression of Yang Chang, his appetite must have increased after stretching his muscles. Why is he behaving abnormally now?
"Sanlang, aren't you hungry?"

"No, I don't know what happened. Maybe I ate too much at noon."

Yang Chang was also confused. The [Power of a Tiger] was always consumed quickly. Just now he had fought with dozens of villagers by the stream. Normally he could have eaten a whole table of food, but he didn't expect to feel full so soon.

This is not right!

(End of this chapter)