Chapter 65: Six Harmony Island (1)

Zhuge Rong subsequently led Zhang Yunyin, Shui Mingsha, and several dozen others to personally escort Fang Guohuan, Zhang Linping, and their party all the way to the Shili Pavilion outside Fengyang City. Upon parting, Zhuge Rong took Fang Guohuan's hand and said with a touch of melancholy, "With today's parting, I know not when we shall meet again to discuss matters. Having spent these past few days together, drinking and conversing at length, it is truly hard to bear your departure, Brother Fang." As he spoke, Zhuge Rong actually let fall a few tears.

Upon seeing this, Fang Guohuan was deeply moved and said, "During this trip to Fengyang, I have been fortunate to receive the Master's generous hospitality, a kindness I shall never forget. Should the opportunity arise in the future, I will certainly return to pay my respects to Master Zhuge." Zhuge Rong declared magnanimously, "As long as Brother Fang thinks well of this old man and is willing to return to Fengyang, it will be the supreme honor of our Fengyang Branch. I shall await your esteemed arrival at any time." Thereupon, Zhuge Rong personally helped Fang Guohuan mount his horse, and the two groups cupped their hands in farewell. Watching until Fang Guohuan and the others had vanished from sight, Zhuge Rong nodded with satisfaction, turned to Shui Mingsha and the others, and said, "Let us return! Why do you stand about idly?"

Having parted from Zhuge Rong, Fang Guohuan and his companions journeyed onward. At length, Fang Guohuan asked, "Branch Master Zhang, where did you go these past few days, causing us to wait in such distress?" Zhang Linping shook his head and sighed, "Brother Fang does not know, but I was forcibly carried off to drink for the past few days and simply could not refuse. It is exceedingly difficult to catch a glimpse of you." Hearing this, Fang Guohuan realized that Zhang Linping and the others had been caught in circumstances beyond their control, and he could only sigh and shake his head. At that moment, Zhang Linping noticed that the chests and crates laden behind the mounts of the entire party appeared extremely heavy. He knew these to be gifts from Zhuge Rong to Fang Guohuan, consisting of either gold or silver. Especially given the scene outside Fengyang City earlier, where Zhuge Rong had wept as he bid Fang Guohuan farewell, Zhang Linping had been secretly alarmed, fully aware of Zhuge Rong's intentions. Gazing at those chests, Zhang Linping shook his head inwardly without uttering a word.

After traveling for a stretch, Fang Guohuan suddenly reined in his mount and said, "Everyone, stop here. This is the place." Hearing this, the company was taken aback. Though they knew not why, they all drew rein. Pointing to the heavy chests strapped behind everyone's horses, Fang Guohuan smiled and said, "Why carry these any further? They are exceedingly heavy—let us cast them all away." The company was greatly astonished upon hearing this.

Zhang Linping asked in surprise, "The gifts bestowed upon you by Master Zhuge must be immensely valuable; would it not be a terrible waste to throw them away?" Fang Guohuan smiled. "Mere bricks and tiles are heavy rather than valuable. If we do not discard them now, when shall we?" Zhang Linping and the others looked at one another in blank dismay. Zhao Hancang promptly dismounted, opened one of the crates to inspect its contents, and sure enough, they were filled entirely with broken bricks and tile fragments.

Seeing this, Zhang Linping asked in bewilderment, "What is the meaning of this? How could Master Zhuge..." Fang Guohuan smiled and explained, "I secretly hid the gold and silver items Master Zhuge gave me under my bed at night and returned them to him just as they were. Then I gathered some bricks from the courtyard to weigh down the boxes, lest they grow suspicious upon our departure. I dare not accept gifts from this Master Zhuge, for fear I might never be able to repay them in the future." Hearing this, Zhang Linping, Zhao Hancang, Song Ying, Dong Jiang, and Qi Xiaoshi suddenly understood, and they showered praise upon Fang Guohuan for this clever maneuver.

Thereupon, everyone cast the bricks, tiles, and chests by the roadside, mounted their horses once more, and pressed forward like the wind. Zhang Linping worried aloud, "Zhuge Rong has already harbored rebellious ambitions; who knows what kind of trouble he might stir up in the future?"

Upon hearing these words, Fang Guohuan remained utterly silent, acting as though he had not heard them at all.

Traveling by day and resting by night, Fang Guohuan, Zhang Linping, and their companions crossed the Yangtze River and eventually reached the shores of Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province. Poyang Lake is one of the great lakes of the Jiangnan region. In former times, the founding Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang engaged in a decisive battle upon these very waters, which ultimately concluded with the defeat of Chen Youliang. After Fang Guohuan, Zhang Linping, and the others arrived at the lakeside, Qi Xiaoshi went ahead to make contact with a fishing village.

Before long, he brought back two men who stepped forward to exchange greetings with Zhang Linping. One of them then said, "The boats are prepared over there. You may leave your horses here, and our brothers will take good care of them." Following this, the two men guided Zhang Linping, Fang Guohuan, and the others to a ferry crossing ahead, where a fishing boat awaited to receive them, and a boatman rowed away from the shore.

The scenery of Poyang Lake was magnificent, with ripples dancing across the boundless expanse of water. Where the sky and water met, white sails occasionally appeared, and flocks of birds flew in formation, all seeming to dwell within mist and clouds. The headquarters of the General Branch was situated deep within Alliance Island in the center of the lake, separated from the outside world by water and imbued with a distinct air of mystery. The fishing boat carried Fang Guohuan, Zhang Linping, and the others across the water for a stretch until they reached a small island, where they transferred to another vessel, and the previous boatman turned back. Continuing forward in the new boat, they suddenly encountered two fast vessels that emerged from ahead, cutting across their path and barring their way. Several stalwart men, armed with sabers and spears, stood upright upon each craft.

As they drew near, they exchanged nods with the boatman on board and permitted them to pass, clearly demonstrating a well-guarded aquatic checkpoint. Seeing this, Fang Guohuan felt a slight ripple of surprise, realizing that the waters leading to Alliance Island were heavily fortified. After traveling further, they arrived at another small island, rested briefly, and then transferred to a larger vessel to continue their journey.

After journeying for about half an hour, a large island teeming with lush vegetation suddenly appeared ahead. Qi Xiaoshi, Zhao Hancang, and the others immediately cheered, "Alliance Island!" Fang Guohuan praised, "What a magnificent island! Situated deep within the lake, it is exceedingly difficult to find!" As the boat drew close to the shore, a voice suddenly echoed from the woods on the bank: "Heaven and earth in all four directions!" The boatman on the vessel responded, "Unite the eight desolate realms!" The shore instantly fell silent, revealing the presence of hidden sentries and ambushes.

When the boat reached the dock, Fang Guohuan, Zhang Linping, and the others disembarked. Five men emerged from the woods to one side, and one of them stepped forward, cupping his fist as he said, "So it is Branch Master Zhang who has arrived."

Zhang Linping returned the courtesy and said, "Today happens to be the watch of Section Master Lu Yuanxing." Lu Yuanxing then exchanged greetings with Zhao Hancang, Qi Xiaoshi, Song Ying, and Dong Jiang, all of whom were old acquaintances.

Lu Yuanxing subsequently glanced at Fang Guohuan, turned to Zhang Linping, and said, "This must be the esteemed gentleman whom even the General Branch Master invited—our Alliance's great benefactor, Brother Fang Guohuan whom all the brothers have been longing to meet!" Zhang Linping smiled and nodded. Hearing this, Lu Yuanxing and the others wore expressions of pleasant surprise and hastily bowed in unison, saying, "So it truly is Brother Fang who has arrived! Forgive our lack of courtesy!" Lu Yuanxing then happily declared, "The General Branch Master has awaited Brother Fang for many days and was growing most impatient; today, our wish has finally been fulfilled."

Fang Guohuan asked, "How has Sister Lian been keeping?" Lu Yuanxing replied, "The General Branch Master is well. Ever since returning from the battle beyond the Dushikou Pass, she has not left the lake for over a year." With these words, Lu Yuanxing led Fang Guohuan, Zhang Linping, and the others deeper into the island. Someone had already turned and dashed ahead to announce their arrival.

At that moment, in an open space ahead, a young man was instructing twenty-some people in the use of slingshots. In the distance, a watermelon was propped atop a bamboo pole, but alas, the pellets thrown by those individuals either missed wide or failed to reach the mark. Seeing this, the young man shook his head and said, "You lot are far too clumsy. You have practiced for three days with hardly any improvement—watch me." With that, the young man unfastened a peculiar slingshot from his waist—it had a short bow and a thick string—and quickly notched a solid iron pellet, shouting, "Hit!" The iron pellet shot forth like a shooting star, striking the watermelon and sending crimson juice flying in all directions. After piercing the watermelon, the pellet continued onward and snapped a small tree directly in half. The onlookers burst into thunderous applause and cried, "Splendid!" That young man was none other than Bu Yuan, known as the "Divine Slingshot."

Fang Guohuan, who was walking over from this side, cried out in joyous surprise upon seeing the spectacle, "Brother Bu! Is that you?"

Hearing his name, Bu Yuan turned around, stared in brief astonishment, and then shouted with delight as he dashed forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Fang Guohuan. The two brothers embraced fiercely. After a long moment, they pulled apart and gazed at each other with broad smiles.

Bu Yuan exclaimed excitedly, "Good brother! I have missed you terribly!" Deeply moved, Fang Guohuan asked, "Brother Bu, how have you been faring here?" Bu Yuan smiled and replied, "I never imagined my brother could find such a paradise for me, with so many people heeding my commands—it is sheer bliss!" Hearing this, Fang Guohuan smiled with quiet satisfaction.

Bu Yuan then added joyfully, "If our two younger brothers, Luo Kun and Lü Zhufeng, knew you had arrived, they would be beyond themselves with joy." He turned to someone nearby and commanded, "Quickly go inform Branch Master Luo and Branch Master Lü that their Brother Fang has arrived." The man acknowledged the order and scurried away. Bu Yuan then exchanged pleasantries with Zhang Linping and the others before pulling Fang Guohuan along, chatting and laughing as they walked deeper into the island.

Winding past a verdant bamboo grove, neat rows of houses, multi-storied buildings, and pavilions came into view ahead, resembling a bustling town. A crowd emerged to welcome them, led by Lian Qiying and Sun Qi.

Upon seeing them, Fang Guohuan hurried forward and exclaimed in delight, "Sister Lian! Master Sun!" Lian Qiying smiled warmly and said, "I remarked that Brother Guohuan should arrive around these days, and as expected, my prediction was correct."

Sun Qi chuckled, "Brother Guohuan, I trust you have been well since we parted!" Fang Guohuan happily replied, "I am much the same as ever, but Master Sun appears somewhat leaner than before." Lian Qiying smiled, "That is simply because Master Sun harbors too many thoughts and exhausts his spirit."

Sun Qi shook his head with a smile and said, "I labor body and mind for the Alliance, yet the General Branch Master remains unappreciative. Now that Brother Guohuan is here, let you serve as the arbiter." Fang Guohuan smiled, "In truth, Sister Lian was merely praising you, Master Sun." Sun Qi feigned astonishment and said, "Is that so? Then I am truly overwhelmed by this unexpected favor." The surrounding company burst into hearty laughter.

Zhang Linping and the others subsequently stepped forward to pay their respects to Lian Qiying and Sun Qi. Lian Qiying offered a few words of commendation to Zhang Linping before introducing the various branch masters and section masters trailing behind her to Fang Guohuan. Upon meeting Fang Guohuan, everyone was filled with joy.

The company then escorted Fang Guohuan and Lian Qiying inward. Observing that the pathways here were wide and flat, flanked by orderly houses and even shops like a bustling marketplace, Fang Guohuan could not help but marvel inwardly. At the end of the road stood a grand and majestic structure with upturned eaves, flying corners, dark green tiles, and grey bricks, exuding an air of rustic solemnity. Above the main entrance hung a red plaque with golden characters reading "Alliance Hall," rendered in bold and vigorous calligraphy. Judging by the signature seal, it was the handiwork of Sun Qi. Entering the great hall, everyone took their respective seats as guests and hosts.