Chapter 172: A knight-errant's journey (2)
The Ma father and daughter had not come along. The late-summer rain continued as Wang Shuyong invited the three imperial fugitives back to his estate outside Jiyang in the dead of night. By the time they arrived, it was very late, and naturally he could hardly trouble them further, so he simply let Zhang Sanlang and his two companions turn in early. The next morning, with the rain still pattering down, pigs and sheep were slaughtered on the estate, and by noon a banquet had been laid out.
Clearly, this Fifth Wang Lang, reputedly the finest divine archer on the Ji River, seemed impatient to hear things he had never heard before from the world-renowned Zhang Sanlang, to gain something that would open the doors of a new world to him.
And he was plainly far too impatient.
"Third Brother Zhang, I've long heard your name."
Fifth Wang Lang was about Xu Dalang's age, with a somewhat longer, redder face. Only his eyes resembled a hawk's, lending him an aggressive air. Once everyone was seated, before they could exchange pleasantries, he yielded the seat of honor and stated his feelings outright.
"These aren't empty words. Up north in Puyang, there's a brother named Niu Da whom I've long known. When he returned from the Eastern Capital, he spoke of nothing but your loyalty and honor. This spring, when the tyrant launched his third campaign and the whole realm seethed, you single-handedly rescued Xu Dalang's family in Lihu... But even then, I only thought you an exceptional man, someone I hoped to meet and befriend. I never imagined you would cast aside the prospect of governing a commandery, solely to rid the world of a villain! Only then did I realize that you, Third Brother