Water MarginAge-adapted version

A long, long time ago, in ancient China, there lived a mighty emperor named Huizong. He was the emperor of the Song Dynasty, a time of both splendor and danger.

One day, the emperor ordered an ancient seal on Longhu Mountain to be broken. Inside the seal, 108 evil spirits had been trapped for hundreds of years. When the seal was shattered, they were set free.

But instead of spreading terror across the land, the spirits were reborn – this time as humans. They became 108 heroes, strong men and wise women who would fight against injustice and protect the weak.

No one knew that these heroes would one day gather and become a mighty force. But first, they had to find their way to each other. And the path would be long and dangerous.

For in the capital, there already sat a man who would become their greatest enemy.

The man's name was Gao Qiu. He was not a great man by birth, but he was very skilled at kicking a ball. The emperor found it entertaining, and so Gao Qiu was given a high position at court.

It was a terrible choice. Gao Qiu was evil and greedy. He hated everyone who was better than him or who stood in the way of his plans.

One of the first to feel his wrath was the weapons master Wang Jin. Wang Jin was a skilled swordsman, but Gao Qiu was jealous. He accused Wang Jin of something he hadn't done, and Wang Jin had to flee the capital.

Wang Jin hid in a small village, with a young man named Shi Jin. Shi Jin was brave and strong, and all over his body he had tattoos of nine dragons. They were so fierce that everyone who saw him was impressed.

Shi Jin learned martial arts from Wang Jin, and the two became good friends. But Shi Jin also had other friends – bandits from the nearby Shaohua Mountain.

When the authorities heard that Shi Jin was friends with bandits, he was chased. A fire destroyed everything he owned one night. With nothing else to do, Shi Jin became a bandit himself.

But he was not alone. Soon he would meet one of the mightiest heroes of them all.

Lu Da was another weapons master. He was as big as a bear and had a temper like boiling water. One day, he was walking through the city and saw a young woman crying. A brutal butcher had tricked her and her father into a trap and forced them to pay money they didn't have.

Lu Da was furious. He went straight to the butcher's stall. There stood the butcher, cutting meat, unaware of what awaited him.

"Release the woman," said Lu Da in a deep voice.

The butcher just laughed. "What business is it of yours?"

That was the end of his patience. Lu Da struck the butcher with his bare fists. One blow. Two blows. Three blows. The butcher fell down and didn't move anymore – he was dead.

Lu Da had killed a person. Now he too had to flee.

He went into hiding and became a monk in a monastery. He was given a new name: Lu Zhishen. But it was not easy to be a monk for a man who was used to fighting and drinking beer.

Lu Zhishen broke the monastery rules again and again. He ate meat, drank wine, and fought with other monks. Finally, the abbot had enough. He sent Lu Zhishen to another temple in the capital.

There, Lu Zhishen met a man who would become his best friend. The man's name was Lin Chong, and he was a weapons instructor at the guard school – one of the most skilled swordsmen in the entire country.

Lin Chong was tall, strong, and noble. He was a man everyone looked up to. Lu Zhishen and Lin Chong became like brothers. They trained together, ate together, and drank wine together. Nothing could separate them.

But Gao Qiu had other plans.

Gao Qiu had a son who was as evil as his father. One day, the son saw Lin Chong's beautiful wife at the market. He was captivated by her and tried to take her by force.

Lin Chong came running and stopped him, but he dared not fight. Gao Qiu was powerful, after all. Instead, Lin Chong tried to avoid trouble.

But Gao Qiu did not give up. He set a trap for Lin Chong. Lin Chong was tricked into entering a room full of weapons, and then he was accused of planning a murder. The sentence was exile – he was to be sent away from the capital.

On the way to the prison, Gao Qiu paid the guards to kill Lin Chong. They waited until they came to a lonely forest, where they drew their swords.

But just as they were about to strike, a thunderous roar was heard. Out from the bushes came Lu Zhishen charging, with a heavy monk's staff in his hands. He had followed his friend the whole way.

"Get away," he shouted to the guards, "or I'll crush your heads!"

The guards fled in terror. Lu Zhishen followed Lin Chong all the way to the next city. There they said goodbye, but promised to meet again.

Lin Chong arrived at a place ruled by the rich nobleman Chai Jin. Chai Jin was a good man who welcomed everyone who was on the run. He gave Lin Chong food, shelter, and new clothes.

But Gao Qiu's men were still hunting. One day, they came to Chai Jin's estate. Lin Chong saw them coming. He knew he could not flee any longer.

When the evil men attacked, Lin Chong fought like a lion. He was so fast and strong that they didn't stand a chance. One by one, they fell.

Now Lin Chong had killed men. There was no turning back. He had to find a place where he could be safe.

And there was only one such place – Liangshan, a great marsh full of reeds and hidden islands. That's where the bandits stayed. They welcomed everyone who was chased by the authorities.

Liangshan was ruled by a man named Wang Lun. He was small and cowardly, and he trusted no one. When Lin Chong arrived, Wang Lun became suspicious. He didn't want to let such a skilled swordsman in.

"You must kill a man to join us," said Wang Lun. It was a test.

Lin Chong knew it was wrong, but he had no choice. He did as Wang Lun asked, and was allowed to stay at Liangshan.

But Lin Chong was not happy. Wang Lun treated him badly, and the bandits at Liangshan were no better than ordinary criminals. They stole and plundered without caring about justice.

While Lin Chong was stuck on the marsh island, great things were happening elsewhere in the country.

A man named Yang Zhi, another skilled swordsman, was selling knives on the street in the capital. He had fallen into financial trouble, but he still had a reputation as one of the best.

Yang Zhi was given an important task: He was to carry a costly gift to the emperor.

The gift was full of gold, silver, and precious stones – a valuable treasure. Yang Zhi and his men had to carry it through forests and over mountains.

But they were being watched. In hiding, a group of seven men lurked. They were led by Chao Gai, a wealthy and brave man, and Wu Yong, a wise advisor who had plans for everything.

"We must take the gift," said Chao Gai. "The Emperor has enough. The people are starving."

Wu Yong smiled cunningly. "I know exactly how we'll do it."

The seven men dressed as wine merchants and set up a table by the road. When Yang Zhi and his men arrived, they stopped to drink. But the wine was mixed with a sleeping potion.

One by one, they fell asleep. When they woke up, the gift was gone. Yang Zhi was furious and afraid. He knew he would be punished for losing the treasure.

He fled and happened to meet Lu Zhishen. Together they settled on Mount Erlong and became bandits there.

Chao Gai and the others also had to flee. It didn't take long before the authorities found out who had stolen the gift. Soldiers were sent to capture them.

But Chao Gai and Wu Yong were too quick. They gathered their men and headed for Liangshan – the marsh where Lin Chong lived.

When they arrived, Wang Lun greeted them with suspicion. He didn't want to let such a powerful group in. But Lin Chong saw his chance.

"Wang Lun is a poor leader," he said to Chao Gai. "He is cowardly and selfish. Together we can make Liangshan a place for true heroes."

That evening, during a meal, Lin Chong stood up. "Wang Lun," he thundered, "you have ruled long enough!"

Before Wang Lun could answer, Lin Chong had killed him. The bandits at Liangshan looked at each other and nodded. They had never liked Wang Lun.

Chao Gai became the new leader. Under his rule, Liangshan would be different – a place where justice and honor mattered.

In another part of the country, in the town of Yuncheng, lived a man named Song Jiang. He worked as a humble clerk and was known for his kindness and wisdom. Everyone who needed help came to Song Jiang.

Song Jiang was also an old friend of Chao Gai. When he heard that the authorities were on the trail of the robbers, he secretly sent a message: "Flee! Now!"

Chao Gai and the others barely managed to escape before the soldiers arrived.

But Song Jiang's good deed would cost him dearly. He had a mistress named Yan Poxi. She was beautiful but cunning. One day, she discovered the letter Song Jiang had sent to Chao Gai.

"You are a traitor," she whispered. "If I tell this to the authorities, you will be executed."

Song Jiang tried to persuade her to keep quiet, but she refused. She wanted money, and she wanted power.

In desperation, Song Jiang grabbed his sword. It was a moment of anger and fear. When he looked down, Yan Poxi lay dead on the floor.

Song Jiang had killed a person. Now he too had to flee.

He went into hiding with the wealthy Chai Jin, the same man who had helped Lin Chong. There he met another man – Wu Song.

Wu Song was a giant of a man. He was so strong that he could break an iron object with his bare hands. But he was also kind and just.

"Why are you on the run?" asked Song Jiang.

Wu Song sighed. "I was passing through Jingyang Ridge, where there was a terrible tiger. It had already killed several people. The authorities had posted a reward for whoever could kill it."

Song Jiang listened eagerly.

"I had nothing but my fists," continued Wu Song. "When the tiger came at me, I jumped aside and struck. I struck and struck until it was dead."

"With just your fists?" asked Song Jiang in disbelief.

Wu Song smiled. "Yes. Now I am a hero in the city, but I have many enemies."

Wu Song became a constable in the city, but his luck didn't last long. His brother, a small and weak man, was married to a beautiful woman. A rich man named Ximen Qing fell in love with her and stole her away. When the brother tried to stop them, he was killed.

Wu Song swore revenge. He found Ximen Qing and the woman, and in a rage, he killed them both.

The sentence was exile. Wu Song was sent away, just like Lin Chong.

While Wu Song was heading to prison, Song Jiang continued to flee. He arrived at the town of Jiangzhou, where he got a job as a scribe.

But Song Jiang was a man of strong emotions. One evening, after drinking wine, he wrote a poem on the wall of the inn. The poem was about injustice and about wanting to do something great.

Unfortunately, the poem was seen as rebellious. An evil official sent word to the capital: "Here is a man planning a rebellion!"

Song Jiang was thrown into prison and sentenced to death. On the day of his execution, he was to be led to the execution ground.

The news reached Liangshan. Chao Gai immediately gathered all the bandits.

"We must save him," he said. "Song Jiang is our friend. He has helped us before."

Wu Yong, the wise advisor, devised a plan. They disguised themselves as merchants, beggars, and peasants. Then they went to Jiangzhou.

Just as the executioner raised his sword to cut off Song Jiang's head, a loud shout was heard. Out from the crowd, the Liangshan brothers stormed in. Lu Zhishen swung his staff. Lin Chong stabbed with his sword. Wu Yong threw ropes and captured the guards.

Within minutes, the execution ground was empty. Song Jiang was lifted up and carried away to safety.

"Come to Liangshan," said Chao Gai. "Become one of us."

Song Jiang looked at the brave men around him. He had no other path. He nodded.

Finally, after so many years on the run, Song Jiang was home.

Liangshan grew. The rumor spread across the whole country: In the marsh lived heroes who fought for the poor.

More and more came. Hua Rong, a master archer who could hit a fly from a hundred paces away. Qin Ming, a fearless warrior who had never lost a battle. Li Ying, a wealthy man who gave all his money to the poor.

Together they grew more powerful. They fought off several attacks from the Emperor's army. The soldiers sent to capture them were themselves defeated and driven away.

But luck was not eternal.

One day, Chao Gai led an attack on a city. They had the enemy on the run, when a poisoned arrow suddenly struck him in the shoulder. The arrow was coated with a deadly poison.

Chao Gai was carried back to Liangshan. Medicine did not help. He grew weaker and weaker.

Before he died, he gathered the heroes around his bed. "Whoever avenges me," he whispered, "shall lead Liangshan."

Then he closed his eyes for the last time.

Liangshan mourned. Their leader was dead. But they had to continue.

Who would take over? Everyone looked toward Song Jiang. He was wise, kind, and brave. He was the natural successor.

But Song Jiang refused at first. "I am not worthy," he said. "We must find the man who killed Chao Gai and punish him."

The murderer's name was Shi Wengong. He was an evil man and a mighty warrior. To capture him, they needed someone equally strong—or stronger.

Song Jiang had an idea. He had heard of a man named Lu Junyi. Lu Junyi was a wealthy nobleman and one of the best swordsmen in all of China. If they could get him to join them, they would win.

But Lu Junyi did not want to become an outlaw. He had everything—wealth, honor, and a good life.

Wu Yong devised a new plan. He disguised himself as a fortune teller and went to Lu Junyi's house. "I see great danger," he said. "You must write this poem on your wall to protect yourself."

Lu Junyi trusted the fortune teller and wrote the poem. The poem said: "On the marsh island, happiness awaits."

The poem was seen as a connection to the outlaws. Lu Junyi was accused and imprisoned. The Liangshan brothers came and rescued him, just as they had rescued Song Jiang.

Now Lu Junyi had no way back. He joined them at Liangshan.

Together they planned the attack on Shi Wengong. It was a fierce battle. Arrows flew, swords flashed, and men shouted. But in the end, Song Jiang and Lu Junyi stood face to face with the murderer.

"This is for Chao Gai!" shouted Song Jiang, swinging his sword.

Shi Wengong fell. Revenge was complete.

Now it was time to choose a new leader. Song Jiang wanted to give leadership to Lu Junyi, but he refused. "You are the right one," he said. "Everyone trusts you."

While they were discussing, something strange happened. One of the heroes found a large stone in the marsh. On the stone were carved names—all 108 names of the heroes of Liangshan.

"This is a sign from heaven," whispered Wu Yong. "The gods have chosen us."

All 108 heroes gathered around the stone. There stood their names—Lin Chong, Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Song Jiang, and all the others. They were destined for a higher purpose.

Song Jiang was officially made the leader of all 108 heroes. They raised a great flag with the words "Loyalty and Justice" on it. It would be their motto.

Now they were no longer just outlaws. They were an army of heroes, ready to fight for what was right.

But what should they do with their strength? Should they fight against the emperor? Or should they serve the country in a better way?

Song Jiang had a dream. He wanted Liangshan one day to become an honorable part of China. That those who had been hunted and branded as criminals should get a second chance.

They swore loyalty to each other. 108 heroes, one heart.

And there, in the great marsh, they stood shoulder to shoulder. They had come from all corners of the land—some rich, some poor, some wise, some strong. But they all had one thing in common: They wanted to make the world a better place.

Ahead of them lay an uncertain future. The emperor's army was mighty, and many dangers awaited. But they were not afraid. They had each other.

Under the flag with "Loyalty and Justice" they marched out of the marsh. Not as thieves or murderers, but as heroes.

Lu Zhishen let out his great laugh. Wu Song smiled softly. Lin Chong looked forward proudly. And Song Jiang, their leader, walked first.

The story of the 108 heroes was not over. It had only just begun. And for many years to come, the people of China would whisper their names as a reminder that injustice never wins, as long as brave people stand together.

For in every time and every land, there are those who are willing to fight for justice—even if the road is long and difficult.