Yan Qing, Lu heads home and is arrested by soldiers called by Li Gu. He is exiled to Shamen Island (沙門島; present-day Changdao County, Shandong). Li Gu bribes the two guards escorting him to finish him off along the way. Yan Qing, who is often armed with a slingshot-like bow and three short arrows, tails them and shoots the guards to death when they are about to murder Lu in a wood. Master and servant decide to go to Liangshan. But Lu, who is weak from days of torture, is captured again by soldiers at an inn when Yan Qing goes look for food. Rushing to Liangshan to seek help, Yan runs into Shi Xiu and Yang Xiong, who are going to Daming to check on Lu. Shi Xiu proceeds on to Daming while Yang Xiong takes Yan Qing back to Liangshan. Although Shi manages to save Lu just as he is about to be beheaded, the two are captured. The Liangshan outlaws rescue them after some hard fights with government forces. Life at Liangshan Yan Qing is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. Yan Qing forms close friendship with Li Kui. On one occasion, he travels to Tai'anzhou (泰安州; present-day Tai'an, Shandong), accompanied by Li, to challenge one Ren Yuan, who claims to be invincible in wrestling in the Song Empire. Indeed Ren has been winning contests in Tai'anzhou. Although much smaller in size, Yan Qing beats the burly guy on stage with his skill and agility. When Ren's students rush to snatch the prizes, they break into a fight with Li Kui, who is immediately recognised by some spectators as an outlaw from Liangshan. A stampede ensues while soldiers arrive to arrest Li. Yan and Li fight their way out and return to Liangshan safely. Role in securing amnesty for Liangshan Song Jiang, the leader of the outlaws, wants to obtain an imperial amnesty for Liangshan so that they could serve the Song Empire. Upon learning that Emperor Huizong is secretly seeing the courtesan Li Shishi, he sends Yan Qing to contact her in the imperial capital Dongjing and ask her to set up a meeting between him and the monarch. Li Shishi, however, is infatuated with the dashing and handsome Yan and tries to seduce him. But he