Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

The old Chinese medicine doctor put away the plum blossom needle, carefully stitched up Liu's wound on the genital side with a clean strip of cloth, and then applied a black ointment.

Finally, the bandages were wrapped tightly layer by layer, the movements swift and skillful.

When the ointment touched the wound, Yin Bian Liu shuddered in pain, cold sweat soaking his temples, but he still gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Treatment completed.

Chen Zhan stood up, bent down and grabbed Yinmian Liu by the back of his collar as if he were lifting an insignificant object.

Yinmian Liu was weak all over, with no strength left to resist. His head drooped, his eyes were empty, and he let Yinmian Liu carry him without even having the thought of struggling.

After leaving the clinic, Chen Zhan, carrying Yinmian Liu, headed straight for the Four Gates Inn.

Along the way, pedestrians gradually appeared on the street. When they saw Chen Zhan carrying Yinmian Liu, who was covered in wounds and barely breathing, they were all frightened and avoided him, whispering among themselves, but no one dared to look at him for long.

Even when business is slow, no one dares to approach the rickshaw pullers on the roadside; they all keep their heads down and pretend to be busy.

Chen Zhan knew in his heart that it wasn't that the drivers were cowardly, but that the Four Doors Carriage Gang must have given orders not to let anyone pull him, for fear of being implicated.

They traveled on without encountering any obstacles, and soon arrived at the entrance of the Four Gates Inn.

When the innkeepers saw Chen Zhan, their faces turned deathly pale, but no one dared to step forward to stop him.

Chen Zhan booked a room for ten days and didn't mention canceling, so no one dared to kick him out.

Amidst the horrified gazes of his men and the awe-inspiring stares of passersby, Chen Zhan, carrying Yinmian Liu, walked up the stairs step by step and went straight back to his room on the third floor. The door creaked shut, cutting off all eyes to him.

This seclusion lasted for three days.

For three days, Chen Zhan did not leave his room once, only having meals delivered to him a few times.

The food deliveryman was trembling with fear. He put down the food and hurriedly left, not daring to even look up at the room to listen to the commotion, let alone eavesdrop.

Throughout Tianjin, no one knew whether Yinmian Liu was alive or dead, and no one dared to go to his door to inquire.

Although Chen Zhan remained secluded, he still intimidated the entire martial arts world of Tianjin, with all factions watching from the shadows, not daring to make any rash moves.

In these three days, the martial arts world of Tianjin has undergone earth-shattering changes, and the power structure has been completely rewritten.

Originally, the two largest forces in Tianjin were the Weibei Canal Gang and the Qingyi Hall, followed by the Yuchang Inn of Yinmian Liu, which controlled most of the gray market business in Tianjin.

Now, Yuchang Inn has collapsed, and the fate of Yinmian Liu is unknown. In its place stands the previously obscure Xiaoliangshan.

Lu Jun, a peasant from a shantytown, rose to prominence in Tianjin, stepping over the remains of Yinmian Liu, and became a powerful manager controlling seven or eight shops.

What's most surprising is that he didn't encounter any big shots causing trouble during the process of taking over Yuchang Inn.

The battle between the Black and White Pawnshops lasted for a long time, and people from all the major forces in Tianjin came to watch. Many people witnessed Chen Zhan's actions.

The three most formidable henchmen under Yinmian Liu couldn't even withstand a single move.

All parties knew that Chen Zhan, this formidable dragon, was determined to force his way across the river, and no one was willing to be the first to provoke this mysterious expert.

There was an even more important reason why they remained inactive—to wait for the foreigners.

Everyone knows that Yinmian Liu has a deep-rooted connection with foreigners and has been working for them for many years. Now that he is in trouble, will the foreigners' musketeers retaliate?

The power of the foreign gun corps was too terrifying; no one wanted to experience it firsthand.

They all wanted to wait and see the foreigners and Chen Zhan suffer heavy losses so they could reap the benefits.

As for those insignificant underlings and the scattered soldiers left behind by the treacherous Liu, Lu Jun could handle them without Chen Zhan even lifting a finger.

The other day, several of Liu's old men, unwilling to accept the loss of their territory, came to the casino with knives and axes, wanting to regain control of the casino.

Without wasting words, Lu Jun swayed and displayed the Xingyi Monkey Form, his steps as agile as an ape, his hands like claws, precisely locking onto a person's wrist, and with a burst of energy, he snapped that person's wrist.

Seeing this, the others rushed forward, but Lu Jun remained calm and used his monkey-like nimble steps to avoid their knives and axes. He then struck one of them in the chest with a backhand, the force penetrating his body. The man immediately coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

In no time at all, he had subdued the henchmen and they no longer dared to be arrogant.

With his Xingyiquan skills and the intimidation of Chen Zhan behind him, Lu Jun encountered little resistance and quickly took control of all the shops under Yinmian Liu's command.

After that, he gathered many of Liu's capable subordinates from the Yinmian area, as well as the young, fearless, and helpless people from the shantytown.

Overnight, Xiaoliangshan transformed into a formidable force in Tianjin, and no one dared to regard them as insignificant peasants anymore.

Starting yesterday, Lu Jun has been coming to the Four Gates Inn every day to report on the shop's situation to Chen Zhan.

No one knows what they said in the room.

Today is no exception.

The conversation in the room lasted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Then, Lu Jun gently pushed open the door, stepped out, carefully closed the door, and walked steadily downstairs.

In the lobby downstairs, there were more than a dozen people, including the four car club employees and a few unidentified men. When they saw Lu Jun come down, they all looked up at him in unison, their eyes fixed on him with curiosity and awe.

Lu Jun walked down the stairs, his gaze sweeping over the crowd; they were all ordinary men.

Only one old man stood out.

The old man was about fifty years old. He was not tall, but he had thick legs and a stable waist. Standing there, he was like a pine tree with its roots firmly planted, exuding a calm and composed aura.

His face was sallow, his eyes were full of wrinkles, but his hands were unusually rough with protruding knuckles, clearly the work of someone who had practiced boxing for years and was used to manual labor.

Just then, the old man was slowly climbing the stairs when he bumped into Lu Jun, who was walking down.

Lu Jun recognized him at a glance.

Old Zhang, the helmsman of the four-door car club, was known as "Iron Foot".

He was most skilled in spring kicks, possessed solid kung fu skills, and was a well-known master of internal strength in Tianjin.

In his early years, Zhang Laojiao was just an ordinary rickshaw puller. By chance, he learned a set of basic spring kicks from a retired martial arts master. Later, the master took a liking to him and accepted him as his last disciple, where he devoted himself to learning martial arts for five years.

After leaving the mountain, he was already a master of internal strength, his spring kick was highly refined, and he was also quite accomplished in Hung Kuen.

With his exceptional skills, he snatched food from the jaws of death and gradually built the foundation of the Four Doors Cart Gang, winning over all the rickshaw pullers in Tianjin. His abilities were by no means undeserved.

Lu Jun and Zhang Laojiao had never met face to face, but they both knew each other's reputation.

Lu Jun is a rising young master, backed by the powerful Chen Zhan, and his rise is astonishing.

Old Zhang was a veteran master in Tianjin, with deep roots and great influence. Lu Jun had seen him a few times from afar when he was making a living in the shantytown in his early years.

The two exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and then bowed with clasped hands in a gesture of respect.

The two then passed each other.

Lu Jun walked straight out of the inn, ignoring what Zhang Laojiao was up to.

With Chen Zhan, such a powerful figure, keeping him in check, he only needed to focus on doing his own job well.

Watching Lu Jun's departing figure, Zhang Laojiao's eyes were filled with complex emotions. He then looked away and continued walking up to the third floor, slowing his pace and gradually becoming serious.

When he reached Chen Zhan's room, he stopped, hesitated for a moment, his finger hovering in mid-air, before finally knocking gently on the door.

"Boom boom boom——"

The knocking was soft, yet exceptionally clear.

Before any response came from inside the room, Old Zhang spoke up respectfully, "Mr. Chen, I am Old Zhang, the leader of the Four Door Caravan, requesting an audience." "Squeak—"

The door opened with a click, and Chen Zhan sat at the table, holding a piece of paper in his hand, looking at it carefully.

On the table was a pile of written materials, covered with dense diagrams, route maps, and even the addresses of several Western churches.

"Please come in, Zhang." Chen Zhan raised his eyes, his tone indifferent.

Old Zhang took a deep breath, stepped inside, and gently closed the door behind him.

As soon as he entered, his gaze was drawn to Liu, who was standing in the shady corner of the wall.

Yinmian Liu lay on the ground, his eyes closed, his breath faint, his life hanging in the balance.

Others may not know about Yinmian Liu's martial arts skills, but Zhang Laojiao happens to know them.

Ten years ago, he had fought against Yinmian Liu. Yinmian Liu's swordsmanship was quite remarkable, and his moves were fierce. If he did not use a weapon, he would be no match for him at all.

Now, this expert who could once rival him lies on the ground like a dead dog, oblivious to his own mortality, covered in wounds and in a wretched state.

Old Zhang felt a chill run down his spine, and his fear of Chen Zhan deepened even further.

"Have a seat," Chen Zhan said, pointing to the stool next to the table.

Old Zhang nodded, sat down carefully, his eyes fixed on his toes, not daring to glance at the documents on the table.

But out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but catch glimpses of the patterns and routes, especially when he saw the marks of the Western-style church and the concession area. His heart skipped a beat, and he was so frightened that he quickly forced his gaze away and looked out the window, his fingertips trembling slightly.

"Is there something you need, Captain Zhang?"

Chen Zhan put down the paper in his hand, looked up at him, as if he could see through his thoughts.

Old Zhang steadied himself, swallowed hard, and spoke with a hint of difficulty:

"Um, Mr. Chen, I have a favor to ask, and I hope you can grant it."

"explain."

Old Zhang took out a heavy silver ingot from his sleeve and placed it on the table. The silver ingot was shiny and weighed at least ten taels.

"Mr. Chen, you booked a room at our shop for ten days. We will refund ten times the room rate, but we just ask that you find another place to stay. Our shop can no longer withstand the difficulties from all sides. If this continues, the brothers of the Four Doors Car Gang may not have any food to eat."

Chen Zhan glanced down at the silver ingots on the table and gently shook his head: "I'm afraid that won't work."

He paused, then added, "I'm now a pariah, and I doubt there's another inn in Tianjin that would dare to take me in."

Old Zhang sighed heavily, a bitter look on his face: "Mr. Chen, do you really want to drag us, the Four-Door Cart Gang, into this mess? We brothers in the Four-Door Cart Gang make a living by pulling carts and doing hard labor. We just want to earn money and support our families peacefully. We don't want to get involved in this huge disaster."

Clearly, Old Zhang was a knowledgeable man.

The brothers of the Four Doors Car Gang, who were always on the streets and well-informed, had probably already guessed who Chen Zhan was.

He refused to shave his head or wear a queue, acted ostentatiously, and was ruthless. On the table were documents about foreigners, a map, and the address of a church.
Who else could it be but the Boxers who dared to oppose foreigners?
More than a decade ago, the Boxers had already caused several disturbances in Tianjin, making a great show of force and specifically targeting foreigners.

Although they were eventually defeated and scattered by a joint force of foreigners and Qing soldiers, countless people died.

But as the flames of war raged on, and wild grasses sprouted anew, the Boxer Rebellion gained even greater momentum in the land of Hebei and Hebei over the past decade or so.

The Boxers were involved in nothing but beheadings; once you were implicated, it was a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire family.

Old Zhang's hands trembled uncontrollably at the thought, his heart filled with fear.

He wasn't afraid of dying, but behind him were hundreds of brothers from the Four Doors Gang, and his family.

"When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact."

"How long ago was the Tianjin Massacre?"

Chen Zhan spoke softly, his tone tinged with emotion, "Never mind, I won't talk to you about this. Here's what I'll do: I have six more days until my room fee expires, then I'll leave."

"If anyone comes to cause trouble during this time, you don't need to stop them; just let them come up."

"If you break something, I'll pay for it."

Chen Zhan's refusal to leave wasn't just because he wanted to drag the four-door car into the mess.

Rather, the location of the Four Gates Inn is simply too advantageous.

The room on the third floor opens onto the concession area across the river, and from the window, you can even clearly see the orphanage hundreds of meters away.

The origins of the Boxer Rebellion can be traced back to the orphanage.

Back then, the foreigners' orphanages abused children, which aroused public anger and led to the Boxer Rebellion. Those who dared to attack foreigners were mostly these hardworking porters and laborers.

Twenty years have passed, and I wonder how many people still have the courage.

Now, what he has to do is more difficult and more dangerous than the Boxer Rebellion back then, but he has no choice but to do it.

Tianjin, though neither large nor small, was the front line in the clash between foreigners and the Qing government.

The Boxers could not be eradicated here; they simply stopped using banners and instead secretly accumulated strength, lying low.

After the defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, the country was destroyed, families were destroyed, and people were living in misery. The seeds of the Boxer Rebellion were growing stronger in the shadows in Tianjin, and many people were still operating in secret, waiting for an opportunity to rise up.

Chen Zhan wants to join the Boxer Rebellion, but not now.

He needs power, status, and control over sufficient influence.

Otherwise, the Boxer Rebellion would only repeat the same mistakes, going further and further astray, and would eventually be wiped out by the Qing government and foreigners, resulting in the needless sacrifice of even more lives.

Zhang Laojiao listened to Chen Zhan's words, a strange look flashing in his eyes. He nodded helplessly, but did not get up to leave. He sat on the stool, his brows furrowed, pondering Chen Zhan's words repeatedly, his expression complicated.

After a moment, he looked up at Chen Zhan, his tone hesitant, yet also revealing a hint of barely perceptible expectation: "Mr. Chen, are you sure you can succeed?"

Chen Zhan looked up and gave him a deep look.

The middle-aged man in front of me, who looked honest and simple and just wanted to live a peaceful life, had a different look in his eyes than before, and his eyes had become more spirited.

"grasp?"

Chen Zhan smiled and said, "No one can be sure about such things, but even if I die a hundred times, I will have no regrets."

Old Zhang sighed heavily, stood up, and turned to walk towards the door.

As he reached the door, he stopped without turning around. His voice was low but unusually firm: "Sir, stay as long as you wish. If you encounter any trouble, the Four Doors Caravan, though we dare not openly offer assistance, will certainly not hold you back."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and walked straight out.

As the door closed, a faint smile finally appeared on Chen Zhan's face.

He looked out the window, his gaze crossing the river and landing on the distant concession area, on the orphanage, his eyes resolute.

Tianjin was definitely the right choice.

A single spark can start a prairie fire. If we can ignite this spark in Tianjin, it may well ignite the entire Xinghai.

Liu, who was sitting in the shady corner, slowly opened his eyes at some point. His eyes were empty as he stared at the ceiling, filled with despair.

He had stayed in that room for three days, and by then he knew what Chen Zhan was going to do.
For decades, no one who came to Tianjin dared to make this attempt, except for Chen Zhan.
That's a fucking madman! (End of Chapter)