During the Republic of China era, I achieved unparalleled success by returning to the past.

Kato Yuichi, wielding a short sword for self-defense, was locked in a fierce battle with He Zheng when he suddenly heard a whooshing sound behind him. In a split second, he ducked and rolled to the ground, feeling a chill on his scalp. Reaching down, he discovered that his hair bun had been cut off. He cried out in horror, "Wu Xinlang, save me!"

"Lord Kato, don't worry, our helpers have arrived!"

Kato Yuichi rolled around several times, kicking over a celadon vase half his height to block the pursuit. He looked up at the door and was overjoyed—his sword-wielding samurai had already swarmed in, and more chaotic footsteps were approaching from the corridors on both sides.

He immediately shouted, "Kono ya lodo mo, kono se!"

Seeing the menacing Japanese samurai charging towards him with their swords drawn, He Zheng's heart sank. If Kato Yuichi escaped into the crowd, killing him would be nearly impossible. He roared, "Qiang! I'll block them! You must kill Kato Yuichi!"

He kicked the low table away, sending it crashing into the samurai. He leaped into the crowd, slashing down the first man with his sword. He then turned and thrust the sword to the left, piercing another man's abdomen. With a roar, he pushed the man desperately toward the door.

The group of warriors who rushed in were immediately thrown off balance and fell backward.

He Zheng seized another Japanese sword, and with two swords in hand, he fought desperately. In an instant, he had everyone cornered at the doorway.

Suddenly, a blade flashed from the side, like a silver snake coiling around He Zheng's arm! *Thud*, his left arm flew off, blood splattering everywhere.

"Ah... Qiang! Hurry! I can't hold on much longer!" He Zheng gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at Inoue Takenoburou who had just made his move. "You despicable scoundrel!"

Upon seeing He Zheng's severed arm, Song Beiyou bit his tongue hard, the intense pain suppressing the cold dizziness and aftereffects of the Autumn Cicada Immortal Technique. He then unleashed a powerful strike from mid-air, as swift as lightning.

At the critical moment of life and death, Kato Yuichi raised his sword to block, and with a clang, the short sword broke in two, while the butcher's knife cut into his shoulder and got stuck in the bone.

Song Beiyou's arm trembled, and he suddenly drew his knife, spraying out a mouthful of blood.

Kato Yuichi clutched his shoulder, terrified by Song Beiyou's ferocious expression, which resembled that of a demon. He nearly wet himself in fear, just in time to spot the songstress huddled in a corner. He pounced, grabbed her, and yelled, "Baka! Stop him!"

Suddenly—thud! Thud! Thud! The sharp blade pierced the flesh, stabbing repeatedly.

Kato Yuichi's voice abruptly stopped. He stared incredulously at the songstress he had captured, then looked down at his chest, where a short blade had riddled him with blood.

Song Beiyou paused his pursuit, not expecting the songstress to suddenly turn on him and kill him.

The songstress's bright red lips curled into a cold smile. She reached into Kato's arms and took out a metal bottle the size of a syringe. With lightning speed, she lightly touched the ground with her feet, spun around, broke through the window, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

What is that?! Song Beiyou's heart skipped a beat. Just now, he caught a glimpse of a dark yellow liquid through the glass on the side of the metal bottle. It looked a bit like Mary's needle! Could it be the legendary mysterious serum?

In a flash, Song Beiyou reached out and grabbed Kato Yuichi's disheveled hair. Kato Yuichi was still breathing, blood gurgling from his mouth, and his whole body was trembling.

"Torina!" Inoue Takeshiro was furious when he saw the songstress escape. He leaped out of the corridor window and chased after her.

The change was too fast and too sudden; everyone else was stunned.

"Ah Qiang! Take his head to Master Bao!" He Zheng, covered in blood, with blood gushing from his severed arm, still stood tall like a pine tree, leaning on his knife for support, and hissed, "Go! Brother... I'll hold you off for the last time!"

"Good brother!" Song Beiyou's eyes welled up with tears, and he no longer hesitated. He spun the butcher knife around Kato Yuichi's neck, the blade flashing like a cold, shimmering ring, before condensing at the back of his neck, and then pushed and flicked.

Kato Yuichi stiffened, his hands futilely trying to grab his head, but he only grasped at empty air. He twitched twice, then fell still, blood gushing from his neck.

Song Beiyou slashed open half of the curtain beside him with a backhand stroke, wrapped the head tightly around his neck, and tied it securely to his waist. Looking back, he saw He Zheng had used his last strength to tackle two warriors to the ground, but he himself was too weak to get up. More warriors surged in from both sides, brandishing their swords.

Song Beiyou gritted his teeth, leaped onto the window that the courtesan had smashed, and jumped several times on the roof tiles to get down from the teahouse. Following the route he had previously scouted, he fled without looking back.

……

[Period of mental weakness: 1:42.]

The shouts of battle were relentless. Song Beiyou felt as if an ice pick had pierced his spine, his whole body stiffened, yet he dared not relax for a moment, and ran wildly.

A figure suddenly emerged from a side alley, a voice urgent and crisp: "This way, come this way!"

Song Beiyou looked closely, then darted inside, exclaiming in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

The newcomer was a blond-haired girl dressed as a boy. "I've been following you! Come on, follow me. I know this area very well; I guarantee they won't find me!"

Song Beiyou nodded and followed her through alleys and tunnels, winding and turning until the shouts of battle behind them disappeared.

The young girl, breathless, leaned against the wall, her chest heaving, but a smile lingered on her lips.

As the tension of Song Beiyou's life-or-death struggle gradually subsided, he began to feel the pain all over his body; his left hand fingers felt like they were being cut by a dull saw. He took a few breaths to catch his breath and stared at the girl in front of him: "You little brat, you've got some nerve, daring to follow us?"

The blond-haired girl swallowed hard, shrank her neck, and said, "I followed you because I wanted to know who this Ayou you mentioned is. I never expected you would go and kill Japanese people."

Song Beiyou grinned. "Don't be scared, I was just kidding. Thanks to you this time." He looked around and saw that the alley walls were overgrown with weeds and covered in dark green moss, with bamboo poles stretching out haphazardly, drying clothes of various colors. "Where is this?"

The blond-haired girl breathed a sigh of relief and pursed her lips: "I can't say exactly where it is, but I know that you can walk to Datong Street from here."

Song Beiyou's gaze swept over her; the girl was pale and thin, but her eyes were bright and captivating. Scavenging alone in the countryside, she truly couldn't survive without a bit of cleverness. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two silver dollars: "Here, take this. Take me out of here."

The blond-haired girl hid her hands behind her back and shook her head, saying, "I don't want to. If it weren't for you, I would have been..."

Without allowing her to explain, Song Beiyou grabbed her hand and stuffed the silver coin into her palm: "You were the one who saved you before, but this time you saved me, Ding Qiang. It's different. Take it."

The blond-haired girl's eyes were a little red. She clutched the money in her hand and lowered her head, saying, "Then consider it a loan. I'll definitely pay you back when I have money." As she spoke, she turned around, "Come with me quickly."

Song Beiyou chuckled and asked curiously, "What's your name?"

"My surname is Wen, and my given name is Yingxue."

"Wen Yingxue, what a beautiful name."

"It was my father who named it," she said with a hint of pride.

The two wandered through the spiderweb-like alleyways until Wen Yingxue finally stopped.

"Datong Street is just ahead."

Song Beiyou took out his pocket watch: 3:50. The Book of Impermanence still showed no indication.

He put away his pocket watch and looked at Wen Yingxue: "Don't follow me anymore, it's dangerous. And don't go to Hongkou for a while."

Wen Yingxue's bright black eyes stared at the blood-stained package at his waist, and she asked, "What's in there? Why is it dripping blood?"

Song Beiyou uttered two words calmly: "Heads."

Wen Yingxue's face turned pale instantly. She took two steps back in fright, swallowed hard a few times, and stammered, "Then...then you should go first!"

Song Beiyou smiled and strode away.

A soft voice called from behind: "Brother Qiang, is the Ayou you mentioned really true?"

Song Beiyou didn't turn around, but waved his hand: "You'll see him when you have the chance." He added in his mind: That will probably be several years later. Right now, he's in the police station planning his escape. Unless Scarlett herself shows up, he can't clear his name.

……