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

As the sun began to set in the west, the fiery clouds on the horizon resembled blood.

On the pillars of the Yiheshe Hall, the couplet "Sharing weal and woe, sharing life and death" was clearly visible. Song Beiyou didn't even glance at it, stepping on the bluestone slabs and quickly rushed into the hall, heading straight for Biao Ye's residence.

A few plum trees stood alone in the courtyard. Song Beiyou kicked open the door and immediately smelled a sweet, burnt odor.

Lying on the soft couch, enjoying a puff of smoke, Master Biao suddenly opened his eyes, his pipe falling to the ground with a "clatter": "Ah Qiang? You...you're back?"

Without saying a word, Song Beiyou stepped into the room, swept all the smoking paraphernalia off the small wooden table, took off the blood-stained bundle from his waist, placed it on the table, and methodically untied it, revealing a human head.

Kato Yuichi, his eyes wide with rage and his face bloodless, was looking directly at Boss Biao.

Startled, Biao Ye slid off the soft couch and collapsed onto the ground.

Song Beiyou observed coldly and said indifferently, "Mission accomplished. Call Master Bao."

Biao nodded vigorously.

Ring ring—

The only rotary landline in the gang rang. Master Biao swallowed hard and said, "It's definitely Master Bao calling back."

"catch."

Biao Ye quickly grabbed the microphone: "Bao Ye? Senior Brother! Qiang is back! Yes, we succeeded, we brought back the head of that Japanese devil..."

Upon hearing the loud laughter coming through the receiver, Song Beiyou instructed, "Tell Master Bao that A-Zheng is dead. He single-handedly held off those Japanese to allow me to escape; he died for righteousness."

Biao Ye reported as instructed, then turned and said, "Bao Ye wants you to answer the phone."

Song Beiyou reached out and took the microphone: "Uncle, it's me, Qiang."

"Hahaha! Well done! You didn't disgrace your father! Don't worry about Ah Zheng's matter, I will never mistreat the brothers who risk their lives for the gang. Just wait to become a Red Pole leader! That's all for now!"

After listening to the busy tone after the call ended, Song Beiyou slowly hung the receiver back on the landline.

Biao forced a smile and cupped his hands, saying, "Congratulations, Qiang! No, from now on you should call me Brother Qiang!"

Song Beiyou's eyes were like sharp knives. "Brother Biao, from now on, I, Ding Qiang, will still be a stubborn, headstrong fool. Do you understand?"

Upon hearing this, Old Man Biao was taken aback, but then his old face broke into a wide smile, and he immediately assured him, "Qiang, you're a true friend! I'll remember this favor. If you ever need anything, just let me know. Even though I'm old, I'm never stingy!"

Ding Qiang is now a major contributor to the Boxer Rebellion, and his credit has been reported to the leader, so he should be safe for the time being. Even if Zhang Feilong wanted to get rid of him, he wouldn't choose this time.

The Book of Impermanence flew out of his robes, turning to Ding Qiang's page, where the blood-red characters were outlined as if written with a wolf-hair brush:

[Successfully helping Ding Qiang, who is facing a calamity, overcome his death can allow you to stay for a moment or return immediately. Note: Your physical body serves as the anchor for time-space reversal.]

[Tribulation Assessment: Excellent.]

Song Beiyou strode forward like a cheetah, galloping towards Fan Gua Village. He had promised the old woman that her beloved grandson would return to eat braised mandarin fish.

Return countdown: 3 minutes 22 seconds.

As the last rays of the setting sun slanted down, the river, like scattered gold dust, reflected the withered winter scenery on both banks, flowing swiftly downstream.

"There's not enough time. It seems you'll have to go back by yourself."

Song Beiyou's frantic running gradually came to a stop. He took off his blood-stained shirt and outer garment, scooped up the icy river water, and carefully washed the blood off his face and body. He then wrapped his severed left finger tightly with a clean strip of cloth.

He untied the boning knife from his waist, and with the sheath still on, hid it in a crevice in the rocks by the river.

Return countdown: 0 minutes 0 seconds.

The Book of Impermanence flew out on its own, turning to the second page. Ding Qiang's face slowly emerged from the mirror, with blood-red characters drawn beside it:

Please select one of Ding Qiang's abilities and condense it into a mask:

Martial Arts Technique: White Ape Eight-Armed Fist - Beginner Level

• Physical condition: 20% compatibility with dragon salamander serum

Internal cultivation: None

Talent: None

"Serum? I'd thought about this stuff before. I'd occasionally heard people mention it; it's something foreigners developed. They experiment on people—living people, organs—and people at the docks buy them all."

"Ding Qiang actually has serum compatibility... What is a dragon salamander...? Given the unknown, the first one is definitely the better choice!"

"Those who are destined to face this calamity in the future will not only receive his skills, but also his physical strength, inner cultivation, and talent."

Song Beiyou selected the first option, and Ding Qiang's face immediately transformed into a mask surrounded by green light, merging into the mirrored surface of the paper.

Suddenly, another notification appeared:

[By signing the seal, fate is altered and life is restored; true longevity is shared. (Ding Qiang)]

"Qiangbao...Qiangbao..." At the far intersection, a hunchbacked, thin figure was waving in this direction.

"Qiangbao, it's time for you to go home. Your grandma is calling you." He smiled slightly and pressed his thumb on the name "Ding Qiang".

In that instant, it seemed as if he heard a long, exhilarating howl of a monkey coming from within his body. It was not a sound, but the most primal "fist intent" and "obsession" that Ding Qiang had left in this body.

Song Beiyou's consciousness instantly separated from Ding Qiang's body, and the memories he had not yet read were returned like unopened letters.

The Book of Impermanence shone brightly, fading the color of the void and bringing it to stillness. From within a vortex the size of a millstone, a beam of life-giving light struck Ding Qiang's ancestral aperture between his eyebrows, marking a change in his fate and granting him an additional 20 years of lifespan.

……

The oil lamp on the wooden table flickered dimly, and Song Beiyou had returned to the "15-minute" safe house.

You have been granted two years of lifespan.

[You have obtained the mask "External Skill: White Ape Eight Arms - Beginner Level".]

You have been granted an additional two years of lifespan.

You have received an additional item: Heavenly Talisman Box.

The Book of Impermanence opens to reveal its first page, its characters outlined in rusty ink:

[Lord of the Robbery: Song Beiyou]

Lifespan: 28 years (shared with Ding Qiang)

[Current Appearance: Qianyuan Eightfold Awakening - First Awakening, Emptiness]

[Collection of Masks: Qianyuan Eight Awakenings - Initial Awakening, Butcher Ding's Dissection of an Ox - Master, White Ape with Eight Arms - Beginner]

Song Beiyou's gaze lingered on the "lifespan" column, and he was overjoyed. "So this is what 'shared lifespan' means. Ding Qiang regained 20 years of lifespan, and I share it with him, so my lifespan has become 28 years."

"This is a wonderful surprise. If I save more people later, won't I become a hundred-year-old monster? I can use this lifespan to upgrade my mask."

Song Beiyou was overjoyed. He picked up the mask he had just acquired and put it on his face.

You have acquired the following effect when you wear the external martial art "White Ape Eight Arms - Beginner Level": Beginner level of White Ape Eight Arms cultivation.

"Ding Qiang's White Ape Eight Arms technique is only one step away from mastery, but I still have an enhancement talisman! Perfect, I can use it!"

He immediately took out the Martial Arts Upgrade Talisman - Mastery from a hidden compartment in the Book of Impermanence and pressed it onto Ding Qiang's mask. Instantly, the runes on the mask flowed, and the light changed from green to blue.

[Martial Arts Skill: White Ape Eight Arms - Mastery]

• Obtained mastery of the White Ape Eight Arms cultivation level

• Compensation: You will fall into a state of hunger until you replenish your Qi and Blood through eating. Current Qi and Blood Value: 50%

Based on his rudimentary understanding of martial arts, Ding Qiang should have already broken through to the initial stage of Ming Jin. In other words, after putting on the mask, his strength was at least at the mid-stage of Ming Jin.

Song Beiyou was overjoyed. He would soon return to his true form and deal with the group of prisoners with ease.