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

With Song Beiyou, a "master" with twenty years of experience in butchering oxen, preparing the ingredients was a breeze. Manager Chen immediately lit the stove, and Song Beiyou didn't leave but helped out. The flames in the stove danced, making their faces glow red.

The food and drinks were served, and Shen Daguan returned, but alone. "A-Kuan is on the night shift today; the pharmaceutical factory has been very busy lately. It's alright, we'll drink together again when A-Kuan gets back."

Song Beiyou nodded and called out to Manager Chen, "Uncle Chen, why don't we come along?"

Shopkeeper Chen, who was fiddling with the radio, didn't stand on ceremony. He moved a chair over and sat down, placing the radio beside him. A somewhat distorted female voice came from inside.

Shopkeeper Chen pricked up his ears and exclaimed excitedly, "Listen! It's Ah Hui's voice!"

Song Beiyou listened intently and realized it did indeed sound somewhat like her. Ah Hui was Manager Chen's only daughter; she was pretty and had a sweet voice.

Shen Daguan's eyes lit up, and he chuckled, "Uncle Chen, you locked Sister Hui in the box?"

Shopkeeper Chen rolled his eyes at him: "Don't talk, listen to what Ah Hui has to say."

"Listeners, this is Voice of Shanghai. Today is the 25th day of the 11th lunar month, which is December 20th in the Gregorian calendar..."

"The Eastern Xia Federal Meteorological Bureau has issued a warning that fog has begun to spread at sea. Coastal cities should pay close attention to its movements... For your safety, if you see unidentified fog on the water, remember to move away immediately..."

Manager Chen picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, sighing, "Alas, we remind people every year, and people die every year."

Song Beiyou paused in his wolfing down of food, then asked curiously, "Uncle Chen, what exactly is inside this mist?"

Shopkeeper Chen shook his head, remaining cryptic: "It's hard to say... No one has ever seen it clearly, or rather, those who did are all dead."

As Shen Daguan shoveled food into his mouth, he said, "What's there to be afraid of? As long as we don't go to the beach, our lives will go on as usual."

Shopkeeper Chen nodded slightly: "In short, if you see any strange mist on the water, run!"

Song Beiyou hummed in agreement and continued eating. According to the original story, every winter, a white fog would mysteriously rise at sea, and anyone or any ship that entered it would disappear without a trace. In recent years, the fog had slowly moved closer to the coast, and people said there were monsters inside, but what they were remained a mystery.

A classic song was playing on the radio, and Ah Hui's voice came through again:

"The martial arts master Sun Lutang established the Dongxia Jingwu School in Tianjin to strengthen the people and the nation through martial arts, and to promote the spirit of our nation. All martial arts practitioners admire him greatly. Mr. Du Tianwu of the Natural School praised Master Sun's actions, saying that he truly carried on the legacy of his predecessors and opened a new chapter in martial arts."

"However, there are also many dissenting voices within the martial arts world. Mr. Shang Yunshen of the Xingyi School published an article denouncing Mr. Sun as a great thief who stole his school's unique skills. Listeners, what do you think?"

"How can I possibly understand what Sister Hui is asking?" Shen Daguan muttered.

Song Beiyou secretly kicked him. He thought to himself, "Old Sun, if you had opened a martial arts school earlier, I probably would have gone to Tianjin."

Shopkeeper Chen sipped his wine, glanced at the crane painting on the wall, and said wistfully, "Unbeknownst to me, I've been in Jiangzuo for twenty-six years now. I've watched you all grow up, and I'm getting old too. Ah You, you've got some amazing knife skills, you've been keeping them hidden. I think you should come help out at the shop. When I can't work anymore, this shop will be yours."

Song Beiyou exclaimed in surprise, "Give it to me? What about Sister Hui...?"

Manager Chen raised his eyelids slightly: "A married daughter is like water spilled. Besides, I left her some things."

Song Beiyou thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Chen should have heard that I still have some unresolved matters with the Yihe Society, which might implicate you. How about this, I'll come and help when I have time. Da Guan will also come."

Shen Daguan quickly agreed: "I don't usually drive cars, so I'll come and help."

"Haha, I knew you were all talk and no action here." Manager Chen said with a hint of disappointment.

"Uncle Chen, what are you saying? I'll toast you." Song Beiyou raised his glass and clinked it with his.

The three of them drank until late at night, finishing off all of Manager Chen's stock.

Song Beiyou escorted the drunken Shen Daguan back to his shack and walked home. A light drizzle fell on his face, dispelling his slight intoxication.

All was quiet, with only a few dim lights in the distance, tightly enveloped by the heavy darkness.

He started thinking about tomorrow's plan: first, go see Second Master, then borrow three hundred silver dollars from him. As for the interest, let him calculate it as he pleases; he had no intention of paying it back anyway—the so-called debts are settled upon death, once he kills him, the debt will be gone.

Then they went to find Ding Qiang to see what the real Ding Qiang looked like. This was also the first "offline meeting" between the calamity master and the one who was destined to face the calamity.

There's movement behind us!

In the blink of an eye, Song Beiyou suddenly turned around, shifted his hips and twisted his waist, and swung his arms back like whips!

A sudden gust of wind arose! But the shot missed its mark.

Song Beiyou felt his hair stand on end. He shuddered, twisted his muscles and bones, and channeled his strength into his arms, unleashing a powerful five-strike whip strike backward!

A gentle force, like a soft cloud, quietly enveloped his domineering punch. Song Beiyou felt as if he had struck cotton, his strength sinking into the sea like a stone. At the same time, a faint fragrance wafted over.

"Huh?" A pleasant female voice exclaimed in surprise.

Song Beiyou then noticed that a slender figure holding a warm yellow oil paper umbrella was standing quietly a dozen feet away.

In the dim light, Song Beiyou saw the exaggerated and distorted mask on her face and blurted out, "Girl, you're an actress!"

The woman approached with an umbrella, stopping a few steps away. Curious, she said, "Your kung fu has improved so rapidly in just a few days! How strange, how did you know my name was 'Actor'?"

"Young lady, you saved my life at the hospital, please accept my bow," Song Beiyou said earnestly, bowing deeply.

The woman gently lifted the edge of her umbrella, revealing her small, bright red mouth, which was now painted a rugged tiger's mouth with black and red paint. "Aren't you going to invite me to sit down?"

Song Beiyou was taken aback for a moment, then said in a daze, "I'm afraid my doghouse will make you laugh, young lady... Please, young lady." He led the way and walked into the dark and narrow alley.

"This way, miss, watch your step," Song Beiyou reminded her, then walked briskly upstairs, found his own door, took out his key from the door frame, and unlocked it.

A musty smell hit me as soon as I opened the door. I thought to myself, if I'd known you were coming, I would have come back earlier to clean and tidy up. This was the first time a girl had ever entered my home.

"Please wait a moment, miss, let me find a candle." Song Beiyou was a little flustered. He found a candle and matches, struck them with a "sizzle," and the CD player broke the darkness.

Song Beiyou dripped a drop or two of wax onto the wooden cabinet to secure the candle. He glanced around the cramped room, somewhat embarrassed, then pulled out a small stool and said apologetically, "Please sit down, young lady."

The face paint on the woman's face looked mysterious and vibrant in the candlelight. She placed the paper umbrella by the door, and instead of sitting on the small stool, she didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, she casually lifted a corner of the tattered quilt and sat on the wooden bed, curiously looking around the room.