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

A strong sense of crisis arose in Song Beiyou, and he became fully alert, asking, "Master Liu, are you not ill?"

"Of course I'm sick. Didn't you already diagnose me? Hehe." Old Master Liu's cloudy old eyes were like those of a sinister hunting dog, sending chills down one's spine.

"Since you're sick, why don't you go back to your ward and rest?" Song Beiyou's Adam's apple bobbed, his eyes fixed on the other person, as he slowly retreated towards the stairwell.

"No, let me help you. Hehehe." Less than ten feet away, the old man's thin body leaped over like a mad monkey, and at the same time, he flicked his right hand, and his black crutch shot out like lightning!

Song Beiyou's pupils shrank to pinpoints—the jet-black cane was shooting toward his chest in a treacherous arc!

Life or death hangs in the balance! Song Beiyou stomped his heel on the ground, channeling his strength into his waist and back as he leaped to the side with all his might!

At the same time, the cane grazed his left arm, first a cool sensation, then a searing pain, and blood trickled down his arm.

"Too slow, too slow. I'll help you!" The sinister laughter still echoed in the air. "Tap tap tap," footsteps approached like a whirlwind, then suddenly disappeared.

Song Beiyou leaped to the ground, but hearing the wind behind him, he ignored the burning pain in his arm, landed on his shoulder and back, and rolled over like a lazy donkey.

In the blink of an eye, a foot, like a heavy iron hammer, stomped down on his head!

A strong gust of wind struck his face, leaving no room for error. Thanks to the "Autumn Cicada's Premonition," the trajectory of this kick was as clear as a slow-motion scene.

In that split second between life and death, Song Beiyou suddenly moved, bracing himself with his hands on the ground, using his lower back as a pivot, and his whole body spun and slid away like an eel!

Bang! The leather shoe stomped down, grazing his hair, sending pebbles flying. Almost simultaneously, taking advantage of the opponent's exhaustion and lack of new strength, he bent his leg and kicked out hard—striking the opponent's thin calf solidly.

A powerful recoil force sent him slid backward, crashing into the wall.

A scorching storm raged in his mind, instantly deduce the trajectory of his head hitting the wall. Song Beiyou immediately reached back and pressed his hands against the wall, bending and springing back. Although somewhat disheveled, he used the momentum to stand up and regain his balance, albeit unsteadily.

The whole process, though seemingly lengthy, actually happened in the blink of an eye. Only then did Song Beiyou break out in a cold sweat. The old man's movements were lightning-fast, and his strength was simply inhuman! Although he possessed the terrifying ability of "Autumn Cicada's Premonition," his physical abilities and skills were vastly inferior.

The scalpel in his hand had flown away and was now useless.

Master Liu seemed surprised that he could not only dodge the kick but also counterattack. His eyes widened in astonishment, and then he swayed left and right like a monkey, chuckling, "You've improved, you've improved! I'll help you again, hehehe..."

Just then—

Crash! The glass shattered! A flash of cold light, like a silver whip, struck the gray figure!

Bang! Bricks and stones flew everywhere. Old Master Liu sprang to the side like a spring, barely dodging the attack.

Song Beiyou turned his head in surprise and saw through the broken window a graceful figure standing atop the ginkgo tree, holding a warm yellow paper umbrella. In her right hand, a silver light shone like a ribbon, swirling and turning before flowing back into the umbrella handle.

"Hmph... Keep your head on your shoulder for a few days." Master Liu turned his head and glanced at him, then pushed off with both feet, leaped forward, smashed through the window with a "bang," and jumped down from the third floor, heading straight for the woman holding an umbrella on the treetop!

Song Beiyou's anxiety eased slightly.

A flash of inspiration struck, and the Book of Impermanence opened on its own. As if an invisible brush had dipped in blood to write, the powerful, elegant characters emerged line by line on the mirror-like pages:

[The tribulation has passed. You may linger here for a moment, or return immediately. Note: Your physical body serves as the anchor for returning through time and space.]

You have been granted two years of lifespan.

[You have obtained: Martial Arts Mask Enhancement Charm - Initial Grade. Note: Can only enhance the corresponding mask level.]

[This tribulation is rated as excellent.]

You have been granted an additional two years of lifespan.

You have received an additional item: The Mysterious Box of a Hundred Faces.

[The harvest will be distributed upon your return.]

Song Beiyou was overwhelmed with emotion, clenching his fists. He wouldn't have to sit in a wheelchair anymore, and he was relieved to run into those two patrolmen again...

I, Song Beiyou, have returned from my journey to Shanghai, the capital of the Jiangnan region!

Calming himself, he looked at the deep footprints left on the smooth cement floor by that person, and the deep crater on the wall caused by the woman with the umbrella's casual strike. His heart surged with emotion: Is this the martial arts of this world? True kung fu!

Since it had been indicated that he could return, it meant he was safe. Song Beiyou walked to the window and looked down through the hole. He saw two figures already locked in combat.

The old man, like a mad monkey, lashed out with arms like steel whips, turning raindrops into white mist. The woman, her toes lightly touching the water, gracefully dodged all the deadly attacks, like a fairy gliding on yellow clouds.

The rain and mist surged, and two shadowy figures, one blue and one gray, moved with incredible speed. But with Qiu Chan's premonition, Song Beiyou could glean some insights into their techniques from each move, which filled him with longing. He had been in this world for a long time and naturally knew how powerful martial arts were. Today, he was fortunate enough to witness a clash between masters, but he didn't know what level they were at.

When he first arrived here, he heard people talking about the terrifying abilities of various martial artists, such as tearing a person apart with their bare hands or smashing a car with a single punch. He was excited for a while, but the secrets were not passed on to outsiders. Most of the martial arts schools on the market taught people how to perform moves. Not only were they expensive, but even if you trained for several years, you would only end up as a gang thug.

"Ha!" The gray shadow's fists shot out like venomous dragons, whipping up spiraling jets of water that slammed down on the umbrella. Suddenly, a slender hand appeared in the mist, pressing forward lightly.

*Pop!* Fists and palms collided, and the two men paused slightly. Immediately, a shockwave exploded, rain and mist swirled back, and the bluestone cracked inch by inch.

In the mist, Old Master Liu retreated rapidly, his feet carving a long trail of water as he plowed the ground, his back slamming against a lamppost with a thud. He then decisively leaped away.

The wind dispersed the lingering mist, revealing the woman's true face, a heavily painted face with vibrant colors, except for her clear, bright eyes that pierced through the rainy night.

Song Beiyou was greatly shocked. Fragments of memories surfaced in his mind, revealing a new scene: the two confronting each other in the rain on the long blue stone street.

"Who are you?"

"Actor."

"An actor? Heh heh, a busybody, dies young."

"Those who do evil are incompetent and die even earlier."

"..."

Her name was Xizi. In the time it took for Song Beiyou to lose his focus, the woman had already leaped after the gray shadow and disappeared without a trace.

Return countdown: 5 minutes 22 seconds

[You have deactivated Autumn Cicada Awareness and entered a period of mental weakness, lasting two hours.]

Song Beiyou immediately felt the burning sensation in his eyes and head quickly subside, replaced by an icy chill, as if countless ice needles were stabbing wildly in his eyes and brain.

After a while, he felt like he had just woken up from a hangover. His head was throbbing, and he found himself covered in a cold sweat. His left arm wound was burning with pain. He immediately went back to the nurses' station and searched for gauze and iodine.

The ground was a mess, but Mary had vanished. It seemed there was an even bigger mystery behind it all.

After treating my wound, I found myself wandering into the doctor's office, turning to the opposite desk, where a white oak framed photograph caught my eye—a rare color photograph.

A tall woman in a white coat stood quietly under a sycamore tree. The loose white coat outlined the curves of her breasts. Her cheekbones were slightly high but not wide, giving her both Western profundity and Eastern gentleness.

Her slightly upturned cheeks and delicate red lips created a captivating silhouette. Her light golden hair was loosely styled into a round, oriental bun at the back of her head.

His captivating blue amber eyes were filled with a smile. She was Scarlett, his benefactor. Without her help, how could he have gone from a lowly caregiver to an assistant? No wonder rumors of an affair between the two of them surfaced.

"I wonder if it's you who's trying to get back at me?" Song Beiyou asked, staring at the photo, silently repeating "return."