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

Zhabei and Hongkou are adjacent; Zhabei is to the west of Luohu Road, and Hongkou is to the east.

In the darkness, the wheels sped across the stone-paved road. A dozen bicycles, each carrying two people, sped like sharp cones, led by Harley-Davidson motorcycles, heading straight for Hongkou.

On Changwu Road, the Japanese characters on the neon signs gleamed, casting red and green light on the damp, cold street. Japanese-style rickshaws weaved through the streets, with no sign of Chinese rickshaws in sight.

The izakaya on the street had its paper door open, and warm yellow light shone out, illuminating the swaying figures of shirtless ronin inside. All that could be heard was the clinking of wooden cups and loud laughter and curses.

A kimono-clad maid stood at the door, bowing her head to solicit customers. Occasionally, a ronin would stagger out, muttering incoherent laughter.

From the dark alleyway where the lamplight couldn't reach, a group of masked figures slowly emerged, silent, their eyes gleaming with cold light.

The man at the head of the group was impeccably dressed, tall and well-proportioned, wearing shiny black leather shoes. He walked unhurriedly along the gray cement road. The others followed him silently.

An invisible aura, like a surging tide, pressed forward with overwhelming force.

The long street suddenly fell silent; the laughter and noise that had been filling the air seemed to have subsided. Two or three Japanese rickshaws coming from the opposite direction quickly turned around and sped away.

The group of men in black did not give chase, but silently moved forward, their dozens of hawk-like eyes fixed on the group of noisy Japanese ronin in the tavern on the side of the street.

The two women in kimonos at the door were trembling with fear. Before they could even scream, the leader in black suddenly waved his hand forward.

The men in black, like beasts released from their cages, took off running and drew their axes from their waists.

The two women in kimonos crouched down, covering their heads in fright, and cried out, "Yamete!"

"Baka! Who are you people?" came a furious roar from inside the house.

Ping-pong balls clattered, wine glasses and chairs smashed to the ground, followed by the sounds of sharp objects piercing flesh and screams of agony. Blood splattered onto the dimly lit paper sliding door.

Song Beiyou reached out and squeezed Shen Daguan, who was trembling with nervousness beside him. Shen Daguan jolted, took a deep breath, and nodded to Song Beiyou, indicating that he could do it.

In a short while, the Japanese ronin in the izakaya were slaughtered, their bodies scattered and their horses crashing down.

Old Qian, who hadn't killed anyone in a long time, was now filled with excitement, as if he had returned to more than ten years ago when he and his old brothers fought for territory in the streets.

Bang! Splintered wood flew everywhere, the wooden wall was smashed, and several figures escaped from within.

"It's Koji Kato!" Old Qian shouted before he had even finished speaking, and he had already pounced on the man on the left. With a swift axe, he chopped down the man on the left, and blood splattered everywhere.

The other two tried to escape but were surrounded by Ah Zhong and his men. Kato Koji was somewhat strong, but he couldn't withstand the sheer number of opponents. He was quickly struck in the back with an axe and staggered forward with a scream. Before he could get up, he was already restrained and dragged away.

Song Beiyou lowered his eyes and stared at him: "You're Kato Yuichi's younger brother?"

"Not bad." Although someone was holding his shoulders down, Kato Koji still held his head high, his eyes fierce.

"Did you lead your men to attack our coachman?"

"Hongkou is our territory. You'll die if you dare to come!"

"Go to hell! The entire Jiangzuo region belongs to us Dongxia people. What are you little dwarfs?!" Old Qian stepped forward and kicked Kato Koji in the back of the knee.

Kato Koji's face contorted in pain as he involuntarily knelt on the ground, but he still wore a disdainful smile: "Natsujin, a bunch of cowards, you've disgraced the people of Greater East Asia!"

Song Beiyou raised his hand to stop Lao Qian, who wanted to hit him again, and stared down into his eyes: "Where is the head of the brother who killed Kato Yuichi?"

Koji Kato glanced sideways and said, "He dared to kill my brother; his head will suffer the most vicious punishment."

Song Beiyou raised an eyebrow and sneered, then suddenly struck, punching Kato Koji's left arm. A chilling aura visibly surged around his shoulder and arm, and in the blink of an eye, his entire left hand was covered in a layer of solid ice.

Koji Kato stared in horror; his entire left arm was stiff and numb, like a wooden stake.

The rest of the crowd were horrified, and Shi Feng's eyelids twitched wildly as he watched. Even Su Xiaowan's eyes widened, and she exclaimed in her heart: How can this guy know so many things? What kind of evil martial arts is this?

Before anyone could react, Song Beiyou raised his hand and slapped it.

A sickening cracking sound filled the air as ice shattered. Cracks appeared on Koji Kato's arm, spreading rapidly and deepening. Then, his entire forearm collapsed suddenly, the sleeve, flesh, and bone crumbling away inch by inch, falling like dark red sand.

Koji Kato was utterly horrified. Half an arm was gone, and he hadn't felt a thing. The jagged, icy cut, the dark red flesh, and the stark white bone were all clearly visible. He immediately began to tremble all over.

"Speak. Where is his head? Otherwise you will watch your hands, your feet, your body, crumble into ice pieces."

When Kato Koji met Song Beiyou's gaze, he suddenly felt a chill. He was certain that if he didn't speak, he would truly be tortured to death like this.

"At...at the Black Dragon Society's shrine, it's placed next to my brother's body."

Song Beiyou turned his head to look at the street corner, where there was a building with the words "Black Dragon Martial Spirit" faintly visible on the square lanterns hanging at the entrance.

"Send him on his way." His words were as cold as ice, utterly devoid of warmth.

Shen Daguan drew his bull-ear dagger, swallowed hard, and without even looking closely, thrust it forward.

Hot blood spurted out, splashing all over his hand. He jolted, abruptly drawing his sword and taking two steps back. By sheer chance, the blade pierced right into Kato Koji's chest.

Koji Kato collapsed to the ground, uttering his last words: "The Black Dragon Society... will avenge me!"

Shen Daguan's hands trembled as he sheathed the dagger again.

"Let's go. To the Black Dragon Society."

Song Beiyou shifted his gaze from Shen Daguan and swept it over the others. They had launched a surprise attack, catching their opponents off guard. Apart from three people having blood on their arms, the others were mostly unharmed.

The group looked away from the ice shards scattered on the ground and quickly started to catch up.

Neon lights flashed on both sides of the long street, casting a bizarre and dazzling light on the crowd.

Song Beiyou walked faster and faster, and the people behind him quickened their pace accordingly.

There were figures moving around the entrance of the Black Dragon Society; it must have been some Japanese who went in to report the attack. Immediately afterwards, a group of Japanese men dressed in kendo uniforms and carrying samurai swords swarmed out.

"Baka yarou! Kill them!" The leader gripped the hilt of his knife, a small tuft of mustache on his lips trembled, and his eyes were fierce.

Clang! Song Beiyou reached down and pulled out a cleaver from his lower back. The blade was a deep blue-green, reflecting a cold light.

"Watch out! That was just a warm-up. The real fight is about to begin!" Song Beiyou shouted in a low voice.

As he spoke, the people behind him simultaneously drew their weapons, their blood boiling with excitement.