Republic of China era: A hundred-year-old still practicing martial arts? Is that right?

"Prince Kagemi of Japan? Yet another prince." Shen Jinluan murmured to herself.

Lin Ji raised an eyebrow slightly.

Judging by the time, it should be time for Jingmei to head into the city.

"Is there anything else?" Shen Jinluan asked, looking up. Her brows were slightly furrowed, one problem after another.

She was already overwhelmed by the constant suppression from the Gelaohui these past two days, and now there's another Prince Liu.

"A letter came from the Green Robe Gang, saying that the Sixth Prince of Japan wants to settle accounts with the murderer of his brother, and that we should temporarily avoid confrontation."

"Avoid the limelight! How can we avoid it!" Shen Jinluan frowned even more deeply. "Alright, you can go now."

Shen Jinluan abruptly threw off the silk quilt, picked up her black cheongsam, and put it back on. The joy that had been in her eyes vanished completely. As she fastened the buttons at the collar, she looked at Lin Ji on the bed:

"Old man... The Japanese have returned to Jiangcheng. The Haijiao Gang had a conflict with them before. Even though the Tongmenghui claimed responsibility for the last raid on the Japanese stronghold, the Japanese will follow the clues and come knocking on our door. The Haijiao Gang can hide for a while, but not forever! I need to go see Du Qingyi."

Lin Ji knew that Shen Jinluan was absolutely right.

According to what the old man Jingxiu said, and judging from the list of those arrested by the Guanghua Martial Arts Association, what the Japanese really wanted was more than just occupying a concession.

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They want Guanghua's martial arts heritage even more.

Jingren's death gave them a reason to launch a large-scale invasion of Jiangcheng.

"Okay, I'll go with you." Lin Ji rolled out of bed and grabbed a long robe to put on.

……

South of the city.

The entrance to the city.

A large palanquin slowly entered through the city gate.

Two scantily clad beauties remained seated on the palanquin, their figures accentuated by the nightlights.

On the imperial carriage, Takeda Yuyasu was restless, his eyes darting around frequently.

"Is the report finished?"

"Yes, Your Highness Jingmei."

"How's the suicide mission going?" Jingmei took a sip of her wine, completely ignoring Chen Tianze's expression as he rode alongside her on horseback beneath the palanquin.

"Your Highness, since Prince Keihito's death, the plan has been suspended for almost the entire year," Takeda Yuyasu replied uneasily.

"Didn't Jiangcheng receive a lot of refugees? Aren't these people enough for you?" Jingmei glanced at Chen Tianze and asked, "Or is Jiangcheng unwilling to let the Empire help you clear out these refugees and maintain urban order?"

Chen Tianze's eyebrows furrowed, but he dared not lose his temper.

He only recently learned why the provincial governor's office was so protective of this group of Japanese.

Not long ago, Prince Jingmei donated a full 100,000 foreign guns to the Guanghua Military Governor's Office, allowing the general to firmly establish himself in Guanghua, and even his influence subtly extended to the three southern provinces.

Faced with these 100,000 foreign guns, the provincial capital clearly understood the relative importance of a mere few hundred refugees.

"Yes... we don't have enough manpower," Takeda Yuyasu replied in a low voice.

Jingmei raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of impatience flashing in her eyes. Clearly, Takeda Yuyasu's answer hadn't resonated with her.

"Commander Chen, where is the person I asked for?" Jingmei ignored Takeda Yuan on the palanquin, a sinister glint flashing in her narrow eyes, and spoke sharply.

"Reporting to the Sixth Prince, I have already launched a full-scale manhunt. Within three days, I will bring the thief to justice." Under pressure, Chen Tianze could only grit his teeth and reply.

Jingmei raised the wine glass to her lips, took a small sip, and found the wine slightly bitter, which barely suppressed the anger in her heart.

Jing Xiu is dead!

Even the Tianyan register can no longer be found.

Even the group of Japanese soldiers who were investigating the old man and the young man with Jingxiu had disappeared without a trace.

Now, the only leverage he has over the Jiangcheng military governor is that old man.

The old man who murdered Prince Jingren.

"Takeda-kun! Send Fujita-kun to Jiangcheng, and have him turn Jiangcheng upside down to find the murderer of Prince Jingren!" Jingmei's tone suddenly turned fierce, and a murderous intent flashed in her narrow eyes.

"Your Highness, there is an old Chinese saying: 'Harmony brings wealth.' Everyone comes to Jiangcheng to do business. If we really turn Jiangcheng upside down, won't all our business with other countries be ruined?"

"The British Mission is willing to fully assist Your Highness in the investigation and to find the murderer of Prince Jingren."

Zack was dressed in a crisp military green uniform with two rows of various badges pinned to his chest. He sat upright on his horse, his tall figure making the horse beneath him appear smaller.

"Da Ying?" Jingmei sneered, "What a fine example of 'full-fledged assistance.' I heard that only a few days after Third Brother's death, Da Ying has already occupied the best areas in the east of Jiangcheng?"

"Hahaha, Your Highness, your country has always been doing business in China under the banner of cooperation and mutual benefit. I have already discussed it with Mr. Takeda. We will split the profits of the East City Chamber of Commerce fifty-fifty." Zack narrowed his eyes and pulled on the reins, keeping his horse a step ahead of Jingmei's carriage.

"Mr. Zacks, are you saying that you occupy the Empire's territory, open a trading company, set up stores, and ultimately give us a 50/50 split?" Jingmei's eyes suddenly darted around.

"What's wrong?" Zack suddenly drew out his voice.

"Hmph! From now on, we'll split the profits 30/70, and I'll lend that piece of land to Mr. Zack." Jingmei snorted coldly, lying on her side on the palanquin, her tone contemptuous. It seemed that she wasn't after those few points of profit, but rather just wanted to put Zack in his place.

Chen Tianze sat on his horse, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

These two men, one from the East and one from the West, discussed land ownership, human experimentation, and the opium trade within his territory, showing absolutely no regard for him, the commander.

His gaze suddenly sharpened as he looked into the distance.

Why haven't those people made a move yet!

Just now.

A burst of flame shot into the sky.

A sudden, violent roar erupted from the streets and alleys.

"boom!"

The shockwave from the explosion nearly overturned the houses on both sides of the street.

The residents of these houses had all been cleared out by the Japanese before Jingmei entered the city, and no one lived there.

The explosion did not harm any residents of Jiangcheng.

The sixteen hunched-over men beneath the Jingmei Grand Carriage were struck by the shockwave, and all sixteen of them froze in place.

"Squeak!"

The carriage made a creaking sound as it was about to collapse under its own weight, and then suddenly tilted to one side.

Chen Tianze pushed off the horse with both feet, leaping off and landing steadily on the ground, avoiding the shockwave.

Zack suddenly stomped his feet, pinning the panicked horse to the ground and taking the brunt of the explosive impact.

On the grand carriage.

Jingmei scoffed, "Jiangcheng, what an impressive sight! You've truly broadened my horizons!"

He reached out and pulled.

He pulled a scantily clad woman onto his body.

The shockwave swept past, tearing the beautiful woman and her clothes to shreds.

Jingmei then slowly rose from the palanquin, patted the bloodstains off her kimono, and stepped down from the palanquin with a cold smile.

……

The border between the south and west sides of the city.

Lin Ji and Shen Jinluan suddenly looked up at the horizon.

The explosion was so loud that it made their ears ring.

Lin Ji frowned slightly: "It's probably the Tongmenghui that made their move!"