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

"Instructor Gu is so impressive!"

Everyone turned to look.

A figure suddenly walked into the training ground without anyone noticing.

The newcomer was dressed in a dark blue long gown and was holding a thread-bound book in his hands.

Time seemed to have etched its marks on his face, yet he still looked like a scholar despite being in his early forties.

"Principal Zhou." Wang Meng's pupils contracted sharply. Ignoring the pain in his cheek, he quickly bowed and greeted him.

Zhou Xun nodded slightly in response.

Judging from their appearance, they must have a close relationship.

Lin Ji looked at Zhou Xun from a distance and spoke softly:

"Is this the vice principal of the martial arts hall? Miss Liu, are you able to assess his strength?"

Liu Qingzhu raised her eyebrows slightly and said in a cool voice, "Judging from his aura, he should be at the mid-stage of the Dark Force realm."

Liu Qingzhu had barely finished speaking.

Zhou Xun slowly took a step forward.

The white-soled black shoes had just landed.

His aura suddenly intensified.

"Late stage of Dark Force?" Liu Qingzhu's pupils constricted slightly as he asked in surprise.

Zhou Xun's aura flowed around him, and his face still had that scholarly air, but this aura actually overwhelmed Gu Yanqiu.

"Instructor Gu, the martial arts academy's ironclad rule states that instructors must not harm each other without cause. As the head instructor of the martial arts academy, you knowingly violated this rule. What was your intention?"

"I will leave this matter aside for now and decide on a decision when Principal Xiao returns."

Zhou Xun took another step forward, his imposing aura forcing Gu Yanqiu to take a step back before he continued speaking:

"I'm going to ask you this today: what are your true intentions in trying to undermine the foundation of the martial arts school and force it to close down?"

Gu Yanqiu raised his eyebrows.

She never expected that Zhou Xun would be wearing the same pair of pants as Wang Meng this week.

"Principal Zhou, didn't you hear what I just said? Shouldn't the Martial Arts Hall protect the students' safety?"

Unfazed by the overwhelming aura emanating from the other party, Gu Yanqiu abruptly lifted her leg and took a step forward.

"Hahaha, how utterly ridiculous! I, Zhou Xun, a dignified late-stage Inner Strength cultivator, sit in charge of the Martial Arts Hall. What right do those Japanese and Westerners have to threaten the students? With just a few foreign guns?"

Zhou Xun, instead of being angry, smiled, looking at Gu Yanqiu's spirited eyebrows, his eyes revealing a hint of disdain:

"Besides, if the Martial Arts Hall really closes its doors, wouldn't that confirm the fact that the Martial Arts Hall is guilty? The Japanese would have even more reason to come and cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Wang Meng's eyes, and he said:

"Gu Yanqiu, I heard you just returned from Xincheng yesterday?"

He smiled and stepped out from behind Zhou Xun, nodded to Zhou Xun, and continued:

"I've heard that Xincheng is heavily guarded by Japanese troops. Just a few days ago, a Japanese prince died. How did you manage to move freely between Jiangcheng and the city? Could it be that you're colluding with the Japanese?"

Seeing this, many instructors at the martial arts academy...

Everyone was shocked.

Even many people behind Li Jingzhi looked at Gu Yanqiu with surprise.

"Well done... turning the tables and blaming others." People around Lin Ji whispered among themselves.

"What a blatant attempt to turn the tables and shift the blame." Beside Lin Ji, Liu Qingzhu muttered coldly to herself, her jade hand quietly reaching for the short sword at her waist, about to step forward to help.

As soon as she moved, her arm was gently pressed down by a withered but steady hand.

Liu Qingzhu turned her head, her gaze falling on Lin Ji, her cool brows showing a hint of urgency: "Uncle Lin, Gu Yanqiu is about to be framed by them."

Lin Ji smiled faintly:

"How do you plan to help? Directly confront Zhou Xun? If a fight breaks out, it will only confirm Gu Yanqiu's crime of colluding with outsiders to engage in a private fight, and then all the blame will fall on her."

The question made Liu Qingzhu freeze in shock.

A chill ran through her eyes, but she couldn't think of a perfect solution for the moment. She could only clench her fists and observe the changing situation.

On the training ground, Wang Meng was still loudly inciting the crowd:

"Think about it, everyone! If Gu Yanqiu were truly innocent, why would she rush to seal off the Martial Arts Hall? It must be that she made a deal with the Japanese in Xincheng, and now she's cowering in fear!"

The murmurs among the crowd grew louder, and many instructors looked at Gu Yanqiu with suspicion.

Just as Gu Yanqiu was about to speak in rebuttal, a figure in a gray cloth robe slowly walked into the arena from the periphery of the crowd.

"Instructor Wang's conjecture is quite plausible." Lin Ji looked directly at Wang Meng, his tone calm yet penetrating: "Unfortunately, no matter how many lies you tell, they can't cover up your shady dealings."

Wang Meng's face darkened: "You're just an old gatekeeper, who gives you the right to interrupt?"

"So what if I'm a doorman? At least I didn't accept a large sum of money from the Zhang family."

As Lin Ji finished speaking, the entire room fell silent:

"The Zhang family colluded with Westerners to traffic opium in the east of the city, making money stained with the blood of ordinary people. You accepted bribes from the Zhang family and colluded with martial arts instructors to secretly teach martial arts to the young masters of the Zhang family's mansion every day. Is this true?"

Wang Meng trembled, and his face turned pale instantly.

Lin Ji continued speaking, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Xun:

"Vice Principal Zhou condones his instructors going out to make money on their own and turns a blind eye. If the Martial Arts Academy closes its doors and cuts off their way of making money through the Zhang family, they will naturally try their best to stop them. It's not that they are worried about the Martial Arts Academy's fortune; it's purely that they can't bear to give up their own source of income!"

These words were like ice water poured over my head.

The group of instructors who had been crowding behind Wang Meng and shouting along instantly changed their expressions.

Their previous high spirits vanished completely, and they quietly retreated, no longer daring to stand on Wang Meng's side.

In an instant, Wang Meng was left with only two or three trusted confidants, isolated and helpless.

Zhou Xun's face was ashen, and his inner energy fluctuated erratically, but he dared not make a move in public.

Lin Ji's words hit the nail on the head, exposing their selfish motives in public. If he were to take action, it would be tantamount to admitting guilt without being asked.

"Nonsense! You're spreading rumors and deliberately trying to sow discord!" Zhou Xun rebuked in a deep voice, his voice clearly lacking in confidence.

"The evidence will come sooner or later." Lin Ji was too lazy to argue with him and turned to Gu Yanqiu. "Head Instructor, sealing off the gates is imperative. Arrange for disciples to guard each gate as soon as possible to prevent outsiders from sneaking in."

Gu Yanqiu's spirits lifted, and he loudly ordered, "Obey the arrangements! Immediately seal off the four gates of the Martial Arts Hall and conduct a thorough search!"

The tide had turned, and Zhou Xun was powerless to stop it. He stared intently at Lin Ji, his chest burning with rage, but there was nothing he could do. He slammed his sleeve down and said, "Fine, very well! I'll remember this!"

Having said that, he turned and quickly returned to the hall.

Wang Meng hung his head in dejection and followed closely behind, his previous arrogance completely gone.

The commotion on the training ground subsided, and the instructors dispersed.

The group moved to a quiet corridor on the side of the martial arts hall.

Liu Qingzhu broke the silence first, her gaze falling on Lin Ji, unable to hide her doubts: "Uncle Lin, I didn't have time to ask earlier. Regarding the Heavenly Evolution Notes, Shen Jinluan was able to comprehend and cultivate them, so why can Gu Yanqiu only understand scattered characters and never get to the point?"

Gu Yanqiu also looked over, equally curious.

Lin Ji remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly: "Jin Luan can indeed cultivate, but the reason involves a difficult matter that cannot be discussed at the moment."

The tantalizing answer only fueled the two women's curiosity, but seeing Lin Ji's serious expression, neither of them pressed for further details.

Liu Qingzhu hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Could I borrow the Heavenly Evolution Notes? I'd like to try it out."

Without hesitation, Lin Ji took out a yellowed silk book from his bosom and handed it to her.

Liu Qingzhu carefully unfolded the silk book, her gaze fixed intently on the small seal script characters.

She held her breath and tried to guide the flow of qi and blood according to the recorded methods.

After a long while, his meridians remained sluggish. He could understand the words, but he could not draw in the vital energy that connected heaven and earth.

After a long while, she slowly closed the silk book, handed it back to Lin Ji, a hint of regret appearing on her usually cool face, and sighed softly:

"Just like Yanqiu, he has no chance to comprehend it."

Right now!

"Rat-a-tat-tat—"

The ear-piercing roar of machinery came from the direction of the open main entrance of the martial arts hall.

A military green three-wheeled motorcycle sped by, kicking up dust as its wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs, the sound growing louder and louder.

Several samurai dressed in black Japanese uniforms sat in the car, their cold gazes fixed on the martial arts hall.