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

The rumbling sound pierced everyone's ears.

Amidst the billowing dust, the Japanese military tricycle screeched to a halt in front of the white marble lion at the main entrance of the martial arts hall.

The three Japanese samurai in the wagon bed tumbled to the ground, their boots striking the bluestone slab with a cold, crisp sound.

The leader carried a short gun on his shoulder and wore a standard samurai sword at his waist. A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and his sinister and sharp eyes swept over the open doors of the martial arts hall, finally landing on the instructors and students in the courtyard.

"Jiangcheng martial artists have been colluding with rebels and participating in bombings and assassinations. Jiangcheng Martial Arts Academy, with its deepest martial arts lineage, is the most suspicious. By order of the Sixth Prince, it is to be shut down immediately!" The warrior slowly stepped into the vermilion gate of the martial arts academy, and his cold shout instantly silenced the entire academy.

The instructors present changed their expressions drastically. The internal strife that had just been quelled had not yet ended, and the Japanese had come to their door directly.

On the training ground, Gu Yanqiu's eyes narrowed, and his aura instantly tightened.

Lin Ji was absolutely right!

Lin Ji's eyes darkened slightly.

This Japanese prince is indeed shrewd; he has already set up such a grand scheme in such a short time.

That's a ruthless and fast move.

Using the pretext of establishing the Martial Arts Hall's crimes, they aimed to legitimize their subsequent annexation of the southern concession and the confiscation of martial arts traditions.

Lin Ji turned his head to look at the inner hall corridor.

really!

Deep within the long corridor of the martial arts hall, a series of unhurried footsteps echoed.

Zhou Xun, who had just left in anger, returned.

His face had lost all trace of scholarly gentleness, replaced by a cold indifference.

He strode out from under the corridor, walked straight to the Japanese samurai, nodded slightly, and was extremely respectful.

"Gentlemen, you have come from afar. As the vice principal of the Martial Arts Hall, I have failed to greet you properly. I have failed to welcome you properly."

The entire venue erupted instantly!

All the instructors and students were dumbfounded.

Wang Meng followed closely behind, straightening his back again, his face full of pride.

Wang Meng was also an inside man!

"So... Vice Principal Zhou really was an inside man!"

"No wonder he kept obstructing the sealing of the gate and protected the instructors who accepted bribes!"

"He was hoping the Japanese would come and take over the martial arts school!"

The crowd erupted in uproar. The instructors, whose beliefs had wavered earlier, suddenly felt a chill run down their spines, thankful that they hadn't continued to blindly follow Wang Meng and fawn over Zhou Xun.

Zhou Xun, completely oblivious to the stares of the crowd, turned around and glanced indifferently at Gu Yanqiu, whose face was icy cold. His tone was detached, yet his words were piercing:

"Instructor Gu, last night's bombing in the south of the city was caused by the Tongmenghui's riots, which also affected the foreign concessions. Martial arts disciples are suspected of colluding with rebels and provoking the Japanese imperial family."

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly:

"His Highness the Sixth Prince has ordered that the Martial Arts Academy cease operations and be sealed off immediately, with all members confined to their quarters pending investigation. All martial arts texts, manuals, and secret formularies are to be sealed and handed over to Japan for verification!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yanqiu clenched his fist tightly.

These Japanese people were not after the leased land at all.

They want to use the pretext of shutting down the martial arts hall to completely seize the inheritance of Chinese martial arts!

Gu Yanqiu, his handsome features chillingly cold, stepped forward: "The Martial Arts Hall is innocent and blameless. Why should we allow the Japanese to arbitrarily shut it down?"

"On what grounds?" The leading Japanese samurai sneered, drawing his sword. The blade gleamed in the sunlight, its sharp light blinding. "On the grounds that Prince Jingmei holds the power of life and death in Jiangcheng!"

His gaze was fixed on Gu Yanqiu, his eyes filled with contempt and arrogance.

Zhou Xun delivered the finishing blow at the opportune moment, his voice calm yet utterly vicious:

"Instructor Gu's insistence on closing the doors and classrooms, his guilty conscience and attempt to evade investigation, and today's events are sufficient proof of your involvement in last night's turmoil. Do you acknowledge this?"

"As the vice principal of the martial arts academy, I am here today to clean house and, in cooperation with the Japanese imperial family, rectify the atmosphere of the academy!"

Wang Meng loudly echoed, "Take down Gu Yanqiu! Reorganize the Martial Arts Hall!"

The Japanese samurai instantly surrounded Gu Yanqiu, their blades aimed directly at his vital points, their killing intent palpable.

Liu Qingzhu moved in an instant, the cold edge of his three-inch short sword fully revealed:

"Let's see who dares to make a move."

The situation in the martial arts hall changed dramatically in an instant.

Outside, Japanese soldiers armed with guns and knives sealed off the hall and arrested people.

There were Zhou Xun and Wang Meng among the inside agents who betrayed them and completely switched sides.

With Xiao Jinglan absent, the martial arts hall was leaderless, and morale plummeted, with everyone in a state of panic.

At this critical moment.

Lin Ji, who had been standing silently, slowly stepped forward.

An elderly figure stood in front of the two women, his gray cloth robe fluttering even without wind, and his originally hunched back straightened inch by inch.

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the crowd, his voice drowning out all the noise in the room:

"You can close the door to the Martial Arts Hall, but you can't arrest people there."

Zhou Xun stood at the front of the crowd, his face indifferent, no longer displaying any of his refined demeanor.

He stared coldly at Lin Ji, who had stepped forward, a mocking smile playing on his lips, his tone condescending and disdainful.

"How dare a mere gatekeeper presume to discuss important matters of the Martial Arts Hall?"

"The Japanese prince's orders are absolute. Sealing off the court and arresting people is an official matter. How dare you, a mere servant, obstruct him?"

Wang Meng, standing to the side, seized the opportunity to shout arrogantly, full of confidence:

"Old Lin, don't push your luck! Vice Principal Zhou is in charge of internal affairs at the Martial Arts Hall; he's there to act impartially!"

"Gu Yanqiu has colluded with rebels, murdered Japanese soldiers, and attacked His Highness the Prince. The evidence against him is irrefutable. Surrendering is his only way out!"

Many of the teachers around were shaken and began to whisper among themselves.

Although Lin Ji had exposed their selfish motives for accumulating wealth in public, the overwhelming power in Japan and Zhou Xun's high position made everyone subconsciously lean towards the strong, and their gazes toward Gu Yanqiu were once again filled with hesitation.

Three Japanese samurai stepped forward, swords in hand, their boots clattering against the cobblestones with a dull, oppressive sound. Their icy gazes were fixed on Gu Yanqiu, ready to seize him at any moment.

Liu Qingzhu slightly turned her body, her cold eyes flashing with a chilling light, her blood and qi taut to the extreme. If her opponent dared to make the slightest move, she would immediately attack and fight to the death.

The situation is fraught with crisis, with attacks coming from both inside and outside, and the Martial Hall is on the verge of collapse.

At this critical moment, Lin Ji stepped forward again.

With that one step, his seemingly old and hunched figure brought all the sounds of wind, discussion, and footsteps in the entire training ground to an abrupt halt.

Dead!

Utter silence!

The previously restrained aura was no longer suppressed, and a powerful force, as heavy as a mountain and as solid as an abyss, quietly swept through the entire martial arts hall.

The hidden force instantly suppressed the aura!

A sudden gust of wind whipped up Lin Ji's clothes, and everyone present felt a tightness in their chest, their blood and qi suddenly stagnated, and even breathing became difficult.

The mocking smile on Zhou Xun's face froze instantly, his pupils contracted sharply, and a huge wave surged in his heart. He stared at the old man in front of him with disbelief.

impossible!

An old man who sweeps the floor and guards the gate every day, and is already in his twilight years, is actually a master of internal strength.

He had been in charge of the martial arts hall for many years and had mastered the hidden strength in his early forties. But at this moment, in front of Lin Ji's aura, he was like an ant looking at a mountain. His strength was suppressed and he didn't even have the strength to raise his hand!

"Who...who exactly are you!" Zhou Xun's voice trembled, all traces of his previous composure and dominance gone, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat.

Lin Ji's gaze swept calmly over his pale face, his voice aged yet extremely penetrating, each word reaching everyone's ears.

Who I am is not important.

"Most importantly, the martial arts hall's foundation, built over thirty years, cannot be trampled upon by outsiders from Japan, much less betrayed by its own lackeys!"