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

The main hall of the Gelaohui (a secret society) in the east of the city.

The hall was filled with noise as the branch leaders sat below, whispering amongst themselves.

In the center of the main hall, on a grand chair, Zheng Changsheng held a light blue syringe between his fingertips.

The injection shimmered with a strange light, giving it an eerie feel when illuminated by sunlight.

"This little gadget can allow an ordinary person to directly enter the Ming Jin realm?"

Outside the hall.

A burly man with a leopard-like head and piercing eyes walked in and bowed, saying:

"Boss, I've found out. Something really bad has happened at the British Consulate. The president of that Famas Trading Company is dead, and most importantly, Zack is also missing."

"Is this why the British Concession is in such chaos now?" Zheng Changsheng put away the syringe and asked.

"Yes, boss, do you think we should... wait and see?" the burly man said hesitantly.

"What are you waiting for?" Zheng Changsheng scoffed.

"With His Highness Jingmei's promise, let alone the Green Robe Gang, he will swallow up the Hongmen as well."

Zheng Changsheng stood up and slowly walked to the front of the hall, his eyes filled with greed:

"Du Qingyi was seriously injured recently, and Liu Qingzhu was poisoned. Two of the top experts in his gang are now crippled and injured, and they are just grasshoppers in autumn."

"In addition, due to the tricks Prince Jingmei used before, many people in the Green Robe Gang have turned against us. Taking advantage of the chaos in the south of the city these past two days, we can directly take over his stronghold and seize all his territory."

"With Princess Jingmei backing us up, even if Great Britain sends people again, the territory of the south of the city will have already changed hands." Zheng Changsheng's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Zhou Biao, give the order to distribute the one hundred doses of medicine bestowed by Princess Jingmei tonight. This morning, we'll head to the south of the city and wipe out the Qingyi."

Zhou Biao's expression froze slightly, and his heart tightened.

"Do we really need to use those medications?"

However, she remained expressionless.

"I will obey the leader's orders. I will go and gather the brothers immediately."

Zheng Changsheng let out a smug hum, his fingertips slipping into his sleeve, gently rubbing the eerie coolness emanating from the injection.

"Hahaha, with Princess Jingmei backing you up, Du Qingyi, you're dead today." He could almost see the glorious scene of the Gelaohui swallowing up the Qingyi Gang and unifying the gangs in Jiangcheng.

However, he was completely unaware that an invisible net targeting the Gelaohui had been quietly tightening.

The morning light faded.

The city of Wuhan was still sweltering at the end of August.

Just like the restlessness in the south of Jiangcheng at this moment.

Groups of young people dressed in navy blue school uniforms, clutching stacks of colorful flyers, continued to converge on the south side of the city.

The unrest in the south of the city led to the closure of many shops along the street.

Only a few shops were open, and the shopkeepers and their employees were standing at the door, quietly discussing the "secret news" about the incident at the consulate.

Shen Jinluan linked arms with Lin Ji and walked beside him. Her dark brocade dress stood out against the drab streets.

Liu Qingzhu glanced at the student group passing by and the military governor's soldiers who were trying to maintain order not far away, and said softly:

"Your move was really clever. The Governor's Mansion's investigation and search efforts have been reduced by more than half. They're going to be very busy today."

"Hahaha, it's just mutual exploitation," Lin Ji chuckled.

As the two were talking, they arrived at the headquarters of the Green Robe Gang.

The guard recognized Shen Jinluan and, not daring to be negligent, quickly went in to inform her.

Before long, Du Qingyi came out to greet them personally.

His demeanor was different from usual; his previous composed air had vanished, replaced by a hint of anxiety, and his left shoulder was wrapped in bandages.

He noticed Lin Ji, paused for a moment, and cupped his hands in greeting: "Mr. Lin, Chief Shen, please have a seat inside."

Lin Ji nodded slightly in response. Looking at Du Qingyi's much more weathered back, Lin Ji couldn't help but recall that day at the outpost before the martial arts ban.

One side faces the river, Zacks.

On the other side, Du Qingyi at Wangjiang Tower.

That day, this hunched old man in the crowd below the stands caused one of these two men to die, while the other respectfully called him "Mr. Lin."

There was no one else in the hall.

Only Liu Qingzhu, dressed in a light blue Western-style dress, was present.

The moment Lin Ji saw Liu Qingzhu, a glint flashed in his eyes.

"This girl broke through?"

Her expression remained aloof, but when she noticed Lin Ji's gaze, a blush crept onto her face.

Her gaze lingered on Lin Ji for a moment before she quickly looked away as if nothing had happened.

Shen Jinluan released Lin Ji's arm, stepped forward, took Liu Qingzhu's hand, and gently asked in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Little sister, how are you feeling? Are you recovering well?"

Liu Qingzhu's face flushed even more, but because she turned her head to the side, no one could see clearly: "Thanks to Uncle Lin and Sister Shen's good fortune, I've broken through."

"You broke through? Peak of Dark Force?" Shen Jinluan asked in surprise, her peach blossom eyes slightly upturned.

She then jokingly added:

"Having just broken through, it's time to consolidate your gains. Why don't you come over to the Sea Dragon Gang for a chat tonight?"

Liu Qingzhu's face flushed even deeper, and she could no longer maintain her usual aloof demeanor, letting out a shy voice:

"Sister Shen, don't talk nonsense. There are outsiders here."

……

After Lin Ji and Du Qingyi took their seats,

Shen Jinluan stopped teasing Liu Qingzhu, and the two sat down together.

"Does Mr. Lin mean that he wants to unite the Green Robe Gang and the Sea Dragon Gang to take advantage of the chaos and take down the Gelaohui?" Du Qingyi sighed.

"That's probably unrealistic. You know what happened a few days ago. The Green Robe Gang was severely weakened, and it's already difficult enough to maintain the current situation. Even now, with the situation in Great Britain in chaos, but..."

Du Qingyi lowered her head and tightened the bandages on her shoulders.

His meaning couldn't be clearer: the Green Robe Gang currently lacks confidence and dares not take the initiative.

Lin Ji looked up at Du Qingyi, a slight smile on his lips, and dropped a bombshell:

"Zack is dead."

Du Qingyi froze, thinking he had misheard.

"Mr. Lin, you may not know this, but it is rumored that Zack has disappeared, and Engels, the president of the FAMAS Chamber of Commerce, has died."

"I killed him."

Lin Ji spoke calmly, his three words resounding clearly.

Now.

Even Liu Qingzhu couldn't help but frown slightly and look up at Lin Ji, but she wasn't too surprised.

"What?" Du Qingyi suddenly stood up. The movement aggravated the wound on his left shoulder, causing him to gasp in pain, but he was completely unaware of it, his eyes filled with shock.

After a while, seeing that Du Qingyi's emotions had calmed down considerably, Lin Ji chuckled and picked up his teacup to take a sip.

"Great Britain is currently leaderless and preoccupied with its own problems. The powerful ally that the Gelaohui relied on, Tianyang, has been severed. If we don't act now, when will we?"

"Gelaohui is a fickle organization. Without the support of Great Britain, it won't be long before they turn to Japan. If that sixth prince gives aid to Gelaohui, I'm afraid Gelaohui will be an even tougher nut to crack than before."

Du Qingyi remained hesitant, unable to make up her mind.

"Chief Du is worrying too much." Lin Ji stood up and looked at Liu Qingzhu:

"The Green Robe Gang has gained a peak Dark Force expert; even if Jing Mei herself were here, she would be a match for him."

"What?" Du Qingyi turned her head to look at Liu Qingzhu.

Liu Qingzhu nodded slightly.