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

Inside the council chamber.

Bright lights.

Shen Jinluan stood in front of the council hall, while Bai Yu'er stood not far away.

Below stood more than twenty members of the Sea Dragon Gang, all bearing lingering grief and indignation.

The devastating news of the plague in the north of the city had already spread throughout the entire Jiangcheng.

Many of the brothers who lived in the north of the city had a white silk ribbon wrapped around their arms.

Hatred ignited a raging fire in everyone's heart.

"I called everyone here for just one thing." Shen Jinluan tapped her fingertip lightly on the jade pipe, and the whispers in the hall instantly fell silent:

"Tonight at midnight, our Haijiao Gang, Qingyi Gang, the four major families, and various martial arts schools will join forces to launch a night raid on the Japanese consulate, kill Prince Jingmei of Japan, and avenge the people who died in the city."

The council chamber fell silent for a moment, then erupted in a cacophony of voices.

"Alright, we'll do as the boss says! Let's kill them! Those Japanese bastards killed my mother, I've wanted to kill them for ages!"

One of the men, with his scarlet eyes bloodshot, looked as if he hadn't had a proper rest in a long time.

"Yes! Blood for blood! I won't be satisfied until I chop these scum to pieces and feed them to the dogs!"

"Boss! Give the order! We'll obey you without question! We'll go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Inside the council chamber, the crowd was filled with righteous indignation, their shouts deafening.

These men, who roam the underworld, may have some minor conflicts in their daily lives and like to take advantage of others, but in front of him, their inherent courage and valor are not diminished at all.

Shen Jinluan tucked the jade pipe into her waistband and spoke crisply:

"All branches, go back and count your men, grab your weapons, and meet at the City God Temple in the west of the city at 11 PM. Remember! Once inside the Japanese consulate, leave no one alive!"

"yes!"

The crowd echoed in unison, and under the dim light, every face was filled with a resolute determination to avenge their grievances.

Inside the headquarters of the Green Robe Gang.

Liu Qingzhu stood with his hands behind his back in front of Du Qingyi and recounted the tragic situation in the north of the city, the invitation from the Tongmenghui, and Lin Ji's killings.

"A master! Elder Lin's strength is unfathomable! Since Elder Lin is leading the charge to take down the Japanese consulate, the Green Robe Gang has no reason not to participate!" Du Qingyi slammed his hand on the table, abruptly standing up. His gaze was deep and fixed on the distance.

"Our Qingyi Gang has been based in Jiangcheng for decades. We don't expect to benefit the local people, but we cannot tolerate these foreign thieves from Japan swaggering around on our territory and harming our compatriots."

His voice was firm and resolute: "With such patriotism from Elder Lin, our Green Robe Gang naturally has an unshirkable duty. Today, I will personally lead the men to slaughter those Japanese to the point of a bloody pulp!"

Liu Qingzhu nodded slightly, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes.

She recalled how, when the concession was first established, her family was forced to move away from the large courtyard in Gouwei Lane in the east of the city, where they had lived for almost thirty years.

Her gaze was deep and cold.

Those who wander the martial arts world may not understand any profound principles.

However, it would not tolerate foreign invasion.

The night in Jiangcheng deepened little by little.

The entire city seemed to have been switched on at the same moment.

The number of people at the dock gradually decreased, and those who remained gathered in small groups.

Inside the martial arts school, rows of steel knives were sharpened until they gleamed.

Countless figures were constantly moving through the streets and alleys, spreading the news of the night.

The streets and alleys, which were gloomy and lifeless during the day, suddenly came alive.

There were no unified commands.

Everyone is moving in one direction.

The Japanese Consulate in the eastern part of the city.

Inside the consulate.

Jingmei leaned back on the sofa, the gramophone playing in a Japanese accent. He held a glass of red wine in his hand, happily planning his next move:

"Although this Ironwood Bell has a rebellious nature, he doesn't get along with me."

"But with him around, that old man Lin Ji can't cause any trouble in the city."

"Once Jiangcheng is completely in chaos, I can use the pretext of quelling the rebellion to take over the city in a perfectly legitimate way."

"Your Highness...Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"

A Japanese ronin stumbled and scrambled in from outside, his face filled with panic:

"Your Highness, news has come from outside... that the British official, Prus, and the governor's special envoy, Gao Ran, were beheaded in the street last night by Li Shuwen!"

"What?"

Jingmei bowed excitedly, spilling wine from his glass onto the floor. He stood up abruptly, his wide kimono sweeping tea from the table.

"Say it again? Who was killed?"

"Prus...and Gao Ran, both were killed by Li Shuwen!" The ronin lowered his head, his voice trembling violently.

Jingmei felt a wave of dizziness and had to hold onto the sofa armrest to steady herself.

Proust... Gao Ran.

Why would Li Shuwen lay a hand on Da Ying?

Aren't you afraid that the British ships and cannons will invade again?

His heart sank suddenly. Before he could think about those questions, another thought popped into his head.

North of the city?

Isn't Tie Muling located in the north of the city?

Could it be that Li Shuwen killed someone in the street in the north of the city to cause trouble for Tie Muling?

The more he thought about it, the more panicked he became.

If Tie Muling really dies, and the other Transcendent Realm reinforcement is still not here, I'm afraid I won't be able to stay in Jiangcheng any longer.

"No...we can't just sit here and wait to die."

Jingmei's eyes darkened, and a fierce glint flashed across her face.

"Go! Bring all those Chinese people out of the dungeon and inject them all with the drug!"

The ronin was taken aback: "Your Highness...aren't those people going to be kept for experiments?"

"I'll say everything!" Jingmei threw her wine glass at the ronin with a bang, her eyes filled with madness.

"I don't care about the Empire's so-called plans anymore! Tonight, I'm going to turn the entire Jiangcheng into a river of blood!"

The ronin shivered, dared not say another word, and quickly bowed and retreated.

Under the lights.

The phonograph was still turning slowly.

It resounded with that eerie, inexplicable tone typical of the Japanese.

Jingmei curled up on the sofa, her eyes filled with madness.

……

Inside the provincial capital's military governor's mansion.

The reception hall.

The British envoy Edmonton slammed his large hand on the table, making a creaking sound, and spittle flew through the air, landing incessantly on the warlord, Commander-in-Chief Heze.

"Commander He! You've taken so many benefits from our British Empire, and now you haven't even caught the person, and you've even damaged our people? Let me tell you, if you can't provide an explanation, not only you, but even if the people from Beiping come, I dare to send my warships to China's ports!"

He Ze stood to the side, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, his back bent at a deliberately maintained angle. He forced a smile, cautiously glancing sideways at something not far away:

"Mr. Special Envoy, please calm down... I have already spoken with my superiors and we will definitely give your country an explanation."

"Explanation? What explanation do I need!" Edmonton slammed his hand on the table again, showing absolutely no respect for the provincial military governor.

"What the British want is Lin Ji's head!"

Below the hall, a man in his thirties, dressed in a blue robe, stood with his back to the two men, looking up at the landscape paintings on the wall, seemingly oblivious to the argument behind him.

Edmonton raged for a long time, but seeing that He Ze, who was usually so assertive, had become so submissive today, his anger intensified.

He glanced around the hall out of the corner of his eye, his gaze landing on the unmoved figure in the blue robe, and he was instantly filled with rage:

"Who do you think you are? You dare stand here?"

The man withdrew his gaze from the landscape painting, slowly turned around, revealing only half of his profile.

His features were delicate and refined, his gaze serene, like a still pool of water.

He glanced at Edmonton and said softly:

"My name is Huo Feihong."