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

"Great!" Liu Yuanbao cheered, turning and running to call his friends, "Come here! Grandpa Lin is going to tell stories using the shadow puppets!"

Lin Ji returned to his small courtyard, the gate of which was ajar.

He reached out and pushed open the courtyard gate. The inside was in complete disarray, with tables and chairs overturned on the ground, and the wooden box used for showing shadow puppets lying on the ground in the corner, covered in dust.

He crouched down and carefully wiped the dust off the box with his sleeve. Lin Ji gave a wry smile: "The old buddy's still not broken."

Lin Ji picked up the wooden box and walked back to the old locust tree along the path he had walked for at least thirty years.

A chubby little boy stared at Lin Ji, who was fiddling with the box for playing the shadow puppet show, for a long time, then scratched his head:

"Old man Lin, how come you look younger again? Aren't you already a hundred years old? You look more energetic than my dad!"

"Yes, yes! You outlived my grandfather... He died of illness last month at the age of sixty-one."

Children speak without restraint, their words may be blunt, but they strike a chord deep within people's hearts.

He set up the box of picture books, adjusted the pictures, and slowly began to speak:

"It is said that the world is in chaos, just like it is now. Foreign invaders cavalry swept south, burning, killing, and looting along the way. Countless cities fell, and people were displaced."

"In this chaotic world, there was a great hero named Guo Jing. Born into a chaotic world and raised in the martial arts world, he mastered unparalleled martial arts skills. He could have taken his family to live in seclusion and live a peaceful life."

"But he didn't. He fought hard on the border for several years, and the border town finally became peaceful. Smoke rose from the chimneys again, and children were able to study and play in peace. The dilapidated city was gradually repaired, and a good life of rebuilding after destruction was ushered in. The people of the city were grateful for his kindness, and everyone called him Hero Guo."

"After the border town was settled, he did not covet the peaceful life. He resolutely set off again. He wanted to travel all over the country, help the needy, resist foreign aggression, and protect more people and families. When asked why he did this, he said, 'As long as the country is not at peace, we warriors dare not remain indifferent.'"

After the story was finished, the children stared wide-eyed, unable to come to their senses for a long time.

"I want one too! To protect my family! To beat up bad guys!" The children chattered noisily, their eyes full of longing.

He was talking about Guo Jing, but he was reflecting on himself.

"That's very well said."

A soft voice suddenly came from behind.

Lin Ji turned around and saw Liu Qingzhu standing not far away, dressed in a moon-white dress with her hair tied in a simple bun, looking exactly the same as when he first saw her at the alley entrance.

She stood there quietly for an unknown amount of time, her footsteps barely audible.

"You're back too?" Lin Ji asked.

"Hmm, I'm going home to see how the yard is looking." Liu Qingzhu approached, her cheeks slightly flushed, her gaze falling on the box of picture books in his hand. "I just overheard you telling a story. You... are you really leaving?"

"Okay." Lin Ji nodded. "The matter in Jiangcheng is settled. Let's go out and take a look."

Liu Qingzhu bit her lower lip, her fingers gripping the hem of her skirt.

She looked up at Lin Ji, her voice soft but earnest:

"Then... I'll wait for you to come back."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Yuanbao, who was standing next to him, immediately perked up his ears, leaned over, and tilted his head to ask:

"Sis, what are we waiting for Grandpa Lin to come back for? Are we going to listen to the shadow puppet show again? I want to wait too! When Grandpa Lin comes back, he'll tell me stories of great heroes!"

"Children shouldn't ask such questions."

Liu Qingzhu blushed even more, glared at her younger brother reproachfully, but did not refute his words.

The setting sun shone through the locust tree leaves, landing on the tips of her reddened ears, spreading a soft glow.

Lin Ji looked at her, his smile deepening. He neither said yes nor no, only giving a soft "hmm".

A gust of wind rustled the leaves, and the alley was quiet; even the children playing quietly hushed their voices.

Some things don't need to be said outright.

When Lin Ji returned to the Sea Dragon Gang, it was nearly noon.

In the council chamber, Shen Jinluan was giving instructions to several hall masters. When he came in, she handed him a series of good letters.

"Li Shuwen had it brought by someone," Shen Jinluan said.

He glanced at it briefly; the letter seemed to be telling him to prepare in advance.

Lin Ji folded the letter and put it away, then sat down and explained the follow-up arrangements to Shen Jinluan:

"After I leave, the Haijiao Gang and the Qingyi Gang will jointly manage the West City Wharf, and the profits will be divided as previously agreed. The four major families are pragmatic and don't need to be driven to extinction. Just keep an eye on them and warn them if they dare to make any small moves. The Tongmenghui are all patriotic people, and they will help each other if they are in trouble."

"Keep an eye on the accounting department, Yu'er. If anyone tries to cheat, cheat, or bully the people, deal with them according to the gang rules. Don't show any leniency."

Shen Jinluan held the jade pipe in her mouth, not lighting it, but merely twirling it between her fingers, her smile crisp and decisive.

"Go ahead and don't worry, I'll take care of things at home. When you come back, Jiangcheng will be even more peaceful than it is now, without the slightest trouble."

She paused, then added, "Don't try to fight back when you're out there. If you can't win, run away. We'll be waiting for you in Jiangcheng."

Lin Ji smiled and nodded in agreement.

Just then, a gang member rushed in, looking anxious: "Master Lin, Chief Shen, news has come from the provincial capital that the military governor's office has urgently summoned all officials for a meeting. It is said that there is an important order from the capital, and even Governor He is panicking."

Lin Ji and Shen Jinluan exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

Meanwhile, inside the provincial capital's military governor's mansion.

He Ze stood beside the telephone, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

The cold voice from Beijing came through the receiver, each word like a knife:

"He Ze, listen carefully. The martial arts ban will be implemented ahead of schedule, and the martial arts competition will be held six months earlier. Guanghua Province is the hardest hit area, and heroes from both the north and south are gathered there. It's the perfect time to start with them."

"First, take down Li Shuwen and Huo Feihong to intimidate all the martial artists in the province. Great Britain and Japan will also send people to cooperate. You just need to be a good supporter. If anything goes wrong, you'll be beheaded."

"M-My lord..." He Ze's voice trembled, "Li Shuwen and Huo Feihong are both Grandmasters of the Transcendent Realm, their martial arts are unfathomable. With the limited troops in the provincial capital, I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what?" A cold laugh came from the other end of the line: "The ban on weapons is a national policy jointly decided by the authorities and the Queen. Anyone who dares to block the way is a rebel. The Divine Machine Battalion has brought the latest automatic rifles and explosive bullets. Even the most skilled martial artist can't stop bullets. Just cooperate. If you do it well, you'll be rewarded. If you mess it up... you'll have to consider the consequences yourself."

"Yes...yes, I understand."

He Ze hung up the phone, his legs went weak, and he slumped heavily into a chair, unable to recover for a long time.

Arms ban.

It's really coming.

Moreover, they immediately set out to attack the two heroes from the north and south.

He looked out the window at the gray sky and felt a sudden dizziness.

The waters of Guanghua Province had barely calmed down for two days before they were about to be completely turned upside down again.

Li Shuwen, Huo Feihong, Lin Ji... and all sorts of gangs and martial arts schools, if the ban on martial arts were to be implemented, the entire Guanghua would be plunged into bloodshed.

He Ze closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

The chaotic times are about to become even more chaotic.