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

A lone moon hangs high in the sky.

night, deeper.

A soft knocking sound came from outside the outpost.

Just as the night watchman was about to ask a question, a small lantern was passed through the crack in the door, revealing Gu Yanqiu's handsome face in the light.

"it's me."

Behind her was a teenager, carrying a small bundle, with half his head sticking out.

"The Little New Year?!"

Bai Yu'er, who had just rested on the second floor, heard the noise and came downstairs. She was stunned when she saw the boy.

"sister."

Bai Xiaonian's voice went hoarse, and his eyes instantly reddened.

The siblings hadn't seen each other for a while.

Bai Yu'er could no longer hold back and hugged her younger brother tightly.

"Silly boy...you've grown taller."

"Sis, why are you crying..."

"The wind got in my eyes." Bai Yu'er released him, wiped the tears from her face, and resumed her usual demeanor. She flicked Bai Xiaonian's forehead, then stuffed a handful of silver coins into his pocket.

"Take this. Follow Sister Yanqiu. Don't cause trouble, don't be lazy, and don't neglect your martial arts skills."

"Okay." Bai Xiaonian nodded emphatically, clutching the silver coin.

"Sister, I'm almost at the peak of my bone refinement now. From now on, I can protect you."

"You?" Bai Yu'er laughed through her tears. "Get your stance on the ground first."

"Sis," Bai Xiaonian suddenly asked in a low voice, "when are you going back to live in Dog Tail Alley?"

Bai Yu'er paused for a moment, then rubbed his head:

"I'll go back when things get better."

The siblings chatted back and forth, neither of them mentioning the word "separation".

But every word is a farewell.

……

Gu Yanqiu walked up to Lin Ji.

She took out a palm-sized fine iron plaque from her bosom and handed it over with both hands.

The iron plate is extremely heavy, with a smooth, polished edge. The front features the seal script character "顾" (Gu), while the back is cast with a fine gear pattern.

"Grandpa Lin, this is a token from the Gu family," Gu Yanqiu said solemnly.

"Seeing the sign is like seeing the person. In the future, if you stay in the provincial capital, just find an ironworks, mine, or shop with the 'Gu' sign, hand it over, and the people of the Gu family will be at your beck and call."

Lin Ji took the iron plaque, his fingertips tracing the character "Gu," his gaze shifting slightly.

"This gift is too much."

"It's not heavy." Gu Yanqiu shook her head, her eyes sparkling. "My mother told me before she passed away that the Gu family owes you a debt that can never be repaid. Besides..."

She paused, then lowered her voice:

"Besides, in this day and age, those who smelt iron and those who practice martial arts are essentially in the same boat."

Lin Ji gave her a deep look.

This girl's words had a hidden meaning.

He didn't point it out, and simply put the iron plate into his pocket:

"Okay, I'll accept it. Your mother is in the provincial capital, please give her my regards."

Gu Yanqiu smiled and took Bai Xiaonian's leave.

The siblings lingered at the door for a while, with Bai Xiaonian turning back every few steps before Gu Yanqiu finally pulled him away.

……

After seeing the two off, Lin Ji was about to go upstairs when a slender figure stood quietly at the corner of the stairs.

It's Su Wanning.

She didn't know how long she had been standing there.

During her stay at the outpost, she saw too many things she couldn't understand.

She had seen old men practicing shooting in the backyard before dawn, the wind from their guns scratching the bluestone slabs on the ground.

Having seen those fierce and ruthless thugs in the gang, they were as docile as schoolchildren in front of him.

I've also seen him squatting at the door of the accounting office, patiently teaching Bai Yu'er how to do the accounts, one by one, even more patient than the old accountant.

In her letter, my sister said that the martial arts techniques passed down in the Su family for a hundred years would be a hundred times safer to leave in the Haijiao Gang than to stay in the Su family.

She didn't understand at first.

Now, I think I understand a little, but at the same time, I understand even less.

Seeing Lin Ji looking at her, her cheeks flushed slightly, but she still stepped forward and gave a curtsy:

Uncle Lin.

"Still not asleep?"

"I can't sleep." Su Wanning pursed her lips, as if she had made a great decision. "Uncle Lin, I... can I go with you?"

Lin Ji raised an eyebrow slightly.

"My sister wrote a letter." Su Wanning's voice was very soft: "She said that there will be no more peaceful days in Jiangcheng in the future, and she has arranged for me to go to the provincial capital. Whether it's to study or to learn martial arts, I need to find a way out."

She raised her eyes, and in those eyes, which always carried a hint of detachment, there was something she herself couldn't quite describe:

"I've been living at the base for a while now, watching you do things, but I still can't understand you."

"The gatekeeper of the martial arts school, the shadow puppeteer, the wanted criminals, and the old man Lin that everyone in the city talks about." She said softly, "I want to know, what kind of person are you really?"

It was neither admiration nor romantic love.

It is an investigation.

Like reading a book with only the title page turned, she wanted to see what was left behind.

Lin Ji stared at her for a long time, then suddenly smiled:

"Following me won't end well; the whole city is plastered with wanted posters of me."

"I'm not afraid," Su Wanning answered quickly, only realizing her mistake afterward. Her ears turned red, and she lowered her eyes.

"Old Lin." On the stairs, Shen Jinluan leaned against the railing, a pipe dangling from his lips, a half-smile on his face. "Take her with you. Wan Ning is thoughtful; it'll be good to have someone to look after her on the road."

She winked at Lin Ji.

Lin Ji chuckled and nodded to Su Wanning:

"Then let's pack our things."

Su Wanning's eyes lit up, and she curtsied and withdrew.

On her way back to her room, she inexplicably stuffed the two copies of the Su family's martial arts manuals into her bag.

My sister once said that following the right person to learn the right techniques is not a disgrace to our ancestors.

Upstairs, Shen Jinluan leaned close to Lin Ji's ear, lowered her voice, and spoke in a teasing tone:

"Old man, let me tell you this: Wan Ning is a good girl, you mustn't ruin her life."

"..."

Lin Ji was both amused and exasperated.

So, in this girl's mind, this is how I, an old man, am perceived?

Do I really look like the Ancestor of Hehuan now?

……

The next day, it was still dark.

The back gate of the Sea Dragon Gang's stronghold was quiet.

There were no gongs or drums, no crowds.

But everyone who was supposed to come has come.

Zhao Qiaosheng, Chen Ziyi, Butcher Zhang, Du Qingyi... stood at the alley entrance, and no one spoke.

Liu Qingzhu held Liu Yuanbao's hand and stood at the very front.

"Grandpa Lin."

Liu Yuanbao looked up, her little face still clutching half a piece of unfinished sweet cake, her eyes red, clearly having cried.

"Are you really leaving?"

"Yes, we're leaving." Lin Ji squatted down to look him in the eye.

"Then... Grandpa Lin," the child sniffed, his voice muffled, "what happened to Guo Jing afterward? What became of Guo Jing?"

The alley was quiet.

The adults didn't say anything.

Looking into those bright, sparkling eyes, Lin Ji suddenly smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair.

"I'll come back and tell the story when it's finished."

"Pinky promise."

Liu Yuanbao stretched out his little hand, his little finger sticking straight up.

"Pinky promise."

Two fingers, one big and one small, were hooked together and wiggled three times.

Liu Qingzhu turned her face away, her eyes stinging.

She opened her mouth, a thousand words swirling within her, but in the end, they all condensed into three simple, understated words:

"Uncle Lin, take care."

"Old man!"