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

"what?"

Under the moonlight, two sets of exoskeleton plates lay quietly.

The set was thinner, and the parts were somewhat rough; it was taken from ordinary foreign soldiers.

The other set was noticeably thicker and heavier, with several sections made of two different metals stacked together; it was the set that had been taken from Colin.

"This is called an exoskeleton, a new iron shell made by the foreigners." Lin Ji pointed to the reinforced armor with his fingertip:

"When an ordinary person wears this, their strength and speed can rival those of the mid-stage of Dark Force. The strength displayed by this set can even reach the threshold of the peak of Dark Force. Wearing this thing, along with a rapid-fire gun, ordinary martial artists simply cannot get close to it."

Su Wanning opened her eyes wide and gently touched the armor plates of the reinforced armor, feeling a cold and hard sensation on her fingertips.

She could hardly believe that such a thin sheet of iron could give an ordinary person strength comparable to someone who had practiced martial arts for more than ten years.

"Then... if the foreigners make more of these, wouldn't that be..." She stopped mid-sentence, not daring to continue.

Lin Ji nodded, his tone becoming more serious:

"That's right. If they really mass-produce them, let alone defending martial arts, it wouldn't be difficult for them to even flatten several cities. No matter how much flesh and blood they train, they can't withstand hundreds or thousands of iron shells firing in a line."

Li Shuwen, who was standing to the side, remained silent. He squatted down and carefully examined the ordinary exoskeleton. His fingers rubbed the thickness of the armor plates, and his expression grew increasingly solemn.

He had seen countless battles and killings in his life, and he had also seen foreign guns and cannons, but this was the first time he had ever seen something that could directly pull an ordinary person to the level of internal strength.

If foreigners were to expand their influence in China, Chinese martial arts would truly have no future.

"I'll take this reinforced version," Li Shuwen suddenly said, his tone very firm.

"Let the higher-ups study it. The sooner we figure it out, the sooner we can come up with a way to deal with it. We can't just stand by and watch the foreigners run rampant with this stuff."

Lin Ji glanced at him, didn't ask who "up there" was, and simply pushed the reinforced armor over:

"Of course, you can take it."

"Then I'll go ahead and deliver this." Li Shuwen deftly gathered the armor plates and tucked them into his pocket.

"I'll come find you after I drop you off. See you in the provincial capital."

Lin Ji raised an eyebrow: "Don't you need to leave your contact information?"

"No need." Li Shuwen shouldered his heavy iron spear, his eyes still resolute beneath his bamboo hat: "If I want to find you, I will find you."

Li Shuwen said no more and left without a word.

He nodded to Lin Ji, then glanced at Su Wanning indifferently, as if to say goodbye.

He then turned and darted into the forest, disappearing into the night in a few leaps.

The forest suddenly fell silent, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Su Wanning looked in the direction where Li Shuwen disappeared and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

This woman has such a strong presence; she's so intimidating just by standing there that she doesn't even dare to raise her voice.

Now that the person is gone, she feels much more relaxed.

"Senior Li... he really is decisive and efficient." She muttered to herself, then turned to look at Lin Ji, her eyes brightening slightly.

"Grandpa Lin, which way do we go next? Should we continue along the official road?"

Lin Ji still maintained the appearance of a centenarian, slightly hunched, with cloudy eyes, and slowly said:

"There are many checkpoints on the main road, so we'll take the side roads. It'll be slower, but safer."

"Mm!" Su Wanning nodded, and took the initiative to squat down to pick up the bundle on the ground, muttering to herself as she did so:

"I still have two rations in my pack, enough to tide me over on the road. I was running so fast earlier that my water bag is only half full; I'll have to replenish it if there's a mountain spring up ahead..."

She chattered away like a bird released from its cage, a stark contrast to her usual quiet demeanor.

Lin Ji stood aside listening, a slight smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.

After resting for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the two resumed their journey.

The night was deep, and the forest path was difficult to walk on, but Su Wanning did not complain at all and followed closely in Lin Ji's footsteps.

When they occasionally encountered difficult sections, Lin Ji would lend a helping hand, and she would blush and thank him, making the atmosphere much more relaxed than during the day.

The two walked along the path for a day and a night.

The following evening, the autumn sun made people feel lazy.

Su Wanning's face flushed as she walked, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Her pace slowed down.

She looked up at the endless mountain road ahead and couldn't help but sigh.

"Uncle Lin, we're going to be sleeping on the streets again tonight." She rubbed her aching ankles and whispered.

"I fed mosquitoes in the woods for half the night last night, and I have several bites on my arm."

Lin Ji, leaning on his "wooden cane," walked slowly and smiled upon hearing this:

"In chaotic times, it's good enough to have a flat place to rest. Let's walk a little further and see if there are any dilapidated temples or mountain dwellings."

Su Wanning pouted, about to nod, when suddenly her eyes lit up, and she pointed to the mountain hollow ahead:

"Grandpa Lin, look! There's smoke! It's cooking smoke!"

In the distance, a wisp of bluish-white smoke rises from a mountain valley, standing out against the clear autumn sky.

Judging from the density of the smoke, it doesn't look like a picnic; it looks more like someone is staying there.

"That's great!" Su Wanning perked up immediately, her steps quickening.

"Finally, we won't have to sleep on the streets anymore! Let's go ask if we can stay the night, even if we have to pay a little money."

She was already planning to wash her face and have a hot soup, and even her steps became lighter.

Lin Ji, however, was not so optimistic. He squinted slightly, gazing at the wisp of smoke, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

This place is in the middle of nowhere, with only one house, and it just so happens to be right next to the main road leading to the provincial capital. It's too much of a coincidence.

"Walk slowly and be careful," he said in a low voice.

Su Wanning nodded, but didn't take it too seriously.

They assumed it was just a remote mountain village where hunters lived, and continued walking with great interest.

The two walked down the mountain path for about half a mile, getting closer and closer to the courtyard.

It was a small courtyard surrounded by earthen walls, with some herbs drying in the air. It looked like an ordinary mountain dwelling, quiet and peaceful, with only smoke rising from the chimney.

"Looks perfectly normal." Su Wanning breathed a sigh of relief and turned to talk to Lin Ji.

Just then.

"call out!"

A sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang out from the woods to the side!

A black rope with barbs darted out of the forest like a venomous snake, the hooks gleaming coldly, heading straight for Su Wanning's shoulder!

It was incredibly fast, arriving in the blink of an eye.

Su Wanning's pupils shrank suddenly, and she froze, forgetting even to dodge.

She couldn't see where the thing came from at all; she only felt a gust of cold wind rush towards her.

"Be careful!"

Lin Ji reacted extremely quickly, wielding a wooden stick horizontally and forcefully blocking in front of her.

"clang!"

The hooked rope slammed hard against the "wooden stick," sending sparks flying.

The hook was so powerful that it made the "wooden stick" in Lin Ji's hand vibrate loudly.