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

He Ze cursed as he pleased, but he dared not disobey orders from above. He took a deep breath and whispered something towards the outside:

"Pass on my order: martial law is declared throughout the city. Additional personnel are to be deployed to the four city gates, and all garrison troops are to be mobilized to coordinate..."

He swallowed hard and continued, "Cooperate with... Da Ying's all-out search and arrest of Lin Ji and other suspicious persons. Anyone who lip-syncs to Jiang Cheng's or whose origins are unknown shall be detained and interrogated."

"yes!"

The soldier at the door bowed slightly, then turned and went out.

He Ze walked to the window, looked out at the scattered lights of players in the city, and sighed deeply.

This is really the calm before the storm!

Guanghua... is probably going to be in complete chaos.

……

The Gu family's backyard.

Lin Ji stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the courtyard, his brows slightly furrowed.

He sensed that there were more than twice as many patrol teams on the streets, and even the deep alley where the Gu family's courtyard was located could be heard from time to time.

Has a city-wide manhunt begun?

I don't know if it's aimed at "Iron Spear" or at this old man like me.

"Grandpa Lin, what's wrong?" Su Wanning handed a teacup to Lin Ji and asked softly when she saw his serious expression.

Lin Ji took the teacup, took a small sip, and looked up with a soft smile:

"It's nothing. Maybe I've been away from Jiangcheng for too long and I miss the people there a bit."

Su Wanning took the empty teacup from Lin Ji, a sweet smile playing on her lips:

"Which sister are you missing? Do you miss Sister Shen the most, Sister Bai, or Sister Liu?"

Lin Ji was looking outside the courtyard wall when he heard Su Wanning's words and couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly.

This girl is becoming increasingly unrestrained in her speech.

"Cough cough."

He coughed lightly but did not answer.

"I don't know about you, but I miss my sister." Su Wanning raised her small hand and rested it on her cheek: "I wonder when I can go back."

Lin Ji didn't turn around, and changed the subject:

"Nizi, are you scared?"

Su Wanning turned her head slightly, her delicate gaze falling on Lin Ji: "With Grandpa Lin's excellent skills protecting me, how could I be afraid?"

Lin Ji paused for a moment and then fell silent. He reached out and touched the iron token with the character "Gu" in his pocket, his fingertips tracing the cool lines on the token.

It's time for the Gu family to make their move.

……

In the study in the front yard of the Gu family, Gu Yanzhao's face was gloomy.

He gripped the teacup tightly with his fingertips.

The patrol team is already checking every house in the alley.

Gu Yanzhao slammed the teacup on the table, causing the already half-cold tea to spill out.

"Young Master, make a decision quickly. The patrol team will be here in less than half an hour."

The butler stood in front of Gu Yanzhao, bowing slightly, constantly looking out the window:

"Suddenly, there are three outsiders in our house. The old gentleman and Miss Su are from Jiangcheng. If the police block the door, we won't be able to explain ourselves even if we're in the right."

Gu Yanzhao tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his brows furrowed.

He's not afraid of trouble.

The Gu family has been able to establish themselves in Guanghua, the provincial capital, for decades; their weapons are not just for show.

But once they openly break ties with the authorities and foreigners, the legacy built up by generations of their clan will be destroyed.

"How about we hand them over?"

The butler asked tentatively.

"no."

Gu Yanzhao raised his hand and waved it to stop the butler from continuing.

"Knock knock knock..."

Gu Yanzhao was lost in thought when there was a knock on the study door.

The two looked over and saw Lin Ji enter with his hands clasped in front of him.

"Sir." Gu Yanzhao stood up and bowed, suppressing the anxiety in his eyes.

"Why did you come here?"

Lin Ji stepped into the study, his gaze falling on Gu Yanzhao:

"I heard everything that was going on in the street. If Wan Ning and I, two outsiders, stay here, we might bring trouble to the Gu family. I've already told Wan Ning to pack up and come over to say hello. We're leaving now."

Hearing Lin Ji's words, the butler unconsciously relaxed. He glanced at Gu Yanzhao, wanting to see her reaction.

Gu Yanzhao frowned slightly and immediately waved his hand:

"No way! Sir, what are you saying! You are a guest of the Gu family. No matter what, the Gu family has no reason to turn away their guest!"

Gu Yanzhao continued, "Guanghua Province has not yet reached the point where the police can control everything. My Gu family can still protect you two. If the police really take you two away from the Gu family, how will my Gu family have any face to stand in the martial arts world in the future?"

Lin Ji looked up at the young master of the Gu family before him, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

This young master of the Gu family is not a spineless coward.

"I appreciate your kind offer, old man," Lin Ji replied with a light laugh.

"We are just passing through, and there's no need for us to cause trouble for the Gu family. If something really happens, it'll be the old man who owes you a favor."

Gu Yanzhao offered a few more words of advice, but seeing Lin Ji's resolute attitude, he could only sigh.

"Alright, since the old gentleman is determined to leave, I won't force him to stay. I'll escort you two out through the side gate in the backyard. It's across the street from the main gate, so the police won't be able to find you there for the time being, and it'll be safer."

Lin Ji nodded and did not refuse again.

The two walked into the courtyard one after the other.

The autumn wind rustled through the courtyard, and fallen leaves, a blend of yellow and green, were piled on the weapon rack beneath the courtyard wall.

Lin Ji's gaze swept over the thin-bladed dagger tucked at Gu Yanzhao's waist, and he paused slightly.

"Is that personal accessory on Young Master Gu's waist a new addition to the Gu family?"

Gu Yanzhao was slightly taken aback, then casually untied a thin blade and handed it over:

"Sir, you have a good eye. This is a brand new knife, just forged last month. Could you please take a look?"

Lin Ji took the thin blade, carefully examining the patterns and lines on it, and nodded slightly.

"It's a fine knife, well-made and solidly constructed, but..."

"Oh? The old gentleman also knows how to forge knives? You may wish to tell me about it. However, the Gu family's knives are not ordinary weapons. The forging methods passed down through generations are not applicable to this knife."

Lin Ji pondered for a moment, reflecting on the strange and ingenious skills he had witnessed in his previous life:

"This knife is different from ordinary knives; it has some peculiar construction. However, the spring is mounted on the guard, causing the point of force to be applied forward, resulting in the blade tilting upwards when used, which makes the accuracy less precise."

"If you really want to kill someone, you need to move the spring shaft back seven-tenths of an inch, positioning it at the blade's center of gravity. This way, the blade won't wobble or shake when it vibrates, making it more stable in your hand." He paused, then pointed to the base of the blade:

"And here, the blade angle is too steep, making it easy to chip when cutting hard objects. If the blade angle is reduced by two degrees, and the blade moves in the direction of force, it can withstand three more blows when cutting armor."

Gu Yanzhao seemed to have heard something unbelievable, and he subconsciously picked up the short sword and brandished it.

The crux of the problem that the entire Gu family had been trying to figure out for months was solved by this old man in just one sentence.

"And the back of the blade." Lin Ji pointed to the back of the blade again: "If the back of the blade is too thick, the center of gravity will be forward. It will be powerful when slashing, but slow when turning back. In a one-on-one fight, it will be easy for the opponent to take advantage of the opening. If we add weight to the end of the blade and move the center of gravity back by 1.2 inches, the slashing power will not be reduced, and the turning back will be half a beat faster."

Gu Yanzhao muttered to himself, "Center of gravity... counterweight...right! How come I didn't think of that!"

Lin Ji didn't say anything more, leaving it at that, as saying too much would only backfire.

As they spoke, the two had already

Reaching the side gate of the backyard, Lin Ji stopped and saw Su Wanning jogging over from a distance. He looked at Gu Yanzhao and said, "Young Master Gu, please go back."

Gu Yanzhao nodded:

"Please take good care of yourself, sir. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, please feel free to come to the Gu family and find me."

Lin Ji cupped his hands in greeting and left the Gu family with Su Wan.