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

"Click!"

Jiang Yunhe leaned against the cabin wall, lighting a kerosene lighter in his hand.

The dim flames illuminated the cabin slightly.

To put it bluntly...

He looked up at the crowd:

"It was only because the people of the five provinces saw that they could profit from it that they reluctantly agreed to the National Salvation Association's proposal."

Lin Ji held his gun, his brows slightly furrowed. He had lived through this era for a century; how could he not see through the hearts of these warlords?

Su Wanning spoke up quietly from the side, her voice carrying a hint of accusation:

"What about the common people? If the country is divided, won't it be the ordinary people who suffer?"

"Hehe." Jiang Yunhe took a deep drag on the cigarette he had in his mouth.

The cigarette butt glowed a bright red, illuminating the outline of his face.

"Young lady, you seem to come from a prominent family. Let me ask you, is there any difference between this country now and one that is divided?"

Jiang Yunhe stubbed out his cigarette and, using the dim light in the darkness, looked at the crowd:

"To put it nicely, there's a government in the north; to put it bluntly, these warlords in the south each run their own thing. Who actually listens to anything they say? They've caused so much trouble that the people are displaced and in turmoil. It's a miracle if they can even get a decent meal."

Lin Ji remained silent, but Jiang Yunhe's words did make some sense.

In recent years, warlord conflicts have led to constant fighting, causing ordinary people to be displaced and suffer greatly.

Su Wanning had some schooling.

Having attended girls' schools for a few years, she also had a general understanding of the international situation.

The overall situation in China is roughly as Jiang Yunhe described.

She leaned against Lin Ji and stopped talking.

Jiang Yunhe turned to look at Lin Ji: "Old sir, when we get to Jiangcheng, I'll borrow your connections again to send me south for a while. I've finished my business in Guanghua, and I need to go back to the Association."

"No problem," Lin Ji replied in a deep voice.

late at night.

Everyone went back to their cabins to sleep.

Lin Ji lay on the bed, feeling the aftershocks from the occasional ripples on the water's surface.

"The old man... went that way, and didn't encounter any trouble on the way."

Shen Jinluan's voice, still slightly sleepy, drifted into Lin Ji's ears through the microphone.

Lin Ji raised his hand to press the plug in his ear, closed his eyes slightly, and sensed the surroundings probing out from outside the ship. After a while, he spoke:

"We've just left Qingyuan and haven't run into anyone from the provincial government yet."

"That's good." Shen Jinluan breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "Your wanted poster is still plastered on the wall here in Jiangcheng. Be careful on your way back, and don't let anyone with ulterior motives see it."

"Yes, I'll be careful," Lin Ji replied softly.

This was within his expectations.

He is now a "darling" of the authorities.

"Old man... how many days are you planning to stay this time?" Bai Yu'er seemed to have been awakened by the noise of the two of them. She groggily asked, her words slightly slurred.

"If things get too tense, you can stay in the gang for a while longer and wait it out."

The sound of the river water lapping against the hull reached their ears through the sound transmission plug.

"Take a break for three to five days," Lin Ji said slowly after a moment of silence. "The situation is changing; there might be a war. There's just too much to do."

Bai Yu'er's voice carried a slight hint of complaint: "Can't we just not go out?"

"Yu'er, stop fooling around." Shen Jinluan's tone was slightly scolding: "An old man has things to do."

"Sigh, I knew Jiangcheng, such a small place, couldn't keep you here." Bai Yu'er sighed softly and didn't ask any further questions.

After Bai Yu'er's voice faded, Shen Jinluan spoke up: "It's quite chaotic outside, so be careful."

"Okay." Lin Ji responded softly, his voice slightly hoarse, which reassured everyone.

……

The merchant ship drifted at sea for a whole day.

The speed finally slowed down.

Ever since Lin Ji took down the British consulate with a single shot.

A wave of anti-foreign sentiment swept through Jiangcheng. Foreign firms' wares could no longer sell in Jiangcheng, and the remaining foreign firms gradually withdrew from the city.

This ship is heading south.

They only occasionally choose to temporarily dock at the nearest pier to resupply.

Over time, they became acquainted with the Haijiao Gang, which occupied half of the docks in Jiangcheng.

However, there are fewer foreigners than there are.

The person in charge on this ship was actually Chinese.

This gave Shen Jinluan the opportunity to exploit the loophole.

……

"Beep beep beep—"

The sound of the cargo ship's horn rang in Lin Ji's ears.

Lin Ji squinted and extended his senses.

The moonlight is setting over the river.

The moon was almost drawn as a full moon.

Lin Ji made a slight pinch with his fingers.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is just a few days away.

The waves crashed against the dock, and the dark waves whipped up gusts of salty sea breeze, carrying the scent of Jiangcheng into Lin Ji's senses.

"Splash—"

"Splash—"

The cargo ship finally docked.

On the dock, the well-dressed men of the Sea Dragon Gang were shouting orders.

The noise drowned out the bustle on the ship.

Outside the dock.

The group of people went into the dry alley.

Finally, under the lit lanterns, I saw familiar faces.

"Old man—"

Bai Yu'er was the first to rush out.

Shen Jinluan and Liu Qingzhu followed behind.

Lin Ji's lips twitched, but he was instead bumped into Bai Yu'er's arms.

The long-lost gentle warmth rippled through Lin Ji like waves of enchanting beauty.

"Yu'er, there are so many people here."

Jiang Yunhe glanced at the other two figures in front of Lin Ji.

One is naturally alluring, the other is as cold as frost.

He couldn't help but click his tongue: "Is this old man really a hundred years old? He's quite the ladies' man. I'm only thirty and I don't even have that kind of luck."

Su Wanning, who was following closely behind Lin Ji, stopped in her tracks, glanced at Bai Yu'er in Lin Ji's arms, and a trace of loneliness flashed in her eyes. She immediately hid that loneliness and glanced into the crowd.

In the crowd.

A beautiful woman in her thirties was looking at her with a slight smile on her lips.

"sister."

Su Wanning went to greet her.

"It's good that Ning'er is back." Su Wanqing hugged her younger sister and said, "Tell me about your journey. What interesting things happened?"

Su Wanning nodded and whispered down everything she knew, down to the smallest detail.

The Gu family's main group was neglected.

The tall and slender Gu Yanqiu stood out in the crowd. Lin Yueru saw her young lady walk out with a smile, waved to Gu Yanqiu, and then looked at Gu Feng:

"Haven't been back to the city in a long time, don't you recognize your second uncle?"

Gu Yanqiu stepped forward and respectfully greeted Gu Feng.

"Cough cough."

At this time.

A robust figure dressed in black stepped out from the crowd and went straight to meet Gu Feng.

"This must be Mr. Gu Feng, the head of the Gu family in the provincial capital. I am Du Qingyi, and I have long admired your name."

He glanced around at everyone and said with a smile:

"Mr. Gu, it's been a long time since we last met. I apologize for not being able to entertain you properly. I am all alone, so please excuse me for taking the liberty of hosting you and your family."

Gu Feng was chatting and laughing with Gu Yanqiu when he heard the noise and turned his head to look over.

He didn't want to pay any attention to it.

But then he thought, since the other person had come to greet him, they must be acquainted with Lin Ji, so he extended his hand in greeting.

"Nice to meet you."