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

"I, Mr. Du, own some small businesses in Jiangcheng. Knowing that Mr. Gu is coming to Jiangcheng to develop his career, I specially arranged a small courtyard for Mr. Gu and his family to settle down. What do you think?" Du Qingyi changed his usual superior attitude and his words revealed a fawning tone.

Gu Feng glanced at the crowd that had come to greet him.

Except for a bunch of unmoved greenhorns.

The crowd consisted mostly of women.

He was used to the decisive and efficient style of the various factions in the provincial government, and subconsciously felt that women should be somewhat different from men.

He mistook Du Qingyi's arrangement for Lin Ji's, and seeing Lin Ji embracing the woman, he didn't say anything to disturb them, but nodded in agreement.

"I was just worried about not having a place to stay, so I thanked Mr. Du. I will make it up to you elsewhere once I have settled down in Jiangcheng."

"Of course, of course." Du Qingyi neither refused nor agreed.

Hearing the two talking, Shen Jinluan looked up and glanced at them, her beautiful eyes lingering on Du Qingyi's back for a moment, but she didn't say anything.

Shen Jinluan glanced up at the two of them, her beautiful eyes lingering on Du Qingyi's back for a moment, but she didn't say anything.

"Alright, Yu'er." Lin Ji comforted Bai Yu'er in his arms, glancing sideways at Shen Jinluan's change. His senses had already absorbed everything around him into his mind.

Du Qingyi seems to have changed.

And... that figure in the darkness seems very familiar.

Bai Yu'er eventually managed to break free from Lin Ji's embrace.

Lin Ji greeted everyone one by one, introduced his colleagues to them, and then, standing in the center of the open space, began to arrange the follow-up matters.

"Boss Du is very kind."

"Mr. Lin, you flatter me. It's my duty." Du Qingyi noticed that Lin Ji's aura was even stronger than before he left Jiangcheng, so his attitude immediately became much more respectful, and he spoke even more respectfully than he did to Gu Feng.

"Since Chief Du has made up his mind, then I won't make any further arrangements for this old man. The Gu family will be temporarily taken care of by Chief Du for the time being," Lin Ji said, glancing sideways at Shen Jinluan before looking away.

"Definitely, definitely." Du Qingyi nodded in agreement, his attitude very sincere, but a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes, as if he had gained some great advantage.

After Lin Ji settled Gu Feng's family in,

He turned and spoke a few words with Li Shuwen and Jiang Yunhe, and then asked them to go with Du Qingyi to the place arranged for the Gu family to rest.

but.

He did not reveal their identities.

Apart from the three women who had met Li Shuwen, everyone else assumed that the two were just friends Lin Ji had met in the provincial capital.

"Yueru...would you like to come back to the guild with me for a few days?"

After everything was settled, everyone was discussing leaving when Lin Ji turned his head to look at Lin Yueru, who was holding hands with Gu Yanqiu.

"Okay, sure." Lin Yueru smiled and agreed when she heard Lin Ji's voice, leading Gu Yanqiu to Lin Ji's side.

The group chatted for a bit more.

They each led their own people and dispersed in different directions.

On the open ground outside the alley.

The noise subsided.

The tranquility returned under the moonlight.

A figure in a dark gray shirt emerged from the shadows outside the alley.

His eyes darkened, and he stared in the direction the crowd had left, his grip on the iron fan tightening.

He angrily flicked the folding fan in his hand, then turned and walked deeper into the alley.

The dock is located in the east of Jiangcheng.

He walked deeper into the eastern part of the city, and after about fifteen minutes, he stopped in front of a dilapidated courtyard in a narrow alley.

"Ta-da!"

He knocked on the wooden door.

The wooden door creaked in response.

An aged face peeked out: "Young Master, you're back."

He nodded and squeezed into the yard through the crack in the door as the old man stepped aside.

"Splash—"

A disheveled figure suddenly rushed out of the yard upon hearing the commotion, causing the chains binding him to rattle loudly.

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, he began to curse:

"Aaaaaah—Zhang Shih-hao, it's you! You killed my father! You ruined my family! Zhang Shih-hao, you'll die a horrible death—Aaaaaah—"

A little girl bypassed the disheveled, madman, ran up to Zhang Shih-hao, grabbed his trouser leg, and cautiously began to speak:

"Brother Shihao, what's wrong with Brother Shijie? Why did he suddenly become ill as soon as he saw you? He was perfectly fine just now, playing with Nannan..."

"It's okay, sweetie. It's time for your brother Shijie to take his medicine. You'll feel better after you take it." Zhang Shihao stroked Nannan's head, soothing the little girl's fear.

His gaze swept over the somewhat dilapidated courtyard under the moonlight, then he looked at his younger brother, who was tearing at the chains like a madman, and the long-lost face involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Aged but never kind!

Those words, each one harmful to others and to oneself, re-entered his mind, causing a headache and making him stumble.

"Young Master."

The white-haired butler reached out and helped Zhang Shih-hao up.

Are you alright?

"It's alright." Zhang Shih-hao steadied himself and recalled the choices he had made along the way.

Our homes are gone! Should this country still be saved?

Was everything I did right? If I hadn't joined the Tongmenghui, would my father have survived? Would Shijie have avoided going mad?

He looked up at the moon on the horizon.

The image of that aged figure embracing a beautiful woman appeared before my eyes.

Why... why is he able to live such a glamorous life!

The whole city was revolving around him.

Even... the Gu family in the provincial capital!

His forehead twitched again.

"ah--"

The intense pain made him quickly raise his hand to cover his temple.

"Clatter!"

He stumbled again and took a step back.

A wooden box fell to the ground from inside his clothes.

The wooden box was slightly ajar.

A blue, oily syringe lay quietly inside.

He glanced at his brother, who was still acting like a madman, and then at the wooden box on the ground.

……

"It's so comfortable. My bed at home is the best for me."

Lin Ji lay back on Shen Jinluan's velvet bed, his head resting on Shen Jinluan's lap, and let out a long sigh.

Shen Jinluan leaned against the bed, still wearing her red cheongsam. She reached out and placed another pillow under Lin Ji's neck to help him adjust to a more comfortable position.

The warm yellow light fell on the two of them, and the room was filled with the relaxed and cozy feeling of a long-awaited reunion.

"Tsk, you just got back and you're already sprawled out. Get up and talk." Bai Yu'er looked at Lin Ji and Shen Jinluan's ambiguous actions, pursed his lips, and reached out to grab Lin Ji's arm to pull him up.

She couldn't control her strength and pulled forward, but she lost her footing and staggered half a step forward. One of the buttons on her collar popped open with a "bang".

"oops!"

Bai Yu'er exclaimed in surprise, quickly straightened up, gathered her clothes, her cheeks flushed red, and turned to glare at Lin Ji:

"It's all your fault, you old geezer!"

Lin Ji suppressed a laugh, his eyes fixed on the collar she was covering, deliberately teasing her:

"You were the one who was clumsy and indecent, how can you blame me?"