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

"I'm going back to the guild now."

Seeing Lin Ji being embraced by Bai Yu'er and Shen Jinluan, Liu Qingzhu moved towards the bedroom door.

A hint of moisture welled up in her cool eyes, and she gently bit her thin lips, which were lightly rouged, as she uttered a soft sound.

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around and was about to unlatch the door and leave the room.

Available in the next second.

A large, hot hand gripped her wrist.

His large, hot hand was like a furnace, causing ripples to spread through her heart.

"No one is allowed to leave tonight!"

Lin Ji pulled Liu Qingzhu into his arms. Looking at her aloof face, a surge of heat rose in his heart, and he involuntarily uttered a shameless remark:

"Where are you going? You're not going anywhere until you've served your husband well today!"

Liu Qingzhu's face flushed red from his words.

Husband...

Grandpa Lin...

Lin Ji looked at her aloof yet shy appearance.

The fire in my heart burned even brighter.

He lowered his head and kissed Liu Qingzhu's rosy lips.

"Yu'er...shall we go out first?"

Shen Jinluan got off the bed.

Ignoring the disarray of her cheongsam, she yanked up Bai Yu'er, who was lying on the bed pouting.

"Oh dear... I was right first..."

Bai Yu'er gave a coquettish cry and was pulled off the bed by Shen Jinluan.

Hearing Bai Yu'er's coquettish complaint, Liu Qingzhu let out a soft hum... and struggled slightly, trying to break free from Lin Ji's embrace.

But the next second, Lin Ji tightened his grip on her waist.

Lin Ji lowered his head and buried it in the crook of her neck, taking a deep breath of her cool orchid fragrance, his voice hoarse and deep:

"Be good, don't move."

The warm breath brushed against the side of his neck, and Liu Qingzhu trembled all over. The strength to struggle vanished instantly, and her fingertips gripped his clothes.

"Let's go, Yu'er, it's a long night." Shen Jinluan opened the doorknob and pulled Bai Yu'er out.

As Bai Yu'er was leaving, she glanced at Lin Ji and let out a soft snort.

"You stinky old man...you stink! Remember to take a shower!"

……

The night was long.

But time passed quickly.

By the end of September, it was already getting light.

Lin Ji lay in the side room, holding the soft and gentle Shen Jinluan in his arms.

"Jiangcheng... isn't it rather unsafe?"

"You noticed?" Shen Jinluan's eyes were alluring, and her voice trembled with a seductive charm.

"Hmm! Is Du Qingyi making any moves?" Lin Ji asked, his arms around Shen Jinluan's slender waist.

Shen Jinluan sighed and picked up the jade pipe from the bedside table:

"Nothing major, it's just that Du Qingyi's side has been making some big moves lately. Ever since the foreigners left and there were no more external threats in the city, the Qingyi Gang has started to expand outwards, taking over a lot of our territory in the docks, warehouses, and opium trade, both openly and secretly."

"Since you left, on the surface, the Sea Dragon Gang and the Green Robe Gang are dividing Jiangcheng, but there are constant frictions underneath. Du Qingyi seems polite, but in reality, he is very ambitious and is about to extend his reach into our territory in the west of the city."

Shen Jinluan picked up the pipe, brought it to her lips, took a puff, deliberately blew the smoke onto Lin Ji's face, and then slightly parted her red lips:

"I had already prepared a house for the Gu family. It's in the west of the city, not too far from here, and relatively safe. But Du Qingyi took the initiative to offer her help."

Lin Ji nodded after listening, not surprised.

"He's heard something," Lin Ji said slowly, tapping the jade on Shen Jinluan's pipe with his finger. "There's going to be war in the south, and weapons are in short supply. He wants to get in touch with the Gu family and stockpile more equipment so he can gain a foothold in this chaotic world."

"A war?" Shen Jinluan was taken aback, her expression changing slightly. "Are we really going to fight? Wasn't it said... it was just some minor skirmishes in the south?"

"This is no small matter." Lin Ji shook his head, his tone becoming more serious. "He Ze has colluded with the National Salvation Association in the south, and the northern authorities have sent three divisions south, which will probably reach Guanghua territory soon. If a real battle breaks out, Guanghua will be the first to bear the brunt, and Jiangcheng, being near the river, will not be able to escape either."

The room fell silent instantly.

Shen Jinluan bit her lip lightly.

She grew up in Jiangcheng and had never seen what war was like.

Just from what the old people on the street said, you could tell that it was a time of war and chaos, and that death was a common occurrence.

Shen Jinluan also frowned, her fingertips tightening around the pipe.

She thought that once the foreigners were driven away, Jiangcheng would be more peaceful, but she didn't expect that even bigger storms were yet to come.

She had been in charge of the Sea Dragon Gang for several years and had seen plenty of fighting and bloodshed, but the fighting and killing among street gangs was ultimately not the same as real warfare.

The thought of the city's residents possibly being displaced made her heart sink slightly, and she subconsciously snuggled closer to Lin Ji's warm embrace.

"So," Lin Ji said, looking at her, his tone softening.

"These gang fights are nothing now."

No matter how powerful a gang is, it can only protect its small territory in Jiangcheng. When war breaks out, no gang or faction will matter. It's only natural that Du Qingyi wants to seize resources and hoard weapons. Don't get angry with him. Let's just take care of ourselves first.

Shen Jinluan pursed her lips and nodded: "I understand, I'll listen to you."

She always believed in Lin Ji's judgment; if he said the heavens were going to change, then they definitely would.

Lin Ji paused, then asked, "What about the Tongmenghui? Any recent activity?"

"Zhao Qiaosheng and the others have been quite busy lately." Shen Jinluan thought for a moment and said, "They said that the National Salvation Association from the south is sending people over to discuss joining forces. I didn't ask for details. Since you left, their alliance has never interfered too much with our gang's affairs."

Lin Ji hummed in agreement and didn't ask any further questions.

National Salvation Association...

He silently repeated the name in his mind.

He still hadn't figured out what these people were really after, even though they were claiming to be saving the country.

However, if they were to really collude with the warlords in the south, the situation in the south would completely change.

His mind raced with thoughts.

Chen Tianze.

Currently, the only one who can get on the authorities' good side is Chen Tianze.

There are some things I need to talk to him about in person.

He suddenly raised his head, looked at Shen Jinluan, and said, "Tomorrow, you will accompany me to the Governor's Mansion."

Shen Jinluan was stunned when she heard this.

"The Governor's Mansion?!" Bai Yu'er exclaimed, her little head peeking out from the crack in the door, almost jumping up:

"No way, old man! They're still after you! Wouldn't that be like walking into a trap? Even if Chen Tianze wanted to help you, there are orders from above, and he can't afford to take the blame!"

"Yes, Yu'er is right." Shen Jinluan also frowned, her peach blossom eyes full of disapproval: "Old man, are you crazy? If you really want to go, you should wait until things have calmed down. I don't think it's appropriate to go now."

Seeing the two of them looking anxious, Lin Ji smiled and tapped the table lightly with his fingertips.

"What's the rush?" he said slowly. "Whether it's walking into a trap or not, you'll know tomorrow when you go."