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

News of Feng Zhonglin's arrival in Jiangcheng was kept strictly confidential from the outside world.

That night, the men were locked in the study of the governor's mansion. The candlelight flickered all night, and cigarette butts littered the floor.

As dawn approached, Feng Zhonglin finally laid out his most crucial words.

"Jiangcheng is the throat of the Yangtze River and the hub between the north and south. Now that the main force of the navy has gone south and He Ze has been defeated, it is the best time for us to gain a foothold."

He pointed his fingertip at the unfolded map of the river defenses, his knuckles tapping on the location of Jiangcheng:

"Commander Chen has the city defense army under his command, controlling the city gates and checkpoints. Yan Qing's mutual aid association has gathered the people and has the support of the people and the supply lines. If these two forces are united, Jiangcheng will be the first base of our Xinghua Society in the south."

Upon hearing this, Chen Tianze jumped up, causing his chair to crash to the ground.

"Tie together as one?" His eyes widened, his voice trembling. "Mr. Feng means... I should join the Xinghua Society? Wouldn't that make me a traitor?!"

The veins on his forehead were bulging.

Although he dealt with Lin Ji and maneuvered with He Ze, even secretly keeping the gold and silver He Ze sent him, deep down he still considered himself an official of the imperial court, receiving a salary from the government. If he were to truly rebel, it would be a crime punishable by the extermination of his entire family.

"Commander Chen, please have a seat." Feng Zhonglin raised his hand, his tone calm, yet carrying an undeniable force:

"Let me ask you this: if you don't join the Xinghua Society now, does that mean you're not a traitor? He Ze visited the Governor's Mansion at night, and you knew but didn't report it. Mr. Lin recruited soldiers in Jiangcheng, and you stood by and did nothing. Once Zhang Zhengting has dealt with He Ze, and they start settling scores, do you think you can escape responsibility?"

Chen Tianze opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but couldn't utter a single word.

Yes, he can't clear his name anymore.

Zhang Zhengting left Lu Zhanbing in the city to keep an eye on him.

If they really accused him of being a traitor, he would have no way to defend himself.

"Even if this matter can be dropped," Feng Zhonglin pressed forward another step:

"What about the ban on weapons? Once the ban on weapons is implemented in Jiangnan, the first thing to be cut will be your local city defense army. At that time, you will have no soldiers and no power, just meat on the chopping block, and people can do whatever they want with you. Do you want to be a figurehead official, manipulated by others, or do you want to hold real power and guard Jiangcheng? Commander Chen is a smart man, and he can calculate this."

Chen Tianze's face turned pale and then flushed, his fists clenching and unclenching repeatedly.

His mind raced, sometimes recalling the glory of his first day in office, sometimes Zhang Zhengting's cold gaze, and sometimes the deputy commander position promised in He Ze's secret letter.

But he also knew that both sides were using him, and he couldn't rely on either side. When it really came down to it, he would be the first pawn to be thrown out.

He turned to look at Lin Ji, his voice tinged with struggle: "Mr. Lin...you mean the same thing?"

Lin Ji looked up at him, his tone calm, yet every word pierced the heart:

"You're now in a bind. He Ze hates you for ruining his plans and will take revenge sooner or later. The government is wary of you and will take away your power sooner or later. You can't rely on either side. You might as well clench your fists and join the Xinghua Society. The city defense army will still be yours, and Jiangcheng will still be yours. It's just that you'll have more people to share the burden with. If something really happens, it's better than you taking the bullets all by yourself."

These words were like the last straw, breaking down the last line of defense in Chen Tianze's heart.

He slumped into the chair, rubbed his face with both hands, and after a long silence, finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "Fine... I'll do it."

His voice carried a hint of resignation, as if he had given up entirely, yet also a touch of relief.

Since we're going to die anyway, we might as well take a gamble.

If you win the bet, you become a regional warlord.

Even if I lose the bet, it's better than being caught in the middle like this.

Seeing that he had relented, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Liang Yanqing quickly picked up the chair that had fallen to the ground, and the group sat down again, immediately dividing up the responsibilities.

Chen Tianze remained as the military governor of Jiangcheng, in charge of the city's defense forces, guarding the city gates, setting up checkpoints, and managing the visible defenses.

Liang Yanqing managed the mutual aid society, oversaw civil affairs, procured provisions, ensured the well-being of the people, and was responsible for the social network.

Feng Zhonglin oversaw the overall situation, coordinating communications with the north and coordinating the deployment of various parties.

All matters were handled by Lin Ji, and to the outside world, it was still under the name of the Military Governor's Office, without revealing any trace of the Xinghua Society.

Without a blood oath or incense offerings, the military and political forces in Jiangcheng secretly united as one.

Xinghua Society's first city in the south quietly settled on the banks of the Yangtze River.

No one beat drums or gongs, no one announced it to the world, but when the morning light shone through the window, everyone knew that the sky over Jiangcheng had changed.

"The city defenses have been decided in advance." Feng Zhonglin composed himself and returned to the topic of Mount Hua:

"We still need to go to the martial arts tournament. First, to find out the government's bottom line and see how far they intend to implement the ban on martial arts. Second, to meet the sects in the north so that we can have someone to help us if things really get out of hand."

He paused, then glanced at the crowd:

"But there's one condition: we absolutely cannot reveal our identities. The government is currently keeping an eye on the Xinghua Society. If they find out our people are there, they'll definitely kill us."

Li Shuwen stroked his chin, then his eyes suddenly lit up: "Hey, isn't this Mr. Lin?"

Everyone looked at Lin Ji.

"Mr. Lin has the skills of a master, so he definitely won't suffer any losses if he goes." The more Li Shuwen spoke, the more convinced he became: "Besides, Mr. Lin has been traveling in the south, and he doesn't know most of the officials and sects in the north. He'll be a complete stranger to us."

Feng Zhonglin's eyes lit up as he looked at Lin Ji with a hint of approval:

"That's exactly what I was thinking too. Mr. Lin is highly skilled in martial arts and has a steady mind, so he is the most suitable person to go. However, this trip is dangerous, like a dragon's den or a tiger's lair. It all depends on Mr. Lin himself to handle it."

Lin Ji didn't respond immediately, but tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

The candlelight flickered, casting an uncertain glow on his face.

Of course, we must go. The martial arts ban concerns the future of the entire martial arts world, and also the survival of the Xinghua Society.

There's no way to avoid it; we need to find out the details as soon as possible and make plans accordingly.

"I'll go."

After a long pause, he spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable certainty: "I'll leave Jiangcheng to you all."

"Don't worry, Mr. Lin." Feng Zhonglin nodded immediately: "I'll stay in Jiangcheng to help Yan Qing stabilize the situation. If He Ze dares to come, I can hold him off for a while."

Li Shuwen also patted his chest and said, "I'll stay too. I'll keep an eye on Commander Chen's defenses; there won't be any trouble."

That's settled.

The candle flame burned to its end, then popped out with a "pop".

The sky outside the window was already bright.

And so, the trip to Mount Hua was arranged. No one knew what they would encounter or what they would bring back.

Lin Ji did not immediately return to his residence to tell his decision to go to Mount Hua.

It wasn't until the evening of the third day, after everything was arranged, that he returned to his courtyard in the west of the city as dusk fell.

The courtyard was quiet. Liu Qingzhu was practicing her sword under the eaves. She wielded her soft sword like a pool of autumn water, and the wind from her sword made the fallen leaves swirl.