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

"not good!"

In the distance, thick smoke, accompanied by sparks, suddenly billowed up onto the rooftops.

Lin Ji strode towards Bai Yu'er's house.

When they were only two zhang away from the fire, a lazy voice came from the shadows.

"Old man, in such a hurry to be buried with us?"

Lin Ji suddenly stopped and, by the moonlight, saw the person who had come into view.

He wore a short blue robe, revealing his muscles and the fierce dragon tattoo on his body.

This man is none other than Zhou Jin, the Red Flower Stick of the Sea Dragon Gang!

Zhou Jin toyed with the gleaming dagger in his hand, the dagger spinning and flying between his fingers, drawing cold arcs of light in the night.

"What a coincidence, someone asked me to send you to the underworld, and you've delivered yourself right to my doorstep."

Before he could finish speaking...

Zhou Jin suddenly exerted force with his feet, shooting towards Lin Ji like an arrow, his dagger aimed straight at Lin Ji's heart.

It moved so fast that it left only a blur.

Lin Ji felt a chill run down his spine.

While dodging, he raised his hand to block in front of his chest.

"bass!"

The dagger flashed.

His long robe was torn, and a bloodstain appeared on Lin Ji's arms.

"Oh?"

Regaining his footing, Zhou Jin casually tossed the dagger in his hand, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

"Old man, you actually have the ability to refine flesh? I guess I misjudged you!"

Catching the falling dagger, wiping away the blood, Zhou Jin's eyes sharpened:

"Too bad! I've already refined my bones; you're doomed to die today!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Ji felt a sense of doubt.

Meat-refining ability?

Glancing at her slightly aching arms, she saw only a single, bleeding welt on each arm.

Martial bone blessing! Nourished by flesh and blood!

Before I knew it, I had already crossed the threshold of meat refining.

Zhou Jin leaped up again, the cold light in his hand pointing directly at Lin Ji.

At this time.

Out of the corner of Lin Ji's eye, he saw flames erupting and thick smoke billowing into the sky.

The sounds of panic from the neighbors filled the air.

"Fire! Fire!"

"Bai Yu'er's house is on fire! Help! Put out the fire!"

Lin Ji's heart sank!

There's no time for a protracted fight; we need to finish this quickly!

The cold glint of the dagger was already upon him.

Lin Ji took a deep breath, assumed a stance with his feet neither too far apart nor too far apart, and raised his hands, assuming the posture of Tai Chi.

An ancient, restrained, and profound aura emanated from Lin Ji.

As the dagger came, Lin Ji lightly raised his left palm, precisely supporting the opponent's wrist that was holding the blade, and used the opponent's forward momentum to pull him outward.

The cold light suddenly veered off course, grazing past Lin Ji's shoulder.

"What the hell! This is just a bunch of nonsense!"

Missing his first attack, Zhou Jin cursed angrily and charged forward again.

He used his dagger in quick succession, stabbing the abdomen, slashing the chest, and cutting the waist.

Every move was ruthless, and the offensive continued unabated.

Lin Ji's gaze was calm, his footwork was swift and unhurried, and he moved nimbly and gracefully amidst the cold light.

After several exchanges, Lin Ji deflected and neutralized Zhou Jin's every full-force strike.

Despite being very close to each other, Zhou Jin's blade could never touch Lin Ji.

"What kind of weird martial arts is this?!"

Zhou Jin was both shocked and furious. He had practiced martial arts for so many years and had seen countless fists, feet, and weapons, but he had never seen such a bizarre approach.

The old man in front of him was clearly weaker and slower than himself, but no matter how fiercely he attacked, he couldn't even touch a corner of the old man's clothes.

"I refuse to believe it!"

Zhou Jin roared, lowered his waist and twisted his hips, tensed his muscles, and concentrated all his strength into his right arm, thrusting straight forward with the dagger in his hand.

at once!

A flash of cold light, and the dagger came hurtling through the air, several times faster than before.

A sinister grin spread across Zhou Jin's face; he was determined to win this attack!

At the critical moment!

Lin Ji shifted his body slightly, and his right hand suddenly shot out, his fingertips precisely gripping Zhou Jin's wrist holding the knife.

Zhou Jin's wrist joint was firmly locked.

Lin Ji did not try to outmaneuver Lin Ji with brute force, but instead twisted the direction of his forward momentum outward.

The blade flipped! It pierced straight into Zhou Jin's chest!

Lin Ji followed closely with his left palm, striking the end of the blade with force.

The sharp blade advanced inch by inch! It pierced Zhou Jin's heart completely.

The man stared wide-eyed at Lin Ji in disbelief, trying to speak, but the blood gushing from his mouth choked him, and his body went limp and he collapsed to the ground.

Lin Ji pulled out his dagger, wiped the blood off the man's body, and kicked the man's corpse into the shadows of the alley.

He turned and looked into the depths of the alley.

Flames erupted! A raging fire!

"Hopefully we make it in time!"

Past scenes flashed through Lin Ji's mind. Although he hadn't spent much time with this girl, she was one of the few people in this chaotic world who could joke and laugh with him.

Not daring to delay any longer, Lin Ji strode towards Bai Yu'er's house.

at this time!

Bai Yu'er's low house has been completely engulfed by fire.

The raging flames licked at the wooden beams of the house.

It made a "crackling" sound.

The billowing black smoke choked the neighbors so much that no one dared to approach.

The two arsonists were casually tossing oil drums into the yard, crouching down and trying to slip away in the chaos.

"Trying to run away?"

Lin Ji snorted coldly and rushed in front of the two in a flash.

Before they could react, Lin Ji grabbed the back of their necks with both hands like eagle claws.

"Hey! What's going on? We're here to put out a fire!" The two of them were lifted into the air by Lin Ji like chicks, clinging to Lin Ji's hands and screaming.

Lin Ji ignored him completely, and with a flick of his wrist, threw the two men into the fire.

Flames spread across the two of them, causing them to scream in pain.

"Bai girl!" Lin Ji called out to the crowd.

His gaze swept across the crowd, but he didn't see Bai Yu'er. His heart sank, and he knew something had happened!

Glancing at the fire, Lin Ji raised his hand to cover his mouth and nose, and before the fire could spread completely, he plunged into the house filled with thick smoke.

The room was filled with thick fog, and Lin Ji squinted as he peered inside.

Finally, they found Bai Yu'er unconscious on the bed in the inner room.

"She's been drugged by those two!" Lin Ji quickly stepped forward and patted her cheek. "Girl, wake up!"

Bai Yu'er slowly opened her eyes, looked at Lin Ji in confusion, and then saw the room full of fire, which made her turn pale instantly.

She jumped out of bed and reached into the bedside table, rummaging through the drawer: "My money! My jewelry!"

"Don't take it! Your life is more important!" Lin Ji picked her up and carried her on his back without saying a word, then turned and rushed out of the house!

I just stepped out of the room.

The roof beam behind them collapsed with a loud crash, sending up a burst of flames.

Bai Yu'er, who was placed on the ground by Lin Ji, was covered in black ash, and her clothes were burned beyond recognition.

He sat motionless on the ground, staring unblinkingly at the small house that had been completely engulfed by the fire.

Her carefully built little home and all her belongings were burned to ashes.

Her long-standing forbearance and perseverance vanished in an instant.

My heart feels empty, and the pain is so intense that I feel numb. Even the strength to cry seems to have been burned away by this fire.

His eyes were empty and lifeless as he stared blankly at the raging fire, seemingly lost in thought, frozen in place.

A long time passed.

She slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with despair: "Old Lin, what do we do... Everything's gone! Our home's gone, how am I going to earn money for Xiaonian's tuition?"

She had just sold that jade pendant, gambling everything to protect her brother's future, but in the end, she had nothing left.

Lin Ji watched Bai Yu'er's completely broken state in silence, feeling a mix of emotions.

Having spent half his life in Dog Tail Alley, he knew all too well how difficult things had been for this girl.

Lin Ji felt a pang of pity and heartache. He reached out and gently patted Bai Yu'er's head, his voice soft yet reassuring: "Girl, staying alive is more important than anything else. Come stay at my place for the night."

Bai Yu'er nodded, then got up and followed Lin Ji as if she had lost her soul.

The two figures quickly disappeared into the night.

The smoke from the fire has not yet dissipated.

In the dark shadows of the alley corner, a figure stood silently.

The jade pipe in Shen Jinluan's hand glowed intermittently as she squinted, her gaze fixed on the departing figures of Lin Ji and his companion.

Smoke rings drifted slowly in the firelight, obscuring Shen Jinluan's slightly somber gaze.

The Sea Dragon Gang's bone-refining master died at the hands of a hundred-year-old man!

In the blink of an eye, Shen Jinluan's red lips curved slightly, and a hunter's playful glint flashed in her eyes:

"A centenarian with superhuman physical strength, and he even knows such strange boxing techniques..."

"That's interesting."

Shen Jinluan tapped her pipe, then turned and disappeared back into the darkness.