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

The paper in Bai Xiaonian's hand appeared to have messy handwriting and blurred strokes, like a temporary draft, but the creases were quite neat.

Just as Wang Meng was about to continue his attack on Gu Yanqiu, with a smug look on his face, his eyes widened suddenly when he saw the paper in Bai Xiaonian's hand.

Even Zhang Shijie behind him raised his eyebrows sharply and snapped his folding fan shut.

next moment.

Wang Meng's expression hardened, and he took a step back, disregarding whether the students could withstand his powerful energy. He charged straight at Bai Xiaonian in the crowd, knocking the students off balance. Several of the leading students were even sent flying backward.

Lin Ji's eyes narrowed slightly, a fierce glint appearing in them. He lifted his foot slightly, his toes touching Bai Xiaonian's knee.

Bai Xiaonian suddenly kicked out with his right leg, aiming at Wang Meng who was lunging at him.

Upon seeing the boy's legs, Wang Meng's expression changed drastically.

This kick was completely different from Bai Xiaonian's previous performances on the ring.

Domineering and fierce, with a faint sound of thunder.

"Ming Jin?"

Wang Meng was startled and hurriedly stopped his forward momentum, blocking his leg with his palm.

Deng Deng Deng!

He took three steps back before regaining his balance.

Gu Yanqiu arrived just in time, grabbed the paper from Bai Xiaonian's hand, glanced at Lin Ji behind Bai Xiaonian, and frowned slightly.

This old man is a bit strange.

Wang Meng shouted at the top of his lungs, "Give it to me!"

He reached out to snatch the stack of papers, but he was still a fraction slower than Gu Yanqiu, his fingertips barely brushing the edge of the papers.

Having missed his target, Wang Meng, wary of Gu Yanqiu's hidden strength, dared not step forward to seize the attack. His eyes widened in anger, and he turned his rage on Bai Xiaonian standing to the side.

"You poor, mud-dwelling wretch, you've actually resorted to burglary!"

Enraged, Wang Meng completely forgot about Bai Xiaonian's kick and reached out to slap Bai Xiaonian across the face.

Bai Xiaonian narrowed his eyes suddenly and instinctively dodged backward.

"Snapped!"

Lin Ji twitched his fingertips slightly, and a grain of sand that he had been holding in his hand at some point was silently flicked out, hitting Wang Meng's elbow tendon with precision.

Wang Meng's arm suddenly went numb, and most of the force he had exerted in the swing was instantly dissipated.

A crisp sound rang in Bai Xiaonian's ears, but the expected heavy blow did not come.

He slowly opened his eyes, and before him, a slender hand bent two thin fingers and firmly grasped Wang Meng's wrist.

Lin Ji's pupils shrank suddenly behind Bai Xiaonian. He hadn't even seen when the newcomer entered the crowd. His eyes flashed with a sharp light as he took in the newcomer's background.

Lin Ji's eyelids twitched sharply. The blue gas cloud in the newcomer's chest cavity solidified into a tangible substance, rippling faintly with each breath.

Lin Ji was surprised and thought to himself:

This is even better than Brother Zhao's.

Then he looked at the white light above the newcomer's head. The white light was as solid as a bolt of silk, but the edges were mottled and withered. At first glance, it had a strange sense of decay in its solidity.

How could such good fortune also crumble and wither?

Lin Ji couldn't help but guess the other party's identity.

"Wang Meng, you've been in the head instructor position for three years now, haven't you?" A very magnetic voice suddenly rang out in the crowd.

The voice was extremely flat, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, yet it sent chills down one's spine.

Gu Yanqiu looked at the newcomer, suppressing the shock in his eyes, and quickly bowed respectfully:

"headmaster."

"headmaster?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Ji's eyes as he re-examined the tall figure.

The newcomer had a lightly powdered face, almost bare-faced, with straight willow-leaf brows and a few very faint lines at the corners of her eyes.

She appeared to be in her thirties, and while not exceptionally beautiful, she possessed an imposing aura. Her dark blue Hangzhou silk cheongsam with narrow sleeves accentuated her understated and reserved demeanor.

"Reporting to the principal, it will be exactly three years after July." Wang Meng lowered his head, not daring to raise it even slightly, and didn't even dare to pull back his hand that had already been released.

"You've probably forgotten most of the rules of the Martial Arts Hall, haven't you?" Xiao Jinglan said casually, as if he were talking in passing. He reached out and casually took the papers from Gu Yanqiu's hand, flipping through a few pages at will.

"This humble servant... dares not."

The sound of Wang Meng swallowing was clearly audible to everyone present. He tried his best to control his trembling voice and barely managed to respond.

Xiao Jinglan ignored Wang Meng and looked into the distance, her gaze landing on Zhang Shijie:

"This must be the second young master of the Zhang family."

Zhang Shijie's brows furrowed in surprise; his earlier arrogance vanished completely. He quickly closed his folding fan and bowed in a student's salute.

"This junior greets the principal."

Seeing this, many wealthy young men behind him followed suit and bowed in respect.

"Greetings, Principal."

Xiao Jinglan slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the group of youths, and spoke again:

"You do have some of your father's youthful boldness. In the eyes of the Zhang family, you are slightly better than your brother."

Xiao Jinglan carefully examined Zhang Shijie, and had already figured out Zhang Shijie's background:

"You have 206 bones in your body, and you have already refined 202 of them. In another month or so, you will be able to reach the peak of Bone Refinement. Once you can comprehend Qi, you will be able to enter the Ming Jin realm. The Martial Academy has nothing more to teach you. Go to the Academic Affairs Office to withdraw from the school."

Lin Ji nodded slightly to himself.

Xiao Jinglan's judgment was not bad. Zhang Shijie's physique was entirely built up with tonics. Let alone internal strength, it was uncertain whether he could even steadily step into external strength in this lifetime.

Zhang Shijie lowered his eyes, his gaze suddenly stopping.

This woman showed no respect for the Zhang family, deciding his fate with a single sentence and demanding that he be expelled from the martial arts hall.

Zhang Shijie wanted to speak, but was overwhelmed by Xiao Jinglan's imposing aura and didn't know how to refute her. He swallowed hard and gave a simple reply:

"Yes."

As he responded, he glanced at Gu Yanqiu out of the corner of his eye.

The mid-July sun shone on Gu Yanqiu's cheeks, making her look even more heroic.

The task his father had entrusted to him had just begun, and it had come to an abrupt end like this?

Xiao Jinglan looked at Wang Meng again, and after a moment's thought, said:

"Wang Meng has been biased in his treatment of students as the head instructor of the martial arts school, and has also failed in his duty to supervise training. He is hereby temporarily relieved of his post as head instructor of the martial arts school, and Gu Yanqiu will temporarily take over the position."

A hint of embarrassment flashed in Wang Meng's eyes, and he quickly bowed:

"This humble servant...will follow the principal's instructions."

Xiao Jinglan nodded slightly and turned to look at the many students on the field:

"Wutang Junior High School has been open to students for thirty-two years, and has never asked about their background or social status. Once you enter Wutang, you should be able to distinguish right from wrong, not believe those who sow discord, and not harbor any thoughts of sectarianism."

She paused slightly, her gaze sweeping over all the boys in the room, her voice deepening:

"With the ban on martial arts imminent, you'll only have a year left to study at the school. Right now, focus on practicing your skills and honing your physical strength. That's the most important thing."

Wang Meng and Zhang Shijie's expressions darkened again; Xiao Jinglan was clearly referring to them.

Xiao Jinglan turned to look at Chen Huaizhou, who was being blocked behind him by the wealthy young men, his tone remaining calm:

"Discussing principles through martial arts, exchanging skills, and stopping when the point is reached—this is the ironclad motto engraved on the stone tablet in the training ground."

"Yanqiu, you go and take care of this matter. Anyone who violates this rule again will be expelled from the martial arts academy and dismissed from the school without exception."

Chen Huaizhou's expression remained unchanged, maintaining his elegant demeanor. However, the sinister glint in his eyes could no longer be suppressed. He stared intently at Zhang Shijie, then glanced at Si Tianhu beside Zhang Shijie, his eyes filled with resentment and venom.

"Yes, Principal." Gu Yanqiu bowed in response.

Xiao Jinglan's gaze finally settled on the many students:

"Setting up private bets and threatening others with violence are against the rules of the martial arts academy. This matter has caused disorder in the training ground, and the martial arts academy also bears responsibility for its failure to supervise and manage the situation. Today, the competition will not determine the winner, and the actions of the crowd in anger will not be investigated."

Xiao Jinglan raised his hand to beckon Steward Wang, who was not far away:

"Go to the storeroom and fetch three bottles of blood-replenishing pills. Give one bottle to the injured to help them replenish their qi and blood, and distribute the remaining two bottles to all the students present to nourish their muscles and bones. If there are any further disputes, you may report them to the instructors and the school administration at each level. You must not gather in groups or violate school rules again."

Just then,

Loud noises came from the vermilion gate that the instructors had closed.

"Knock knock knock!"

The force was so great that dust fell from the lintel.

A rough, gruff voice boomed through the door: "Open the door! The Governor's Mansion is investigating a case! They're searching for members of the Tongmenghui!"