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

A very faint black shadow swept past the high walls of the Zhang residence.

Lin Ji pressed his body against the old locust tree branch outside the study, his breath as restrained as rotten wood.

"What?" Zhang Jichuan slammed his hand on the back of his chair, and the teacup on the table clattered with a crisp sound as the teacup and lid collided.

"Is Xiao Jinglan protecting rebels? That's the rule of the Martial Arts Hall!" Zhang Shih-hao raised his hand and cupped his hands to the side, continuing, "It's the bottom line of not helping foreigners wrong innocent people!"

At this point, Zhang Shih-hao's brows furrowed with anger, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Zhang Ji-chuan and the others:

"As for our Zhang family, we've been sucking the blood of Jiangcheng's people for over a decade with opium and tobacco. Now we're even helping foreigners frame the martial arts school and persecute patriotic heroes. Aren't you afraid that if word gets out, your fellow martial arts practitioners will condemn the Zhang family behind their backs!"

In the shadows of the trees, Lin Ji's gaze paused slightly.

This eldest son of the Zhang family still has some sense of right and wrong.

"Brother! What nonsense are you spouting!" Zhang Shijie gripped his folding fan tightly and hurriedly stepped forward to interrupt Zhang Shihao.

"The Tongmenghui rebels raided our warehouse at night and stole two thousand catties of opium, which is worth a full two hundred thousand silver dollars! If we don't vent our anger on the foreigners, are we going to wait for them to blame us for this?"

"You know that's two hundred thousand silver dollars worth of opium! Once it flows into the hands of the people of Jiangcheng, the interest will multiply several times over. All these silver dollars, squeezed from the very bones and blood of our people, will eventually end up in the hands of foreigners."

"They used that money to buy powerful ships and cannons, and to develop blood-related drugs, only to turn around and humiliate China again! Our century of weakness has been destroyed by a bunch of people like you who only care about their own petty gains and don't care about the fate of our nation!"

Hearing Zhang Shih-hao's words, Zhang Ji-chuan calmed down, gently stroked the back of his chair, stood up, and walked in front of Zhang Shih-hao.

"Hao'er, you entered the Dark Force realm last month, didn't you?"

Zhang Shih-hao nodded slightly, his anger still lingering in his eyes, staring at his father and waiting for him to continue.

Zhang Jichuan strolled to the window, where the double-pane huanghuali windows revealed the intricate landscaping of the courtyard.

"At twenty-seven, a master of internal strength, few in this vast Jiangcheng can match him."

"I remember you advanced from Ming Jin to An Jin in just three years and three months. Do you think that's just your innate talent?" Zhang Jichuan turned around, his eyes sharp, staring directly into Zhang Shihao's angry eyes.

"Over the course of three years, the Zhang family has provided you with countless rare and precious medicinal herbs and elixirs, which, roughly estimated, amount to a full one million silver dollars. This is a case of the poor scholar and the rich warrior being rich."

Zhang Jichuan's sharp gaze softened, replaced by a father's disappointed look: "Hao'er, calculate how the Zhang family will earn this million. With just the meager profits from those few mines outside the city? Or with your patriotic slogans?"

"Betraying patriotic heroes and emboldening foreigners will inevitably lead to the Zhang family's downfall. No matter what, we must stop cooperating with foreigners today. I'd rather quit martial arts altogether!" Zhang Shih-hao's momentum was clearly undiminished.

"Damn it!" Zhang Jichuan cursed.

"Last month, Major Zacks of Great Britain personally visited us, offering to help the Zhang family open up trade routes throughout the entire southeast region, and even providing the Zhang family with the best opium from Britain. This is a once-in-a-century opportunity for the Zhang family! Once the concession is established, with foreigners backing us up, won't the world of Jiangcheng belong to the Zhang family?"

Zhang Jichuan's tone revealed a deep sense of earnestness and concern.

"What about serving the country and the people, and revitalizing China? In my opinion, it's just a false title put forward by a group of desperate people in order to seize power."

Zhang Jichuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking out the window at the babbling water on the artificial hill. This huge Zhang family mansion was the solid foundation laid by his ancestors for three generations.

"Incomprehensible!" Zhang Shih-hao's eyes were filled with disbelief. He simply couldn't believe that these words could come from Zhang Ji-chuan's mouth, and he could no longer suppress his anger.

"Hmph!" Zhang Jichuan turned his head to look directly at Zhang Shihao, his brows furrowing.

"Zhang Shih-hao, I'm not dead yet. It's none of your business to interfere in the Zhang family's affairs. From now on, you'll stay home and focus on your martial arts training. You're not allowed to do any more useless things!"

Zhang Shijie stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Shihao's arm, his eyes filled with anxiety, yet also concealing another expression:

"Brother, say less. Father is only doing this for the sake of the Zhang family business. Besides, those Tongmenghui members are truly hateful. Didn't they raid the embassy a few days ago and kill the British ambassador? This is clearly damaging international relations."

Zhang Shih-hao's eyes widened, glaring angrily at Zhang Shih-jie:

"Shijie, don't you know why they attacked the embassy at night? The ban on martial arts has been in effect for less than a year. Isn't this for the sake of the entire Chinese martial arts community?"

"I think banning martial arts is reasonable. Chinese martial arts are profound and sophisticated, and this would just kill the hopes of those poor peasants who dream of rising above their circumstances." Zhang Shijie pulled his hand away from Zhang Shihao's arm and opened his folding fan with a clatter.

"This suits me perfectly!"

A cold glint appeared in Lin Ji's eyes as he looked out the window.

Those who forget their roots and ancestors will only bring trouble sooner or later.

Zhang Guangzhen's face reappeared in Lin Ji's eyes.

Lin Ji clenched his fist tightly.

The Zhang family will have to pay this debt sooner or later!

A sense of desolation rose from the bottom of Zhang Shih-hao's heart. He glanced at his younger brother and father, and knew that the Zhang family was completely finished.

Zhang Shih-hao didn't say anything more. With a face full of disappointment, he turned around, walked out of the study, and strode out of the Zhang family mansion.

The vast Zhang family mansion had no place for him to live.

Throughout the mansion, gazes fell upon Zhang Shih-hao's shoulders and back.

Those gazes were full of doubt and suspicion towards this young master of the Zhang family.

Even the middle-aged woman under the eaves in the distance, dressed in a luxurious satin cheongsam and wearing a jade hairpin in her hair—Zhang Shih-hao's biological mother—had eyes full of incomprehension.

The Zhang residence has a vermilion gate that is twice the height of Zhang Shih-hao. The words "Zhang Residence" are written in gilded seal script on the gate. It is magnificent and brightens the whole street, but it cannot hold back the disappointed Zhang Shih-hao.

Lin Ji looked down at his dejected figure and pondered for a moment.

This person still has a conscience; perhaps he can be put to use.

Zhang Shih-hao walked dejectedly down the bustling street.

"Beep beep..."

The sound of a Ford car horn rang in Zhang Shih-hao's ears, but he paid no attention.

The Ford car window rolled down, and a wealthy woman leaned out, shouting and cursing in a shrill voice:

"Are you blind? Don't you value your life?"

Zhang Shih-hao was completely unaware.

He continued walking forward in a daze.

Qingfeng Street in Nancheng is one of the most affluent streets in Jiangcheng.

The ladies and gentlemen on the street were all dressed in gorgeous clothes.

Every now and then, several young ladies would be seen arm in arm with Western gentlemen in suits and ties, chatting and laughing.

Just as Zhang Shih-hao stumbled out of the street corner, a few words suddenly drifted into his ears.

"Have you heard? There have been a lot of missing persons cases in the city. My husband works at the Governor's Office, and he came back yesterday saying that the Governor's Office has taken on at least a hundred missing persons cases."

"Really? Then we'd better be careful. It's getting dark, let's head back quickly."

"Don't panic, I haven't finished yet. The missing people are all vagrants and beggars. There are too many missing people, and they can't afford the reward money for finding them. Even if we report it to the governor's office, it will be over and done with."

"Hey, you scared me! What do we care if these lowly peasants live or die? I'd rather they disappeared even more."

Zhang Shih-hao stopped in his tracks, a sense of unease rising within him.

Could this be related to foreigners again?

In the shadows at the alley entrance, Lin Ji overheard the entire conversation.

Displaced people have gone missing?

What are those foreigners up to now?!