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

"Squeak!"

The wooden door of Lin Ji's courtyard slowly opened.

Bai Yu'er immediately rushed forward and squeezed into Lin Ji's arms.

"Old... Old Lin... Waaah..."

The beautiful peach blossoms were teary-eyed, and their bodies trembled as they curled up in Lin Ji's arms.

She was terrified.

There were at least a dozen homeless people in the entire Dog Tail Alley.

She didn't know when these refugees would burst through the creaking wooden door.

For three whole days.

These refugees constantly tested and insulted them with their words.

She was not afraid of these foul words.

I'm afraid I'll never see Lin Ji or Bai Xiaonian again.

until.

The voice that always appeared outside the door during his times of danger rang out.

Aged and somber.

But when it touched her heart, it was like the blazing sun that could tear through the gloom.

"Waaaaah... Old Lin!"

"Waaaaah..."

Lin Ji raised his hand and put it around Bai Yu'er's waist, gently patting her back as if soothing a child.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Yu'er, don't be afraid, I'm here now."

A heavy hand landed on Bai Yu'er's back, gradually calming her down, and her sobs gradually subsided.

Lin Ji felt the softness in his arms, and he knew he couldn't stay in Dog Tail Alley, where he had spent his whole life.

Concessions, Japanese, Westerners, and refugees.

Jiangcheng is about to descend into chaos.

I really don't feel comfortable leaving Bai Yu'er alone in Dog Tail Alley.

He came back today. If he hadn't come back, the consequences would have been unimaginable. He didn't want to lose anyone else who was so important to him.

"Yu'er".

"Let's pack our things and go."

Bai Yu'er lifted her head from Lin Ji's embrace, her pretty face streaked with tears, and asked in a sobbing voice:

"Where to?"

Lin Ji was taken aback.

It seems he really has nowhere to go.

To the Martial Arts Hall?

That certainly won't work.

Go to Shen Jinluan's place?

Hmm... that's not a bad idea.

But should we let Bai Yu'er, a petty woman, get involved in gang conflicts?

As Lin Ji pondered, he caught a glimpse of the enormous mansion at the alley entrance out of the corner of his eye. Electric lights were shining from inside the house, illuminating the courtyard.

"I have somewhere to go. You pack your things first, I'll be right back."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yu'er immediately tightened her grip on Lin Ji, holding him tightly for a while before tentatively asking:

"Really coming back?"

"Okay, right away."

"it is good."

Bai Yu'er reluctantly let go of Lin Ji, and only then could she see Lin Ji's face clearly in the moonlight.

This old man looks young again.

His face had developed some angularity.

Lin Ji turned and left.

Heading towards the alley entrance.

In front of the Liu family mansion.

Lin Ji knocked on the door.

"Who is it? It's so late!"

An annoyed voice came from inside the door.

The door slowly opened a crack, and a middle-aged man peeked out.

Upon seeing who it was, the middle-aged man said irritably:

"Go away, there's no food for you here."

Lin Ji smiled slightly and raised his hand in a gesture of respect:

"Please inform your young lady that Lin Ji from the Martial Arts Hall requests an audience."

Lin Ji deliberately emphasized the words "Martial Arts Hall".

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man hurriedly put it away with an impatient expression on his face.

"Martial Arts Hall? Okay, wait a moment."

"Click!"

The gate was closed again.

After a while, two footsteps sounded from inside the door.

The gates of the Liu residence were opened again.

Liu Qingzhu was wearing a plain-colored knitted silk nightgown. Her usually cool face showed some drowsiness. When she saw Lin Ji, her face instantly flushed.

"Uncle Lin, why are you back in Dog Tail Alley instead of at the Martial Arts Hall?"

Lin Ji chuckled and looked at the middle-aged man beside him.

Liu Qingzhu immediately understood, turned to look at the man, and said in a cold tone:

"Uncle Zhao, you should go and rest first."

The man nodded and hurriedly retreated.

"I've come with two things."

Lin Ji looked at Liu Qingzhu and spoke bluntly:

"First, I met with two groups of people tonight. One was Shen Jinluan, the new leader of the Haijiao Gang, whom you should know. The second was Zhao Qiaosheng from the Tongmenghui."

"Shen Jinluan?" Liu Qingzhu frowned, seemingly disliking the name.

"Yes. She told me about the human experiments conducted on the Japanese and how the Gelaohui (a secret society) was targeting them, hoping I could help her." Lin Ji looked at Liu Qingzhu's expression, unable to guess the reason behind it.

"I know that. She sent someone to inform the gang this morning." As the Green Robe Gang's advisor, Liu Qingzhu naturally knew about this.

"Yes, I contacted Zhao Qiaosheng and facilitated cooperation between the Haijiao Gang and the Tongmenghui. We are preparing to take action against the Japanese, one openly and one covertly, catching them off guard."

Lin Ji explained the matters discussed with the Tongmenghui.

"Uncle Lin, is there anything I can do for you?" Liu Qingzhu tightened her silk nightgown, revealing her beautiful figure.

Lin Ji shook his head and pondered for a moment before saying, "The Haijiao Gang's actions this time are so significant that they might affect the entire situation in Jiangcheng. I'm informing you in advance that you are injured, so it's best to be careful."

Liu Qingzhu's heart stirred slightly, her expression becoming somewhat indifferent, and she nodded, saying:

"I'll be careful, thank you for reminding me."

"There's a second thing," Lin Ji said, revealing the main purpose of his late-night knock on the door.

"Please speak," Liu Qingzhu asked.

"The situation in Jiangcheng is turbulent, and a foreign concession is about to be established. Dog Tail Alley is not going to be peaceful. I have a favor to ask: I would like to borrow Miss Liu's courtyard on Qingfeng Street for the time being." Lin Ji said without any shame.

Lin Ji also felt he was being a bit shameless. He was just an old man who pulled a shadow puppet show and guarded the gate, and he had only known Liu Qingzhu for a few days before making such a request. So he added:

"If it's inconvenient, just pretend the old man didn't mention it."

"Uncle Lin is joking. You can use this small courtyard if you want." Liu Qingzhu raised her eyes slightly. She had excellent eyesight. Deep in Dog Tail Alley, a small face peeked out from the door of Lin Ji's courtyard, looking at the alley entrance.

Turning her gaze away, Liu Qingzhu continued, "You killed the foreigner to protect Yuanbao, and you are also Yanqiu's grandfather. You also helped Qingzhu remove the poison and heal her wounds. It is only right and wrong that Qingzhu has to agree to your request."

"Wait a moment, I'll go get you the key." Liu Qingzhu turned and walked into the courtyard.

After a moment, Liu Qingzhu took out a key and handed it to Lin Ji:

"Uncle Lin, there are martial arts manuals suitable for women to practice in the cabinet in the main room. In this chaotic world, you can take them and let Miss Yu'er practice them when she has nothing to do, so that she will have a means of self-defense."

Lin Ji was taken aback, but Liu Qingzhu, with her keen insight, had already guessed his intention in using the courtyard.

He thought about it carefully and realized that Liu Qingzhu was right. If Bai Yuer had been allowed to learn martial arts techniques in advance, even if she had only reached the Skin Refining stage, she wouldn't have been in such an awkward situation tonight.

"Okay, thank you, Miss Liu." Lin Ji took the keys, turned around, and walked back to his own courtyard.

A child's voice came from the Liu family mansion behind them:

"Sister, who's looking for you?"

"Grandpa Lin."

……

Return to the courtyard.

Bai Yu'er has finished packing.

There wasn't much to tidy up.

All the family's belongings were burned to ashes last time, so this time all that was left was a shredded cloth bag.

"Old man Lin...where are we going? Shall we leave now?"

Bai Yu'er placed Lin Ji's wooden box used for showing shadow puppets in front of the main room.

"Yes, let's go now, travel light, and leave these things behind." Lin Ji glanced at the box carrying the shadow puppets and nodded in response.

"Oh!" Upon hearing this, Bai Yu'er put the shadow puppet box back inside the house, closed the doors and windows, locked the main gate, and walked out of the courtyard with Lin Ji.

Take two steps.

Bai Yu'er looked at Lin Ji's broad back in the moonlight.

I don't know when it started, but the old man's back has become hunched.

Bai Yu'er was delighted. The enchanting scene from that afternoon flashed through her mind, and a hint of spring appeared in her eyes as she looked at Lin Ji.

She quickly stepped forward, took Lin Ji's arm, pressed her full breasts against him, and whispered:

"Old Lin, it's so good to have you."