Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

Jiang Fan left Tang Yingxue's apartment, hailed a taxi on the roadside, and gave her the address of Li Cheng's Hotel.

At 9:50 a.m., Li Cheng was squatting at the hotel entrance smoking when he saw Jiang Fan get out of the car. He put out his cigarette and went to greet him.

"Brother Jiang, I've found out everything." Li Cheng pointed to the old alleyway ahead.

"The Hou family's martial arts school is inside. Old Man Hou teaches his students every morning. He's stubborn, so we'll have to be a little gentler when we go in."

Jiang Fan didn't reply, but walked into the alley. After walking for more than ten minutes through twists and turns, a large gate painted red appeared in front of him.

The gate was wide open, and the sound of a wooden stick being swung through the air could be heard from inside the courtyard.

Jiang Fan stepped across the threshold and went inside.

The courtyard was large, with the ground paved with bluestone slabs.

Several teenagers, dressed in practice clothes, are practicing basic skills.

A middle-aged man wearing a black cloth jacket stood to the side, holding a thin rattan cane in his hand.

He stared at the children, his eyes wide and stern.

This is Hou Chuanwu.

On the open ground nearby, a young man in his twenties was practicing with a stick.

A white waxwood pole, as tall as his eyebrows, twirled in his hand.

He moved with nimble steps, his movements agile, and every scratching motion revealed his quick wit.

Jiang Fan stopped and looked at the young man.

It is Hou Jinlai.

His skills and physique perfectly match Sun Wukong's requirements.

Hou Chuanwu noticed an outsider entering the courtyard and his brows furrowed.

Who are you looking for?

Li Cheng stepped forward, took out a business card from his pocket, and handed it over.

"Master Hou, we are from Qitian Culture. This is our General Manager Jiang. We're here today to discuss Hou Jinlai's acting career with you."

Hou Chuanwu didn't even glance at the business card.

"Get out." Raising the rattan cane in his hand, he pointed at the gate. "The rules of my Hou family troupe are to stay away from the entertainment industry's ways. Don't try to defile my land with your dirty money."

Li Cheng said with a forced smile, "Master Hou, please don't rush to send us away. We're filming 'Journey to the West' this time, so please let us explain our terms..."

"I said get lost!" Hou Chuanwu interrupted him, the rattan cane snapping crisply in the air.

"What Journey to the West or Journey to the East? Going to your place will just be making a fool of you like a monkey! Get out of here before I make a move!"

Li Cheng wanted to speak, but Jiang Fan raised his hand to stop him.

Jiang Fan looked at Hou Chuanwu.

His purpose in coming here today is very clear: he must take down Hou Jinlai.

There's no point in reasoning with these stubborn old folks. You have to crush what they care about most and then show them a way out.

"Master Hou, monkey opera is a national treasure," Jiang Fan said, "but how many people still watch it now?"

The commotion in the courtyard ceased. The children practicing their martial arts all turned to look.

Hou Chuanwu stared at Jiang Fan, his chest heaving.

"My Hou family troupe has been passed down for six generations; we will never starve."

"A craft nobody watches," Jiang Fan said, pointing to the children in the courtyard. "They've been practicing here for over ten years. What will they do in the future? Perform on the overpass, or feed monkeys at the zoo?"

These words struck a nerve with Hou Chuanwu.

Hou Chuanwu flew into a rage, raised a rattan cane, and walked towards Jiang Fan.

"I'll beat you to death, you arrogant little beast!"

Hou Jinlai quickly threw down the stick in his hand and ran over to grab his father.

"Dad, don't be angry. It's not worth getting physical." Hou Jinlai turned to Jiang Fan. "You two, you should leave first. My dad has a bad temper, don't cause trouble."

Jiang Fan did not retreat; he remained standing in place.

"Master Hou, you think that taking the heritage to make a movie is a waste of art. But I can guarantee that after this show airs, the whole country will know what the real Monkey King is."

Jiang Fan looked directly into Hou Chuanwu's eyes.

"You can't preserve the soul of monkey opera just by guarding this plaque. I can bring it back to life."

Hou Chuanwu stopped struggling and let out a cold laugh.

"You?!" Hou Chuanwu sized Jiang Fan up and down. "A kid who hasn't even grown a beard yet dares to talk to me about the soul of monkey opera? Do you even know what monkey opera is?"

Without saying a word, Jiang Fan stepped forward and picked up the white waxwood stick from the ground.

He weighed it in his hand; the wood was solid.

Jiang Fan brought up the system panel in his mind.

[Exchange Skills: Master-level Monkey Dance Movements and Staff Techniques]

[Lifespan Consumption: 5000 points]

[Redeem successful]

Current lifespan: 89800 points

A wealth of memories and muscle-building techniques related to monkey games are instilled into the body.

Jiang Fan gripped the stick, his shoulders slightly hunched, his chest rounded, his back straight, and his knees slightly bent.

Her entire demeanor has changed.

With a flick of his wrist, the white waxwood staff drew an arc in the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

Hou Chuanwu was stunned.

A true expert's skill is immediately apparent.

This starting stance requires decades of dedicated practice to achieve such a natural and effortless posture.

Jiang Fan moved his feet and darted out.

The stick flowers twirled in his hands, so densely packed that they were impenetrable.

He sometimes soared into the air, sometimes spun around, and landed lightly and silently.

Every movement was incredibly precise; this wasn't a stage performance, it was real, genuine skill.

Hou Jinlai stared wide-eyed at Jiang Fan's movements.

He has practiced monkey opera for twenty years and believes he has no rivals among the younger generation.

But the young man in front of him, who looked even smaller than himself, was far superior in stature and stick fighting skills.

The rattan cane in Hou Chuanwu's hand fell onto the bluestone slab.

He watched Jiang Fan's every turn and step.

Look at that physique, look at that stick technique.

It feels even stronger than his father's signature moves during his prime.

Jiang Fan put away the stick, stood still, and threw the stick back to Hou Jinlai.

Hou Jinlai hurriedly caught the stick, and his eyes showed more awe as he looked at Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan dusted off his hands and looked at Hou Chuanwu.

"Master Hou, can we talk now?"

Hou Chuanwu's lips moved, but he couldn't say anything for a long time.

He looked at Jiang Fan, completely baffled.

Jiang Fan walked to the stone table in the middle of the courtyard, pulled out a wooden stool, and sat down.

Li Cheng was also puzzled, wondering when Jiang Fan had secretly learned such kung fu skills.

Jiang Fan picked up the teapot on the stone table and poured himself a cup.

"Hou Jinlai is mine. I'll guarantee he'll become a huge star. From now on, the Hou family troupe will be the go-to martial arts instructors for 'Journey to the West'."

Jiang Fan took a sip of tea and put the teacup down.

"The production team will pay you double. Even if those kids don't become opera singers after joining the crew, they can still become martial arts instructors. It's better than spending their whole lives in the alley."

Hou Chuanwu stood there, still processing the stick technique he had just seen.

Jiang Fan looked up at Hou Chuanwu.

"If you agree, the Hou family troupe will become famous throughout the world. If you don't agree, I'll find someone else to film it. But your Hou family will be stuck in this alley for the rest of your lives, just playing with sticks."

Jiang Fan sat there, tapping his fingers on the table.

"Master Hou, you choose."

Hou Chuanwu sighed, his shoulders slumped, and he walked to the opposite side of the stone table and sat down.

"Who taught you that 'bicycle kick' move you just used?"

"That's not important. And once Hou Jinlai joins the group, I can guarantee that I will teach him."

Hou Jinlai walked over and stood behind Hou Chuanwu.

"Dad, I want to go."

Hou Chuanwu glanced at his son, then looked at the children in the yard who were staring longingly at him.

"Alright. Our Hou family troupe will take on this job." Hou Chuanwu nodded.

Jiang Fan stood up.

"Li Cheng, leave a copy of the contract for Master Hou. Make sure to write down the start date and compensation clearly."

Jiang Fan didn't linger and turned to walk out the gate.

The objective has been achieved; there's no need to waste any more time. Li Cheng will take care of the rest.