Chinese martial arts: From being shot and killed by the armed police during a mountain search to bec

French Concession, headquarters of the Green Gang.

Du Yuesheng got out of the car, closed his oil-paper umbrella, shook off the rainwater, and handed it to a disciple who came to greet him at the door.

He walked through the courtyard, along the corridor to the entrance of the main hall, and when he pushed the door open, Huang Jinrong was sitting in a grand chair smoking a cigar.

The room was filled with smoke, like thin porridge, slowly billowing under the ceiling.

"You're back?" Huang Jinrong exhaled a puff of smoke, gesturing to the chair opposite him with the finger holding the cigar. "Sit down. Did you see anyone?"

Du Yuesheng sat down in the chair, took the hot towel handed to him by a servant, wiped his hands, and nodded: "I've seen him."

"What do you think of this guy?" Huang Jinrong leaned back in his chair, squinting at him.

Du Yuesheng placed the towel on the coffee table, thought for a moment, and then slowly said, "Young, but without the arrogance of youth. Unconcerned with external things, with a calm and steady demeanor like a mountain."

I sat down opposite him and we talked for about half a cup of tea's time. His face remained expressionless throughout, and his eyes showed no change. I told him that the Green Gang had handed the list over to the Black Dragon Society, and he didn't even frown.

He paused for a moment, then commented, "He has the air of a master."

Huang Jinrong's hand, holding a cigar, froze in mid-air. He had known Du Yuesheng for so many years, and he had rarely heard Du Yuesheng use such words to describe a young man.

He placed his cigar on the rim of the ashtray and leaned forward. "Yuesheng, aren't you overestimating him?"

Du Yuesheng glanced at Huang Jinrong and smiled: "Boss Huang, how many geniuses in the world can reach this level of martial arts at such a young age? He's not even twenty years old yet and has already reached the peak of Dark Force, just one step away from Transformation Force."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip: "Even the Martial Saint Sun Lutang was probably inferior to Chen Hongwu at his age."

Only Zhang Sanfeng in his youth could be compared to him.

If this person hadn't died young, given time, his future achievements would have been limitless, at least no less than Sun Lutang's.

Huang Jinrong was silent for a moment, then sneered, picked up his cigar again and took a puff: "Who can predict the future? When Sun Lutang was young, he wasn't invincible among his peers either."

Is there anyone else in the world today who deserves the title of Martial Saint? Being strong for a short time is not a skill; being strong for a lifetime is what makes a true hero. It's still uncertain whether Chen Hongwu can become the number one person in the world in the future!

Huang Jinrong waved his hand: "Let's not worry about his future fate. What will his attitude be towards our Green Gang?"

Du Yuesheng put down his teacup and remained silent for a moment.

"I can't tell."

Huang Jinrong frowned. Du Yuesheng was always very good at judging people. If he couldn't tell the other party's attitude, it was either because the other party was truly meticulous, or because the other party's attitude was inherently cold.

Neither of these situations is a good thing.

He waved his hand: "Forget it, let's not talk about that. Has Meng Guangyin arrived at the arena the day after tomorrow?"

"We've arrived. Make sure everyone is well-fed and watered." Du Yuesheng pulled a folded piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Huang Jinrong. "This is the schedule for the day of the competition. Please take a look."

Huang Jinrong took the paper, unfolded it, glanced at it, and nodded. He trusted Du Yuesheng's abilities.

-

Hongkou, the Shanghai branch of the Black Dragon Society.

This is a three-story brick and wood building in Japanese style, located deep in a narrow alley in Hongkou.

It looks like an ordinary trading company office, with a wooden sign that reads "Yamato Trading Company" hanging at the entrance, but none of the people coming in and out are doing legitimate business.

The first floor is the reception room, with plain-colored rush mats on the tatami mats, and a banner with the words "May your martial fortune last forever" hanging on the wall, written in vigorous and powerful strokes.

A katana rests on a low table under the banner, its scabbard adorned with gold lacquer and chrysanthemum patterns.

Three Japanese people knelt on the tatami mats. On the low table in the middle was an iron kettle with steam rising from its spout. The aroma of tea mixed with the grassy smell of the tatami mats filled the air.

Leading the group was Kenichi Sato, the head of the Shanghai branch of the Black Dragon Society. He was in his early fifties, with a square face, a thick mustache, and wore a dark gray patterned haori. His kneeling posture was impeccable.

A handwritten passenger list lay open in front of him, and next to it was a dark blue-green teacup.

To his left was Deputy Branch Chief Yoshio Tanaka, and to his right was Councilor Shigeo Kinoshita. Both were in their forties, wearing the same black thong, and had solemn expressions.

"Have you confirmed the list sent by the Green Gang?" Sato picked up the list on the table and scanned the names line by line.

"Hi!" Tanaka replied, bowing his head. "The Green Gang sent us a list of over three hundred names. After cross-referencing, we've narrowed it down to one person."

"Who?"

"Chen Hongwu, 18 years old, from Sanhai County, Guangdong. He previously killed Master Funakoshi and several other martial arts masters on the Foshan stage. Some time ago, we sent ninjas to assassinate him, but they have disappeared and have not returned."

He had a grudge against the Green Gang, and his trip to Shanghai was to settle their score in a martial arts tournament.

Kinoshita Shigeo continued, "The Green Gang also secretly sent a message saying that this person is extremely skilled in assassination, and a Guangxi warlord in Guangdong once died at his hands."

Sato didn't speak, but simply picked up the teacup on the low table and slowly took a sip.

After a long silence, he put the teacup back on the low table and said, "If this person isn't eliminated, the Black Dragon Society's prestige will be ruined. However, we can't fight him on the Shanghai stage. The Green Gang and the Jingwu Association are both watching, and if things get out of hand, it won't be easy to explain to the British."

"We should wait until the arena is over before making our move. By then, regardless of victory or defeat, Chen Hongwu will be mostly exhausted and his mind will be relaxed, making it the perfect time for the assassination."

"Moreover, Funakoshi Gichin is an unparalleled karate master. Anyone who can kill him with their bare hands must be a formidable opponent. It would be too costly for us to eliminate such a master in Shanghai on our own."

"Therefore, we need to hire a true master!" Sato's gaze fell on Kinoshita Shigeo.

Councilor Kinoshita frowned slightly: "Branch Chief, you mean...?"

"Takano Sasaburo," Sato said.

The room fell silent for a couple of breaths after the name was uttered.

Yoshio Tanaka took a slight breath; all three of them knew what this name meant in the Japanese martial arts world.

Takano Sasaburo, recognized as the number one master in Tokyo's kendo world, was the kendo instructor before Emperor Meiji and the master of the Hokushin Itto-ryu style.

In Japan, his name is synonymous with a sword. If this man could be persuaded to take action, even if Chen Hongwu had three heads and six arms, he would have no chance of survival.

"Mr. Takano is in Shanghai," Kinoshita said. "He was invited by us to teach kendo. He just opened a short, paid kendo training course for a few pro-Japanese businessmen and members of the Green Gang these past few days."

Sato nodded: "Prepare a generous gift, along with detailed information on Chen Hongwu, and ask Mr. Takano to take action and ensure he does not escape alive."