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

The main hall was deep and secluded, with only a single bronze oil lamp lit.

The lamplight was dim, barely illuminating the center of the hall, which was about ten feet square, but casting a faint shadow on the armchair on the north side.

The voice came from the hall: "Boss Huang, get up. The Qing Dynasty is over now, and the kneeling and bowing custom is long gone."

Huang Jinrong quickly kowtowed again before getting up from the ground, supporting himself on his knees. Half of his robe was covered in dust, but he didn't dare to brush it off and just stood there with his body bowed.

"What you say is true, sir. However, I cannot disregard these basic courtesies. I may excuse others, but I dare not disobey you before you, sir."

The man in the hall chuckled softly, neither confirming nor denying.

Huang Jinrong swallowed hard, emboldened by the laughter, and took another half step forward, lowering his voice to say, "Sir, to tell you the truth, I have come to your door today because I have been forced into a corner."

"Oh?" the man scoffed. "Who's so capable as to drive the head of the Shanghai Green Gang to this point?"

Huang Jinrong's face immediately contorted with an expression of deep distress: "Sir, you may not know this, but the Green Gang has been able to maintain its foothold in Shanghai all these years thanks to you and your old comrades supporting us."

Every year, I send someone to deliver "tribute" to your household. I dare not say it is much, but I only ask for peace and stability.

But just a few days ago, a martial arts practitioner named Chen Hongwu came from the south. He was only eighteen or nineteen years old, but his methods were frighteningly vicious.

He raised his voice slightly, his anger escalating: "They've killed several of my Green Gang disciples in succession, and yesterday, in front of thousands of people across Shanghai, they killed the martial arts master we hired. They even dared to provoke me, threatening to take my head! Clearly, they have absolutely no respect for you, sir!"

The shadow on the armchair remained completely still.

"Did he really say that?"

Huang Jinrong nodded hurriedly: "If I have uttered even half a falsehood, may I be struck by lightning."

The man surnamed Chen said that if the Green Gang ever dared to touch opium again, he would take my life. Sir, think about it, everyone in the Green Gang relies on opium for a living. With just one word, he wants to cut off my entire family's livelihood. How can he bully people like this?

The lamp wick crackled, and the shadow on the armchair leaned forward slightly.

"You've come today to ask me to take action?"

"I dare not force you!" Huang Jinrong lowered his head even further. "But as you know, sir, Chen Hongwu is not only skilled in boxing, but also a first-rate assassination expert."

The former military governor of Guangdong, Mo, commanded thousands of soldiers and had layers upon layers of personal guards in his mansion, yet he was still killed.

After much thought, I realize that the only person in this world who can control him is... you, sir.

The hall was extremely quiet, the lamplight flickered, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

Huang Jinrong felt beads of sweat seeping out from the back of his neck, trickling down his collar.

A soft sigh.

"That's enough." The voice was weary. "Over the years, I've received quite a few things from you. Today, I'll do this for you as a way of repaying your kindness."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" Huang Jinrong knelt down again with a thud.

"I will make all the arrangements. You only need to make one move, sir, to take his life." Huang Jinrong was overjoyed and almost laughed out loud.

"Go ahead."

Huang Jinrong dared not linger. He bowed and took five steps back before turning around and stepping out the threshold.

As he stepped out of the main hall, the night wind blew, and his soaked clothes clung to his skin, making him feel terribly cold.

But Huang Jinrong didn't care anymore; his steps were light as if he were a different person.

"Hey, Chen Hongwu, your good days are coming to an end!" He thought fiercely, and his steps quickened involuntarily.

The Green Gang and the Hongmen were two equally famous gangs in the martial arts world, but they had completely different lineages.

The Hongmen originated from "Han Liu" and was the first to raise the banner of overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming.

From the Heaven and Earth Society during the Kangxi era to the later Triads and Gelaohui, they all followed the same pattern.

During the Xinhai Revolution, members of the Hongmen (Triads) contributed greatly, and Sun Yat-sen was once a member of the Hongmen and was revered as "Hong Gun" (a derogatory term for a member of the Hongmen).

The Green Gang was different. In its early years, the Green Gang was a guild of canal sailors. After its establishment during the Yongzheng era, it had many ties with the government.

The Green Gang had influence in the Grand Canal government, the Grand Canal transport commissioner, and even the Jiangnan textile bureau.

The Green Gang did not oppose the Qing Dynasty; in fact, they were affiliated with the Qing government and took advantage of the Grand Canal to do many shady things for the government.

This is why the Green Gang had many dealings with the military officers, constables, and eunuchs in the old government offices.

Among them are many hidden martial arts masters.

The man in the main hall just now was a master of internal energy transformation from the Qing Dynasty.

Huang Jinrong dared not mention his name.

All that is known is that he once served in the palace guards and was a personal bodyguard for the Empress Dowager. Later, due to some reason, he drifted into the underworld and was supported by the Green Gang for more than 20 years with a large sum of money.

The Green Gang offered tributes every year, hoping for just one in ten thousand chances.

In case of any eventuality, after twenty years of burning incense, it will finally come in handy.

Huang Jinrong had a clear understanding of what a Grandmaster of Transformation Realm meant.

Even if Chen Hongwu was a formidable fighter, he was still only at the level of internal strength.

The difference between hidden strength and neutral strength is like heaven and earth. No matter how powerful he is, can he possibly defeat a grandmaster?

He also knew that this immense favor was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and if he couldn't control that Chen fellow, his future prospects would truly be limited.

"Unfortunately, that old bastard Du Xinwu is unwilling to show up..."

Damn it, Du Xinwu has some connection with the Green Gang; in terms of seniority, he's Huang Jinrong's uncle.

However, firstly, Du Xinwu had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs, and secondly, the sects were different, so in truth, it was not under his jurisdiction.

Furthermore, this Green Gang boss had always disliked Huang Jinrong's behavior, so expecting him to intervene was a pipe dream.

Huang Jinrong curled his lip, got into the car, and waved to the driver: "Back to the mansion!"

The car started, its taillights leaving two trails of red in the night rain.

Inside the main hall, the man was still sitting in the armchair.

Only after Huang Jinrong's footsteps and car sounds had completely disappeared did he slowly get up and turn around.

The light fell on the back of his head.

A jet-black braid hung down to her waist, with silver strands visible in her hair, and the end of the braid was tied with a piece of bright yellow silk thread.

Money-tail braid!

The robes were old, yet not a speck of dust remained. Instead, the pair of iron clappers in his hands were slowly turned, emitting a very fine and steady "rustling" sound.