Republic of China Era: Entering the Dao through Divine Strike.

"No, that's not it. The wanted poster at the city gate says that this short, thin child killed five or six elite Anssa soldiers and broke through a musket formation ambushed at the mountain pass."

"What? Wang Jingya, do you think I, Yuanshun, am not troublesome enough?"

Wang Jingya shrank back slightly, not daring to look at her father, but her words were still very defiant.

"What's there to be afraid of killing a few foreign devils? Father is a peerless hero, how could he not have this much responsibility?"

In my opinion, those foreigners are all wolves in sheep's clothing. Let alone trying to break through the encirclement and kill a few gunmen.

Even if we wiped out all the Citizens, Anglo-Saxons, Russians, and Cherry Blossoms in the capital, it wouldn't matter..."

"Ignorant and arrogant, things in this world are not so easy. Our country's current troubles are not external, but internal."

Just like a patient terminally ill, a serious illness requires strong medicine. Your so-called wolfish ambition may well be a bitter but effective remedy.

The middle-aged father earnestly advised, "Brother Tan and the others are now preparing for war; a great event is imminent."

We only need to undergo radical reform to remove the rotten parts and then revitalize ourselves to seek development, so that we can once again stand tall among the nations of the world.

Temporary humiliation is nothing to worry about.

At this critical moment, we must not act rashly out of mere bravado...

If we anger those people and ruin the overall reform, we'll be in big trouble.

If those three siblings have too deep a grudge against foreigners, it really wouldn't be appropriate for me to take them under my wing. Xiaoya, you should understand, right?

"I don't care, all I know is that Brother Tang is exceptionally talented, a rare find."

They are still young and in a precarious situation. It would be a good opportunity to take them in and carefully nurture them. In the future, they may very well become pillars of the nation.

Father, haven't you heard the saying, "A scholar's rebellion will not succeed in ten years"? Putting all your hopes on reform will not work.

What's truly impressive about our family is our knives. When have we ever relied on words?

"Victories gained through mere pedantry and compromise are like flowers in a mirror or the moon's reflection in water..."

"you……"

Wang Wu, the Great Swordsman, was renowned far and wide, but at this moment, he felt a tightness in his chest from anger caused by his own daughter.

You know what, you really have to admit, the girl's reasoning was surprisingly logical...

He was skilled with a sword but clumsy with words. He always felt something was wrong, yet he couldn't convince her.

He thought that if Brother Tan were here, he should be able to persuade his daughter.

"come over."

In the tense atmosphere, a figure was seen pacing back and forth nearby, seemingly wanting to come closer but not daring to, clearly sensing the discord between the father and daughter.

"Master, Uncle Ming, Senior Sister."

A young man of seventeen or eighteen, with just a few wisps of stubble on his face, approached awkwardly and bowed.

Before he could speak, he glanced at Wang Jingya.

"Why are you looking at me? Father is asking you a question, how dare you not answer? Alright, what news have you found out?"

Wang Jingya said irritably, thinking to herself that Junior Brother Qiu was a blockhead.

Couldn't they have waited on the side instead of coming right up to us?

"Here's what happened: in the Drunken Alley of Dashilan, Black Bone Snake, Scarface, Eight Fingers, and their gang of nine were all wiped out by a boy of about ten years old. Four girls and two boys were rescued..."

"Black Bone Serpent, that old guy is one of the three top leaders on the left flank of the Yuanqing Society. His Eagle-Snake Combination Strike is extremely cunning, and he's shrewd and slippery. Has he actually fallen this time?"

Gu Changming exclaimed in surprise.

That old fellow was no match for me in a head-on fight.

However, even if I use every means at my disposal, I'm not sure I can defeat him.

The so-called "old hand" isn't just judged by their martial arts skills.

Old people are cunning, and old ghosts are shrewd. This person not only has extremely hard claws, but also moves with unpredictable movements. He has also mastered the "God-Slaying Stone," which is said to be able to slay gods and ghosts, making it impossible to defend against.

To put it bluntly, they just like to use dirty tricks.

When fighting, he never uses conventional methods.

If a pebble unexpectedly gets stuck in your eye, it might not be as easy to block as a gun.

……

Chapter Sixteen: Heroic Spirit, Turning the Tables

"Tell me what happened."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jingya almost jumped up.

"I heard that the three siblings were having a bowl of mutton soup at Fu Kee at the time."

In a single turn, one of the girls was kidnapped. The two brothers immediately flew into a rage.

The smaller one was particularly formidable, closely following behind the long-legged Deng Qiang and charging in from the front.

Within ten breaths, they had killed all eight men.

It is worth mentioning that three of them were killed by sticks, and five were shot.

This young man is proficient in all weapons and firearms, and his movements are as elusive as a ghost.

He was just a child of about ten years old, yet he displayed the spirit of a thousand troops. How magnificent!

When Junior Brother Qiu talked about this, he trembled all over, wishing he could take his place.

Imagine how prestigious it would be to smash through a branch of the Yuanqing Society like that.

Unfortunately, since they're open for business, there are some things they can't do without restraint.

My master often said one thing: "rules".

Mutual support is the rule, being kind to others is the rule, harmony brings wealth is the rule, and forbearance is for the sake of the country...

I heard that back then, my master's rule was to kill as many people as possible in the world.

When people reach middle age, they become overly cautious and hesitant, ultimately ending up associating too closely with scholars.

"I told you that Brother Tang is extraordinary. Uncle Ming, you said it yourself, your [Hundred-Bend Grappling Hand] is said to be able to grab anything, and you couldn't even touch his clothes. How could Old Snake Ghost possibly hurt him?"

She suddenly looked up: "Father, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Don't regret it if someone snatches this junior brother away."

“This child certainly has heroic spirit and is extraordinary.” Wang Wu pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, “Now that they have offended not only the foreigners, but also local bullies like the Yuanqing Society, they probably can’t hide anymore.”

Xiaoya, if you find him, you can bring him here. Such courage and spirit are what we should all be like; we mustn't let him be harmed.

When he said this, Wang Zhengyi did not explicitly say that he wanted to take on disciples.

But his tone was powerful, and his admiration was evident.

Wang Jingya knew immediately that her father's old habit had resurfaced... He was too embarrassed to swallow what he had just said, so he could only beat around the bush, which was a way of showing weakness.

"Hmph, of course, I had a very good chat with Brother Tang."

Wang Jingya gave a wink, called her junior brother Qiu to the door, and whispered, "I'll go to the east end, you investigate the west end. Especially send more people to the Fire God Temple and Garden Entrance areas, as well as the Vegetable Market area. Report to me immediately when you get any news."

Why these specific locations?

"Are you stupid? They've offended the foreigners and dare not approach the embassy district. They also killed the head of the Qing family gang. Where else can they go if they don't find somewhere to shelter from the wind and rain?"

"Senior sister is amazing, truly amazing."

Junior Brother Qiu gave a thumbs up and flattered him with a fawning expression.

……

Li Xin and his group knocked on the door of the Wu residence.

It was still daytime, but the doors and windows of this household were tightly shut.

The small shop on the left was boarded up, so you couldn't tell what it sold inside.

"Who are you looking for? My master does not receive guests."

After knocking for two or three minutes, the mahogany door finally opened a crack.

The elderly man with gray hair poked half his head out and replied.

Li Xin glanced at Hongxiu and gestured for his elder brother, Li Cheng, to stand a little further away with his younger sister in his arms, so as not to put pressure on others.

After all, this family seemed a bit overly cautious, and having too many people might frighten them.

Zhuang Hongxiu smiled before speaking, her bright and generous demeanor evident. She stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "Elder sir, I've heard that your family is looking to sell the property. My young master has just arrived in the capital and is currently lacking a place to stay. Would you be interested in discussing this?"

The old man's eyes lit up, but he quickly covered it up and coughed lightly, saying, "Let me inform the master first."

As he spoke, he hurriedly ran inside through the door.

After a while, they came again to lead the way, passing through the courtyard and into the central hall.

A well-off middle-aged man sat upright beside a table. When he saw the group of people approaching, he gave a slight bow.

Before she could even speak, Zhuang Hongxiu had already shaken her head and sighed.

"This courtyard is really nice, what a pity, what a pity. Young master, it's not suitable, why don't you go and take a look at the room at the east end? Sorry to bother you."

After saying that, he turned and left.

The middle-aged man, who was stroking his beard with composure, looked completely bewildered and almost lost his composure.

"Wait, what makes you say that, young lady?"

"I am not worthy of being called 'Miss.' As I am traveling with the young master, I must take good care of him. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get past the master and mistress."

Your courtyard is quite exquisite, sir; it is indeed excellent.

Unfortunately, its exquisite and elegant design made it an ideal residence for hosting a "Gospel Church."

"This……"

The middle-aged man's heart skipped a beat, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

His expression became more serious, and he cupped his hands in greeting: "I am ignorant and do not know the honorable name of this young master."

"My surname is Li, and my family are merchants, not worth mentioning."

Li Xin smiled and said, "If Lord Wu goes to the south, he can inquire about Li of Huacheng."

Upon hearing this, Patriarch Wu's eyes flickered slightly, as if he had guessed something, and his attitude became even more gentle.

"Come, come, please take a seat."

The Wu family head instructed the old steward to pour him a cup of tea, and said sincerely:

"Actually, those foreigners are very easy to fool; all they need to do is verbally promise to follow their religion."

Not only will they not target you, they will protect and support you at every turn. No matter what kind of livelihood you choose, you'll have a smooth and successful life.

"That makes sense, but the foreigners run churches, not charity halls."

They expect a tenfold return for every bit of effort they put in. This should never be done except in critical situations.

Li Xin shook his head, looking completely uninterested.

Zhuang Hongxiu, however, stood behind her, touching the vase on the low table next to her, her eyes showing a look of fondness.

A single word spoken speaks volumes.

"From a business perspective, if Young Master Li truly intends to settle in the capital, there is no courtyard more affordable and exquisite than this."

Moreover, the location is on a street, so the shop has some value.

Mr. Wu did not lie; he said the money could be transferred for only 150 taels of silver.

They were even able to send someone to complete all the contracts for Young Master Li before nightfall.

"This isn't about money."

Zhuang Hongxiu showed a hint of anger on her face and stopped looking at the vase.

"One hundred and twenty taels, any less would be inappropriate. I would rather have nothing than suffer such a loss, otherwise people will laugh at me."

Zhuang Hongxiu narrowed her eyes, as if she was about to say something.

Li Xin reached out his hand to stop her from speaking, and said with a smile, "Lord Wu is indeed straightforward. I'll do as you say. We can keep in touch more often in the future."