landbeastnovel Chapter 152 Boss Mei Saves the Day, Sending Out 4 Grandmasters to Break Through the Encirclement
Chapter 152 Boss Mei Saves the Day, Sending Out 4 Grandmasters to Break Through the Encirclement
Chapter 153 Boss Mei saves the day, sending out four grandmasters and breaking through the encirclement.
The late spring cold snap in Tianjin is always sticky and uncomfortable.
The wind blowing from the Haihe River, along the branches of the plane trees in the French Concession, blew straight down into the collars of pedestrians.
In those days, the laborers on the streets had to tie a straw rope to the outside of their tattered cotton-padded coats and pull their rickshaws, panting and out of breath, their white breath resembling that of freshly steamed white flour buns.
The situation is chaotic, and prices are even more chaotic.
The price of a bag of flour on the market has quietly risen from two silver dollars to two and a half dollars.
But the third floor of this National Hotel seemed to be another world altogether.
This restaurant was built by foreigners, and it was covered with thick Persian carpets. You couldn't hear a sound when you walked on them.
Even though the crystal chandelier overhead wasn't lit during the day, it was still so bright it made people dizzy.
The entire third floor was now completely surrounded by the Qingyun troupe. Strong stuntmen stood at both ends of the corridor, each with bulging waists and eyes like eagles and wolves, guarding the place like an iron fortress.
Inside the innermost luxury suite, a fine "Hainan agarwood" is burning in a gilded brass incense burner.
The fragrance isn't pungent; it drifts out subtly and quietly, calming any restlessness in one's heart.
Lu Cheng was sitting in a rosewood armchair by the window.
Today he was dressed in a very simple moon-white silk shirt and black cloth shoes with a thousand-layer sole. Instead of the Xiangfei bamboo cleaver fan with the osmanthus logo, he was holding a Ru kiln celadon teacup.
The tea was pre-Qingming Longjing tea, and the water was filtered well water that Shunzi specially bought from the Xikai Church.
He gently fiddled with the tea lid, making a very soft "ding" sound. His eyes were half-open, half-closed, with a restrained gaze, exuding a sense of composure as if he had just had a good nap in a remote mountain temple.
"call-
'
Lu Cheng let out a soft breath.
The breath was long and deep, and when it was exhaled, it condensed into a visible white streak in the air three feet in front of him, which lingered for a long time.
This is the ultimate state of the "Toad-Catching Strength" within the body, where the innate vital energy naturally overflows after the Qi and blood have been flushed through the bone marrow like mercury.
Not a single feather can be added, not a fly can land.
Even if he sits here without moving, there is a thin layer of qi circulating around him.
"Master."
The outer door was gently pushed open, and Shunzi tiptoed in, his towering frame making not a sound.
This kid has been practicing "force reduction" in wrestling with Tong Sanjin for a few days now, and his lower body is becoming more and more stable.
"What's wrong?"
Lu Cheng didn't raise his eyelids, but slowly took a sip of tea.
"A guest has arrived outside."
Shunzi swallowed hard, lowered his voice, and a hint of nervousness appeared on his honest face.
"They said they came to see you. The men below wanted to stop them, but the person's status was too high, and we dared not act on our own."
Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Who?"
"Yes—he's from Beiping, Mr. Mei Lanfang."
Lu Cheng paused slightly in his cup, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Mei Lanfang?
This leading figure in the Peking Opera world, the top of the Four Great Dan (female impersonators), why is he not staying in Beijing? Why has he come to this murky place in Tianjin at this critical juncture?
"Please come quickly."
Lu Cheng put down his teacup, stood up, and straightened the hem of his long robe.
A short while later, the sound of very light leather shoes could be heard in the corridor.
The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man wearing a dark blue twill robe with a thin woolen overcoat walked in, accompanied by Steward Qi.
He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and had a refined and scholarly appearance.
Even though she had taken a long train journey and her eyes showed signs of fatigue, the elegant demeanor that emanated from her very being was still captivating.
"Mr. Mei, I'm so sorry for not greeting you sooner."
Lu Cheng strode forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and performed a flawless junior's greeting.
"Mr. Lu, let's not stand on ceremony between us."
Mei Lanfang quickly reached out and supported Lu Cheng's wrists.
Upon touching Lu Cheng's arm, Mei Lanfang felt that it was warm and smooth like jade, yet it seemed to contain immense strength. This profound power secretly alarmed Mei Lanfang.
This young man seems to have returned to his roots even more than when he rehearsed "Farewell My Concubine" in Beiping last time.
The two took their seats as host and guest, respectively.
Shunzi, with great foresight, replaced the tea with a freshly brewed pot of hot tea, then led Steward Qi to the outer room and closed the door tightly.
Inside the room, only Lu Cheng and Mei Lanfang remained.
Lu Cheng picked up the purple clay teapot and slightly flipped his wrist.
The tea, like a thin amber thread, fell steadily into the cup in front of Mei Lanfang.
The water flowed continuously, yet when it hit the glass, it didn't splash even a tiny drop, nor did it make a sound.
This "suspended pot pouring water" move made Mei Lanfang's pupils shrink slightly.
The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.
Such exquisite control over force and breath is simply unheard of.
"Boss Mei, Tianjin is a powder keg right now. The Japanese concession is making trouble for me all over the place, and the French concession is outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense. Why did you, a woman of your stature, come here at this time?" Lu Cheng put down the teapot, his voice calm.
Mei Lanfang sighed, took off his gold-rimmed glasses, and rubbed his sunken eye sockets.
That usually composed face was now filled with solemnity.
"Boss Lu, if I hadn't come, this show might not have been able to end."
Mei Lanfang picked up the teacup but didn't drink it. He felt the warmth emanating from the cup and kept his voice very low.
"Your deeds in Weiqian, Tianjin—such as beheading Ma San at Dengying Tower and breaking into the Hongkou Dojo to save people—although these news were forcibly suppressed by various forces and dared not be written about in the newspapers, they had already spread among the high-ranking officials and martial arts circles in Beiping."
"Right now, the situation in Tianjin is like walking on a razor's edge."
Mei Lanfang put his glasses back on and stared intently at Lu Cheng.
"These past few days in Beiping, I've used all my connections, contacted acquaintances in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and even asked someone to pass on a message to Nanjing, hoping to resolve this matter through higher-ups and minimize the impact."
"But, Mr. Lu, the foreigners' attitude is too tough."
"Especially the Japanese. Major Takeda and Kyo Chiba died at your hands. Their garrison commander was furious and threatened that if the French Concession didn't hand you over, they would send troops directly into the concession to arrest you."
"The current policy is to pacify the country before resisting foreign aggression," and they are completely unwilling to engage in a direct conflict with the Japanese for the sake of a mere martial arts instructor.
"Their current attitude is ambiguous, and some even advocate handing you over to settle things peacefully."
Hearing this, Lu Cheng's expression remained unchanged.
He listened quietly, a faint smile even playing on his lips.
"So, the negotiations failed?" Lu Cheng asked casually.
"Yes. The pressure is too great, and there's no way to resolve it through official channels in the short term."
Looking at Lu Cheng's calm and composed demeanor, Mei Lanfang felt both admiration and anxiety.
"Boss Lu, I secretly came to Tianjin this time to support you and give you back!"
Mei Lanfang straightened his back, displaying the pride of a scholar to the fullest at that moment.
"Didn't they shut down the Chinese Theatre? Didn't they say you couldn't afford the costumes and were backing out at the last minute?"
"I, Mei Lanfang, will be presiding over this National Hotel today."
"I have already asked Manager Qi to contact several major newspapers in the French Concession. Tomorrow morning, I will publish a statement declaring that I, Mei Lanfang, will stand with Lu Cheng of the Qingyun Troupe."
"With Lu Cheng in this grand performance, there is me, Mei Lanfang. Without Lu Cheng, I will never set foot in Tianjin again in my entire life!"
"I want to show those foreigners and traitors whether the backbone of our Chinese opera troupe is made of dough."
Mei Lanfang's words were powerful and righteous.
This is tantamount to using his soaring reputation to forcefully tie himself to Lu Cheng, to take a bullet for Lu Cheng.
Looking at the renowned king of the performing arts world before him, Lu Cheng felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
It is easy to add icing on the cake, but it is difficult to send charcoal in the snow.
At this critical moment of life and death, Mei Lanfang was able to put aside all his concerns and risk his life to support him.
This affection is heavier than a mountain.
"Boss Mei————"
Lu Cheng stood up and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"I am unworthy of your kindness."
"You deserve it."
Mei Lanfang also stood up.
"You cut off the arrogance of the Japanese with one stroke, and your performance of 'Farewell My Concubine' sang out the soul of the Chinese nation."
"You are the backbone of the Chinese people. Although I, Mei Lanfang, am physically weak, I know that this backbone cannot be broken."
The atmosphere inside the room was intense, and their eyes met in the air, a tacit understanding of mutual trust and loyalty.
However, Mei Lanfang's next words caused Lu Cheng's originally gentle brows to furrow tightly instantly.
"Boss Lu, besides supporting you, there's something else I need to tell you in person."
Mei Lanfang took a deep breath, his tone heavy.
"Something has happened in Beiping."
Lu Cheng's eyes narrowed.
"What is it?"
"It's those old masters."
Mei Lanfang lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard.
"When the news of your nighttime raid on the Hongkou Dojo and your rescue of President Liu Wenhua and the others reached Beiping, the entire martial arts community in Beiping was in an uproar."
"But at the same time, news of the Japanese blockading Tianjin and arresting you all over the streets also reached back home."
"Old Mr. Shang Yunxiang, Old Master Gong Yu, and Master Li from the Iron Fist Gym—they couldn't sit still any longer."
Mei Lanfang's hands trembled slightly.
"They felt that you were fighting alone in Tianjin, taking the blame for the entire martial arts world in the north. These old bones of theirs couldn't just cower in Beiping like cowards."
"When I arrived, they had already secretly connected with masters from various factions in Beiping and gathered over a hundred internal strength martial artists."
"Mr. Shang even made a harsh statement, saying that since the Japanese don't follow the rules, then they won't either."
"They intend to—grit their teeth and force their way into Tianjin. Even if it costs lives, they will bring you back to Beiping from this French Concession."
"What?!"
Lu Cheng's expression changed completely in that instant.
His eyes, which were usually as calm as a still well, were suddenly filled with a tremendous surge of emotion.
An extremely sharp and menacing aura involuntarily emanated from his body.
"Click."
The sturdy rosewood coffee table beside him actually cracked open under the unconscious surge of his energy.
"Nonsense, utter nonsense."
Lu Cheng suddenly flicked his sleeve and paced back and forth in the room a couple of times.
His handsome face was now filled with anger.
"Aren't these old men just making things worse?"
"This is Tianjin, a former foreign concession of nine countries. Foreign warships are moored on the Haihe River, and Maxim machine guns are mounted on the shore."
"Do they think this is the time when the Boxers charged forward shouting 'Invulnerable to swords and spears'?"
"How can flesh and blood withstand powerful ships and cannons?"
Lu Cheng stopped walking, his chest rising and falling slightly.
He knew all too well the nature of Shang Yunxiang and his gang of old-school martial artists.
That's true unyielding; for the sake of "righteousness," they were truly willing to risk their lives.
But they can't die here.
In Lu Cheng's heart, or rather in his soul from the future, he was all too aware of the value of these old masters.
In the near future, when the full-scale War of Resistance against Japan that swept across China broke out.
These grandmasters are the spark of Chinese martial arts, and a spiritual totem for resisting foreign aggression.
They were to teach their children in the rear, passing on the martial arts techniques of warfare to the soldiers who went into battle.
They will play an immeasurable and crucial role in the future battle that will determine the fate of the nation.
If they were to force their way into Tianjin now to pick up Lu Cheng, they would likely be killed by the foreigners' machine guns and cannons.
That would be a huge loss for the entire Chinese martial arts community, and even the entire Celestial Empire.
"no."
Lu Cheng's eyes sharpened instantly as he quickly calculated in his mind.
"We absolutely cannot let them take this risk. I'm capable of wading through the muddy waters of Tianjin by myself."
He turned his head and looked at Mei Lanfang.
"Boss Mei, when did this news come about?"
"It was the day before I boarded the train. They were still preparing weapons and travel permits, and estimated that they would set off no later than tomorrow or the day after."
"Time is running out."
Lu Cheng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the agitation in his heart, and regained the absolute calmness of a Grandmaster of Internal Energy.
The "Exquisite Mind" operates at lightning speed, revealing all secrets.
"It seems I can no longer stay in Tianjin."
Lu Cheng walked to the window and looked down at the heavily guarded street.
The police in the French Concession were still patrolling everywhere, and who knows how many pairs of eyes the Japanese Special High Commanders were watching from the shadows.
"If I continue to stay here, I will not only implicate you, Boss Mei, and the Qingyun Troupe, but also drag those old masters in Beiping into this dead end."
"Only if I take the initiative to step forward, find a safe opportunity, and wait until this charade is over before leaving Tianjin and returning to Beiping without anyone noticing, will those old men's actions be canceled as soon as I show up."
Lu Cheng turned around, looked at Mei Lanfang, his gaze firm.
"Boss Mei, I, Lu Cheng, will forever remember your kindness."
"I'll go back to Beiping as soon as the play is over."
Mei Lanfang was taken aback, then quickly replied.
"There are foreign spies and Black Dragon Society assassins everywhere outside. Train stations and docks are checked tighter than iron barrels. How do you expect to get out?"
"The world is so vast, if I want to leave, no one can stop me."
Lu Cheng smiled faintly, a smile that concealed an arrogance that looked down upon the world.
"However, before I take my final bow and head north, I have one more important thing to do."
"I need to go see President Liu and the others."
A secluded villa on the edge of the French Concession, near the British Concession.
The villa is hidden behind dense plane trees and surrounded by a high iron fence.
Originally the private property of a British merchant, it was borrowed by Master Yuan through the Green Gang's undercover agents, specifically to house the four rescued grandmasters.
Night falls.
A white blur swept past the three-meter-high iron fence.
Without alerting the Green Gang sentries patrolling the perimeter of the courtyard, it landed on the second-floor balcony of the villa like a large hawk.
on.
With his perfected body after completing the Marrow Cleansing Technique, Lu Cheng's stealth skills are now even more terrifying than a ghost.
The balcony's floor-to-ceiling windows were unlocked.
Lu Cheng pushed open the door and entered.
In the spacious living room, only a dimly lit floor lamp was on.
Liu Wenhua, Yang Chengfu, Cheng Tinghua, and the old master of Tongbei Quan were sitting on several single sofas.
Although the four old masters looked much better than they had in the Hongkou Water Prison after a few days apart, with some color in their faces, the atmosphere in the room was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
That feeling was like a hero in his twilight years, or like having one's spine removed.
"Who?!"
Mr. Yang Chengfu, who practiced Tai Chi, had the sharpest ears. Hearing the very slightest sound of clothes rubbing together, he turned his head sharply.
"Mr. Yang, it's me."
Lu Cheng emerged from the shadows, his moon-white robe gleaming softly under the lamplight.
"Brother Lu."
When Liu Wenhua and the others saw that it was Lu Cheng, they were all startled and quickly stood up.
"You—what are you doing here? The situation outside is so tense, the Japanese are putting a bounty on your head all over the streets!" Cheng Tinghua hurriedly stepped forward, trying to draw the curtains.
"It's alright, they won't be able to find me."
Lu Cheng walked up to the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the four old masters one by one.
With his "eagle eyes," he could clearly see the condition of these four senior figures.
After being treated with Tongrentang's secret medicine, and with their own strong constitution, the toxicity of the "muscle softening powder" had been largely neutralized, and the wounds on their bodies had scabbed over.
Logically speaking, his physical condition should have recovered at least 60% of his strength.
But----
Lu Cheng frowned slightly.
He saw more than just flesh.
In Linglongxin's perception, the aura emanating from these four old masters was extremely weak.
The aura of a master who should have been a master of internal energy transformation, characterized by "unity of all things" and "perfect and flawless", was completely lost.
Instead, there was a deep weariness, dejection, and even a hint of self-doubt.
"Seniors, are you feeling much better?" Lu Cheng asked knowingly, pulling up a chair to sit down.
The four grandmasters looked at each other, their faces showing bitter smiles.
Liu Wenhua sighed, sat back down on the sofa, and looked much older.
"My body—has recovered to about 70-80%."
"But, Brother Lu—"
Liu Wenhua looked at his hands, calloused from a lifetime of practicing Xingyi Quan, with an empty gaze.
"My heart feels empty."
"Is it empty?" Lu Cheng asked calmly.
"Yes, it's empty."
The old Tongbei Quan master next to him slapped his thigh suddenly, his voice filled with sorrow and humiliation.
"We old guys have practiced martial arts all our lives, and we think we stand at the pinnacle of the martial arts world, revered by thousands."
"But what was the result?"
"Upon arriving in Tianjin, he was knocked out by a few cups of poisoned wine from that traitor Ma San."
"In that dark and dreary water dungeon, we were chained by our collarbones like pigs and dogs by those short Japanese men, enduring all sorts of humiliation. They poured swill on us and slapped our faces with the back of a knife—"
The old boxer trembled all over, his eyes red and bloodshot.
"This is not just physical pain; it's trampling our lifelong dignity and the face of Chinese martial arts into a cesspool!"
Yang Chengfu also sighed deeply and closed his eyes.
"Yes, we're getting old. Times have changed."
"Foreigners' poison, foreigners' guns and cannons—our so-called internal martial arts are no match for their despicable methods."
"Although you risked your life to save us this time, our martial arts heart has been completely tarnished."
"Even if we return to Beiping in the future, how will we face our disciples? How will we face our ancestors?"
th.
Although these four grandmasters had recovered 60% of their physical injuries, the psychological trauma they suffered was fatal.
For martial artists, especially those who have reached the level of "Transformation of Internal Energy".
The level of martial arts skill no longer depends on physical strength, but on "spirit and intent".
If one's spirit weakens, one's boxing skills will inevitably dissipate.
This sense of humiliation and defeat was like a venomous snake, tightly binding the foundation of their martial arts.
If they cannot overcome this hurdle, they will not only be unable to make any further progress in their lives, but their cultivation level will also gradually decline, eventually turning them into cripples.
Lu Cheng listened quietly.
He did not immediately offer words of comfort.
In the quiet living room of the villa, he picked up the tea that had long since gone cold from the coffee table and drank it all in one gulp.
"Clatter."
The teacup was placed on the table with a crisp sound.
"Dear seniors."
Lu Cheng slowly raised his head, and his once gentle eyes suddenly flashed with two sharp glints that were impossible to look directly at.
"What do you think martial arts is?"
The four grandmasters were stunned, overwhelmed by Lu Cheng's sudden aura, and for a moment they did not know how to respond.
"Is martial arts about self-cultivation? Is it about nurturing one's character? Or is it about gaining the respect and admiration of thousands, standing high above others?"
Lu Cheng stood up, his posture as straight as a sword. Although his voice was not loud, it was as resounding as a great bell, booming in the ears of the four grandmasters.
"Neither!"
"There's a saying that's been circulating in the martial arts world for a long time."
Lu Cheng looked directly into Liu Wenhua's eyes and said, word by word, "Only those who are undefeated throughout their lives, who forge ahead without hesitation, and who possess a spirit that can shatter the heavens."
"Perhaps—only then can one touch that realm of 'embracing the elixir,' which breaks through the void and transcends the divine!"
"Possessing the spirit of a celestial being!"
Embrace the elixir!
Upon hearing these two words, the four grandmasters trembled violently at the same time, their eyes flashing with a sharp light.
This is the divine realm that all Grandmasters of Internal Energy dream of reaching, yet it is a forbidden realm that very few have been able to touch throughout the ages.
"Undefeated throughout his life?"
Liu Wenhua gave a bitter smile, his eyes dimming again.
"Brother Lu, you make it sound so easy. People eat grains and vegetables, and in this mortal world, who can guarantee they'll never suffer a defeat? This time in Tianjin, we suffered a complete and utter defeat, losing everything, both inside and out. That lofty spirit—we've long since lost it."
"Brother Liu, you're wrong."
Lu Cheng suddenly took a step forward, staring intently at the four people.
"The so-called 'undefeated in one's entire life.'"
"It doesn't mean you've never been physically defeated, never been ambushed, or never been poisoned."
"Human flesh and blood, who can be without fault? Xiang Yu committed suicide at Wujiang, does that mean he wasn't a great overlord of all time? Guan Yu was defeated at Maicheng, does that mean he wasn't a martial saint?"
Lu Cheng's voice carried a power that pierced the soul.
The "Exquisite Heart," "True Meaning of the White Tiger," and "Zhong Kui's Righteousness" merged perfectly at this moment, transforming into a supreme mantra.
"A truly undefeated life."
"7
"It refers to your—heart!"
Lu Cheng suddenly stretched out his finger and pressed it heavily against his chest.
"It's the kind of situation where even if Mount Tai collapses before you, even if you're trampled into a mud pit, even if you only have one breath left."
"The spear in my heart still points straight to the sky! The tiger in my heart still dares to roar at heaven and earth—"
Brilliance!
"The body can be imprisoned, it can be poisoned. But who can imprison your divine will?!"
boom!
These words were like a sudden awakening.
It was as if a thunderbolt struck the minds of the four masters, shattering the gloom of humiliation, despondency, and self-doubt that had been lingering in their hearts.
"You felt your martial arts were tarnished just because you were humiliated in the water dungeon?"
Lu Cheng sneered, his tone becoming stern, even carrying a hint of disappointment.
"What about Old Master Han Jinyong?"
"In Beiping, in order to protect the foundation of the Simin Martial Arts Society, he, an old man with declining health, dared to use his Huajin cultivation to burn his heart's blood and fight against the Japanese sword saint and Wanyan Lie."
"He risked losing all his cultivation, even if it meant being shattered to pieces, to protect that plaque commemorating 'Martial Spirit'."
Did he lose?
"He was utterly defeated physically, but he won spiritually; he preserved the spirit of a warrior."
Lu Cheng turned around and looked at the four former martial arts masters.
"Your bodies have recovered 60%, but your hearts have recovered less than 10%."
"If you go back like this, in a daze, that will be a true defeat. You will not only be defeated by the Japanese, but also defeated by yourselves!"
"Do you want to wash away your shame? Do you want to rebuild your Dao heart?"
Lu Cheng's eyes flashed with golden light, and he seemed to transform into a deity who subdued demons and monsters at that moment.
"Then let's use this humiliation as a whetstone."
"Turn this anger into fuel to break through the barriers of internal energy."
"Stand up."
Lu Cheng roared, his voice like tearing silk.
"Don't let the poison of foreigners silence the dragon's roar in your hearts."
silence.
A deathly silence fell over the living room of the villa for half a minute.
The only sound was the wind rustling through the leaves outside the window.
Liu Wenhua, Yang Chengfu, and the other two stared blankly at Lu Cheng.
In their once empty, cloudy old eyes, a spark was dancing wildly, eventually turning into a raging wildfire.
"Click."
Liu Wenhua's spine suddenly made a cracking sound.
He slowly stood up.
As he stood up, his previously hunched back straightened again, and a long-lost aura of internal energy rose from his body once more.
"Brother Lu————"
Liu Wenhua's voice was no longer hoarse, but instead conveyed a profound understanding of life and death.
"you're right."
"It was my old brother who was too attached to appearances."
"Physical humiliation is temporary. But if the heart dies, then all those decades of hard work have truly gone to waste."
"Hahaha!"
Mr. Yang Chengfu also laughed loudly and stood up from the sofa.
With a stretch of his arms, the smooth and flawless "peng" energy of Tai Chi instantly surged forth.
"What a perfect phrase, 'unbeatable throughout life,' it resides in the mind, not the body."
"This is the first time in my life that I've been thoroughly lectured by a young man in his early twenties."
"However, the training was excellent, and it was very enjoyable!"
The spirits of the four masters were miraculously rekindled by Lu Cheng's words, which were like a "wake-up call."
Not only did their passion reignite, but because of the humiliation and devastation they had endured, their spiritual will was even more refined than before they were poisoned.
Emerging from the cocoon to become a butterfly.
Looking at the four people who had regained their vitality, Lu Cheng finally felt relieved.
"It would be best if the seniors could understand."
Lu Cheng nodded, his expression returning to calm.
"We cannot stay in Tianjin for long."
"Back in Beiping, Mr. Shang and his men are preparing to take a desperate gamble and force their way into Tianjin. I must get back before they take that risk and stabilize the situation."
"Tonight, I will create a commotion to attract the attention of the concession area and the Japanese."
"Master Yuan's men have already prepared carriages and horses at the back gate. You should set off tonight, take the covert route, and return to Beiping first."
"Brother Lu, what about you?" Liu Wenhua asked hurriedly.
Lu Cheng turned around and walked towards the balcony.
He didn't turn around, leaving everyone with only his snow-white silhouette.
"I?"
Lu Cheng pushed open the French windows, and the night breeze blew against his long robe.
"I haven't had my fill of performing on this Tianjin stage yet."
"Before I leave, I must give a proper farewell to those who are lurking in the shadows plotting against me—"
"Leave something to remember about."
Before he could finish speaking...
Lu Cheng swayed.
With the [Ghostly Shadow Step] activated, the person became like a wisp of green smoke, instantly merging into the thick darkness of the night.
Only a faint sentence remained, echoing in the night wind.
See you in Beiping.
The night in Tianjin is shrouded in a fog so thick it's like unmelting lead paste.
The moisture from the Haihe River flowed along the wide asphalt roads of the French Concession, licking the red brick walls of the Western-style buildings on both sides.
The dim yellow gas lamp on the street corner could only cast pale, gloomy patches of light in the thick fog, like the half-open eyes of a dead person.
Lu Cheng's white-clad figure, as ethereal as a banished immortal, blended into the unfathomable darkness of the night.
He didn't rush back to the National Hotel.
Now that the four grandmasters had been sent out of the city by Master Yuan's secret agents and headed to Beiping, a huge weight had been lifted from his heart.
But given the commotion he's caused at Dengyinglou and Hongkou Dojo recently, the Japanese will certainly not let it go.
If he were to simply go back and wait there, that wouldn't be in line with Lu Cheng's style.
The master of Huajin (化劲) emphasizes the principle of "the cicada senses the autumn wind before it blows."
But what happens after this "awakening"?
It's not about hiding, but about nipping the source of the problem in the bud.
"Japanese Concession, Special Higher Police —"
Lu Cheng stepped on the [Ghostly Shadow Step], his figure as light as a willow catkin, gliding lightly between the rooftops and eaves.
The black cloth shoes with their layered soles touched the glazed tiles without leaving a single sound.
The map of Tianjin's power distribution that Master Yuan had given him earlier flashed through his mind.
The Japanese Special Higher Police (STPD) was located in a three-story gray brick building on Asahi Street in the Japanese concession.
The place appeared to be a legitimate trading company called "South Manchuria Railway Company," but in reality, it was the largest intelligence and assassination hub for the Japanese in North China.
Lu Cheng needs to borrow a light tonight.
Asahi Street, third floor of the "South Manchuria Railway Company".
The atmosphere in the spacious Japanese tatami room was so oppressive that it felt like it was about to freeze into ice.
Nakamura, the head of the Special Higher Police, paced back and forth in the room like a trapped beast.
His crisp military uniform was disheveled by his anxiety, with the collar buttons undone, revealing a shirt soaked in cold sweat underneath.
Just a few days ago, the news that the Hongkou Dojo had been brutally massacred, and that dozens of imperial elites, including Major Takeda and Chiba Ken, had perished, struck him like a heavy hammer.
What alarmed him even more was...
Tonight, Lu Cheng has disappeared.
"Baka, baka yarou."
Nakamura suddenly kicked over the low table in front of him, shattering the celadon tea set on it and splashing scalding tea all over the floor.
In the corner of the room stood four assassins dressed in black ninja outfits, their faces completely covered.
They are the Special Higher Police's last trump card.
"Kage-level" Jonin.
"That Chinese actress is a devil."
Nakamura's eyes were bloodshot and red from staying up all night.
"Hundreds of men, machine guns, and hidden weapons, couldn't even stop him. Even Master Yagyu was killed. How is this possible? Are the Empire's intelligence agencies all incompetent? Why didn't anyone discover that he was actually a hidden master of internal energy cultivation!"
The more he thought about it, the more a chill ran down his spine.
A master of internal energy who is not bound by rules and even dares to single-handedly storm into the foreign concessions has destructive power comparable to a fully armed modern army.
"Section Chief, please calm down."
One of the Jonin stepped forward, his voice hoarse.
"Lord Funakoshi Kazuo has given orders. We must consolidate our defenses and cease any further reckless probing. He will personally kill him in front of all the Chinese at the grand performance three days from now, to demonstrate the might of the Empire."
"Wait? How can we wait!"
Nakamura grabbed the Jonin by the collar and growled hysterically.
"If he dares to massacre the Hongkou Dojo, he'll dare to sneak into my bedroom tomorrow and twist my head off."
"Go immediately, mobilize the military police, surround the National Hotel, and search it thoroughly. Don't let even a fly out."
"But what about the French Concession—"
"Ignore the French protests, Great Japanese Empire—"
Nakamura hadn't finished speaking.
"What about the Great Japanese Empire?"
A cool, indifferent voice suddenly rang out in the closed and heavily guarded secret room without warning.
"Who?!"
Nakamura's hair stood on end instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He abruptly drew his Nambu Type 14 pistol from his waist and frantically looked around.
The four "Kage" Jonin reacted even faster. Almost at the same instant the sound rang out, with a "clang," four poisoned short swords were drawn, tightly protecting Nakamura in the middle.
The door to the secret room was tightly shut.
The windows were also locked from the inside.
The sound seemed to come directly from the void.
"Keep the change, please."
The voice rang out again.
This time, Nakamura and the four Jonin finally saw things clearly.
At the deepest part of the room, in front of the huge shrine used to enshrine Amaterasu.
Someone was sitting quietly there, without anyone noticing.
He wore a long, moon-white robe that gleamed coldly in the dim light.
He didn't wear the terrifying Monkey King mask; instead, he revealed a handsome and gentle face.
He sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, holding a cup of tea that was originally prepared for Nakamura and was now slightly cool.
Lu Cheng.
He was like a scholar visiting an old friend, his eyes lowered, gently blowing away the floating tea leaves on the surface.
"This tea is too raw, and the water temperature isn't high enough; it's a waste of this excellent Gyokuro tea."
Lu Cheng took a sip, shook his head slightly, and casually placed the teacup on the edge of the shrine.
"You—how did you get in?!"
Nakamura's voice was trembling, and his hands gripping the gun were shaking uncontrollably.
This is the headquarters of the Special Higher Police.
There was a whole company of military police downstairs, hidden sentries in the corridor, and a combination lock on the door.
Is this person a ghost?
Lu Cheng finally raised his head.
Those eyes, seemingly unfathomable under the blessing of the "Exquisite Heart," quietly gazed at Nakamura.
There was no murderous intent, no burning anger.
There was only a kind of indifference, like looking at a dead object.
"Since the door is for people to walk through, they can naturally come in."
Lu Cheng stood up and straightened the hem of his long robe.
"I heard that Section Chief Nakamura is in a very bad mood tonight and is looking for me all over the streets."
"I, Lu, am someone who hates trouble. Rather than letting you all buzz around outside like flies, I'd rather come myself."
.
"Kill him!"
Nakamura's psychological defenses completely collapsed. He screamed wildly and frantically pulled the trigger.
"Bang bang bang bang."
The gun muzzle spat out a dazzling tongue of fire.
But at the very moment he fired the shot.
The four Jonin protecting him also moved, their four black shadows transforming into four deadly blades, sealing off all of Lu Cheng's escape routes.
however.
In Lu Cheng's eyes, this seemingly thunderous and decisive attack was ridiculously slow.
[Sincerity can lead to foresight.]
The terrifying power of a Grandmaster of Internal Energy was on full display at this moment.
He didn't use the "Ghostly Steps" to dodge the bullets, nor did he use internal force to withstand them.
He simply took one step forward.
He took a small step in such a natural and leisurely manner.
But this one step seemed to transcend the laws of space.
"Whoosh—!"
The bullets grazed the edge of his flowing robe and struck the shrine behind him, shattering the wooden plaque of Amaterasu Omikami into pieces.
The sword strikes of the four Jonin landed in empty space.
Because Lu Cheng had already broken through their blockade and appeared right in the middle of them.
"Too slow."
Lu Cheng uttered three words softly.
He did not use the broken white waxwood staff, nor did he use the Green Dragon Crescent Blade.
He simply raised his hands slowly and waved his sleeves.
Form and meaning — [Swallow skimming the water] superimposed with [Crane form]!
Those wide, moon-white sleeves seemed to be filled with mercury in that instant, incredibly heavy, yet as light as silk.
"Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!"
Four crisp sounds.
Lu Cheng's sleeve seemed to gently brush against the chests of the four Jonin.
There was no loud cracking of bones breaking, nor a gush of blood.
The four Jonin froze abruptly, their short swords clattering onto the tatami mat.
Their eyes instantly lost all their luster, and they fell straight backward.
It was completely unharmed.
However, their internal organs had already been instantly shattered into a pulp by the "Transforming Qi" attached to Lu Cheng's sleeve.
One strike, and four Jonin were killed.