landbeastnovel Chapter 142 The Old Fox Uses the Power to Scheme
Chapter 142 The Old Fox Uses the Power to Scheme
Chapter 143 The Old Fox Uses the Power to Scheme
Spring in Tianjin comes late and leaves slowly.
Although it's already March, the wind blowing from the Haihe River still carries a damp chill that seeps into your bones.
That was a cold snap in early spring, commonly known as "peach blossom snow," which was extremely freezing.
The poor rickshaw pullers on the streets had to tie a straw rope around their waists in their tattered cotton-padded jackets. When they ran, they were panting heavily, and the white breath coming out of their nostrils looked like freshly steamed buns.
The French Concession, Lin Mansion.
This is a typical Western-style villa with red bricks and white windows, and two Roman columns in front of the door, which make it look very grand.
The magnolias in the yard had just formed buds, but the cold wind made them droop and look rather wilted.
In the study, the heating was just right, and the copper stove was filled with the scent of sandalwood, completely masking the musty smell of dampness.
Lin Shiyuan, the patriarch of the Lin family, was wearing a dark purple silk robe with floral patterns, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, and a copy of the newly published Ta Kung Pao newspaper in his hand, but his brows were furrowed into a deep frown.
The front page of the newspaper featured shockingly bold, black lettering:
[A grandmaster has fallen? Lu Cheng is poisoned with a rare toxin, and the National Hotel closes its doors to customers!]
The smaller print below was even more alarming, with phrases like "face as pale as paper," "breathless," and "beyond saving," making the perfectly healthy person seem as if they were already lying on a coffin.
"well----"
Lin Shiyuan took off his glasses, rubbed his throbbing Jingming acupoint, and sighed deeply.
"A time of great turmoil, truly a time of great turmoil."
Beside him, the butler, Old Liu, was carefully changing his cup of hot tea. It was pre-Qingming Longjing tea, which cost two silver dollars a tael back then, enough for an ordinary family to eat for half a year.
"Sir, are you sighing for that Boss Lu?" Old Liu asked tentatively.
"I sigh for our Lin family, and I sigh for the state of the world."
Lin Shiyuan picked up his teacup but didn't drink it, as if he was preoccupied with something.
"Old Liu, can't you see? The weather in Tianjin is about to change."
"In the past two years, the Japanese have gone too far. Our Lin family's textile mill and flour mill are national industries, the rice bowl of us Chinese. But those Japanese trading companies, relying on the support of the garrison troops, are checking fire safety today and tax revenue tomorrow. They are trying every means to squeeze us out."
"A while ago, some thugs even dared to stop our trucks on the street; that was blatant robbery!"
As he said this, Lin Shiyuan's hand trembled slightly, and a few drops of tea spilled out.
"We're business people, we believe in making money through harmony. But when you encounter these unreasonable robbers, you can't reason with them."
"What are we lacking right now?"
Old Liu thought for a moment: "What's missing—a powerful backer?"
"Yes and no."
Lin Shiyuan looked intently at the gloomy sky outside the window.
"Mountains may crumble, people may run away. Those warlords are all insatiable wolves, never satisfied. What we lack is power—a kind of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) power that can make the Japanese wary!"
"Although Lu Cheng is an opera singer, his martial arts skills are truly astounding."
"Single-handedly challenged Dengying Tower and broke into Hongkou Dojo at night to rescue the four grandmasters."
"Although this wasn't explicitly stated in the newspapers, everyone in our high society circles knows what's going on."
"Those four grandmasters are the pillars of the Northern martial arts world! Xingyi, Bagua, Tai Chi—their disciples and followers number in the tens of millions!"
Lin Shiyuan stood up, took two steps on the thick carpet, and gently tapped the floor with his walking stick.
"Lu Cheng saved their lives; this is an immense favor."
"This favor is an invisible net that can capture the entire martial arts world of the North."
"As long as Lu Cheng is still alive, as long as our Lin family can establish a connection with him."
"If we go to Beiping to develop our business again in the future, or if we encounter trouble in Tianjin, as long as we reveal this connection, which martial arts school, security escort agency, or even friend in the martial arts world would dare not give the Lin family some face?"
"The Japanese should think twice before they mess with us, wondering if they'll anger these reckless martial arts experts."
Old Liu nodded repeatedly, giving a thumbs-up: "Sir, you're brilliant! This is—leveraging influence?"
"But----"
Old Liu changed the subject and pointed to the newspaper on the table.
"Master, it's being said outside that Lu Cheng is ruined. He's been poisoned by the foreigners' chemicals, and his internal organs are rotting."
"This...this person who's barely clinging to life, does he still have any value?"
Lin Shiyuan stopped in his tracks, a shrewd smile playing on his lips.
"Foolish."
It's easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow.
"If we were to fawn over him when he was successful and influential, that would be seen as opportunism, and he might not even look at us with respect. Now that he's down on his luck, it's called loyalty and remembering the past."
"Besides, even if Lu Cheng is really crippled and can no longer use force,..."
"But does the debt of gratitude he owes to those four grandmasters still remain?"
"Yes!" Old Liu nodded.
"As long as there is affection, whether he lives or dies, whether he is crippled or healthy, he is still a benefactor of the Northern martial arts world."
"If our Lin family protects him, then we are protecting the benefactor of the martial arts world. Once this reputation spreads, we will be seen as a family of righteousness!"
Lin Shiyuan waved his hand and made a decision.
"Go and tell the young lady to come down."
"Prepare the car and prepare generous gifts."
"Let's go to the National Hotel to visit someone who's sick!"
Lin Yudie was lost in thought in her boudoir on the second floor.
She was wearing a light purple long dress with lace trim on the hem; it was a new style that had just been sent back from Paris.
Her hair was permed into fashionable waves, and she held a collection of Xu Zhimo's poems in her hand, but she didn't turn a single page for a long time.
That rainy night always lingered in her mind.
The scene of that man, dressed in white, standing at the entrance of the police station, placing the jade pendant that symbolized the marriage agreement on the hood of the car without any hesitation.
That look in his eyes.
There was no inferiority complex, no resentment, and not even the slightest bit of lingering attachment.
It's like discarding a useless stone.
"Does he really look down on the Lin family that much?"
Lin Yudie bit her lip, feeling an indescribable sense of pride and frustration.
She was a chosen one, a top student at Nankai University, and the object of pursuit for countless wealthy young men.
But in front of this opera singer-songwriter, she felt like she was invisible.
"Miss, the master wants you to come downstairs. He says he wants to visit Boss Lu."
The maid, Xiao Cui, called softly from the doorway.
"Visit him?"
Lin Yudie was taken aback, then stood up. She felt inexplicably flustered, yet also somewhat—expectant?
She walked to the mirror, tidied the stray hairs at her temples, and touched up her lipstick.
"I heard he was poisoned and is dying—"
Lin Yudie looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"I'll go take a look, just to settle some old scores. After all—it was my fault first."
As soon as I went downstairs, I saw someone sitting in the living room.
Song Ziqi.
This young foreign gentleman is dressed very elegantly today.
He wore a white suit, custom-made on Savile Row in England, impeccably tailored, which accentuated his tall and slender figure. He had a black bow tie around his neck and a pocket square tucked into his breast pocket.
He was also holding a silver-inlaid walking stick, which was the "civilized walking stick" popular at that time.
This thing is considered gentlemanly in the hands of foreigners, but here it has a bit of a fake foreigner vibe.
"Yu Die!"
As soon as Song Ziqi saw Lin Yudie come down, he immediately stood up, his face full of the standard gentlemanly smile that he had practiced countless times.
"I heard Grandpa Lin is going to the National Hotel?"
"I was just thinking of going too."
Song Ziqi stepped forward, wanting to take Lin Yudie's hand, but Lin Yudie subtly avoided him.
"You're going too?" Lin Yudie frowned. "What are you going there for?"
"I'm going to see that 'great hero'."
Song Ziqi's lips curled into a mocking smile, an undisguised sarcasm.
"I heard that our 'shining light of Chinese martial arts' is about to go out?"
"Tsk tsk, what a pity. I was hoping to discuss with him whether traditional fancy footwork is more powerful, or our Western science is more powerful."
"It seems the outcome is already decided."
Song Ziqi twirled the walking stick in his hand, a look of superiority on his face.
"This is the consequence of not believing in science. How can a mortal body withstand chemical toxins? This is called ignorance, this is called backwardness!"
Lin Shiyuan came out of the study and happened to hear these words.
He gave Song Ziqi a deep look, but didn't say much, only calmly saying, "Since Ziqi is so willing, let's go together. Having more people shows that we value it."
This old fox knows what he's doing.
Song Ziqi represents the forces in Jinling, and it's also a statement of attitude. Bringing him along will help balance the relationships between the various parties.
As for this kid's foul mouth?
Hmph, young man, you don't know your own limitations. Let him learn a lesson.
"Thank you, Grandpa Lin!"
Song Ziqi was overjoyed, thinking that Lin Shiyuan had recognized him as his grandson-in-law, and he was very proud, like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.
The French Concession, the National Hotel.
The atmosphere at the National Hotel has been frighteningly oppressive these past few days.
Two rows of men dressed in black short-sleeved shirts stood at the entrance, each with a weapon tucked into their waistband, their eyes glaring fiercely at everyone who passed by.
Those were the martial arts brothers from the Qingyun Troupe, and the skilled fighters that Shunzi recruited from Tianjin.
They are protecting the Dharma.
The entire third floor was completely enclosed; not even a fly could get inside.
"stop!"
As soon as the Lin family's Rolls-Royce came to a stop, before anyone could get out, several men in black surrounded them, their hands on their waists, looking on warily.
"What are you doing here? I'm not seeing any guests today!"
The one leading the group was Shunzi.
These past few days, he's been guarding the door, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. His honest and simple demeanor is gone, replaced by a fierce aura that suggests he's ready to fight at any moment.
"presumptuous!"
Song Ziqi was the first to jump off the bus, pointing with his walking stick.
"Are you all blind? Can't you see this is the Lin family's car?"
"We're here to visit you in the hospital, please make way."
When Shunzi saw that it was this kid, his temper flared up instantly.
He remembered clearly the arrogant attitude that kid had towards him at the police station that day.
"Oh, who do we have here?"
Shunzi Gong chuckled, crossed his arms, and stood blocking the doorway like an iron tower.
"Oh, it's Young Master Song."
"What's wrong? You didn't get a beating the other day, so you're itching for a beating again today?"
"Dogs in Western-style dresses aren't welcome here, get out!"
"you-!!"
Song Ziqi was so angry that his face turned white. He was used to running rampant in the foreign concessions and had never been treated like this before.
"Rebellion! Rebellion!"
"Someone come here!"
With a wave of his hand, four foreign bodyguards with high noses and deep-set eyes immediately got out of the car behind him.
These four foreigners were all burly and thick-shouldered, their suits bulging with their flesh, and their waists were bulging, clearly indicating that they were carrying guns.
"Push these watchdogs away!" Song Ziqi shouted, pointing at Shunzi.
"stop!"
With a sharp shout, Lin Shiyuan lost his car.
He walked to the middle, leaning on his cane, glanced at Shunzi, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.
"Young Master Bing, I am Lin Shiyuan, and I have come to visit your master."
"Please inform them."
Although Shunzi was a muddle-headed man, he knew the principle of not hitting a smiling face, especially since this man was a famous figure from Tianjin, and Zhihao had even bailed out his master.
He snorted and glared at Song Ziqi.
"Wait."
After saying that, he turned and went into the hall.
The third floor features a luxury suite.
The curtains were drawn tightly shut, not letting in a single ray of light.
The room was filled with a strong aroma of Chinese medicine, from the well of Mr. Le's specially prepared "Marrow Cleansing Soup," mixed with a hint of—
—The aroma of braised pork knuckle?
However, by now, the pork knuckle had already been disposed of to cover up the crime.
As he lay on the bed, Lu Cheng sat cross-legged.
He wasn't wearing a shirt, revealing his muscles that looked like they were sculpted from white jade.
But at this moment, in that special state of "the might of a sick tiger," his skin appeared unusually pale, almost bloodless.
The once plump, fleshy lines seemed to have collapsed and shrunk, making it appear somewhat thin.
His breathing was extremely slow and barely perceptible.
If you don't listen carefully, you can't even feel him breathing.
This is the ultimate manifestation of practicing the "Turtle Breathing Technique".
It locks in the flow of qi and blood, and preserves vitality.
To the artists, this was a sign that they were on their last legs and would soon die.
Within his body, the pure internal energy accumulated over a hundred years was undergoing its final "qualitative transformation."
Marrow cleansing.
That surge of heat had already circulated ninety-nine times through my bones, forcing out the last trace of impurities.
His bones are undergoing a transformative change, becoming denser, more resilient, and even faintly gleaming with a jade-like luster.
"Master."
Shunzi pushed the door open and came in, lowering his voice.
"The old man from the Lin family has arrived, along with that fake foreigner surnamed Song and Miss Ru from the Lin family."
"They said they came to visit someone who is ill."
Lu Cheng slowly opened his eyes.
The light in those eyes vanished instantly, leaving them dull and lifeless, even tinged with a hint of turbidity.
He coughed twice, his voice weak.
"Cough cough————"
"Since you're here, please come in."
"This play has to be performed completely."
Lu Cheng pulled a moon-white undergarment from the bedside and draped it over his shoulders, but deliberately buttoned one button wrong, making him look somewhat disheveled and powerless.
He then casually picked up a handkerchief stained with a little "chicken blood" and clutched it in his hand.
Everything is ready.
"please."
After a while.
The door was pushed open.
Lin Shiyuan led Lin Yudie and Song Ziqi in.
Upon entering the room, the strong medicinal aroma made the group frown.
Song Ziqi, in particular, held a handkerchief sprayed with perfume to his nose, looking disgusted, as if the air in the room was poisonous.
The light was dim.
They saw that on the large mahogany bed, Lu Cheng was leaning against the headboard, his face as pale as paper, and his mouth cracked and dry.
That usually upright and proud spirit seemed to have collapsed at this moment.
Especially his breathing, which was intermittent, as if he might stop breathing at any moment.
"Nephew Lu————"
Lin Shiyuan was also startled by what he saw.
He had initially harbored some suspicions, wondering if Lu Cheng was playing a trick.
But now it seems—
This is clearly the sign of a lamp running out of oil and dying!
That expression, that aura, couldn't be faked.
"Old Lin—"
Lu Cheng tried to get up, but seemed to lack the strength. He swayed and fell back down, accompanied by a violent cough.
"Cough cough cough————"
Shunzi quickly stepped forward, helped Lu Cheng up, and while patting him on the back, he glared at the newcomer with eyes full of grief and indignation.
"Swift, swift."
Lin Shiyuan quickly waved his hand, signaling the bodyguard to put away the gifts he had brought. They were several boxes of top-quality bird's nest and ginseng.
"My dear nephew, you've suffered so much."
Lin Shiyuan sighed, his tone filled with genuine regret.
Is such a brilliant and talented person really going to perish like this?
Lin Yudie stood behind Gonggong, looking at the weak man on the bed.
Her hands gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.
Is that arrogant figure who once made her heart race at the entrance of the police station really gone?
Seeing him like this, she felt a pang of sorrow welling up inside her.
"Mr. Lu, are you... are you alright?" Lin Yudie couldn't help but ask, her voice trembling slightly.
Lu Cheng raised his eyelids, glanced at her, and managed a weak smile.
"I won't die—"
"Ahem—I apologize for the embarrassing incident, Miss Lin."
Just then.
A piercing laugh broke the tense atmosphere in the room.
"Oh."
Song Ziqi came out.
Instead of remaining silent like the others, he slammed his walking stick into the ground.
He walked to the bedside, looking down at Lu Cheng with a gloating and superior air in his eyes.
"Tsk tsk tsk."
"Mr. Lu, what's wrong?"
"Weren't you still all high and mighty a few days ago, ready to fight and kill at will?"
"How come I'm already at a disadvantage today?"
Song Ziqi shook his head, his face full of mockery.
"I knew it, practicing martial arts is useless."
"No matter how good your kung fu is, can it stop a bullet, or can it stop science?"
"The Japanese can just casually put some colorless, ineffective chemical solution in alcohol. Even if you have extraordinary abilities, you'll still suffer from intestinal rot from drinking it."
"This is the difference in civilization!"
"This is the elimination of the hourly rolling mill!"
Song Ziqi became more and more excited as he spoke, as if Lu Cheng's loss was a victory for his theory of "Western learning in a subculture".
He turned to Lin Yudie and said in a low voice, "Yudie, look, this is why I didn't let you learn those old-fashioned things."
"In this era, having a strong fist is useless; having a sharp mind and knowing how to use scientific methods are the real keys to success."
"Don't worry."
Song Ziqi patted his waist, where a Browning was bulging.
He then pointed to the four burly, Chinese-looking foreign bodyguards outside the door.
"From now on, I will protect your safety with my Browning sunglasses and these professionally trained foreign bodyguards."
"This Grandmaster or Martial Saint title is much more reliable!"
These words were extremely harsh and offensive.
It was like rubbing salt into Lu Cheng's wounds, a slap in the face to the entire Chinese martial arts community.
Shunzi was so angry that she was trembling all over, and her eyes were practically spitting fire.
Even Lin Shiyuan frowned, feeling that this Song family boy was too unruly and too mean.
But Song Ziqi didn't care.
He looked at the man on the bed who had once filled him with fear and jealousy, now lying there like a dead dog, and felt a perverse pleasure.
He is waiting.
Waiting for Lu Cheng's rebuttal, or perhaps his anger.
That way he could mock the loser even more recklessly.
however.
Bed.
Lu Cheng simply watched him quietly.
There was no anger or shame in those dim eyes.
There wasn't even the slightest emotional fluctuation.
It's like a dozing tiger watching a fly buzzing around its eyes.
That kind of disregard, that kind of scolding, and that kind of making Song Ziqi feel bad.
>