6kv Chapter 111 Murder, Looting, and Scattering Millions of Gold: Commander Zhang is No More in Beiping!
Chapter 111 Murder, Looting, and Scattering Millions of Gold: Commander Zhang is No More in Beiping!
Chapter 112 Murder, Looting, and Scattering Millions: Commander Zhang is Gone in Beiping! (10k-word Chapter)
The underground fortress was stuffy, like a public bathhouse before a downpour, with a musty smell that made it hard to breathe.
The soundproofing here is really good. Outside, the gongs used for firefighting in the camp are banging loudly, but here, all that's left is a buzzing sound, like a mosquito's chirp.
On a long table covered with green velvet, there was an open camphor wood chest.
The box contained neither gold nor silver, nor any silver dollars; instead, it was lined with thick yellow silk cloth, and inside was a large bronze object.
It is a "gong".
It's made of bronze, covered in a green patina—the patina that has seeped from the earth over thousands of years. The beast-face pattern is ferocious and ancient, and it's said to have been used in sacrificial rites to heaven and gods during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. It has been stained with royal blood and witnessed grand occasions.
This thing is of dubious origin.
A while ago, Sun Dianying and his gang of scoundrels blew up the Eastern Tombs and scurried around like rats. This thing was leaked out around that time.
After going through several hands and fluctuating in the black market, he was eventually "invited" back by Commander Zhang.
"Mr. Matsui, this is a genuine Zhou Dynasty bronze artifact, a national treasure."
Commander Zhang wiped the sweat from his brow, his beady eyes fixed on the wine cup, filled with greed yet also a hint of heartache.
"To bring it back, I lost several brothers and owe the leader of the Tianjin Green Gang a favor. This—"
Before he could finish speaking, Colonel Tanaka, the Black Dragon Society leader opposite him who was wearing a kimono, snapped his folding fan shut.
"Zhang Sang".
Tanaka's voice was cold and sinister.
"The stuff itself is good. But in your hands, it's a hot potato."
"Public opinion in Beiping is very unfavorable to you right now, and Nanjing is also watching closely. Only by using our channels to transport it to Dalian, and then transferring it back to Tokyo, can it be safe, and only then can you get your share."
gold."
The man in the suit and glasses next to him, Matsui, pushed up his glasses, took out a check from his briefcase, and pushed it over.
"Here is $50,000, cash on delivery."
"Once this thing leaves the city tonight, it's yours."
Fifty thousand dollars!
Commander Zhang made a "gulp" sound in his throat.
In those days, a silver dollar could buy forty or fifty catties of fine white flour, or go to the Eight Great Hutongs to listen to the most popular girls sing a couple of songs.
Fifty thousand US dollars—he calculated quickly in his mind. Even if the matter was exposed and he was dismissed from his post, he could only afford to buy a small villa with a garden and lawn in the British concession of Tianjin for a maximum of twenty thousand.
The rest would be enough for him to marry several concubines, live a life of luxury and comfort, and leave a large sum of money for his sons and grandsons.
Commander Zhang's hand trembled slightly as he reached out and pressed the check firmly, as if afraid it would fly away.
"well."
He gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
"make a deal."
"However, we need to send your people to escort him. Ma Linyuan has been keeping an eye on me, and that Lu Cheng is now elusive and hates me a lot. I'm afraid—"
"Hehehe————"
Tanaka let out a cold laugh.
"Marin Yuan is nothing to fear. He won't live much longer. Someone is going to deal with him."
"Lu Cheng?"
"Does a martial arts actor who only knows a few basic moves and makes a few waves in the waters of Beiping really think he's someone important?"
"If he dares to come tonight, my Shadow Stream masters can use his blood as a sacrificial offering."
"
Behind Tanaka, the four black-clad ninjas who had been standing like statues all raised their heads at the same time.
Their eyes were empty, and they had no trace of human life.
It was a "tool" cultivated from childhood by soaking its bones in a secret medicinal broth and severing most of its pain nerves using special techniques, leaving only its killing instinct.
The assassins of the Black Dragon Society's "Shadow Stream" lineage each have more than ten lives on their hands, and they are all killers who have stepped into the Dark Force level.
"Yeah?"
Just then.
An extremely calm voice rang out in the closed basement.
The sound wasn't loud, and it didn't seem particularly menacing.
It's like the waiter in a theater, asking a customer if they want more water.
But in this airtight basement, the sound was like a thunderclap, booming loudly.
"Who?!"
Tanaka and Matsui's expressions changed drastically, and they suddenly stood up.
The four ninjas reacted extremely quickly. Almost the instant the sound rang out, they drew their long swords from their backs with a clang, formed a circle back to back, and stared intently at the heavy iron door.
Commander Zhang was so frightened that he slid off the table and dropped the check in his hand.
The iron gate remained tightly shut.
That German-made mechanical rotary lock is still hanging there, perfectly fine.
"No need to look anymore."
The sound rang out again, this time seemingly coming from all directions.
Before he could finish speaking...
Above the huge camphor wood chest, the louvered window of the previously empty ventilation duct suddenly fell off without warning.
"Clang!"
The iron bars on the window slammed onto the table.
Immediately afterwards, a dark shadow, like a drop of ink falling into clear water, silently "flowed" down from the not-so-wide opening.
It landed silently.
Even the green velvet cloth wasn't pressed into any wrinkles.
Black clothes, black pants.
On his face was a glittering golden mask of the Monkey King.
Beneath the mask, those eyes gleamed with an eerie golden light under the lamp.
"Everyone."
"Still busy so late?"
Commander Zhang peeked his head out from under the table, and after seeing the mask clearly, he let out a pig-like scream.
"Kill him! Kill him now!!"
"Baka!"
Colonel Tanaka was furious and pointed his folding fan sharply.
"kill!"
The four ninjas moved.
They didn't need to communicate verbally; their understanding was so perfect, it was as if they were one person.
Four long swords, emanating a chilling aura, simultaneously slashed at Lu Cheng on the table from four blind spots: front, back, left, and right.
The wind howled fiercely, sealing off all escape routes.
This is a situation where certain death is inevitable.
If it were an ordinary martial artist, even one at the peak of internal energy, being surrounded by four assassins of the same level in this confined space would mean certain death.
But Lu Cheng simply turned slightly to the side.
Just as the four knives were about to strike him.
His spine suddenly cracked with a sharp "crack".
"Shrink!"
Lu Cheng's figure suddenly twisted in a strange way.
The [Bone Shrinking Technique] was pushed to its limit.
His muscles contracted instantly, his bones shifted, and he seemed to shrink in size.
"Whoosh—"
He miraculously "slipped" out through the gaps in the airtight net of blades.
"i Zong i Zong i Zong i Zong, the four knives clashed fiercely together, sparks flying everywhere."
Lu Cheng had already appeared behind one of the ninjas.
The ninja was shocked and was about to swing his sword.
But he was fast, and Lu Cheng was even faster.
"roar--!!"
In Lu Cheng's sea of consciousness, the [White Tiger Carrying Corpse Diagram] suddenly trembled.
A terrifying aura emanating from an ancient ferocious beast instantly rushed into the ninja's mind.
The ninja felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, as if he saw a striped tiger opening its blood-red maw to devour him, causing his movements to slow down by half a beat.
That last half-beat determined life and death.
Lu Cheng extended his right hand, his five fingers forming a claw.
Xingyi — Tiger Form!
This claw strike carried fifty years of refined, hidden power, its fingertip gleaming with a bluish-black iron light.
"Snap!"
There was no hindrance whatsoever.
That claw gripped the ninja's cervical spine.
The hidden force was released, like a needle pricking or an explosion.
The ninja's cervical vertebrae shattered instantly. He didn't even have time to scream before his head slumped down like a broken sunflower.
Lu Cheng casually used the corpse as a punching bag, hurling it hard at the other three.
"Baka! Surround and kill him!"
Colonel Tanaka is also a trained fighter, a fifth-degree black belt in karate, so he has good eyesight.
Seeing that things were not going well, he roared and pulled out a Type 14 Nambu pistol from his pocket, firing three shots in quick succession.
The bullets hit the wall, splashing cement dust.
It missed.
Lu Cheng was too fast. When he used the [Ghostly Shadow Step], he was like a real ghost in this small basement.
With feet treading the nine palaces, the body moves like a swimming dragon.
He dodged the bullets and stepped in front of the second ninja.
The ninja held swords in both hands and brought down a "Wind Slash" on his head.
Lu Cheng did not retreat but advanced.
"collapse!"
He uttered a single word.
He stomped his foot hard on the ground, and the entire basement seemed to tremble.
Half-step Crushing Fist!
This is the most powerful and domineering move in Xingyi Quan.
Lu Cheng's punch was completely unpretentious.
The punches are as swift as arrows, and as powerful as thunder.
That punch landed directly on the ninja's chest.
"Bang-!!!"
A loud bang, like a drum being struck inside a sealed iron barrel.
The ninja's chest instantly caved in, creating a terrifying deep pit, and the clothes on his back ripped apart with a "rip," a sign that the force had burst through his body.
His internal organs were completely shattered by that punch.
He was like someone hit by a cannonball, flying straight out and crashing hard into the wall, turning into a puddle of mud.
Lu Cheng withdrew his fist, and the eyes behind the mask flashed with golden light.
Fear finally showed in the eyes of the remaining two ninjas.
Colonel Tanaka also panicked, threw away his empty pistol, drew his katana, and joined the battle.
In an instant, swords flashed and shadows fell, and Lu Cheng was surrounded.
But Lu Cheng seemed to be strolling leisurely.
He walks with the "Ghostly Shadow Steps" and possesses the spiritual sense to "seek good fortune and avoid misfortune".
Every time a blade was about to strike, he managed to dodge it by the narrowest of margins.
Colonel Tanaka was so angry that he yelled and screamed, but he couldn't even touch the hem of Lu Cheng's clothes.
This is the crushing power of different realms.
At this moment, Lu Cheng, having accumulated fifty years of internal energy, coupled with the suppression of his mind by the [Zhong Kui Diagram] and his [Fiery Eyes], was now fully energized.
See through illusion.
In his eyes, these so-called masters of internal strength were nothing more than children whose movements were as slow as snails.
Lu Cheng suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He stood in the center of the room, surrounded by three panting enemies with terrified eyes.
A faint red aura of malevolence rose from his body.
That's the imagery of "Zhong Kui catching ghosts".
"It's time to end this."
Lu Cheng took a deep breath.
"Coo-quack!"
[Toad-Catching Strength] Unleashing full power.
His chest bulged high, and his lungs roared like bellows.
A terrifying wave of heat and blood emanated from him and exploded outwards.
"A fierce tiger—climbing the mountain with its might!"
This is a killing move from Bajiquan. I've seen Nalan Yuanshu use it before, and now that Lu Cheng is using it with his Xingyiquan foundation, it's even more domineering.
He thrust out both hands simultaneously, like two enormous tiger claws, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound as they tore through the air, striking the remaining two ninjas respectively.
The two ninjas tried to raise their swords to block.
But it's impossible to stop it.
Faced with that overwhelming force, the samurai swords were bent, and then those huge hands slammed into their skulls.
"Bang! Bang!"
Two muffled thuds, like watermelons bursting.
The skulls of the two ninjas were smashed open, blood flowed from their seven orifices, their bodies went limp, and they died on the spot.
The stench of blood instantly filled the entire basement.
In the end, only Colonel Tanaka remained.
His hand holding the knife trembled violently as he watched Lu Cheng approach step by step, as if he were watching a demon crawling out of hell.
"You—you can't kill me—"
Colonel Tanaka retreated step by step until his back was against the wall, with nowhere left to go.
"I am a diplomat, I have immunity—"
"diplomat?"
Lu Cheng sneered, his eyes beneath the mask cold.
"Underground, the King of Hell doesn't recognize this."
He took a step forward and instantly closed in.
Colonel Tanaka desperately swung his sword, making a final stand.
"when."
Lu Cheng used one hand, two fingers, to firmly hold the steel katana.
With a flick of the fingers, a hidden force is released.
"collapse!"
That katana, forged through countless hammer blows, was broken in two with just two fingers.
Lu Cheng flicked his wrist, and the broken half of the knife flashed through the air.
"Pfft"
A cold glint flashed.
Colonel Tanaka clutched his throat, blood gushing from between his fingers, his eyes wide open, and he uttered a sound.
The sound of "Hehe" faded away slowly.
Blood stained the check that hadn't been taken with it.
Thus, the four great ninjas, along with the leader of the Black Dragon Society, were all wiped out!
In the basement, only Commander Zhang remained.
The refined and gentle Counselor Matsui had been hit by a stray bullet during the melee and was now huddled in a corner, lifeless.
Commander Zhang slumped to the ground, his crotch damp with sweat—he had wet himself in fear.
He watched as the black-clad man, who resembled a god of death, approached step by step.
Every step felt like stepping on his heart.
"Grandpa Lu—"
Commander Zhang kowtowed repeatedly, his head slamming against the cement floor with loud thuds, leaving it covered in blood.
"I was wrong, I was really wrong."
"The money—all the money in this house is yours, and the checks are yours too."
"Please—please just ignore me and let me go."
Lu Cheng walked up to him, looking down at this once arrogant warlord.
He slowly removed his mask.
He revealed a young face, yet it was as cold as ice.
There was not a trace of pity in those eyes.
"Commander Zhang."
Lu Cheng's voice was very soft.
"Do you remember the two coffins I gave you?"
"I remember, I remember—" Commander Zhang trembled all over.
"That coffin was actually reserved for you."
Lu Cheng sighed and glanced at the bronze wine vessel.
"You shouldn't have colluded with the Japanese and sold our ancestors' things."
"This is called—forgetting one's ancestors."
"People like this shouldn't even be ashamed to be buried in their ancestral graves after they die."
The words fell.
Lu Cheng raised his hand.
They didn't use any earth-shattering moves.
With a single, light palm strike, he landed on Commander Zhang's crown.
Its hidden power penetrates the body, striking even through mountains.
"Buzz".
Commander Zhang's body stiffened abruptly, and his eyes instantly became unfocused.
His brain had been completely shattered by the powerful, internal force of the shockwave.
Outwardly, it appeared completely unharmed.
But the master of Fengtai Camp, this arrogant local tyrant, died in his own underground fortress.
Lu Cheng stood amidst the pile of corpses, his expression calm.
He walked to the table and picked up the camphor wood box containing the bronze wine vessel.
Shen.
It's really heavy.
It's not just about the weight of the item, but also the profound sense of history it carries.
He activated his "Eagle Eyes".
A faint blue mist swirled around the bronze goblet—that was a wisp of national fortune.
He recognized it because it looked somewhat like the True Dragon Purple Qi.
Although faint, it was absolutely pure.
"nice one."
Lu Cheng closed the box and carried it in his hand.
He then looked at the checks on the ground and the room full of gold, silver and valuables.
He thought about it and took it all, leaving nothing behind.
"Let's leave this money to the people who have been harmed by this old dog."
Lu Cheng turned around, picked up the box, and crawled back into the ventilation duct.
Comes like the wind, goes without a trace.
Once outside the basement, the fire had subsided somewhat, but chaos remained.
Lu Cheng did not linger. Taking advantage of the darkness, he quickly reached the edge of the camp.
The Akhal-Teke horse was obediently hiding behind a haystack, seemingly waiting for him.
"Old buddy, let's go."
Lu Cheng mounted his horse and squeezed his legs together.
The horse let out a low neigh, its hooves pounding the ground as it broke through the last line of defense and disappeared into the vast night.
The moment they rushed out of the camp.
An officer who was organizing firefighting efforts spotted the horse.
"That's—the commander's horse."
"Who is that?!"
This officer was none other than Wang, the adjutant who had previously delivered the plaque to the Lu residence.
He drew his gun, ready to fire.
"Snapped!"
In the darkness, a locust-shaped stone hurtled through the air.
Centered between eyebrows.
Lieutenant Wang fell backward to the ground before he could even pull the trigger, dead beyond any doubt.
After leaving the Fengtai camp, Lu Cheng did not go directly back to his residence.
It was already past midnight, the night was at its darkest and the coldest.
He found a secluded alleyway, first untied the reins of the conspicuous Akhal-Teke horse, then lightly patted its rump and let it frolic on its own.
Such a spiritual creature would be too conspicuous to bring back to the city. It would be better to release it back into the world, and if fate allows, we will meet again someday.
Then, carrying the heavy camphor wood chest and the bundle he had looted from Commander Zhang and Bai Feng's house, he disappeared into a shantytown near the overpass.
This area has narrow and dirty roads, and is inhabited by the lowest of the low, poor people.
Lu Cheng stopped in front of the gate of an inconspicuous, dilapidated courtyard.
The courtyard wall is not high, and the top of the wall is covered with withered grass.
Lu Cheng didn't knock; that's the rule for strangers.
He stretched out his finger and tapped it three times rhythmically on the window frame of the west wing, which was covered with paper.
"Tap, tap tap, tap."
The length varies; that's just street slang.
The lights in the room were off, but the window that was originally closed had silently opened a crack.
"Which deity is scouting the place in the middle of the night?"
A wary voice came from inside; it was none other than "Sai Shiqian," Master Li.
"Return the items," Lu Cheng said in a low voice.
The window swung open instantly.
Li Wuye's cunning eyes gleamed in the darkness. Upon recognizing Lu Cheng, he quickly stepped aside.
J
"Master Lu? Quick, come in!"
There were no lights on inside, only a few embers glowing red in the stove, illuminating Li Wuye's thin face.
Lu Cheng didn't stand on ceremony. After entering the house, he first gently placed the heavy camphor wood chest he was carrying on the kang (a heated brick bed), then untied the bulging bundle from his waist and spread it out on the old eight-immortal table with a "whoosh".
In the dim light of the charcoal fire, the room was instantly filled with a dazzling display of jewels.
Several heavy "small yellow croakers", a stack of Citibank drafts, the top-quality jade bracelet that Bai Feng had taken off her wrist, the pearl necklace around her neck, and the Browning pistol with an ivory handle.
These things, piled together, seemed out of place yet incredibly tempting in this dilapidated little house.
Li Wuye stared wide-eyed, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.
"Good heavens—Master Lu, you've—dug up Zhang Laogou's lair?"
He was an expert and could tell at a glance that these items were of excellent quality, the kind of things only found in the homes of powerful warlords.
I guess so.
Lu Cheng remained calm as he untied the "Hundred-Refined Ghost Hand" grappling hook and solemnly placed it on the table.
"This thing is really useful; I owe it to you tonight. Now, it's back to its rightful owner."
Master Li didn't try to catch the grappling hook; his eyes were still glued to the pile of gold and silver jewelry, not out of greed, but out of shock.
"Mr. Lu, what are these things—?"
"This is dirty money."
Lu Cheng pointed to the gold bars and jewelry on the table, his tone indifferent.
"I got it from the concubines of those warlords who ravaged the people. This stuff is too conspicuous; I have a family and a business, so it's not easy for me to sell it, and I don't have the connections."
"Fifth Master, you have connections everywhere, even the Ghost Market."
"Please wash these things and replace them with cash."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Li thumped his chest loudly, "Don't worry about that. In the black market of Beijing, there's no commodity that I, Old Master Li, can't sell. But—after the money is exchanged, how about I deliver it to your residence?"
"No."
Lu Cheng shook his head.
"Fifth Master, you travel extensively in the martial arts world and are well-informed."
"I would like to ask you to distribute this money to the two groups of people."
"This first batch is for the families of the brothers who died or were injured in the battle of the Simin Martial Arts Club a while ago. Especially those orphans and widows who have lost their breadwinners, give them more, so that the heroes don't have to shed tears after bleeding."
Li Wuye's expression turned solemn, and he nodded heavily: "This was done well. Those brothers died tragically, and my family was really on the verge of starving. Master Lu, you've done a great service."
"This second wave—"
Lu Cheng paused, his mind filled with images of those old boxers in this era who, despite possessing exceptional martial arts skills, were forced to pull rickshaws, carry heavy loads, or even suffer humiliation while performing on overpasses because they refused to be lackeys of the Japanese or henchmen of warlords.
"For those—the true warriors."
"In this city of Beiping, there are many senior figures with unique skills. They are tough and would rather starve to death than work as guards for traitors. Such people lead a hard life."
"Please deliver the money to him/her for me."
"Don't call it charity, just say that someone invited them to drink and eat meat."
"Don't embarrass them."
"This world has bent people's spines. I want to use this dirty money to—support them."
After these words were spoken, the room fell into a long, deathly silence.
Only the occasional soft "pop" of the charcoal fire in the stove pit could be heard.
Li Wuye stood there, looking at Lu Cheng. His usually shrewd and calculating eyes were now filled with tears.
In his life, he has seen people double-cross each other, have seen disputes over the division of spoils, and have even seen people pay money to save their lives.
But he had never seen anyone risk their life to snatch such immense wealth from a den of wolves, only to then distribute it to the most insignificant and useless poor bones.
Simply because of respect for that integrity.
"Master Lu————"
Li Wuye's voice choked with emotion.
"I, Li Laowu, have never submitted to anyone in my life. But today, I truly submit."
"You're not just an actor; you're a living saint in the martial arts world, a modern-day Lord Mengchang!"
"Don't worry."
Uncle Li thumped his chest loudly.
"If I make even the slightest mistake in this matter, or embezzle a single penny, you don't need to lift a finger, I'll chop off these paws myself and feed them to the dogs."
"in addition----"
He pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket; it contained some secret messages he had kept in his daily life.
"Master Liu, the one in the south of the city who practices Baguazhang, had his leg broken by the Japanese and is still lying in bed waiting to die. And Master Zhang, the sharpshooter in the west of the city, would rather scavenge for scraps than be Commander Zhang's instructor—"
"I remember all those tough challenges."
"I'll take care of it first thing tomorrow morning."
Lu Cheng nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes.
Thank you for your trouble.
Then he pointed to the camphor wood chest on the kang that hadn't been touched.
"There's one last thing."
"Inside this box are national treasures, bronze artifacts from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Commander Zhang wanted to sell them to the Japanese."
"This thing is heavier than gold and silver."
"Find the most reliable and discreet brother, get him in a rickshaw, and take him to the entrance of the Palace Museum. Drop him off and leave immediately, without letting anyone see or know who delivered it."
"This thing is extraordinary; it's too hot to handle if we keep it. We need to put it back where it belongs."
Master Li glanced at the box, his expression solemn.
"Understood."
"Master Lu, you are—though you are in the martial world, you are concerned about the world."
After explaining everything, Lu Cheng pushed open the door, preparing to leave.
The snowstorm outside has stopped.
A pale white glimmer appeared on the horizon, the first light before dawn.
"Master Lu."
Behind him, Uncle Li suddenly called out.
Lu Cheng turned around.
The lean man stood in the shadows, clutching the bundle full of gold and silver tightly in his hand. He bowed deeply to Lu Cheng, his back bent low.
"The journey through this world is long and arduous, with strong winds and turbulent waves."
Take care.
Lu Cheng smiled slightly and remained silent.
He turned around, his figure blurred, and he disappeared into the dawn light.
Having arranged everything, Lu Cheng returned to the Lu residence.
It was the darkest moment before dawn, and all was silent; even the stray cats in the alley had retreated to their dens.
Lu Cheng returned to his study quietly without alerting anyone.
He did not light the lamp.
In that pitch-black room, he slowly sat down in the rosewood armchair, his entire being like a stone sinking to the bottom of the water, instantly concealing all his presence.
Tonight, we will kill, rob, scatter wealth, and return the treasure.
If it were anyone else, these events would have caused them immense turmoil and made them unable to control their emotions.
But Lu Cheng's heart was eerily still at that moment.
That stillness was not deathly silence, but a clarity that comes after a great storm.
He closed his eyes and regulated his breathing.
He didn't consciously circulate the [Toad-Fishing Strength], but as his thoughts settled, the warm energy in his abdomen began to flow naturally.
It was no longer the fierce and domineering "croaking" of before, but had become a kind of delicate yet continuous "fetal breathing".
"Willing to part, willing to part—"
These two words echoed in Lu Cheng's mind.
That fifty thousand US dollars was an immense fortune. That Shang and Zhou bronze wine vessel was a priceless treasure.
If an ordinary person were to obtain even one of these things, they would inevitably develop greed and attachment.
If the mind is burdened by worries, the will cannot be pure. If the will is impure, the spirit cannot be concentrated.
And in that one night, he waved away both of them without a second thought.
The moment he completely let go, an unprecedented sense of ease welled up from the depths of his soul.
It was like brushing away the dust from a bright mirror, or like unlocking the last shackles binding you.
"boom!"
In an instant, Lu Cheng clearly felt the changes in his body.
That is a kind of "perfection".
The internal energy within him, which had previously been somewhat restless and angular, was now undergoing a wondrous transformation under the nourishment of this clear and serene state of mind.
The power no longer just surges between the meridians and bones, but begins to penetrate into more subtle places.
It seeped into the bone marrow, into the internal organs, and even—into every pore.
"Buzz—"
In the darkness, the hairs on Lu Cheng's body stood on end without warning, then lay flat again.
Opening and closing.
He is "breathing".
Breathing isn't done through the mouth and nose, but through all 84,000 pores on the entire body!
This is the threshold of [Transformation of Internal Strength]!
Refine essence into qi, refine qi into spirit, refine spirit to return to emptiness.
When you cultivate your strength to the point where it reaches your pores, and can control every subtle reaction of your body, that is the realm where "not even a feather can be added, and not even a fly can land."
Lu Cheng had not truly entered the realm of Transformation, but he had already taken one step in.
Right at this moment.
A mysterious and profound feeling arose spontaneously.
Even though his eyes were closed, he seemed to "see" everything around him.
It's not about seeing with your eyes, but about sensing with your "spirit".
He "saw" a dewdrop gathering on a treetop three zhang away outside the window, about to fall.
He "saw" a cricket vibrating its wings, preparing to chirp, at the corner of the wall.
Within a radius of ten feet, the rustling of grass and the flow of energy are all felt in my mind.
The feeling was like being in a giant spider web, with himself entrenched in the center, where even the slightest touch could instantly reach his nerve endings.
This is the essence of sincerity: it allows one to foresee the future!
This is the legendary "aware of danger and avoid it!"
Lu Cheng slowly opened his eyes. Instead of gleaming with sharpness, his eyes were gentle and warm, his divine light restrained.
At this moment, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
Outside the study, Shunzi was carrying a basin of water for washing her face, tiptoeing over.
He was still more than ten meters away, his foot hadn't even stepped onto the steps yet.
Lu Cheng's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
An image flashed through his mind abruptly.
Shunzi walked to the door, slipped, and the copper basin overturned, spilling hot water all over the floor and scalding his feet.
The scene flashed by so quickly it was like an illusion.
But Lu Cheng knew this was not an illusion.
This was his "divine will," capturing a "possibility" of changes in the flow of Qi in the next few seconds.
Just as Shunzi stepped onto the slippery bluestone step covered in night dew, his body suddenly lurched to the side, about to lose his balance.
"Shunzi, push off with your left foot and steady yourself."
Lu Cheng's voice carried calmly through the door.
Just as Shunzi was about to slip and fall outside the door, he heard his master's voice and instinctively gripped the ground with his left toes.
"Smack."
He regained his balance.
The water in the copper basin rippled slightly, but not a drop spilled.
Shunzi stood at the door, drenched in a cold sweat, her face filled with astonishment.
"Amazing! How did Master know I was going to fall?"
inside the house.
Lu Cheng looked at his hands and a relieved expression appeared on his lips.
There were no systematic rewards, but this real understanding, this clear sense of control over heaven and earth, oneself, and the flow of energy, was the greatest gain.
"I see."
"Practice a boxing style a thousand times, and its meaning will become clear."
"But this final step isn't about training your fists, it's about training your mind."
"When the heart is empty, the divine is at work."
He stood up and opened the window.
The first rays of morning sunlight shone in and fell on his face.
"This path—can be considered to have been initially successfully traversed."
The next day, it was dawn.
The spring breeze in Beiping was carrying sand, making it hard for the rickshaw pullers to open their eyes.
-
The pigeon whistles under the Qianmen Gate had just finished ringing out once when the newspaper boy, like sparrows whose nests had been disturbed, waved the still-smelling newspapers and ran wildly through the alleyways and streets in his distinctively hoarse voice.
"Extra number, extra number."
"A shocking incident has occurred at Fengtai Camp: Division Commander Zhang died suddenly last night."
"The guard battalion mutinied; Commander Ma led his troops to suppress the rebellion, and martial law was declared throughout the city!"
That shout was like pouring a bucket of cold water into a pot of boiling oil, instantly waking up the still-sleepy city of Beijing.
Juxian Teahouse.
The shopkeeper had just removed the door panels when a crowd had already gathered around.
The schoolteacher in his long gown, the old man with his birdcage, and even the patrolman who had just finished his night shift all huddled together, heads touching, staring at the copy of the Shuntian Times.
The front page headline, with its bold, black characters, was startling:
Gunfire erupted in Fengtai last night; a man surnamed Zhang suddenly fell ill and died!
The smaller print below was even more astonishing: "It is reported that at 1:00 AM last night, flames soared into the sky above the Fengtai camp. According to insiders, Commander Zhang, due to overwork, suffered a sudden heart attack in the underground command room and died despite attempts to resuscitate him. His Black Wolf Group has also disappeared without a trace. Subsequently, a riot broke out in the camp, and the direct forces under Ma Linyuan quickly intervened to maintain order—"
"Pah, what heart disease?"
An elderly tea drinker, dressed in a traditional Chinese jacket, slammed his snuff bottle on the table, lowered his voice, and gave a knowing look on his face.
"That's because they ripped his head off."
"Last night, I was staying on the outskirts of the city. There was a commotion, with fires and gunshots. My second nephew, who works as a cook at the Fengtai military camp, told me that it wasn't a death from illness at all."
The old tea drinker looked around, then mysteriously stretched out a finger and pointed upwards.
"That is—divine retribution."
"I heard that old dog Zhang colluded with the Japanese, trying to sell off the treasures left by his ancestors. And what happened? He got his comeuppance!"
"Someone saw a dark figure descend from the sky, like the Monkey King on the stage, appearing and disappearing without a trace. Thousands of guns couldn't stop him; he went straight into the house and took care of that old dog."
Those around gasped in shock, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and relief.
"The Monkey King? Isn't that—"
Someone tried to mention that name, but someone next to them quickly covered their mouth.
"Shh, don't mention names!"
"That's divine intervention. We all know that. This man is now the guardian of Beiping City; anyone who dares to gossip will be in for a ghostly knock at their door tonight."
They exchanged knowing glances, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
Commander Zhang is dead.
That warlord, who usually acted arrogantly and even served as a lackey for the Japanese, died in such an inexplicable way.
Good riddance.
Just then, the sound of a motor roaring suddenly came from the street.
A long line of large trucks, each equipped with a Maxim machine gun, and filled with heavily armed soldiers in the truck beds—that was Marshal Ma's Independent Brigade.
The convoy kicked up clouds of yellow dust as it drove south in a grand procession.
That's to take over the territory of Fengtai Daying.
Fengtai Daying.
The scene was now a complete mess, and the air was still filled with the smell of burnt grain and straw.
The guard battalion that originally belonged to Commander Zhang had all surrendered their weapons and were squatting dejectedly on the parade ground, their hands covering their heads.
All around were soldiers from Ma Dashuai's Independent Brigade, their gun barrels pointed menacingly.
Division Commander's Residence.
The underground fortress that Commander Zhang once regarded as an "ironclad fortress" now had its doors wide open.
Ma Linyuan, wearing a sable coat, a cigar in his mouth, and military boots, swaggered in.
Lieutenant Li followed behind, holding a flashlight, his face somewhat pale.
Although the corpses on the ground had been cleaned up, the strong stench of blood just wouldn't dissipate.
There were even a few locust stones that hadn't been removed and were still embedded in the wall.
"General, look."
Lieutenant Li pointed to the violently damaged ventilation vent, and then to the empty safe.
"Is this...is this something a human being would do?"
"They squeezed in through such a small opening without alerting the guards outside. Once inside, they killed, stole the treasure, and beheaded—all in one swift motion."
"Even those top Japanese ninjas were wiped out in one fell swoop."
"This Lu Cheng—he's practically a living devil!"
Looking at the mess, Ma Dashuai was not afraid at all; instead, he burst into laughter.
Laughter echoed in the empty basement, exuding the heroic spirit of a rough-and-tumble hero.
"Good, well done."
Ma Dashuai exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes gleaming.
"I've wanted to teach this bastard surnamed Zhang a lesson for a long time, but I've always been held back by my feelings towards Nanjing."
"This time, Instructor Lu did all the dirty work for me."
He walked to the empty long table and reached out to touch the green velvet cloth.
"The money is gone, and so is my treasure."
"But these several thousand guns, and this territory in Fengtai, belong to me."
Commander Ma turned around, looked at Lieutenant Li, his face twitched, and his tone became serious.
"Pass on Lao Tzu's order."
"Tell the outside world that Commander Zhang died of a sudden myocardial infarction. As for those Japanese—humph, say that they had a fight with Commander Zhang over the spoils, and they died in the fire."
"Since there's no way to prove it since they're dead, we can just pin this mess on the Japanese."
"Yes, sir." Lieutenant Li stood at attention and saluted, then hesitated for a moment, "What about Instructor Lu?"
"Instructor Lu?"
General Ma's eyes widened.
"What Instructor Lu? Instructor Lu was fasting at home all night," everyone on Qianmen Street can testify to that.
"Did Instructor Lu have even a penny to do with what happened last night?"
"That's divine punishment, don't you understand?!"
"Understood, understood." Lieutenant Li wiped his sweat, inwardly admiring his commander's ability to distort the truth.
General Ma stepped out of the basement, looked at the rising sun outside, and took a deep breath of the air thick with the smell of gunpowder.
He knew it in his heart.
Lu Cheng's move not only eliminated his biggest competitor but also did him a tremendous favor.
From now on, Ma Linyuan will have the final say in the military and political power of Beiping.
But at the same time, a deep sense of apprehension arose in his heart.
A master who can regard thousands of troops as nothing and take the head of a general as easily as taking something out of a bag —
Such a person should be treated with respect and reverence, and should never be offended.
"Someone come here."
General Ma waved his hand.
"Go and deliver an invitation to the Lu residence."
"Take me, Ma Linyuan, for example. To thank Instructor Lu for his guidance to the Big Sword Team, I specially selected a pair of Song Dynasty Ru kiln bottles and ten boxes of the best canned beef from the storeroom and sent them to the Lu residence."
"This is a friend we'll cherish for life."