Republic of China: From Street Performer to War God in a Chaotic Era

"what?"

Just then.

On the outskirts of the crowd, a tall figure suddenly stopped in his tracks.

She is an extremely beautiful young woman.

She was dressed in a tight black outfit, which accentuated her curves and tightened her waistline, making the fabric seem about to burst.

The moon-white cloak was left open and unfastened, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin as the wearer moved.

"This technique is skillful, but unfortunately it only scratches the surface and hasn't reached the true essence."

She had only been passing by, but now she was staring intently at the still-present shadow puppet of a warrior on the white cloth, unable to look away.

The woman slightly furrowed her beautiful brows and murmured, "But the 'power' emanating from this shadow puppet... how can it be so terrifying?"

She has practiced martial arts since childhood, specifically the powerful and unparalleled Bajiquan.

Recently, she's been stuck at a bottleneck in the "Three Points of the King of Hell" technique, feeling that the move lacks a certain doom and a death wish.

But just now, the instant I saw the shadow puppet unleash that move, that overwhelming ferocity of a tiger, that fighting spirit to the bitter end…

It seems that the material used to carve the shadow puppet is unusual!

A flash of inspiration struck the woman, as if a layer of paper had been pierced through a window.

She closed her eyes and savored the memory.

Got it!

The bottleneck that had been troubling her for months was broken after watching a shadow puppet show on a makeshift stage.

The woman suddenly opened her eyes, her beautiful eyes gleaming with a sharp light.

She strode forward and raised her delicate hand.

"Clang, clang, clang."

Three gleaming white silver dollars landed steadily on the open ground in front of the stage.

Everyone around was stunned.

Three silver dollars?!

That's enough to eat at the best restaurants in Nanshi for several meals.

"The performance was good; I appreciate your help in creating this momentum."

The woman's voice was crisp and capable.

She glanced at Lu Guan behind the curtain, then turned and wrapped her cloak tighter around herself before striding into the snowstorm.

Only after her figure disappeared into the distance did someone in the crowd gasp and cry out in shock.

"Holy crap, was that... Su Ruoxue from the 'Liuhe Martial Arts School' in Nanshi?"

"Su Ruoxue, which Su Ruoxue?"

"Nonsense, how many Su Ruoxues are there in the martial arts world of Tianjin?"

"A martial arts prodigy, one in a century at the Bajiquan school. It is said that at only eighteen years old, she has already mastered the art of cultivating her muscles and bones, and has entered the ranks of 'Mingjin' masters."

"Even the officials in the governor's mansion said that her future is limitless."

These words caused an uproar in the room.

"Even an eighteen-year-old martial arts expert said it was good and even rewarded him with three silver dollars?"

"No wonder it got my blood pumping; this kid's got some skills. Hey, young master, give us another one; I still have some coins."

"Yeah, do it again. I'm not working today, I'm just going to watch."

More and more people gathered under the overpass, forming layers upon layers, with cheers rising in waves.

The coins were smashed onto the stage with a "crackling" sound.

Without wasting words, Lu Guan flicked his finger, and the shadow puppets flew about once more.

The second match.

The third match.

The fourth match.

Throughout the four performances of "The Warriors of Cangzhou," not a single laborer, hoodlum, or idler in the audience moved an inch.

I watched it three or four times in a row and never got tired of it.

Anyone in the know who passes by will be absolutely astonished.

Ordinary shadow puppet shows are fine to watch for the novelty of the genre.

But Lu Guan watched this play, "his eyelids didn't move but his heart was, every step he took made the whole game come alive."

The three sticks in his hand seemed to have grown into the bones of that warrior puppet.

"Playing with the scissors" and "walking in the shadows"—every movement carries the energy of a living person.

The actor and the role become one.

Current progress: 4/10

"Whoa—"

Behind the curtain, Lu Guan abruptly put away the divination sticks and let out a long breath.

He stopped singing.

It wasn't that his wrists were sore; after his blood and marrow were cleansed, his arms were full of strength.

It's the gods who are exhausted.

The older generation often says, "A good performance takes three parts life and seven parts soul."

This statue of the Bajiquan master was carved from the skin of a tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead, and it was also stained with the tiger's blood and essence.

After four performances, Lu Guan felt his "vitality" being continuously drained away by the shadow puppet through the bamboo skewer at his fingertips.

If the performance continues, the martial arts performer on the stage will come to life, but Lu Guan's soul will surely be drained.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the play has come to an end for today. Please come early tomorrow."

Lu Guan ripped off the white cloth and began packing up the stall.

A collective sigh of regret rippled through the audience, but no one caused trouble, and everyone dispersed.

Lu Guan squatted down and gathered the money on the ground.

The three silver dollars that Su Ruoxue gave as a reward, plus a pile of copper coins, roughly amounted to more than two hundred coins.

In the present situation, it's enough for him and the old blind man to live comfortably for half a month.

"Blind man, pack up your tools."

Lu Guan stuffed the money into his pocket and helped the old blind man, who was shivering from the cold, to his feet.

"Let's go, no more cold cornbread at the theater, we're going out to eat today!"

……

Nanshi, Juyinglou.

This is a famous restaurant in Nanshi.

The area of ​​Nanshi is full of martial arts schools, and most of the regular customers in this restaurant are martial arts apprentices and boxers who have some money in their pockets.

As Lu Guan helped the old blind man step across the threshold, a warm aroma of mutton soup wafted towards them.

"Hey, you two, if you're begging, go through the back door. We're doing business in the front."

A waiter walked over sideways, looking at the old man and the young man's tattered cotton-padded coats with disdain.

Lu Guan didn't waste any words and flipped his wrist.

Clang.

A Yuan Shikai silver dollar was slapped onto the Eight Immortals table next to him.

The waiter's eyes lit up, and he was about to put on a smile when a soft cough suddenly came from behind the counter.

"Zhu Zi, are you blind? Let these two gentlemen get the good seats by the window."

The one speaking was the manager of Juyinglou Restaurant.

He was a middle-aged man with a large belly.

The shopkeeper came out with a smile, and Lu Guan cupped his hands in greeting.

"Young man, that shadow puppet show 'The Warrior of Cangzhou' under the overpass just now, with its 'tight fighting and slow singing, exuding a chilling aura,' even I, Old Zhao, was thrilled watching it."

"This meal is on me, older brother."

Lu Guan shook his head and pushed the silver dollar over.

"One thing at a time, I'm not going to eat for nothing."

He pulled the old blind man to a seat, ordered two bowls of mutton soup, two jin of steaming white flour buns, and half a jin of thinly sliced ​​braised beef.

After being hungry for several days, this meal tasted incredibly delicious.

Just as Lu Guan picked up the mutton soup, ready to drink it all up, several men in black cotton-padded coats came down the wooden stairs leading to the second-floor private room.

The leader had a prominent scar on his face, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, and was burping.

It was the same gangster who went to splash red paint at the entrance of the theater that morning.

Scarface looked up and happened to see Lu Guan by the window. He was stunned for a moment, then laughed strangely and swaggered over.

"Oh, who do we have here? Isn't this the little beggar actor from the Fuju Opera Troupe?"

The old blind man trembled with fright when he heard the sound.

Scarface stepped onto the bench next to Lu Guan, spat out his toothpick, and said sarcastically.

"What's this? Your master's body is barely cold, and you're already using the money from selling the opera troupe to come here and live a life of luxury?"

Lu Guan put down the soup bowl, wiped his mouth with a coarse cloth, and his eyes turned cold.

"Brothers from the canal gang, calm down."

Seeing that things were going badly, Manager Zhao quickly ran over to smooth things over and stuffed a pack of Hademen cigarettes into Scarface's hand.

"Give me, Old Zhao, some face. Let's make money peacefully. Don't fight in this small shop."

Scarface weighed the cigarette in his hand, glanced at Manager Zhao, and sneered.

"Alright, Manager Zhao, I'll give you face. I won't draw blood here today."

Scarface turned his head and pointed contemptuously at Lu Guan's shoulder with his finger.

"Kid, you're lucky to be alive today. Master Gray said he'll bring the land deed in exchange for your life the day after tomorrow. Eat your fill, so you can get on your way!"

With that, Scarface turned and waved his hand, "Brothers, let's go!"

"stop."

Scarface paused, turned around, and looked at Lu Guan, who had stood up, as if he were a fool.

"What, in such a hurry to be reincarnated?"