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

"A life-or-death fighting technique passed down from my master?"

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Zhao Linchuan's eyes.

He had found it strange earlier. How could a poor boy without a martial arts school or medicine reach the minor mastery of Ming Jin so quickly and even kill Iron Claw in one move?

It turns out that some kind of unorthodox, secret method was used.

In the martial arts world of Tianjin, even unorthodox methods are divided into different levels.

The lowest of the low, those who practice unorthodox methods, rely on consuming evil drugs, smoking opium, and worshipping demons to gain temporary power, will inevitably suffer from qi deviation and die a gruesome death.

However, the best unorthodox methods are no less effective than the traditions of orthodox martial artists.

Some reclusive and extraordinary individuals possess secret techniques that can instantly unleash the limits of the human body, generating several times the combat power.

Although this secret technique places a great burden on the body and may even shorten lifespan, stopping at the level of internal strength, in this chaotic world where people prey on each other, such a secret technique is still a life-saving trump card that countless people dream of.

He'd be more than qualified to be an instructor at a martial arts school.

"It seems that Junior Sister Su was right. Your master was definitely a hidden genius in the martial arts world back then."

Zhao Linchuan filled in a whole set of logic in his mind, and his gaze towards Lu Guan changed from contempt to eye contact, even carrying a hint of befriending.

A young man who has mastered superior unorthodox techniques and can fight against experts of higher levels may have limited future achievements, but in the present Tianjin, he is definitely qualified to be Zhao Linchuan's friend.

"Brother Lu, these underworld figures who understand the ways of the world often have powerful backers."

Zhao Linchuan said solemnly, "If you kill them today, their gangs or henchmen will never let it go. You alone cannot protect this theater."

Su Ruoxue had settled the old blind man down, stood up, and looked at Lu Guan with an extremely serious expression.

"Lu Guan, Senior Brother Zhao is right."

"Even if you have superb kung fu skills and powerful secret techniques, can you defeat ten, or even a hundred, armed thugs? Can you defend against the endless stream of hidden attacks and bewitching spells?"

Su Ruoxue walked up to Lu Guan and looked him straight in the eyes.

"I advised you to take the annual examination before, but you declined. Today, I'm saying it one last time."

"The annual examination is not a simple game of arranging seating for martial arts schools."

"That's the examination hall where the Military Affairs Department of the Governor's Office selects 'external martial arts instructors' from the civilian population every year!"

"As long as you can make a name for yourself in that exam hall and get a top grade."

"The Governor's Office will directly issue you a black iron waist badge from the Armed Forces Department!"

"With that badge, you are now one of the officials."

"Not only do I receive fifteen silver dollars a month, but I can also go to the governor's pharmacy every month to get two ounces of wild deer antler from outside the pass and half a catty of high-quality tiger bone glue as a medicinal supplement."

At this point, Su Ruoxue pointed to the corpse of Iron Claw on the ground.

"Most importantly, with that waist token, all sorts of people and gangs in Nanshi will have to give you a wide berth."

"Even the powerful and all-powerful Master Pan of the Canal Gang, even those mysterious shrines that worship various deities."

"As long as you don't fall into their hands, even if they had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare to openly touch the military affairs department of the governor's office."

These words struck a chord with Lu Guan.

What does he lack most right now?

It's not a cultivation technique; there are plenty of them in the stage of creation.

It wasn't money; he just made a windfall.

What he lacks is this tiger skin that can protect him from both open and hidden attacks!

Since "Yellow Bird" can command experts like Iron Claw at will, the power behind him must be immense.

If the other side really resorts to desperate measures and mobilizes dozens or even hundreds of people armed with guns to surround and annihilate Fujuban, Lu Guan himself might be able to escape using [Rat Concealment], but the old blind man will undoubtedly die.

But what if he was from the military equipment department of the governor's office?

In this era of warlordism, who dared to provoke the warlords?

That would mean being shot, having your family raided and wiped out.

With this identity, it would be a hundred times easier for him to secretly hunt down that "spotted bird".

Lu Guan lowered his eyelids, concealing the glint in his eyes.

"I've kept Miss Su's words in mind. I'll go and see her during the upcoming examinations."

Lu Guan's tone was firm.

Hearing that Lu Guan had finally relented, Su Ruoxue's face showed a hint of relief.

However, Zhao Linchuan, who was standing to the side, added a casual remark, which was like a bucket of cold water being poured on him.

"Brother Lu, it's good to have ambition. But getting into the Governor's Mansion isn't so easy."

"The annual assessments conducted by the Armed Forces Department are governed by strict rules."

"First, registration required a 'free exam' fee of ten silver dollars. This was no small sum for ordinary people."

"The second, and most crucial, point."

"Those who wish to participate must be recommended by the owner of a legitimate martial arts school in Nanshi, or by the owners of three century-old shops on this street, who must jointly act as 'guarantors' to prove that you have a clean background and are not a notorious thief or a member of the rebels."

Zhao Linchuan looked at Lu Guan's tattered cotton-padded coat with a half-smile.

"Brother Lu, although your kung fu is quite good, where are you going to get ten silver dollars in cash, plus this guarantor's introduction... as a young master of the Fuju troupe without any formal training?"

These words, ostensibly about rules, were actually a way of exploiting Lu Guan's weaknesses.

In Zhao Linchuan's view, even if Lu Guan had some unorthodox skills, he was still a poor, low-class person at heart.

At this point, Lu Guan had no choice but to humbly beg this true disciple of the Liuhe Martial Arts School to vouch for him.

Once Lu Guan makes this request, he will be indebted to Zhao Linchuan, and from now on in Nanshi, Lu Guan will have no choice but to follow Zhao Linchuan's lead.

Upon hearing this, Su Ruoxue also frowned.

"This rule is indeed troublesome. Lu Guan, if you don't have the money, I can lend you these ten silver dollars first. As for the guarantor, I'll go back and ask my master..."

"There's no need to trouble Miss Su."

Lu Guan suddenly spoke, interrupting Su Ruoxue.

Ten silver dollars?

What he had strapped tightly to his body was fourteen small yellow croakers plus a huge sum of money—more than a hundred silver dollars!

As for the protection?

These Tianjin guards, money makes the world go round.

He has plenty of ways to break through this path.

"As for the money, my Fuju Class can scrape together the funds even if we have to sell everything we own."

"As for the recommended shopkeeper, let me think of a way."

……

"We're leaving, no need to see us off," Su Ruoxue said.

Lu Guan stood at the dilapidated courtyard gate, watching Su Ruoxue and Zhao Linchuan's figures disappear around the corner in the wind and snow.

Zhao Linchuan's parting words, laced with cunning, were like a soft nail.

In the chaotic Republic of China era, those from the lower classes who had no money or power would always have to be skinned alive if they wanted to climb up the social ladder.

But Lu Guan simply wouldn't buy into that.

He not only had to enter the governor's mansion, but also had to step over the corpses of those demons and monsters who wanted to devour him.

He turned around and closed the courtyard gate, cutting off any outside prying eyes.

In the courtyard, the smell of blood was frozen in the ice.

The bodies of Iron Claw and the two strong men lay scattered about, their deaths extremely gruesome.

"Old man, come inside and rest. I'll take care of things outside."

Lu Guan remained calm.

He dragged a single-wheeled wooden cart, which he usually used to pull opera boxes, out of the woodpile in the backyard and lined the cart with a thick layer of rotten straw.

Immediately afterwards, he picked up the more than 200-pound corpse with one hand and threw it into the car like a sack of potatoes.

The other two bodies were also found in the same manner.

He deftly pulled out several packets of quicklime and thickly sprinkled them on the faces and wounds of these people.

Disfigurement and bloodsucking with lime is an old rule in the martial arts world for destroying evidence.

Finally, cover it with a tattered oilcloth and tie it tightly with hemp rope.