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

Several patrolmen carried in a long box lined with galvanized iron sheets, amidst the officer's kicking and cursing.

This is the "Suppressing Evil Box" used by the Military Equipment Bureau's Bureau of Investigation and Extermination to collect the remains of demons and monsters.

The iron hook caught the water monster's corpse and dragged it into the box.

With a "bang," the buckle snapped shut.

After the two yellow and vermilion seal strips were affixed, the group finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The martial arts students around looked at the metal box, then at the figure dismantling the curtain, and their expressions changed completely.

Gone was the previous mockery and disdain; now, only awe and even fear filled his eyes.

The martial artist carrying the nine-ringed saber had a layer of white sweat on his forehead, and when the cold wind blew, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Unconsciously, he shrank back into the crowd, afraid that Lu Guan would suddenly turn around and settle scores for his earlier disrespectful remarks.

At this moment, the one who was most shocked was Feng Changshan, the supervisor of the Investigation Section of the Military Equipment Bureau.

This man, who had mastered the art of internal strength, stared at Lu Guan, his two purplish-red iron hands hidden behind his military overcoat.

"No... that punch just now, something's definitely wrong."

Others might only see Lu Guan blast Shui Gui away with a punch, and assume that it was the brute force unleashed by a Ming Jin martial artist.

But Feng Changshan was closer and had the deepest understanding.

Water monkeys, which are water monsters born from yin energy and resentment, are slippery by nature. How could they possibly be so stunned and fatal when faced with the fists of a living person?

Unless, in that instant, it saw something more ferocious, more malevolent, and more capable of destroying its soul.

"It's the intent of the fist...that's the intent of the fist!"

Feng Changshan gasped, his eyes filled with shock as he looked at Lu Guan.

The essence of boxing is something mysterious and profound.

That is the "momentum" that a martial arts master exudes when he has thoroughly mastered a martial art, blending his essence, energy, spirit, and unwavering will to die for it.

Feng Changshan practiced Iron Palm diligently for thirty years, reaching the pinnacle of internal strength, but he had only just touched the threshold of "intention".

But this actor, who was not yet twenty years old and wore an old cotton-padded jacket, actually displayed a fierce and tragic fighting spirit, like a tiger descending a mountain.

"If this kid can survive and grow up, the martial arts world of Tianjin will probably change drastically."

Feng Changshan took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his chest.

He strode across the ice, breaking through the ice, and walked straight to Lu Guan.

Lu Guan was putting the shadow puppet carved from tiger skin with piercing eyes and a white forehead into his cloth bag. Sensing someone approaching, he slightly raised his eyelids and calmly met the scrutiny of this Dark Force Supervisor.

The two stared at each other for a long time in the howling cold wind.

One is as deep and unassuming as an abyss, the other as majestic as an iron tower.

Suddenly, a slightly stiff smile appeared on Feng Changshan's tense, square face.

He reached behind his back to his waist and untied a brass plaque.

"Young man, I heard from Su Ruoxue that you seem to have gotten into some trouble lately and are thinking of joining the warlord's mansion?"

Lu Guan was taken aback, then nodded.

"You don't need to take the annual assessment at the Military Equipment Department of the Governor's Office tomorrow."

Feng Tiezhang handed a bronze plaque to Lu Guan and said in a deep voice.

"Take this plaque for now; it's a temporary plaque for our Jiyi Department. Come directly to the examination grounds tomorrow, and I'll personally exchange it for the official plaque for you."

Feng Changshan paused, then added a sentence.

"As for the rules regarding guaranteeing the certificate and taking the exam for free, you don't need to worry about them."

"I will personally send a note to the Governor's Mansion to vouch for this matter."

"this……"

Upon hearing this, a collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the surrounding area.

That's the sign of the Military Equipment Bureau's Inspection Section.

In this chaotic world where life was as worthless as grass, in the warlord-controlled Tianjin, as long as you hung up this sign, you were considered a government official, a lackey of the military governor.

Not only did they receive a monthly salary in silver dollars, but they also received tiger bone and deer antler supplements from government-run pharmacies.

In this area of ​​Nanshi, whether it's the rampant canal gangs or the shady underworld sects, anyone who wants to mess with them has to think twice before they dare to challenge them.

Lu watched as the bronze plaque was handed to him.

The front is engraved with the four characters "武备稽异" in regular script in relief, and the back is engraved with the number "丙·僄拾玖" in intaglio.

Without hesitation, he reached out and took it.

The copper sheet felt cool to the touch.

But in Lu Guan's hands, it was heavier than the poisoned iron dagger in his arms, and even heavier than the eighteen small yellow croakers.

What he lost wasn't copper, but the confidence he would have in the future to truly establish himself in this demon-infested Tianjin, and to stand up against those forces that treated people as "food."

"Thank you, Inspector Feng." Lu Guan cupped his hands in thanks.

Su Ruoxue, who was not far away, watched this scene with a complicated expression.

She learned martial arts from a young age and trained hard at the Liuhe Martial Arts School for seven years, enduring the sweltering heat of summer and the freezing cold of winter, before she finally reached the threshold of Ming Jin and qualified for the annual examination.

But this young man, who was freezing under the overpass for a few coins just half a month ago, has now, with a shadow puppet show and a stunning punch, intercepted her halfway and crossed the threshold of her seven years of struggle.

But Su Ruoxue felt no jealousy.

In the martial arts world, those who have mastered it are the first to succeed.

She knew that even if she trained for another ten years, she might not be able to replicate the power of that punch she just delivered.

Su Ruoxue sheathed her sword, took a deep breath of the icy air, and the gloom on her face dissipated, revealing a relieved smile.

"Lu Guan, congratulations. See you at the drill ground tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Lu Guan nodded in greeting.

Compared to Su Ruoxue's carefree attitude, Zhao Linchuan's expression was extremely unpleasant.

Just a few days ago, he was still acting superior in the courtyard of the Fuju Opera Troupe, trying to intimidate Lu Guan with the promise of "ten dollars for free exams" and "joint guarantee," attempting to make the actor bow down.

But who could have imagined that this slap in the face would come so quickly?

They didn't need any old-established guarantee; the military affairs commissioner personally vouched for him, forcefully handing this incredible opportunity to him.

The martial arts students who had previously mocked and ridiculed the school were now green with envy and wished they could slap themselves in the face.

If I had known this actor had such extraordinary abilities, I should have put in more effort carrying the boxes earlier; maybe I could have become a familiar face to him.

……

The hour of midnight has passed, and the wind and snow have temporarily ceased.

The curfew at the confluence of the Haihe River was gradually lifted, and the crowds dispersed.

Lu Guan carried the old camphor wood opera box on his shoulder, and with one hand supporting the old blind man, he embarked on his journey back to the Fuju Opera Troupe.

In the dark streets of Tianjin, apart from the occasional chimes of Western clocks from the distant concessions, the only sound was the footsteps of two people on the snow.

The old blind man clung tightly to the broken erhu in his arms.

Although he was shivering from the cold, his wrinkled face glowed with a rosy light.

"Young Master... are you sure you can hold onto this plaque?" The old blind man lowered his voice, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Hold on tight." Lu Guan patted the bronze plaque in his arms.

"Good, good!" The old blind man's eyes welled up with tears.

"If the old troupe leader could see this from heaven, he could close his eyes in peace. Our Fuju Troupe has finally driven a nail into this cannibalistic land."

The old blind man took out the polished rosin, rubbed it hard on the bowstring of his erhu twice, and began to play a deep tune.

This is not a play, but a "sending off the gods" tune passed down through generations in the shadow puppetry industry.

"Blind man, why are you playing this tune in the middle of the night?" Lu Guan asked, puzzled.

"Rules cannot be abolished."

As the old blind man played his violin, he said, "The older generation is superstitious. Singing ghost operas by the river at midnight is most likely to attract wandering ghosts."

"Although the water monkey has been killed, the extremely yin energy of the 'Fishing for the Moon' performance just now may have been tainted by some unclean things that are still with us."

"This 'sending off the spirits' ritual is to send wandering ghosts back to the Haihe River, so that they won't be brought back to the theater and cause trouble for the living."

Upon hearing this, Lu Guan felt a chill run down his spine.

This unconventional trade is indeed full of intricacies.

He subconsciously tightened his grip on the shadow puppet of the "Hidden Rat" pressed tightly against his chest.

Although the time I was possessed by the spirit tonight was short, the feeling of the evil spirit entering my body was indeed uncomfortable.

Once we get back, we must use the power of those potent medicines to thoroughly cleanse our meridians.