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

The jeep sped along the road where the French Concession and the Chinese Concession intersected.

Outside the car window, the streetlights cast shadows that danced across Lu Guan's face.

"Creak—"

The jeep screeched to a halt in front of the three-story red brick building of the Armed Forces Department.

"get off!"

Feng Changshan pushed open the car door, his military boots stepping on the snow.

Lu Guan wrapped his military overcoat tighter around himself and followed the master of internal strength as he strode up the steps.

Inside the building, heavily armed guards stood watch every three steps and sentries every five steps.

The air was filled with the smell of Lysol mixed with cheap tobacco, and the mottled blue bricks on the walls faintly smelled of blood left by years of interrogation.

Without wasting any words, Feng Changshan led Lu Guan straight to the director's office at the far end of the second floor.

"Bang."

The heavy, patina-covered wooden door was pushed open.

Inside the office, the underfloor heating was burning fiercely, and the heat was intense.

Behind the large mahogany desk, a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a military uniform was looking down at a file.

This person was none other than Shen Xiaolin, the head of the Armed Forces Department.

Hearing the noise, Director Shen didn't look up, but simply picked up the black coffee on the table and took a sip.

"Changshan, has the Fox Clan's suburban branch been completely cleaned up?"

"Chief, not a single one was left alive!"

Feng Changshan stood ramrod straight.

"I've already had Bai Qi's head pickled with lime. Tomorrow morning, I'll hang it on the city wall of Nanshi to intimidate all evil spirits."

"Hmm, well done."

Director Shen slowly raised his head, his eyes behind his glasses going straight past Feng Changshan and fixing on Lu Guan.

"This is the one who single-handedly put on a great show in the hall where all sorts of demons gathered tonight... Master Lu?"

Lu Guan met that extremely oppressive gaze without flinching.

With his powerful Qi and blood flowing through his body, Da Chengming cupped his hands in a respectful yet humble manner.

"Lu Guan from the Fuju Class in Nanshi. I've met Director Shen."

"What courage."

Director Shen put down his coffee cup, leaned back in his armchair, and placed his hands on his abdomen.

"I heard from Changshan that you not only grasped the essence of boxing, but also broke through to the Great Perfection of Ming Jin tonight?"

"A master of martial arts at less than twenty years old is a rare talent even in the entire Beiyang seven provinces."

Director Shen's tone was unreadable, but his tone suddenly changed.

"However, I've always been a suspicious person."

"With such extraordinary talent, why didn't you show yourself earlier or later, but instead came to my governor's mansion to curry favor after offending the Fox Clan from beyond the Great Wall?"

"Are you trying to use my Armaments Department's name as a shield?"

These words are utterly hurtful.

If it were some naive and inexperienced young man, he would probably kneel down and pledge his loyalty on the spot after being intimidated by such a warlord.

But Lu Guan knew exactly what was going on.

When dealing with these warlords, the more spineless you are, the less they will treat you like a human being.

You need to show your sharpness and let him know that you are a sharp enough knife!

"Director Shen has a keen eye for talent."

"The Fox Clan has gone too far. They put aphrodisiacs in my medicine, trying to use me as a blood sacrifice. I killed their spies and destroyed their headquarters. This feud can never be resolved."

"I, Lu Guan, have no power or influence. If I want to survive in Tianjin, I need to find a powerful figure to rely on."

"The governor's mansion is a big enough umbrella to block those underhanded attacks."

"But Lu Guan didn't borrow this umbrella for nothing."

"My fists are invincible within the realm of Ming Jin. Those tough nuts to crack and those invincible demons in the Armed Forces Department, I will kill them, I will slay them!"

"It would be beneficial for both sides to cooperate. Does the section chief think this deal is worthwhile or not?"

The office fell into a deathly silence.

Standing to the side, Feng Changshan was terrified and kept giving Lu Guan meaningful glances, afraid that he would anger his ruthless superior.

This kid is too audacious, daring to talk business with the director of the warlord's office.

However, Director Shen, who was behind his desk, stared at Lu for a full half-incense stick's time.

Sudden.

Hahahaha.

Director Shen burst out laughing.

"Good, what a win-win situation!"

"I love a wolf cub like you who doesn't hide his ambition and wears it on his sleeve!"

Director Shen stood up, walked to the giant German-made safe next to him, and with a few clicks, turned the combination lock and took out a lacquered wooden box that had been soaked in black dog blood.

"Snapped!"

The box was slammed heavily onto the table, and a stench of decay mixed with preservatives filled the air.

"My military governor's office is not afraid of subordinates having enemies; what we fear is subordinates who are useless cowards."

Director Shen pointed to the lacquered wooden box.

"I heard from Changshan that you're not only incredibly skilled in martial arts, but you also possess the knowledge of unorthodox folk customs, and know those techniques for summoning souls and commanding generals?"

Lu Guan nodded.

"very good."

Director Shen gave a cold laugh.

"A while ago, our military preparedness department wiped out a gang of 'corpse-driving' sorcerers who had wandered over from western Hunan at the mass grave south of the city."

"The leader of the 'case managers' is an old monster with hidden strength, and he holds an extremely evil secret scroll in his hand."

"What's inside is the 'Incomplete Scroll of Invoking Corpses,' which that old monster swore to protect with his life. It not only records the methods of driving and controlling corpses, but also unorthodox practices of using corpse energy to refine qi."

"Since you understand folk customs and practices, this thing is just gathering dust in the imperial treasury anyway. I'll take the liberty of granting it to you today!"

Lu Guan stared at the lacquered wooden box, his heart skipping a beat.

The secret scroll for transporting corpses?

What his mental "Stage of Creation" lacked most was this kind of "spiritual text" that carried the resentment of demons and evil spirits and the will to die for unorthodox sects.

If he could use it as material to feed the stage, he could definitely carve out another terrifying and bizarre statue!

"Thank you for your guidance, Director."

Lu Guan didn't stand on ceremony; he stepped forward and hugged the lacquered wooden box to his chest.

"Take your things. But there's no such thing as a free lunch."

Director Shen's smile faded, and he placed his hands on the table, exuding an air of authority.

"Having taken the resources of my governor's mansion, half of your life now belongs to the emperor."

"In two weeks, the General will hold the triennial 'Spring Hunt' at the former site of the Western Hills Imperial Mausoleum!"

Upon hearing the words "spring hunt," Feng Changshan's expression changed drastically, and his breathing became rapid.

Lu Guan was puzzled, but his eyes remained calm.

Director Shen explained coldly.

"Don't think that spring hunting is just about killing a couple of wild rabbits."

"The former site of the Western Hills Imperial Mausoleum collapsed during the Qing Dynasty due to an earthquake. The area was filled with gloomy energy, which bred countless hairy zombies, blood corpses, and centuries-old demons!"

"The commander-in-chief has ordered that all the major warlord factions in Tianjin, martial arts masters, and our Jiyi Division must send people in to 'hunt'."

"It's called a hunt, but it's actually a relentless treasure-hunting meat grinder."

"Whoever can bring out the 'treasure' that the commander-in-chief wants will get the lion's share in the subsequent distribution of military pay and territorial demarcation."

Director Shen walked up to Lu Guan and patted him on the shoulder.

"Our Jiyi Division has always been looked down upon by the regular army, who call us a bunch of charlatans who pretend to be gods and ghosts."

"For this spring hunt, your department in the Armed Forces Department has three openings."

"I'm giving you this 'Fragment of the Zhuyou Resurrection Scroll' in exchange for your life. You'll represent our 'Special Operations Group' of the Bureau of Mysteries, and secure a spot to visit the Western Hills Imperial Mausoleum!"

"Inside, I don't care what methods you use, whether it's murder or arson."

"I want you to kill all those scum who dare to compete with the Ji Yi Ke for food inside, and bring out what the commander-in-chief wants."

"Do you dare to accept?"