You believe that your gun is no match for my fist?

There are no cars on the roadside at night, and the trams only run until 11:30 pm.

As for taxis, believe it or not, they actually exist.

The neighborhood where Jin Fen Tai is located is quite prosperous, and those who can afford to spend money here are generally quite well-off.

They weren't that wealthy, but they certainly had the money to call a taxi.

Of course, it wasn't cheap either. Taxis in this era were charged by the hour, although some used meters. It was generally four to six yuan per hour, or twenty-five cents per kilometer.

Many taxis stop here at night, especially in the early morning, to pick up passengers.

Taxi services are generally for middle-class people who are relatively well-off, because wealthy people usually own cars.

But the middle class is different. They have money and are financially well-off, but it's obviously difficult for them to spend at least a thousand dollars to buy a car.

However, during this time, Gao Zhan and his group wandered around Ni Chang Road for quite a while without seeing a single taxi. It wasn't until they left Ni Chang Road that they finally spotted one on the roadside.

Neon Street is the name of the neighborhood where Jinfentai is located. It's near the Gaulish concession, and although it's a place of extravagance and debauchery, it's surprisingly safe. That's because it's backed by the Gaulish.

"Go to Anhe Road." Tang Liu opened the car door, plopped down, and ordered the driver who was eating a late-night snack.

The driver was stuffing a wonton into his mouth when he heard Tang Liu's words. He was about to say that he was off work, but the next second, Tang Liu threw three silver dollars onto the passenger seat.

"hurry up."

The driver glanced down, ignoring the heat, and quickly swallowed the wontons in his mouth. He put the bowl and chopsticks out the window, wiped his mouth, and shifted gears.

"Hold on tight, you two."

The car started immediately and sped off through the streets late at night.

As the streetlights glided by one by one, Tang Liu leaned back in his chair and began to talk more.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll be working for Master Tang," he said. "As for me, I'll have to go back to the docks to take care of things, so I won't be able to keep you by my side all the time."

"Master Tang has a bad temper, but he's fair and loyal. He likes people who keep their mouths shut and doesn't like people who talk too much. When you're around him, you'd better listen more and talk less, and stand and sit properly."

As he spoke, he gestured, "Don't interrupt him when he's talking. Answer him only when he asks you a question, and just stand there with your head down if he doesn't ask you anything."

"Furthermore, although the eldest master and the second master are sworn brothers, they do things differently. You must not pass on any information to them, and do not try to curry favor with either side. Those who try to be on both sides will not live long in the Tang family."

Gao Zhan nodded.

Tang Liu then said, "There are many people and many eyes in the Tang residence. You are a new face, so try not to make friends with others."

"If someone offers you a cigarette, accept it; if they try to talk to you, don't respond. If you don't understand something, ask me; don't try to figure it out yourself."

He spoke at length, his voice gradually lowering. Gao Zhan listened intently, nodding occasionally.

Looking out the window, the street scene gradually became familiar. After crossing two more streets, I would reach Anhe Road.

Tang Liu withdrew his gaze, let out a long breath, and patted Gao Zhan on the shoulder: "Do a good job. If you have the chance to prove yourself, be sure to do so."

"But remember, don't be so reckless. Know when to back down and don't always rush to the front. Your life is your own; if you lose it, you lose it."

His gaze lingered on Gao Zhan's face for a moment, and he seemed to have something else to say, but he didn't say it.

There was something in his eyes that he didn't usually show.

Gao Zhan also raised his hand, patted Tang Liu on the shoulder, and nodded.

Tang Liu didn't say anything more, only sighed and turned to look out the window. The light from the streetlamp shone on his face in patches, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

The car stopped in front of a black iron gate. Tang Liu opened the car door and glanced back at Gao Zhan: "We're here. Get out."

*

*

*

The Tang family had a house specifically for servants like him. However, as Master Tang's bodyguard, Gao Zhan naturally lived in the main residence, as he had to be on standby at all times.

Because of Tang Liu, he was assigned a decent single room on the first floor of the main house. It was about twenty square meters and had no private bathroom, only a public bathhouse and toilet.

The fact that the bathroom was full of toilets made Gao Zhan a little unhappy.

He doesn't like toilets; he prefers squat toilets in public restrooms.

But it didn't matter. In his previous life, he had lived in many dormitories that were even worse than this.

Tang Liu didn't follow them into the main house. He usually lived near the docks and also had a residence in the Tang family mansion, though it was in a different building. Gao Zhan, a teenage girl, was brought over by a servant from the mansion.

The young girl was quite pretty and delicate-looking. She had probably been working at the Tang family's residence for a long time and was very experienced in all aspects.

"Thanks, little sister." Gao Zhan stood at the door, nodded to the girl who brought him there, and smiled.

The girl nodded in response, then yawned and left.

After closing the door, Gao Zhan glanced at his room and stretched. Then he walked to the bedside, took off his shoes, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began to meditate.

In Gao Zhan's hometown, Earth's martial arts have a total of twelve major realms, which, according to the official classification system, are beginner, intermediate, advanced, elite, special-grade martial artist, and finally, grandmaster.

Of course, the official names are rather rustic. In popular parlance, each level has its own name. For example, the lowest level is Body Refinement, and the levels above it are Meridian Opening, Bone Forging, Qi Condensation, Strength Transformation, Profound Understanding, Heavenly Peeping, Sitting in Illumination, Freedom, Indestructible, Ultimate Truth, and Ultimate Man.

Of course, the names for different realms in folk traditions are often varied. For example, in Tantric Buddhism, or the Buddhist system, the last three realms of martial arts are generally referred to as the past tribulation, the tribulation of seeing, and the tribulation of transcending.

That is, the past, the present, and the future.

Having experienced countless eons, I have seen through the cycle of formation, existence, decay, and emptiness; I see all phenomena in the present eon without being confused or deluded; I transcend the cycle of eons, and time and space cannot bind me.

Of course, the name is impressive, but it's definitely not as exaggerated as these words suggest.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Gao Zhan straightened his back, placed his hands on his knees, and formed a mudra. True energy rose from his dantian, traveled up his spine segment by segment, and surged through his meridians.

Gao Zhan is currently at the fourth stage of martial arts, Qi Condensation. After reaching this stage, he will be able to reach a new level of life.

In the path of martial arts, every four realms bring about a physical transformation. You will become faster and stronger, and at the same time, you will become younger.

It will rejuvenate your cells. Of course, it doesn't mean that if you're about to die, breaking through this barrier will allow you to return to being eighteen years old.

That is impossible.

Unless one breaks through to the highest realm of martial arts, which is something only the highest realm can achieve, resulting in a significant evolution of one's life level and becoming a "celestial being".

Repeatedly recite the mantra, and the true energy flows through the meridians, circulating and cleansing, repeating this cycle endlessly.

Gao Zhan is still some distance from the fifth realm, but he is not in a hurry, after all, cultivation is something that cannot be rushed.

Time passed slowly, the moon rose in the east and set in the west, the chirping of insects gradually subsided, and the birds began to chirp and twitter.

"Knock, knock, knock," came the knocking at the door, which stopped after three knocks.

Gao Zhan, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, also opened his eyes.

He got up and went to open the door.