Chinese Martial Arts: My Super Beast Clone

By the time I got home, it was already getting dark.

Pushing open the door, the familiar aroma of food did not waft out.

In the living room, the eldest sister, Lin Wan, and her younger brother, Lin An, were both there. Unlike usual, one was busy in the kitchen while the other did his homework. They sat at the table, their faces showing an unusual excitement and anticipation.

"Brother! You're back!" Lin An jumped up immediately when he saw him.

"Sister, Xiao An." Lin Hai responded, took off his shoes, and sensed that something was off about the atmosphere at home.

"Xiao Hai..." Lin Wan also stood up, her face showing a mixture of worry and excitement. "Our hospital is preparing to join forces with other hospitals to organize a major BG!"

"Our school too!" Lin An interjected, waving his fist and his face flushed red. "Our teacher said, 'The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen!' Tomorrow, we're going to take to the streets to declare our resolve to everyone!"

Lin Hai's worst fears came true.

"No." He blurted out almost immediately.

Lin Wan and Lin An were both stunned; they hadn't expected Lin Hai to react this way.

"You can't go." Lin Hai walked to the table and said, word by word, "Yangcheng will be in chaos for a while. What you need to do is stay at home and not get involved in these things."

"Why?" Lin An immediately exclaimed, looking at Lin Hai.

"It's not a question of right or wrong," Lin Hai said. "When you go out on the streets, you're bound to get injured, bleed, and even die."

"We're not afraid! We're going to awaken the people!" Lin An retorted excitedly.

"Xiao Hai, I know you're worried about us." Lin Wan tugged at Lin An's sleeve. "But some things have to be done. If everyone stays silent out of fear, then this country truly has no hope."

hope?

Looking into his sister's clear and determined eyes, Lin Hai felt a surge of immense powerlessness.

He wanted to tell them that he understood this era better than anyone else.

He clearly remembered that in the history books of his previous life, in this dark era of warlord conflicts and foreign powers, countless passionate young people and patriots sacrificed their lives to break through the dark wall called the "Old World".

But what about the results?

The wall didn't fall, but they themselves were shattered to pieces.

He had read these bloody accounts in history books.

Warlords fought amongst themselves, and for miles around, not a rooster crowed; white bones lay exposed in the wilderness.

Now, he is just a small figure who could be crushed at any moment in the torrent of history.

All he can do now is to do everything in his power to become stronger before an even bigger storm completely destroys the family.

He was powerful enough to protect those he wanted to protect when the tides of chaos came.

"I don't care what you think," Lin Hai said firmly. "Starting tomorrow, none of you are allowed to leave the house. Lin An, if you dare to step out of the house, I'll break your legs. Sister, go ask the hospital for leave and say there's something wrong at home."

"Lin Hai! What right do you have!" Lin An trembled with anger, calling out Lin Hai's full name.

"Just because I'm your brother, the only adult man in this family, I'm in charge here," Lin Hai said coldly.

A hand reached out from the side and twisted Lin Hai's ear.

"Lin Hai, I used to change your diapers when you were a baby, and now you're acting like the head of the household!" Lin Wan twisted Lin Hai's ear and mocked him.

"That's right, listen to eldest sister, eldest sister is the most important person in the family," Lin An shouted, clenching his fist.

"Lin An, you'd better stay home tomorrow and don't go out," Lin Wan said to Lin An as she turned around.

Lin An pouted and ignored her eldest sister and second brother who had suddenly united.

The meal ended in silence.

Lin Hai didn't say anything more. He went back to his room alone and closed the door.

He walked to the table, took out eighteen silver dollars from his pocket, and neatly placed them one by one on the table.

Under the dim yellow light, the ocean reflected a cold yet captivating light.

He picked one up and flicked it lightly with his fingertip.

A crisp "ding" sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

"Fuhu Martial Arts School? Jingwu Association? Which one should we go to?"

Inside the glass tank, the skink, having just eaten its fill, slowly raised its head and silently gazed at him.

Lin Hai recalled Uncle Zhang's words once again.

"When you enter the Tiger Subduing Martial Arts School, you will learn the skills to make a living."

"Once you join the Jingwu Association, you will learn the methods of killing and fleeing for your life."

The Jingwu Tournament sounds incredibly exciting. The idea of ​​a strong nation and a powerful race fighting against Japan holds a fatal attraction for any patriotic Chinese man.

In the past, he might have chosen the latter without hesitation.

But not now.

He knew better than anyone that Long Zhenhai's ascension to the throne was merely the prelude to a chaotic era. The following decades would witness the most devastating human tragedy unfold on this land. Warlord conflicts, cannibalism, and the so-called patriotic fervor would prove utterly fragile in the face of overwhelming force and the coldness of guns.

The blood feud with the Japanese will be avenged sooner or later, but not now, and not in this way, like a moth drawn to a flame.

In the midst of a storm, only those who survive have the right to talk about the future.

Nowadays, securing a place to live and make a living is the most important thing.

Lin Hai's gaze hardened. What he needed was a safe haven where he could steadily accumulate strength, not a whirlpool that would instantly drag him into the eye of the storm.

Fuhu Martial Arts School is the best choice.

……

As dawn broke, Lin Hai got out of bed, dressed, and went downstairs.

On the small square table in the living room, three bowls of porridge and several coarse flour buns were already laid out. Lin Wan, wearing an apron, was bringing out a dish of pickled vegetables from the kitchen.

Lin An was already sitting at the table, holding a bowl in both hands, shoveling porridge into his mouth one bite at a time, his lips pouting so much they could hang an oil bottle.

Clearly, he's still holding a grudge about what happened last night.

Lin Hai sat down at the table, picked up a steamed bun, and took a bite.

"sister."

"Hmm?" Lin Wan sat down and picked up her chopsticks.

"You need to keep a close eye on Lin An."

Lin An paused with his chopsticks, then looked up and glared at Lin Hai.

Lin Hai didn't look at him and continued to say to Lin Wan, "You know his personality. He'll agree to anything, but he'll definitely sneak out to the street behind your back. Since you're on strike at the hospital and don't have to go to work, just stay home and keep an eye on him, don't let him run away."

"I won't sneak away!" Lin An put the bowl on the table.

Lin Hai turned to look at him.

Lin An felt a little guilty under his gaze, and her voice lowered slightly: "...I just don't know how."

"Look at him, so stubborn," Lin Hai said, turning to Lin Wan.

Lin Wan put down her chopsticks and glared at Lin Hai.

"Lin Hai, you've come up with a scheme against your sister."

"Sister, I'm not..."

"Alright," Lin Wan interrupted him, directly pointing out Lin Hai's little scheme, "I know what you mean. You want to use Lin An to keep me from going out."

Lin Hai didn't deny it, and chuckled.

Lin Wan pointed at him with her chopsticks: "You, you're more cunning than a sieve."

"Big sister, you're so smart."

"Stop flattering me." Lin Wan glared at him, then sighed. "Fine, but you have to promise me you'll be careful out there too."

"Don't worry, sis, I'm at the police station, nothing will happen to me."

Lin Wan didn't say anything more and lowered her head to drink her porridge.

Lin An spoke up sullenly from the side, "Why do I have to be locked up at home while you can all go out?"

"Because you're the younger brother." Lin Hai and Lin Wan spoke almost simultaneously.

Lin An's face flushed red, and she stuffed a big mouthful of steamed bun into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out, and she stopped talking angrily.

Lin Hai didn't linger any longer. He grabbed two more steamed buns, stuffed them into his pocket, and stood up.

"I'm leaving."

"Be careful on the road," Lin Wan said from behind.

Lin Hai walked down the street in the early morning, chewing on a steamed bun, feeling a sense of relief. He knew that with his older sister's personality, once she agreed, she would definitely keep a close eye on Lin An. His worries about home were temporarily resolved.