nownovels Chapter 92 Iron Lion's Worries, the Killing Aura of the Japanese Sword!
Chapter 92 Iron Lion's Worries, the Killing Aura of the Japanese Sword!
Chapter 93 The Iron Lion's Worries, the Killing Aura of the Japanese Sword! (3k)
Lu Cheng put down his pen, his eyes slightly cold.
"This is moral blackmail."
He stood up and walked to the window.
Through the window, you can see a dark mass of people at the main entrance.
Students in long gowns held banners that read "Down with Japanese Imperialism." There were also military men with bandages wrapped around their heads, their faces filled with grief and indignation. And then there were idlers, unaware of the truth, who joined in the commotion.
"Master Lu, please come out of seclusion."
"Uphold our national prestige and expel the barbarians!"
The sound grew louder and louder, shaking the tiles of the Lu residence.
Lu Cheng watched this scene without feeling the slightest ripple in his heart; in fact, he found it somewhat laughable.
These people are passionate, but they're too hot-headed.
They were unaware of the dirty political deals behind this so-called "competition."
All they knew was that they had to push Lu Cheng out and make him the outlet for their emotions.
"Master, what... what should we do?"
Shunzi scratched his head anxiously, "If they really get hurt from kneeling, our Qingyun Class's reputation will be ruined."
"reputation?"
Lu Cheng sneered.
"Reputation is earned, not given by others."
"If they want to kneel, let them kneel."
"If a martial artist's knees become weak, his spine will also bend. Such spinelessness is not worth my effort to save."
Lu Cheng turned around, returned to his desk, and continued practicing calligraphy.
His heart was at peace.
Under the suppression of the "Zhongdao Ghost-Catching Picture", these external noises could not shake his true heart at all.
He is waiting.
Waiting for someone who can truly speak up and resolve this matter.
It was evening.
A car quietly parked at the back gate of the Lu residence.
That's a car from Marshal Ma's mansion.
Li Biao, the adjutant, dressed in civilian clothes and wearing a baseball cap, sneaked in like a thief.
"Oh my, Mr. Lu, you're really in deep trouble here."
As soon as Lieutenant Li entered the study, he took off his hat, wiped his sweat, and gave a wry smile.
"The front door was almost completely blocked, so I climbed over the wall to get in."
Lu Cheng didn't get up either, but pointed to the chair opposite him.
"Sit down. Have some tea."
Lieutenant Li had no interest in drinking tea. He plopped down, lowered his voice, and looked serious.
"Master Lu, the Commander-in-Chief has learned about this matter."
"What did the commander say?" Lu Cheng asked.
"The general was so angry that he smashed two vases."
Lieutenant Li sighed.
"That old dog Zhang is too cunning. He's using someone else to do his dirty work, and he does it all with a righteous air."
"Although the Marshal also doesn't get along with the Japanese, at this time, Nanjing has issued an order that internal strife must precede external resistance," meaning a direct conflict with the Japanese is unacceptable.
"So—the commander-in-chief can't openly send troops to smash up that so-called exchange conference."
This is very embarrassing.
Although Master Ma wanted to protect Lu Cheng, he had to back down when faced with "righteousness" and "politics".
"and----"
Lieutenant Li glanced at Lu Cheng, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but didn't.
"And what?"
"Moreover, that Black Dragon Society—is not simple."
Lieutenant Li took a document out of his pocket and handed it to Lu Cheng.
"This was sent by our informant who was planted among Commander Zhang's men."
"The Japanese sent no ordinary ronin this time."
"The leader is called Chiba Zan, a successor of the Chiba Itto-ryu style."
"This man from Northeast China once single-handedly slaughtered a bandit den of fifty men with just a knife. It is said that his knife was so fast that it was invisible."
"He came for you."
"He told the Japanese that he would cut off your head in the ring, in front of all the people of Beiping, and kick it around like a ball."
Thousand Leaf Slash?
Lu Cheng took the document and glanced at it.
There is a blurry photo above.
A man dressed in a kimono, with a chonmage hairstyle and eyes as sinister as a venomous snake, was holding a long sword in his arms.
Even through the photograph, Lu Cheng could feel the stench of blood emanating from the paper.
This is a master.
A top-tier swordsman who truly makes a living by killing.
"That's interesting."
Lu Cheng put down the documents, not only unafraid but also revealing a hint of excited smile.
Since breaking through the hidden strength, I have also obtained the [Ghostly Shadow Step].
He was actually in a somewhat awkward position in Beiping.
That awkward feeling of being stuck between going up and going down.
Master Li is a junior, and President Liu is a master of internal energy transformation; neither of them can truly fight.
This whetstone has been delivered right to our doorstep—why not use it?
"Lieutenant Li."
Lu Cheng spoke.
"I'll take this ring."
"what?"
Lieutenant Li was taken aback. "Master Lu, please don't be impulsive! This is a trap! The Commander-in-Chief means that if you want to hide, we can arrange for you to go to Tianjin to lay low for a while—"
"hide?"
Lu Cheng stood up, walked to the wall, and looked at the painting "Zhong Kui Catching Ghosts".
"Zhong Kui catching ghosts is his sacred duty."
3
"These Japanese devils are bullying us right at our doorstep. If I hide, how can I ever uphold the name of 'Chinese martial arts' again?"
"and----"
Lu Cheng turned around, his eyes shining brightly with golden light. The pressure of a grandmaster instantly erupted, making it difficult for Lieutenant Li to breathe.
"I'd like to see if his Japanese sword is faster."
"My hands are still the fastest—my Chinese hands."
"Go back and tell the commander-in-chief."
"Three days later, Tianqiao Theater."
"Have him reserve a good spot for me."
The sky was overcast, as if it were about to snow, or as if a huge thunderstorm was brewing.
At the entrance of the Lu residence, the group of students and ordinary citizens kneeling in petition had been kneeling for a day and a night.
Some people fainted and had to be carried away, while others persisted, their voices hoarse from shouting.
"Master Lu, please say something!"
"Are you really afraid of the Japanese?"
The sound was filled with grief, indignation, and desolation; it was heartbreaking to hear.
"Squeak"
The heavy vermilion gate finally opened.
Everyone perked up and looked up in unison.
It wasn't Lu Cheng who came out.
It's Lu Feng.
The wolf cub was dressed in a black training uniform, carrying a staff that reached his eyebrows, and had a menacing look on his face.
He walked up the steps, looked down at the dark mass of people below, and saw no sympathy in his eyes, only anger.
"Everyone, stand up!"
Lu Feng roared, his shout a burst of energy from the dantian fed with the Tiger Bone and Dragon Marrow Soup, which made the ears of several students in the front row ring.
"A man's knees are worth gold."
"You kneel to heaven, earth, and your parents, so why are you kneeling before my master?"
"This is a coup d'état, this is murder with a soft knife."
"Do you think my master isn't showing up because he's afraid?"
Lu Feng slammed the stick in his hand into the ground, and with a "clang," the bluestone slab cracked.
"My master is resting and cultivating his mind, he's sharpening his knife."
"Your crying and wailing here is only causing trouble for my master and boosting the morale of the Japanese."
"Get back there, all of you!"
"Two days later at the Tianqiao Theater, everyone opened their eyes wide and saw clearly."
"Watch how my master beats those Japanese devils to a pulp!"
These words made the people below blush with embarrassment, but they also woke up many of them.
"Really? Grandmaster Lu is really going?"
"I knew it! How could Grandmaster Lu be a coward!"
The crowd began to stir, and the initial atmosphere of grief and indignation instantly transformed into fervent anticipation.
Qianmen Street, Lu Residence.
As the sun began to set, the last rays of sunlight resembled undissolved rouge, smeared on the dusty base of the city wall.
When Master Li arrived, he was in a great hurry. He didn't even ride in his favorite sedan chair carried by two people. He brought his eldest apprentice, Zhao Shanhe, and ran all the way over.
As soon as he entered the main hall, Li Sanye didn't even bother to drink a sip of hot tea; beads of sweat streamed down his wrinkled old face.
"Mr. Lu, this time—you've really put yourself in a very difficult position."
Li Sanye plopped down in the guest seat, his iron clapper spinning rapidly in his hand, making a rattling sound—his mind was in turmoil.
Lu Cheng sat in the main seat, wiping the folding fan made of Xiangfei bamboo.
He remained calm, as if the earth-shattering news outside had nothing to do with his mere penny.
"Third Master, what happened? Has the overpass collapsed?"
Lu Cheng smiled and personally poured a cup of tea for Master Li. "That's a high-quality tea that Zhang Yiyuan just sent over. Although it's not a famous tea, it's very fragrant and good for calming the nerves."
"Oh my god, why are you drinking sugary drinks at a time like this?!"
Third Master Li picked up his teacup, took a big gulp, and grimaced from the heat, but he didn't care.
"Do you know what kind of technique that Chiba-zan is?"
Third Master Li lowered his voice, leaned forward, and his old eyes revealed deep fear.
"I just asked my old colleague who works in Dongjiaomin Lane to find out more about those Japanese."
"That Chiba Zan is not one of those loud-mouthed Japanese ronin we usually see."
"He is the legitimate successor of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school of Japanese martial arts. It's said that in the Northeast, he single-handedly took down an entire bandit stronghold with just his sword! Those were over fifty men with muskets!"
"The most crucial thing is—"
Li Sanye swallowed hard, his voice trembling.
"I heard this person has already mastered sword energy." This is the rudimentary form of what we in internal martial arts call "the outward projection of hidden strength." With a single slash, he can even split a wooden stake as thick as a bowl in mid-air!
"Master Lu, this is a genuine minor mastery of internal energy, and it is internal energy specifically cultivated through the path of killing."
"Unlike us who practice martial arts for self-cultivation, their kung fu is all about taking lives; every move is a 'killing the family line' strategy."
Zhao Shanhe, standing beside him, also looked grave and added, "Uncle-Master, I've heard about it too."
"Chiba Zan declared that he would not only win this time, but also strip away the face of Chinese martial arts on the stage. The sword he brought is called Muramasa," a bloodthirsty demon sword.
As Lu Cheng listened, he gently closed the folding fan in his hand with a soft "snap".
His expression remained unchanged, but his eyes narrowed slightly, and a golden light flashed deep within his pupils.
Minor mastery of internal strength?
The Way of Slaughter?
"That's interesting."
Lu Cheng nodded indifferently.
"Master Li, you're an expert. What do you think of my skills compared to his?"
Master Li was stunned for a moment. Looking at Lu Cheng's calm and composed appearance, he felt inexplicably certain.