Chapter Twenty-Nine: In a Fit of Rage

When the foreigners found themselves unable to deal with the newly risen group of martial warriors, no matter how they condemned them as traitors or accused them of unforgivable crimes, the Qing court remained powerless before the new force forged from the union of southern revolutionaries and martial artists. The foreigners themselves had been beaten to a pulp—who would fear a bunch of backward, decaying officials, mere wild boar skins?

This was an era of national awakening, a time when dignity was sought. When the martial artists granted the people under their rule the ability to stand tall before the foreigners, restoring the grand and dignified pride of the empire, the spirit of Puhae, which once seemed ignorant and lowly, underwent a profound transformation overnight.

If the foreigners can do it, so can we! And we can do it better! An unshakable belief arose: there was nothing that the great civilization of Xinghan could not accomplish! This was not the madness and ignorance born of desperation among the Boxer masses.

All knowledge was freely available, the Academy of Jixia was swiftly established, and the revolutionaries, determined to be righteous officials, tirelessly explained the world situation, the imperial ambitions of powerful nations, the looming threat of extinction, and the great upheaval brought by the descent of the sage, the gift of martial power and arms—a once-in-a-millennium contest.

Empty words would not convince anyone. All the rhetoric in the world could not match the impact of a single punch. Thus, the martial artists, whose physiques were extraordinary, cooperated directly with the revolutionaries’ speeches, bringing guns and cannons to display their prowess. Being shot, withstanding cannon fire alone, shattering massive stones with a fist, moving like the wind—these feats were mere child’s play.

To show strength was to kill. Refuse to admit you are Xinghan? Kill. Still groveling to foreigners, suffering from xenophobia? Kill. Continuing to serve the decaying officials? Kill. Flirting with the northern powers? Kill. Unwilling to contribute to Xinghan’s great rise? Kill, kill! Disrespect the celestial master?! Kill, kill, kill, kill!

Driven by self-interest and necessity, the martial artist group began a rapid, ruthless consolidation, establishing their dominant rule with direct force.

Local gentry and officials, who nominally remained loyal to the court, began to choose sides amid the harsh purges. Even Zhang Ji, the Governor of Jiangnan, capitulated. What reason did these small fry have to resist further?

Moreover, after quelling the riots, a martial artist’s sardonic remarks resonated with the gentry: “Foreigners come here to burn, kill, and plunder. After making quick profits, they monopolize trade and grow wealthy. Now the celestial master has bestowed martial power upon us—why can they do what we cannot?”

“Seeking promotion and wealth, hoping for illustrious descendants, longing for fame and fortune.”

“Those with talent, become martial artists!” “Martial artists are tougher than foreigners, more resilient! They fear neither guns nor cannons! What are you afraid of?!”

This martial artist was named Cheng Zong, a Qi cultivator, one of Zhao Jian’s capable generals, and after completing his purge, he would return to Puhae’s Bureau of Investigation to receive enlightenment from the martial sanctuary, striving to reach the realm of Shen cultivation and contribute to Lan Yi’s grand enterprise.

Beneath the Thunder Pool Immortal Lotus at the martial sanctuary (the power plant) were twelve Golden Men forged through Lan Yi’s immortal arts. These not only awakened martial artists but also aided innate energy cultivation.

Currently, newly inducted martial artists could be refined by a Golden Man once for free. Those who completed missions could be refined again. The speed at which Qi cultivators were produced rivaled the rapid proliferation of fifty-dollar brothers!

The Golden Men system also possessed the ability to detect fate clusters. Of course, it could only sense their presence; to discern their specifics, Lan Yi himself had to inspect.

There were many martial artists like Cheng Zong—innumerable, like fish crossing a river! They were the common face of the martial artist group’s Qi cultivators. They cut off their queues, donned sturdy garb, practiced martial arts, studied knowledge, and took up guns and cannons. No matter who you had been, no matter your past status, as long as you had talent and were willing to fight for Xinghan’s future, you could contribute. Here, it was fair—those who were stronger took more. But one could not deny others their share or drain the pond for fish.

Puhae alone had a population of over a million, and with surrounding areas, the total exceeded five million. Unending spiritual energy rained down upon these five million daily.

Lan Yi had no fear of lacking martial talent. He did not even fear their corruption. The reason was simple: martial artists who began Shen cultivation could adjust their minds and hormone levels—the pleasures of the outside world paled in comparison to the joy found within. This tangible self-strengthening was hundreds of times more addictive than fitness!

Imagine the transformation Puhae underwent in a few short days. Every day, new talents were discovered, people chose to become martial artists, and all the filth and pests that hindered governance and undermined the martial foundation were crushed to dust by the fiery fists of the martial artists!

Right was rewarded, wrong was punished! Punish until uprightness is achieved! Punish until clarity of mind! Punish until the world is bright and just!

Such upheaval was also partially revealed to the outside world through newspapers.

“Marvelous Orient! The Great Magician! Unbelievable Upheaval!”—this was the headline in a Western newspaper, written by several enthusiastic, ascetic noble ladies who interviewed Immortal Master Lan Yi. The paper included a series of sensational tabloids.

“Immortal? Fraud? The Re-emergence of the Empire of Huaxia.”—this was the headline in an Eastern newspaper, written by several gentle, refined heiresses and their maids who had interviewed Lan Yi. The paper also featured a string of tabloid stories.

“Foreign officers pledge loyalty to the Immortal Master, demonstrate divine weapons and punish criminals on site.”—this was reported by a local newspaper whose xenophobia was not yet cured, with gentle, classical beauty reporters interviewing Lan Yi. Again, accompanied by a series of tabloid stories.

“Everyone a dragon, Huaxia thriving, a return to glory is close at hand!”—this was the headline from a local newspaper whose xenophobia had quickly dissipated, written by passionate, progressive, and open-minded female university students who interviewed Lan Yi. This paper, too, included a series of fabricated tabloid stories.

If you took the paper to verify the content with the female protagonists, before being beaten out with sticks, you might glimpse their bashful yet spirited expressions.

Once it was clear that Lan Yi was utterly unconcerned by this, many sought to use these stories to forge a connection with the Immortal Master.

As for whether the tabloids were true, what actually happened—no one really cared. After all, they did interview Lan Yi, and faced with such a beautiful, powerful, god-like figure, they were all utterly smitten. The rest is left to your imagination.

Many foreigners were furious. This was only natural—no one likes to be cuckolded, especially when the rumor might involve a daughter’s complicity, and the truth could not be confirmed, yet they still suffered contempt from wives and daughters.

In their anger, the foreigners could do nothing but fume. Each day they faced countless mocking glances and laughter when they went out, and could do nothing but stay behind closed doors, plotting in secret.