Yamafu Military Affairs

Chapter 396 Dim lights
Kowloon, the terminus of the Canton-Kowloon Railway, Tsim Sha Tsui Station.

Woo~
The whistle sounded, the train arrived at the station, and a bustling stream of people poured out of the door, soon gathering into a tide and rushing towards the exit.

In between, there was a man and a woman who walked out of the VIP carriage at the front of the train. They had a particularly outstanding temperament, like a crane standing out among chickens, or a dragon among snakes, very extraordinary.

The man in front just raised his hand and waved it in the air, as if an invisible energy force passed by, and the crowded crowd in front of him was easily pushed aside, revealing a passable path.

This man has a tall and strong figure, and is dressed in an exquisite brocade robe embroidered with green and yellow beasts shaped like tigers and rolling green mountains. He is wearing court boots, with his clothes open, and his thick black hair combed back. At first glance, he looks like a great boxer teaching in a school, but upon closer inspection, he looks like a student who has studied abroad.

Unpredictable.

The man was holding a Chinese newspaper in his hand, and next to him was a lady from an elegant family.

The girl was extremely beautiful, with a tall figure and a pure heart. She was wearing an embroidered white cheongsam. She stood with her arms around her chest and a crystal clear coral teardrop ornament on her snow-white neck, which was a pink jade color.

That's right, the two of them stopped and walked along the way, heading south from Ganliang, sleeping in the open air, passing through Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou and Guangxi, and finally arrived at Qinhuai (the main body) and Aoling in Kowloon.

The Guangzhou-Kowloon Railway was newly built and its terminus is located in Tsim Sha Tsui at the southern tip of the Kowloon Peninsula. It is across the sea from the bustling Central and is truly the best choice for residents of both places to travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong.

While Qin Huai was reading the Huazi newspaper, which criticized current social ills and published various domestic and foreign news, he led Ao Ling out of the platform as if he had eyes on his head.

"Huai Lang, look quickly, isn't that Sister Hongying?"

Ao Ling held in his hand an ancient diamond-shaped mirror with a bright moon engraved on the back. He pointed his jade finger at Qin Huai, indicating him to look into the distance.

There are many shops on Salisbury Road, including restaurants, inns, newspaper offices, and photo studios. Many shops of different styles are lined up, with red walls and iron doors intertwined with blue bricks and black tiles, and are adjacent to groups of kapok trees, extending to the distance.

The pedestrians coming and going are dressed differently, in long gowns and short jackets, silk cotton jackets, western suits and leather shoes. They run side by side with rickshaws, animal-drawn carts, cars and other types of vehicles on the road, and together with the large and small ships floating on the shimmering sea in the distance, they form a picture of the old Hong Kong Island.

It has been nearly a hundred years since Hong Kong Island was ceded by the Qing Dynasty. With a long history of trade between China and foreign countries, all industries are thriving. Along the streets, you can see many signs of various styles fluttering in the wind, many of which are advertisements with colorful flags and foreign paintings.

Qin Huai looked in the direction of Ao Ling's finger, and the first thing he saw was a foreign goods store with a rather grand facade. On its street-facing side, there were huge picture posters hanging, most of which were advertisements of women in cheongsams with drawn eyebrows, permed hair, and fair skin.

But in the very center, there is an ink painting of a play. In it, the female warrior has a seven-star forehead and holds a red tasseled spear in her hand. She looks heroic and as brave as any man.

"It looks very similar, but unfortunately it's not Hongying."

Qin Huai put down the newspaper in his hand and looked at the signature on the painting.

【Xishengxuan】

This was the theater sign that the Xiang family had spent a lot of effort to put up in Kowloon.

"But she should have some relationship with Hongying. Maybe she is the new character that Uncle Xiang wants to promote recently. As for whether it is true or not, we will know after we go and see it later."

Qin Huai looked around and found a few small side paintings that looked like Hongying on the wall skirt on the street, but the corners were yellow and moldy, as if they had not been changed for a long time.

Thinking about the last letter Hongying sent him half a year ago, Qin Huai always had a bad feeling in his heart.

"Huai Lang, are you feeling homesick and your legs and feet are feeling heavy?"

Seeing Qin Huai stop moving, Ao Ling thought that he was struggling again and wanted to say something to comfort him.

"Nothing, Miss Ao probably hasn't heard Peking Opera in a theater before, right? I'll treat you today, and invite you to Xishengxuan to watch a good show."

Qin Huai waved his hand, withdrew his gaze from the advertisement with the theater's performance schedule, and led Ao Ling to the nearby pier to take the ferry, heading straight to Central, Hong Kong Island.
-
Central, Victory Court.

Da Lai Theatre was the oldest theatre building in Central, Hong Kong Island. It has received countless dignitaries. In the early years, all the famous actors in Guangdong and Guangdong were proud to perform in this theatre. Unfortunately, as time went by, the theatre, which was no longer popular and without famous actors, was gradually squeezed out by the fashionable dance halls and cinemas. In the year when Emperor Xuantong ascended the throne, it was sold to the Xiang Family Troupe by its unworthy descendants, renamed Xishengxuan, and continued to make a living in the opera industry.

Now, three years have passed. The Xiang family has Xiang Hongying, a famous actress who is well-known in Guangdong and Guangdong for her superb skills. Instead of declining like the Dalai Theatre, Xishengxuan has been reborn and is even more prosperous.

Not only had the building been renovated, but an additional floor was also added. Every day, there were so many people coming to listen to opera that it was impossible to count the number of people and it was impossible to squeeze in.

With so many big and small forces in Hong Kong, they are naturally salivating over the fat piece of meat that is the Xiang Family. But everyone knows that although Xishengxuan is openly named after the Xiang Family, in fact, the owner of this building is surnamed Qin.

The Qin in Jinlou.

Since the continuous expansion of the Golden Tower in recent years, the secret medicine business of the Baji Sect has also grown bigger and bigger. Almost all the people in the underworld know that there is a master named Qin under the command of the Divine Spear Li, and that the Golden Tower and the secret medicine are all from this person's hands.

With the secret instigation of Li Bingwu and Xiang Yihai, various forces in Hong Kong Island also knew more or less about Qin Huai's outstanding achievements in the Yi Si year, which helped Jinlou and Xishengxuan to avoid a lot of trouble.

Now, anyone who wants to attack Shengxuan must first consider whether he can withstand the wrath of a Baji master and the Guangfu Martial Arts Association.

And now, Qin Huai, who can be regarded as a big figure both in the Southern Martial Arts Association and the Northern Martial Arts World, walked into the private room on the second floor with Ao Ling in a very low-key manner, quietly waiting for the show to begin.

"The scene is a bit deserted, and there aren't many people. This shouldn't be Hongying's performance."

Qin Huai stood by the railing, lowered his eyes and looked at the first-floor hall where there were still some empty seats, leaving the space on the side for Ao Ling.

Soon, gongs and drums sounded, cymbals crashed, and from time to time a piece of erhu was added, and "Battle of Jinshan" began.

"Change the flags and banners - ambitions reach the sky -"

"it is good!"

"Liang Hongyu" came out and just as she started singing, the whole theater burst into thunderous applause.

"Dong dong dong dong——"

The drum beats were as rapid as falling rain, and Liang Hongyu followed suit, each step seeming to be on point.

The Song soldiers behind him stood solemnly with guns in hand, and he was the only one seen dancing alone.

The show begins.

"Warships lined up, chains surrounding—"

As soon as he opened his mouth, Qin Huai knew that his guess was correct. The female warrior on the stage was indeed not Xiang Hongying.

【Deng Zining】

Status: Muscle training
Specialization: Singing and dancing 62%, makeup 59%
Threat Level: White

Note: She is the successor of the Xiang family troupe and the younger sister of the famous Guangdong actress Xiang Hongying, who was accepted as an apprentice on behalf of her master.

After the song ended and the people on the stage bowed, Qin Huai nodded to Ao Ling, who was still not satisfied, and said, "Let's go backstage."

"it is good."

At the backstage door, a few guys guarding the troupe saw a rather unfamiliar but well-mannered man and woman approaching. Just as they were about to approach and talk to them and ask what they were up to, they saw the theater manager jump up from the front row seat and said in a trembling voice, "Sir, you're back?!" "Well, where's Hongying?"

Qin Huai didn't waste any words. The man in front of him was an old man from the Xiang family who had followed Hongying from Tianjin to Kowloon. He had an impression of him and could trust him.

"The young lady accompanied the master to the north to seek medical treatment a few days ago, and she is not in Kowloon now!"

"what?"

Qin Huai was a little surprised, but he calmed down and asked, "Tell me what happened in detail."

"Yes. That was about half a year ago. The master's old illness relapsed, and his spirit and energy declined every day. Fortunately, Master Li of Jinliyuan boiled medicine soup every day, which barely maintained the master's spirit. But three months ago, the master's condition suddenly worsened. Master Bingwu, who was far away in Foshan, sent a letter saying that he had a way. Miss didn't think twice and immediately packed her luggage and took the master to Foshan. He has not returned since then, and only a few letters have been sent back."

"What about the letter?"

Qin Huai frowned, and when he thought of the great master who was proficient in medicine and martial arts and was hiding behind the Hongsheng ancestral hall, he felt a little relieved.

"Master Qin, follow me."

The theater manager looked at Ao Ling silently for a few seconds, then bowed and went into the private room backstage.

Soon, he found a pile of account books under Qin Huai's nose and took out several letters sandwiched between them.

Qin Huai took the letter and after confirming that the beautiful handwriting on it was indeed written by Hongying, he immediately began to read it word by word.

Most of these letters talked about daily trivialities and troupe arrangements, and there was not much useful information. The date of the last letter was the third day of the twelfth lunar month in the second year of the Xuantong reign.

"that's it?"

"only these."

"Everything remains the same. Go ahead and get busy."

Seeing that he could not get any more information from the theater manager, Qin Huai nodded, put the letter away and walked out.

"Master, it's not easy for the young lady to support herself all these years. Now that you are back, please take care of her more!"

"Know!"

Qin Huai paused for a moment, but then waved goodbye to everyone in Xishengxuan.

"Huai Lang, are we going to continue heading north to look for Sister Hongying?"

Ao Ling was holding an exquisite and gorgeous glass cup in his hand. He was drinking the [Emperor's Juice] condensed from the [Green Autumn Mirror] in small sips while asking Qin Huai who was studying the map.

"Yes, but before that, I have to go to Jinliyuan to meet an old friend."

Qin Huai looked at the British-style buildings and the hanging plaques that were receding on both sides of the car window, and soon the car stopped in front of a large pharmacy that combined Chinese and Western styles.

The two walked to the counter and greeted the accountant. Not long after, Li Yutang, whose hair had become much grayer and his temples were much more grey, came down from the second floor.

"Xiao Qin!"

Li Yutang was originally wondering who was looking for him, but when he saw the familiar figure, a name immediately popped up in his mind.

"Uncle Li, how have you been these past few years?"

Qin Huai laughed, a small jade bottle slipped out of his sleeve, and he stepped forward to meet him.

"It's all good, it's all good, but I've reached my age, and I have to accept it!"

Li Yutang looked at the small jade bottle Qin Huai handed over and asked curiously, "What is this?"

"Great medicine from heaven and earth, essence from the sea, great stuff!"

Qin Huai chuckled and stuffed the jade bottle into Li Yutang's hand, motioning him to keep it carefully.

"Okay, since you gave it to me, I won't be polite to you."

Li Yutang didn't take Qin Huai's words seriously because they sounded so mysterious. He thought it was something similar to the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Pills and put it in his pocket.

"Who is this?"

Seeing Li Yutang cast his gaze towards Ao Ling, Qin Huai thought for a moment and said, "Ao Ling, she is as important to me as Hongying."

"Oh, a confidante~"

After hearing what Qin Huai said, Li Yutang immediately showed a look of understanding on his face. He was an experienced man and had several concubines, so he was not surprised by such things.

"Uncle Li, I came to Kowloon this time to take Hongying and Xiang Bo back to Tianjin for recuperation. But I just went to Xishengxuan and the manager said that Hongying and Xiang Bo had gone north to Foshan for medical treatment. I heard that they had been bothering you for a while, so I wanted to take the opportunity to ask about Xiang Bo's condition while delivering the treasure to you."

Qin Huai did not talk much with Li Yutang about Ao Ling. He immediately changed the subject and asked about the most important matter at the moment.

"Oh, Lao Liang, go get my medical records."

Li Yutang waved his hand, and the waiter on the side immediately went up to the second-floor storage room to retrieve a medical record and presented it to his master.

"In fact, Yi Hai's illness is not a disease of the flesh, bones, or internal organs, but because he suffered too many injuries in his early years. He almost died at the hands of the King of Hell a few years ago. It is really difficult to reverse the situation. At that time, although Master Shan and I barely pulled him back from the gates of hell, his life span was already shortened. Calculating the time, it is not easy for him to live until now."

Li Yutang flipped open the medical record, pointed to the prescription he had written for Xiang Yihai, and showed it to Qin Huai, and continued: "But you know the temper of my niece Hongying, she is tough and stubborn. Plus, as a child, how can she watch her father decline day by day and wait for death?"

"So three months ago, Yi Hai's condition worsened a little, and my niece Hongying wanted to leave Kowloon to seek medical treatment in other places. Bingwu happened to send an urgent telegram, saying that he had a wide range of friends and seemed to have some connections that could help Yi Hai with his urgent needs. So my niece Hongying took him to Foshan. As for where they are now and whether their condition has improved, I don't know."

Qin Huai looked through Li Yutang's detailed medical records, nodded, and had an idea in mind.

"Thank you Uncle Li for your help some time ago. If I had known that Uncle Xiang's health was deteriorating, I would have come back earlier. I hope that this trip north will be in time to save the day."

Qin Huai handed the medical record back to Li Yutang, and after patiently chatting for a few words about the situation in Kowloon, he bowed and said goodbye, and came to an uninhabited place with Ao Ling.

"Miss Ao, we should make emergency arrangements and return to Shuijun Palace first."

"it is good."

Seeing that Ao Ling had returned to Shuijun Palace, Qin Huai spread his cloud wings and soared into the sky. The golden and red light streaked across the starry night and headed straight for Foshan.

(End of this chapter)