Martial Arts Across the Heavens: Becoming a Martial God Starting from the Big Boss in Tangshan

Chapter 161 Yan Zhendong Returns

Not long after, Wong Fei-hung returned with his men, his steps much lighter than when he left, his face showing obvious excitement.

Before he even entered the door, he called out, "Brother Chen! Brother Chen, look! Who's back!"

Following behind him was Liang Kuan, who looked travel-worn but was filled with excitement.

What truly surprised and delighted Chen Wen was that Liang Kuan was followed by another person.

Yan Zhendong's face looked much more weathered than when they parted, but his eyes were no longer numb and dull. Instead, they were bright and piercing, revealing a calm and invigorating spirit!

"Master Yan!" Chen Wen was both surprised and delighted, and quickly went to greet him.

Upon seeing Chen Wen, Yan Zhendong immediately clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Mr. Chen! I'm back!"

Chen Wen quickly helped him up with both hands, carefully examining him: "Master Yan, why are you back so soon? How did things go?"

He sent Yan Zhendong and Yacha Su across the ocean to search for and rescue Taiping soldiers who had been sold overseas decades ago.

This is by no means something that can be accomplished in a short time; I didn't expect the other party to return so quickly.

Is it good news? Or has trouble struck?

When Yan Zhendong heard Chen Wen ask about it, the excited look on his face faded slightly, replaced by a heavy gloom.

He took a deep breath, his voice becoming much lower: "Mr. Chen, this is a long story, and the situation is even more—tragic—than we originally expected."

"Those brothers who were stranded overseas in their early years suffered extremely badly. They were treated like pigs and dogs by foreigners, forced to do hard labor in various mines and plantations, and were often beaten and killed, with no medical care for their injuries and illnesses."

"Over the decades, less than one in ten has survived."

"We made inquiries from various sources before we finally found some clues."

"What's even more hateful is that a few years ago, when two foreign countries went to war, they actually tricked these brothers who still had the strength to fight, promising them freedom and sending them to the front lines to risk their lives—"

At this point, Yan Zhendong suddenly clenched his fist unconsciously.

"The brothers thought there was hope, and fought desperately to help them win the battle."

"But what was the result? The foreigners turned around and tore up the agreement, selling them like commodities to even more remote and impoverished places! Many people just died like that."

The inn fell silent; even Aunt Thirteen listened intently, her face showing reluctance.

"Toothcha Su and I split up and tried to contact some overseas Chinese gangs. After much trouble, we have only found a few hundred people so far, all of whom are covered in wounds and plagued by diseases."

"Tooth-Cheer Su is fluent in English and has good medical skills. He has decided to stay there to continue searching for and caring for any brothers he can find."

"I came back first with this first group of people. They are now settled on Cheung Chau Island."

After Yan Zhendong finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Three hundred thousand — a few hundred people.

These numbers rolled over everyone's mind, bringing a suffocating heaviness and a surge of grief and indignation that seemed about to explode.

boom!

Huang Feihong slammed his fist hard on the table next to him, and the wooden tabletop cracked with several fissures.

His chest heaved violently as he gritted his teeth and said, "Damn Manchurian dogs! This is an irreconcilable hatred! And those foreigners—every single one of them deserves to die!"

Chen Wen's face was also extremely gloomy.

Although he was a time traveler, he knew the general outline of that dark history and the tragedy of being sold into slavery.

But how can the words in textbooks depict the horrific scene of 300,000 people being trafficked and tortured to death like livestock in foreign lands?

How can one imagine the horrifying, utterly desolate abyss behind those few hundred survivors, where no remains of their bodies exist?

Hearing Yan Zhendong speak the truth in his heavy voice at this moment is far more impactful than any historical record.

A chilling killing intent and a deep sense of sorrow intertwined within him.

"We must avenge this!"

Chen Wen raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room, each word spoken with unwavering resolve.

"No matter who it is, Manchu or foreign, anyone whose hands are stained with the blood of their compatriots and who has harmed the Chinese people, will pay for their crimes in blood!"

"A blood debt must be repaid in blood!" Wong Fei-hung responded in a deep voice, his fists clenched.

"A blood debt must be repaid in blood!" Liang Kuan and Yan Zhendong roared, their eyes burning with the same flame.

"By the way," Yan Zhendong calmed down a bit, then remembered something and said to Chen Wen, "The Taiping Army that returned this time has elected a representative who would like to meet you."

Chen Wen took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and immediately said, "Please come in quickly!"

A moment later, Yan Zhendong led one person in.

The person who came was an old woman with gray hair, her face etched with the wrinkles of time and hardship, and her back slightly hunched, but her steps were unusually steady.

What is most striking are her eyes; though somewhat cloudy, they are sharp as lightning when they sweep across the room.

As soon as she entered, her gaze fell directly on Chen Wen. She looked him up and down, then nodded: "I didn't expect the commander of the Blood Flag Army to be so young. I am Shi Lanying from the Taiping Army Women's Battalion. Greetings, Commander."

"The Taiping Army Women's Camp?" Chen Wen was taken aback, then his eyes showed surprise and respect. "You are under the command of General Su Sanniang?"

""

Upon hearing the name Su San Niang, Shi Lan Ying's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

A layer of tears instantly welled up in those sharp eyes.

She blinked hard, her voice trembling slightly with a barely perceptible sob: "I never imagined that after all these decades, there would still be someone in this world who remembers Third Sister."

"Of course I remember!" Chen Wen nodded vigorously. "I not only remember now, but I will remember in the future."

"When we overthrow the corrupt Qing Dynasty and restore our land, we will also engrave the great achievements of the Taiping Army on stone tablets, so that our descendants will remember them forever!"

Shi Lanying's tears finally rolled down her cheeks, winding their way down the deep wrinkles on her face.

She didn't wipe it, but straightened her back and nodded vigorously.

Huang Feihong, Yan Zhendong, and others standing nearby were also deeply moved and sighed with emotion.

Chen Wen was filled with emotion. Looking at the weathered old man, he said gently, "Senior Shi, you've suffered a lot out there. Now that you're back, please rest well and recover. We'll wait for you—"

"Rest?" Shi Lanying raised her hand and vigorously wiped her face, interrupting Chen Wen's words.

"Commander Chen, this old man of mine has returned, but not to lie here and wait to die!"

"The blood of the Taiping Army has not yet been shed! As long as we have a breath left, we will do our utmost for our fallen brothers and sisters, and for this land of China!"

"This—" Huang Feihong quickly said, "Senior, you are already advanced in years and have gone through many hardships. You should be enjoying your retirement—how can we, your juniors, trouble you any further?"

"Yes, Senior Shi," Chen Wen also advised, "You have already sacrificed too much. Let us, the younger generation, walk the road ahead."

Shi Lanying stubbornly shook her head, her eyes gleaming: "Commander Chen, Master Huang, do you look down on our Taiping Army, or on this old woman like me, Shi Lanying?"

"Third Sister was fighting desperately until the very end!"

"Since I'm not dead, I must continue to fight! This is our fate, and our will!"

Chen Wen was speechless for a moment. Looking at the unwavering determination in the old man's eyes, he didn't know how to persuade him any further.

At this moment, Yan Zhendong stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and said to Chen Wen, "Mr. Chen, you were able to put aside past grievances and take in a muddle-headed, defeated general like me, showing me the way forward."

"Senior Shi and the others are true veterans, with rich combat experience and have seen large-scale battles. Now that our Blood Flag Army is newly established, it is precisely the time when we need their talents."