In Hebei, within a small county town that would take a while to locate on a map.

She surveyed the night market through the car window, its dust and stain-covered facade bustling with noise that carried far. The streets were thick with the pungent aroma of poppy shells from the hotpot restaurants.

The barbecue stall owner's face gleamed with grease, as people wrapped tightly in their coats passed through the billowing smoke.

Cramped, astringent, cold, and rough.

"Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou are the illusions of this country; small county towns are its reality," she had heard someone say before, though she had never deeply understood it until now.

This might very well be her last chance, she sighed and said:

"We're here, Uncle Bai. Let's get out."

The wind was strong in the north. The woman, wrapped in a large overcoat that concealed her figure, was followed by a man in his thirties, standing tall and straight with a neat crew cut.

One after the other, they stepped into a dilapidated audio-visual store.

Such a bleak trade was rare nowadays.

The old television set was somewhat damp, and the young Dou Wei on the greenish screen was singing her heart out. It was just as she belted out the line "What you possess is your body, captivating beauty, what I possess is my memory, wonderful feelings," the lyrics were scandalously raw.

Stacks of martial arts novels were piled everywhere—Liang Yusheng, Gu Long, and even Ni Kuang's works were present. Warmly lit glass cabinets displayed a variety of records and videos from the late 20th century, along with some old, pixelated, and even black-and-white photos. Teddy Robin, Sam Hui, and Alan Tam, holding microphones and facing each other, with the words "1984 Space Odyssey Concert" written beside them.

Old-fashioned posters adorned the walls, with "Rouge Button" written in three characters, and Anita Mui in male disguise, her neck and eyes faint as smoke.

"What would you like?"

His voice was clear and gentle, not at all like the roughness of a northern man.

Surprisingly, the owner of such an outdated shop was a tall, slender young man, no more than twenty-five years old. He wore a black T-shirt and had a pale complexion.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Li Yan?"

The woman asked with a smile.

"Ah, yes, that's me."

The woman before him had a high, straight nose and shallow eye sockets, and her features were beautiful, exuding a vigorous spirit. She radiated an air of brisk efficiency.

Li Yan glanced subtly at the silent, crew-cut man behind her and responded.

"I am a director of the Chinese National Martial Arts Association, from Guangdong. My name is Lei Jing, and Lei Hongsheng was my grandfather."

The woman revealed a set of white teeth,

"By seniority, I should be calling you 'senior brother.'"

She grasped Li Yan's palm, her grip warm and strong.

Li Yan's eyes seemed to be covered with a thin layer of dust, only revealing a glint of light upon hearing the name "Lei Hongsheng."

"Oh, please, have a seat. It's a small place, don't mind it."

The woman sat down gracefully on a nearby chair, silently observing Li Yan. Her family still kept an old photo of her grandfather with this man, yet it was hard to reconcile the sharp and defiant youth in the picture with the current owner of the audio-visual store.

"I often hear Grandfather mention his senior disciple brother," she said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "He would always say that among all the people he'd met, you were the one with the highest natural talent."

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The man turned to pour water from a warming flask, casually asking as he did so, "Is the old man still in good health?"

Her eyes lowered slightly, "He passed away earlier this year."

Li Yan's hand remained steady, not a drop of water spilled as he poured. Setting down the flask, he looked deeply into the woman's eyes and asked, "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

The woman pursed her lips before speaking, "I was hoping that Senior Brother Li could come with me to Guangdong and serve as a consultant for the association."

Li Yan raised an eyebrow and replied, "You must have heard of what kind of person I am, Miss Lei. To speak with self-awareness, in the Martial Arts Circle, the name Li Yan is rather infamous. Why would you think I could help you?"

Lei Jing remained silent for a moment before smiling faintly, "Rather than infamous, I'd say you have a Notorious Reputation. Perhaps those people won't respect you, but they will certainly fear you."

Li Yan couldn't help but chuckle at her words.

"That sounds quite reasonable. Unfortunately, you're too late."

He picked up his cup and inquired, "Miss Lei is an educated person, you know what 'AML' stands for, don't you?"

Lei Jing paused, a shadow crossing her heart. Tentatively, she said, "Acute Myeloid Leukemia."

Li Yan took a sip of water and revealed, "I was diagnosed with this disease a month ago. Your grandfather knew that I have no family or close ties."

He smiled wryly, "So, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you."

The woman looked down at her nails for a moment before speaking with a dry tone, "The medical facilities in the south are much better than here, and I know some renowned doctors abroad. Leukemia is not a death sentence, and even without siblings, it's entirely possible to find a matching bone marrow donor."

She looked up, her demeanor becoming more assertive.

"It might be difficult for you to accept my visit, but..."

Lei Jing chose her words carefully, "The martial arts association was my grandfather's life's work. I cannot stand by and watch it become a tool for politicians to wield power or seek profit."

"You talk about wielding power..."

Li Yan suddenly interrupted her, finishing his warm drink and fiddling with the cup in his hand. He smiled at her, a mischievous air about him.

"Why wouldn't handing the association over to you be considered wielding power? Can you tell me, what's the difference between you and those politicians you despise?"

Li Yan's blunt words caused a man with a crew cut sitting nearby to frown deeply.

The woman's face remained calm as she explained methodically, "The martial arts association was founded by my grandfather, and I've been involved with its affairs since I was sixteen. No one understands it better than I do, and no one loves it more."

Li Yan shook his head, placing the cup down, "When I shook hands with Miss Lei just now, your hands were very soft, you haven't trained in martial arts, have you?"

The woman's lips tightened.

"I've been frail since childhood, and the martial arts practiced in my family are quite domineering. As a result, I've only trained in some Breathing Techniques to regulate my qi."

"So, I see." Li Yan bowed his head, and abruptly, he veered off-topic:

"Miss Lei, do you enjoy reading wuxia novels?"

Lei Jing was caught off guard by the question and attempted a response, "Jin Yong?"

"Lao She, Soul-Breaking Spear."

The woman clearly did not grasp what Li Yan meant, but a man with a crew cut nearby narrowed his eyes.

"Anyway, I'm too ill to be of any help to you. Thank you for your kindness. If you two would like to stay for a meal, I've made dumplings. If not, please feel free to leave. Also, please offer incense to the old master on my behalf."

With the conversation having reached this point, it was clear there was no need to continue.

After a while, Lei Jing quietly stood up. He didn't leave immediately but, under Li Yan's gaze, took out a business card and placed it on the table.

"People have told me so much about how overbearing Li Yan is. They could never imagine you like this now."

Li Yan cocked his head, saying nothing.

"But my grandfather has always admired you, always. Do you know how he described you?"

Lei Jing looked straight at the man, imitating his grandfather's tone.

"A martial artist should first cultivate a trace of malice in his heart. In my life, I've seen many young people, but only this rascal has just the right amount, that exact trace of malice."

"Whether you agree to my request or not, I sincerely hope that the trace of malice in your heart hasn't dissipated."

Having said this, Lei Jing turned and left with the middle-aged man.

Li Yan sat still for a while, then picked up two cups of hot water and drank them down. He laughed softly to himself;

"She's quite something."

He wiped his nose with a tissue, not minding the bright red on it, and casually tossed it aside. He then lay back on the sofa.

"Trace of malice... Heh."

Li Yan covered his forehead with his right hand, recalling the spirited Thick-Browed Elder, his smile tinged with bitterness.

"I'm sorry, old master..."

"Tap"

A pair of shiny black leather shoes stepped onto the floor of his home. Li Yan recognized them as belonging to the crew-cut man who had followed Lei Jing.

"Is there something else?"

Li Yan sat up and looked up, his spine suddenly chilled, his chestnut-colored pupils contracting uncontrollably.

The door frame creaked under the grip of the man's pale fingers. He hunched over like a beast, his face's red flesh sagging, adhering to strands of pale white fascia. His entire face was a rotted mess.

Hearing Li Yan's question, the man slowly lifted his head, his eyes bulging with bloodshot veins, as ferocious as a Fierce Ghost.

Li Yan inhaled the cold air into his lungs, accompanied by the stirring percussion from the television screen, and his own curt, forceful curse.

"Damn!"

**********

Feel free to check more free following-up chapters here: https://www.readgates.com/article/7956ef