The world of Xiangjiang retains echoes of historical issues, yet the characters and stories have evolved over time.
The once celebrated title of "Eastern Hollywood" has faded, replaced by the place of origin for 'Kung Fu,' with several martial arts masters being the most renowned among them.
The most famous of these martial arts figures are a master and his disciple, Ip Man and Bruce Lee.
Ip Man, originally from Guangdong, was born into a family steeped in literary tradition. His Wing Chun martial arts became widely known. When the Japanese invaders drove him out of his hometown, he was forced to leave his home and eventually sought refuge in Xiangjiang, where he put down roots.
After his arrival, in order to survive, he fought strongmen, reviving the fame of Wing Chun and establishing himself as a representative figure of Xiangjiang...
His story bore striking resemblance to the films Zhao Lun had seen, leaving him in awe. This world indeed had its complexities.
As for Bruce Lee, he was Ip Man's disciple, but after offending influential figures in Xiangjiang, he left, beginning his legendary journey...
The term 'Kung Fu' has become universally recognized.
Zhao Lun lamented that he would never meet these iconic figures.
When Angela was younger, she studied martial arts at a school opened by one of Ip Man's disciples. However, her time there was short and superficial, and she never gained much, so she rarely felt any improvement and stopped attending.
With the disappearance of these legendary figures, their martial arts schools also fell into decline. Nowadays, the most famous figures are not them, but those involved in the underworld.
Xiangjiang, though not large, is teeming with people from various walks of life. Fights break out during the day, and at night, knives are drawn. According to Angela, this has become routine. From the governor to children as young as a few years old, everyone knows it.
The presence of local gangsters once became rampant, to the point that the police could do nothing, even being threatened. When they encountered such individuals, their demeanor often lowered.
Such situations are inevitable—after all, the police are Chinese, while the governor is a true British officer. Without significant support, they naturally lacked the authority to maintain order.
In China, even street thugs tend to avoid city management officers. Of course, some might approach them, but that's a mutual connection, ingratiating and flattering. However, no matter what, these officers maintain control.
When Nicole first arrived in Xiangjiang with Angela, they were blocked by small-time thugs. At that time, they were unprepared and had not yet trained to become experts, nearly suffering a setback. Fortunately, Mulan came to their rescue, and that led to their friendship.
Mulan, a low-key expert, was referred to as such by Nicole and others. However, she humbly rejected the title. According to her, she was no expert; in the eyes of true experts, she was merely a chef with some knowledge of fitness techniques.
She said that aside from the gangsters, Xiangjiang was home to many true experts. Thanks to their influence, the thugs dared not pressure ordinary people.
However, true experts prefer to remain hidden and only reveal themselves when absolutely necessary.
If you don't believe it, inquire about Master Ip's story.
After hearing this, Nicole and the others were left speechless, and Zhao Lun finally understood why he had never met the 'real deal' in his past life. Everyone had chosen to live in obscurity, a reality he had mistaken for a joke.
As they exited the airport, Zhao Lun's mind raced with many thoughts. It wasn't until their pick-up arrived that he temporarily pushed aside his chaotic musings and turned his attention to the newcomer.
It was Mulan! Known as the "Goddess of Cooking" in Xiangjiang, she was quite famous.
Wherever a beautiful woman goes, she inevitably draws attention. In their group, aside from Zhao Lun, the women caught the eyes of everyone around them.
Mulan was a beauty. Despite her cool demeanor, she still attracted plenty of gazes. As Nicole and the others joined her, each of them exuded elegance, instantly becoming the center of attention.
They greeted one another, their sweet voices like heavenly music, drawing even more attention from the crowd.
People entering and exiting the airport couldn't help but glance over, quickly recognizing the familiar faces.
"Angela?! Is that the star from 'Beautiful Special Forces'?!"
"Monica! Nicole!! Angela!"
"It's them! It's definitely them!"
"I can't believe it! It's Angela! I saw her last time! She's from Xiangjiang! I'm sure it's her!"
"Wow! The big stars are here!!"
"Is that Mulan, the Goddess of Cooking?!"
The amazement was palpable, as though they had just won the lottery. The shouts and cheers attracted even more attention.
Angela was the first to be recognized, followed by Nicole, Monica, and the others. Then Mulan, the celebrity chef, was spotted by others.
The power of stars is immense. Those who have never been fans can never understand the fanaticism of followers or the irrational passion behind it.
The scene became electrified with excitement, as shouts echoed, and a throng of fans emerged from nowhere, quickly surrounding the stars, eager to get close.
Flash! Flash! A barrage of camera flashes erupted, and within moments, several reporters appeared, swiftly pushing forward with their long lenses, eager to shove microphones in their faces.
Bang! A soft sound followed by a puff of smoke rising from the crowd suddenly halted the frenzy of fans.
A few seconds later, when the smoke cleared, the stars were nowhere to be found!
"What? Where did they go?"
"How could they disappear?"
In mere seconds, the famous figures had vanished. How could this happen? They had just been here!
The stunned crowd stood frozen in place.
"Where are they?!"
Suddenly, someone in the periphery shouted. The crowd turned to look and saw several figures, walking quietly and slowly, as though trying not to make a sound, heading towards a car.
They had seen the car before. It looked luxurious, but they hadn't realized it was there to pick up the stars.
The celebrities were about to get in!
Within a second, all of them had gotten in the car!
It was only then that everyone realized that while they had been distracted, the stars had quietly slipped away.
"Don't let them get away!"
"Chase them!"
Some weren't willing to give up, shouting as they rushed forward. Their reactions were quick, and within a few breaths, they were almost upon the car. The others, following blindly, formed a mass of people.
Vroom! The car honked lightly, then roared as it sped off, kicking up a cloud of dust and leaving behind a gust of wind.
"Cough cough..."
The dust cloud hit the pursuing crowd.
"What? They're gone?!"
The ones who were so close just moments ago stood in regret, not caring about the dust they had just been covered with.
"Go! Get in the car!"
A few paparazzi, still unwilling to give up, pulled open the door of a nearby old car, started the engine, and began the pursuit.
"Their sports car is already out of sight! How can we catch them?!"
"Amateurs! Xiangjiang is so small, where can they go?"
"Besides, with all these cars ahead, they can't get far!"
"Hehe, the boss is still the best!"
The experienced paparazzi grinned and sped off, while the fans, unprepared, were left behind in regret. Some hailed taxis, but many were left standing still, lamenting their missed chance. (To be continued.)