Return and Enter the Night Shift World

The next day, newspapers all across Hong Kong reported on Tornado's victory over Hong Zhennan, loudly proclaiming that Western Boxing had defeated Chinese Martial Arts, infuriating countless people in the martial arts world.

By the fourth day, however, the direction of the news began to shift. First, one newspaper published a report claiming that Hong Zhennan suffered from asthma, which had happened to flare up on the day of the match and caused his defeat. It said Tornado's victory was dishonorable, and even included Hong Zhennan's medical records as proof. Soon, more and more newspapers reprinted the report, and everyone in Hong Kong was discussing how Tornado had taken advantage of someone in a weakened state to win unfairly.

This matter eventually reached Tornado's ears. Arrogant by nature and disdainful of Chinese Martial Arts, how could he endure such provocation? He immediately held a press conference and publicly announced that he would accept challenges from Chinese martial artists, using this to prove that Western Boxing was superior to Chinese Martial Arts.

Tornado's challenge letter caused a sensation throughout Hong Kong. People everywhere discussed who could represent Chinese Martial Arts in challenging Tornado and defend its honor.

Amid all the commotion, another newspaper was the first to publish an article calling for Ip Man to represent Hong Kong's martial arts community in challenging Tornado. It also brought up the previous news of Wing Chun drawing with Hong Quan.

With the push of an unseen hand, everyone in Hong Kong eventually hoped that Ip Man would step forward to challenge Tornado. Even Hong Zhennan, who was still recovering from his illness, personally visited Ip Man and asked him to fight.

Carried along by public opinion and the earnest hopes of his friends and family, Ip Man finally agreed to challenge Tornado three days later.

When Hao Shuai saw that Ip Man had finally agreed, he let out a long breath of relief. All his efforts had not been in vain.

That was right! Hao Shuai had personally orchestrated the recent reports from Hong Kong's newspapers. With his immense wealth, he manipulated public opinion across Hong Kong. Even Hong Zhennan had been invited by Hao Shuai. In the end, he had finally forced Ip Man to agree to step into the ring.

It was not that Hao Shuai was cruel and wanted Ip Man to get beaten to death in the ring. It was simply Ip Man's personality—if no one pushed him, he would always drift through life. Back in Foshan, he had only fought Japan because he had been forced into it. In the movie, too, Hong Zhennan's death had forced him to take action.

Now that Hong Zhennan was alive and well, Ip Man lacked that overwhelming emotional drive. He would never take the initiative to challenge Tornado. And if he did not fight Tornado, who knew when he would break through to Hua Jin and become a grandmaster?

Of course, Hao Shuai would not just stand by and watch Ip Man get beaten to death. During the match, he would keep his eyes on everything. The moment something went wrong, he would flip the table on the spot and kill Tornado.

Hao Shuai felt that he had truly done everything he could for this master of his.

Three days passed quickly. On the day of the match, the entire boxing gym was packed. Hong Kong's fellow martial artists had all come to cheer Ip Man on, including the comic duo and the not-yet-recovered Hong Zhennan.

With Hao Shuai protecting him throughout the entire match, the course of events followed the standard movie protagonist's revenge script perfectly. Ip Man began by passively taking a beating, then achieved enlightenment at the end, broke through to Hua Jin, pinned Tornado down, and gave him a savage pummeling before winning the match.

After Ip Man won the match on Hong Kong's behalf, the name Wing Chun Ip Man became increasingly famous. He was faintly recognized as Hong Kong's number one boxer, while Hao Shuai continued living a life of practicing boxing day and night.

One day, Hao Shuai felt that he had been unable to break through to An Jin for far too long. He went to his master and brought up the problem he was facing with Ip Man.

"Xiao Shuai, that is only natural. If practicing martial arts were truly so smooth and effortless, then everyone would be a master. You have already achieved minor mastery in Wing Chun. Take another step forward, and you can reach the An Jin stage. But that will require at least several years of effort. What you lack now is accumulation—accumulation of time, understanding of different things, and sparring with others." After hearing Hao Shuai's question, Ip Man gave him an answer.

"I understand, Master. I want to leave and make my way on my own." Hao Shuai knew that continuing to train here would not bring much progress. After all, he had cheats. He could not possibly spend several years in Ip Man's world just to break through. He could only find another way in other worlds.

"Mm, I have long been prepared for this. You should graduate from under me by now. But after you leave, remember not to fight others casually. Punishing evil and upholding justice is what matters most. Also, do not forget to practice when you are on your own. A singer never leaves a tune, and a boxer never leaves his hands idle. Otherwise, you will never improve." Ip Man was not surprised at all. He knew Hao Shuai was about ready to leave, and naturally felt at ease.

"I understand, Master. This time, I want to return to the mainland. I will probably stay there for the rest of my life," Hao Shuai said reluctantly.

Hao Shuai knew that once he left, he would never return to this world. With his help, Ip Man had lived a better life than he had in the movie, so Hao Shuai could finally rest easy. Therefore, he would not pause the flow of time in this world, but let it develop naturally.

The next day, Hao Shuai secretly transferred the house he lived in to Master's wife's name as a parting gift for his master. Then, after saying goodbye to Ip Man and the others, he returned to the real world.

--

Inside the rented apartment in the real world.

Hao Shuai sat beside the dining table, stuffing himself. Ever since he began practicing National Martial Arts, his appetite had grown to two or three times that of an ordinary person. As his realm in National Martial Arts improved in the future, his appetite would only continue to increase.

No wonder people had always said that scholars could be poor, but martial artists had to be rich. If one was not from a wealthy family, how could they bear the daily consumption of a National Martial Arts expert? Fortunately, Hao Shuai was no longer short on money. If it had been the old Hao Shuai, he would probably have starved to death.

Warmth and fullness bred lust. Once he had eaten his fill, Hao Shuai decided it was time to find a world where he could have some fun. With his National Martial Arts at the peak of Ming Jin and telekinesis capable of lifting ten tons, he should possess the basic ability to protect himself.

After being dumped by his ninth girlfriend, Hao Shuai had been single for a long time—long enough to break his own record. And because practicing National Martial Arts had left his blood and vitality overflowing, while he had no habit of practicing the Left-Right Technique, his morning erection was nearly punching a hole through the bed every day.

--

In front of St. Julianna Hospital.

Hao Shuai looked at the holy land in the hearts of countless lonely men. From the outside, it did not look any different from an ordinary hospital. Uh, if there had to be a difference, it was probably that everyone in this hospital, from the director of the medical bureau down to the little intern nurses, was a beauty. It was as though looks were the standard for hiring employees here. Even the intern nurses were far prettier than those at other hospitals. That was probably the biggest difference.

Watching the young, beautiful, vibrant nurses pass by him one after another, Hao Shuai was certain that he had finally entered the world he had once dreamed of—Night Shift World.

The Night Shift anime could be said to be Hao Shuai's awakening anime. He had revisited it countless times, and every time he did, an intense desire to take the protagonist's place would rise within him.

Now, heaven had finally opened its eyes. He could at last fulfill his wish.