After returning to the real world, Hao Shuai first went to the Night Shift World to relax for a few days. While he was there, he had Fujisawa Ako's family help him sell off several tons of gold. Then he used the money to have Jinguguji Narumi buy the hospital first, followed by a villa, so he wouldn't have to keep living at the hospital.
After spending a few days surrounded by beauties, Hao Shuai decided to visit another world and continue practicing National Martial Arts. After giving it some thought, he set his sights on Wong Fei Hung World. After all, the world was set in the Late Qing Dynasty, a time when National Martial Arts was flourishing and grandmasters were everywhere. With Wong Fei Hung, one of the Sages of Ten Thousand Realms, there, it would be relatively easy to become his disciple.
Besides, Wong Fei Hung World had the incomparable beauty, Thirteenth Aunt.
Thirteenth Aunt!
Hao Shuai was heading to the Jet Li series of Once Upon a Time in China, after all, and Thirteenth Aunt was played by Rosamund Kwan!
Just imagine that otherworldly beauty! And people in the real world were often even more beautiful than the actors who portrayed them!
So, on this trip to Wong Fei Hung World, Hao Shuai intended not only to reach the level of controlled force in National Martial Arts, but also to steal Thirteenth Aunt away!
Though "steal her away" wasn't quite right. Thirteenth Aunt and Wong Fei Hung had gotten together because they'd been through a series of events together.
If he could get involved and prevent some of those things from happening—or make them happen with him instead—the outcome would be hard to predict.
Besides, Hao Shuai was doing a good deed. A nephew getting together with his own aunt would draw criticism even in modern times, let alone in the Late Qing Dynasty. Even if she was only his aunt by marriage, it was still unacceptable. Such an important matter of family ethics couldn't be taken lightly.
To protect Wong Fei Hung's reputation, Hao Shuai was determined to help.
When Hao Shuai appeared again, he found himself on the deck of a ship, surrounded by an endless expanse of blue sea.
Hao Shuai was speechless. This kind of random traveling without the system arranging things was just too unreliable. At least this time he'd landed on a ship. What if next time he got unlucky and ended up in the sea or inside a volcano? He could fly, sure, but it would still be a hassle.
Hao Shuai looked around. It was a huge ocean liner, and he was standing by the railing on the starboard side. There wasn't another person in sight nearby, so he headed straight for the main deck. There, he saw quite a few fair-skinned, blond-haired foreigners, men and women with prominent noses, chatting in small groups.
From the conversations around him, Hao Shuai learned that this was a passenger ship traveling from London to Foshan. Most of the passengers were foreigners going to Foshan for business, though there were also a few students returning home from Britain.
As Hao Shuai wandered around the ship, looking for information, he noticed two disreputable-looking Englishmen blocking a woman in a European-style dress on the deck ahead. He couldn't tell what they were saying, but the yellow-skinned woman looked annoyed and disgusted. With his sharp eyes, Hao Shuai immediately recognized her as Thirteenth Aunt.
Who would have thought?
After searching high and low, Thirteenth Aunt was right in front of him.
Hao Shuai had assumed he'd have to wait until he met Wong Fei Hung to see Thirteenth Aunt. He hadn't expected to meet her as soon as he arrived.
Fate really was a curious thing. It seemed even heaven wanted him and Thirteenth Aunt to be together.
Hao Shuai stepped forward, put an arm around Thirteenth Aunt's waist, and asked the two Englishmen, "Gentlemen, is there a reason you're bothering my girlfriend?"
"We just wanted to buy the lady a drink," one of the taller Englishmen replied.
"My girlfriend has already made it clear she's not interested. As gentlemen of the British Empire, don't you think it's shameful to keep pestering her?" Hao Shuai sneered.
Perhaps the crowd watching had made the two men feel embarrassed, since they knew they were in the wrong. Perhaps Hao Shuai's spotless, stylish suit had intimidated them. In the end, the two Englishmen slunk away.
Once they were gone, Hao Shuai immediately took his arm from Thirteenth Aunt's waist and said, "I'm sorry. I put my arm around you without your permission in the heat of the moment. I truly apologize."
"I should be the one thanking you. Without your help, I wouldn't have known how to get away," Thirteenth Aunt replied. Seeing that the man who'd helped her was Chinese, she didn't hold it against him for putting his arm around her.
The main reason Hao Shuai didn't get slapped was his face. If he'd been ugly and dressed in rags, Thirteenth Aunt would definitely have slapped him.
After all, everyone liked good-looking people and was more willing to accept them, treating them differently. It was the same as how beautiful women had always received preferential treatment, wherever they went.
Looks were justice!
That was an eternal truth!
"Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Hao Shuai. I've just returned home from Britain."
"My name is Zhang Shaoyun. I have to go find my father, so I'll be leaving. Thank you for your help." It seemed Thirteenth Aunt was still very guarded.
After Thirteenth Aunt left, Hao Shuai wandered around the deck some more. He found an Englishman who looked wealthy and traded gold for cash at half its value. Then he found the captain and asked him to arrange a cabin for him.
The next day, Hao Shuai ran into Thirteenth Aunt again in the dining room. This time, she was with her father, Elder Zhang, an old man wearing a melon-shaped cap and a silk jacket, with a long queue hanging down his back.
Hao Shuai invited Thirteenth Aunt and her father to sit with him for a meal. Thirteenth Aunt didn't refuse and joined him at his table.
During their meal, Hao Shuai learned through conversation that Thirteenth Aunt and her father were returning home to visit relatives and friends. He told her that he'd returned to China to fulfill his parents' dying wish and make a life there, and that he wanted to visit a master in Foshan, a renowned center of martial arts.
When Thirteenth Aunt learned that they were both headed to Foshan, she invited Hao Shuai to travel with them.
Hao Shuai was more than happy to accept.
During the voyage that followed, Hao Shuai went to chat with Thirteenth Aunt whenever he had the chance, making sure to get her attention and win her over. It was no surprise that his efforts worked very well. Hao Shuai was already handsome, and after traveling between worlds, he'd become a worldly, eloquent, and exceptionally wealthy gentleman. Thirteenth Aunt's good opinion of him grew considerably, and he also got to know her good friend, Joanna.
After half a month at sea, the ship finally reached Foshan.
Once they arrived in Foshan, Thirteenth Aunt's father busied himself visiting relatives and friends all over the place. Since Thirteenth Aunt could take photographs, Elder Zhang, who loved to show off, took her around to impress everyone.
Hao Shuai went straight to a gold shop, exchanged a large amount of gold for cash, and stored it in his space. Then he went for a walk around town.
Foshan in this era was every bit as prosperous as Yangcheng. Thanks to its thriving trade and handicrafts, it was counted among the Four Great Gathering Places of the World, alongside the Capital City, Hankou, and Suzhou.
Looking at the bustling streets, filled with crowds and noise, Hao Shuai couldn't help shaking his head. The Late Qing society before him looked prosperous, but who knew that it was about to enter decades of war? Thinking of how this ancient land was about to be plunged into conflict and endure countless hardships before rising from the flames to be reborn, Hao Shuai really wanted to do something for the country. After all, "If you travel back to the Qing Dynasty and don't rebel, you might as well bring a power drill."
But even if Hao Shuai could use force to seize power and establish a dictatorship, ideas were the most dangerous weapon in the world. There was no way to ban them.
As for creating a democratic new society, Hao Shuai wasn't cut out for politics. He'd probably never even know what had killed him.
Unwilling to get caught up in trouble, Hao Shuai could only decide to come quietly and leave quietly. At most, he'd look for an opportunity to support the great cause later.
Thirteenth Aunt's family had sent Wong Fei Hung a letter as soon as they arrived in Foshan. So that morning, Thirteenth Aunt told Hao Shuai that Wong Fei Hung had arrived and that Elder Zhang had arranged to meet him at a teahouse.
Hao Shuai arrived at the teahouse early. It was packed with people. The younger men were curiously examining the foreigners' photographic equipment, while the older ones had gathered to discuss their pet birds.
After walking around the teahouse, Hao Shuai saw that Wong Fei Hung hadn't arrived yet. Realizing he was early, he greeted Thirteenth Aunt, then stood aside and watched her fiddle with her camera.
Just as Elder Zhang was proudly showing off Thirteenth Aunt's camera to everyone, a chorus of "Master Wong!" rang out from the entrance to the second floor.
Hao Shuai heard a familiar voice call,
"Greetings, everyone!"
A man in a gray long gown walked in, holding an umbrella. He had handsome, refined features and an air of righteousness. Smiling, he cupped his hands and greeted everyone. It was obvious that Master Wong was greatly beloved by the people of Foshan.
The moment he walked in, Hao Shuai recognized him. With a face that looked eight or nine parts like the one he remembered, and with a master named Wong so respected in Foshan, there could only be one person.
None other than Wong Fei Hung of Foshan!
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