The sun gradually set.
Ben stayed in Fumanlou, looking at his pocket watch from time to time. As the minutes ticked by, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper. The agreed time with Leo was 6:00 PM, and it was almost 6:20 PM now. If the delay continued, he would miss the train.
Yes, in this era, there were already trains. However, the technology was very underdeveloped, and they moved at a sluggish pace. Tonight at 8:00 PM, there was a train that could take him to the Shanghai Bund. According to the plan he had made with Leo, their next destination was Shanghai Bund.
At present, the Shanghai Bund was filled with foreign concessions, rendering the imperial court's control over it weak. There, they could showcase their skills. William had also mentioned that Shanghai Bund and Jinmen had the highest number of martial artists.
However, Leo's failure to arrive disrupted Ben's plan. He was certain that Leo would never be late due to mere negligence. Something must have happened, preventing him from coming.
Checking the time once more, Ben finally stood up. He had decided to go to the Henry household and find out what was going on.
Just then, a man wearing a bamboo hat entered the restaurant. Ignoring the diligent waiter, he quickly scanned the room. Upon spotting Ben, he approached and silently handed him a letter before exiting the restaurant without a word.
Watching the mysterious figure leave, Ben frowned slightly. He opened the envelope and found three sheets inside. Two of them were silver notes, each worth a thousand taels of silver. This sum was enough to make an ordinary man wealthy in a small town.
Ben barely glanced at them before turning to the third sheet—a letter from Leo.
In the letter, Leo explained that he was under house arrest by the head of the Henry family. Several formidable experts had been stationed outside his door to prevent his escape, which was why he could not meet Ben. Furthermore, the governor-general had received a temporary order to suppress the rebels and would be absent for at least ten days to half a month. Consequently, the wedding date with the Henry family had been postponed, ensuring Leo's temporary safety.
The letter urged Ben not to worry and to proceed with their mission. Leo would find a way to protect himself, seize an opportunity to escape, and then reunite with Ben. Since they shared a telepathic connection, they would always be aware of each other's location and wouldn't lose contact.
Finally, Leo emphasized that Ben must not attempt to enter the Henry household. The governor-general had left an adjutant behind to negotiate cooperation with the head of the Henry family. Leo had caught a fleeting glimpse of this court official earlier in the day and described him as terrifying.
After reading the letter, Ben exhaled deeply. Knowing Leo was safe put him at ease.
Could this letter have been forged to deceive him?
Ben dismissed the thought. This was undoubtedly written by Leo. The text was in simplified English which had yet to be invented in this era. Only transmigrators were familiar with it.
After contemplating for a moment, Ben made up his mind. He would follow Leo's advice and embark on the journey alone to carry out their mission. His current strength, while formidable, was still mediocre compared to true experts. His Dragon Roar Iron Shirt was not invincible. If he forcibly entered the Henry household, he risked perishing there.
Leo had mentioned that the adjutant stationed at the Henry residence was incredibly powerful. Even if he wasn't a demon or a monster, he was likely an expert of Inner Strength. Thus, the best course of action was for Ben to continue his journey, challenge martial artists, and seek internal cultivation methods to enhance his power. Without strength, he would be powerless to protect Leo should danger arise.
With that decision, Ben gathered his belongings, took the letter and silver notes, and left the restaurant.
Half an hour later, Ben arrived at the "Train Station." The so-called station was merely a temporary fence set up in an open field, rudimentary at best. The entrance was guarded by foreign soldiers since the railways and trains were built by foreigners. The imperial court lacked the ability to construct them.
To board the train, passengers had to purchase tickets. Even goods required freight tickets, with fees calculated based on their value and weight. However, paying these fees didn't guarantee security—if goods were lost, the foreigners offered no compensation. Such were the rules imposed by the foreigners, and anyone wanting to use the train had to abide by them.
At the moment, a long queue had formed at the entrance. Most people carried baggage and traveled with their families, while some, like Ben, traveled alone. With half an hour remaining before departure, he patiently waited in line to buy his ticket.
Thirty minutes later, he successfully boarded the train. To avoid harassment from thieves and local ruffians, he purchased a first-class ticket, securing a seat in a relatively clean carriage. Ordinary carriages were overcrowded and filled with unpleasant odors, making the journey unbearable. Given that the trip to the Shanghai Bund spanned over a thousand kilometers and would take three days, he wasn't willing to endure such discomfort.
The first-class ticket cost ten times more than a regular ticket, but Ben could afford it. Most of the passengers in first-class were foreigners or well-dressed Orientals, clearly individuals of wealth or status. Upon finding his seat, Ben sat down and closed his eyes to rest.
The first-class carriage was not particularly luxurious compared to modern standards, but at least it was spacious and less crowded.
Three days later, Ben finally arrived at the Shanghai Bund. While the skyline lacked the towering buildings of future generations, the city's prosperity was undeniable.
The streets teemed with people from all walks of life. Rickshaws flooded the roads, far more numerous than in Chicago. Cable cars moved slowly along the tracks. Men sported suits and long gowns, while women wore figure-hugging cheongsams, creating a unique blend of Eastern and Western styles.
As Ben took in the sights, a young boy suddenly collided with him.
"I'm sorry, sir, I'm sorry!" the child stammered before dashing away.
Ben quickly grabbed him, retrieving his wallet from the boy's grasp. The little thief turned pale, expecting a harsh beating. However, Ben merely reclaimed his wallet and walked away.
Later, Ben checked into the prestigious Palace Hotel, known in the future as the Peace Hotel. Since Leo had given him two thousand taels of silver notes, money wasn't an issue. Staying in such an establishment would also minimize trouble, as only influential individuals could run such a hotel. No one dared stir up trouble here.
Meanwhile, in FS City, Conrad had spent three days relentlessly improving his martial arts, finally reaching the peak of Marsh. Confident in his newfound strength, he went to Baozhilin to challenge Master Aryan.
However, he was thoroughly defeated by Aryan's disciple, Nico. Despite his improved martial arts skills, Conrad lacked real combat experience. Nico, a battle-hardened fighter, easily overpowered him. What stung even more was learning that Master Aryan had voluntarily conceded to a young man three days ago—someone with the surname Melody Song!
Upon hearing this, Conrad nearly exploded with frustration. No matter how hard he trained, he still lagged behind Melody Song. Even after nearly dying in several battles, he was still so far behind that he couldn't even defeat Aryan's disciple. Meanwhile, Melody Song had already forced Aryan into submission. The gap between them seemed insurmountable.
Back in Shanghai, Ben spent his days exploring the city's alleys, searching for something. Four days later, he found it—a frail, elderly beggar with disheveled hair but piercingly bright eyes.
The beggar was attempting to deceive a boy. "Little brother, you have extraordinary bones! You are destined to change the world. I have a secret martial arts manual just for you—for ten dollars!"
To Ben's surprise, the boy eagerly broke his piggy bank to buy a "Buddha's Palm" manual.
Intrigued, Ben stepped forward. "Wait, I'll buy all the manuals you have!" He pulled out a large silver ingot.
The beggar, shocked, refused. "I only sell to those destined."
Ben smirked. "Selling to that kid might create a master. Selling to me could change the world."
The beggar froze, staring at Ben in shock.
For the first time, he realized he couldn't see through the man before him.
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