Chapter 1, by the Huangpu River

A person who engages in all sorts of immoral activities, such as "drinking, gambling, and engaging in violence and theft," is nothing but a pile of garbage to society. Their influence extends beyond merely affecting the appearance of the city; more importantly, they undermine social stability and order. Although they may have their own principles, this is a society governed by the rule of law

He let out a startled cry of "Ah!" and then fell to the ground beside Long Chongjiu with a thud, landing on his back, dazed and disoriented.

This mutation strengthened Long Chongjiu's resolve. Not to mention that he possessed all the excellent qualities of a modern rogue, his familiarity with China's modern history was sufficient for him to dominate the Shanghai Bund in 1928.

Perhaps offending them is tantamount to challenging these gangs, and this is undoubtedly a reckless and foolish act

Before entering the underworld, he was still a relatively promising young man. Regardless of which "path" one chooses, intellect remains the most important. Perhaps in the new century of China, he still had some reservations, but what was there to be concerned about in Shanghai in 1928?

She is not a stunning beauty that leaves one in awe, yet she exudes a pure tranquility, especially her strikingly clear black-and-white eyes that shine with a captivating brilliance. Her figure is quite slender, and even through her long robe, one can still sense her delicacy and gracefulness.

However, their lives and property are equally unprotected; there is not a single wealthy person here, and even if there were, they would be a big shot in the underworld

Dressed in a gray long gown and wearing a top hat, her prominent chest swayed as she ran, leading Long Chongjiu to firmly believe that her gender was different from his own

A careful observer would notice the terrifying strength possessed by this casually extended arm. It seems impossible to so effortlessly stop a person who is running at full speed; the force alone must weigh several hundred pounds. Yet, he accomplished it.

For Long Chongjiu, this was merely a trivial matter. As a super rogue with special training and secret skills, he was a rare talent even in the twenty-first century; otherwise, the United Nations would not have deployed a large number of elite international agents to capture him.

However, when he inexplicably arrived in Shanghai in 1928, it was no longer just admiration for them

They are the "heavens" that Long Chongjiu gazes upon now, desirable yet unattainable. Here, they represent everything: dignity and law. They embody the system of old Shanghai, the enforcers of old Shanghai. Anyone or anything that defies them will be ruthlessly crushed.

Of course, this is merely a secret "weapon," as there are some matters that, if spoken of, no one would believe. It could even invite the calamity of death.

This is the specific survival rule in a particular environment. Long Chongjiu could not help but feel troubled, as it seemed he had no choice left

However, Long Chongjiu now realizes that with this opportunity he cannot afford to have any more concerns

Perhaps the reason the new century has abandoned him is that such scum is more suited to the survival rules of this old society

During the Republic of China period, newspapers were ubiquitous, with "Shen Bao" and "Xin Wen Bao" being among the most renowned. Although at first, Long Chongjiu still considered himself to be in a vast filming location, he ultimately dispelled this ignorant notion from his mind

This was the moment when Long Chongjiu extended his arm, a decision made with determination. Those who dare to rob here are mostly thugs from the gangs in this area. The Shanghai Bund is home to countless gangs, with the Qing Gang and Hong Gang being the most notorious. Sixteen Piers is particularly known as a hotspot for major thugs

Standing by the Huangpu River, countless puzzled and strange gazes were directed at him, yet the despondent expression on his face seemed to suggest that he was contemplating self-harm. He was dressed in a light blue prison uniform, his head completely shaved except for a layer of stubble, and he wore a pair of cloth shoes with a layered sole, white on the top and black on the bottom. To be honest, this attire was not particularly eye-catching in this context.

As the lights begin to glow, the night envelops the docks along the Huangpu River, where countless various goods are piled up, and an innumerable number of gang members linger, for they are vagrants, unemployed, and they never miss any opportunity that allows them to survive

All of this is the arrangement of fate, as it is said, one cannot go against the will of heaven

Old Shanghai was most abundant in gangsters and bullies, who mingled across various social strata. The foremost of Shanghai's three godfathers, Du Yuesheng, emerged as a super bully from "Shiliupu" and had already become a prominent figure on the Bund by 1928

Long Chongjiu observed clearly that it was a young man around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, tall and slender, dressed in a short shirt and cloth pants. At first glance, he resembled a habitual offender from the area of Shiliu Pu. Despite his thin frame, he ran with a vigorous energy, exuding a certain masculine presence.

Yet within this pain, there is also a certain joy, the joy of rebirth

Many people stopped to watch, but not a single one attempted to stop the bag snatcher, whose agile figure quickly approached this way

Long Chongjiu has been internationally wanted due to his disruption of the order of the international community, which has affected the stability of the international society

At that time, being in prison, I truly envied those who were in a chaotic world, able to act as they pleased, without any constraints.

The content of the newspaper, the time, and everything he is currently engaged with confirm that he has indeed returned to 78 years ago

However, Long Chongjiu, who is determined to strive for transformation and renewal, has arrived in the era of rampant gangsters in old Shanghai. This is a misalignment of time and space, a divine arrangement, and also an era where the potential of gangsters can be fully realized. Therefore, he intends to challenge this era

At the moment the thin man who was robbing crossed by Long Chongjiu, he extended his arm

The slender man was caught off guard, colliding directly with the arm extended by Long Chongjiu with his neck.

Looking back now, society in 2006 seems rather unsuitable for someone like me, as I was labeled a "scum" by others

How should one develop their own strength? This is the foremost concern that Long Chongjiu should focus on

The disparity between the two extremes is so great that it is difficult to imagine, especially considering the long span of 78 years in between

She truly is a femme fatale, damn it, everything is gone now. Perhaps if I have the chance, I could meet her grandmother and have a go at it. That would be a way to repay the suffering of being imprisoned, ha, the idea is good, but I forgot to ask what her grandmother's surname is.

Suddenly, a sharp scream startled the distracted Long Chongjiu. "Stop him, he's stealing the bag!" It seemed to be a woman's voice

However, the man in the long gown approaching quickly caught Long Chongjiu's attention, and he immediately felt that this foolish act was well worth it

From the year 1900 until the expulsion of the Japanese invaders, old Shanghai was undoubtedly a society where individuals preyed upon one another, and even Westerners recognized it as a "paradise for adventurers." Why fear? This is far better than being in prison, isn't it? Even if one is released, everything that has been lost cannot be regained, and familial ties, friendships, and love have all drifted far away. They have become mere fragments in memory. Not everyone has the chance to live again, nor can everyone step onto the stage to showcase their talents. Even if one is released, everything that has been lost cannot be regained, and familial ties, friendships, and love have all drifted far away. They have become mere fragments in memory. Not everyone has the chance to live again, nor can everyone step onto the stage to showcase their talents

Therefore, one must be cautious and prudent; to survive better and to fully realize one's talents, one must possess a space of one's own.

Personal strength is still the most important; currently, there is indeed an insurmountable distance compared to the three individuals, Wenren Du, Huang, and Zhang, in Shanghai.

The thin man felt dizzy, with stars dancing before his eyes, completely unaware of when the things he had snatched would be taken away from him.

He is more astute than Huang Jinrong and Zhang Xiaolin, adept in social dealings, and possesses a keen insight, which is also the reason for his subsequent rise to prominence

He has not yet reached the point of blindly confronting "modern diversified weapons" with mere physical strength; choosing to "cooperate" with the agents is his only way out. Although the outcome of this cooperation is quite tragic, it is certainly better than being left dead in the streets at once.

... ...

The fine rain drizzles, and the dark clouds shroud the sky, just like the mood of Long Chongjiu at this moment

Fate plays tricks on people; it can be considered a form of "enlightenment" that heaven has placed a new rogue in China during the most rampant period of rogues.

He wandered along the banks of the Huangpu River for three days, ultimately accepting this fact that was not a fact. During these seventy-two hours, he continuously engaged in self-encouragement and self-comfort, while planning for his "future".

Unbeknownst to him, he wandered to the area known as "Lujia Shiqiao," which is the junction of the Chinese Concession and the French Concession. To the south of the bridge lies the Chinese Concession, while to the north is the French Concession. This bridge is built over a tributary of the Huangpu River, which flows past the Dongchang Ferry Terminal outside the Xiaodongmen city gate. The residents on both sides of the tributary are unregulated, neither belonging to the Chinese Concession nor the French Concession; they are free individuals.

Long Chongjiu was lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, unable to organize his mind in a moment's time. It must be said that he was a "well-rounded" super rogue master in the new century society, roaming across continents, ultimately captured by elite agents from several countries due to a woman.

Suddenly transported from the year 2006 back to the century of 1928, this irreversible situation left him both amused and distressed, and a feeling arose within him, a desire to plunge into the surging Huangpu River and end his life there.

It seemed like a futile effort to stop a moving vehicle with a mere arm, yet it successfully halted a rushing body with a single arm's strength, causing a significant fall.

When it comes to the godfathers of China, one must first mention the three major underworld overlords of Shanghai during the Republic of China era: Du Yuesheng, Huang Jinrong, and Zhang Xiaolin

The autumn in Shanghai subtly reveals a hint of coolness, which can only be felt in the early morning and evening; throughout the day, it remains akin to summer. Perhaps one morning, upon opening one's eyes, one will find that winter has arrived unnoticed.

Standing by the Huangpu River, he found it hard to believe everything that had happened to him

Her voice told Long Chongjiu that she was a Western product, a fake man

Although the night is quite dark, numerous foreign trading houses and restaurants stand on both sides, illuminating the entire street with their lights

Not far behind him, a man in a long gown was chasing, shouting, "Robbery! Stop him quickly."

In this era, those who disguise themselves as men often have compelling reasons, and such individuals are generally not ordinary

After being repatriated and imprisoned, I sometimes read books in prison. During idle times, I would chat casually with my fellow inmates. Since we are all involved in the same line of work, our conversations inevitably revolve around our profession, ranging from modern organized crime to ancient criminal activities, and then back from ancient times to the present.