Ellllo all
I'm not sure if I can really call all of this a theory because I don't really have TOO many theories regarding
Shenmue anymore, but I do enjoy imagining and discussing where the series can go story wise and these ideas have
been rolling around in my head for a while now. Ever since we learned about Suzuki planning for the series to not
end until at LEAST a fourth game *shudders* I've been wondering how he plans to stretch the story out. This is
where the thought crossed my mind of Ryo possibly having to join the Chiyoumen for some reason. I can't really imagine Ryo getting close enough to Lan Di or any other leaders without somehow managing to infiltrate them. The Chiyoumen is supposed to be a ridiculously powerful underground black market cartel, I can't really imagine it would be possible to storm into their headquarters like it was with the Yellowhead and even that was a pretty rough thing to do for Ryo and Ren by themselves. I personally feel like this has always been Baihu's purpose if he were to show up in later games. I know a lot of people think Baihu is possibly the leader of the east, especially after it was confirmed that Ziming is NOT the eastern leader. I still personally don't see that (for starters his hair isn't long enough) and given the information in the interview with Suzuki last month with David knowing what Baihu looks like without the mask, it really doesn't seem as though Baihu fits. Just a small note, but perhaps if David reads this he can pop in and possibly answer if unmasked Baihu fits with the image of the leader of the east he saw or not? If he can't though its totally understandable because that would be a MASSIVE spoiler and I know there was a fair bit he's obligated to keep to himself (we have to keep our connections and trust with Suzuki after all!).
Taking all of this into consideration and of course assuming Baihu is not one of the leaders, I've always seen Baihu in either one of two roles if he were to show up later in the story. The first is perhaps as an instructor to Ryo, perhaps they encounter each other again somehow and chat then Baihu would begin teaching Ryo Tiger Swallow Style in order to help him understand in part how Lan Di fights. After their training is done Baihu provides Ryo a way to infiltrate the Chiyoumen, perhaps out of some common ground for understanding the desire for revenge. The second role is perhaps as a recruiter. After his defeat perhaps Baihu somehow manages to track Ryo down and offers to let him have a meeting with a captain or something within the Chiyoumen and that can be a way for him to get to Lan Di. With Baihu's space in Shenmue II being at the bottom of the Big Ox Bldg. I think it's safe to say after the Scout takes someone to Don Niu after they pass their test they all go down to Baihu for the final test. So I feel like Baihu is meant to be a recruiter/tester for the Chiyoumen, and if you don't beat him you probably die and obviously don't get to join the Chiyoumen (another reason I doubt he's one of the leaders, because why would a leader waste their time personally recruiting soldiers and let themselves be beaten?).
After Ryo manages to get inside of the Chiyoumen (and we get to see him in that snazzy black suit!) perhaps he ends up being defeated by Lan Di's bodyguards after finding a way to get to him or even by one of the leaders themselves perhaps, then he's left for dead somewhere and then he begins focusing on his training. After his defeat perhaps he begins to learn about the four grandmasters and ends up having to track them down and becomes a much better fighter. Shenmue can go ANYWHERE honestly and odds are I'm VERY far off and something like this will probably never happen. But its just a small thought I had about how the story could go, as always I love seeing what you guys have to say so let me know your own thoughts on the subject ^.^