Chinese martial arts: From human punching bags to martial arts mastery

"Five bottles of Qi and Blood Powder!"

"Three highly effective healing pills!"

Chen Feng spoke in a calm voice, his gaze sweeping across the counter before getting straight to the point and stating the pills he needed.

Hu Tao's pretty face froze for a moment, then she smiled and nodded in agreement: "Okay!"

But Tang Tang, who had just vomited and was pale-faced, immediately sneered, her eyes full of condescending disdain: "Chen Feng, do you know how much these things are worth? Don't try to fool people with empty words!"

While she said she was worried that Hu Tao would be deceived, she was actually seething with hatred in her heart—the humiliation of being dumped by Chen Feng and vomiting had all turned into contempt and resentment towards this poor boy from the shantytown.

"Tangtang—"

Hu Tao quickly interrupted Tang Tang's difficult questioning, her clear voice announcing the prices: "Five bottles of Qi and Blood Powder are twenty-five silver dollars, three special healing pills are thirty silver dollars, a total of fifty-five silver dollars!"

She paused, then added sincerely, "Chen Feng, even though I'm the young lady of Hu Qing Yu Tang, I can't break the rules and let people buy on credit!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng smiled faintly, then suddenly unfurled his bundle, revealing stacks of silver coins still stained with dark red blood, their cold metallic luster stinging the eyes.

"When I went to exchange my silver dollars, I ran into a group of cops and robbers who were greedy and wanted to kill me and rob me. This blood is theirs!" Chen Feng said calmly, but with a terrifying aura.

Upon seeing this, Tang Tang's expression changed drastically. Pointing at the bloodstained silver coin, she shrieked, "Hu Tao, look! This man has definitely committed murder and robbery; he's probably wanted by the police now! Hu Tao, don't be fooled by him!"

Just then.

"It's a misunderstanding—"

Hu Sanzhen strode out from the inner room and said in a deep voice, "Miss Tang, you've misunderstood. Brother Chen's money was won cleanly and honestly at the Beast Cage underground boxing ring!"

Followed by.

Hu Mingxuan strolled over, his gaze sweeping over Tang Tang, his tone carrying a hint of worldly wisdom: "Shanghai is a mixed bag, teeming with gangsters and thugs. It's perfectly normal for Brother Chen to be targeted when he goes out with a large amount of silver dollars. This is just the harshness of the world, not a sign of Brother Chen's wickedness!"

That brings us to this point.

Hu Mingxuan's smile deepened, and his words became more severe: "Miss Tang, raised in seclusion, probably doesn't understand the hardships of life for those at the bottom..."

These words were ostensibly an explanation, but in reality, they were a warning to Tang Tang to stop being unreasonable. Tang Tang's face turned pale and then red, but she had no words to refute them.

Seeing this, Hu Tao quickly bowed to Chen Feng and apologized, "Chen Feng, I'm sorry, Tang Tang didn't mean it. She misunderstood you many times. I apologize on her behalf!"

"walnut--"

Tang Tang remained unmoved, snorting coldly and glancing sideways at Chen Feng. She felt from the bottom of her heart that this kid from the shantytown was just a lazy, good-for-nothing swindler who didn't deserve Hu Tao's politeness at all.

but.

She tugged at Hu Tao's hand, feigning magnanimity as she reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll have my dad handle the racing incident at Xinzha Bridge today. He'll guarantee it's settled; no one will dare cause trouble for Hu Qing Yu Tang!"

But the thought of being left dizzy and humiliated by Chen Feng during a car chase made Tang Tang's teeth itch with hatred, and she wished she could teach Chen Feng a lesson on the spot.

But she knew she was no match for him, being a weak woman. However, she thought of someone...

Just then.

The waiter, Wang Xiaoer, scrambled in, his face deathly pale, shouting urgently, "Miss! Manager Hu! Something terrible has happened...something terrible has happened!"

Chen Feng's eyes sharpened, and he quickly followed Hu Tao, Hu Mingxuan, and the others to the back room.

Upon entering, one sees a burly boatman slumped on the bed, his limbs broken, bones dislocated, flesh mangled, trembling with pain, barely breathing.

"Don't be afraid!"

Hu Sanzhen stepped forward and applied three needles, instantly stabilizing the man's injury.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—"

The man, panting heavily, recounted the events in fits and starts: "Manager Hu! Miss! I know all the waterways of Songjiang, but this time, while escorting the ship, we ran into two ruthless bandits! Those two devils are vicious; they stole our medicinal herbs, broke my arms and legs, and detained all our employees, saying that Hu Qing Yu Tang must prepare the prescriptions they need before the fifteenth of the first lunar month to ransom us in Songjiang!"

Hu Mingxuan took the list and glanced at it; his face instantly darkened. "These two bandit leaders are the biggest headache for Hu Qing Yu Tang! They've dominated the Songjiang section of the upper Suzhou River for a long time. In just one year, they've robbed us of no fewer than ten boatloads of medicinal herbs, causing us heavy losses!"

He paused, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Those two are both masters of the Ming Jin skill, excellent swimmers, and intimately familiar with waterways and terrain. The government has launched several raids, but they've outmaneuvered them completely, leaving the authorities empty-handed!"

finally.

His face was grave, and he sighed deeply, "Although I am a Ming Jin cultivator, I can't fight against so many opponents. Moreover, Hu Qing Yu Tang cannot be left unattended; I must stay here and cannot leave at all. This is... a difficult situation!"

Hu Tao said in a deep voice, "This time, should we still involve the government?"

The man shook his head, his voice hoarse: "Miss Hu! Manager Hu! The two bandit leaders have robbed and kidnapped many river workers this year, and now they wield considerable power. The government won't easily intervene!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng's pupils contracted slightly, and his heart clenched. He stepped forward, grabbed the man's arm, and asked urgently, "Brother, you've been working on boats in the Songjiang River for years. Do you know anyone in the river works named Chen Jiabao? That's my father!"

The man shook his head with difficulty, his face bitter and his tone sorrowful: "I've never heard of that name, but life on the river works is inhuman. They eat chaff and wild vegetables, live in dilapidated thatched huts, and die from exhaustion every day. Those who die from disease are simply thrown into the Suzhou River, I'm afraid..."

One sentence made Chen Feng's heart sink to the bottom. His knuckles clenched so tightly that they turned white, and his eyes surged with overwhelming anger and anxiety.

Seeing this, Hu Mingxuan quickly stepped forward to comfort him: "Chen Feng, don't worry. If you really want to find him, go to Songjiang yourself, spend some money to bribe the officials, and you'll surely find some trace! As for ransom, that's not troublesome!"

Chen Feng took a deep breath, suppressing his panic, and asked in a low voice, "Brother! Do you know the whereabouts of 'Water Rat' from the Axe Gang? I need to speak with him urgently!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of apprehension flashed in the man's eyes. He slowly nodded but said nothing more. He took the medicine from Wang Xiaoer, drank it all in one gulp, closed his eyes, and lay down to rest.

"Chen Feng!"

Seeing his anxious expression, Hu Tao said softly, "Don't worry, I will definitely use Hu Qing Yu Tang's connections to help you find your father!"

She invited Chen Feng again.

Looking into Hu Tao's sincere eyes, Chen Feng felt a warmth in his heart.

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, after defeating five men in the "Beast Cage," he was able to set off for Songjiang to find his father in the first month of the lunar calendar. With the identity of Hu Qingyutang as a cover, he could not only avoid suspicion but also facilitate his actions. He could also solve the problem of the two bandit leaders and repay the debt of gratitude for saving his life, which could be described as killing two birds with one stone.

"good!"

Chen Feng immediately nodded in agreement: "Miss Hu Tao! I agree to take on the post! However, my strength is still limited, and I can only do my best to deal with the two bandit leaders!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Mingxuan's eyes flashed with relief. He patted Chen Feng on the shoulder and said, "It's alright. I'll find two more capable helpers. We'll officially set off for Songjiang on the eighth day of the first lunar month!"

Tang Tang heard everything. Looking at Chen Feng's tall and straight back, a strange change in her disdain and resentment stirred within her. But thinking of the humiliation she had suffered before, she gritted her teeth and thought to herself, "You poor kid from the shantytown, I'll see what makes you think you can provoke the two bandit leaders who are masters of the Ming Jin realm!"

on the way home.

Chen Feng gripped the pill tightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes—the two bandit leaders, the Songjiang waters, the search for his father, the troubles of Hu Qing Yu Tang, all the grudges and entanglements will be thoroughly settled on the eighth day of the first lunar month!