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

January 23, 1930, the Lunar New Year in southern China.

In the Zhabei shantytown, the cold wind, carrying the smell of mildew and dust, stung my face.

Chen Feng carried a large black backpack and walked steadily along the muddy path. Inside the backpack were two shiny hams and several bags of fine New Year's goods. The heavy Eagle Dollars inside his clothes clung to his skin, making his back straight and his eyes sharp.

In those days, silver dollars were divided into different grades.

The official exchange rate was one silver dollar to two thousand eight hundred cash, but the lower classes only recognized tangible purchasing power.

The silver dollars circulating in the shantytowns were cheap, privately minted currency by the Green Gang, barely enough to exchange for thirteen catties of moldy rice. In Green Gang territory, they were even cheaper, only worth ten catties of bran.

Yuan Shikai silver dollars were slightly better, as they could be exchanged for sixteen catties of rice.

The most valuable currency, the Mexican peso, could directly buy 20 kilograms of fine rice and half a kilogram of pork, making it a true privileged currency.

What Chen Feng was carrying in his pocket was his most valuable Mexican silver dollar—the confidence he had earned by risking his life in the "beast cage".

We walked along.

Hu Sanzhen's words echoed repeatedly in his mind—the Japanese attempted to smuggle opium through the Suzhou River, but were repeatedly intercepted and destroyed by Yan Tieqiao at the Wusong Wharf.

Enraged, the Japanese summoned the Black Dragon Society's top expert to ambush Yan Tieqiao. Yan Tieqiao fell victim to the most insidious Japanese ninjutsu, suffering a deep leg injury that even the skilled healer Hu Sanzhen couldn't cure, lamenting, "Evil arts are easy to learn, but difficult to break!"

Chen Feng clenched his fists, silently making a decision in his heart...

As soon as I stepped into the shantytown, a pungent smell of sewage hit my nostrils.

Along both sides of the road, every household had a chamber pot placed in front of their door, forming a long, crooked line, waiting for someone to collect it.

Chen Feng's eyes darkened—it was Ma Laosan!

This ruthless bully, who dominated Zhabei and monopolized the manure collection business, was a master of the late Ming Jin stage and held absolute power in the six major shantytowns.

Chen Feng felt uneasy and quickened his pace, wanting to get home as soon as possible.

But as soon as they arrived at Swallow Nest, a fat and domineering figure was already blocking their doorway—it was none other than Ma Laosan!

"Where's your manure?"

Old Ma glared with his triangular eyes, his expression menacing: "If you don't pay for the manure today, you pay for the money! If you're short on one item, I'll tear down your dilapidated house!"

Aunt Lin quickly stepped forward to explain, "Third Master, the manure we used to give to the poorer neighbors down below the embankment the other day, there really wasn't any left..."

"fart!"

Ma Laosan flew into a rage, refusing to listen to any explanation, and raised his hand to slap Lin Sao across the face!

Chen Feng reacted swiftly, stepping in front of his mother to block her attack, and then unleashed a powerful right punch!

"Daring?"

Old Ma's eyes widened in fury, and he transformed his palm into a fist, unleashing his power in an instant.

boom--!

A muffled thud made the air tremble.

Ma Laosan's pupils shrank suddenly—his punch contained the power of the late stage of Ming Jin, yet it was actually caught by this shantytown kid in front of him.

Chen Feng retreated several steps, but finally managed to stabilize himself by relying on his minor mastery of hard qigong and the power of his beginner-level Tongbei Quan, his arm muscles taut like iron.

"You brat!"

Ma Laosan was both shocked and furious. He sprang up his leg and delivered another vicious sweeping kick! Chen Feng lowered his stance and took the kick head-on once again!

"Bang!"

Two moves clashing head-on.

Chen Feng took several steps back again, forcefully suppressing the metallic taste in his throat.

"Giggle giggle—"

The neighbors in the surrounding swallow nests were so frightened that they shut their doors and windows tightly, and the poor people in the shantytown were so scared that they fell silent.

"hateful--"

Ma Laosan, utterly humiliated, turned ashen-faced and was about to unleash his full power to beat Chen Feng to death.

At this critical moment!

"Whoosh—"

A bald figure swept in like a ghost, throwing a punch straight at Ma Laosan's chest!

The wind was fierce, and Ma Laosan's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly retreated and barely avoided the attack.

The bald man stood with his hands behind his back, giving Ma Laosan a nonchalant glance: "In this Zhabei area, I'll protect Chen Feng and his family!"

Ma Laosan recognized that this person was someone of importance, spat angrily, and slunk away with his men.

Chen Feng clasped his hands in thanks.

The bald man left only the words, "I was entrusted with this task!" before turning and disappearing into the alleyway.

Chen Feng understood immediately and couldn't help but chuckle and curse, "That old geezer, he's actually quite reliable!"

His gaze swept over his former neighbors below the embankment; those who had once mocked him were now bowing and scraping, their faces filled with awe.

Chen Feng shook his head and returned to his old but warm home.

When he unpacked his enormous bag, two juicy, thick hams, candies, and pastries instantly rolled out.

Aunt Lin and Xiao Aqiao stared wide-eyed, covering their mouths in surprise, speechless, their eyes instantly reddening.

That night.

The long-unseen aroma of meat wafted from the swallow's nest. A sumptuous dinner, almost extravagant, brought back long-lost smiles of happiness to the family's faces.

During dinner, Chen Feng whispered to his mother, "I've found out about Dad. I'll go find him on the upper reaches of the Songjiang River on the eighth day of the first lunar month!"

Aunt Lin paused in her chopsticks, tears instantly streaming down her face. She wiped them away, nodding as she choked back sobs, unable to speak.

Xiao A's face was tense. She knew that the Songjiang trip was fraught with danger, with ruthless river bandits, starving river workers, and the perils of a chaotic world, all of which required her to risk her life.

With only half a month left before departure, Chen Feng's preparations still seemed rushed.

But when she met Chen Feng's unwavering gaze, all her worries vanished, and she simply nodded.

A surge of warmth welled up in Chen Feng's heart—for his family, for his father, he had to go on this trip, and he had to survive.

The next morning, before dawn, Chen Feng arrived at the boxing gym.

He carried a large ham and twenty pounds of fine rice, heading straight for the inner courtyard.

When Master's wife and Yan Xiaomei opened the door, their eyes lit up instantly, and they couldn't stop smiling, praising Chen Feng for being sensible and promising.

Inside the room, Yan Tieqiao took the new medicine brought by Chen Feng, and his complexion was much better than a few days ago. Although he still used a cane, his momentum remained undiminished.

He slammed his cane heavily on the ground, his voice deep and resonant: "Chen Feng, before the great battle, you must break through to the Ming Jin level! Otherwise, going to the 'Beast Cage' is suicide, do you understand?"

Chen Feng nodded emphatically.

With only a week left until the do-or-die match, time was of the essence, but he felt no panic, only unwavering confidence in victory.

He immediately went to the kitchen and took out the prepared Qi and Blood Powder.

Hu Tao told him that this was a martial arts secret medicine that could be taken internally and applied externally—when taken internally, the medicine was swallowed and its effects went directly into the dantian; when applied externally, it was applied to the meridians and acupoints to penetrate the skin and flesh and strengthen the muscles and bones.

Chen Feng swallowed half a bottle of Qi Xue San in one gulp, and then applied the ointment mixed with Qi Xue San to several major acupoints on his shoulders, waist, elbows, and knees.

In a short while, a surge of heat exploded from his dantian, sweeping through his limbs and bones along his meridians. The external ointment pierced his skin like fine needles, its medicinal power penetrating straight to his bone marrow.

Chen Feng immediately assumed a horse stance, focusing his mind on the stance. His blood and qi were drawn together by the medicinal power, surging wildly as he exerted all his strength to break through to a higher realm—[Tongbei Quan - Stance Training Introduction: 165/500]

Under the intense stimulation of the Qi and Blood Powder, the experience bar was visibly jumping.

The stance training, which had previously required several days of arduous practice with little progress, was now progressing rapidly, like parched land receiving a downpour, with every inch of the body frantically absorbing the medicinal power.

The atmosphere in the boxing gym was strange during lunchtime.

As the year draws to a close, the eldest brother and the others are discussing what to give as a tribute to their teacher, but a heavy atmosphere hangs over the corner of the table—three more fellow disciples have failed to break through to the Ming Jin realm!