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

January 30, 1930 – the first day of the first lunar month in the Gengwu year (Year of the Horse).

The dawn light barely pierced through the thick morning fog of the Fan Gua Lane shantytown. The whole of Shanghai was still wrapped in a thin layer of New Year's atmosphere, as faint as a fragile candy wrapper, which would break at the slightest touch.

Chen Feng quickly finished his breakfast, picked up the New Year's gifts he had prepared in advance, and walked steadily toward the boxing gym.

The muddy path underfoot was slightly cool from the morning dew, and the soles of my shoes made a soft, monotonous sound as they rolled over the pebbles.

With each step he took, the events of last night at the Tianchan Theater surged through his mind like a tidal wave, weighing heavily on his chest and making even his breathing feel heavy.

He knew better than anyone that the prosperity of Shanghai was all an illusion, a layer of gold leaf covering blood and bones.

Last night, Hu Tao told him that the name "Tianchan Theater" contained a secret about "Master Gu" of the Green Gang. Master Gu dreamed one night of a three-legged golden toad spitting out copper coins. The dream interpreter said that this was an auspicious omen from heaven, indicating wealth and prosperity. Master Gu believed it and wrote down the name "Tianchan," which became the famous theater in Shanghai.

But the singing in the opera house was utterly uninteresting to Chen Feng, a working-class man who had traveled from the new era—having grown accustomed to fast-paced short videos, the slow and deliberate opera style held no appeal for him whatsoever.

But the idle gossip whispered among the tea drinkers at the corners of the tables in the theater captivated him, yet also chilled him to the bone.

The infighting among Shanghai's three tycoons, the ruthless methods of Master Gu in his bloody schemes, and the Axe Gang's lurking and forbearance in their old lair in Baoshan Road and Zhabei Amusement Park—every whispered conversation reveals the most bloody and authentic undertones of Shanghai.

Chen Feng sighed inwardly. The most terrifying thing in this world is not the open swords and guns, but the cannibalistic rules hidden behind prosperity. The law of the jungle never distinguishes between eras!

What weighed heavily on his heart and made him want to vomit was the tragic state of the leading actors in the troupe—the martial arts actors, in order to achieve amazing leaps on stage, were forcibly injected with monkey glands, ultimately suffering from osteolysis and dying within three years; the old male actors, in order to develop a deep, resonant voice like a gong, were given lead poisoning through their throats, resulting in the terminal disease of alveolar fibrosis, with each breath feeling like swallowing shards of glass; the painted-face actors, in order to keep their sideburns black and unblemished, had their sideburns dyed with cadaverine, their scalps ulcerating to the point that their pale skulls were visible. Everyone was risking their lives for a fleeting moment of glory on stage!

The mastermind behind all this, "Master Gu," paid extremely meager wages and exploited the actors with the power of the Green Gang. Any actor who dared to resist and demand their wages met a tragic end—Zhou Xinfang fled to Tianjin overnight in fear, and Chang Hengchun was shot dead in the street on Shantou Road, his blood splattering the bluestone pavement and becoming a bloody incident that no one dared to mention.

Chen Feng felt a chill run from his feet to the top of his head. Human life was as worthless as grass, and justice was as worthless as waste paper; this was the cruelest truth of the old era.

What made him clench his fists and feel the deepest hatred was that the Green Gang would not even spare the most ordinary people watching the play.

The gold-embossed tickets to the Tianchan Theater were a tax-free pass for Shanghai's respectable people, but ordinary people's tickets were subject to the Green Gang's most insidious "three hidden taxes": a tears tax, a slap tax, and an anger tax. He was horrified to hear this—the young girl Lin Xiaomei had only watched "Farewell My Concubine," shedding 3.7 grams of tears and clapping at 9 decibels, yet the Green Gang calculated that she owed 79 silver dollars in taxes, and ultimately cruelly had her right tear duct gouged out and her left little finger bone chopped off. This Shanghai under the bright light of day was clearly a living hell.

As Chen Feng walked, he repeatedly asked himself: "Might makes right, violence is the rule, and the weak are even deprived of their right to cry and applaud—shouldn't such a world be overthrown?"

With a turbulent mix of emotions and a burning desire in his chest, Chen Feng finally arrived at the entrance of the boxing gym.

As soon as he pushed open the door, Yan Xiaomei's figure came into view. The girl glanced at him, her face instantly turning cold. Without saying a word, she turned and walked into the inner room, clearly indicating that she did not want to talk to him.

Chen Feng simply smiled faintly, not taking it to heart.

"Hey! It's Ah Feng! Come in quickly! Come in quickly!"

The master's wife quickly stepped forward, smiling as she took the holiday gifts from his hands, and gently comforted him, saying that her little sister was just being childish and would be fine in a few days.

The teacher's wife had barely finished speaking.

"Good disciple!"

Yan Tieqiao came out from the inner room with a warm smile on his face. He pulled Chen Feng to sit down at the table and personally poured him hot tea.

Yan Tieqiao took a sip of tea and slowly said, "I heard you're working as a guard at Hu Qing Yu Tang?"

Chen Feng nodded solemnly, his tone sincere: "The life-saving grace is a profound and weighty favor, and it is only right to repay it!" He understood in his heart that in chaotic times, kindness and righteousness are the most precious things, and a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. This is the bottom line of being a person and the foundation of one's character.

Yan Tieqiao took another sip of tea, then dipped his finger in the tea and lightly drew three strokes on the stone table. He said in a deep voice, "Disciple! You are now a master of Ming Jin. If you want to gain a foothold in Shanghai and make a name for yourself, there are only three paths!"

The first path was to take up a temporary post, which could be held in foreign firms, government offices, or factories. Although it meant living under someone else's roof, it was a temporary measure. Among these, the police station was a shortcut, and many of Shanghai's notorious gangsters started their careers this way.

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng shook his head slightly.

The second path is to participate in the martial arts tournament, pass the martial arts examination, join the martial arts association, enter the military academy, seek a career in government, and strive for a high-ranking official position and a generous salary. However, Ming Jin is only the threshold. If you want to get ahead, you have to work hard and strive to be the best. The key is that skill is secondary. You have to be ruthless, greedy, and willing to sacrifice.

Chen Feng shook his head again.

The third path is to establish a gang or organization and become a local tyrant like Monk Huang, Mr. Du, Gu Si, or Wang Jiu, who can control everything. But to truly secure your rule, you mainly need to kill people! Ming Jin is just a stepping stone; only Hua Jin cultivation can ensure a peaceful life.

Chen Feng shook his head again.

"Um?"

Seeing the puzzled look on his master Yan Tieqiao's face, Chen Feng slowly said, "None of these three paths are what I seek!"

He pondered for a moment, and the cold number "1937" flashed through his mind, his eyes instantly becoming as firm as iron.

In his previous life, he didn't have a chance...

In this life, he learned martial arts not to fight for territory or fame, but so that when the country is shattered, he can stand tall, protect the land beneath his feet, and protect the innocent people behind him.

This is the true path he has taken since his transmigration!

Chen Feng spoke slowly, each word carrying immense weight.

"Japan's ambition to destroy China remains undiminished. In seven years, they will launch a full-scale attack, turning the entire country into a battlefield. What we are fighting for now is ultimately just a fleeting illusion!"

"I am currently only at the Ming Jin level of cultivation, and all I want right now is to protect my family. But I hope that when the nation faces crisis, I will have the ability to guard our borders and protect my compatriots!"

"In times of chaos, personal safety is of little concern; the peril of the nation and its people is of paramount importance!"

Yan Tieqiao didn't understand why Chen Feng was so certain that Japan would launch a large-scale invasion seven years later. He didn't ask any more questions because he saw in Chen Feng's eyes a sense of national righteousness that was heavier than Mount Tai.

"That's ambitious!"

"Though the nation is broken, the mountains and rivers remain. Those who study martial arts should take you as their role model!"

Yan Tieqiao sighed in admiration, his tone full of approval: "You're heading to Songjiang on the eighth day of the month. I suppose besides settling things with the two bandit leaders, you also want to completely eliminate the scourge that is Water Rat! He's just a drop in the ocean of Shanghai's underworld; he can't cause any real trouble!"

"But if you want to grow, you need a whetstone, you need rivals. The three big bosses of the Green Gang in Shanghai, the Axe Gang, the Hongmen... you'll have to face all sorts of complex forces sooner or later!"

talking.

Yan Tieqiao then proceeded to meticulously recount the intricate web of power and influence in Shanghai to Chen Feng, as if reciting a familiar story.

The Green Gang's "Monk Huang" started as a junior apprentice at the Cuihua Hall mounting shop in the Shanhai City God Temple. Through some maneuvering, he obtained a position as a police officer in the French Concession and climbed the ranks step by step. Now he has tens of thousands of followers, 800 soldiers, and entrenched in Nanshi. His stronghold is in the City God Temple.

Mr. Du was just a fruit vendor in his early years. He was heavily in debt due to his opium addiction and had nowhere else to turn. He joined the tutelage of Monk Huang and gained the appreciation of Lin Guisheng, eventually becoming a detective in the French Concession police station. He gradually rose through the ranks and now commands 2000 soldiers, controlling eighteen opium warehouses, gambling dens, and docks. His stronghold is located in the Sanxin Company.

There's also "Tiger Zhang," who's entrenched in Pudong, and he has 500 men under his command.

Besides the three big bosses of the Green Gang, Yan Tieqiao also mentioned "Master Gu" of the Green Gang—a ruthless character who started as a rickshaw puller and eventually became a tycoon in Jiangbei, whose strength should not be underestimated; and Xiang Gongpi, a local strongman in the Chinese-controlled area. He admitted that he had saved Xiang Gongpi's life in a dispute at the Shiliupu Wharf, and therefore the Zhabei Hongmen recognized him as their uncle.

As for the three official tycoons.

Yan Tieqiao's tone grew even more somber: "The land tyrant 'Flying Bear' has 3000 men under his command. He is a powerful and self-reliant military force, and he controls a region by setting up checkpoints to exploit people and engaging in the filthy business of 'selling pigs.' His stronghold is located at the Songhu Garrison Command. The water tyrant 'Yanghu Eagle' has seven warships and controls the Yangtze River fortresses, locking down the throat of the inland waterway. All goods passing through the Yangtze River are skimmed off by him. He even sells 'escort orders' to Japanese merchant ships, while secretly engaging in the opium trade. Finally, there is the Wenmiao County Government Office, which has only 800 police officers and its armed forces are so weak that they are practically useless."

Chen Feng listened quietly, his mind clear—no matter how chaotic or fierce the forces in Shanghai were, they were ultimately just demons and monsters fighting amongst themselves!

At last.

Yan Tieqiao looked at Chen Feng and said earnestly, "My good disciple! No matter how lofty your ambitions are, even a towering building must start from the ground up. In Shanghai, without an official identity, you will find it difficult to move an inch. Only with the title of an official can you better display your abilities!"

The words fell.

Yan Tieqiao chuckled, took out a red-embossed invitation from his pocket, and solemnly handed it to Chen Feng.

"I've already secured a position for you!"

The words "appointment" are prominently displayed in the most eye-catching position in the post.

Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat. He slowly opened the post, his eyes scanning the words on it, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Appointed by the Public Works Bureau, the section chief of the middle section of the Suzhou Creek — officially nicknamed "the human body cleaner!"

The common saying goes—"corpse retriever!"

(I wrote 6,000 words in total, went through many revisions, and finally deleted it. We'll continue this in a future group! For the sake of making a living, I'm humbly asking for monthly votes! Thank you so much!)