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

"Splash splash splash—"

A storm was brewing in Shanghai late at night. Inside the Commercial Press, the machines roared and the printing noise continued all night long. The lead type and paper were rapidly joined together as they rushed to print the newspaper that would sweep the entire city the next day.

Unbeknownst to anyone, a conspiracy that could shake up Shanghai was quietly brewing in the dead of night.

at this time.

The three tycoons, having fled back to their respective strongholds, summoned their most trusted followers and began plotting, discussing countermeasures and revenge...

now.

Japanese Marine Corps Headquarters.

Deep within this den of iniquity, in a dark, airtight room, a lone lamp hangs from the beam, resembling the hanged head of a Japanese scumbag.

The bright light illuminated the long table, but the Japanese soldiers sitting around it were all hidden in the shadows where the light couldn't reach, their faces blurred, their aura sinister, like lurking wolves waiting to devour their prey.

A dense series of telegram beeps shattered the deathly silence, followed by a low, secretive whisper, filling the room with a chilling and malevolent atmosphere.

Finally, a harsh and cruel sentence pierced the silence, echoing in the cold room.

"Even if we can't get the Songjiang munitions back, we'll make sure they all flow into Shanghai!"

A strange and turbulent night.

The next day.

As dawn broke and the chilly morning mist enveloped the Zhabei shantytown, Chen Feng set off on his journey.

He carried a long, rectangular cloth bag on his back and a cloth bag in his hand, the bottom of which faintly revealed a striking crimson hue. He walked steadily toward the boxing gym.

As we approached the vicinity of Fan Gua Long Heights, some distance from the boxing gym, we heard a cacophony of voices and continuous whispers ahead.

As Chen Feng approached, he saw a long queue forming in front of the boxing gym. Most of the people in line were dressed similarly to him, carrying bags on their backs and various gifts in their hands. They were all people who had come to learn martial arts from him.

Everyone glanced at Chen Feng, treating him as a new apprentice, and turned away with a disdainful look, completely ignoring him.

But Chen Feng didn't look to the side, walked past the long line, and headed straight for the entrance of the boxing gym.

This action instantly ignited the crowd!

"stop!"

"presumptuous!"

"Don't you know the rules, new guy?"

"Of course! We're all in line! And you just swagger right past us!"

The crowd glared at them and shouted at them.

Looking at the agitated crowd, Chen Feng calmly repeated, "Queue up?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Get in line at the back! Follow the rules!" the crowd shouted in unison.

Chen Feng chuckled and was about to speak when several familiar voices quickly approached.

"Ninth Senior Brother!"

Er Gou and his fellow disciples quickly came forward, their tone respectful and enthusiastic.

"Ninth Senior Brother?"

The people in line looked on in astonishment, exchanging bewildered glances and repeating those three words, their expressions filled with confusion.

Er Gou nodded emphatically, puffed out his chest, and announced loudly, "Yes! This is our ninth senior brother from the boxing gym—Chen Feng!"

The name "Chen Feng" was written on the ground.

The people in line froze instantly, their jaws nearly dropping to the floor. Their earlier hostility and disdain transformed in an instant into shock, astonishment, and awe...

"Ninth Senior Brother!" Er Gou quickly approached Chen Feng and explained, "These are all people who have come to become my disciples because of your reputation!"

"Oh! Hello everyone!"

Chen Feng smiled and waved to the crowd, then calmly walked straight into the boxing gym.

The figure disappeared into the doorway in an instant.

"Holy crap!"

"Oh my god!"

"It's Master Chen! Master Chen just greeted me!"

"To be able to become a disciple of the great hero Chen, I would die without regret!"

"From now on, I can call him Ninth Senior Brother too..."

The young people in line suddenly came to their senses, gasped, and trembled with excitement.

Inside the boxing gym.

"Greetings, Ninth Senior Brother!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother!"

As soon as Chen Feng entered, he was surrounded by his fellow disciples who had been waiting for him, with layers upon layers of them blocking his way.

"Wait a minute!"

Panting, Zhao Shanhe squeezed to the front and shouted urgently, "I'm the senior brother! I... I'll ask first!"

The noisy crowd instantly fell silent.

Zhao Shanhe stared at Chen Feng, his voice trembling with excitement, and eagerly asked, "Was the whole Songjiang incident really your doing?"

Chen Feng nodded slightly.

With just this one move, the boxing gym erupted in cheers and exclamations.

Just then.

The sound of the cane clicking and clacking rang out.

Yan Tieqiao walked slowly with his cane, and the disciples immediately fell silent and made way for him.

"Master!"

Chen Feng bowed and clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice strong and clear: "I have lived up to your expectations. On this trip to Songjiang, I have brought back the head of the Water Rat, establishing rules for our sect and ridding the martial world of this scourge!"

The words fell.

He raised his hand and untied the cloth bag, and a bloody human head rolled out with a thud—it was none other than the notorious Water Rat.

"suck--"

All the fellow disciples gasped in shock upon seeing this, their hearts pounding with astonishment.

"Fellow disciples, listen to me!"

Chen Feng recounted in a deep voice the numerous evil deeds committed by Shui Haozi, including betraying his master and ancestors and harming his fellow countrymen in Mishidu. The crowd held their breath and dared not utter a sound.

Those who wanted to become apprentices had already lined up outside the door and climbed onto the wall.

The crowd was filled with fervor, raising their arms and shouting in unison, "We come from Songjiang! We wish to join the boxing gym, follow Senior Brother Chen, and slay the villains and rid the scourge of evil!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Yan Tieqiao looked pleased and patted Chen Feng's shoulder heavily, saying "good" three times, unable to hide his excitement.

Looking at her father's rare joyful expression, Yan Xiaomei's eyes were filled with deep gratitude as she looked at Chen Feng.

Then.

Yan Tieqiao pulled Chen Feng into the inner courtyard and entrusted the matter of recruiting new disciples to Yan Xiaomei and senior brother Zhao Shanhe.

Alone in the courtyard.

Chen Feng untied a long, narrow cloth bag from his back and presented it with both hands: "Master, this is the katana I seized after killing Mishima Chigura!"

The cloth bag slowly unfolded.

In an instant, a chilling aura swept over us, cold and intimidating, penetrating to the bone.

"Um!"

Yan Tieqiao reached out and took it, but the moment his fingertips touched the blade, his expression changed slightly.

The old man's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the katana, his aura suddenly deepened, and his right leg trembled uncontrollably.

"This is Muramasa, a famous cursed sword from Japan!"

His voice was low and deep, carrying a hint of suppressed pain.

"Back then, I was ambushed by the three great ninjas of the Hongkou Dojo in order to stop the Japanese from smuggling opium through the Wusongkou Pass!"

"Those three bastards were insidious and vicious. They teamed up to launch a sneak attack, using a vicious and cunning technique to injure my right leg... I've been crippled ever since, and it's been impossible for me to regain my full strength!"

The words fell.

The tighter Yan Tieqiao gripped the knife, the more painful his old leg wound became.

The malevolent aura emanating from the Muramasa demon sword resonated subtly with the lingering poison in his leg, causing the insidious venom to surge up instantly, piercing to the bone.

"suck--!"

Yan Tieqiao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging blood and qi, and looked at Chen Feng with a solemn expression: "In this battle, if it weren't for your strong physique and height advantage, even if you fought to the death, the outcome would be uncertain!"

He paused, gently patted Chen Feng's shoulder, and said earnestly, "You are my only disciple... Never again be so reckless!"

Chen Feng bowed in agreement, then voiced his doubts: "Master, Mishima Chiche is only at the mid-stage of Ming Jin cultivation, so how can he use a mastered sword technique that only those at the An Jin cultivation level possess?"

Yan Tieqiao smiled faintly and slowly explained, "His Iaijutsu technique was originally only at the late Ming Jin level. Only with the enhancement of the Muramasa demon sword's ferocity could he unleash the full power of a mastered sword technique!"

Chen Feng's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "Master, does the Tongbei Fist also have a similar amplification method?"

Yan Tieqiao gently shook his head: "There are no shortcuts in Tongbei Quan!"

He slowly released the demonic blade from his hand, suppressing the surging venom between his legs, his voice calm and powerful.

"But there is another shortcut to martial arts cultivation!"