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

Tang Tang warmly invited Chen Feng, Hu Tao, and the others to stay for lunch, but Chen Feng, seeing that it was still early and eager to get to the boxing gym, politely declined and took his leave.

As the group walked to the fountain in the courtyard and were about to get into their car to leave, Tang's father's car happened to drive back.

"Candy!"

After getting out of the car, Tang's father's face immediately darkened, and he sternly reprimanded Tang Tang, forbidding her from having any further contact with Chen Feng.

In his eyes, Chen Feng was just a minor river section chief, yet he dared to break Young Master Nie's arm, and he couldn't afford to offend the power behind him.

He ignored Tang Tang's explanations and directly ordered the nanny to forcibly take Tang Tang back to her room and lock her up, preventing her from having any further contact with Chen Feng.

After scolding Tangtang.

Tang's father then turned to look at Hu Tao, and with a stern face, he admonished her that the Hu family's ancestral business had not been easy to build, and that she must be pragmatic and not be misled by those who are all show and no substance. He also told her to have lofty ambitions and a long-term vision.

Upon hearing this, Hu Tao's eyes hardened, and she replied loudly with a double meaning: "People should have a long-term vision, and that's why I, Hu Tao, will always stand by Chen Feng's side for the rest of my life!"

After she finished speaking, she, Chen Feng, and Xiao Aqiao got into the car and left.

The car first drove back to the Hu Qing Yu Tang flagship store.

After a short stay.

"I probably won't be going home tonight! See you tomorrow!"

Chen Feng picked up a heavy bundle and headed straight to the boxing gym alone.

I had just stepped into the Fangualong shantytown.

The bald man from the Hongmen branch spotted him from afar and quickly stepped forward, calling out respectfully, "Chief Chen! Chief Chen! Please wait!"

Chen Feng stopped and asked calmly, "Is there something you need?"

The bald man scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat hesitant. "N-nothing! I just wanted to let you know that I've been keeping those two houses at Swallow's Nest exactly as they were!"

Chen Feng's lips curled into a slight smile: "Very good. We'll discuss how to handle this when I have some free time!"

The bald man nodded and bowed hastily, "Yes, yes, yes! I'll do whatever you say, Section Chief Chen. I'll keep a close watch on things during this time and make sure nothing goes wrong!"

Chen Feng nodded slightly, said "Thank you for your trouble," and then turned around and continued walking towards the high ground deep in the shantytown.

It was nearing noon.

Chen Feng passed by a huge courtyard that was undergoing extensive renovations. He saw that the courtyard wall was half a head higher than the surrounding houses, and the cement at the top of the wall was densely filled with broken glass, indicating that it was heavily guarded.

He recognized it at a glance; it was the Hu Qing Yu Tang branch that Hu Tao had mentioned before—it was in a safe location, had a spacious interior, plenty of natural light, and even had its own independent well, making it an excellent location.

Chen Feng was quite satisfied. Without stopping, he continued walking towards the boxing gym.

Turn the corner of the alley.

"Hey—ha—"

The heavy breathing of the disciples practicing their stances and the crisp sound of their punches cutting through the air could be clearly heard from inside the boxing gym.

"Creak—"

Chen Feng gently pushed open the door of the boxing gym, and instantly everyone's eyes were focused on him.

"Ninth Junior Brother!"

Zhao Shanhe was the first to react, rushing forward to give Chen Feng a warm hug.

"Greetings, Ninth Senior Brother!"

A large group of fellow disciples also shouted in unison, their eyes filled with admiration and respect.

Since Chen Feng became famous in one battle and secured his position as the head of the river section, people have flocked to him to learn martial arts. The size of the boxing gym has expanded several times in a short period of time, and now it has a large number of nearly two hundred people.

Chen Feng's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, some of whom were familiar faces, but most were unfamiliar.

"Dear fellow disciples! Greetings!"

He smiled, raised his hand, waved to the crowd, and then walked straight to the crescent gate in the courtyard without lingering.

The moment the crescent-shaped door was pushed open, Yan Tieqiao, who was inside, heard the noise and came out with a slightly unsteady gait, leaning on his cane.

"Good disciple!"

Yan Tieqiao's voice was slightly hoarse, but it couldn't hide the excitement in his heart.

"Master!"

Chen Feng quickly stepped forward, steadily supporting the old man, his brow slightly furrowed, and asked with concern, "Master, what's wrong?"

The voice just fell.

The master's wife came out of the house, wiped her hands on her apron, and sighed helplessly, "What else can we do? Your master's old leg ailment has flared up again!"

Chen Feng's heart sank. He clearly remembered that the special medicine for his master's leg ailment was very expensive. In order to help him get the position of section chief of the river section, his master had already spent all his savings. Now he simply couldn't afford to buy good medicine and could only drag his ailing body along.

Yan Tieqiao waved his hand, interrupting sternly, "Why bother with all this useless talk!"

He gripped Chen Feng's hand tightly, his tone urgent, "Disciple, come inside quickly and tell your master about your recent experiences!"

The door to the inner room was closed.

The eldest disciple, Zhao Shanhe, immediately stood guard at the entrance of the crescent moon gate to prevent anyone from recklessly eavesdropping and ruining the private conversation between the master and disciple.

He loudly ordered, "All disciples, continue standing in your stances! No one is allowed to stand up, much less take a single step closer, without my permission!"

Inside the room, Chen Feng and his master sat down for a long talk, discussing recent events in detail.

As they were talking, Chen Feng inadvertently glanced at a black robe folded on his master's bedside. Although he was a little curious, he didn't think much of it or ask any questions.

He simply recounted to Yan Tieqiao his experiences in detail: taking up his post on the river, blowing up boats and destroying bridges, killing Vulture, severely injuring Smiling Tiger, sweeping through the underground boxing ring, practicing his marksmanship diligently, and successfully breaking through to the Great Perfection of Hard Qigong.

"Mastery of hard qigong?!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Tieqiao was so excited that he suddenly sat up and pressed his palm heavily on Chen Feng's shoulder, subtly infusing it with his inner strength.

But when the force touched Chen Feng's body, it felt a distinct blockage. Yan Tieqiao was overjoyed: "It's a body at the level of internal strength! Your hard qigong has truly reached a high level! Good disciple, you've only been practicing martial arts for a few months, yet you've already achieved such skill. You're simply a martial arts prodigy, one in a million!"

After the initial excitement.

"Good disciple!"

Yan Tieqiao sighed softly and slowly began to speak: "My master once left behind a wise saying: 'Of those who achieve great things in the world, half do so because they have something to gain or benefit from, and the other half because they are provoked or forced to succeed!'"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed to the black robe at the head of the bed, his tone solemn.

"Originally, I wanted you to enter into a life-or-death situation with Qian Hu, to force you to strive for a breakthrough!"

"This is a risky move!"

"According to my intelligence, Qian Hu is highly valued and cultivated by Du Yuesheng, and has now forcibly broken through the barrier, taking a half-step into the realm of Dark Force!"

"If you hadn't come today, or hadn't broken through your cultivation level, this black-clad figure would have been my last resort!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng instantly understood his master's good intentions, and a surge of warmth welled up in his heart, his eyes slightly burning.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open.

Yan Xiaomei walked in carrying a bowl of dark, unpalatable herbal medicine.

She nodded to Chen Feng first, then looked at Yan Tieqiao with a worried expression: "Dad, it's time to take your medicine!"

Chen Feng looked at the coarse medicinal liquid in the bowl, immediately reached out to stop it, and said in a deep voice, "No!"

After saying that, he placed the heavy bundle that had been hanging behind him on the table and slowly unfolded it.

In an instant.

The dimly lit room was radiant with gold, and more than a hundred gold bars in the bundle caught the eye.

Chen Feng looked at Yan Xiaomei, his tone firm: "Use this money to buy the best medicine for Master!"