Huayu97: Starting with Wu Song Fighting the Tiger

She paused, glancing at Liu Xiang out of the corner of her eye, her tone seemingly casual, "Unlike you, you're skilled and upright. If you were to be a reliable backer, you'd definitely be the most dependable one."

Liu Xiang knew exactly what was going on, but pretended not to catch the implication. She deliberately raised her voice and exclaimed, "Good heavens! So, a nobody like me can also be a backer? Should I put up a sign saying 'Professional Backer, Honest and Reliable'?"

Li Binbin was amused by him and reached out to punch him lightly: "I'm being serious with you."

The two quieted down to look at the moon again. The lights of the fishing boats in the distance flickered, and the sound of the waves was as soft as a murmur. Liu Xiang looked at the fishing lights and suddenly laughed, "You know, people live, work hard to make money and make a name for themselves, but in the end, when they stand at the top, is all that's left is loneliness? Just like those fishing boats, they look like they have some lights, but they're actually drifting at sea, and they have to find a place to dock on their own."

Li Binbin nodded, then shook her head, looking at him with a smile: "If we could find someone to drift with, wouldn't we be less lonely?"

Liu Xiang looked up and met the moonlight in her eyes. She smiled but didn't even think to reply. The night wind, carrying a faint dampness, swept over them, enveloping the inexplicable entanglement between them, and swirling around the sea.

The next day, the sky was clear and the sea in the South China Sea was calm. The outdoor pool area of ​​the cruise ship had already been set up by the staff as a martial arts competition venue. The blue pool water rippled gently, red velvet carpets were laid out by the pool, and bamboo and rattan chairs were placed around it. Martial arts masters from Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland gathered in a rest area on one side. Most of the Hong Kong martial arts masters were wearing dark blue training uniforms and were talking about boxing techniques in fluent Cantonese.

The contestants from Macau wore exquisite wristbands and had the lively spirit of the region in their eyes; the martial artists from the mainland wore plain white training clothes, with upright postures, few words but a calm aura. The gathering of martial artists from the three regions made this competition particularly significant.

The judges' panel was set up under a sunshade on the north side of the pool, where senior members of the Hong Kong and Macao Wushu Federation and martial arts masters from the mainland sat. Herbal tea and paper and pens were laid out on the table, creating an atmosphere that was both solemn and lively.

When Liu Xiang appeared, his black outfit made his figure look even more upright. He performed a set of boxing moves that he had created himself, which were smooth and flowing. When he raised his hands, his soft power was wrapped in the wind. When he stepped down, he was as steady as a rock. When he leaped, his body was as graceful as a goose. When he finished, he was calm and composed. There was not a single superfluous movement. It not only conformed to the rules of traditional martial arts, but also revealed a unique sense of agility.

The judges nodded frequently, and Liu Xiang unsurprisingly won first place. The martial arts masters from the three regions in the audience were completely convinced, and the applause carried far by the sea breeze. Li Binbin sat in the front row of the spectator seats, watching intently with his chin resting on his hand. When he saw Liu Xiang win the championship, the corners of his lips curved up, but he didn't go up to say anything. He just raised his juice cup from a distance as a congratulatory gesture.

The competition ended in the afternoon, and everyone dispersed to rest, waiting for the official awards ceremony at the cruise ship banquet that evening.

As the sun sets, the lights in the main hall of the "Haojiang" cruise ship begin to twinkle, and the crystal chandeliers illuminate the elegant figures in the hall. Guests from Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, as well as martial arts performers and film industry figures, gather together. Champagne towers are stacked high, and Portuguese dishes and Cantonese dim sum fill the long tables. Amidst the clinking of glasses and the soft laughter, gentle jazz music creates a relaxed and lively atmosphere.

The host stepped onto the stage to the sound of music, cleared his throat, and announced the start of the awards ceremony. Liu Xiang, dressed in a dark suit, walked steadily onto the stage.

He accepted the gilded glass trophy engraved with "South China Sea Martial Arts Gold Award," gave a brief thank-you speech into the microphone, and received thunderous applause from the audience. Producers from TVB, ATV, and Macau TV immediately surrounded him, handing him gold-embossed business cards and inviting him to act in their films. Liu Xiang did not refuse, smiling and agreeing to discuss it in detail later. He was thinking that he should take this opportunity to gain some fame in Hong Kong and Macau, so that he would have more confidence when he returned to the mainland to develop his career.

The hustle and bustle in the lobby continued, with security captain Huang Kun patrolling the perimeter with two team members. Huang Kun, 38 years old, had been working in the Hong Kong and Macau security industry for over a decade, rising from a dock security guard to a cruise ship security captain. He was known for his calm and collected demeanor, sharp eyes, and ability to detect anything unusual from the smallest details.

He was dressed in a security uniform, standing tall and straight, with a rubber bullet gun and walkie-talkie at his waist. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the holster. His gaze swept over the guests in the hall, and only after confirming that there was no drunkenness, disorderly conduct, or disputes did he relax his vigilance slightly and whisper patrol precautions to the team members beside him.

Suddenly, the entire cruise ship jolted violently, as if struck by a tremendous force, and then completely lost power, slowly drifting on the surface of the South China Sea. The crystal chandeliers in the hall flickered on and off for two seconds, the melodious jazz music stopped abruptly, the clinking of glasses vanished instantly, and all the guests in the hall looked up in unison, their eyes filled with astonishment, followed by a considerable commotion.

Some people got up to look around, some whispered among themselves, and some children cried out in fright from the sudden shaking.

At this moment, the scene was somewhat chaotic.

The captain arrived immediately with several crew members. Dressed in a white captain's uniform, he tried his best to remain calm, raising his arm and gesturing for everyone to stay calm. He picked up a megaphone and reassured the guests in a steady voice: "Distinguished guests, please calm down and relax. The cruise ship is experiencing a minor temporary malfunction in its propulsion system, and our engineers are working urgently to repair it."

The guests in the hall all looked at him, their eyes still tense.

The captain continued, "The cruise ship will soon be back to normal. Currently, the ship is in the shallow waters of the South China Sea, which is very safe. Please do not panic and continue enjoying your dinner. On behalf of the cruise line, I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused."

The captain's words were calm and powerful, which calmed the guests down and the commotion gradually subsided.

However, a hint of unease remained on everyone's faces, and the hushed discussions never ceased.

The captain then instructed the crew members beside him to patrol the lobby and respond to guests’ questions at any time. He then quickly walked to the side, picked up the walkie-talkie with a serious expression, and began to contact various departments to inquire about the situation, especially the engine room on the second basement level.

Meanwhile, Huang Kun's patrol didn't stop. He was about to send his team to check the situation on each floor when a frantic distress call suddenly came through his walkie-talkie. It was the voice of the crew member on duty in the power room, panicked and trembling: "Team Leader Huang! Team Leader Huang! Someone has broken into the power room! Several of them are extremely vicious, using weapons to damage equipment. We've been ambushed! Send backup immediately!"

The sound from the walkie-talkie was intermittent, interspersed with the harsh clanging of metal, before falling silent. Huang Kun's heart tightened; he didn't dare delay. He immediately stubbed out the cigarette he had just lit, gave a wink to his teammates A-Ming and A-Jie, and said in a low, decisive voice, "I'll use the walkie-talkie to get the rest of the team together. We need to get to the power room to provide support!"

The two nodded in response, and the three of them immediately rushed towards the elevator entrance, with Huang Kun pressing his finger hard on the button for the second basement level.

The cruise ship was sailing in the shallow waters of the South China Sea, which is not a dangerous area frequented by pirates. In order to save costs, the company only equipped the security team with ten rubber bullet guns, ten batons, and four stab-proof vests. This was more than enough to deal with drunken disturbances and petty thefts on a normal day. However, the distress signal from the engine room was so urgent that it was clear that the intruders were hostile. This limited equipment made Huang Kun feel a little uneasy.

The few seconds it took for the elevator to descend felt like an eternity. In the cramped space, there was only the faint hum of the elevator. Huang Kun's palms were sweating, and his right hand remained tightly gripping the rubber bullet gun at his waist.