Chinese martial arts: From being shot and killed by the armed police during a mountain search to bec

The newsboy's announcements traveled from Guangzhou to Foshan in just half a day.

First, someone in a teahouse near the train station read aloud from a newspaper. Then, laborers at the docks whispered among themselves. After that, the thresholds of martial arts schools in Foshan were almost worn down by messengers.

Inside the Hong Sheng Martial Arts Hall, Chen Sheng was leading his disciples in practicing Cai Li Fo's Heart-Piercing Kick in the training ground.

The wooden dummy was kicked loudly. A junior disciple ran in from outside, clutching a newspaper. He tripped on the threshold while running too fast and scrambled to Chen Sheng's feet, handing him the newspaper.

Chen Sheng took the newspaper, glanced at it, remained silent for a moment, and then handed it to Li Su next to him.

After reading it, Li Su looked up and couldn't help but ask, "Junior brother, about this matter..."

"Zhuan Zhu assassinated King Liao, like a comet striking the moon; Yao Li assassinated Qing Ji, like a hawk striking the sky." Chen Sheng's eyes showed emotion. "The ancients said that when a common man is angry, blood will splatter five steps away. When Master Chen went to Guangzhou, I thought he was just going to scout the way, but I didn't expect him to actually dare to take action. One man, one life, he killed through the guard platoon of a warlord. He is truly skilled and daring."

"Amidst a hail of bullets, he assassinated an entire army general. Even the four great assassins of ancient times paled in comparison to Master Chen."

Li Su was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Indeed. When he said he was going to kill Mo Laohu, I just thought it was youthful impetuosity, but I didn't expect him to actually do it."

"The Chen family is hosting a banquet at Zuixianlou tonight. Go in my place, make good connections, and don't be negligent."

At the Ip family home, Ip Man was practicing his boxing in the courtyard.

He had just finished a short conversation when he heard the news. He stopped, took a wet towel from a servant to wipe his face, took the newspaper, glanced at the headline, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Brother Chen, you have indeed not disappointed me."

He folded the newspaper and placed it on the stone table, then walked back to the center of the courtyard.

He stood still, assuming the stance of a two-character clamp-and-horse horse, and began to search for the bridge.

As he delivered the final blow, he suddenly stopped, turned to his senior brother Chen Rumin beside him, and said, "Senior brother, what else do you think it takes for someone to master boxing to this level, besides skill?"

Chen Rumin thought for a moment: "Courage?"

"Courage is one aspect," Ip Man shook his head, "but more importantly, it's about intention. Brother Chen's intention is purer than ours."

Baozhilin.

Huang Feihong sat in the armchair, holding the newspaper with its frayed edges, and looked at it over and over again.

The newspaper carried news of Mo Laohu's death, accompanied by a photo of the gate of Ciyun Temple.

It's unclear where the Guangdong army got this photo from in just one night.

Standing behind his father, Huang Hansheng couldn't help but ask, "Dad, did Master Chen really kill Mo Laohu?"

"Killed him." Wong Fei-hung placed the newspaper on his lap and nodded slowly. "At his level of martial arts, killing one person is not difficult. What is difficult is killing an entire army and escaping unscathed. What is even more difficult is that he killed Mo Laohu not for fame or fortune, but simply because this thorn was stuck in his heart, and he had to remove it."

Huang Hansheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "You sparred with him last time, just how good is his kung fu?"

Huang Feihong did not answer directly, but instead looked up at the old banyan tree outside the window.

The tree canopy blocked out the sun, and aerial roots hung down from the branches, densely packed, like an old man's beard.

"When he left, he had not yet fully mastered the subtle and powerful techniques. But the purity of his mind was something I had never seen before. When martial arts reach this level, it is no longer about training the muscles and bones, but about training the mind."

With a pure heart, all paths lead to enlightenment. He went to Guangzhou, killed Mo Laohu, and returned safely. The experiences he went through were enough to further refine his heart.

He paused, then turned to Huang Hansen and said, "Go to Zuixianlou tonight in my place and prepare a generous gift."

Huang Hansheng nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, at the Yuebin Inn in the west of the city, Zhao Jinshan of the Green Gang was also holding a newspaper in his hand.

He sat on the edge of the bed, read the newspaper over and over, his face turning pale and then red. Finally, without saying a word, he put the newspaper on the table, got up and walked to the window. Looking at the street outside, his hands behind his back trembled slightly.

The two Green Gang members standing behind him exchanged a glance, and one of them mustered his courage and spoke up: "Master, the Chen family is hosting a banquet at Zuixianlou tonight, should we...?"

"Shut up." Zhao Jinshan didn't turn around. "Pack your things and go back to Shanghai."

"The sect leader?"

"I said pack your things." Zhao Jinshan turned around, his gaze sweeping over his two disciples. "This Chen Hongwu was able to fight his way in and out of the Governor's Mansion's guard platoon and kill Mo Laohu. Do you think our small group is even a match for him?"

No one dared to utter a sound. Zhao Jinshan walked to the table, glanced at the newspaper again, then crumpled it into a ball and slammed it into the wastebasket.

Inside the Chen family mansion, however, there was a scene of jubilation.

When Chen Hongwen ran in from outside, he was clutching a newspaper he had just snatched from a newsboy. His hat was askew from running, and his face looked like he had won the lottery.

He nearly tripped as he stepped into the main hall, steadying himself by holding onto the doorframe. Waving the newspaper in his hand, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Father! Big Brother! The newspaper! It says Mo Laohu is dead! Big Brother really killed Mo Laohu!"

Chen Huaijin sat in the armchair, holding a teacup in his hand. He watched his second son stumble in, looking disheveled, and simply smiled, taking a sip of tea: "I know."

Chen Hongwen's excitement was dampened by his father's lukewarm reaction. He paused for a moment, then turned to look at Chen Hongwu.

Chen Hongwu was sitting by the window, talking to Chen Hongxiu, with no particular expression on his face.

"Father, you...you knew all along?" Chen Hongwen slammed the newspaper on the table, leaned close to Chen Huaijin, and asked in a low voice.

Chen Huaijin put down his teacup: "I just found out yesterday."

Chen Hongwen let out a long breath, his expression changing from shock to admiration. He gave Chen Hongwu a thumbs up: "Brother, you really know how to keep your composure. Yesterday I thought you had just wandered around outside the Governor's Mansion and returned empty-handed."

Before Chen Hongwu could speak, Chen Hongxiu spoke first.

"Of course!" Chen Hongxiu stood next to Chen Hongwu, chin held high, looking completely matter-of-fact. "My elder brother taught me that a person who practices boxing must be calm and composed. If you are impatient and agitated, your punches will falter; only when your energy is concentrated in your dantian can your steps be firmly rooted to the ground."

Chen Hongwen sensed something was wrong and looked Chen Hongxiu up and down: "What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be at school today?"

"The school is closed for a day; the teacher has gone to the provincial capital," Chen Hongxiu said matter-of-factly.

Before Chen Hongwen could say anything more, Chen Hongwu had already stood up. He looked down at Chen Hongxiu and asked, "Since you brought up boxing, how's your horse stance training going? I taught you last time."

Chen Hongxiu's eyes lit up, and she puffed out her chest: "I practice every day! You can test me, big brother!"

She acted immediately, turning and running into the courtyard. Reaching the threshold, she turned back and waved to Chen Hongwu, calling out, "Brother, come quick!"

Chen Huaijin stood up, about to speak and stop him.

Chen Hongwu had just returned, and before he could even sit down properly, this girl dragged him out to the yard to cause trouble.

Chen Hongwu turned around and glanced at him: "It's nothing."

Chen Huaijin opened his mouth, then closed it again and sat back down in the armchair.

In the courtyard, Chen Hongxiu had already assumed a horse stance.

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing forward, knees slightly bent, hips lowered, back straight, and hands clenched into fists at your sides.

They stood there quite properly.

Chen Hongwu walked over, circled her once, and glanced at her.

Chen Hongxiu felt a little nervous under his gaze and bit her lip: "Big brother, how is it?"

Chen Hongwu waited for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before speaking: "Let's finish this."

Chen Hongxiu stopped her stance and stood up steadily.

"Not bad." Chen Hongwu nodded. "The chassis is stable, the spine is straight, and you haven't been slacking off lately."

"I'll teach you something new."