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

The alley was deathly silent.

Zhao Jinshan's body lay across the bluestone slab, his chest caved in, and the blood from his seven orifices still flowing.

The pockmarked disciple's legs went weak, and he collapsed to his knees, his crotch soaked. The others stood frozen in place, their throats bobbing, their limbs trembling uncontrollably.

Chen Hongwu withdrew his fist, shook off the dust from his sleeve, and glanced at the faces of the men.

"Please trouble you all to transport the body back to Shanghai."

Several Green Gang members trembled, none daring to raise their heads.

"By the way, please pass on a message to your leader," Chen Hongwu said calmly. The disciples lowered their heads, not daring to breathe. "I, Chen, will be going to Shanghai soon to pay him a visit. Tell him to burn incense and bathe, and wait for me."

After saying that, he turned and left.

The cloth shoes trod on the bluestone slabs, the footsteps slow and steady, gradually fading into the distance.

The alleyway fell silent again.

The pockmarked disciple's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud, panting heavily, his body drenched in cold sweat, his clothes completely soaked.

The others weren't in much better shape; some were leaning against the wall, some were squatting on the ground, and some were holding their knees and unable to straighten up.

"He...he's really gone?" a disciple with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face asked in a trembling voice.

No one answered him.

After a while, the pockmarked disciple got up from the ground, walked to Zhao Jinshan's body, squatted down to take a look, and then turned his head away.

"His sternum is completely shattered." He swallowed hard. "We've all seen the leader's skills. In his hands... one move."

"No, he killed me before I could even make a move."

"Is this even human?"

"Stop talking nonsense." The pockmarked disciple stood up, his voice tense. "Quickly find a cloth to wrap the body, hire a mule cart, and leave the city tonight."

"Really shipped back to Shanghai?" the sharp-mouthed disciple asked blankly.

"What are we going to do if we don't take it back? Leave it here to feed the stray dogs? The gang leader has always treated us well; we can't just abandon him, can we?"

The pockmarked disciple gritted his teeth. "And what if the leader asks? We'll just pass on the message. This kind of person is not someone we can deal with."

The five men hurriedly wrapped Zhao Jinshan's body in a cloth, then hired a mule cart on the street and left Foshan under the cover of night.

---

Zuixianlou was brightly lit.

When Chen Hongwu went up to the second floor, there was a lively atmosphere in the private room, with people drinking and chatting.

Li Su was holding a wine glass and telling Wu Zhongsu about the old story of how Master Zhang Yan fought ten men single-handedly on the streets of Foshan, speaking with great enthusiasm.

Huang Hansen sat beside him, occasionally chiming in with a few details. Chen Rumin whispered something to Ip Man, gesturing on the table with her fingers the basic techniques of Wing Chun's shoulder strikes.

The curtain was lifted, and Chen Hongwu stepped in.

The noise in the private room paused for a moment. Li Su's wine glass stopped in mid-air. Wu Zhongsu turned around, and Huang Hansen was the first to stand up, clasping his hands in a fist and palm salute, "Master Chen, you've finally arrived!"

Chen Hongwu returned the greeting with a clasped fist, a hint of apology on his face: "I was held up by some personal matters earlier, and I apologize for keeping you all waiting."

Chen Rumin waved his hand and said with a smile, "Master Chen, you're too kind. It's better to be lucky than early. The wine is still warm, and the food isn't cold yet. Please, have a seat!"

Chen Hongwu sat down in an empty seat at the main table. Chen Huaijin instructed the waiter to add another set of chopsticks and a bowl, and Chen Hongwen poured him a cup of tea.

He knew that Chen Hongwu had stopped drinking alcohol after he started practicing martial arts.

Chen Hongwu picked up his teacup and stood up.

"I am hosting this banquet today for two reasons. First, to thank you all for taking care of the Chen family these past few days; I will remember it forever. Second, to express my gratitude for your safe return from your trip to Guangzhou; and to offer you all a cup of tea to calm your nerves."

"You're too kind, Master Chen!"

"Master Chen, what skill! Taking down Tiger Mo's head amidst a hail of bullets, you are truly a role model for us martial artists!"

He held his teacup and, starting with Li Su, toasted each of them one by one.

Upon reaching Li Su, Chen Hongwu raised his glass: "Master Li, the disciples of Hongsheng Hall have been taking turns patrolling outside the Chen family compound these past few days, rain or shine. I will remember this kindness."

Li Su, holding his wine glass, laughed heartily: "Master Chen, you're too kind! You killed a Japanese soldier at Hong Sheng Martial Arts Hall, bringing honor to the Foshan martial arts community. A mere bodyguard is nothing to boast about!"

The two cups clinked together, the aroma of tea mingling with the aroma of wine.

Chen Hongwu drank the tea in one gulp, while Li Su tilted his head back and downed the wine in his cup.

Chen Hongwen stood to the side with a teapot, ready to refill the tea whenever the opportunity arose.

Upon reaching Chen Rumin, Chen Hongwu raised his glass and said, "Master Chen, we share the same surname and were one family five hundred years ago. I am grateful for your care these past few days."

Chen Rumin smiled and raised her glass: "No problem, no problem."

The two cups clinked together.

Upon reaching Ip Man, Chen Hongwu raised his glass: "Brother Ip."

Ip Man raised his cup: "Brother Chen."

The tea was gone, and so was the wine.

Upon reaching Huang Hansheng, Chen Hongwu raised his glass: "Brother Huang, how is the old master of Baozhilin's health? I benefited greatly from your father's guidance at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet the other day. I will definitely pay him a visit another day to express my gratitude in person."

Huang Hansheng quickly picked up his cup and stood up: "My father is still in good health. These past few days he has been talking about Master Chen's Bajiquan standing hammer stance. He said that after practicing for a few days, the old injury in his waist has eased up a lot."

If Master Chen would be so kind as to grace us with his presence, Po Chi Lam is always ready to welcome you!

The two cups clinked together.

After a round of toasts, the atmosphere in the private room became even warmer.

Li Su then recounted the story of Huang Feihong single-handedly stopping a runaway horse on the streets of Guangzhou, which made everyone at the table burst into laughter.

Chen Hongwu sat at the table with a calm expression, occasionally nodding in agreement, saying little and not trying to overshadow the host.

The banquet ended close to midnight.

One by one, everyone got up to say goodbye. Li Su, his face flushed from drinking, was helped out by two disciples, muttering, "Come again tomorrow."

Chen Rumin and Ip Man walked downstairs side by side, discussing the variations of Wing Chun's "Bang Shou" style that they had mentioned at the dinner earlier. Wu Zhongsu walked at the back, turning back to bow to Chen Hongwu.

Chen Hongwu, Chen Huaijin, and Chen Hongwen stood at the entrance of Zuixianlou, watching the last group of guests disappear from sight.

Chen Hongwen breathed a sigh of relief and stretched his shoulders: "Finally, it's over."

Chen Huaijin patted the back of his head: "Go back and get some rest. You have to go to the shop to check the accounts tomorrow. When you have time, learn some martial arts from your older brother to strengthen your body. Don't look so sickly all the time."

Chen Hongwen chuckled, not annoyed, and followed Chen Huaijin toward the Chen family residence.

Outside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the moonlight was cold and clear.

Huang Hansheng, accompanied by two of his fellow apprentices from Po Chi Lam, walked west along the stone street.

Baozhilin is located in the west of the city. You need to cross two streets and then turn into Ren'an Lane to get there.

The streets were deserted, the streetlights were dim, and the sycamore leaves rustled in the night wind.

As the three walked and talked, one of the junior disciples asked about the Bajiquan hammer stance that Chen Hongwu had mentioned during the meal.

Huang Hansheng was about to explain when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

When martial arts are practiced to the point of developing internal strength, the sensory perception of the pores far surpasses that of ordinary people. When someone points a gun at you, your spine will feel cold and your scalp will tighten; this is the body's alertness reaction before your mind.

This is called "listening to the force through the pores." The boxing manual says, "Not a feather can be added, not a fly can land." That is the realm of neutralizing force.

While one cannot achieve this with hidden force, when a gun is pointed at the back, the skin in that area will tighten first.

"division--"

He turned his head abruptly.

"Bang!"

Gunshots rang out in the night sky.

Huang Hansen swayed twice, and a burst of blood erupted from his chest.

He looked down at his chest, his lips twitching as if he wanted to say something.

Then he fell backward and landed on the cobblestone pavement.

Blood seeped from his back, trickling out along the cracks in the stone slabs, gleaming a dark red under the streetlights.

The two junior brothers were stunned.

Two full breaths passed before one of them screamed, "Senior Brother! Senior Brother!"

At the alley entrance, a figure holstered his pistol, turned, and disappeared into the darkness.

The cold moonlight shone on the cobblestone street, illuminating Huang Hansen's face, which was gradually losing its color.

The night wind swept across the road, causing the sycamore leaves to flutter and cling to the edge of the pool of blood.