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

As the song ended, the crowd automatically parted to both sides.

Chen Hongwu walked at the front, followed by Chen Hongwen, Li Yi, and Chen Shi.

Chen Shi changed into clean clothes and washed his hair. Although he was still as thin as a bamboo pole, he was in much better spirits than yesterday.

Following behind Chen Hongwu, he couldn't help but look around at the dense crowd. He had never been to such a large scene before, and his palms were slightly sweaty.

Huang Jinrong stood up from the armchair, straightened his clothes, and put on a forced smile before going to greet him.

Du Yuesheng followed closely behind, and Lu Songgao, Tian Zhaolin, Meng Guangyin, and other martial arts instructors also stood up and followed.

"Master Chen!" Huang Jinrong greeted him with a smile and a booming voice, making it seem as if he were meeting an old friend he hadn't seen in years. "I've long admired your name; it's legendary. Meeting you today, you truly are extraordinary! You must be tired from your journey, please!"

Chen Hongwu paused slightly, glanced at him, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said in a flat tone, "Boss Huang, you're too kind."

His gaze lingered on Huang Jinrong's face for less than a moment before shifting away. He glanced at Du Yuesheng and nodded slightly as a greeting, before turning his attention to the martial arts instructors behind Huang Jinrong.

He had never met these people before, but he had heard Chen Gongzhe mention them. He could recognize them one by one after making a quick comparison.

His gaze first fell on a middle-aged man with a lean build and long arms.

This person was not conspicuous among a group of martial arts masters, but Chen Hongwu could tell at a glance from the other person's posture that it was a Dan-style stance from Xinyi Liuhe Quan.

This stance is somewhat similar to the San Ti stance of Xingyi Quan, but it is more sideways, narrower, and more compact, with the center of gravity shifted to the rear, making it easier to make close-range diagonal thrusts and swaying advances.

Although both Xinyi Liuhequan and Xingyiquan originated from Ji Jike's Xinyi Liuhequan, their subsequent development paths were completely different.

Henan Xinyi Liuhequan retains more of the original training methods and stances, based on the Dan-style oblique stance. It has fewer routines, emphasizes single-stance techniques, and features more oblique body swaying and close-range short strikes, with the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees all moving together.

Li Luoneng's lineage, based on this, created Xingyi Quan, established the San Ti Shi (Three-Body Stance) as the core stance, created the Five Elements Fist and expanded it into twelve forms, with more standardized stances, advocating hard fighting and direct attacks to break through the center gate, making the system more complete.

Chen Hongwu practiced Sun-style Xingyi, which originated from the Li Cunyi lineage. It also incorporated the Tai Chi form and Baguazhang footwork that Sun Lutang learned from Hao Weizhen. The stance was more expansive than that of Henan Xinyi, and the energy flow emphasized opening and closing, swallowing and exhaling.

"This must be Master Lu Songgao?" Chen Hongwu asked, bowing respectfully.

Lu Songgao asked in surprise, "Does Master Chen know me?"

Chen Hongwu smiled and said, "We've long admired each other, but this is our first meeting."

"and you……"

"I practice Xingyi, so I can be considered half a fellow disciple of Master Lu."

Lu Songgao suddenly realized, and couldn't help but secretly admire Chen Hongwu's insight.

Chen Hongwu turned his gaze and it landed on a middle-aged man with a thin face and a refined demeanor standing next to him.

This person was wearing a dark blue bamboo cloth long robe. His posture seemed casual, but his feet were shoulder-width apart, his knees were slightly bent, his tailbone was tucked in, his chest was slightly concave and his back was straight, and his head was held upright with a light and agile posture.

This is a standard Yang-style Tai Chi Wuji stance.

"Greetings, Master Tian." Chen Hongwu bowed in greeting.

Chen Hongwu practiced Sun-style Tai Chi. Sun Lutang integrated the stance training of Xingyi, the footwork of Bagua, and the neutralizing force of Tai Chi into one, combining softness and strength, lightness and swiftness, and was known as "Living Step Tai Chi".

Yang-style Tai Chi places greater emphasis on stance training and push hands. Its forms are graceful and expansive, with a powerful and continuous force like the Yangtze River. It is upright, comfortable, and restrained.

The Sun family and the Yang family were like birds skimming the water and old trees with deep roots, respectively.

Tian Zhaolin raised an eyebrow slightly: "Master Chen also practices Tai Chi?"

"I know a little bit," Chen Hongwu replied.

Tian Zhaolin remained silent, mentally categorizing Chen Hongwu as someone who liked to boast.

It is already remarkable that someone so young can master a martial art. Even Sun Lutang only achieved a comprehensive understanding of Bagua, Xingyi, and Taiji in his later years.

Chen Hongwu didn't care what Tian Zhaolin thought.

He extended his hand proactively: "Master Meng."

Meng Guangyin also reached out his hand, and the two hands gently clasped before letting go.

Those who have mastered the art of Mianquan (Cotton Fist) have extremely soft hands, as if their bones are wrapped in a thick layer of cotton. Chen Hongwu felt that soft strength the moment he shook hands with him.

Soft on the outside, strong on the inside; iron hidden beneath cotton.

At this moment, Chen Gongzhe walked over through the crowd with two martial arts instructors from the Jingwu Association.

As today's referee, he wore a dark gray long gown with a Jingwu Gymnastics Association badge pinned to his left chest, looking more solemn than usual.

He stepped between the two sides, first bowing to Huang Jinrong, then turning to Chen Hongwu and clasping his hands in a fist salute: "Master Chen, you've had a long journey. The rules of the arena remain the same. Sign the life-or-death agreement, and you will bear the consequences yourself. Do either side have any objections?"

Huang Jinrong smiled and said, "I am naturally at ease with Mr. Gongzhe presiding over this matter and have no objections."

Chen Hongwu nodded, offering no objection.

Just then, he suddenly felt a gaze fall on him.

The gaze came from the stands, piercing through the noisy crowd and the chaotic air, carrying an undisguised malice and hostility.

Chen Hongwu felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and a slight tingling sensation traveled from his scalp to his spine.

People also experience similar discomfort when facing wild beasts or knife-wielding assailants; it is a vague warning from the survival instinct about danger.

Chen Hongwu's perception was far more acute than that of ordinary people because his internal strength had been cultivated throughout his entire body's fascia.

It's just one step away from reaching the Transformation Realm.

When the hidden force penetrates the fascia, the blood and qi fill the space between the skin and flesh, and the tactile receptors densely distributed on the skin become extremely sensitive. He can detect changes in sight, airflow, and temperature that others cannot notice.

This is a natural result of the body's sensory range being greatly expanded after the muscles, bones, skin, and hair have been thoroughly trained.

The boxing manual says, "Not even a feather can be added, not even a fly can land," which describes this state.

He raised his head, his gaze passing over the ring and landing on a corner of the highest row of the stands.

There sat a Japanese man in his early fifties, with a square face, a mustache, and wearing a dark gray patterned haori, staring coldly at him.

That gaze was like a poisoned blade, piercing Chen Hongwu's face without any attempt at concealment.

Chen Gongzhe followed Chen Hongwu's gaze, his expression changed slightly, and he lowered his voice and said, "That person is Sato Kenichi, the head of the Shanghai branch of the Black Dragon Society."

He had operated in Hongkou for many years, had very close ties with the Japanese military, and was the number one figure in the Black Dragon Society in Shanghai.