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

The morning light was cool and crisp, and the stone steps in front of the Green Gang headquarters were wet.

Last night's downpour left the streets flooded, with water dripping from the sycamore leaves and pattering onto the bluestone slabs.

Lin Yuqing followed behind her father and distant cousin, wearing a light blue cheongsam and carrying a box of pastries.

"Listen carefully, when you meet Mr. Du's people, don't talk nonsense or look around. Keep your head down and answer their questions directly!" The distant cousin, dressed in a silk mandarin jacket with his slicked-back hair, spoke animatedly in a thick Shanghai accent, "If it weren't for my connection with Mr. Du's butler, would they even bother to see you? Dream on!"

Lin's father hunched over, rubbing his hands together, and repeatedly thanked him, saying, "Cousin is right. It's all thanks to you, cousin."

His uncle glanced at him sideways and snorted, "What is your dilapidated family from Sanhai County compared to Shanghai? You'd be devoured alive in a heartbeat without a sound. If I hadn't given you a hand, you and your daughter would be homeless in ten days."

"Yes, yes, cousin is right." Lin's father turned to Lin Yuqing and said in a low voice, "Did you hear what your uncle said? When you go inside, don't act like that spoiled young lady you have in Sanhai County. This is—"

"I understand," Lin Yuqing interrupted softly, her teeth clenched lightly, but her face remained expressionless.

My uncle flicked his sleeves and snorted, "Young lady, too proud. You won't get anywhere here. In a place like Shanghai, you have to know how to bow your head and read people's faces to survive. People from small towns like yours talk about decorum, it's all just empty talk."

Lin Yuqing didn't reply, but turned her face away.

It's not that she's without a temper, but along the way from Sanhai County to Shanghai, her family fell into decline, and she lived under the roof of others, which wore down all her temper.

The guards at the main hall entrance were extremely strict, with two black-clad gatekeepers standing with their hands behind their backs, their waists bulging.

The uncle introduced himself and his purpose to the doorman, then slipped him two silver dollars. The doorman weighed them in his hand before giving a curt wave: "Turn left at the front gate, third courtyard, wait there."

My uncle turned around, his face full of pride: "See that? That's what you call connections."

As he walked, he lectured Lin Yuqing and her father, "In Shanghai, the most important thing is to know your place. You little rascal, you don't have much money, yet you want to act like others—"

Before she finished speaking, Lin Yuqing's eyes suddenly lit up.

At the street corner, Chen Hongwu walked slowly, carrying a gray-white cloth bag.

"Chen Hongwu!" Lin Yuqing called out, waving enthusiastically.

Chen Hongwu did not pause or look to the side; he only glanced at her before walking straight toward the main hall entrance.

"Oh my, do you know him?" My uncle turned his head, his lips moving rapidly. "From Sanhai County a long time ago?"

Lin Yuqing rolled her eyes and said casually, "A friend, from Sanhai County, we don't keep in touch much."

My uncle clicked his tongue and said, "No wonder you ignore me. You come from a small place, but when you get to Shanghai you act all high and mighty. You avoid people from your hometown like the plague. You're afraid people will find out your true colors."

"Yuqing, I'm telling you to be sensible, that's what I mean. Dealing with people like this is pointless."

As he spoke, he noticed that Chen Hongwu was getting closer and closer, and had already reached the main entrance.

My uncle realized what was happening and his expression changed:

"What is your friend trying to do? That's the headquarters of the Green Gang! Has he lost his mind?"

Then, turning to Chen Hongwu, he shouted loudly:

"Hey! What are you doing, you little bastard? This is the headquarters of the Green Gang, are you blind?!" He hurriedly raised his voice.

The words had barely left his mouth when his body jerked violently.

My gaze fell on the cloth bag in Chen Hongwu's hand, where drops of scarlet blood were dripping down, leaving a trail that was shocking to behold.

My uncle's face turned pale instantly.

At the entrance of the Green Gang headquarters, two gatekeepers exchanged a glance, then simultaneously stepped forward to block their path: "Who goes there!"

Chen Hongwu didn't stop walking. The man on his left reached out to grab his shoulder, but Chen Hongwu didn't even look. With a slight push and pull of his right shoulder, the man was sent flying as if he had been hit by a carriage. His back slammed against the vermilion gatepost, and he slid down the post, blood spilling from his mouth.

The other gatekeeper was shocked and reached for his gun. Before he could even draw it, Chen Hongwu was already in front of him.

He reached out with his right hand, and the crane's beak struck the man's wrist with a crisp snap. The man's wrist snapped back, dangling limply inside his sleeve. "Ahhh!"

The screams were shrill and piercing.

Chen Hongwu strode in, stepped up the stairs, and entered the main hall.

Footsteps came from all directions as Green Gang members surrounded them with their weapons. Some wielded knives, some wielded sticks, and some fired shots from behind the wall.

The bullet struck the door panel behind Chen Hongwu, sending wood chips flying and smoke rising.

But Chen Hongwu did not stop.

He stepped into the crowd, his fists like heavy hammers and his legs like whips of wind.

Before they could even catch a glimpse of him, one by one they were sent flying. Some crashed into the artificial hill, some smashed flowerpots, and some tumbled through the wooden door into the main hall. His nose was sunken, his arm was broken, and blood mixed with mud splattered on the whitewashed wall.

A Green Gang member, gripping a gun with both hands, had just raised the muzzle when, in a flash, Chen Hongwu was already in front of him.

Before he could pull the trigger, Chen Hongwu's hand had already landed on his forearm.

"Snap!"

The sound of the arm bone cracking was as crisp as bamboo. The man, holding the gun, watched as his wrist twisted into a pretzel shape, and the gun fell to the ground with a "thud".

In the blink of an eye, a whole bunch of people in the yard collapsed.

Some people rolled on the ground clutching their severed hands, some groaned while covering their chests, and some simply fainted.

Many more people were terrified by the murderous aura emanating from Chen Hongwu, and could only form a circle at a distance, with no one daring to take another step forward.

Chen Hongwu stood in the center of the courtyard, his body completely untouched by blood.

The gray-white cloth bag in his hand was still being held tightly, and blood was dripping from the opening.

-

Inside the main hall, Huang Jinrong did not sleep all night.

The morning light was already filtering through the window paper, and his eyes were bloodshot.

The official who was sent to invite him had already set off at night, and there was still no news. His heart felt like it was being weighed down by a cold iron, he was extremely anxious, and the more he thought about it, the more uncertain he became.

The noise outside grew louder and louder; some people fell to the ground, some wailed, and others shouted, "Gun! Get the gun!"

Huang Jinrong jumped up with a "whoosh," overturned the teapot on the table, and roared, "This is outrageous! Who dares to cause trouble in the main hall!"

He strode to the door, yanked open the curtain, and stepped across the threshold.

Once they could clearly see the scene in the courtyard, they were stunned and stood there dumbfounded.

The courtyard was a mess, with people lying haphazardly all over the ground.

Blood mixed with the rainwater that hadn't dried from the previous night seeped out from the cracks in the bricks, turning a dark reddish hue in the sunlight.

Chen Hongwu stood in the center of the courtyard.

He was carrying a gray cloth bag, its opening facing down, with blood dripping like a leak.

Their eyes met.

"Boss Huang," Chen Hongwu said expressionlessly, "we meet again."