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

Lu Xiaojia's legs were still weak.

He stood up, leaning against the wall, and went to check on his driver and bodyguard.

The driver was slumped over the steering wheel, his head blown open by a bullet, and red and white matter splattered all over the car.

The two guards lay dead in pools of blood, one shot in the chest and the other with a bullet piercing his neck.

"Go in peace. I will take care of your wives and children. It was my fault, Lu Xiaojia, that dragged you into this."

Lu Xiaojia sighed and turned to look at the two assassins again.

The two men lay not far away; one's sternum was completely shattered, leaving a fist-sized dent, while the other's throat collapsed, his neck crooked, and his eyes wide open—dead beyond dead.

They were all killed with a single blow, without even a trace of struggle.

He gasped, his Adam's apple bobbing, and his gaze toward Chen Hongwu held an added measure of awe.

My previous understanding of Chen Hongwu's kung fu was entirely based on hearsay, but now that I have seen it for myself, I am even more shocked.

Leaving aside his ability to react in advance and tear through the metal of a car, the mere fact that he could weave through a hail of bullets and easily take two lives is enough to be astonishing.

He couldn't help but say, "Master Chen, how did you know in advance that someone was going to make a move? I didn't notice anything, and the car just crashed into me."

Chen Hongwu glanced at him and said indifferently, "The cicadas sense the autumn wind before it blows. When boxing is practiced to the level of mastery, the body's energy becomes clear and transparent. Even before killing intent is revealed, the body will sense it. Someone like you who has never practiced it will naturally not be able to feel it."

Lu Xiaojia seemed to understand, but not quite; he just felt it was profound and unfathomable.

Before long, the police arrived.

Seven or eight people, wielding batons, rushed over, making a ruckus.

But upon seeing the corpses on the ground and the wrecked cars, and hearing Lu Xiaojia introduce himself, the leading police officer's legs went weak on the spot.

Lu Xiaojia had now reverted to his former air of a warlord's son, his face darkening: "You've come quickly enough. I almost died on your territory. This isn't over! Call your detective! Also, send two cars, one to take us to Longhua, and the other to transport the body back."

The constable, covered in sweat, bowed repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, Young Master Lu, rest assured, I'll take care of it right away! I'll definitely get to the bottom of this!"

Lu Xiaojia waved his hand, looking quite impatient: "Investigate? Do you think you can find out anything? Don't waste time, go get the car."

The police officer repeatedly agreed and jogged away.

Lu Xiaojia snorted and stopped looking at him.

We got back on the road half an hour later.

By the time Chen Hongwu met Lu Yongxiang, it was already dusk.

Outside the gate, sentries stood at attention, with armed guards lined up in two rows, their bayonets gleaming coldly in the twilight.

The car drove directly into the front yard, and Chen Hongwu got out and glanced up.

Lu Xiaojia quickly led the way. Inside the main hall, Lu Yongxiang was already waiting.

He was wearing a dark gray woolen military uniform, with the collar buttoned up meticulously, and a German-style pistol tucked into his waistband.

He was in his fifties, tall, with a long, slightly red face and eyebrows like two old knives.

Upon seeing Chen Hongwu enter, Lu Yongxiang laughed heartily, rose, and cupped his hands in greeting: "Master Chen, I've long admired your name! My son encountered danger on the road today, and it was entirely thanks to your help that I, Lu Yongxiang, am deeply grateful!"

He smiled warmly, exchanged a few pleasantries, invited Chen Hongwu to sit down, and then ordered tea to be served.

Lu Xiaojia stayed by his side.

Chen Hongwu sat upright, neither humble nor arrogant.

After a few sips of tea, Lu Yongxiang changed the subject, his face darkening.

"Master Chen, I will always remember your life-saving grace. But there's one more thing I must ask now that we've met." He paused, slowly setting down his teacup. "Director Xu Guoliang, did you kill him?"

Chen Hongwu nodded: "It's me."

Lu Yongxiang narrowed his eyes and snorted: "Kill them if you want, but why hang their heads in the middle of the city with bloody words on them?"

Even if Xu Guoliang was not the best, he was still the head of the Songhu Police Department appointed by the Beiyang government, so he was considered one of my Beiyang Army's men.

"Are you deliberately trying to provoke my Beiyang Army by acting this way?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a rustling sound came from behind the screens on both sides of the main hall and from the corridor outside the door.

Dozens of guards rushed out at the same time, each holding a pistol, their movements perfectly synchronized.

The sound of bolts being pulled back filled the air as dozens of dark gun muzzles instantly locked onto Chen Hongwu's body.

Lu Xiaojia's expression changed drastically, and she stood up abruptly: "Dad! Master Chen just saved my life! What are you doing—"

Lu Yongxiang simply raised his hand.

His gaze was like a knife, coldly staring at Lu Xiaojia, silencing Lu Xiaojia's subsequent words.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't dare to make a sound, and slowly sat back down in his chair.

Chen Hongwu remained seated, his back straight, his expression unchanged, as if he hadn't seen the dark muzzle of the gun at all.

He slowly picked up the teacup, blew on the floating leaves, and took a leisurely sip.

Upon seeing this, Lu Yongxiang frowned slightly.

"General Lu," he put down his teacup, looked up at Lu Yongxiang, and asked, "Do you know martial arts?"

Lu Yongxiang was taken aback, then shook his head and said, "I don't understand."

Chen Hongwu nodded: "I can see that."

Lu Yongxiang was a graduate of the Beiyang Military Academy, and he had already shown his talent when he was training troops at Xiaozhan.

He received modern military education and believed in guns and cannons, not fists and feet.

In his eyes, no matter what kind of force he used, whether it was obvious or hidden, or neutralizing force, none of them were as effective as a heavily armed guard.

He was extremely strict in disciplining his troops. There was always a guard company of more than a hundred men in the military governor's office, and everyone was armed.

Chen Hongwu raised his eyes and met Lu Yongxiang's gaze.

"Since General Lu doesn't understand martial arts, how do you know these spears can truly protect you?"

"Do you believe that before your men even pull the trigger, I can send you on your way first?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yongxiang's heart skipped a beat.

He saw that Chen Hongwu was still sitting there, without even moving a finger.

But in that instant, an invisible and intangible "qi" surged out of Chen Hongwu like a tide, crossing three steps and precisely locking onto him.

Lu Yongxiang felt a blur before his eyes; Chen Hongwu's figure seemed to be still in the same place, yet it also seemed to be closing in on him.

The aura was heavy and stagnant, like an inverted mountain or a tiger crouching in a deep abyss, pressing down on him and making it hard to breathe. It felt as if a large hand was pressing down on his chest, and even blinking became difficult.

A thin layer of sweat instantly seeped from his forehead, soaking the back of his military uniform.