Hong Kong Film: Starting Undercover from the Five Tigers!

Wang Pangzi, listening from the side, was both angry and anxious. He wanted to say something in his defense, but Old Mr. Ma stopped him with a look. He knew that there was no point in reasoning with these people; they were just there to cause trouble.

Liu Wenhao also stopped practicing his punches and stood quietly to the side watching. His brows furrowed slightly, and an inexplicable anger rose within him. This feeling was even more frustrating than exchanging blows with Ah Hu. That punch, "Mountain Crash," could repel a powerful enemy, but it couldn't break the bureaucratic airs of these people. This was the kind of trouble his master had spoken of—trouble that force couldn't solve.

The inspection lasted for more than half an hour. Finally, the bespectacled man took out a notice and handed it to Mr. Ma.

"Master Ma, based on our inspection results, your martial arts school has multiple safety hazards and illegal business practices. We are now issuing you a 'Notice of Suspension of Business for Rectification' in accordance with the law. You are prohibited from engaging in any business activities until you have completed the rectification of all issues and passed our re-inspection."

"What? A shutdown for rectification?" Fatty Wang exclaimed. "Comrade, is it really necessary? We'll fix it right away, okay? We'll replace the expired fire extinguishers and clear away the clutter right away!"

"Rules are rules," the bespectacled man said coldly. "The notice is here, and we will send people to supervise its implementation tomorrow. If you refuse to comply, we will take further enforcement measures."

After saying that, the three of them ignored Mr. Ma and Fatty Wang and turned to leave.

The once bustling martial arts gym fell into a deathly silence. Several new students, who had just paid their fees and were excitedly preparing for their first lesson, looked at each other, their faces filled with astonishment and disappointment.

"What...what's going on?"

"Are we still going to open? We have this money..."

Mr. Ma took a deep breath, cupped his hands in apology to the new students, and said apologetically, "Everyone, I'm really sorry. It's a problem with our martial arts school that made you all come all this way for nothing. We will refund double the tuition fees you paid today. Please give us some time, and we will definitely let you know once things are resolved."

Although Wang Pangzi felt bad, he knew this was the only way, so he immediately started to refund the money and apologize.

After seeing everyone off, the martial arts gym doors slowly closed. Fatty Wang plopped down on a stool, slapping his thigh in anger: "Damn it! It must have been that bastard Lei Bao's doing! He couldn't beat them openly, so he resorted to these underhanded tricks! He's a real scoundrel!"

Chapter 1309 Hot Tea!

Mr. Ma held the thin notice in his hand, but it felt incredibly heavy. He sighed, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen: "I underestimated him. I thought he would use some underhanded tactics, but I didn't expect him to resort to the kind of methods we have no way to deal with."

Liu Wenhao stepped forward and took the notice from his master. The black words on the white paper were particularly glaring.

“Master, don’t worry.” Liu Wenhao’s voice was calm and steady. “We’ll deal with whatever comes our way. He has his clever plans, and we have our solutions. There’s always a way to resolve things.”

His words calmed the anxious Fatty Wang and the worried Old Mr. Ma somewhat. They looked at Liu Wenhao, their usually taciturn disciple who always seemed to be their pillar of support in crucial moments.

Just then, there was another knock on the door of the martial arts school.

Fatty Wang yelled irritably, "Who is it? I'm not taking any apprentices today!"

A slightly magnetic middle-aged male voice came from outside the door: "Excuse me, is Master Liu Wenhao here? I'm not here to register. I watched the martial arts competition yesterday and would like to ask you a few questions."

Liu Wenhao paused for a moment; the voice sounded familiar. He walked over and opened the door, where a middle-aged man in his forties stood, dressed in well-fitting casual clothes, with a refined air. It was the same man who had been the most focused audience member in the crowd yesterday.

The man smiled and nodded when he saw Liu Wenhao: "Hello, Master Liu. My surname is Chen. I apologize for bothering you."

Mr. Chen's appearance was like a breath of fresh air, dispelling the oppressive and stifling atmosphere in the martial arts school.

As soon as he entered, he saw the glaring "Notice of Suspension of Business for Rectification" on the table. A look of understanding flashed in his eyes, but he did not ask any questions. He simply smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to Mr. Ma: "Mr. Ma, I have long admired your name. Seeing your disciple's demeanor yesterday, I realized that Zhengwu Guild Hall is indeed worthy of its reputation."

Mr. Ma was in a bad mood, but he still maintained basic courtesy, forcing a smile: "Mr. Chen, you are too kind. My apprentice was rude and made a fool of himself. I just didn't know Mr. Chen was here today..."

"For no other reason than..." Mr. Chen turned his gaze to Liu Wenhao, his eyes filled with sincere admiration, "It's only because of Master Liu's third punch yesterday. If I'm not mistaken, the foundation of that punch was Bajiquan, but at the moment of exertion, it carried the wholeness of Xingyiquan, and at the end, it had a trace of Taijiquan. To unify several completely different forces so harmoniously is something I've never seen before in all my years of traveling around. So I've come here specifically to ask for your guidance. I wonder if Master Liu would be so kind as to enlighten me?"

Both Mr. Ma and Fatty Wang were stunned when these words were spoken.

This guy is a true expert!

The layman sees only the spectacle, focusing on how far Ah Hu flies. The expert, however, sees the essence of Liu Wenhao's boxing style. This Mr. Chen, who can readily identify elements of Bajiquan, Xingyiquan, and Taijiquan, is no ordinary enthusiast.

Mr. Ma's frustration eased somewhat, and he felt a greater respect for Mr. Chen. He nodded: "Wenhao, since Mr. Chen is a kindred spirit, why don't you keep him company and have a chat?"

Liu Wenhao also had a good impression of this Mr. Chen, so he invited him to sit down at a tea table. Fatty Wang, being very perceptive, brewed another pot of hot tea.

Chapter 1310: Business Card!

The two hit it off immediately. Mr. Chen had a very profound understanding of Chinese martial arts. Unlike many practitioners who were prejudiced against different schools of thought, he believed that the strengths of all schools could be used for one's own benefit. This coincided with the philosophy that Mr. Ma taught Liu Wenhao.

They started by discussing how to practice the "inch power" in Bajiquan, then moved on to the three levels of "manifest power, hidden power, and neutralizing power" in Xingyiquan, and finally to "listening power" and "understanding power" in Taijiquan. Mr. Chen was more like a learned researcher, while Liu Wenhao was like a gifted practitioner. Their exchange was mutually reinforcing, and both felt they gained a lot.

At the height of their conversation, Mr. Chen suddenly changed the subject, glanced at the notice, and asked casually, "Mr. Ma, Master Liu, it seems the martial arts school is in trouble? Is it related to the Thunder Martial Arts School incident yesterday?"

Wang Pangzi, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but spill the beans and tell the whole story that had happened that afternoon. At the end, he angrily cursed, "That Lei Bao is a real bastard! He can't beat us, so he resorts to dirty tricks and cuts off our jobs!"

Mr. Chen listened quietly, his face showing little surprise. He picked up his teacup, gently blew on the steam, and said slowly, "I've heard of Lei Bao. He made his fortune through commercial packaging and some underhanded methods, and he has quite a network of connections in the western part of the city. It's not surprising that he could find people to cause trouble for you."

Mr. Ma sighed, "Yes, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. We martial artists are not afraid of fistfights, but we are afraid of these kinds of intricate relationships. This old man of mine doesn't have any connections, and I'm afraid he'll really get me this time."

Liu Wenhao remained silent, simply listening. He knew that his master and the fat man were now at a loss.

Mr. Chen put down his teacup, looked at Liu Wenhao, and suddenly smiled: "Master Liu, what do you think the martial arts world is?"

Liu Wenhao was taken aback, not expecting him to ask that question. He thought for a moment and replied, "I used to think that the martial arts world was just about sparring between martial arts schools, a clear-cut matter of grudges and favors based on fists and feet."

"what about now?"

“Now I think,” Liu Wenhao’s gaze deepened, “that the world of martial arts is about people’s hearts and rules. There are rules in the open and rules in the shadows. Lei Bao uses the rules in the shadows, while we only use the rules in the open.”

"Well said!" Mr. Chen clapped his hands in praise. "In the end, the martial arts world is a human society. As long as it is a human society, it is not just about who has the strongest fist. Lei Bao has his network of connections, but his network of connections is not monolithic."

Looking at the worried Mr. Ma and Fatty Wang, he continued, "Do you think Lei Bao's style of doing things means he only has you as his opponent, or has he offended a lot of people?"

Fatty Wang paused for a moment, then slapped his thigh: "That's right! That bastard is arrogant and domineering, and he's offended so many people! I heard that Master Li from the 'Jingwu Hall' in the south of the city was so angry that he ended up in the hospital because his students were maliciously poached by him!"

Mr. Chen nodded: "So, he is not invincible. He uses unorthodox methods to deal with you, so it depends on who has more friends and whose 'rules' are stronger."

He stopped there, then took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Liu Wenhao.

Chapter 1311 Corner!

“Master Liu, I run a small business and know some people. I admire Master Ma’s martial ethics and your skills. A good martial arts school shouldn’t be ruined by such despicable means.” He stood up. “Keep this business card. Just open as usual tomorrow morning. I believe no one will bother you again.”

After saying this, he bowed to Mr. Ma and Liu Wenhao again, then turned and left, as carefree as a hermit who was detached from worldly affairs.

The three of them stood there, somewhat bewildered, holding the small business card. The design was simple: only the name "Chen Hai" and a phone number were printed on it; there wasn't even a company title.

Fatty Wang was skeptical: "Master, Wenhao, this... will this work? Just who is this Mr. Chen? It's just a matter of making a phone call?"

Mr. Ma was also a little unsure, but when he looked at Liu Wenhao, he saw trust and certainty in Liu Wenhao's eyes.

“Master, Fatty,” Liu Wenhao said, “we will open as usual tomorrow.”

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Fatty Wang nervously opened the doors of the martial arts school. He hadn't slept well all night, feeling that Mr. Chen was just bragging, and that an even more formidable "inspection team" would surely come today and seal the school off.

However, the whole morning passed without incident.

No one in uniform came to the door, not even a single person peeked in furtively.

Around noon, Fatty Wang's phone rang. He answered it and heard it was the new student who had gotten a refund yesterday.

"Brother Wang! Is everything alright at your martial arts school? I just heard that the head of that joint inspection team that came to investigate you yesterday was summoned for questioning by the Discipline Inspection Commission this morning! Also, Thunder Martial Arts School has been reported for tax evasion, and the tax authorities are blocking their door to check their accounts! It's all over the place now, everyone's saying that Lei Bao offended some big shot he shouldn't have, and he's finished!"

Fatty Wang stared at the phone, dumbfounded, speechless for a long time.

After hanging up the phone, he suddenly looked at Liu Wenhao, who was wiping his weapons, and Old Mr. Ma, who was tending to the herb garden. His voice trembled as he cried out, "Master... Master! Wenhao! Something's happened! Lei Bao is in trouble!"

He recounted the contents of the phone call, and the entire martial arts gym fell silent once more. But this time, it was a silence of shock.

Mr. Ma slowly put down his small hoe, looking at the small business card next to Liu Wenhao with a complicated expression. He had lived most of his life and considered himself well-informed, but he had never imagined that a seemingly unsolvable crisis could be so easily resolved by a single sentence from a "friend," even turning the tables on the other party.

He finally understood.

This is the true martial arts world.

It wasn't just about fists and kicks; it was also an intangible contest of connections, resources, and wisdom. Liu Wenhao's fight yesterday won him not only the reputation of the Zhengwu Martial Arts Association, but also the favor and friendship of a "big shot." This gain is far more valuable than defeating ten Ah Hus or forcing back a hundred Lei Baos.

Liu Wenhao picked up the business card, staring thoughtfully at the name "Chen Hai." He knew he owed this Mr. Chen a great favor. He also understood that Mr. Chen's help wasn't solely based on his appreciation of Liu's martial arts skills.

The news of Lei Bao's accident spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the city where martial arts practitioners practiced overnight.

Chapter 1312 Drinking Tea!

In the world of martial arts, "drinking tea" is not just about drinking tea.

“Wenhao,” Mr. Ma pondered for a moment before speaking, “This Mr. Chen has great influence, but his world is different from ours. When you go, observe more, listen more, and speak less. Guard your own heart and don’t be blinded.”

Liu Wenhao nodded solemnly: "Master, I understand."

He watched the setting sun gradually sink below the horizon, knowing that tomorrow he would face a completely unknown world. In that world, there were no boxing gloves, no rings, but perhaps, it was even more dangerous than fistfights.

Tranquil Tea House is nestled in a deep alley in the old town. It has no signboard, only a rustic wooden door with two simple lanterns hanging above it. Unless you're specifically looking for it, you could easily mistake it for someone's house even after passing by a hundred times.

When Liu Wenhao arrived at the address, it was already completely dark. He pushed open the slightly ajar wooden door, and a faint scent of sandalwood and tea wafted out. Inside the courtyard, a small bridge spanned a flowing stream, and verdant bamboo provided shade, creating a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the city outside.

A young man wearing a traditional Chinese jacket came up to him and smiled slightly: "Are you Master Liu? Mr. Chen is waiting for you at 'Tingyuxuan'."

The young man led him to a private, elegant room. Pushing open the door, Chen Hai was sitting behind a purple clay tea tray, personally arranging the tea set. He wasn't wearing a suit today, but rather a comfortable cotton and linen Chinese-style outfit, making him look more like a leisurely scholar.

"Master Liu, come, have a seat." Chen Hai smiled and pointed to the seat opposite him.

There was no one else in the room besides them. Chen Hai's movements were fluid and graceful; washing the cups, rinsing the saucers, and brewing the tea were all rhythmic, clearly demonstrating his expertise.

"Try this, it's this year's pre-Qingming Longjing tea, a friend of mine got it from Lion Peak Mountain." Chen Hai pushed a cup of clear yellow and green tea in front of Liu Wenhao.

Liu Wenhao picked up his teacup and took a small sip. The tea was fragrant and smooth, instantly washing away any restlessness in his heart.

"Excellent tea," he exclaimed sincerely.

“Good tea also needs good water, good teaware, and a good state of mind to truly appreciate its flavor.” Chen Hai put down his teacup and looked at him gently. “It’s like kung fu. Master Liu, your kung fu is excellent. But if you only teach it in a martial arts school, it’s like using ordinary spring water to brew this top-quality tea – it’s ultimately a waste.”

Liu Wenhao didn't respond; he knew the main point was about to be discussed.

Chen Hai didn't seem to be in a hurry. He poured him another cup of tea before slowly asking, "Master Liu, why do you think someone like Lei Bao has been able to run rampant for so long?"

"Because he has money, connections, and shady methods," Liu Wenhao said succinctly.

“You’re half right.” Chen Hai shook his head. “More importantly, he can help some people with things that ‘respectable people’ can’t do personally. For example, in certain business competitions, some ‘noise’ is needed to distract the opponent, and some ‘pressure’ is needed to facilitate a deal. Lei Bao and his Thunder Martial Arts Academy are the source of this kind of ‘noise’ and ‘pressure’.”

Liu Wenhao frowned; he vaguely understood what Chen Hai meant.

"This city is like a giant chessboard. Some people play openly, following the rules, like me. Others prefer to move their pieces in the shadows, disregarding the rules, like Lei Bao." Chen Hai's eyes deepened. "I helped you get rid of Lei Bao, firstly because I genuinely admire you and Old Ma's character, and secondly because Lei Bao has been jumping around too much lately, getting in my way, and even trying to bite me."

Chapter 1313 is easy!

"He threatened your interests?"

“You could say that,” Chen Hai readily admitted. “There’s a piece of land in the east of the city that I’ve taken a liking to, and I plan to build a cultural industry park there. A competitor of mine has also taken a liking to it; he has some connections with Lei Bao. Lei Bao sent people to my construction site a few times recently to ‘visit’ me. Although nothing major happened, it was quite annoying. So, I need a piece that can suppress this ‘noise.’ A stronger, more stable piece that understands the ‘rules’ better.”

Chen Hai's gaze fell on Liu Wenhao.

Liu Wenhao's heart sank. His worst fears had come true. Chen Hai was trying to make him the next "Thunder Leopard."

“Mr. Chen,” Liu Wenhao put down his teacup and looked directly into the other man’s eyes, “I only know how to teach boxing, and I only want to teach boxing. I can’t do things like fighting and killing, or being someone else’s pawn.”

His tone was calm, but his attitude was unwavering. This was his bottom line. He could repay a favor, but he could not betray his original intention in learning martial arts and the teachings of Master Ma.

Upon hearing this, Chen Hai not only didn't get angry, but instead laughed heartily.

“Master Liu, you’ve misunderstood.” He waved his hand. “If I wanted to find a thug, I could find a hundred people who are more ruthless and reckless than Lei Bao. The reason I’m looking for you is precisely because you don’t want to be ‘Lei Bao’.”

He paused, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice: "I don't need you to fight and kill. What I need is a 'guardian.' Like the stone lions at the gates of ancient mansions, they don't need to bite people every day. They just need to be there to deter petty thieves. I need you, and your Zhengwu Guild, to become my 'stone lions.'"

"What exactly do I need to do?" Liu Wenhao asked.

“It’s very simple.” Chen Hai held up two fingers. “First, I will hire Zhengwu Martial Arts Club as our group’s ‘security consultant’ in the name of my private company. Every year, I will pay a considerable consulting fee, enough for you to expand the martial arts club and improve everyone’s lives. This money is transparent and every penny can be investigated. You don’t need to do anything specific for me, you just need to lend your name.”

“Second,” Chen Hai’s eyes sharpened, “if, and I mean if, there’s another blind fool like Lei Bao who tries to harass my people or sabotage my business with underhanded tactics, I need you, Master Liu, to use your methods, the rules of the underworld, to ‘reason with’ him. You don’t need to hurt anyone, you don’t need to break the law, you just need to let him know that I, Chen Hai, also have tough guys who know martial arts and abide by the rules. Let him understand that if he wants to play dirty tricks, we’ll see it through to the end, and our ‘rules’ are even bigger than his.”

Liu Wenhao fell silent.

Chen Hai's proposal was both tempting and ingenious. He didn't make Liu Wenhao a thug, but rather gave him a respectable identity and a legitimate reason. What he wanted wasn't Liu Wenhao's fists themselves, but Liu Wenhao as a person, and the deterrent power of the "rules in plain sight" he represented.

This is certainly not about being a "thunder leopard." This is about using one force to counterbalance another.

"I need to think about it." Liu Wenhao did not agree immediately.

"Of course." Chen Hai leaned back in his chair, his expression relaxed as he resumed brewing tea. "This is no small matter. Go back and discuss it with Mr. Ma and Fatty Wang. I'm not in a hurry. However..."

Chapter 1314 Resistance!

He changed the subject abruptly: "My opponent's surname is Zhao, and his name is Zhao Sihai. He also has a 'capable man' under him. That man is not like Ah Hu under Lei Bao, who only knows martial arts. I heard that he came from overseas battlefields, has seen blood on his hands, and has no bottom line in his actions."

Chen Hai's tone was very calm, as if he were talking about something unrelated, but Liu Wenhao sensed a chill in his voice.

This wasn't forcing him, but stating a fact. On the chessboard, the opponent already had a "chariot" that had crossed the river, while Chen Hai's side was still missing a "cannon" that could block that "chariot".

Liu Wenhao picked up the tea in front of him, which had already cooled down, and drank it all in one gulp.