Republic of China era: Actor? Please call me Martial Arts Master!

Chapter 163 You're carrying too much on your shoulders!

First floor.

When Huo Zhenxiao heard Lu Cheng reveal the hidden strength in one breath, he was not surprised. Instead, his fervor intensified.

"Master Lu's eyes are like torches."

Huo Zhenxiao straightened up and reached out to unbutton his suit jacket.

"Although my Huo family is a merchant family, the blood of martial artists still flows in our veins. In the past few days, Master Lu's actions in Tianjin—slaying Japanese ronin, massacring the Dengying Tower, and rescuing our fellow martial artists from the north—"

Huo Zhenxiao took off his expensive custom-made suit and casually tossed it onto the leather sofa beside him.

Next came the tie and vest.

"Every single one of these things makes Huo Zhenxiao's blood boil, and he feels ashamed of his own inadequacy!"

He pulled open the snow-white French shirt underneath, revealing what he was wearing underneath—a pure black, front-buttoned martial arts outfit.

This outfit is extremely form-fitting, made of the toughest coarse cotton fabric, with the cuffs and trouser legs tightly bound with bandages.

The once refined and cultured young master of the West transformed in that instant into a top-tier martial artist with bulging muscles and taut tendons like a bowstring.

"I, Huo Zhenxiao, have been practicing martial arts since childhood. I started practicing stance training at the age of three and boxing at the age of five. I mastered the Huo family's Lost Tracking Fist at the age of thirteen. I entered the realm of Dark Force at the age of eighteen, and reached the pinnacle of Dark Force at the age of twenty-five."

As Huo Zhenxiao spoke, he slowly took off his gold-rimmed glasses from the bridge of his nose and carefully placed them on the wooden box beside him.

"In the entire Tianjin, and even the whole of the North, among the younger generation, no one can withstand ten moves from me. Everyone calls me the top of the Hidden Dragon List," and the once-in-a-century prodigy of the Huo family.

He turned his head sharply, and his eyes, no longer hidden by his glasses, flashed with a sharp light.

"But I know. I'm stuck."

"I've been stuck at the peak of Dark Strength for three whole years! No matter how much I cultivate my Qi and blood, no matter how much I study the boxing manual, that window to Transformation Strength is like an iron mountain; I just can't break through it no matter how hard I try!"

Huo Zhenxiao's voice began to tremble, filled with resentment.

"Until you appeared. Someone my age, yet already having reached that legendary realm."

Huo Zhenxiao stood with his feet neither too far apart nor too far apart, his hands one in front of the other, forming an extremely strange yet perfectly harmonious starting stance.

The starting stance of the Mysterious Fist — [Parting the Clouds to See the Sun]!

"Tonight, we invite Master Lu here. We will not discuss business or grudges."

"Huo Zhenxiao only asks Master Lu for some guidance."

"Let me see what true mastery of internal energy is really like!"

Lu Cheng stood there, looking at the young man in front of him, who was like a fully drawn bow, ready to snap at any moment.

He didn't take out any weapons, but simply tucked the Xiangfei bamboo folding fan in his hand into his waistband.

"it is good."

Lu Cheng stood there with a calm expression, his hands behind his back, looking completely relaxed, his entire body riddled with weaknesses.

"Since Young Master Huo is in such a good mood, I, Lu, will play a game with you."

"but----"

Lu Cheng's lips curled slightly upward. "If I make a move, it will be either death or serious injury. Today, we'll stop here. I'll only defend, not attack. If you can force me back even half a step, I'll consider it a loss."

Madness!

What arrogance!

Facing the top expert on the Hidden Dragon List, and Huo Zhenxiao, who was at the peak of Dark Force and proficient in all schools of thought, he actually said he would only defend and not attack, and even promised that retreating half a step would be considered a loss.

In the darkness, the Huo family elders on the second floor couldn't help but let out a low, cold snort.

"That brat is arrogant!"

"Zhenxiao's 'Mysterious Fist' has captured the essence of the art, making it unpredictable and even ordinary masters of internal energy would not dare to be so arrogant."

But Old Master Huo Qingshan didn't say anything; he just tightened his grip on the dragon-headed cane.

Upon hearing this, Huo Zhenxiao was not angry at all; instead, a hint of gratitude flashed in his eyes.

He knew that Lu Cheng was using this extreme arrogance to ignite his strongest fighting spirit.

"I'm sorry."

"7

Before he could finish speaking...

"Bang!"

The concrete ground beneath Huo Zhenxiao's feet instantly developed two spiderweb-like cracks from his footsteps.

He transformed into a black whirlwind and vanished from the spot in an instant.

The most distinctive feature of the Lost Track Fist is its "mystery" aspect.

Be open-minded and learn from the strengths of all.

Swift as a rabbit in motion, still as a virgin in stillness.

His footwork is unpredictable, and his punches are a mix of feints and real attacks.

"Whoosh!"

A blur appeared to Lu Cheng's left. Huo Zhenxiao unleashed a Tai Chi Blocking Fist, accompanied by a muffled whistling sound, aimed directly at Lu Cheng's ribs. This punch appeared gentle, but in reality, it concealed a powerful, explosive force.

But just as the fist was about to touch Lu Cheng's clothes...

Huo Zhenxiao's body twisted strangely and slid behind Lu Cheng in an instant.

The White Snake Crouching in the Grass from the Eight Trigrams Swimming Body Palm!

With both palms like knives, he cut straight at Lu Cheng's Yuzhen acupoint on the back of his neck.

This "feint attack" was seamlessly executed and so fast that it was virtually impossible to defend against.

however.

Lu Cheng remained standing with his hands behind his back, without even turning his head.

Just a tenth of a second before Huo Zhenxiao's palms were about to strike the back of his neck.

Lu Cheng's back muscles suddenly began to vibrate at an extremely strange high frequency, as if they were alive.

With his super-powerful dynamic vision and the crisis warning of "Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune," Lu Cheng was able to see through all of Huo Zhenxiao's feints and the true landing point of his attacks the moment he started moving.

Moreover, his sixty years of cultivation, which combined the true essence of the White Tiger and the righteous energy of Zhong Kui, had already made his physical body reach a state of perfection where "not a feather can be added, and not a fly can land."

"Buzz—!"

'

There was no way to tough it out.

In that instant, the skin on the back of Lu Cheng's neck seemed to turn into a bottomless whirlpool.

When Huo Zhenxiao's palms, powerful enough to shatter bricks, struck the surface, he felt an extremely gentle yet overwhelming rebound force, flowing back along the edge of his palms like waves.

"not good!"

Huo Zhenxiao was shocked. It felt like he had punched a cotton ball with all his might. Not only did he not get any leverage, but his center of gravity was also shifted.

He reacted extremely quickly, immediately interrupting his attack. Using the rebound force, he did a somersault in the air and landed three meters away.

"Again."

Huo Zhenxiao refused to believe it, took a deep breath, and pushed his internal energy to its limit.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh."

This time, he did not use any more probing tactics.

The most ferocious killing move of the Mysterious Fist is unleashed like a torrential downpour.

He was sometimes like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, and sometimes like a nimble monkey picking peaches.

Fists, palms, fingers, elbows, knees—every part of the body has become the most deadly weapon.

In the open space in the center of the warehouse, it seemed as if four or five afterimages of Huo Zhenxiao appeared, surrounding Lu Cheng from all directions.

The sounds of air being torn apart and exploding were incessant.

The sheer scale of the devastation drew silent approval from the elders on the second floor.

"Zhenxiao's kung fu has improved again. This ever-changing, elusive technique will take even us old guys a lot of effort to master."

but.

Lu Cheng, at the eye of the storm, was like an isolated island standing amidst the raging winds and waves.

He didn't use any earth-shattering moves.

He was merely swaying his body slightly within a tiny, small area.

It could be a slight slump in the shoulder, or a gentle twist of the waist.

Every tiny movement was precisely aimed at avoiding Huo Zhenxiao's fatal blow.

Or, at the moment before Huo Zhenxiao unleashed his power, he used an extremely skillful "neutralizing force" to redirect that power to the side.

He perfectly captured the lightness of the swallow shape and the smoothness of the snake shape.

He seemed to be strolling leisurely in a downpour; the dense, impenetrable fist shadows couldn't even touch a corner of his moon-white robe.

"Can't hit it—completely can't hit it."

Huo Zhenxiao grew increasingly alarmed and desperate as the fight progressed.

He felt as if he was facing not a person, but a void.

All his attacks and schemes became transparent jokes in front of the other party's eyes, which seemed to see through everything.

"I don't believe it!!"

Huo Zhenxiao's eyes turned bloodshot. He suddenly stopped and abandoned all his fancy footwork and moves.

He took a deep breath, his chest bulged, and his bones crackled and popped.

Bajiquan — The Standing Cannon!

He actually decided to use this most aggressive and unreasonable move to confront Lu Cheng head-on.

Huo Zhenxiao stomped his foot hard, creating a deep pit in the concrete ground. Using the violent reaction force, he slammed his fists into Lu Cheng's chest like heavy artillery shells.

This punch embodies all his martial arts efforts over the past twenty years and represents the ultimate burst of his hidden strength.

"it is good."

Lu Cheng, who had been silent until now, finally showed a hint of admiration in his eyes.

Faced with this thunderous punch.

Lu Cheng stopped hiding.

He slowly extended one hand, his right hand.

With his five fingers spread wide, seemingly floating, he met Huo Zhenxiao's fists, which fell like meteorites.

"boom-!!!"

A loud bang exploded in the empty warehouse.

The surging air almost extinguished the torches around them.

The elders on the second floor couldn't help but stand up and stare intently at the scene.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Huo Zhenxiao maintained the stance of throwing out his fists, his whole body drenched in sweat, veins bulging.

Lu Cheng's right hand simply placed the palm lightly on Huo Zhenxiao's fist.

They were not forced back even a step.

Even the posture of his feet did not change.

"you----"

Huo Zhenxiao stared blankly at Lu Cheng's hand, the fervor in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a deep sense of powerlessness.

He felt as if his fists had struck a steel mountain weighing tens of millions of tons.

That powerful and unparalleled inner force vanished without a trace the moment it touched Lu Cheng's palm, as if it had disappeared into the sea.

Not only that.

He could also feel that Lu Cheng's palm contained a terrifying power that could shatter his internal organs in an instant, yet it was held back.

The moment the other party makes a move, Huo Zhenxiao will instantly become a corpse.

The gap is too big.

It's so big it's despair-inducing.

"I lost."

Huo Zhenxiao closed his eyes bitterly, and the tense muscles in his body instantly relaxed, like a deflated balloon.

He took two steps back, put away his fist stance, and bowed deeply to Lu Cheng once again.

"Master Lu's divine might has completely won Zhenxiao over. The Transformation Realm is indeed beyond human reach."

Lu Cheng withdrew his hand, gently lifted the hem of his long robe, and looked calmly at the dejected prodigy.

"Your punches are not bad."

Lu Cheng spoke calmly.

"By integrating the strengths of various schools of thought and mastering them seamlessly, his techniques flowed like clouds and water, truly deserving the title of 'elusive'."

Huo Zhenxiao gave a wry smile: "No matter how good the moves are, if you can't hit anyone, it's all just a mirage."

"You can't hit me, not because your moves are bad, nor because you're not fast enough."

Lu Cheng stared into Huo Zhenxiao's eyes, his gaze sharp and incisive.

"It's because your heart is impure."

"Impure-hearted?" Huo Zhenxiao suddenly raised his head, looking completely bewildered.

"Your stealth fist carries too much baggage."

Lu Cheng walked around Huo Zhenxiao once.

"What are you thinking when you throw a punch?"

"Is it the Huo family's century-old legacy? Is it the empty title of being at the top of the Hidden Dragon List? Or is it the livelihood of these thirty merchant ships you carry on your shoulders?"

Huo Zhenxiao was shocked, as if struck by lightning.

"You're too clever, and too good at weighing the pros and cons. You've turned the burden of this family business into your motivation for practicing martial arts, but you don't realize that this has become the 'shackles' binding your martial arts path!"

Lu Cheng stopped in front of Huo Zhenxiao, his eyes sharp as knives.

"In martial arts practice, especially to reach the level of 'Transformation of Strength,' the key lies in sincerity and dedication. Only with a mind free of distractions can one refine the spirit and return to emptiness."

"When you hit me just now, every punch seemed fierce, but deep down, you left yourself some room to maneuver."

"You're scared."

"You're afraid that if you use all your strength, there will be a backlash and you'll get hurt. You're afraid that if you get hurt, there will be no one to steer the huge Huo family business."

"You're boxing with this fear," with this mindset of weighing the pros and cons. How can your internal strength be pure?

How could one possibly cultivate to the point of achieving a "perfect and flawless" level of internal energy?

Lu Cheng's words were like sharp knives, ruthlessly tearing open Huo Zhenxiao's deepest disguise.

Yes.

He was the only male heir in the Huo family in this generation.

From a young age, his grandfather told him that he should not only practice martial arts, but also learn how to do business and survive in this chaotic world.

He excelled at both.

But he also transformed himself into a prisoner burdened with heavy shackles.

He dared not risk his life, dared not lose himself, and dared not pursue the ultimate peak of martial arts.

Because he bore the weight of his entire family's rise and fall, honor and disgrace.

"But----"

Huo Zhenxiao clutched his head in anguish, his voice hoarse.

"I was born into the Huo family; this is my destiny. I can't let it go. If I only focus on practicing my martial arts, what will happen to these hundreds of people? In this chaotic world, without money and power, the Huo family would have been swallowed up long ago!"

"Can't let go?"

Lu Cheng suddenly let out a cold laugh.

That's because you haven't seen through it yet.

"Do you think you can protect the Huo family by using these merchant tactics, these compromises and schemes?"

"In this chaotic world where the sound of cannons can buy wealth, and with the Japanese potentially launching a full-scale war at any moment."

"Without absolute power, your so-called wealth and merchant ships are nothing more than prey on someone else's chopping block!"

Lu Cheng suddenly stretched out his finger and pointed at Huo Zhenxiao.

"Look at the actors on this stage. They portray heroes and overlords, and even though they know it's all in vain, they can still sing out that spirit of 'better to die a glorious death than live a shameful life.'"

Why?

"Because on stage, the performance is paramount!"

"Since you've taken up boxing, boxing is your everything."

"Throw away all those shady schemes and get rid of the burdens of family fortunes!"

Lu Cheng's voice suddenly rose, like a great bell, resounding throughout the warehouse.

"When you're boxing, you're not the young master of the Huo family, you're not a business prodigy. You're just a martial artist who'd risk his life for that little bit of truth!"

"Smash the lock in your heart."

"Only your stealth fist technique can truly be like a fish leaping freely in the sea, or a bird soaring high in the sky!"

boom-!!!

Lu Cheng's words were like a thunderbolt, stirring up a storm in Huo Zhenxiao's mind.

He stood there, stunned.

His eyes were vacant, yet it was as if countless images were flashing wildly through them.

He saw in himself the hypocritical face he had cultivated in the business world since childhood, driven by the interests of his family.

He saw the internal energy he had forcibly withdrawn time and time again during practice in order to preserve his strength.

"shackles----"

"So, this is my shackle."

"I always thought I was protecting the Huo family, but in reality, I was imprisoning myself."

Suddenly, Huo Zhenxiao closed his eyes.

His body began to undergo an extremely strange change.

The chest, which had been heaving violently due to the strenuous exercise, gradually calmed down.

That outward-flowing, frenzied energy, like the receding tide, rapidly contracted and condensed deep within his dantian.

In the darkness of the second floor.

Old Master Huo Qingshan suddenly stood up, his cloudy old eyes filled with disbelief.

"This, this is—"

The old man's hand holding his cane was trembling violently.

"The knot in my heart has been untied, and my divine will has become inwardly focused."

"Zhenxiao—he has reached the threshold of the Transformation Realm."

First floor.

Huo Zhenxiao stood quietly for the full time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

When he opened his eyes again, all the fervor, anxiety, resentment, and scheming in his eyes had vanished.

Instead, there is an unprecedented clarity and transparency.

That is a state of "emptiness"—a state of letting go of all burdens and truly returning to being a pure martial artist.

He looked at Lu Cheng and took a deep breath.

Then, he did something that shocked all the elders on the second floor.

"Thump."

This was the eldest son of the Huo family, who was usually aloof and was hailed as the top of the Hidden Dragon List.

He actually knelt down on both knees and kowtowed to Lu Cheng.

"Lu Shi!"

Huo Zhenxiao forced himself to calm down.

"A single word awakens one from a dream."

"6

"Zhenxiao has learned a great deal today."

"This kindness in imparting knowledge and resolving doubts is like a second birth. Please accept Huo Zhenxiao's bow!"

Lu Cheng stood still and accepted the bow with composure.

He looked at the transformed young man on the ground, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Get up.

Lu Cheng raised his hand slightly.

"You walked this path yourself. I just helped you remove that leaf from your path."

Huo Zhenxiao stood up. He felt that his physical condition was better than ever before. The sluggishness that had bothered him for three years had completely disappeared.

Given time, with a little refinement, reaching the Transformation Realm is a certainty.

"Master Lu".

Footsteps echoed down the iron staircase on the second floor.

With the help of several clan elders, Old Master Huo Qingshan slowly walked down.

This old fox from Tianjin, who had survived the upheavals of two dynasties, looked at Lu Cheng with not only awe but also gratitude.

"Master Lu, I am Huo Qingshan. On behalf of my ancestors, I thank you for your great kindness in enlightening Zhenxiao."

"9

The old man walked up to Lu Cheng and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Old Master Huo, you flatter me. It's just a matter of mutual benefit," Lu Cheng replied calmly.

"No."

Huo Qingshan shook his head, his gaze resolute.

"My Huo family is clear about gratitude and resentment. You not only escorted my Huo family's friend, but also helped my Huo family cultivate a future Grandmaster of Internal Energy. This is an immense favor."

The old man turned to look at Huo Zhenxiao.

"Zhenxiao, go. Bring that thing here."

Huo Zhenxiao's eyes narrowed, he nodded emphatically, turned and strode quickly toward a hidden safe deep inside the warehouse.

Before long, he returned, carrying a very antique-looking long box made of sandalwood in both hands.

"Master Lu".

Huo Qingshan took the wooden box, gently stroking the patterns on it, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes.

"I heard that your Green Dragon Crescent Blade was damaged in the previous battle. Moreover, that blade is too heavy; although it looks imposing, it is not suitable for everyday carry for self-defense."

"This wooden box contains a weapon passed down through my Huo family."

"Back then, my Huo family ancestor followed Qi Jiguang to fight against the Japanese pirates. This weapon was a vicious weapon that drank the blood of the Japanese pirates on the battlefield."

The old man pressed the hidden latch, and with a "click," the wooden box opened.

A chilling aura instantly emanated from the box, even causing the surrounding air to drop several degrees.

Inside the box lay a Tang Dynasty-style horizontal sword, lying quietly.

The blade is long and straight, without any curves. The scabbard is wrapped in extremely rare black dragon skin and inlaid with an ancient bronze hilt.

"This sword is named 'Breaking the Enemy'."

Huo Qingshan pushed the wooden box in front of Lu Cheng.

"The sword is three feet and three inches long and weighs twelve pounds. It was forged by a renowned craftsman of the previous dynasty over three years using meteorite iron mixed with refined steel."

"The blade bears natural, subtle patterns resembling pine blossoms." It can cut a hair in two and slice iron like mud. Even more remarkable is the natural, chilling aura emanating from it, perfectly complementing the inner energy of your martial arts masters.

"I know that Master Lu's cultivation is extremely profound, and ordinary things cannot catch your eye."

"But this 'Broken Enemy' sword, if it remains in my Huo family, would be a waste of its potential, serving only as a decoration. Today, I bestow it upon Grandmaster Lu, hoping it can accompany you in this chaotic world, slaying all the demons and monsters!"

Lu Cheng looked at the Tang Dynasty sword lying quietly in the box.

With his "eagle eyes," he could clearly see that a faint layer of blood-red mist was faintly surrounding the black scabbard.

That was true killing intent, the true essence of military strategy cultivated only through countless battles and slaughters.

This knife is not only a powerful weapon, but also an excellent vessel to carry his [True Meaning of the White Tiger] and [Zhong Kui's Righteousness].

While the Green Dragon Crescent Blade is indeed powerful, it is a heavy weapon used on the stage and in battle, and it is inconvenient to carry around in daily life.

This Tang-style horizontal sword, however, can be like a discreet ghost, hidden in the sleeve, ready to kill as soon as it is drawn.

"A fine knife."

Lu Cheng did not refuse; he stretched out his long, fair hand and grasped the hilt of the knife.

"Zheng—!"

A crisp, melodious sound, like a dragon's roar, echoed through the warehouse.

Lu Cheng pulled the knife out of its sheath with one hand.

The moment I touched it, a bone-chilling coldness traveled through my palm and into my meridians.

But then, he released a small amount of his internal energy, and the chill was instantly tamed, transforming into a feeling of seamless connection, like an extension of his own limb.

The knife was like a part of his body.

"I'll accept this broken sword."

Lu Cheng held the knife horizontally at his waist, his posture upright, like a proud pine tree standing tall in the wind and snow.

He looked at Huo Qingshan and Huo Zhenxiao.

"I've already smoothed things over in Tianjin. But the Japanese and those traitors and lackeys will never let this go."

"In the future, the martial arts world in the north will need families with backbone like the Huo family to uphold its reputation."

Lu Cheng clasped his hands slightly in a fist salute.

"May we meet again someday, though the mountains are high and the rivers are long."

After saying that, he didn't linger any longer, turned around, and strode out of the warehouse.

He wore a moon-white long robe and had a black ancient sword hanging at his waist.

The figure disappeared into the thick fog and night.

Huo Zhenxiao stood there, watching the disappearing figure, motionless for a long time.

"grandfather."

Huo Zhenxiao suddenly spoke.

"Master Lu just said that theatrical performances are paramount, but boxing is my everything."

"I understand now."

"The business in Tianjin is fine as long as the family's stewards manage it."

"Tomorrow, I will resign from my position as general manager of the Huo Family Trading Company and go into seclusion. I will not emerge until I break through to the Transformation Realm!"

Grandpa Huo Qingshan smiled as he listened to his grandson's words.

He nodded vigorously, his eyes slightly red.

"Good, good boy."

"Our Huo family is finally about to produce a true dragon."

"Go. In this chaotic world, it is ultimately the fist that decides the outcome. The torch that Grandmaster Lu left us must not be extinguished."

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