Martial Arts Across the Heavens: Becoming a Martial God Starting from the Big Boss in Tangshan

In a secluded cove, a sampan quietly docked.

Chen Wen, Yan Zhendong, and Liang Kuan jumped off the boat.

As soon as Liang Kuan's feet touched the ground, he immediately leaned against a rock and gagged a few times, his face turning pale.

Although Yan Zhendong was still trying to stand up straight, the cold sweat on his forehead and his slightly pale face betrayed him.

Chen Wen looked at the two of them and couldn't help but shake his head:

"Hey, you two still can't get used to it?"

Yan Zhendong took a few deep breaths, feeling his churning stomach ease a bit, and gritted his teeth, saying:

"Rest assured, sir! I will adapt as quickly as possible! We are now in the navy, and I will not hold you back!"

Liang Kuan also chimed in with a bitter face:

"Yes, yes, I'll adapt, I'll definitely adapt..."

Chen Wen waved his hand, offering words of comfort:

"Don't force yourself."

"Although we only have these few ships now, which can be considered our naval force, we need people for everything in the future, including land, sea, intelligence, and logistics."

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses; just find your own place.

"Master Yan, your land skills are solid, and Liang Kuan, you are quick-witted and agile. You two will be indispensable for land-based tasks in the future."

Yan Zhendong's eyes lit up, and Liang Kuan also breathed a sigh of relief.

"However," Chen Wen changed the subject.

"I don't expect you to become superhuman swimmers, but at least you shouldn't let the journey by boat break your bodies. There's still a long way to go, so take your time training."

The two nodded quickly.

"Let's go into the city and check out the situation." Chen Wen took the lead and walked towards the city not far away.

The map indicates that this should be a small county town.

But as soon as the three got closer, they realized something was wrong.

The entire city was incredibly desolate and dilapidated; the city walls were no longer intact, with some parts collapsed and others riddled with large holes.

Despite being called a city wall, it was drafty everywhere.

The city environment is even more desolate.

The streets were full of potholes and sewage was flowing everywhere. Many people were squatting or lying on the roadside, all dressed in rags, emaciated, and with empty eyes.

Occasionally, a child would run by, but he was thin and bony, with his ribs clearly visible.

Liang Kuan stared in disbelief and whispered:

"Captain, this...this is even worse than the poorest laborers at the Foshan docks! At least in Foshan, you can at least get by..."

Yan Zhendong snorted coldly, a hint of sorrow flashing in his eyes:

"That's not bad. Go north and west, and you'll see droughts, floods, and wars year after year. There are countless tragedies of people exchanging children to eat and splitting bones for fuel. You just haven't seen them."

Chen Wen nodded, his gaze sweeping over the pitiful people, and couldn't help but say:

"Foshan has a port, and foreign merchants come and go. Although it was tough, at least there was hope of surviving."

"Many places inland are the real dead zones."

"But this city is by the sea, and should not lack the profits from fishing and salt production. Even if the government exploits it, it should not be in such a miserable state... It's a bit strange."

"Let's go find a place to scout first, and then contact the fleet."

The three of them walked through the dilapidated streets and searched for a long time before finally finding a teahouse.

It was nearly noon, but the building was deserted, with not a single customer, except for a waiter who was dozing off at the counter.

"Shopkeeper, get me something to eat!"

Liang Kuan was already starving.

While they weren't starving on the ship, the hard bread and salted meat served by the foreigners were really not to their liking.

The faint smell of cooking oil made my stomach rumble immediately.

The waiter was startled awake. Seeing a customer walk in, he immediately put on a smiling face and went to greet him.

"Please come in, gentlemen! What would you like to eat? Our specialty dishes..."

"Pick what you're good at, hurry up, I'm starving." Liang Kuan didn't stand on ceremony and directly found a table by the window to sit down.

The waiter responded loudly and went to the kitchen.

Before long, several hot dishes and a pot of coarse tea were served. Although they were not fancy, they were steaming hot and had a fragrant aroma.

Liang Kuan and Yan Zhendong didn't care about anything else and started eating heartily.

Chen Wen didn't eat much; he spent most of his time observing the deserted shops and the street scene outside the window.

After a satisfying meal, Liang Kuan let out a contented burp and exclaimed:

"Hey buddy, check please!"

Hearing the shouts, the waiter quickly came over, smiling.

"Thank you, that'll be two taels of silver in total."

"How much? Two taels of silver!" Liang Kuan almost jumped up from the stool, his eyes widening instinctively.

In the past, he could work himself to the bone in the opera troupe for a whole year and still not save two taels of silver!

Later, things got a little better after I followed Chen Wen. I could earn about one or two taels of silver a month, but that was all because Chen Wen was generous!

Under normal circumstances, two taels of silver is enough for an ordinary person's food for a year!

Liang Kuan could no longer contain himself and roared angrily:

"Is this dish made of gold or silver? You're robbing me!"

The waiter's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, sidelong sneer.

"You think it's too expensive, and so do I! If you can't afford it, don't order it!"

Liang Kuan's temper flared up instantly, and he slammed his hand on the table:

"Say that again? Do you know who we are? Do you think we can't afford your lousy meal? This is clearly a rip-off by your establishment!"

"Hey! Looking for trouble, huh?" The waiter also pulled a long face, took a step back, and clapped his hands a few times.

Then, a series of footsteps sounded.

Five or six burly men with menacing faces rushed out from the kitchen and upstairs, instantly surrounding Chen Wen and his two companions.

"You ate the meal but didn't want to pay, and then you tried to hit me?"

A bald man who seemed to be the leader pointed menacingly at Liang Kuan.

"If you don't hand over the silver today, plus another ten taels as compensation, none of you three are leaving this house alive!"

Liang Kuan was both shocked and furious. Just as he was about to make a move, he subconsciously looked at Chen Wen:

"What should the captain do?"

If it were him, he would certainly fight back desperately against such a shady business.

But now he has to obey the captain's orders.

Chen Wen watched this farce unfold, his expression remaining utterly calm. He simply uttered a single sentence:

"You decide what to do."

Upon hearing this, Liang Kuan immediately felt reassured.

His previous skills were just fancy tricks to make a living in the opera troupe, but ever since he followed Chen Wen and worked with the militia brothers in the factory, he has improved.

He received instruction from three masters: Chen Wen, Huang Feihong, and Yan Zhendong.

Things are completely different now!

Last time he fought the foreigners, he mainly used guns, but he wasn't satisfied with that. Now he finally has a chance to use his fists!

"Okay!"

Liang Kuan responded excitedly, then turned to the thugs who had surrounded him. Far from being afraid, he was eager to try.

Seeing that Liang Kuan was not only unafraid but also smiled, the bald man felt slighted and roared angrily:

"Beat them!"

He swung the rolling pin and smashed it down on Liang Kuan's head.

Liang Kuan's eyes narrowed, and with a nimble change of footwork, he easily dodged to the side.

At the same time, his right hand suddenly shot out, grabbed the other person's wrist, twisted and pushed it away!

"Ouch!"

The bald man screamed, the rolling pin slipped from his hand, and he was pulled forward and fell face-first into the mud.

Seeing this, the others yelled and pounced on him.

Liang Kuan moved swiftly and weaved among the group, his punches and kicks fast, accurate, and ruthless, targeting joints and vulnerable points.

Several muffled thuds were heard, mixed with screams.

In no time at all.

The five or six burly men were already lying on the ground, screaming and howling in agony.

The shop assistant was already huddled behind the counter, his face filled with panic.

Liang Kuan finished his stance, clapped his hands, and turned to look at Chen Wen and Yan Zhendong, his face full of anticipation:

"Captain, Master Yan, did I do a good job?"

Yan Zhendong glanced at the groaning thug on the ground, then looked at Liang Kuan, and snorted softly:

"He's fairly quick on his feet, but he lacks strength. He can handle this kind of guy, but he'll easily suffer when he encounters a tough opponent. He's still far from being good enough."

Chen Wen nodded, his tone calm:

"You've definitely made progress; your training hasn't been in vain. However, you still need to keep working hard."

Liang Kuan felt a little embarrassed by Yan Zhendong's words, but after receiving Chen Wen's affirmation, he couldn't help but grin.

Just then.

While they were talking, the waiter who had been hiding behind the counter suddenly rushed out of the teahouse, shouting as he ran:

"Murder! Someone's been freeloading! Report it to the authorities immediately!"

On the street outside the teahouse.

Some impoverished people, drawn by the commotion inside, quickly dispersed upon seeing the situation.

They seemed genuinely afraid that Chen Wen and the other two would kill someone.

An old beggar had only taken two steps when he suddenly hesitated, turned back to the three, and anxiously urged them on:

"You gentlemen must be from out of town! Hurry up and leave, or it'll be too late!"