The Republic of China: From Storyteller to God

While they were pondering, Huang Feihong and Liu Che had already arrived in the main hall.

"Please sit down."

Huang Feihong invited Liu Che to sit down and instructed Toothbrush Su to brew some tea and bring it over. Then he brought up the subject: "May I ask your name?"

Liu Che glanced at the screen behind him without showing any emotion, and replied with a smile, "My name is Liu Che, as in clear and bright, and I am from Guan County, Shandong Province."

"Liu Che, what a good name."

Wong Fei-hung politely complimented, "I suppose it's from Zhuangzi's concept of 'wandering ten thousand fathoms in one's mind and understanding the true nature of things'?"

"Cultivate a clear and tranquil mind, and act with purity of heart; it seems your father has high expectations for you!"

Liu Che smiled and sighed, "Whether one's mind can soar to great heights is still hard to say."

However, when I was twelve, my father was labeled a rebel for harboring righteous men.

Before the incident, he sent me out of my home, and I fled all the way to Hebei, which can be considered as having traveled thousands of feet into the mountains.

As soon as these words were spoken, a few faint sounds could be heard from behind the screen.

"So my brother's past was truly tragic..."

Wong Fei-hung sighed, but inwardly he felt a slight sense of relief.

If what Liu Che said is true, then he shouldn't be a lackey of the imperial court.

After all, he had a blood feud with the imperial court for killing his father, so he shouldn't be willing to risk his life for the court.

But it's hard to say.

These days, there are countless people who mistake a thief for their father.

Huang Feihong decided to ask around again.

"If I'm not mistaken, Brother Liu Che seems to have some martial arts training?"

He asked the question somewhat hesitantly.

Although Liu Che's walking stance made him tremble with fear, looking at Liu Che up close now, Liu Che's delicate skin and tender flesh made him look nothing like a martial arts master.

It is known that those who practice martial arts have abundant qi and blood, and their muscles and bones are naturally strong.

Those with solid stance training will have legs as thick and strong as old trees with intertwined roots.

While Liu Che's legs weren't exactly thin, they were about the same size as an average person's.

How could legs like those walk out of such a terrifying walking stance?

"Master Huang has a good eye."

Liu Che smiled and said, "When I was doing business in Tianjin, I once studied kung fu for three days with an old master named Zhang Jingxing."

"Zhang Jingxing?"

Huang Feihong raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.

Zhang Jingxing was the mentor of the legendary marksman Li Shuwen and also the fifth-generation successor of Bajiquan.

He has many disciples, including the sharpshooter Li Shuwen and many other outstanding talents, with his students all over the world.

It turns out Liu Che learned his boxing from this old man...

Thinking of this, Huang Feihong suddenly realized something.

"Huh? Wait a minute!"

He stared at Liu Che in astonishment and asked, "How long did you say you learned kung fu? Three days?"

"right."

Liu Che feigned shame: "My business was just starting out at that time, and it was the busiest period. I really didn't have time to learn boxing, so I only studied for less than three days."

"..."

Huang Feihong was stunned and stood there speechless for a moment.

How could someone who has only studied for three days be able to walk in that kind of dynamic stance?

Is he lying to me?

Huang Feihong naturally became suspicious.

But they were meeting for the first time, so why would Liu Che lie to him?

But if Liu Che is telling the truth, how high must Liu Che's martial arts talent be?

Three days should be enough time to learn Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation), right?

Liu Che only studied for three days before he was able to stand in the perfect stance.

So, after all these years of diligent practice, where has all his skill gone?

For a moment, Wong Fei-hung was so devastated that he didn't even want to talk.

Seeing Huang Feihong's dejected expression, Liu Che smiled faintly and asked, "Master Huang, do you know Master Huo Yuanjia?"

"Huo Yuanjia? I recognize him."

Huang Feihong heard the familiar name and came to his senses.

When he accompanied Lord Liu to the capital, he visited and made acquaintances with many fellow martial arts practitioners along the way.

When he passed through Tianjin, he made a special trip to visit the Chinese Martial Arts Association in Tianjin and got to know and befriend many local masters.

At that time, Huo Yuanjia had just defeated the Russian strongman in Tianjin and was enjoying great prestige, so he also visited Huo's residence.

Although he and Huo Yuanjia spoke different accents and had difficulty communicating, they were both martial artists, had similar temperaments, and had a very pleasant conversation.

However, he never saw Huo Yuanjia again after that.

Huo Yuanjia later went to Shanghai, founded the Jingwu School, and even wrote a letter inviting him to Shanghai for a gathering.

But he was always busy with trivial matters and didn't have the chance to go.

That's it.

Liu Che explained solemnly, "I have a past relationship with Master Huo Yuanjia. This time I came to Guangzhou Prefecture on his behalf, and I have something to tell him."

After Master Huo founded the Jingwu School in Shanghai, he became a thorn in the side of the foreigners.

Especially the Japanese from the East, who frequently instigate their disciples to provoke trouble.

Although Master Huo and his disciples were stationed at the academy, they were ultimately unable to support the entire operation alone.

He told me that the North and South of China were originally one family. Now that a powerful enemy has come to humiliate us, the martial arts practitioners of the North and South should join hands to resist the foreign enemy.

He always believed that among the martial arts practitioners in the South, only Master Huang was truly righteous and a hero.

Therefore, he wanted to invite Master Huang to Shenghai to help strengthen the Jingwu School, resist foreign enemies, and win glory for the country.

"I see."

Wong Fei-hung's tone was filled with complex emotions.

He finally realized that Liu Che was definitely not a lackey of the imperial court.

Both the Chinese Martial Arts Association and the Jingwu School in Shenghai are organizations established by patriots and would never collude with the imperial court.

However, he found it difficult to accept Huo Yuanjia's invitation.

"I am deeply honored by Master Huo's high praise; I am truly unworthy of it!"

Huang Feihong cupped his hands in the direction of Sheng Hai before sighing, "To be honest, brother, I do want to go to Sheng Hai to help Master Huo and make him famous."

But I really have the will but not the ability!

I'm currently in charge of training the Guangzhou militia and managing Baozhilin clinic, so I can't leave at all.

This year, the weather in Guangdong and Guangxi has been unpredictable, with frequent disasters, and then... sigh!

He didn't continue explaining, but only sighed, "Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Master Huo and you, brother."

"Master Huang, there's no need to blame yourself."

Liu Che smiled and said, "I'm just passing on a message for Master Huo. Once the message is delivered, my task is complete."

It's normal for Master Huang to be busy with work and unable to find the time to spare.

I'll write a letter to Master Huo when I get back, explaining things. I'm sure Master Huo will understand.

Upon hearing this, Wong Fei-hung breathed a sigh of relief: "In that case, I'll trouble you, brother, to explain this to Master Huo."

It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but I simply cannot extricate myself from the situation.

"Of course, of course."

At this moment, Toothpick Su also brought over the tea he had brewed.

Liu Che picked up his teacup, took a symbolic sip, and then stood up to take his leave: "It's getting late, I won't bother you any longer."

Wong Fei-hung stood up and urged him to stay, saying, "Brother, where are you staying? If you don't mind, why don't you stay at my place? Have some late-night snacks before you go?"

"Master Huang, you're too kind. I'm staying at the Tianyuan Inn, which is located on the main street."

Liu Che cupped his hands and smiled, "I came to Guangzhou this time intending to start a business here and make a living."

I'll inevitably be bothering Master Huang a lot in the future, so please don't find it bothersome.

"Brother, what are you saying? If there's anything I can do to help, just say the word!"

Huang Feihong patted his chest in agreement and warmly escorted Liu Che to the clinic.

After watching Liu Che leave, he returned to the building.

Upon arriving in the hall, Huang Zhen was already seated in the same spot where Liu Che had just been sitting.

"Brother Huang, why haven't you left yet?"

Huang Feihong had just heard the commotion behind the screen and assumed it was a guard left by Huang Zhen to gather information, but he didn't expect that Huang Zhen hadn't left at all.

"It's alright."

Huang Zhen remained calm: "If that kid were a henchman of the imperial court, the soldiers would have surrounded this place long ago. How could they have given me a chance to escape?"

That's not entirely untrue.

Huang Feihong sat back down and took a sip of tea.

Huang Zhen glanced at him and suddenly asked, "Do you think that kid's words are true or false?"

Wong Fei-hung was taken aback: "Which sentence?"

Huang Zhen said, "His background."

Huang Feihong pondered for a moment before carefully speaking: "When he spoke to me just now, he used the accent of the Beijing-Hebei region, which also sounded somewhat like Shandong dialect."

These are all his own words; I don't know if they're true or false.

Unlike him, Huang Zhen was not cautious. He lightly tapped the table and said, "If he is really from Guan County and his father once hid righteous men, then he is a descendant of loyal and virtuous people!"

Many people sacrificed their lives for the country during the Boxer Rebellion, an anti-foreign uprising.

If he is truly the descendant of a loyal and virtuous person, we should take good care of him.

"Brother Huang is right."

Huang Feihong agreed, but remained cautious: "Since he said that he had learned boxing from Senior Zhang Jingxing and knew Master Huo, then I will write a letter to Senior Zhang and Master Huo to verify this."

If his identity is indeed true, then I guarantee that the descendants of loyal officials will not suffer the slightest injustice in Guangzhou Prefecture.

"Okay, you've thought of everything."

Huang Zhen nodded in approval.

As he spoke, a thought flashed through his mind.

If Liu Che is truly a descendant of loyal officials, should we try to recruit him into the association?

But recalling Liu Che's appearance, he gave up the idea.

He could tell that Liu Che didn't know kung fu; he was just an ordinary person.

Although the organization was short-handed, it didn't recruit just anyone.

If he knew some kung fu, that would be fine, but what's the point of recruiting an ordinary person into the group?

That could cost you your head.

Back then, the father went through so much trouble to preserve his bloodline. Was it so that he could continue to rebel against him?

Let's leave some room for their descendants!

So Huang Zhen put Liu Che out of his mind and continued to discuss the details of the uprising with Huang Feihong.