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

When Chen Hongwu rode a tiger through the gate of the Chen family mansion, the entire mansion erupted in chaos.

The maidservant hid behind a pillar, covering her mouth and daring not to make a sound. The servants, carrying tea trays, stood frozen in place, spilling tea all over the floor. Several guards instinctively reached for the guns at their waists, recognized the person on the tiger's back, and then sheepishly lowered their hands.

Chen Huaijin stood on the steps, looking at the striped tiger, and his lips twitched.

"Father." Chen Hongwu jumped off the tiger's back and patted its head. The tiger lowered its body, its tail gently patting the ground like a big cat.

Chen Huaijin took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.

There was the ecstatic joy of finding something lost, the relief of seeing his son alive, and a touch of apprehension towards the tiger.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." He said twice, then turned to the steward and instructed, "Go and arrange things for the caravan. Where's Hong Wen? Have him check the accounts."

The butler responded, but stood still, his eyes fixed on the tiger, his legs trembling.

Chen Hongwu said, "It just had a good meal on the mountain and isn't hungry for the time being. I've tamed it for a month, and its wildness has been greatly reduced. It won't hurt anyone easily. Just bring it to my yard."

The butler, on the verge of tears, looked to Chen Huaijin for help. Chen Huaijin waved his hand: "Do as the young master says."

The butler steeled himself and stepped forward. Tiger turned and glanced at him. There was no fierceness in his amber eyes, but the butler felt a chill run down his spine. He turned around cautiously and walked towards the backyard, looking back every few steps.

Chen Huaijin pulled Chen Hongwu into the main hall and closed the door.

"What exactly happened? Where have you been for the past month? And what about that tiger?" Chen Huaijin asked several questions in one breath, his voice tense.

Chen Hongwu sat down and briefly recounted what had happened. From the caravan being attacked, his rearguard action and battle with two mountain demons, to Captain Ma of the police station leading an ambush, being shot and falling into the water, to escaping along the underground river, and healing and practicing martial arts in the mountains.

"Two mandrills?" Chen Huaijin's expression changed drastically. "You mean there are two?"

"One big and one small, one male and one female," Chen Hongwu said. "I injured the female one before, and the male one appeared later. But Father, don't worry, those two mandrills won't bother the Chen family anymore."

Chen Huaijin was taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Could it be... that you killed them?"

Chen Hongwu smiled but offered no explanation.

He didn't kill the mandrills, but he didn't need to. These two beasts came to fight him every day, and then left, like keeping a daily appointment. He couldn't bear to kill such sparring partners.

Seeing that he didn't answer, Chen Huaijin didn't press him further, but simply let out a long sigh of relief.

"What about that police officer surnamed Ma?" Chen Huaijin's voice deepened. "Was he acting under Wang Yucheng's orders?"

Chen Hongwu nodded: "I heard the police searching for me on the mountain. They wanted to see me alive or dead. Without Wang Yucheng's orders, they wouldn't dare to do it so openly."

Chen Huaijin slammed his hand on the table, veins bulging on his forehead. He gritted his teeth, forcing down his anger, and said in a hoarse voice, "Let's put this matter aside for now and settle things when the time is right."

Chen Hongwu glanced at his father, asked no further questions, and got up to take his leave.

"Father, get some rest." Chen Hongwu pushed open the door and disappeared from sight.

---

In the dead of night, the streets and alleys of Sanhai County were deserted.

Chen Hongwu changed into a black night suit and silently scaled the wall of the Chen family's backyard. Tiger, who was lying in the yard, glanced up at him, then lazily lay back down and continued snoring.

He leaped across the rooftops with incredible speed, his feet barely touching the tiles. His internal strength had been cultivated to the point where his feet moved naturally, resulting in agility. It wasn't the supernatural ability to scale walls and leap across rooftops, but rather a light and precise footwork that allowed him to distribute his weight evenly with each step.

East of the city, Wangjiang Tower.

This is the largest restaurant in Sanhai County. It is a three-story wooden structure with upturned eaves and red lanterns hanging high.

Although it was late at night, the building was still brightly lit and bustling with activity. Downstairs were casual patrons, while upstairs were private rooms reserved for wealthy merchants and officials.

Chen Hongwu lay on the opposite rooftop, his gaze fixed on the window frame on the second floor of Wangjiang Tower.

He came out tonight for Captain Ma.

It was inconvenient to act during the day; nighttime was his domain. A master of internal energy had an advantage in the dark more than ten guns. He had originally planned to sneak directly into Captain Ma's residence, but unexpectedly, Captain Ma had come to Wangjiang Tower tonight—just what he wanted.

Restaurants are crowded and chaotic, making it easier to commit a crime and escape in the confusion than to kill someone at the police station.

Just as Chen Hongwu was about to leave, a window on the second floor suddenly opened. Captain Ma leaned out halfway and shouted downstairs, "Another jar of Daughter's Red wine, please!" His voice was slurred with drunkenness.

There was another person standing behind him.

The man was burly, with broad shoulders and a thick waist. He wore a black short jacket with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his two strong forearms. The veins on the back of his hands were prominent, and his fingers were short, thick, and powerful; he was clearly a trained fighter.

Captain Ma retreated and closed the window.

Chen Hongwu didn't rush closer. Instead, he changed his angle, approaching the restaurant's outer wall from the side, clinging to the beam beneath the window like a gecko. He channeled his inner strength into his fingers, inserting his fingertips into the cracks in the wood, suspending himself in mid-air, completely still.

Through the gaps in the window paper, he could see everything in the private room.

The table was a mess of cups and plates, with three or four empty wine jars. Captain Ma, his face flushed, put his arm around the burly man's shoulder, stammering, "Brother, you...you have no idea, in this wretched county town, I, a dignified police captain, am treated like a dog by that Wang fellow every day. He eats meat, while I can't even get a drop of soup!"

The burly man remained unfazed, picked up his wine bowl, and downed it in one gulp. He laughed and said, "Junior brother, you don't know how lucky you are. You have a peaceful meal to eat, aren't you satisfied?"

"Stable?" Captain Ma slammed his fist on the table. "Stable my ass! With my position, the slightest mistake and I'll be stripped of everything. The other day, I was sent to kill that Chen kid, and he almost killed me."

The burly man put down his wine bowl, a flicker of interest in his eyes: "Who?"

"He's the eldest son of Chen Huaijin, the richest man in Sanhai County!" Captain Ma took a swig of his drink. "It's bizarre, truly bizarre. How can one person cultivate to that level?"

The burly man was silent for a moment, then said, "The world is vast, and there are many extraordinary people. Xingyi, Bagua, Tai Chi—any of these, when practiced to a high level, cannot be easily dealt with by firearms. The Chen Hongwu you mentioned has probably already entered the threshold of internal strength."

Captain Ma hiccuped, "Senior brother, you...you're skilled in martial arts, why don't you stay and help me? Wang Yucheng isn't a good person, but he's generous with money. It's much better for you to guard his house than to wander around aimlessly."

The burly man laughed and shook his head, saying, "Junior brother, I'm a free spirit and can't stand being restrained. Even if your county magistrate invited me, or even if Tiger Mo invited me, I wouldn't go."

Captain Ma knew his temperament and didn't press him. He raised his wine bowl and said, "Let's not talk about these unpleasant things. Come on, let's drink! After we finish, let's go to the opium den, find a few girls, and all expenses tonight are on me!"

The burly man didn't refuse and clinked his wine bowl together with the wine.

Chen Hongwu hovered outside the window, his gaze fixed on the burly man.

Li Fuqun.

He had heard of this name before. This man came from a bandit background and was proficient in Choy Li Fut Kung Fu, possessing exceptional martial arts skills.

This person would later defect to the Wang Jingwei regime, serving as the commander of the 43rd Division of the puppet army, occupying Shiqiao in Panyu, and calling himself the "Emperor of Shiqiao".

They also cooperated with the Japanese army in "sweeping away" the anti-Japanese armed forces in the Pearl River Delta, burning, killing, looting, and extorting money, leaving them with a bloody record.

He was arrested and executed by the Nationalist government after the war and was a well-known traitorous armed leader in Guangdong.

Chen Hongwu did not act rashly.

One Captain Ma is not a threat, but with Li Fuqun added to the mix, the outcome becomes uncertain. He is confident in his ability to use internal force against external force. However, he has never sparred with someone using internal force against internal force. Li Fuqun has been committing murder and robbery for many years, and his practical experience far surpasses his own.

Captain Ma and Li Fuqun, arm in arm, staggered out of Wangjiang Tower. Their entourage settled the bill and followed.

Chen Hongwu silently descended from the crossbeam and followed behind them.

The two did not return to the police station, nor to Captain Ma's residence, but instead turned into a small alley. The alley was dimly lit, with pink lanterns hanging above doorways, and the faint sounds of women's laughter and pipa music could be heard.

Cuiyun Pavilion.

The largest brothel in Sanhai County.

Chen Hongwu stood in the shadows at the alley entrance, watching the two being ushered in by the madam and disappear behind the curtain.

He sneaked in quietly.