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

Early morning, inside the main hall.

Chen Huaijin sat in the main seat, a thick account book spread out in front of him, but he didn't look at it. His gaze was fixed on the old locust tree outside the window, as if he were looking at the tree, or as if he wasn't looking at anything at all.

When Chen Hongwu pushed open the door, Chen Hongwen was already sitting in the chair on the left. The two brothers looked at each other but didn't say anything.

"Sit down." Chen Huaijin raised his hand.

Chen Hongwu sat down on the right, his back straight, his hands resting naturally on his knees. His breathing was slow and even, like a still pool of water.

Chen Huaijin was silent for a moment before speaking: "I called you here today to discuss something."

He paused for a moment, then said, "The Chen family's foothold in Sanhai County can no longer be held. I have secretly contacted people in Foshan, and the whole family will move away in seven days."

Chen Hongwen frowned: "Foshan? What channel? Is it reliable?"

"With the Guangdong Army stationed in Foshan as a 'protected zone,' the Guangxi clique's reach couldn't extend in," Chen Huaijin said.

"I'm afraid we've just escaped one danger only to fall into another." Chen Hongwen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried obvious doubt. "These past few years, the Protectorate District has been quite active. Although it's not as greedy and exploitative as those military leaders from the Guangxi Clique, you can't judge a book by its cover..."

Chen Huaijin raised his hand to stop him: "Your concerns are not unfounded."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down: "Back then, when the Three Kingdoms were divided, Zhuge Liang served Liu Bei, his elder brother Zhuge Jin served the ruler of Wu, and his cousin Zhuge Dan joined Cao Wei. The three brothers of the Zhuge family served the three kingdoms. No matter which family eventually unified the country, the Zhuge family was able to prosper and flourish for a long time."

He glanced at his two sons: "So you can't put all your eggs in one basket. I've decided to divide the family fortune in two. One part will come with me to Foshan to start over. The other part—"

Chen Huaijin's gaze fell on Chen Hongwu. "Hand it over to Hongwu and start afresh."

Chen Hongwen was stunned.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back. After a moment of silence, he nodded: "I have no objection."

Chen Huaijin glanced at him: "Are you really not in the mood, or do you just not want to say anything?"

Chen Hongwen gave a wry smile: "Father has already said so much, what else can I say? I've witnessed my elder brother's skills. He's more useful staying outside than coming with us to Foshan."

Chen Hongwu remained silent throughout.

He sat there, back straight, face calm, like a stone statue. Only when Chen Huaijin's gaze fell on him did he speak: "It's too early to say these things."

"What?"

"The situation is constantly changing, and no one can predict what will happen," Chen Hongwu said calmly. "Perhaps Wang Yucheng will suddenly die at home tomorrow and will no longer be able to act so arrogantly."

The air in the inner room suddenly froze.

The teacup in Chen Huaijin's hand stopped in mid-air, and Chen Hongwen's breath hitched. The father and son's gazes fell on Chen Hongwu at the same time.

"you--"

Chen Huaijin slammed down his teacup, his voice low but urgent, "Don't do anything rash! Wang Yucheng isn't stupid! Someone as greedy and ruthless as him will definitely be wary of you! If you act impulsively, you'll play right into his hands!"

Chen Hongwu looked into his father's eyes and nodded slightly: "I know."

He didn't explain further.

But Chen Huaijin knew his son too well—he knew that Hongwu's words were not casual remarks, but rather things he had thought through in his mind.

Chen Hongwen sat to the side, a slight chill running down his spine. He recalled that when he first returned to Sanhai County, he had told his father that his elder brother's "martial arts training was too expensive" and had even arranged for a spirited horse to give his brother a hard time.

This man's personality changed drastically after he started practicing martial arts. He was usually taciturn, but once he opened his mouth, he was ruthless and decisive, and didn't care about human lives at all.

Chen Hongwen lowered his head in silence, not daring to look in Chen Hongwu's direction again.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. The butler knocked and entered, holding a gold-embossed invitation.

"Sir, Magistrate Wang sent someone to deliver this."

Chen Huaijin took the invitation, opened it, and his face darkened after just one glance. He handed it to Chen Hongwen after reading it, his voice low and menacing: "Take a look."

Chen Hongwen took the invitation, his expression shifting from confusion to seriousness. He then gave a wry smile and handed the invitation to Chen Hongwu.

Chen Hongwu took it and glanced at it.

The invitation was politely worded: "Young Master Mo has graced Sanhai County with his presence. We are hosting a banquet to welcome him and wish all the gentry and distinguished guests of the county to grace us with their presence." However, the underlying meaning was anything but polite—there was a sentence at the end: "If anyone fails to attend, it would be considered disrespectful. We hope you will reconsider."

"You must" grace us with your presence; "disrespect" requires "think twice." This is like putting a knife to your throat—if you don't go, the police will likely be at your door the next day.

Chen Hongwu put down the invitation without saying a word.

Chen Hongwen frowned and said, "The fact that Mo Laohu's son has come to Sanhai County in such a grand manner is probably more than just a sightseeing trip. Wang Yucheng has specially hosted a banquet, inviting all the important figures in Sanhai County. His words were full of threats."

He paused, then said, "That guy surnamed Mo wouldn't happen to want to fleece us too, would he?"

Chen Huaijin's brows were also furrowed: "I have already sent people to inquire in the neighboring county. The person surnamed Mo stayed there some time ago, where he also hosted a banquet for the local gentry and collected a 'welcome fee'."

"Welcome fee?" Chen Hongwen asked in surprise.

"Welcome to our county, Young Master Mo. The local gentry have offered their heartfelt gifts." Chen Huaijin sneered, "That sounds nice, but what's the difference between that and outright robbery?"

The inner hall was quiet for a moment.

Chen Hongwu spoke, his voice not loud: "When is the banquet?"

"The night after tomorrow," Chen Huaijin said.

Chen Hongwu nodded.

He didn't say anything more, stood up, and walked outside. When he reached the door, Chen Huaijin called him back.

"Hongwu".

Chen Hongwu stopped and turned his head.

"Don't do anything foolish," Chen Huaijin pleaded in his voice.

Chen Hongwu remained silent for a moment without turning around.

"I know."

He pushed open the door and went out.

Chen Hongwen sat in the chair, watching his elder brother's back disappear outside the door. Suddenly, he felt that the back was much broader and more unfamiliar than he remembered.

For three days in a row, the Chen family was secretly busy.

Chen Huaijin and Chen Hongwen were busy selling off their properties, but they couldn't be too blatant, otherwise Wang Yucheng would notice. They could only transfer the deeds and property rights of the gold shops, pawnshops, and factories one by one through a few trusted intermediaries.

The price was driven down to a very low level, more than half the market price, but as long as it could be exchanged for cash, Chen Huaijin gritted his teeth and signed the contract.

He paused his pen after each signature, as if bidding farewell to the fruits of half a lifetime of hard work.

The Chen family's backyard was unusually quiet.

Chen Hongwu did not participate in these activities. Every morning, he would get up, stand in the courtyard, and watch the sunrise.

At midday, he would sit on the porch, holding a boxing manual in his hands, occasionally turning a page, occasionally closing his eyes. In the evening, as the sun set, he would walk to the center of the courtyard and practice a set of boxing moves.

He only practices Xingyi.

Chop, smash, drill, cannon, horizontal—the Five Elements Fist moves came one after another. There was no tiger's roar, no sound of wind, and it was impossible to tell how much force he was using. But every day, the tiger lying under the eaves would raise its head, stare at him for a while, and then lie down again.

Chen Hongxiu had come twice, each time standing at a distance, not daring to disturb him. She saw her elder brother standing in the sunset, his figure bathed in a golden-red light, his every move as slow as pushing water.

"Big brother," she couldn't help but call out.

Chen Hongwu withdrew his fist and turned to look at her.

"Do...do we really have to leave Sanhai County?" Chen Hongxiu's voice was very soft.

She already knew about Chen Huaijin's arrangements, and the women and children in the house had begun to be evacuated in batches.

Chen Hongwu did not answer, but walked over and reached out to pat her head.

"Don't worry," he said.

"No one can hurt you."

"Yes!" Chen Hongxiu nodded emphatically, then looked into Chen Hongwu's eyes and said earnestly, "I believe in you, brother!"

Chen Hongwu narrowed his eyes, his chest churning with murderous intent; he was not one to leave loose ends.