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

Chen Hongwu recalled that after the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan, Ip Man also briefly served as the head of the criminal investigation team of the Foshan Police Station.

"Chow Hin-yeung came from a Hung Kuen school and was one of Chan Jong-ming's men," Ip Man said. "However, he was a man who kept his boxing and business separate. Unlike some Hung Kuen instructors who would do anything for money."

Chen Hongwu suddenly realized.

No wonder the other party tested his skills right away, and then took the initiative to show goodwill after the test. It turns out they were from Chen Jiongming's side.

"There's more to Foshan than meets the eye," Chen Hongwu said casually.

Ip Man smiled and said, "This is nothing. When the martial arts schools gather, you will truly see what the martial arts world of Foshan is like."

---

Police station.

Zhou Xianyang escorted Liang Chengwu through the gate, where they were immediately met by Lin Xingde, the head of the criminal investigation team of the police station.

The man was burly, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, wearing a gray-blue police uniform with a tightly cinched belt around his waist; he was clearly a trained fighter. He was coming out of the office, holding a file in his hand, when he saw Liang Chengwu being supported behind Zhou Xianyang, and he paused.

"What's this person's background?" Lin Xingde asked.

Zhou Xianyang waved his hand, signaling his men to take Liang Chengwu into the interrogation room first. He then walked over to Lin Xingde, lit a cigarette, and said, "Liang Fangwu's son, a hothead, ran up to the Chen family's roof to provoke them, and ended up getting shot down."

Lin Xingde glanced at him: "Is this kind of scum worth you making a trip to the Chen family in person?"

Zhou Xianyang exhaled a puff of smoke and laughed: "I just wanted to take this opportunity to meet Chen Hongwu, who has been making headlines in Foshan recently."

Lin Xingde's face turned cold, and he put down the files in his hands: "How is it?"

"He's a formidable figure." Zhou Xianyang flicked his cigarette ash. "His kung fu is exceptional; I'm no match for him."

Lin Xingde snorted coldly, "A knight-errant uses his martial arts to break the law, relying on his skills to do whatever he wants. This morning I even sent someone to warn the Chen family, and he still dares to cause trouble."

Zhou Xianyang turned to look at him, a hint of amusement in his eyes: "Hey buddy, don't just talk based on who you're on. So what if they slaughtered one of your Hongmen's branches? That Ghost Hand Peng wasn't exactly a saint either, why are you so prejudiced and resentful?"

Lin Xingde was momentarily speechless, his face twitching, but he ultimately did not deny it.

Heyi Hall was a branch of the Hongmen, and Ghost Hand Peng was a member of the Hongmen. Chen Hongwu wiped out Heyi Hall overnight, which was tantamount to slapping the face of the entire Foshan Hongmen.

As a police officer with a background in the Hongmen (Triads), he was naturally uncomfortable.

But he had already heard about the things that Ghost Hand Peng Qian did: kidnapping, extortion, loan sharking...

However, out of consideration for their shared background, they have always turned a blind eye.

He was silent for a moment, then waved his hand: "We'll see in a few days. If he beats Senior Brother Li, our Hongsheng Hall won't bother with him anymore."

Zhou Xianyang chuckled: "That's definitely something to look forward to."

The words had barely left his mouth—

Liang Chengwu, who was being supported by several police officers, suddenly convulsed, clutched his chest with both hands, his eyes widened, his pupils dilated, and he slumped to the ground as if his bones had been removed.

"What's going on?" an officer shouted instinctively. "Stop playing dead! Get up!"

He kicked Liang Chengwu's side with his toe, but Liang Chengwu did not react.

The officer kicked it again, but there was still no reaction.

His voice began to tremble with panic. He crouched down and reached out to check Liang Chengwu's eyelids. His pupils were already dilating, the whites of his eyes were rolling upwards, and only a faint reaction remained.

"Captain! He...he seems to be dying!"

Lin Xingde and Zhou Xianyang rushed over without saying a word and crouched down to check.

Both of them were very skilled. Lin Xingde rolled his eyelids and checked his breathing, while Zhou Xianyang pinched his wrists and pressed his carotid artery.

"His heart stopped." Zhou Xianyang lowered his hand, his voice heavy.

Lin Xingde flipped Liang Chengwu's eyelids again, pressed his chest, and his face grew increasingly grim.

The only wound is the gunshot wound on the shoulder, which has been bandaged and there is no major bleeding. There are other external injuries on the body, but they are all superficial and not life-threatening.

How did this person suddenly die?

"Call the doctor." Lin Xingde stood up. "Bring Doctor Huang over."

Dr. Huang arrived quickly.

He was a forensic pathologist at the police station, in his early sixties, with a gray beard and wearing reading glasses.

He squatted down next to Liang Chengwu's body and carefully examined him from head to toe—eyelids, mouth, neck, chest, abdomen, limbs, every inch of skin was turned inside out.

Finally, he stood up, took off his gloves, and shook his head: "This man suffered a heart attack. His pupils are dilated, his lips are cyanotic, and the signs of cardiac arrest are obvious. The gunshot wound on his shoulder has been treated and will not be fatal. There are no other serious external injuries, so it wasn't a violent death."

Lin Xingde frowned and said in a very low voice, "Dr. Huang, this man is a martial arts expert."

Dr. Huang glanced at him. "That's even stranger."

He didn't say much, packed his medicine box and left.

The forensic team removed the body, and the corridor returned to its empty state.

Lin Xingde leaned against the wall, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and watched the smoke dissipate in front of him. Zhou Xianyang stood beside him, his hands still in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the end of the corridor.

The two remained silent for a long while.

"Liang Chengwu is Liang Fangwu's son." Lin Xingde lit a cigarette for himself. "You know Liang Fangwu's reputation in the martial arts world of Guangdong and Guangxi. His kung fu is ingrained in his bones. If his son had a heart condition, he couldn't possibly not know."

Zhou Xianyang continued, "The biggest taboo for martial artists is having hidden health problems. Hung Kuen's stance training is especially harmful to the knees and kidneys. If the foundation is weak, one simply cannot withstand it. Since Liang Fangwu dared to let him train, it means that his foundation is fine."

"So where is the problem?" Lin Xingde's voice rose a few decibels.

Zhou Xianyang didn't answer immediately. He took his hand out of his pocket, rubbed his face, and suddenly said, "It comes from the Chen family."

Lin Xingde's pupils contracted slightly.

"I shook hands with Chen Hongwu at the Chen family's house." Zhou Xianyang looked down at his palm. "The skill he displayed was the most exquisite I've ever seen in my life. The subtle movements of his internal energy were as delicate as embroidery needles."

He paused, "I was only at the Chen family's house for less than fifteen minutes. If he had taken advantage of that time to do something to Liang Chengwu, neither Liang Chengwu nor you or I would have noticed."

Lin Xingde nearly dropped the cigarette from his mouth: "You mean..."

"Hidden strength and soft skill." Zhou Xianyang said, enunciating each word clearly.

Hidden force, injuring people invisibly.

Overt force is hard, while covert force is soft.

When obvious force strikes the skin and flesh, bones break and flesh tears, making the injury immediately apparent. When hidden force strikes the internal organs, tendons and veins rupture and blood and qi stagnate, leaving the exterior intact.

When internal strength is cultivated to the point of ultimate softness, it can penetrate deep into the internal organs through the tiny pores of the human body without leaving a trace on the surface.

A skilled acupuncturist can pierce a person's skin with gold needles without the person feeling anything. Subtle force and acupuncture are essentially based on the same principle.

The needle is metal, while the force is qi and blood. The needle has a physical form, while the force has no substance. The intangible force is more hidden and subtle than the physical needle, and it can accomplish more incredible things.

If one cultivates internal strength to the extreme of gentleness, a mere touch to the enemy will allow the energy to penetrate any part of their body instantly. Furthermore, the enemy will not feel any pain at the moment of penetration, and there will be no trace of injury on their skin afterward.

Many days later, the internal organ injuries began to worsen, and the person was beyond saving. Even if they could be saved, they would be severely disabled.

However, if the opponent is also a master, whose kung fu has penetrated into their internal organs and whose senses are incredibly sharp, then the hidden force and soft skill will be useless.

Sun Lutang said in "The True Meaning of Boxing": "Hidden strength is the soft strength in boxing. Its form is like a fish in water, and its strength is like a needle in silk. It penetrates the skin and enters the bone, injuring the internal organs."

Back in the day, Song Shirong was discussing martial arts with Guo Yunshen, a renowned master of Xingyi Quan, in Shanxi. During their exchange of blows, Song Shirong used a hidden force to penetrate Guo Yunshen's sleeve, knocking off his cufflinks while leaving the sleeve completely undamaged. That wasn't a myth; it was the pinnacle of hidden force.

Lin Xingde swallowed.

"A true master of internal energy doesn't need to throw a punch or exert force. He only needs to touch you to inject internal energy into any part of your body. If it doesn't manifest at the time, even a god can't save you afterward."

The corridor was quiet for a while.

Lin Xingde stubbed out his cigarette, turned and walked towards the police station entrance: "I'm going to report this to Hong Sheng Guan."

"This Chen Hongwu is too ruthless. I'm afraid something might happen to Senior Brother Li."