"Wait!" Wang Lianyun suddenly said, "Are you really going to challenge them one by one?"
“Yes, until I feel I have enough practical experience!” Jiang Liu said.
"Fine, you wait. I'll call you right here. I want to see what you're capable of!"
"Nothing could be better..."
After Wang Lianyun finished speaking, he found his phone and dialed: "Hey, Brother Ma, this is Wang Lianyun. Someone came to my Yiquan gym to cause trouble and got injured. Can you come and calm things down? Don't tell anyone outside!"
"Hey! Imangawa..."
"Master Song..."
Wang Lianyun thought for a moment, then made one last call: "Brother Chen, you've arrived in Beijing? Oh... Come over for a visit today if you have time! I have a young buddy here who's got a powerful and fierce Tai Chi style... Alright, alright, I'll be waiting for you!"
The first to arrive was Yi Manchuan. He had met Jiang Liu before, and Jiang Liu knew his strength. The two fought, and Jiang Liu surprisingly only used Baguazhang to parry, eventually forcing him to use the powerful punching technique of Baguazhang—the Twenty-Five Quick Punches.
The so-called Bagua Quick Fist Twenty-Five Styles is characterized by "turning over and covering the hand with a fist, circling the palm, rubbing yin and yang together, flying up and down," with the palm representing yin and the fist representing yang. They work in perfect coordination, striking upwards and downwards with lightning speed, rolling like thunder in the clouds, the thunder's sound heard but its form unseen. The hands move swiftly and lightly, like clouds concealing the killer strike.
Jiang Liu also wanted to hone his boxing skills, so he only used Bagua to fight his opponent. In the end, he used a "turning palm" move to break his center of gravity and throw him away.
"You're Jiang Liu, the one who beat the guard company so badly, I'll have you! I'm Ma Huajun, the director of the 18th Division of the State Security Bureau!" Director Ma was dressed in plainclothes, a middle-aged man with a square face, his hands hanging down, exuding an imposing presence.
Jiang Liu, having just fought Yi Manchuan, had gained a deeper understanding of Baguazhang. Seeing Ma Huajun emerge, he immediately moved. Having fought two matches in a row, his momentum was unstoppable. With this movement, he instinctively stepped forward and unleashed his full power. After making contact, his waist moved like a wheel, his hands hovering in front of his forehead like floating clouds. He brushed against Ma Huajun's arm, causing his waist to rotate and disrupting Ma Huajun's balance.
This is Cloud Hands, the ultimate skill of using softness to overcome hardness.
In the blink of an eye, Ma Huajun was overturned, falling flat on his face. This greatly surprised Yi Manchuan and Wang Lianyun, who had already lost, as they never expected that Director Ma would be defeated so quickly.
Director Ma could only stand up, his face flushed, feeling extremely embarrassed!
Chapter Twenty-One: The Tai Chi Master (Part 1)
"Clap clap clap..."
"Young man, your skill is impressive. That cloud hand technique is unfathomable. I'd like to witness the power of your Tai Chi, young man."
A middle-aged boxer stepped forward. He was fair-skinned and beardless, wearing a loose cloth jacket, and his muscles were also loose and relaxed, but Jiang Liu knew that this was a sign that he had mastered the art of internal strength. In particular, his eyes shone brightly when they opened and closed, giving people a sense of profound tranquility.
Jiang Liu looked at the middle-aged man and already knew who he was: Chen Tianlei from Chenjiagou. It could only be him, with the strength of the peak of Dark Force.
"Alright, you also practice Tai Chi. Let's skip the fancy moves and exchange three punches. What do you think?"
"Young man, that's a good move! Watch out!"
Chen Tianlei took a deep breath, feeling as if he had swallowed a golden elixir. His body immediately gurgled loudly, clearly indicating that he had successfully cleansed his marrow. Three seconds later, his eyes suddenly opened, his clothes rippled like waves, his muscles and tendons taut and tense, and he slowly exhaled, his abdomen bulging like thunder.
Jiang Liu instantly entered a state of deep concentration, standing as still as a mountain, his feet planted firmly on the ground, his mind instantly empty, his hands clenched into fists, suddenly feeling incredibly heavy, as if he had an extra ball of lead and mercury.
But when he strode forward, his movements were as swift as thunder, and with a single punch, the force of the blows created a howling wind.
Both of them used the "Advancing Blocking Fist" at the same time. Jiang Liu also unleashed all his strength, with his hidden power surging forth, as did Chen Tianlei.
With a loud bang, their arms collided, shattering their sleeves. Water splashed everywhere, like a faucet exploding. This was the sweat that had seeped from their pores in that instant.
Chen Tianlei grunted and staggered back seven steps before regaining his footing. Seven clear footprints were visible on the blue brick floor, damp inside – the residue from when he used his internal force to neutralize the energy. Chen Tianlei's cloth shoes were rotten like wood, leaving him barefoot, and his sleeves and clothes were gone, hanging in pieces here and there.
Jiang Liu trembled slightly, his feet sinking deep into the ground with a crack, yet he remained unmoved. He thought to himself, "This Chen Tianlei is indeed formidable. Putting aside his actual combat skills, his abilities have reached the peak of the Dark Force realm. Apart from those freaks, he can be considered the number one person below the Transformation Force realm! Unfortunately, there are plenty of freaks in this world. Wang Chao and Duan Guochao, aren't they stronger than him?"
"Impressive skills!" Chen Tianlei was also shocked and wondered to himself, where did this little monster come from? And he's not even twenty yet. What would he be like if he were thirty?
However, I felt a sense of admiration and a desire to befriend them.
"My name is Chen Tianlei, and I come from Chenjiagou. I'm truly impressed by your kung fu, young man..."
"You flatter me, senior. Your skills are truly remarkable. I still have much to learn!" Jiang Liu pulled his feet out of the ground, and his shoes were unharmed. This detail naturally caught everyone's attention, and they were completely convinced of his skill.
Seeing this, Pai Hsien-yung secretly breathed a sigh of relief. These men were all in high positions, though not powerful figures—generals, ministers, or anything like that—but their networks of connections were considerable. Offending one meant offending a large number of people behind them. It was best not to offend them if possible; in the world of business, having more friends was always better than having more enemies.
He had been terrified when Jiang Liu mentioned challenging each family one by one. If he had actually done that, Jiang Liu could have simply left, leaving him stranded in Beijing forever, and it might even have implicated his sect. Now that he had minimized the offense, he breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said, "Brothers, it's getting late. I'll treat you all to a meal today to apologize!"
"Bai Xianyong, aren't you going to introduce him to us? You've been hiding this Tai Chi master from us for so many days. Are you looking down on us?" Wang Lianyun glared at Bai Xianyong and said.
"This is my junior uncle..."
"Your grandmaster uncle? That means he's from the same generation as Master Yujingzi..." These martial arts practitioners still value seniority, but it was still difficult for them to call a young man under twenty years old their grandmaster uncle.
Jiang Liu clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute and said with a smile, "Brother Bai, we are of the same generation, why talk about grandmasters! Seniors, please forgive me for offending you today..."
“I can tell you were trying to provoke me earlier… but words spoken are words that cannot be taken back. You’ll have to punish yourself with three cups of wine later, and I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it!” Wang Lianyun said.
He's the head of the Yiquan school, and Jiang Liu's actions are tantamount to challenging the school and damaging his reputation. If word gets out, his Yiquan school's name will be ruined. People won't care about right or wrong; they'll just say that Wang Lianyun of the Yiquan school can't even beat a ten-year-old kid, so what kind of school is he running!
Fortunately, this was a private exchange, so there was still room for maneuver.
Jiang Liu laughed and said, "Brother Wang, to be honest, if Brother Bai hadn't stopped me, I might have really gone to challenge him!"
Everyone burst into laughter, saying, "A martial arts fanatic, truly a martial arts fanatic!"
“Little ancestor, if you keep fighting your way through, you’ll have a great time, but what am I supposed to do?” Pai Hsien-yung said with a wry smile.
Everyone's expression changed, and they asked, "Fight your way through? You want to be that invincible Yang?"
"This is terrible, absolutely terrible!"
...
Over the next few days, Jiang Liu exchanged ideas with several masters, gaining tremendous practical experience. He made significant progress in Tai Chi, Bagua, Xingyi, Bajiquan, and more. These instructors and masters had dedicated their lives to understanding these martial arts, and naturally, there were things Jiang Liu could learn from them.
Jiang Liu didn't keep anything to himself and shared his Pure Yang Energy with others, also gaining the "Hum Ha" two-tone bone-forging and marrow-cleansing method of Bajiquan.
The name "Martial Arts Fanatic" spread throughout Beijing, but he had not yet revealed his combat skills. Some people believed him, some did not, and some even scoffed at him.
As the saying goes, a person's reputation is like a tree's shadow; some people care and won't tolerate any transgression. For example, the battle between Wang Chao and Zhou Binglin was a case in point, where their reputations were affected and no negligence was allowed. But Jiang Liu is single-mindedly pursuing the martial arts path and doesn't care about his reputation. As long as he doesn't go against his principles, he's willing to learn from someone weaker than himself, especially since the person Jiang Liu is currently visiting is a master.
A grandmaster of Tai Chi, and a successor of Sun-style Tai Chi!
This is a small alley, a typical Beijing courtyard house, exuding a simple and unpretentious charm. The courtyard itself is quite elegant, possessing a tranquil and secluded atmosphere reminiscent of a hermit living in the city.
"To enter without permission is thievery! Young man!"
A cold, emotionless voice came from behind him, and then a dark figure came toward him.
Jiang Liu was startled and used the Seven Stars formation to rush backward, but the courtyard was too small to avoid it.
The dark figure appeared in front of him in an instant. Jiang Liu frowned. Fortunately, the person did not have any murderous intent. It seemed as if he was testing him. The person's move was a push-hands technique from Tai Chi, not a powerful cannon-crushing force.
Jiang Liu also extended his hand, and the two of them put their arms together, each using the Tai Chi listening energy technique.
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Tai Chi Master (Part Two)
Listening to the opponent's strength (Tai Chi Ting Jin) is an advanced skill in Tai Chi. Upon initial contact, it allows the practitioner to feel every bone in the opponent's body, instantly disrupting their balance and causing them to lose their equilibrium. The human body's joints are interconnected, like levers; pressing one end lifts the other. With advanced skill, a single press on the opponent's hand will cause their feet to spring back automatically, not using their own force, but rather using the opponent's own force to propel them forward.
This is what is known as using minimal force to achieve maximum effect.
"Oh no, my kung fu is no match for his!"
Jiang Liu muttered something to himself, then flew towards the outside of the courtyard house in a daze. The moment he landed, Jiang Liu pressed his finger to the ground, and with a somersault, he stood firmly on the ground.
Letting out a long breath, Jiang Liu thought to himself, "This is true skill. Although the most important thing in actual combat is a killing intent and fighting techniques, to have mastered the art of listening to energy to such a level is no exaggeration to call one a grandmaster..."
The person in front of me was an elderly man around fifty years old, wearing a black silk coat and old-fashioned cloth shoes with scissor-shaped cuffs popular in the north.
It is Zhou Binglin, the inheritor of Sun-style Tai Chi.
He was around 1.7 meters tall, neither too tall nor too short, lean yet not imposing. His face was square and round, his skin a smooth, dark reddish-brown, without a single age spot. His eyes were bright and piercing, like the morning star. His hair was gray, and his beard was three or four inches long, neatly combed. He possessed the dignified air of an ancient Confucian scholar, with a touch of Daoist ethereal transcendence.
“Mr. Zhou, my name is Jiang Liu. I have heard that you are a grandmaster of Tai Chi, so I have come to pay you a visit!” After Jiang Liu finished speaking, he secretly observed the old man. His temperament was similar to that of the martial arts masters photographed in old photos from the Republic of China era, such as Shang Yunxiang, Sun Lutang, and Li Cunyi.
Zhou Binglin stared at Jiang Liu until he felt uneasy, then said, "You're the martial arts fanatic Jiang Liu who's recently become famous in the martial arts world? I heard you received the true teachings of Yu Jingzi, and he even taught you the Pure Yang Skill."
Jiang Liu grinned and said, "It is indeed me..."
"Open your mouth and let me see!" Zhou Binglin suddenly said.
"Hmm?" Jiang Liu was somewhat surprised, but he still opened his mouth slightly, revealing a mouthful of fine, snow-white teeth, each one neat and smooth, indescribably clean. He had cultivated the Purification Mantra since childhood, cleansing his body by day and refining his form by month, making his whole body transparent and reaching the Acquired Realm early on, his body even stronger than those who had achieved the Great Perfection of Marrow Cleansing in this world.
Zhou Binglin narrowed his eyes, swallowed slightly, and said, "You've already grown forty teeth; you've become an immortal!"
"To become an immortal or an ancestor?"
“Even Shakyamuni Buddha only had forty teeth. This is a symbol of the highest achievement in physical cultivation,” Zhou Binglin explained, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, “Please sit down, I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
Zhou Binglin had a high opinion of himself and was an outcast in the martial arts world. He was so self-absorbed that almost no one in the younger generation was qualified to have a cup of tea with him. Even if Bai Xianyong came, he would only be turned away.
“Mr. Zhou, I’ve come here today to exchange boxing techniques with you!” Jiang Liu said directly.
Zhou Binglin took a sip of tea and said, "Your marrow cleansing skill is even better than mine. Is there anything else we can exchange?"
"You are a senior with rich practical experience, and I can learn a lot from you." Jiang Liu had specifically looked up Zhou Binglin's information. When he was young, he had fought all over the martial arts world in Southeast Asia, and even dared to challenge Xue Lianxin, who was at the peak of the Transformation Realm. He fought a series of more than 30 disciples of Xue Lianxin's boxing school, and finally exchanged a few blows with Xue Lianxin's most outstanding disciple. He felt that even if he won, he could not maintain his peak physical strength to fight Xue Lianxin, so he left calmly.
This middle-aged man, nicknamed "Little Martial God," was once said to be invincible.
"If I don't agree, will you still challenge me?" Zhou Binglin asked, looking into Jiang Liu's eyes, then answered himself, "I know, you're a martial arts fanatic, just like when I challenged Xue Lianxin back then. But he had disciples to block for him, I didn't..."
There was a hint of melancholy in Zhou Binglin's eyes!
The Sun family's Tai Chi tradition only teaches those with exceptional talent and character. Over the years, not a single young person has met his standards, so naturally, he has no disciples!
"Senior is too kind. Martial arts can only improve through exchange, and can only be sublimated through combat. To break through the void and see the gods, one must naturally be able to fight!"
“Hehe, Yu Jingzi spoke to me on the phone a few days ago. I learned boxing from him when I was young, so you could say he's half my master. If you come to me to learn boxing, I can pass on all my skills to you!” Zhou Binglin suddenly said. He was indeed interested in talent, but he added again, “However, you must offer three sticks of incense to the founder of Sun-style Tai Chi!”
"Yes, it's appropriate to offer incense to the venerable Sun Lutang!"
Zhou Binglin nodded and began to instruct Jiang Liu in the courtyard. After all, he was a peak-level expert in the Transformation Realm, stronger than everyone Jiang Liu had encountered before. Only Yu Jingzi's disciple, Zhicheng, could compare to him. However, Zhicheng was over seventy years old, his vitality had faded, and he could no longer fight. Moreover, Zhicheng was not skilled in actual combat, so he could not offer Jiang Liu much guidance.
Moreover, Sun-style Tai Chi integrates the unique skills of Tai Chi, Xingyi, and Bagua, resulting in exquisite fighting techniques.
Zhou Binglin gave him guidance for three days, and after three days, Jiang Liu left the alley as he wished.
As soon as he stepped out of the alley, Jiang Liu turned on his phone. He had kept it off for the past few days to focus on martial arts training and hadn't told anyone where he was going.
When I turned on my phone, there were dozens of missed calls, half of which were from Pai Hsien-yung, some from Chen Tien-lei and others, and a few from unknown numbers.
"Hey, Brother Bai... um, come pick me up! I'll give you my location."
Less than half an hour later, Pai Hsien-yung arrived in his car. Without even asking where Jiang Liu had been lately, he said, "The government wants to see you. This time it's a high-ranking official with real power. I know you're not interested, but this is China, and you can't escape this time unless you leave the country immediately..."
The river flowed calmly, like an ancient well. Having received guidance from Zhou Binglin, he had entered the Transformation Realm, his strength breaking through once again, bringing him one step closer to the Path of Sincerity. He slowly asked, "Oh! Who is it? Which great deity has this nobody of mine disturbed?"