Chapter 1: Apprenticeship under Yan Zhendong

Chen Yanzhi returned to the stove, prepared a large bowl of noodles, and added a small amount of greens along with a spoonful of meat

Chen Yanzhi has been here for six months

From having nothing at the very beginning to now owning a small noodle shop. Having a job and an income, no matter how chaotic the world may be or how difficult life gets, at least there is hope for survival

Yan Zhendong's eyes lit up; he had always dreamed of having his own martial arts school

Chen Yanzhi sought out Huang Feihong a total of three times, each time requesting to be his disciple, but Huang Feihong rejected him on all three occasions

Late Qing Dynasty, Foshan, Guangdong

If it were not for Chen Yanzhi inviting Yan Zhendong to have a bowl of noodles every night these past few days, Yan Zhendong's days would likely be even more difficult

Yan Zhendong shook his head and said: "Your body is too weak, not suitable for martial arts. The Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt of the Yan family are very formidable, your body cannot withstand it. Huang Feihong from Baozhilin is said to be a master in both martial arts and medicine, a true gem of Guangdong. Why don't you go find him to be your master?"

The noodles made by Chen Yanzhi are delicious, with a rich broth and generous portions, and all the customers who have tried them speak highly of them. In business, integrity is fundamental, and coupled with Chen Yue's excellent skills, the business naturally performs better than other small shops

Chen Yanzhi knew that Yan Zhendong was not a match for Huang Feihong, and to rashly challenge Baozhilin would certainly lead to a counterproductive outcome

Chen Yanzhi looked at the main road outside the shop and saw a northern man in his thirties performing the hard qigong technique "Golden Gun Locking Throat". Chen Yanzhi knew that this northern man possessed genuine skills. However, there were very few people watching his performance, and not a single person offered him any monetary reward.

Yan Zhendong arrived in Guangdong, determined to make a name for himself by opening his own martial arts school. Unfortunately, reality was too harsh; he came to Foshan, Guangdong, and could barely afford to eat, let alone have the funds to open a martial arts school

Although the Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt are external martial arts practices, they also have corresponding techniques for cultivating internal energy

Yan Zhendong observed that Chen Yanzhi's complexion was rosy, his breathing was steady and prolonged, and his steps were firm and powerful, no longer appearing as insubstantial as he had a few days prior

As for the rest, it is to recruit disciples and await the auspicious opening.

In fact, Chen Yanzhi understood that Huang Feihong's rejection was for his own good. After all, his body was indeed too weak, and he was still in poor health. Once he began practicing martial arts, the likelihood of an accident occurring was very high

To achieve fame, challenging a rival is the best approach

... ...

Chen Yanzhi possesses an astonishing memory. He waited until Yan Zhengdong fell asleep before transcribing "The Tiger Roars, the Golden Bell Shield, the Dragon's Chant, and the Iron Cloth Shirt" and studying it meticulously

It is essential to restore the body to the physical strength of an average person

Yan Zhendong nodded and said: "Alright. I will take you as my disciple. If you wish to learn the Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt of the Yan family, I can teach you. However, if anything happens to your body, I will not be held responsible"

As long as the condition is kept under control, Chen Yanzhi will continue to grow stronger until his body fully recovers

Yan Zhendong stopped his chopsticks and looked up at Chen Yanzhi with a glance

The tiger roars beneath the golden bell, the dragon sings within the iron cloth.

The strong man broke several red tassel spears with his hard qigong, a hint of helplessness and fatigue flashing in his eyes. Indeed, it is difficult for a hero to earn even a penny

Jinzhongzhao and Tiebu Shan are among the most advanced horizontal training methods in the martial arts community. When practiced to a profound level, they can render one impervious to blades and firearms. Compared to internal martial arts, they are by no means inferior.

The woman left with the noodles

A glimmer of brilliance flashed in Yan Zhendong's eyes, and his expression was one of great excitement: "Good disciple, you truly have a way. Although both of us aim to make a name for ourselves through challenges, your considerations differ greatly from mine. You truly live up to being a scholar"

Every day, Chen Yanzhi does not have much time for boxing, but he is constantly regulating his breath and practicing "Tiger Roars and Dragon Whispers". At night, when he sleeps, Chen Yanzhi enters deep sleep, enhancing his endocrine system and immunity, and finally stabilizing his condition

At the age of twenty-three, Chen Yan is not considered late to practice martial arts. However, Chen Yan's body is too weak, and with Yan Zhendong's keen eye, he immediately recognized that Chen Yan is a patient

No disciples have come to seek apprenticeship, and Yan Zhendong is under considerable pressure. When the martial arts school does not open for a day, he must rely on Chen Yanzhi for his sustenance. Although Chen Yanzhi, as a disciple, has the obligation to support his master, Yan Zhendong still feels somewhat embarrassed

However, challenging a rival is a highly offensive act. Yet, given Yan Zhendong's proud temperament, would he be afraid of offending others

In the past, there were no martial arts schools, but now that there are martial arts schools, they are unable to recruit disciples

After washing up, Yan Zhendong began to explain the Yan family's Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt to Chen Yanzhi

Yan Zhendong let out a cold snort: "Huang Feihong wants to avoid battle? That is not up to him!"

Return to the place of accommodation

Just by hearing the name, it feels imposing

Ideals are abundant and fulfilling, while reality is quite harsh

Yan Zhendong is not a qualified master; he is completely incapable of teaching his disciples. He simply explains the techniques to Chen Yanzhi in a haphazard manner and then demonstrates the Eagle Claw Iron Shirt technique once, and that is the end of it

Chen Yanzhi was originally an ordinary young man of the twenty-first century

The disciple taught the apprentice to the point of causing his death, which has a significantly negative impact on the master

"I have not practiced the Golden Bell Shield, only the Eagle Claw Technique and Iron Shirt. " Yan Zhendong said, "The effects of the Golden Bell Shield and Iron Shirt are quite similar once mastered; you may choose to practice either one. Of course, it is also possible to practice both simultaneously, as long as you have enough energy for it.

Practicing martial arts to strengthen the body depends on the circumstances

The Qi cultivation method of the Yan family is called "Tiger Roars and Dragon Sings"

Yan Zhendong took a sip of strong liquor and said, "Yanzhi, it seems I, Yan Zhendong, have misjudged you. Although you are in poor health, you are indeed a martial arts prodigy. In just a few days, your skills have already reached a foundational level. Quite impressive."

Although he did not study under the tutelage of Wong Fei-hung, Yan Zhendong is also a martial arts expert, not much inferior to Wong Fei-hung. As long as one masters the essence of the Yan family's martial arts, it is not impossible to reach a level comparable to that of Wong Fei-hung

Things should not happen more than three times

The study of Taoist scriptures has indeed led Chen Yanzhi to make some notable progress. He is able to regulate his breathing to enter a state of deep sleep, thereby improving his endocrine system and enhancing his immune function. Unfortunately, his illness is too severe; the improvement in his endocrine and immune functions can only prolong his life, but cannot completely conquer the disease.

After failing to become a disciple three times, Chen Yan no longer sought out Huang Feihong. For even if he were to try again, the outcome would be the same: rejection.

"Boss Chen, please give me a bowl of noodles, a large one. I will take it to go." A woman's voice interrupted Chen Yanzhi's contemplation at the stove.

Several days have passed, and apart from Chen Yanzhi, Yan Zhengdong has not recruited a single disciple at the Yan Family Martial Arts School

Chen Yanzhi sat opposite Yan Zhendong and said with a smile: "Master Yan, your hard qigong is impervious to knives and guns, truly a unique skill in the martial arts world. It is a waste of your extraordinary abilities to perform on the streets. Master Yan, I would like to become your disciple."

Chen Yanzhi approaches tasks with careful planning before taking action

Only by thoroughly researching the cultivation methods can one achieve twice the result with half the effort in practice

Yan Zhendong understood Chen Yanzhi's implication that he lacked fame and was not qualified to challenge Huang Feihong

Yan Zhendong sat in the courtyard, brooding.

The northern man has been performing in front of Chen Yanzhi's store for several days

Otherwise, it is easy to suffer sudden cardiac arrest

Chen Yanzhi served noodles to the guests

The body is too weak to practice

As for whether Chen Yanzhi can learn martial arts, it depends on his own comprehension and destiny

He was diagnosed with a terminal illness at the age of fifteen, and the doctors determined that he would not survive for more than six months. However, Chen Yanzhi was unwilling to accept this fate; his strong will to survive allowed him to live for a full eight years longer. His attending physician referred to this as a medical miracle

When the five internal organs and six bowels are strengthened, ailments will naturally stay away

Chen Yan closed the shop door and said to Yan Zhendong: "Master, you do not have a place to stay in Foshan, do you? I have a guest room available, it just needs a bit of tidying up before you can stay."

Master, I have bought you wine and braised meat. Chen Yanzhi took out a wine bowl and filled it for Yan Zhengdong.

... ...

"Disciple, rise." Yan Zhendong said with a stern expression

Chen Yanzhi said: "Huang Feihong is considered the strongest martial artist in Foshan and is also the chief instructor of the Black Flag Army. He holds great prestige and fame in Foshan. Although my master's martial arts skills are not inferior to those of Huang Feihong, challenging him recklessly may not guarantee a response from him"

During his illness, Chen Yan continued to pursue his studies. He enjoyed reading books, textbooks, novels, and even delved into Buddhist and Taoist scriptures. His aim was to find a way to survive

Yan Zhendong has not yet reached a point of desperation; his standards for selecting disciples are still somewhat high. Later, he even accepted members of the Shahe Gang as his disciples, which was a sign of his true helplessness. At the same time, he aspired to compete with Huang Feihong, which led him to abandon the selection criteria of the Yan family. He became unscrupulous in his methods.

Yan Zhendong was eating braised meat and drinking wine when he said, "If no disciples come to my door tomorrow, I will challenge Baozhilin. Only by defeating Huang Feihong can the Yan family martial arts school gain fame"

Chen Yanzhi knelt down and bowed, excitedly saying: "Disciple Chen Yanzhi, pays respects to Master!"

Chen Yanzhi practiced the Eagle Claw technique in the room, stretching his muscles and bones, followed by breathing exercises, and cultivated the "Tiger Roar and Dragon Chant" in a standing posture

Chen Yanzhi shook his head and said: "Master, your actions appear rather overbearing. The people of Foshan are quite exclusive. When the time comes for you to recruit disciples, it is likely to become even more difficult. There are many martial arts schools in Foshan; let us not concern ourselves with Baozhilin for now, but rather challenge them one by one, and finally confront Huang Feihong. By then, your name will resonate throughout Foshan, and if Huang Feihong avoids the battle, everyone will say he is afraid of you."

Since Yan Zhendong is now the master of Chen Yanzhi, he no longer held back and nodded, saying: "Alright, I will stay at your place first"

In the late Qing Dynasty, it was an era when foreign powers used their modern firearms and artillery to force open the gates of the Qing Dynasty, a time when the people were struggling to survive, unable to even have enough to eat, let alone have the mood to watch martial arts performances

Yan Zhendong looked at Chen Yanzhi with a sincere expression, nodded, and said: "Boss Chen, thank you. Once I, Yan Zhendong, make a name for myself in Guangdong, I will surely repay your kindness of a meal."

Chen Yan earnestly said: "Master Yan, I know you are worried that my body cannot withstand the strain and that you fear something might happen to me. However, I currently have no other choice. If I do not practice martial arts to strengthen my body, in a while, my health will still deteriorate. Practicing martial arts gives me a glimmer of hope to survive. I hope Master Yan will accept me as a disciple. As long as Master Yan takes me in, I can use my savings to open a martial arts school for you." Practicing martial arts gives me a glimmer of hope to survive. I hope Master Yan will accept me as a disciple. As long as Master Yan takes me in, I can use my savings to open a martial arts school for you.

Chen Yanzhi said with a smile: "Tomorrow morning, I will go to rent a house for the master and set up the framework for the martial arts school first. Then we can start recruiting disciples"

Chen Yue brought out a bowl of noodles and said to the man performing the hard qigong, "Master Yan, it is getting late, and there are not many people on the street. Let's have something to eat. This bowl of noodles is on me"

Chen Yanzhi humbly stated: "It is all due to the excellent guidance of my master"

It is evident that Chen Yanzhi's skills have begun to take shape.

Chen Yanzhi came to his senses and smiled as he greeted the guests: "Alright. Please wait a moment, the noodles will be ready soon"

In the evening, Chen Yan went to the noodle shop after it closed, carrying a small jar of wine and two pounds of braised meat as he headed towards the martial arts hall

Chen Yanzhi let out a bitter laugh: "Master Huang Feihong from Baozhilin, I have sought him out. However, even though his medical skills are remarkable, he still cannot cure my illness. Master Huang, like Master Yan, believes that my body is too weak and not suitable for martial arts training"

The martial arts of the Yan family are not inferior to the internal styles. Perhaps, if I practice the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield and the Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt, my condition will be suppressed

Chen Yanzhi had spoken with him a few times and learned that this man was named "Yan Zhendong" and practiced the Eagle Claw Iron Shirt technique

The yard is rented, and a sign for "Yan Family Martial Arts School" will be customized, and a simple martial arts school will be established

"The Tiger Roars and the Dragon Whispers" is a form of internal martial arts. After practicing it, one can greatly strengthen the internal organs.