Chapter 2: The Challenge of the Yue Family Sword

Huang Feihong possesses the Shadowless Kick, and his agility is therefore evident

Warriors hold a natural reverence for scholars

When Chen Yanzhi finished his practice, he walked over with a towel and said, "Senior Brother, you are amazing. Although your Eagle Claw Iron Shirt is not as fierce and powerful as Master’s, I think your boxing technique is more aesthetically pleasing"

... ...

Yan Zhendong finished his noodles and drank the delicious broth clean, nodding as he said: "Master knows. In the whole of Foshan, apart from Huang Feihong, there is probably no one who can make me exert my full strength. I am merely going to challenge the dojo; I will not kill them."

The disciple was beaten, and naturally, the master's face did not look good. Liang Kuan returned with injuries all over his body, and it would be strange if Yan Zhendong was not angry

Yan Zhendong saw hope, and his mindset began to change. It was as if he had gained an invincible momentum.

However, Chen Yanzhi knew that Yan Zhendong was not a match for Huang Feihong

Liang Kuan watched Chen Yanzhi practice his boxing nearby

Huang Feihong greeted Chen Yanzhi and Liang Kuan with a friendly demeanor, showing no signs of displeasure. However, his several disciples did not extend a warm reception to Liang Kuan. Liang Kuan kept his head down, standing silently behind Chen Yanzhi.

Chen Yanzhi nodded, clasped his hands behind his back, left the small courtyard, and walked towards the noodle shop

"The Yue family is quite impressive. My master, Yan Zhendong, will challenge your Yue family knife after sunset. Be prepared. I hope the Yue family knife does not lose too disgracefully," Liang Kuan shouted loudly at the Yue family.

Yan Zhendong nodded and said, "Alright. I will issue the challenge tomorrow"

A cold light flashed in Yan Zhendong's eyes: "Is it the Yue family that did this? My disciples, they dare to strike them, truly audacious! Since the Yue family does not abide by the rules, then I too can disregard the rules!"

Yan Zhendong is a tragic figure. He possesses profound martial arts skills, yet finds no opportunity to utilize them. Chen Yanzhi hopes to change Yan Zhendong's trajectory of fate. While not expecting Yan Zhendong to become a martial arts master like Huang Feihong, at the very least, he should embody some martial virtue and prestige, enabling him to make a name for himself in Guangdong through teaching martial arts.

When Chen Yanzhi practiced the Eagle Claw Iron Shirt, he did not exert much strength; of course, his strength was also insufficient, and compared to Yan Zhendong, there was a significant gap. However, Chen Yanzhi displayed the essence of the Eagle Claw Iron Shirt. As he wielded his claw technique, it seemed to carry a fierce aura.

Liang Kuan forced a smile and said, "Senior Brother, it is not that I want to provoke the Shahe Gang, but rather that those fellows from the Shahe Gang have come to provoke me. I had no choice but to engage with them."

Yan Zhendong chuckled, took a few bites of noodles, and disdainfully said: "The martial artists of Foshan are truly pathetic. I haven't even exerted a third of my strength, and he has already fallen. In my opinion, apart from Huang Feihong, there isn't anyone capable in Foshan. If it weren't for you, Yan Zhi, insisting on visiting only one martial arts school each day to eventually force out Huang Feihong, I would have wanted to challenge all the martial arts schools in Foshan at once."

Yan Zhendong gradually gained fame in the martial arts community of Foshan. The Yan family martial arts school began to recruit disciples. The first person to come to seek apprenticeship was unexpectedly Liang Kuan

To achieve a level of martial arts akin to that of Wong Fei-hung, one must absolutely not neglect the agility of one's movements

... ...

For instance, those who practice the Tiger Style Fist, when they embody the spirit of the fierce tiger, will have bones that become strong, comparable to those of a tiger.

Yan Zhendong nodded and said: "The earlier you go, the earlier you return. When you arrive at Baozhilin, be mindful of your words and do not tarnish the reputation of our Yan family's martial arts school"

Others practice martial arts to stand out and achieve success. For Chen Yanzhi, practicing martial arts is for the purpose of strengthening his body and ensuring his survival. His advancement in martial arts has even astonished Yan Zhendong

Chen Yanzhi prepared a large bowl of egg noodles for Yan Zhendong

Liang Kuan let out a sneer, his expression as infuriating as it could be: "This challenge letter, will you accept it or not? If you do not accept the challenge, as long as the Yue family says a word, that the Yue family's swordsmanship is not as formidable as the Yan family's martial arts, I will leave immediately"

Liang Kuan delivered the challenge letter to the Yue family

A disciple of the Yue family snorted coldly and snatched the challenge letter from Liang Kuan's hand: "Liang Kuan, you are also from Guangdong. Yet now you have become a traitor. Go back and tell Yan Zhendong to clean his neck and wait. After sunset, he will witness the power of our Yue family saber. Get lost!"

... ...

Chen Yanzhi has thoroughly researched the cultivation methods, and by delving deeply into the practice, his abilities have naturally advanced by leaps and bounds

As the noodles were placed in front of Yan Zhendong, Chen Yanzhi smiled and said: "Congratulations, Master. In your first challenge, you have achieved victory right from the start. In the future, our martial arts school will surely prosper more and more."

Chen Yanzhi is a disciple, yet Yan Zhendong often seeks his opinion. After all, Chen Yanzhi is educated and a scholar

Huang Feihong prescribed medicine for Liang Kuan

The surroundings were filled with onlookers.

Before dawn, Chen Yanzhi got up and went to the courtyard of the martial arts school to practice his boxing.

Chen Yanzhi took Liang Kuan out of the martial arts school, and Liang Kuan was somewhat reluctant to go to Baozhilin. Chen Yanzhi smiled and said: "Do you feel that you have offended Master Huang and are a bit embarrassed to see him? Don't worry, Master Huang is not as petty as you think. He is a master of Hong Quan and will not hold it against you"

In the morning, Chen Yanzhi was busy at the noodle shop when Yan Zhendong returned. Seeing Yan Zhendong's beaming face, Chen Yanzhi knew that he had certainly won, and won quite impressively.

Chen Yanzhi not only emphasizes the practice of martial arts and the cultivation of internal energy, but also places greater importance on the training of body movement

When martial arts attain a certain spiritual essence, it can be said that one has "entered the path." At that time, there is no need to deliberately train the muscles and tendons; the energy and vitality of the entire body will unconsciously become stronger.

A few days later

Yan Zhendong is currently busy making a name for himself by challenging others, so he has no time to pay attention to Liang Kuan. Chen Yanzhi is the eldest senior brother of the Yan family martial arts school. Liang Kuan's boxing techniques are all taught to him by Chen Yanzhi.

Chen Yanzhi threw a towel to Liang Kuan and said, "I have taught you the fundamentals of Yan Family Martial Arts. You should practice on your own. I am going to the noodle shop now; business will come knocking once it gets light, and I cannot afford to delay."

Chen Yanzhi said: "Master, our goal is to establish a martial arts school and gain fame. I hope that when you challenge other schools, you can show mercy and definitely must show mercy. After all, we still need to make a living in the Foshan area of Guangdong, and harboring too much hatred is not beneficial for us."

Chen Yanzhi clasped his fists and said to Huang Feihong: "Master Huang, I am here to trouble you again. Liang Kuan has been in a fight and is injured all over. You are the best surgeon in Guangdong, so I can only bring him to you."

Liang Kuan said: "Senior Brother, after I finish practicing my boxing, I will go to the noodle shop to help out. This morning, I also assisted the master in delivering a challenge letter to the Yue family."

Chen Yan furrowed his brows and said, "Shahe Gang, how did you get involved with those notorious characters?"

Scholars in the late Qing Dynasty who could perform mixed calculations were highly respected

Liang Kuan said: "Master, Senior Brother, it has nothing to do with the Yue family; it was done by the Shahe Gang. I had a conflict with the members of the Shahe Gang on my way back..."

Chen Yanzhi gradually entered a favorable state in his martial arts practice

The martial arts school is too small, and the dining issues of Yan Zhendong and Liang Kuan are resolved at Chen Yanzhi's small noodle shop. Essentially, it is Chen Yanzhi who prepares the meals and then delivers them.

Master, we will challenge the dojo tomorrow, and we should do it formally by issuing a challenge letter first. This way, even if the other dojos are dissatisfied, you need not worry. As for whether the opponent accepts the challenge, that will depend on him.

Liang Kuan returned to the martial arts hall, covered in bruises and blood, having issued a challenge. Chen Yanzhi arrived at the hall carrying a lunch box to deliver a meal to his master, Yan Zhendong

Chen Yanzhi wiped away his sweat with a towel and said with a smile: "Regardless of the martial arts or boxing techniques, those that exhibit a certain charm will always be visually appealing. For practitioners of martial arts, strength is relatively easy to cultivate, but the essence of boxing techniques is exceedingly difficult to grasp. Only by cultivating the charm of the boxing technique can one truly master the essence of that technique. This is what is commonly referred to in the martial arts community as the unity of spirit and form."

When Chen Yanzhi was about to take Liang Kuan away, Huang Feihong said: "Yanzhi, your master Yan Zhendong has been challenging various schools continuously during this period, and the heads of major schools and masters have expressed significant concerns. I hope he will not go too far in everything. Otherwise, no matter how high your master's martial arts skills are, it will be very difficult for him to get by in Foshan in the future"

Upon returning to Baozhilin, Chen Yanzhi's state of mind was somewhat different. In his previous three visits, he had sought something from Baozhilin, wishing to become a disciple of Huang Feihong. However, this time, he approached as a guest.

Chen Yanzhi has read extensively on Buddhism and Taoist scriptures, and has developed a profound understanding of the regulation and control of thoughts. Otherwise, he would not be able to easily enter a deep sleep state, thereby altering his endocrine and immune functions

The Shahe Gang not only collects protection fees but also kidnaps women, engages in human trafficking, and colludes with foreigners, making it fair to say that they have committed numerous heinous acts. Chen Yanzhi's noodle shop is required to pay protection fees to the Shahe Gang. Previously, without any martial arts training, Chen Yanzhi felt somewhat intimidated by the power of the Shahe Gang; however, now he no longer regards them with any respect. Once he has mastered his martial arts, he plans to personally deal with them.

Chen Yanzhi said to Yan Zhendong: "Master, you eat first. I will take Liang Kuan to Baozhilin to find Master Huang for some medicine. You can take a look at his injuries; without medication, he will definitely be left with scars."

"Master Brother, I do not understand any of what you are saying. However, it seems quite impressive. My master has never taught me these things." Liang Kuan lacks formal education, but what Chen Yanzhi said instilled in him a sense of vague admiration.

Yan Zhendong now has a martial arts school, although the small courtyard is rented. With the school, he is the owner, and according to the rules of the martial arts community, there is no reason for anyone to stop a challenge between school owners.

... ...

The Yue Family's saber is renowned throughout Foshan and even in Guangdong Province. With Huang Feihong not participating in the battle, the hope of the Foshan martial arts community to defeat Yan Zhendong rests on the shoulders of the Yue family. They hope that the Yue family can rise to the occasion and drive the northern man Yan Zhendong out of Guangdong Foshan

Today, Yan Zhendong will challenge the Yue family, renowned as the foremost practitioners of knife techniques in Foshan

A disciple from the Yue family stepped forward and coldly said: "The Yan family's martial arts school is being excessively arrogant. What, does Yan Zhendong, this Northerner, think he can stand against the entire martial arts community of Foshan by himself?"

Huang Feihong said enthusiastically: "Yan Zhi, you flatter me. Although I, Huang Feihong, possess some medical skills, I do not dare to claim to be the best surgeon in Guangdong. Yan Zhi, Liang Kuan, please come inside. A Su, serve the tea!"

Foshan, Guangdong, is the hometown of martial arts and a gathering place for Southern Fist. Foshan has more than 30 martial arts schools, and if Yan Zhendong were to visit one each day, it would keep him busy for an entire month

Compared to Huang Feihong, Yan Zhendong's skills are similar, but why does Yan Zhendong get beaten in every encounter with Huang Feihong? It is precisely because Yan Zhendong's agility is not as good as that of Huang Feihong

Yan Zhendong's challenge has left the entire martial arts community in Foshan dissatisfied. However, there is nothing to be done, as Yan Zhendong possesses exceptional martial skills. To this day, no master or head of a dojo has been able to last beyond the third round against him.

Chen Yanzhi asked: "Liang Kuan, what happened to the injuries on your body?"

Baga Su, originally named Lin Su, has a distinctive set of buck teeth. His martial arts skills are not particularly impressive, but having returned from studying abroad, he not only speaks English but also possesses exceptional marksmanship. He can be considered an unconventional disciple among the students of Wong Fei-hung.