Chapter 7: Fierce Battle at Hongkou Dojo
Xin Han dismissed these words with a sneer, saying: "Fifth Senior Brother, you are mistaken. I would never act this way towards fellow martial artists, but they are Japanese, the invaders you speak of. Showing mercy to invaders is cruelty to our own people. If war breaks out between China and Japan, then each of them may have blood of our countrymen on their hands. There is no need to discuss any martial arts principles with such individuals"
The Hongkou Dojo, as a branch of the Black Dragon Society in Shanghai, holds a unique status. Unlike other Japanese expatriates, the Hongkou Dojo is located within the same compound as the Japanese consulate, with soldiers stationed at the entrance, ensuring strict security.
Although Chen Zhen held his breath, he still responded without losing his manners, as a martial artist should possess the pride of a martial artist
Chen Zhen was taken aback; when he was learning martial arts, Huo Yuanjia had taught him this very principle. However, after being countered by Xin Han, he found the argument reasonable. He believed that there was no need to adhere to the rules of the martial world when dealing with invaders. For a moment, he found it difficult to accept Xin Han's words and fell into deep contemplation
With a step forward at an angle, he easily evaded this self-sacrificing technique, while simultaneously delivering a punch that struck the Japanese coach's hind leg, causing him to crash directly onto the floor
This move revolves around the body as the axis, executing a 360-degree rotation in mid-air, and then descending with a split from a height. Under the accumulation of force, its lethality is immense, ranking among the top ten techniques in self-sacrificial skills.
Chen Zhen did not retreat but instead advanced; before he had completed a full 360 degrees, he suddenly stepped forward and kicked the person away.
Upon encountering the peril posed by Xin Han, he swiftly sidestepped, breaking the wooden sword with a kick, and then delivered a punch that sent the karate instructor flying.
While Ryūichi Akutagawa was lost in self-absorption, two of his disciples rushed in, looking completely disheveled. He furrowed his brow slightly, wondering who these two were, as they were wearing the dojo's attire yet he had never seen them before. Could they be plotting against him? Just as he was pondering this, the two spoke, and he immediately recognized them as his own disciples.
After Chen Zhen finished speaking, he no longer cast a glance at the Japanese and hurriedly pulled Xin Han towards the Hongkou Dojo not far away
"Jingwu Gate Chen Zhen, this is my junior apprentice Xin Han, we are looking for Akutagawa Ryuichi"
"Master, something is wrong. Chen Zhen from Jingwumen has come to challenge us, and all the senior brothers have been defeated." These two were the first to be taken down by Chen Zhen, and as for the disfigured appearance, that is the result of Xin Han's attempts to patch things up
Ryūichi Akutagawa glared at the two for a moment and then said: "Isn't it just Chen Zhen? His master, Huo Yuanjia, is not even my match, let alone him. Remember, a martial artist must have the belief of a martial artist; even in defeat, one should not panic and lose one's true self"
Ryūichi Akutagawa felt a surge of anger, yet he immediately suppressed it. After all, he was no longer the same; he was now a renowned master of karate and had to emphasize the importance of mindset
This Chen Zhen seems to be even more formidable than Huo Yuanjia, but it does not matter; he can handle these disciples just the same. However, he is unaware that Chen Zhen almost always defeats his opponents with a single strike, shattering the martial arts beliefs of these disciples
Chen Zhen came this time to uncover the truth behind Huo Yuanjia's death, and he did not wish to escalate the situation. He held back with every move; otherwise, these people would not be enough for him to kill. A single fatal blow would be very easy for him.
This time, all the Japanese dared not launch an attack on Chen Zhen, for this person was truly formidable. They had encountered many so-called karate masters, but had never seen anyone as powerful as Chen Zhen. A group of karate disciples surrounded him, yet not a single one could touch the hem of Chen Zhen's clothing.
In the cold, a pair of hard leather shoes made from cowhide was timely extended, and when one of the Japanese students fell to the ground, a kick landed on his face, instantly making him understand what it meant to have a face full of peach blossoms.
A Japanese coach discovered what Xin Han had done and shouted angrily: "You Chinese pigs are so despicable!" Then he raised the wooden sword in his hand and swung it towards Xin Han.
Chen Zhen looked at Xin Han's actions of delivering the finishing blow with a smile, appreciating his courage. Faced with a room full of Japanese warriors, this junior disciple's boldness was quite extraordinary.
He stepped forward to throw a punch at Chen Zhen, intending to make these two Chinese individuals aware of the consequences of insulting the Great Japanese Empire
However, I did not expect that the so-called martial arts masters are nothing more than this; they must all be self-aggrandizement by those ignorant Chinese people
When Akutagawa arrived at the training ground with his two disciples, he was taken aback to see that each of his disciples was injured.
Chen Zhen remained unperturbed, striking with fierce precision, and within just three moves, he had incapacitated the three Japanese men, causing the others to retreat in fear simultaneously
This is a sacrifice technique in karate, where one risks danger to unleash a powerful move. During his regular practice, he can kick through wooden posts. Other Japanese people feel excited when they see him unleash his ultimate move, thinking that this Chinese man is about to be defeated, and then he will understand the consequences of insulting the Great Japanese Empire
As two individuals entered Hongkou District, the number of Japanese people on the streets gradually increased, each one appearing haughty, as if they possessed an inherent sense of superiority simply by standing on this land of Shanghai
Little did he know that the harsh winter had long revealed that following him this time would lead to a rampage without restraint, thus he also wanted to take the opportunity to deal with the Japanese and test his skills. If he had come alone, seeing a room full of Japanese warriors practicing karate, he would have already deemed it wise to retreat.
At this moment, Akutagawa Ryuichi is enjoying tea behind the dojo. He is very satisfied with his previous match against Huo Yuanjia, and even feels a sense of pride. He firmly believes that Chinese martial arts are merely so-so, and that although karate originated from Chinese martial arts, it has long surpassed its predecessor.
Before Chen Zhen could speak, Xin Han stepped forward and said: "Japanese dog, you need to understand that this is Shanghai, a place for Chinese people."
Chen Zhen raised his hand to stop Xin Han: "Junior brother, we are here to challenge the dojo, there is no need to engage in a war of words."
I do not wish to fight with you; go find your dojo master to come out" Chen Zhen said to the karate instructor he had knocked down.
Chen Zhen did not take this incredibly powerful leg strike seriously at all; in his view, anyone daring to engage him in a direct confrontation and leap into the air was either a fool or seeking death
Seeing that Chen Zhen was not taller than himself and was not as strong, he felt much more at ease. When two individuals have similar martial abilities, the advantages of physical stature become apparent, and he held an absolute advantage in terms of physicality.
Chen Zhen had long noticed that Xin Han was striking from behind, feeling both angry and amused. He thought to himself that this little junior brother had a lively temperament and that he must teach him well in the future to prevent him from tarnishing the reputation of the Jingwu School
The remaining Japanese rushed forward all at once, while Chen Zhen unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, as swift as lightning. Each strike was often lethal, and the force applied was just right, causing Japanese opponents to be sent flying out one after another
Each Japanese person found it difficult to continue fighting after being struck by him, and for a moment, all the karate students dared not approach, surrounding Chen Zhen from a distance
Chen Zhen suddenly stopped in his tracks: "Junior apprentice, who do you think these people are?"
He has practiced karate since childhood and has received guidance from several karate masters, demonstrating considerable skill. This time, he has come to Shanghai with the military to shatter the myth of Chinese martial arts, aiming to make them lose their national beliefs and conquer China from within.
Chen Zhen struck directly with a palm to the face of this little Japanese, and under the absolute force, this disciple of the Hongkou dojo fell heavily to the ground.
Who are you, and how did you come to be here
The students in the Hongkou Dojo are engaged in their daily karate practice, shouting in unison with synchronized movements, exuding an impressive aura. Two instructors stand nearby, holding wooden swords to supervise the students' actions, occasionally reprimanding them.
The Hongkou Dojo is a branch of the Black Dragon Society. Even when Japanese individuals come here, they must set aside the custom of removing their shoes before entering. One Japanese student inside saw two people wearing leather shoes stepping on the floor and felt that they were disrespecting the Hongkou Dojo. He approached them with some displeasure to question their behavior
Chen Zhen and Xin Han directly stepped through the entrance of the Hongkou Dojo, their leather shoes creaking on the floor, drawing the attention of the Japanese inside.
In the center of the dojo, a tall coach leaned on a wooden sword, looking at the two with a disdainful gaze: "Chinese pigs are not allowed to enter the Hongkou Dojo, leave."
Xin Han found it somewhat strange and did not understand why Chen Zhen would ask such a question, but still replied: "These are all Japanese, Fifth Senior Brother"
After arriving in Shanghai, I suffered consecutive defeats against Chinese martial artists, ultimately culminating in a decisive battle with Huo Yuanjia of Jingwu School. To be honest, I still felt a twinge of apprehension in my heart regarding this martial arts master, who was said to have long been renowned both domestically and internationally.
When the Japanese went to find Akutagawa Ryuichi, Chen Zhen said seriously to Xin Han: "Junior brother, a martial artist must have the dignity of a martial artist. In the future, do not strike against those who are unable to retaliate. Your actions just now violated the rules of the martial world. If someone were to see it, it would tarnish the reputation of Jingwu Men"
A karate instructor leaped into the air, channeling all his strength into this leg.
Chen Zhen walked straight through the Japanese soldiers without saying a word, with Xin Han closely following behind. One of them was dressed in a Japanese student uniform, while the other wore a sharp suit, leading the Japanese soldiers to believe that both were Japanese expatriates and allowing them to pass without hindrance
Ryūichi Akutagawa nodded gracefully to Chen Zhen and Xin Han, then instructed all the disciples to sit in a manner suitable for observing the sparring. With a wave of his hand, he declared: "I will engage in a fair match with Chen Zhen, and neither party shall hold the other accountable for any consequences that may arise."
"Junior Brother, you are unwell; just stay back and watch," Chen Zhen gestured for Xin Han to hide behind him.
This competition has made Ryūichi Akutagawa renowned in both China and Japan, with newspapers in Kyoto, Japan, extolling his achievements. It can be said that he has gained both fame and fortune. Establishing a dojo in Hongkou, China, has indeed been a delightful experience.
Hello! The master is teaching a lesson! The two big clowns immediately showed expressions of humility and acceptance. In fact, with injuries like this, Ryuuichi Akutagawa could hardly discern their expressions, he merely nodded: "Let me go meet him, this time I want to make sure that Jingwu Gate loses convincingly."
The remaining Japanese, upon seeing Chen Zhen take action, immediately surrounded him. A karate disciple threw a punch at Chen Zhen, the sound of the fist cutting through the air was audible. This punch carried significant force, and as he struck, two more Japanese simultaneously launched their attacks.
No! They are all invaders. Remember, whether Germans or Japanese, anyone who comes uninvited is an invader. As long as our people can strive for self-improvement, these invaders will eventually be driven out.
He snorted coldly: "What are you panicking about? Just look at you all, it truly makes me feel embarrassed. You have not practiced diligently on ordinary days, and now that you have failed, what is there left to say?"
Xin Han felt an itch in his hands as he watched from behind, pulling out the baton from his waist. He followed closely behind Chen Zhen to cover for him. When Chen Zhen knocked one down, he rushed in to deliver a flurry of blows, specifically targeting the fleshy areas, causing these Japanese men to suffer severe bruising without sustaining any serious injuries
Bastard! This Japanese trainee in front of me is practically going crazy. One comes up and insults the Empire of Japan, while the other is directly trying to challenge the dojo.
Xinhán was startled at once upon seeing it. His leg injury had not fully healed, and his movements were not agile. Confronted with these burly karate instructors, he would undoubtedly suffer a disadvantage, so he hurriedly retreated.
At this moment, another Japanese coach executed the sacrifice technique, "Aerial Whirlwind Leg"