Chapter 1

"第十式! Car Body Tiger Claw! Domain!" Chen Zhiwei stood right in front of several junior disciples and junior sisters, and shouted with force!

"Domain!" The five young people, following Senior Brother Chen Zhiwei's words, turned their bodies to the left into a left bow stance, their right palms formed into tiger claws, and as their bodies turned, they grabbed forward. Their left hands also turned into claws, bending their arms and pulling them to their chests, and they shouted "Domain" in unison.

"Eleventh Style! Horsewhip Punch! Strike!" After being satisfied with the junior disciples' and junior sisters' Car Body Tiger Claw stance, Chen Zhiwei cleared his throat, imitating the way his senior brother and master taught him to practice boxing, and placed his hands behind his back, continuing to call out.

"Strike!"

In the courtyard, four boys and one girl were practicing boxing with Chen Zhiwei. The oldest, Zhihong, was fourteen years old, and the youngest, Zhiyun, a junior sister affectionately called Xiaorong by her senior brothers and sisters, was only eleven. At this moment, their little faces were all tense, and they were wearing well-fitted old-style black martial arts clothing, carefully following Chen Zhiwei's instructions.

"Wow! Today, Ahwei, you are actually qualified to teach junior disciples and sisters? No way! The last time I came, I saw you practicing the Five Wheel Fist and got scolded by the master. Today, you are actually qualified to tie the belt in the center (in martial arts, the belt knot is on the left for scholars and on the right for martial artists; in the center, it is for instructors, masters, and those qualified to open a school and take disciples)?"

At the entrance of the martial arts hall, a voice filled with laughter rang out.

The five junior disciples and sisters were all facing away from the entrance, practicing boxing in the courtyard. Hearing this voice, they had already forgotten about Senior Brother Chen Zhiwei and turned to rush toward the entrance, their excitement evident in their voices!

"Third Senior Brother!"

"Third Senior Brother, hello!"

"Third Senior Brother, hello!"

Fifteen-year-old Chen Zhiwei shrank his neck, originally intending to scold the junior disciples for slacking off during practice, but seeing the person who had arrived, he couldn't help but smile: "Third Senior Brother!"

The third senior brother, Deng Zhiyong, who hadn't been seen for half a month, was holding two plastic bags, wearing a denim jacket, and his hair was messy as if he hadn't washed it for days. Seeing the five junior disciples and sisters gather around, he transferred the plastic bag from his left hand to his right, took a few candies from his jacket pocket, and gave one to each of them, patting their heads and smiling:

"Go practice your boxing. After you finish, stay for dinner. I bought roasted chicken for you. Whoever practices hard will get the biggest chicken leg!"

The children, who had received the candies, obediently ran back to the courtyard, standing in the same positions as before. However, their faces were slightly puffed up, their mouths were curved upward, and their eyes occasionally blinked, showing a sense of happiness.

"Twelfth Style! Car Body Double Insert! Strike!" Chen Zhiwei, seeing the junior disciples and sisters return to their positions, made an exaggerated fierce expression and shouted harshly.

"Strike!" The five young people responded forcefully, but two of them accidentally spat out the candies in their mouths. They quickly darted out like monkeys, picked up the candies from the stone ground, and put them back in their mouths before returning to their positions and assuming the Car Body Double Insert stance.

Chen Zhiwei, amused by the funny actions of the two junior disciples, hurriedly called out the last move of the first section: "Roll Hand Embrace Fist! Finish!"

After completing the first section of the Choy Li Fut Small Plum Blossom Fist, Chen Zhiwei waited for the junior disciples and sisters to stand still, then used the towel around his neck to wipe the non-existent sweat: "Prepare for dinner, get water to wash your hands."

Deng Zhiyong, who had been standing at the entrance, waited until the junior disciples finished their practice before stepping into the courtyard and handing the two plastic bags to the youngest junior sister, Xiaorong:

"Xiaorong, one bag is for roasted meat, and the other is for roasted chicken. Cut them and put them on plates."

Xiaorong, with her ponytail, smiled with eyes like a crescent moon, took the plastic bags, and ran toward the kitchen. The other junior disciples also followed, although they couldn't eat the food, they were satisfied just by watching the roasted chicken and meat being plated.

"Where are the master and the eldest senior brother? Why did you, a monkey, become the leader today? Even if the master and the eldest senior brother are not here, the third senior brother is still here."

Deng Zhiyong entered the courtyard, stood by a water tank, and splashed water to clean the oil stains on his hands, asking Chen Zhiwei.

Chen Zhiwei handed his towel to Deng Zhiyong and said: "The master went to the mainland to visit the grandmaster, who is not in good health and has been hospitalized. The eldest senior brother finally found a girlfriend, and she invited him to watch a movie tonight, so he can't come back to teach. As for the second senior brother, he is naturally treating patients at the clinic for the master."

Deng Zhiyong mentioned the third senior brother, and Chen Zhiwei mentioned the second senior brother, but neither of them thought the other was wrong.

"It's already past six in the evening. Isn't the clinic closed? Is business that good?"

Deng Zhiyong dried his hands, threw the towel back to Chen Zhiwei, and asked.

Chen Zhiwei shrugged: "You know, the second senior brother is just like the master, often not charging for treatment. Of course, business is good. If the martial arts hall wasn't the master's own property and no one charged rent, the master and the second senior brother wouldn't even be able to pay the rent."

Deng Zhiyong was not surprised by what Chen Zhiwei said. He walked to a wooden dummy, raised his hand, and hit it twice, then turned to Chen Zhiwei and said: "Has no one come to learn boxing in the past half month? I noticed one junior disciple is missing. Why?"

Chen Zhiwei splashed water to wash his face, dried it, and said: "No need for the master to scare him. I chased him away. He was clearly here to take advantage. The master and the second senior brother are already struggling, eating salted fish and cooked cabbage every day. This guy wanted to stay and learn boxing, clearly looking for a place to eat. Of course, I couldn't let him stay, so I chased him away."

"Did the master not blame you?"

Deng Zhiyong punched the wooden dummy's face and asked.

Chen Zhiwei took off his martial arts clothing: "Look for yourself?"

Deng Zhiyong turned and glanced back. Chen Zhiwei's back was covered with cane marks, which had faded but still showed a faint black and purple, with about seven or eight marks.

"The master originally wanted to hit me twenty times, but the eldest and second senior brothers pleaded for me, and it was reduced to eight. It hurt so much I almost lost control!"

Chen Zhiwei, talking about this, felt a bit gloomy: "I really don't understand the master. We are already so poor, and he knew this scoundrel was here to eat, not to learn boxing, yet he still wanted to keep him."

"The master is like that, he... " Before Deng Zhiyong could finish, five people burst into the martial arts hall. Seeing Deng Zhiyong, the leader pointed at him and shouted:

"Zhegu Yong, you scoundrel! If it weren't for my brothers following you, I wouldn't have known you still had a leg in Dakan Village! Stealing my business? Do you want to die?"

"Zhong Qi? You have the nerve to follow me? Speak clearly. I didn't steal your business; those people just trust me more! If you are unhappy, go to the boss, Qiang! Ask him if he assigned this matter to me!" After recognizing the person, Deng Zhiyong took two steps forward, shielding Chen Zhiwei behind him: "Also, this is between you and me. Is it too much for you to come to the master's martial arts hall?"

"Shut up! I already exposed your bottom! Do you think mentioning your crippled master will scare anyone? A dead cripple plus a few scattered disciples opening a martial arts hall? I know you got a thousand dollars from the boss's bet this time. Hand it all over, and this matter will be settled! Otherwise, I'll tear down your crippled master's martial arts hall sign today!"

The leader, Zhong Qi, was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a fierce and arrogant look.

"Idiot, this is a martial arts hall. Did you bring a few amateurs to cause trouble here? Do you want to be carried out? I'm here, and I have no money, but I'm ready to fight! I'll teach you how to behave!"

Deng Zhiyong took off his denim jacket, stepped forward with his left foot, bent his knee slightly, and pointed his toes inward. His right hand formed a palm, and he assumed the Choy Li Fut Dragon Riding Bridge stance.

Chen Zhiwei also took off his martial arts clothing, stood bare-chested next to Deng Zhiyong, and showed the Horse Stance Split Bridge move to Zhong Qi and his group!

"Zhegu Yong, are you joking? It's 1986, and you're still using these old-fashioned moves? Don't say I didn't warn you. The two brothers behind me have learned Thai boxing and were supposed to fight on stage next week. If you don't hand over the money today, you'll get a free hit!"

Zhong Qi spat on the ground and nodded to the four people behind him: "Beat these scoundrels!"

After Zhong Qi finished speaking, one of his subordinates rushed toward Deng Zhiyong, throwing a left straight punch at his head! Deng Zhiyong's right wrist moved, wrapping around the opponent's fist. However, before he could turn the wrapping bridge into a lock, the subordinate had already moved in close, delivering a knee strike to Deng Zhiyong's abdomen! As the knee strike landed, his right elbow struck Deng Zhiyong's chest, causing him to stagger backward. The subordinate, not giving Deng Zhiyong a chance to create distance, calculated the distance and delivered a Thai-style roundhouse kick, striking Deng Zhiyong's face and sending him spinning to the ground!

Seeing his subordinate easily kick Deng Zhiyong down, Zhong Qi laughed arrogantly: "You're really old-fashioned. Nowadays, people learn Jeet Kune Do or Thai boxing, at worst, karate. You're just stupid, learning these fancy, useless moves!"

Xiaorong and the others, who were secretly watching from the kitchen window while cutting the roasted meat, saw Deng Zhiyong being kicked down. Xiaorong let out a cry, and Zhihong pulled her back: "Xiaorong, go to the clinic on the back street and call the second senior brother! Hurry! We'll go out to help the third senior brother!"

"Okay!" Xiaorong turned and nimbly jumped out of the kitchen window. After Xiaorong left, Zhihong led the three junior disciples out!

...

"Two and a half grams of frankincense, one gram of safflower, two and a half grams of myrrh, three grams of angelica root, two grams of gardenia, two grams of peach kernel, one gram of notoginseng powder. Boil three bowls of water down to half a bowl, take it twice a day for no more than five days. Be careful next time, Uncle. This time, you were lucky; it was a flower pot that hit your shoulder. If it had hit your head... well, just be more careful. The weather station says there's a typhoon coming, and the wind could collapse half of Dakan Village, let alone a falling flower pot."

In a clinic on Xinxing Road with a sign that read "Bone Setting and Medicine," a young man in a black long robe was writing a prescription with a brush pen, instructing the middle-aged man sitting opposite him, who was holding his left shoulder.

"Take the prescription to the Baicao Hall in Wong Tai Sin; the medicine there is cheaper. Remember, don't let Uncle drink alcohol for the next few days, or the blood won't disperse, and it will harm him."

The young man finished writing the prescription, blew on the ink, and handed it to the middle-aged woman standing next to the injured man.

"Can you... you know, we don't have money to buy the medicine. Can you give me some medicine here, and I'll pay the consultation fee next time..."

The woman, called Aunt, looked around nervously and spoke hesitantly. She was kicked in the calf by her husband, who glared at her and said:

"You really live up to your name, Stingy Woman. Everyone in the village knows you. Your husband is injured now! How can you still ask for credit? Take out the money! Quickly! Go to the Baicao Hall to get the medicine, and pay the consultation fee!"

Aunt kicked her husband back, glanced at the young man, and then turned to scold him: "You scoundrel! You drink every day, and we have no rice to cook. Now you're injured, where do we get the money?"

Despite her harsh words, she took out a five-dollar bill from her waist and placed it on the table. The young man just smiled, didn't refuse, put the money in the drawer, and turned to take a small bottle of medicine from under his feet, handing it to Aunt with a smile: "This is a bruise and swelling medicine with Bile Star. Use it to rub on Uncle's injury when you get home."

Seeing that the consultation fee wasn't taken for free and he received an extra bottle of medicine, Aunt's face brightened. She helped Uncle stand up and said to the young man:

"You're young but always stay in the martial arts hall. Why not go out and work? You're handsome, and many girls in the village like you. Find a proper job, and as long as you can earn money, no matter how much, Aunt can introduce you to girls."

"Thank you, Aunt. The clinic and the martial arts hall are fine. Even if I don't earn money, it's enough to feed my master and me."

The young man stood up and escorted the two out.

Uncle, holding his shoulder, said to his wife: "Everyone in Dakan Village is like you, not paying for treatment. The crippled master and his disciples can't earn money. If this bone-setting clinic didn't offer credit, the crippled master would have been a millionaire long ago!"

After the bickering couple left, the young man saw it was getting late, put the door panels in place, and was about to lock the door when Xiaorong rushed over from the front street, her face full of panic, calling out:

"Second Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother! Someone is challenging the martial arts hall! Third Senior Brother is being beaten! Hurry and save him! The eldest senior brother didn't come to teach today, and only the fourth senior brother is helping! When I left, Third Senior Brother was already beaten down by the other side!"

"Such a big deal?" The young man, called Second Senior Brother by Xiaorong, locked the door, picked up Xiaorong, and ran toward the martial arts hall, but his face showed no urgency, remaining calm.

The martial arts hall was on the front street of Xinxing Road, and the clinic was on the back street, separated by a short alley. The Second Senior Brother, carrying Xiaorong, quickly reached the entrance of the martial arts hall, gently put Xiaorong down, and called out to Zhong Qi and his group, who were already beating down his junior disciples:

"Stop!"

Chen Zhiwei, Li Zhihong, and the others on the ground saw the young man appear and called out: "Second Senior Brother, they came to the martial arts hall to beat us!"

Zhong Qi kicked Deng Zhiyong in the stomach and straightened up to look at the young man at the entrance: "Oh? Calling for backup? Wearing a long robe? Are you shooting a period drama, pretending to be Guan Dexing? I already knew the bottom of this martial arts hall. Do you think wearing a long robe makes you a master? Let's beat you too!"

The Thai boxer who had knocked down Deng Zhiyong in two moves, hearing Zhong Qi's words, rushed forward, sliding forward with a left hook aimed at the young man's temple!

The young man, called Second Senior Brother by his junior disciples and sisters, lifted the hem of his long robe. When the opponent's hook was halfway out and couldn't change direction, he suddenly kicked out with his left leg! The opponent, clearly on guard, moved to the side as the Second Senior Brother's left leg came out, but with the movement, the left hook had to change direction. The young man then raised his hand, using a wrapping bridge to grab the opponent's left wrist, which couldn't be retracted, and smiled: "You can't even throw a punch, and you dare to challenge the martial arts hall? Look carefully, this is how you punch!"

As he spoke, his left hand formed a hook, palm inward, back arched, and wrist snapped, delivering a Crane Top Hand that struck the opponent's throat with a "slap"!

Zhong Qi's subordinate, as if his throat was clamped, covered his throat with both hands and staggered backward. The Second Senior Brother followed him slowly into the martial arts hall. The subordinate, seeing Ah Jun follow, suddenly took a Thai-style rush step, raising his right leg like an iron bar to sweep Ah Jun's head!

The Second Senior Brother tilted his head back to avoid the kick, then raised his left knee! The kick was lightning-fast, striking the opponent's waist, causing him to fly three meters away, landing hard on the ground, his back and head hitting the stone ground. He rolled twice, curling up on the ground, moaning in pain.

Seeing their comrade easily defeated by the young man, Zhong Qi and the other three subordinates quickly released Deng Zhiyong, Chen Zhiwei, and the others, and surrounded the young man. The young man smiled, smoothed out his long robe, which was already frayed, and said to Zhong Qi and the others: "The door is behind me. If any of you can run out of the martial arts hall, I'll consider it a loss."

Zhong Qi's expression was uncertain. Before he followed Deng Zhiyong here, he had already investigated and knew that this might be the most scattered martial arts hall in all of Hong Kong and Kowloon, and the only master had gone to the mainland to visit relatives. That's why he had the nerve to come. But he didn't expect a young man to appear and easily defeat his comrade. This comrade was originally supposed to fight on stage next week to earn money.

"Who are you?" Zhong Qi raised his hands, assuming a Jeet Kune Do stance, his legs moving rhythmically, eyes fixed on the young man, and asked.

The young man pointed to the black plaque with gold letters "Yi Hai Cang Long" (Righteous Sea Hides Dragons) hanging in front of the martial arts hall, and the black unicorn lion head above it, and said calmly:

"Hong Yihai, Huo Dongjun."