nownovels Chapter 115 Stealing a punch? No, it's borrowing a light to start a lamp!
Chapter 115 Stealing a punch? No, it's borrowing a light to start a lamp!
Chapter 116 Stealing a punch? No, it's borrowing a light to start a lamp!
On the training ground, the wind whips up the clouds.
Zhao Sihai's nine-ringed broadsword was specially made by a blacksmith shop in Tongzhou. It has a thick back and a thin blade. The sound of the nine iron rings rattling is enough to make an ordinary person's mind go blank.
"Ugh—!"
The blade moved with the force of a whirlwind. Zhao Sihai showed no mercy. Although his "Splitting Mount Hua" attack missed, he flipped his wrist, and the blade swept across the ground, aiming straight for Lu Cheng's lower body.
This move is called "Sweeping Leaf Leg," but it's done with a knife; it's meant to dislocate a person's leg.
Lu Cheng remained unmoved, his black cloth shoes with their thousand-layer soles seemingly nailed to the ground.
Just as the blade was about to strike his ankle.
"shock."
Lu Cheng gave a soft rebuke.
He didn't back down.
He gently stomped his right foot down.
"Thump—!!"
This kick wasn't the mud-walking step from Xingyi Quan, but rather the "stomping foot" from Bajiquan.
Although no major movements were observed, the force of that stomp, which shook the entire land, was transmitted along the ground.
Zhao Sihai felt a numbness in the soles of his feet, and the sweeping blade was deflected slightly by the shock, grazing past Lu Cheng's shoe and only shaving off a layer of the white edge of the sole.
Immediately afterwards, Lu Cheng made a move.
He lowered his body, his shoulders like loaded cannonballs, and thrust forward.
"Depend on!"
Bajiquan — Iron Mountain Lean!
This leaning motion, without any fancy footwork, was a direct and straightforward confrontation, yet it exuded a calm and steadfast aura.
Zhao Sihai was shocked. It was too late to sheathe his sword and defend himself. He could only throw the sword away, cross his arms in front of his chest, and take the blow head-on.
"Bang!!!"
A muffled thud, like the beating of a drum.
Zhao Sihai's 180-pound muscular body was as if it had been hit by a galloping wild bull. He staggered back seven or eight steps, each step leaving a deep footprint on the yellow earth.
He retreated all the way to the edge of the training ground, his back slamming into the weapon rack with a loud crash before he finally came to a stop.
"puff----"
Zhao Sihai felt a tightness in his chest and a sweet taste in his throat, but he didn't care about that. His bull-like eyes were wide open, staring intently at Lu Cheng as if he had seen a ghost.
"This...this is the Mountain-Piercing Leaning Armor?!"
"The way this force is applied—the shock of that stomp—"
Zhao Sihai's mind was buzzing.
He was the head instructor of the Bajiquan school, having practiced for twenty years, and was extremely familiar with the school's practices.
Lu Cheng's move just now, whether it was his stance, his power, or that fierce momentum, was the most authentic Bajiquan!
even----
He's even more pure and domineering than this coach who's been training for twenty years.
"impossible----"
Zhao Sihai muttered to himself.
"That boxing manual—you only got your hands on it last night. Even if you were a reincarnated deity, you couldn't possibly have mastered this level of skill in just one night."
"This requires thousands, even tens of thousands of repetitions of practice; you have to train the strength into your very bones—"
"How did you do that?!"
The Bajiquan disciples who were watching the commotion were also dumbfounded, exchanging bewildered glances.
They came here to demand an explanation, but their own instructor was knocked away by the other side's own kung fu the moment they met.
Where do I put my face?
Lu Cheng stood still, lightly brushing the dust off his sleeves, his expression remaining calm and composed.
He didn't answer Zhao Sihai's question, but frowned slightly, as if savoring the attack he had just delivered.
"It's still a bit astringent."
Lu Cheng thought to himself.
Although I have the support of the "Exquisite Heart" skill, I understand the theory and have mastered the techniques of exerting force, this is still the first time I have used it in actual combat.
That kind of muscle memory coordination hasn't yet reached a state of perfect perfection.
Although that slammed into Zhao Sihai sent him flying, Zhao Sihai himself felt a slight numbness in his shoulder, a reaction from the force not being fully released.
"Master Zhao."
Lu Cheng raised his head, his eyes gleaming with golden light, his tone gentle.
"I'm a beginner in Bajiquan, I only have the form, not the spirit. That move just now was a bit stiff, I need Master Zhao to give me a couple more pointers."
"Instructions?!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Sihai's face flushed red and then turned pale.
So, I came all this way just to be your sparring partner?
I'm here to demand an explanation, not to offer you advice!
"Master Lu, if you wish to humiliate me, just say so."
Zhao Sihai also had a fiery temper, and this provocation stirred up his chivalrous spirit.
He kicked away the nine-ringed sword at his feet, clenched his fists, and assumed a "two-element stance".
"good!"
"Since you know Bajiquan, then I won't bother showing off my sword skills with you."
"Today, let's settle things with our fists."
"I don't believe that you, a mere opera singer, can master the powerful and unparalleled Bajiquan in just one night."
"Take this!"
Zhao Sihai roared, this time he was truly enraged.
He stepped out from the center gate, his fists pounding out in rapid succession.
"A towering cannon!"
This move is a killing move in Bajiquan, which emphasizes simultaneous attack from both above and below, with great force and weight.
Lu Cheng looked at Zhao Sihai rushing over, his eyes not showing any contempt, but rather a hint of seriousness.
Well come.
He's like a student who's just received a new book and can't wait to see the wisdom within.
[Eagle Eyes], open!
In Lu Cheng's view, Zhao Sihai's movements suddenly slowed down.
Not only were his movements slower, but even the flow of his internal energy and blood, the splintering of his tendons, and the support points of his bones were clearly revealed.
The red lines represent blood and qi, while the white lines represent strength.
"Power originates from the left heel, the force travels past the knee, the hips rotate, and the spine surges—"
"I see."
"The key to the power of this 'Sky-Piercing Cannon' move lies in the 'twisting' motion at the waist."
In Lu Cheng's mind, the boxing manual illustrations he had seen last night instantly came to life, perfectly matching Zhao Sihai's movements before his eyes—
correspond.
Even more precise and perfect than Zhao Sihai's movements.
"Since Master Zhao has given you this instruction, then I, Lu, will give it a try."
Lu Cheng did not retreat but advanced.
He imitated Zhao Sihai, taking the same step and unleashing a flurry of punches.
But when he threw that punch, it carried a quality that Zhao Sihai lacked—a certain "charm".
If Zhao Sihai's punches were like stones falling from the sky, then Lu Cheng's punches were like meteorites falling from the sky.
It carries fire, it carries wind, and it carries an unstoppable "momentum".
"Bang! Bang!"
Four fists collided.
There was no horrific sound of broken bones or torn tendons; instead, it produced a dull thud.
Zhao Sihai felt an overwhelming force surge through him, which made his arms go numb and caused him to stagger back two steps.
Lu Cheng, however, stood still, motionless.
But instead of pressing his advantage, he closed his eyes, as if savoring something.
"wrong."
Lu Cheng shook his head and muttered to himself.
"The shoulders are still raised too high, and the strength is somewhat scattered at the elbows, not quite cohesive enough."
"Master Zhao, Bajiquan emphasizes 'touching, assisting, squeezing, and leaning,' and this force must be penetrating, not superficial."
Lu Cheng opened his eyes and looked at Zhao Sihai with a sincere expression.
"Please, Master Zhao—use all your strength."
"this----"
Zhao Sihai was stunned by this statement.
He looked at the young man in front of him. The young man did not have that kind of arrogant arrogance. Instead, he had a kind of pious thirst for knowledge.
It's like a junior student asking a senior student for advice in a martial arts school.
But this made Zhao Sihai feel even more aggrieved.
I'm here to fight!
"Very well, since Grandmaster Lu wants to see real skill, then I, Zhao, will make a fool of myself!"
Zhao Sihai roared, no longer holding back or caring about the face of a grandmaster.
He displayed all his skills.
Elbow strike, knee strike, shoulder strike, hip strike.
Bajiquan is a style where the whole body is a weapon; it uses every means of striking, helping, squeezing, and leaning.
Dust billowed in the air on the training ground.
The two were like two raging bulls, colliding violently, separating, and then colliding again.
At the beginning.
Zhao Sihai could barely hold his own against Lu Cheng for a few moves, and even managed to force Lu Cheng into a flustered state by relying on his experience.
He was secretly pleased.
It seems this grandmaster is all talk and no action, or perhaps he simply hasn't mastered Bajiquan properly.
He even considered hiding his true abilities.
Since I can't beat them, I'll just play along for a bit. Anyway, I'm here for the book, not to fight to the death.
As long as you can save face, losing isn't shameful.
Therefore, his punches and kicks began to become somewhat weak, and he began to hold back some of his strength.
"Snapped!"
Suddenly, Lu Cheng slapped his fist away.
Lu Cheng stopped, his brows furrowed slightly, and looked at Zhao Sihai.
"Master Zhao, this punch—it's not right."
Lu Cheng's voice wasn't loud, but it conveyed a seriousness.
"The boxing manual says, 'A shake of the shoulders can topple the heavens, a stomp of the feet can shake the entire land.'"
"Your punches lack that sky-piercing spirit."
"If one only seeks to resemble the form but not the spirit, then this Bajiquan—is probably practiced incorrectly."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Sihai blushed.
This is even more painful than scolding him.
To have one's own skills pointed out by an outsider, someone who has only studied for one night.
This is not just a slap in the face, it's a blow to the spirit.
"you----"
Zhao Sihai gritted his teeth, the hesitation in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a fierce determination.
"Alright, since Master Lu has put it this way, if I, Zhao, were to continue to hold back, I would be disgracing our ancestor."
"Watch closely, this is my Bajiquan's—'Tiger Climbs the Mountain' technique!"
"boom!"
Zhao Sihai's aura changed.
That cunning, seasoned air was gone, replaced by a fierce, relentless courage.
This is the true essence of Bajiquan.
"kill!!"
Zhao Sihai roared and pounced like a mad tiger.
This time, he really gave it his all.
Seeking no merit but avoiding mistakes? Screw that!
I'm going to show you that Bajiquan kung fu isn't for weaklings!
"A tiger stubbornly climbs the mountain!"
"A tyrant forcibly breaks the reins!"
"The King of Hell's Three-Point Technique!"
One after another, their ultimate techniques poured out like a storm.
Looking at the frenzied Zhao Sihai, Lu Cheng's eyes grew even warmer, a joy at having seen a fine jade.
"Good timing."
Lu Cheng held nothing back, unleashing his full power of "Fiery Eyes" and rapidly activating his "Exquisite Mind."
He learns through battle and gains insights through clashes.
Every move Zhao Sihai made, every exertion of force, was dissected, absorbed, and integrated by him.
The more he fought, the more exhilarated Lu Cheng felt.
This feeling is like rain after a long drought.
His hidden strength, which possessed brute force but had nowhere to be released, finally found the perfect outlet.
The power and ferocity of Bajiquan perfectly compensated for the shortcomings of Xingyiquan, which was too focused on stability.
Gradually.
Zhao Sihai grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.
He realized that the young man opposite him had changed.
At first, Lu Cheng's moves were a bit clumsy and showed signs of imitation.
But as the fight went on, his moves became more and more refined and sophisticated.
even----
He used a move called "Three No-Regards at the Door," but Lu Cheng was able to strike back faster, fiercer, and more ruthlessly using the same move!
"This—is this learning on the spot?"
"No, this is even better than the original!"
Zhao Sihai was filled with bitterness.
He felt like he wasn't fighting a person, but a living boxing manual.
Moreover, this boxing manual is constantly evolving and correcting its errors.
But he didn't stop.
On the contrary, he played even more enthusiastically.
Because he discovered that in this exhilarating duel, his own bottleneck, which had been stagnant for many years, had shown signs of loosening.
That was the potential that was forced out by the extreme pressure from Lu Cheng.
"happy!"
"That was fucking awesome!"
Zhao Sihai roared, no longer caring about winning or losing, he just wanted to unleash all his strength.
The two fought from east to west in the training ground, from the ground to the plum blossom stakes.
Dust flew everywhere, and energy radiated in all directions.
The surrounding disciples stared in disbelief, not daring to utter a sound.
This is hardly a friendly competition.
This is clearly two ferocious beasts fighting and dancing together!
at last.
"Bang!!!"
After a loud bang.
The two separated at the same time.
Zhao Sihai plopped down on the ground, panting heavily. His clothes were soaked with sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.
He was exhausted.
I can't move even a single finger.
Lu Cheng stood three zhang away from him.
Although he was a little out of breath and sweat was on his forehead, his posture remained upright and his eyes remained clear.
"call----"
Lu Cheng let out a long breath, calming his surging blood and qi.
He felt that the [Eight Extremes True Meaning] within his body had been completely formed.
Those moves were no longer static, but dynamic, instincts flowing in their blood.
He walked over and extended a hand to Zhao Sihai, who was sitting on the ground.
"Master Zhao, you're too kind."
Zhao Sihai stared at the hand, momentarily stunned.
Then, he gave a wry smile, reached out and grabbed it, using it to help him stand up.
"I'm impressed."
Zhao Sihai shook his head, his face not showing frustration, but rather a sense of relief.
"Master Lu, I, Zhao, have never submitted to anyone in my life."
"Today, I'm truly impressed."
"Your talent—it's simply inhuman."
"In your hands, Bajiquan truly comes alive. It's even better than what my dead master practiced."
"That boxing manual—"
Zhao Sihai sighed and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.
"A fine sword is given to a hero."
"Since the book has come into your hands, it must be fate."
"Keep it. If it's in our hands, it's like casting pearls before swine; we won't be able to develop any real skills from it."
"We, the Tongzhou Bajiquan, concede defeat."
After saying that, Zhao Sihai turned around and beckoned to the group of disciples who were already dumbfounded.
"Let's go back and practice!"
"If anyone dares to slack off again, I'll skin them alive."
Although he lost, this battle awakened his long-dormant martial spirit.
"Wait a minute."
Lu Cheng suddenly spoke.
Zhao Sihai stiffened, a look of dejection flashing across his fleshy face.
He slowly turned around, looked at Lu Cheng, his throat bitter, thinking that this man was going to establish some more stringent rules, or publicly humiliate the Bajiquan sect.
After all, the world is a narrow place, and the winner takes all—that's an ironclad rule.
"Master Lu, is there anything else you would like to instruct me on?" Zhao Sihai asked, his voice hoarse as he clasped his hands in a fist salute.
Lu Cheng didn't respond.
He simply stood there, the blue-covered book "The True Meaning of the Eight Extremes" casually tucked between his fingers.
The wind blew, and the pages of the book rustled.
"Master Zhao, you are a truly honest person."
"But I, Lu Cheng, am an opera singer."
"In our Peking Opera world, there's a rule: 'Borrow a lamp, but not a fire.'"
"Borrow a lamp?" Zhao Sihai was taken aback, completely confused.
"This book is a lantern."
"The principles and power within that style of boxing are the culmination of generations of masters' efforts; that's the true essence of fire."
Lu Cheng took a step and slowly walked up to Zhao Sihai.
The two were extremely close, and Zhao Sihai could even smell the faint fragrance of sandalwood emanating from Lu Cheng, which was completely different from the murderous aura he had exuded just now.
"Last night, the light in my heart went out, but I borrowed your esteemed family's fire to light myself up again."
.
"Now, the flame has been left with me."
"This lantern—"
With a flick of his wrist, Lu Cheng sent the rare martial arts manual, which had once been the envy of countless martial artists, gently falling back into Zhao Sihai's rough hands.
"If you leave it here, it'll just be a dusty decoration, a lifeless thing."
"Take it back."
"Let it remain bright in the hands of your Bajiquan sect."
Zhao Sihai held the book, completely dumbfounded.
Borrowing fire to return a lamp?
What level of skill is this?
"Master Lu—"
Zhao Sihai's lips trembled, and his hands holding the book shook.
"This—this isn't the rule. A loss is a loss; there's no reason to take back the prize money!"
He's a rough man and doesn't understand any profound principles.
But he understood what Lu Cheng meant. Lu Cheng had turned "stealing a skill" into "borrowing a fire," which not only saved Lu Cheng's face but also turned the fight into an act of "spreading the word."
"rule?"
Lu Cheng unfolded his folding fan with a "whoosh," revealing a few sparse strokes of orchids painted on its surface.
"The rules of the martial arts world are for ordinary people."
"I'm the kind of person who enjoys making friends, but I don't like taking what others love."
"Moreover—"
Lu Cheng leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"I can't return this book for nothing."
"If you feel bad about it, next time you pass through Tongzhou, treat me to a bowl of authentic Gezhihe (a type of fried dough) with some liquor, that would be enough."
After saying that, Lu Cheng smiled calmly, turned around and left.
Zhao Sihai stood there, holding the boxing manual he had lost and found, watching Lu Cheng's departing figure, his eyes instantly reddening.
People of the martial world don't need to express their gratitude for great kindness.
He took a deep breath and, facing Lu Cheng's retreating figure, performed an extremely ancient and solemn martial arts salute.
This bow is a tribute to kung fu.
What's even more admirable is this composure and ease in which one conducts oneself.