"… Kung fu is a craft, a unique skill … In the past, there was no such thing as Wulin. It was a run-down village with many bandits in the mountains and forests. At the eastern end of the village, there was someone who knew a little, and they said it was a unique skill … You can go and take a look. Indeed, he knows a little. For example, there's a special way to train one's hands, or one that specializes in training one's legs. If you practice one method for twenty years, you can break a tree with one kick. Other than this kick, you don't know anything else …"
"… When I was young, I met such a person. That was … a little south of Xiangyang. There was a man surnamed Hu. He said that he could kill a tiger with one kick. His family's training method was passed down. The strength of the right leg was great. Our calves were the least useful. He trained them until they were half a circle thicker than the average person. The average person wouldn't be able to withstand it, but as long as they avoided that kick, they would fall with one push … That was a unique skill … Those who were truly good at martial arts mainly needed to walk and fight. Those who could succeed were mostly like that …"
In the hall of the inn's side courtyard, a Wulin elder named Lu Liutong had a cup of tea in front of him. He was talking non-stop to Watermelon, Du Sha, Luo Bingren, Ning Yi, and the others about the stories of Wulin.
"… Look, I still remember Liu Dabiao from back then. His face was full of sideburns, and he looked old. In fact, he was still a young lad. He carried a saber on his back and fought everywhere. By Jia Yu's time, he was already showing signs of entering a higher level of martial arts. He exchanged blows with me. On the sixteenth move, he raised his saber and slashed diagonally … Ah, he slashed diagonally from above. At that time, I used the Wild Ox Plowing the Ground with my feet, and in my hand was the White Ape Offering Fruit. I faced the edge of the saber and grabbed his hand … "
"… At that time, when your Tyrant Saber slashed, the hand posture was very simple. After that time, this move had two more variations. This is the advantage of walking more and fighting more. Only when you have a weakness will you know how to become stronger … Now, your Tyrant Saber still has this slash, right …"
The old man had a smile on his face. His hand made a slashing gesture as he asked everyone. Watermelon, Du Sha, and the others exchanged glances, smiled, and nodded. "Yes, there are indeed more."
Lu Liutong smiled with satisfaction. "Martial arts aristocratic families have a set of unique skills passed down from generation to generation. The Liu Family Saber in the Miaojiang area is like the Lu Family in Jiayu. We have a foundation, but a foundation doesn't mean that you can really produce talents. Speaking of Da Biao's martial arts skills, it was actually set during that trip. After that, he got the name of Domineering Saber. Also, the Fang family of Green Creek Stream has been around for several generations. They used to have some small forces, but their reputation wasn't very good. When it came to Fang La's generation, the family declined, and Fang La took advantage of it … "
"... Back in the day, Green Stream was rich and populous, but the Imperial Court's distribution of birthdays was also great. How many capable people did the Fang Family produce in that generation? How did Fang La, Fang Baihua, and Fang Qifo come out? There were too many people in the family, and they were forced out. Fang La joined the Manichean Sect, thinking that he had found a path, but what kind of trash is the Manichean Sect? From top to bottom, they eat each other. If you don't want to be eaten, you have to fight, and you have to fight with your life on the line. There's no retreat. Back then, the Fang Family still had Fang Xun, Fang Zheng, and a few others. They were famous, but they died in a fight. "
"Fang La fought his way out and became a Sage Duke. Although Fang Baihua was a woman, I heard that she also died a few times. Why was Fang Qifo called the Nine Appearances of the Cloud Dragon? He was good at using stratagems. Every time he attacked, he would always plan before he acted. Moreover, he was proficient in all kinds of martial arts. Every time he attacked, he would target the weakness of his opponent. People said that he was meticulous and untraceable. In fact, it was because his martial arts were the weakest at the beginning, but in the end, he was given the title of the Nine Cloud Dragons … Sigh, actually, his achievements were the highest. If he wasn't delayed by the military, he would have no problem running away … "
"... The Fang Family originally wanted to make a name for themselves in Green Creek Stream, but as they fought, they accidentally reached the level of the Sect Leader. At that time, the Sect Leader of Manichean Sect, He Yunsheng, was said to be related to a few high-ranking officials in the imperial court. He was also a Great Grandmaster with powerful fists and kicks. I met him for two years, but I didn't have the chance to fight him … Under He Yunsheng, the Saintess Sikong Nan's Lightness Skill and Claw Technique were excellent, and the Left and Right Protectors were also first-class experts. Who knew that during the Dragon Boat Festival that year, Fang La and a large group of people, including your father, directly challenged He Yunsheng at the headquarters of Manichean Sect …"
"... No one thought that he would win, but after that battle, he became a Sage Duke."
The old man relied on his seniority, and when he talked about these things, he was clear and logical. Occasionally, he would add one or two sentences like "I've met XX twice" or "I've exchanged a few blows with XX". It was as if he had already passed away, and now he was a lonely expert. Watermelon, Du Sha, and the others more or less knew some of the differences in the details. If they had met on a normal day, they probably wouldn't have been in the mood to listen. But now that Ning Yi had come to join in the fun, they smiled and let the old man speak.
"... Back then in the Manichaeism Sect, the reason why the Sage Duke was able to fight with He Yunsheng to the end was mainly because your father, Liu Dabiao, was holding the line. With him, Fang Baihua, and Fang Qifo, they were able to suppress Sikong Nan and the others. After all, Tyrant Saber Liu Dabiao's saber skills were divine, and he was famous for never being careless when facing his enemies head-on … Unfortunately, it was also because of this competition that Fang La took He Yunsheng's position, and the others scattered or fled. Fang La was also unwilling to listen to the arrangements of the large families in the north, which led to the Yongle Calamity … And it was also because your father's reputation was too illustrious, and everyone knew that your Tyrant Saber Manor had formed an alliance with the Sage Duke. Later on, you became the first person the imperial court wanted to deal with … "
For Lu Liutong to be able to stay in the Jiayu area for so long and still be able to play the card of a veteran of the Pugilistic World even though he was already seventy years old, he clearly had some ability of his own. Relying on all kinds of Pugilistic World rumors, he was actually able to connect the general outline of the Yongle Calamity. He could be considered to be quite intelligent.
Although the Manichaeism was an organization of the people who walked the path of the lowest level, it was inextricably linked with the large families in various places. The generation of Sikong Nan and Lin Eechan could be considered to be used as puppets, and the scale of their development was also large. However, in terms of strength, they were still a pile of loose sand.
After Fang La killed He Yunsheng and chased away Sikong Nan and the others, he cleaned up the entire territory of the Jiangnan region, and finally united the entire Manichaeism. Relying on the influence of the Manichaeism, Li Tianrun, Shi Bao, Deng Yuanjue, Zu Shiyuan, and the others gradually joined the Manichaeism. From this perspective, the Manichaeism in the era of He Yunsheng and Sikong Nan was only a grassroots organization with the nature of a gang. After Fang La cleaned up the Manichaeism, it was enough to hang a hundred "former Manichaeism" head-on.
However, this situation was obviously not in line with the interests of the large families in various places, and they began to suppress the Manichaeism from all aspects. Subsequently, the conflict between the two sides became more and more intense, and finally, the Yongle Calamity occurred. Of course, after the Yongle Calamity ended, Lin Eechan, Sikong Nan, and the others came out again and took control of the Manichaeism, causing it to return to its previous state of being a pile of loose sand. Doctrines were spread everywhere, but there was no control over them. Although Lin Eechan himself once had some political ideals, after being suppressed by the Golden Men and weak women like Lou Shuwan, it seemed that he had recognized the current situation and was no longer willing to cause trouble.
Naturally, Ning Yi could understand these situations by relying on Takeshi's intelligence network and the large number of people from the Greenwood Forest that he had collected. However, he was still interested in the fact that this old man who was good at telling stories could piece together the outline of the situation. If it was not for the fact that he could not speak as a follower, he would have asked him about the whereabouts of Cui Xiaolu. Du Sha and the others had never really seen this person. Perhaps they were just ignorant.
After Lu Liutong commented on Fang La and Liu Dabiao, he then began to talk about Zhou Dong, "… Zhou Dong was in charge of the Imperial Boxing Dojo for more than ten years. Although it is said that he is invincible now, I think it is still debatable whether he had such a title back then. However, he is also very powerful. Why? Because other than teaching students, he goes everywhere and fights for injustice … Sigh, this is what I said before. The main thing to fight well is to move around more … "
"… A few years ago … when Jing Hanchao was still around, the last person to make a name for himself was Lin Zongwu. He was a Manichaeism Protector at the time, but no one expected that he would be able to cultivate to that level … Let's not talk about enemies or friends. Back in Jiayu, I exchanged a few blows with him. This person's inner energy is very profound, and it is difficult to find a match for him in the world. Later on, he raised an army to fight against the Jin Dynasty in the Land of Jin. In fact, it can be considered as a meritorious service to the country. I think that now that you want to do something big, you can have the magnanimity to conquer the world. This time, you can invite him to the World Number One Martial Arts Competition … Of course, this is your internal affairs. I am just mentioning it … "
"If he wants to come, of course, we will also welcome him." Watermelon smiled.
"Such breadth of mind, you have the imposing manner of Da Biao in the past." Lu Liutong praised with satisfaction.
The old man took a sip of tea. After a while, he said, "… In fact, to improve one's martial arts, the main thing is to move around. The Central Plains has changed for more than ten years. It can be said that the northerners went south, and the people had no way to make a living. But in fact, it was also because they forced the northerners to spread their fists to the south. These years, whether you were in the northwest or southwest, you did not participate much in the Jiangnan Underworld. But from what I have seen, there are some people who have made a name for themselves in this chaotic world …"
"… For example, back in Lin 'an, there was a Nie Jincheng. This person's martial arts skills were high, and his background was also deep. He was nicknamed' Python Hero '. I had sparred with him for a few moves and chatted for an afternoon. Unfortunately, when Lin' an was breached, this person sacrificed himself in the resistance and could not escape. Sigh, this person is a rare hero … He has a subordinate named Chen Guizhi. This name sounds like a woman, but this person is extremely tall and has extraordinary strength. I heard that this time, he came to Chengdu … "
"… In addition, in the land of Xiang-Chu, there is a middleman nicknamed Honest Monk. He is well-informed and has eyes and ears everywhere. He is on good terms with various families. Although he does not fight much, this old man knows that he is a ruthless person …"
Ning Yi reached out and touched his nose …
Although the old man was unknown in Jiayu, he seemed to be well-informed. At this time, he was drinking wine and discussing heroes. He talked non-stop about many heroes who had appeared in recent years, and then gradually got to the main topic.
This time, he came to Chengdu with his second son, Lu Xiaolun, and several disciples under his command. His son was already in his early fifties. It was said that for the past thirty years, he had been training in Jianghu. Every year, he spent half of his time running around to make friends with people in Jianghu and sparring with others. This time, he had brought him here because he felt that his son could finish his apprenticeship. He wanted to see if he could find a position in the Hua Xia army. In the old man's opinion, it was best to find a position like the instructor of the Imperial Army as a starting point.
In the past, in Bianliang and other places, martial artists who obtained the position of instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Army were considered to have a good background. But for the Lu family, who already knew Watermelon, Du Sha, and the others, the position of instructor in the army was naturally only a starting point.
"… The Hua Xia army has been constantly training in the mountains to the west. Their battle formations are admirable. If we were to compare military formations, the Wu dynasty in the east naturally has nothing to recommend. But after more than ten years of interaction between the North and South, there are still many unique skills that can be used for reference. "These years, Xiaolun has traveled Jiangnan and gotten to know various famous people. His knowledge is vast. To be an instructor in the army, in my opinion, he is already qualified, so I brought him here to broaden his horizons. This old man is also concerned about the descendant of an old friend. While my body is still strong, I came here to take a walk and take a look … Xiaolun also has a few unique skills that can be demonstrated now, haha …"
That Lu Xiaolun was in his fifties. His figure looked quite healthy. When his old father spoke, he did not interrupt. Only now did he stand up and bow to everyone. His other disciples then took out all kinds of performance equipment, such as large pieces of buffalo bones, green bricks, wooden dummies, and so on.
The buffalo bones were large and hard. They were placed in a cloth bag. A few disciples took them out and placed a piece in front of everyone. Ning Yi could be considered experienced and knowledgeable now. He knew that these were the props for performing "Yellow Mud Hands". This Yellow Mud Hands was considered an unorthodox martial art in the forest. When practicing, one would use sticky yellow mud as a prop and slowly grab it in one's hands. From a small ball of yellow mud, one could slowly use five fingers to grab a ball of mud the size of a rubber ball. In reality, it was training the strength and accuracy of the five fingers. That was how the Yellow Mud Hands got its name.
Apart from the practice of grabbing the yellow mud, the practitioner of this martial art had to twist all kinds of bones with their bare hands every day. In the end, when facing an enemy, regardless of whether the enemy punched or kicked, the practitioner could directly shatter the bones of the opponent's four limbs with just two hands. This buffalo bone was far harder than an ordinary person's. Using it to perform showed the strength of the performer.
Ning Yi stood behind Watermelon and Du Sha. Looking at the piece of bone in front of Du Sha, his lips gradually curled up. He did not know why he was laughing, but his expression gradually twisted and his stomach trembled as he tried to hold back his laughter.
The two people in front of him were both Grandmaster experts. Even though their backs were facing him, how could they not see his reaction? Watermelon frowned and slightly glanced at him. Then, he also looked at Du Sha in confusion. Du Sha sighed and reached out his hand to lightly knock on the piece of bone. He only had one hand. Watermelon understood and couldn't help but laugh.
Then, Luo Bingren also couldn't help but laugh.
On the other side, Lu Xiaolun rubbed his hands together, grabbed a piece of bone, and twisted it.
Watermelon grabbed the bone with both hands and twisted it. On the other side, Luo Bingren also twisted it with both hands. Sure enough, it did not break. Then, both of them looked at Du Sha.
Du Sha sighed …
*****
After that, there were several more rounds of performances outside. Lu Xiaolun punched on the wooden dummy, then demonstrated the Eagle Claw, the Tendon Dislocation Bone Hand, and several other unique skills. Watermelon and the others were all experts, so they could naturally see that the other's martial arts were not bad. At least his posture was presentable. It was just that with the situation of the Huaxia Army's veterans who had seen blood, unless Lu Xiaolun had killed countless people in the Jiangnan area, entering the army was like a sparrow entering an eagle's nest. The addition of the smell of blood on the battlefield to martial arts was not something that could be made up for by posture.
After the battle of Xia Village, Tong Guan and the others sent a martial arts scholar to the Wu Rui Camp to take over military affairs. The martial arts scholar wanted to show his might in the army. He challenged a veteran in the ring and said that it was a spar, but it was a life and death fight. That martial arts scholar, Luo Shengzhou, was seriously injured and had to be carried out. From then on, he probably never went into the ring with anyone again.
For those veterans in battle, many times they might not be able to win against martial arts experts. But as long as they could break through the defense, they would always be able to take their opponent down with them.
The Xia Village veterans were like this, not to mention the Huaxia Army soldiers who had killed all over the world for the past ten years. Ten years ago, soldiers like Mao Yishan would hide in the back of the battle formation and tremble. Ten years later, they could catch a Jurchen general who had been through hundreds of battles and smash him to death on a rock. When that kind of ferocity came out, not many people could face it head-on.
Watermelon, Du Sha, and the others looked at each other and then began to state the rules of the Huaxia Army. Right now, they had just won the first major war. The Huaxia Army was strict in military discipline. There were many things that could not be changed, and there were no shortcuts. Brother Lu's skills were superb, and the Huaxia Army was naturally very eager for him to join. But there were still certain procedures and steps.
These words were not false. The Huaxia Army opened its doors to all the heroes of the world, and they would not push anyone out. Although the Lu family wanted to take a shortcut, they were not without merit. It was natural for the Huaxia Army to want him to join, but if he could not follow these procedures, no matter how good his skills were, the Huaxia Army would not be able to accept him. Not to mention the danger of making an exception to promote him as a military instructor — that was no different from sending him to his death — of course, these words could not be said directly.
Hearing Watermelon, Du Sha, and the others say these words, the old man cheerfully expressed his approval, and praised the strict rules of the Huaxia Army. Then he said that since the Huaxia Army already had a plan to recruit people, his son and his disciples would naturally act according to the rules. They also planned to participate in the Martial Arts Competition held in the southwest, and everything could wait until then to be discussed.
Then there were all kinds of pleasantries, and they socialized with each other.
Then they talked about the past, and after both sides had more or less resolved the awkwardness, Watermelon and the others took their leave.
After they left, Lu Xiaolun and the others, who had returned to the courtyard, immediately had gloomy expressions. "Father, they are looking down on us."
"You haven't defeated a Female Zhenren. If they look down on you, of course there's nothing to say." Lu Liutong returned to the table, picked up a cup of tea, and took a sip. He suppressed his gloomy expression as much as possible, and showed a calm and indifferent demeanor. "Since the Huaxia Army has done something, it is normal for them to be so arrogant. Xiaolun, if you want to get something, the most important thing is what you can do … "
Lu Xiaolun thought for a moment. "I will work hard and get a good name in the Martial Arts Competition."
"Your vision is too low." Lu Liutong held the teacup and said slowly. His gaze looked into the sky, and he was silent for a long time. "… Prepare an invitation. In the next few days, I will bring you to meet with the martial artists who have arrived in Chengdu, and we will sit down and discuss martial arts."
The old man's gaze turned to the few people in the room. His lips parted, and after a while, he said word by word, "Back then, Liu Dabiao changed two moves of the Tyrant Blade in my hands. Today, the two moves of the Tyrant Blade are still there, and only I know its flaws. Back then, Liu Dabiao's most brilliant decision was to teach the Tyrant Blade to everyone in the village. Over the years, the Huaxia Army has grown to such a scale, and the Tyrant Blade must have helped a lot … Xiaolun, as a person, you have to look at your strengths. Although it is useful for you to get a ranking, in the end, it is still you who came to support the Huaxia Army … As a person, you have to be valued. You can support it, but you also have to be able to undermine it. Next, you go and support it. I will discuss with the heroes of the world about the … flaws of the Tyrant Blade. "
Lu Xiaolun and a few of his juniors looked at each other, and then they all said, "Father is wise."
"Master is wise."
"Master's calculations are flawless …"
"Black Flag will definitely regret today's matter …"
"Hahahaha …" Amidst everyone's compliments, the old man stroked his beard and laughed rhythmically.
*****
At the same time, the large group of people left the street.
Ning Yi and Watermelon rode in the same carriage, and they went to a secluded part of the city.
"This is great. I have offended someone …"
"This old man is a senior in the martial arts world. He is old and virtuous. Be careful that he calls Sect Leader Lin over and smashes your stage …"
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