blueteamnovel Chapter 112 A tiger in the heart, yet a flower in the hand; what does it matter if I admit defeat!
Chapter 112 A tiger in the heart, yet a flower in the hand; what does it matter if I admit defeat!
Chapter 113 A tiger in my heart, yet I sniff the flowers; what does it matter if I admit defeat? (10k-word chapter)
Qianmen Street, Lu Residence.
The aftershocks of the devastating fire at Daying in Fengtai last night are still lingering this afternoon.
Several more groups of soldiers patrolled the streets, each armed and tense. It was Commander Ma clearing out the remnants of Division Commander Zhang's troops and taking over the defense.
While chaos reigned outside, the gates of the Lu residence were bustling with activity, but the visitors weren't soldiers, they were guests.
"Hey, wait a minute, this is a fragile item."
Even though Li, the adjutant of Marshal Ma's mansion, had been busy "cleaning up" all night and had dark circles under his eyes like a panda, he still personally escorted the car here early this morning.
He was wearing a crisp military uniform, but the top two buttons of his collar were undone, revealing his exhaustion from not having slept all night.
Two military trucks were parked at the gate, and several soldiers were huffing and puffing as they carried boxes into the yard.
The wooden crate landed with a dull thud, raising a thin layer of dust.
"Master Lu, may you be blessed."
As soon as Lieutenant Li entered the main hall, his back bent like a shrimp, and his face was full of smiles, as if he were seeing his own father.
He glanced quickly at the main hall out of the corner of his eye.
A long table made of rosewood, a meticulous painting of "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" hanging on the wall, and a row of weapon racks against the wall displaying not swords and spears, but various kinds of stage weapons.
The Green Dragon Crescent Blade, the Fangtian Halberd, and the gold and bronze were polished to a gleaming shine.
Lu Cheng was sitting in a grand chair, holding a copy of the play "The Single-Sword Meeting" in his hand, with a pot of freshly brewed broth beside him.
He changed into a moon-white silk robe, with the cuffs rolled up to reveal a section of his jade-like wrist. He exuded a scholarly air, showing no trace of the ruthless killer he had been the night before.
"Lieutenant Li, you've worked hard."
Lu Cheng put down his book but didn't get up. He simply pointed to the chair next to him and said, "Want to sit down and have some tea?"
"No, no, it's more comfortable to talk standing up."
Lieutenant Li dared not sit down.
Last night, he saw the two bodies in the basement with his own eyes, one with a "smashed head" and the other with a "shattered heart."
Commander Zhang's head was smashed like a watermelon, with red and white splattered all over the wall.
Yagyu Seiun was a complete corpse, but a section of his chest had collapsed, seven or eight of his ribs were broken, and his heart was shattered.
Looking at Lu Cheng's long, slender fingers turning the pages of a book now, I feel a chill run down my spine.
He quickly pulled out a gift list from his pocket and presented it with both hands. The list was made of gold-flecked red paper, exuding an air of nobility.
"Master Lu, this is a small token of the General's appreciation."
"A pair of celadon-glazed vases from the Song Dynasty Ru kiln, genuine pieces that came from the palace. I'll place them in your study to lighten the scholarly atmosphere. The commander said that Master Lu is a refined person and deserves refined objects."
"And this too—"
Lieutenant Li waved his hand, and several soldiers carried in ten heavy wooden crates, each bearing the English word "SPA".
The letter "M" on a blue background with yellow lettering has a stylish look.
"This is Spam luncheon meat imported from the United States, made entirely of beef."
"The commander said that the young men of the Qingyun Troupe are at the age when they are growing and practicing kung fu. Eating only pork will not make them strong. They need to eat beef."
"Ten boxes, a total of five hundred cans."
That shout woke up Shunzi, Xiaodouzi, and Lu Feng, who were hiding behind the porch and peeking, and their mouths watered.
Shunzi swallowed hard, while Xiaodouzi clung to the doorframe, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets.
These days, beef is a rare commodity.
Pork in the market costs two cents a pound, and beef costs forty-five cents, and only shops with Hui Muslim certificates sell it.
As for the beef in those tin cans, that was something you could only find at the Six Nations Hotel, the Beijing Hotel, and at the high-class banquets of warlords.
I heard that foreigners eat this when they fight. They make a slit in it, scoop it out with a knife, and eat it. It's oily and fragrant.
A can of canned goods can sell for two silver dollars on the black market.
These ten boxes represent a thousand silver dollars' worth of grain.
That's enough for everyone in Qingyun's class to eat meat for half a year.
Lu Cheng glanced at the boxes, his expression indifferent.
He picked up the gaiwan teacup and gently skimmed off the floating leaves with the lid.
"Please thank the Commander for me."
He took a sip of tea before slowly speaking.
"I'll take the beef. The kids in Qingyun Class are growing and definitely need some oil and fat. As for those bottles—"
He paused, then looked up at Lieutenant Li.
"It's too precious; I'm afraid it might get bumped or damaged if I keep it in my opera troupe."
"On the stage, swords and spears are dangerous, and backstage is even more crowded. What if a young boy doing somersaults accidentally knocks them down? Wouldn't that be a waste of our ancestors' precious treasures?"
Lieutenant Li was taken aback and was about to offer some advice.
Lu Cheng waved his hand.
"Take this back and tell the commander-in-chief that he appreciates the gesture, but the gifts should be converted into cash and donated to the orphanage in the south of the city." This late spring chill hasn't passed yet, and life is hard for orphans and widows.
"I heard that the sales bureau has taken in seventeen children who have frozen to death this month."
Lieutenant Li stood there stunned, then immediately filled with respect.
Ru ware from the Song Dynasty!
That was a priceless treasure, it came from the palace of the previous dynasty. The commander-in-chief had gone to great lengths to get his hands on it, but he just donated it without hesitation.
"Master Lu—you have the heart of a bodhisattva, such righteousness, such great righteousness!"
Lieutenant Li gave a thumbs-up, a gesture of genuine admiration.
He had worked under warlords for over a decade and had seen greedy, lustful, and power-hungry men, but he had never seen anyone who treated money like dirt.
If it were any other martial arts performer or actor, they would want to bring mountains of gold and silver into their homes.
But this man was preoccupied with the hardships of the people of Beijing.
This level of skill is beyond question.
After seeing Lieutenant Li off, Lu Cheng waved his hand.
"Shunzi, pry open the can. We're making extra food for everyone for lunch today. Beef stew with potatoes, lots of scallions, and everyone's stuffed."
"Alright—!"
The backyard erupted in cheers, with a group of teenagers jumping for joy, even happier than during the Lunar New Year.
Shunzi and Xiaodouzi rushed to the front, took out the crowbar they had prepared beforehand, and pried open the wooden box with a "crack". Inside, there were neatly stacked tin cans with blue backgrounds and yellow lettering, which reflected the sunlight.
"Master, it smells delicious!"
Little Bean held a jar to his nose and took a deep breath. Even though it wasn't opened yet, he could already smell the aroma of meat.
Lu Cheng looked at him and smiled.
"Look at you, so pathetic. Go, tell Old Liu, the cook, to start the big pot of fire. You can eat your fill today."
The afternoon sun lazily spilled into the courtyard.
The apprentices, having eaten and drunk their fill, were digesting their food. Several young boys leaned against the wall, burping, their faces shiny with oil.
Lu Cheng, however, was not idle.
He held a purple clay teapot in his hand, standing by the stage, watching the two maids, Qinglian and Hongyu, practice their "stilt walking" skills.
.
That's a specialty of female impersonators; they wear wooden "inches" on their feet to imitate the gait of women with bound feet in the old days.
The cloth was only three inches long, tightly wrapped in white cloth and tied to the sole of the foot. The person supported themselves entirely on their toes and the balls of their feet, walking like a willow swaying in the wind, but it was extremely tiring.
Eight out of ten people who practice this skill have deformed toes and enlarged joints, but they have to endure this hardship for those few graceful steps on stage.
"Stay calm."
Lu Cheng took a sip of tea and shook his head.
"The waist should be flexible, but the breath should be held high. Our Qingyun Troupe's female roles don't practice that sickly, affected manner."
"One must cultivate the liveliness of the Xun School, and also the robustness of the Shang School."
"You have to have a backbone to support you. Even if you're playing a weak woman, you have to be a rose with thorns, not a weed that can be trampled on."
The two girls gritted their teeth, their foreheads covered in sweat, but dared not utter a sound as they walked steadily on the narrow wooden planks that were only the width of a palm.
Qinglian is fifteen this year, and Hongyu is only fourteen. Once they joined the opera troupe, they practiced like crazy, fearing that if they were eliminated, they would have to go back to starve.
Just then.
Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, jogged in, holding a plain visiting card in his hand.
His cloth shoes had thin soles, and they made a "clattering" sound as he ran on the bluestone slabs.
"Master Lu, someone has come from outside."
"Another gift?" Lu Cheng frowned slightly.
Three groups have come this morning alone. They all came to curry favor and offer bribes after hearing that he had killed a Japanese ronin and intimidated Commander Ma.
No—it doesn't look like it.
Old Zhang shook his head, his expression somewhat strange.
He had been a gatekeeper for the Lu family for twenty years; what kind of people hadn't he seen? But these few people today were truly a bit hard to figure out.
"The man who came was an old man, wearing a gray cloth long gown that had been washed until it was almost white, and cloth shoes with a thousand layers of soles on his feet, the uppers of which were worn and frayed."
"I didn't take a car, nor did I bring any attendants; I just strolled here alone."
"But the name he wrote in this post — is pretty scary."
Lu Cheng took the invitation and opened it.
The post was written on ordinary bamboo paper, very plain, but the line of text on it was written in flowing cursive script, with strong strokes and a sense of freedom.
[I, Gong Yu, a junior disciple of Gong Baotian in Baguazhang, respectfully present this letter to Master Lu, wishing to ask for a bowl of tea.]
Gong Baotian?
A glint flashed in Lu Cheng's eyes.
That was the famous "Palace Monkey," a direct disciple of Baguazhang master Dong Haichuan, who once served as the Grand Eunuch of the Qing Dynasty. He was a true grandmaster who had seen the world.
I heard that when the Allied Forces entered Beiping in the year of Gengzi, Empress Dowager Cixi fled west. It was Gong Baotian who escorted her all the way, moving through the chaos of the army as if it were empty.
Since Gong Yu is a member of the Gong family and dares to come alone, he must be someone of considerable importance.
"please."
Lu Cheng closed the invitation and straightened his clothes.
"Open the middle gate to welcome guests."
Old Zhang was taken aback: "Open the middle door?"
The main gate of the Lu residence was only opened during festivals or when distinguished guests arrived; ordinary officials would enter through the side gate.
"Open." Lu Cheng said firmly.
"yes!"
Before long, a thin, sprightly old man walked in.
The old man looked to be around sixty years old, with a white goatee that he combed neatly.
He walked with his hands behind his back, seemingly slow, but every step was exactly the same distance, as if measured with a ruler.
What's even more amazing is that although he was standing on the bluestone slab, the soles of his shoes didn't seem to be completely grounded. There was a faint sense of spiritual energy supporting him, as if he were holding his breath.
This is—half a step into the Transformation Realm!
Lu Cheng activated his [Fiery Eyes of Truth], and with just one glance, his heart skipped a beat.
Although the old man's internal energy was not as vigorous as that of a young man, it was extremely refined. His internal strength circulated in his meridians like a stream flowing into a river, continuous and unbroken, and it already had the beginnings of being "perfect and flawless".
Only one last layer of paper is needed to refine the spirit and return to emptiness, thus achieving the transformation of internal energy.
"Mr. Gong, I am so sorry for not greeting you sooner."
Lu Cheng stood on the steps, clasped his hands in a salute, his movements precise and neither humble nor arrogant.
"Master Lu, you're too kind."
Gong Yu smiled, her gaze sweeping over Lu Cheng. She nodded slightly, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes, but more of a scrutinizing one.
His eyes were like an eagle's, sharp, able to see through flesh and bone.
"What an air of dashing elegance."
"That old bastard Han Tieshou told me that a prodigy has emerged in Beiping, with unfathomable inner strength. I didn't believe it at first, but after seeing him today, I can see that he does have some skill."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like pearls falling onto a jade plate, each word reaching Lu Cheng's ears steadily.
"You flatter me, sir. Please come in."
The two entered the main hall and took their seats as host and guest.
Shunzi served up a freshly brewed premium Tieguanyin tea, its aroma wafting through the air, with wisps of white mist rising in the sunlight.
Gong Yu picked up the teacup, but didn't rush to drink it. He first sniffed it and nodded.
"This is excellent tea; it's this year's spring tea from Anxi."
He took a small sip, then put it down, his expression becoming slightly serious.
"Master Lu".
"I'm a few years older than you, so I'll speak more frankly."
"You slayed the Japanese ronin with your sword, which enhanced our national prestige and was a great act of righteousness. I admire you greatly. We who practice martial arts do so to protect our homes and country. You did what we wanted to do but dared not do."
"But your strike has also stirred up the entire martial arts world of Beiping."
"How so?" Lu Cheng asked calmly.
"Everyone outside is saying you're the best in the world," they say, "traditional Bagua, Tai Chi, and Xingyi are no match for your 'opera troupe kung fu.' All the young people are flocking to the opera houses; the threshold of the martial arts school is practically overgrown with weeds."
Gong Yu sighed, her sigh filled with helplessness.
"The owners of each martial arts school were resentful, and the matter escalated to the point of involving the Martial Arts Alliance."
"Last night, the heads of the eight martial arts schools gathered together and discussed it all night. If they were to send a master of internal energy cultivation to spar with you, wouldn't that be suicide? Your ability to dodge bullets speaks for itself; who dares to claim they're faster than a bullet?"
"But what if we were to invite those true masters of internal energy to come out of seclusion—"
Gong Yu gave a wry smile, shook his head, and his goatee trembled.
"Those gentlemen are all old masters in their seventies or eighties. Are they really going to fight a young man in his early twenties like you? If they win, it's like bullying the weak, which is dishonorable; if they lose—hey, where will they put their old faces? What about the reputation of the entire martial arts world of Beiping?"
Lu Cheng understood.
This is a dead end.
The younger ones are too strong to beat, and the older ones are incapable of fighting either.
Martial arts practitioners value face, but even more so, they value tradition and succession.
If a twenty-year-old were to take on the entire martial arts world of Beiping, how would the various sects recruit disciples and establish themselves in the martial arts world for the next few decades?
"So—" Lu Cheng looked at Gong Yu, waiting for him to continue.
"So, it's this old man's turn to speak."
Gong Yu pointed to herself, her tone revealing a hint of self-mockery mixed with a touch of arrogance.
That arrogance wasn't swagger; it was the confidence one has in one's skills after a lifetime of practicing martial arts.
"I am not very talented. I have practiced Baguazhang all my life. Although I have not been able to take that final step, I have at least touched the threshold of Huajin. I have taken this half step in, which can be considered as half a step into Huajin."
"In terms of seniority, I'm not too old; in terms of skill, I'm slightly stronger than the average internal energy practitioner."
"In martial arts terms, it means, 'Let me lend you a hand.'"
"No fighting, just right here at the table, let's discuss this."
As Gong Yu spoke, she stretched out a hand and placed it flat on the mahogany octagonal table.
That hand was withered and thin, with rough skin and large knuckles; it was clearly the hand of someone who had practiced boxing all his life.
Yet this very hand gave off an unshakeable feeling, as if it were connected to the table and even the earth.
The veins on the back of his hand bulged slightly, like the roots of an old tree.
"If I lose, I will go back and tell those old friends that I am not as good as him, so I will shut down my skills and stop practicing. From now on, the martial arts world of Beiping will follow Master Lu's lead."
"If this old man is lucky enough to win even a single move—"
Gong Yu looked at Lu Cheng with burning eyes, like two small lamps.
"I humbly request that Master Lu do us the honor of announcing to the outside world that we are evenly matched, thus leaving us old bones a way out and a way to eat."
These words were spoken frankly, yet also carried a hint of helplessness.
Lu Cheng realized that Gong Yu had been pushed forward to be the "sharpening stone".
The half-step into the Transformation Realm, neither too high nor too low, was just right to test Lu Cheng's strength and also to help the martial arts community regain some ground.
If they win, the martial arts team will save face. If they lose, it won't be too embarrassing.
After all, he was only at the "half-step" level, not a true master of internal energy transformation.
Lu Cheng looked at the hand and smiled.
He knew that this was a respected senior.
It wasn't for myself, but for the reputation of the entire martial arts industry, for the sake of that legacy, that I gritted my teeth and came.
He knew that although he had acquired his skills quickly, he had never truly competed with a real master in terms of "strength".
Wanyan Lie relied on brute force to train, while Liu Sheng Jingyun relied on swordsmanship.
However, he had not yet truly experienced the "listening to the force" and "neutralizing the force" of internal martial arts.
This is an opportunity.
"it is good."
Lu Cheng extended his right hand, which was fair and slender, looking like the hand of a scholar.
"Since Elder Gong has such an interest, how could this junior dare to refuse?"
Two hands gently rested together above the mahogany table.
"Buzz"
The air seemed to tremble the moment they made contact.
Gong Yu smiled, having only used a third of her strength.
He wanted to use the "listening to the force" and "neutralizing the force" techniques of Baguazhang to test Lu Cheng's strength and weakness.
Baguazhang emphasizes "slipping the body," "walking and turning," and "avoiding the strong and attacking the weak," and it is about using skill to overcome force and using minimal effort to deflect great weight.
In his opinion, Lu Cheng was able to dodge bullets because he was fast and had quick reflexes.
But how profound can one's internal strength be without decades of honing it?
Strength is something that cannot be faked; it is developed through practice day by day.
but.
The force was released as soon as it passed through his fingertips.
Gong Yu's expression changed instantly.
His previous calm and composed demeanor vanished in an instant.
What is that?
He felt as if he had not placed his hand on a hand, but on a collapsing mountain, or on the back of a giant dragon that was turning over.
Within Lu Cheng's body, the pure internal energy accumulated over seventy years, combined with the explosive power of the [Toad Fishing Force] and the domineering ferocity of the [White Tiger True Intent], poured out from his arm in that instant.
There are no tricks.
Nothing fancy.
It is pure, tyrannical, and unreasonable force.
One force can overcome ten techniques!
Gong Yu's exquisite "neutralizing force" skill was actually unable to neutralize this overwhelming force.
It's like a small boat trying to defuse a tsunami.
There's nowhere to turn for help!
The power was so pure and so immense, it felt as if the entire earth itself was pressing down on it.
"not good."
Gong Yu was terrified and instinctively wanted to withdraw his hand, to use his movement technique to deflect the force, and to use the "emptiness" of his half-step into the Transformation Realm to divert this enormous force.
He had practiced the Baguazhang technique of deflecting force for fifty years and was confident that he could deflect a thousand pounds of force.
But Lu Cheng's hand seemed to be rooted to the spot, generating a huge suction force that held him firmly in place.
That's the "sticky force" produced when internal strength is practiced to its extreme; it's as sticky as glue and can't be shaken off.
Gong Yu felt as if his strength had vanished into thin air, never to return. Meanwhile, the opponent's power surged up his arm, numbing half of his body.
"rise."
Lu Cheng gave a soft shout and flicked his wrist slightly.
The movement appeared light and agile, but the force it contained was like a raging storm.
"Click."
The sturdy mahogany eight-immortal table couldn't withstand the clash of their strength, and a large crack appeared in the middle, extending from the center of the table to the edge.
Gong Yu, a master who had reached the half-step Transformation Realm, suddenly swayed, and the thousand-layered cloth shoes on his feet scraped a white mark on the blue brick ground with a "rip".
His upper body involuntarily leaned backward, and he lost his balance.
In a life-or-death struggle, with Gong Yu's center wide open, Lu Cheng could easily shatter his sternum and turn his internal organs into a pulp with a single powerful punch.
Lost.
The moment we made contact, I lost.
Moreover, he lost because of his most prized internal strength.
He had practiced Baguazhang his whole life and thought he had reached the pinnacle of internal energy application, but today, he was crushed by a twenty-year-old with pure power.
Gong Yu's face was full of disbelief, and cold sweat instantly seeped out from her forehead.
He practiced boxing his whole life, from the Guangxu era to the Republic of China. He had seen at least eighty or a hundred masters, but he had never seen such terrifying and powerful internal strength.
Where is this hidden strength?
This is simply the kind of spiritual energy that only an old monster who has accumulated over sixty years could possess.
No, it's even purer and more domineering than that.
"What kind of monster is this young man?!"
Just as Gong Yu was about to fall to the ground in a sorry state, his lifelong reputation ruined.
Lu Cheng's hand suddenly loosened.
That overwhelming force, at the critical point of imminent explosion, instantly dissipated into nothingness, demonstrating the ultimate control over its release and release.
Like a surging tide that recedes suddenly just as it's about to breach the dam, leaving no trace.
Taking advantage of the moment of relief, Gong Yu stumbled a couple of steps, grabbed the back of the chair next to her, and then regained her balance.
He was panting heavily, his chest heaving, and he looked at Lu Cheng with an extremely complicated expression.
Shock, shame, confusion —
There was also a sliver of relief at surviving the ordeal.
For a brief moment, he really thought he was going to die.
"Master Lu, you—"
Gong Yu was about to admit defeat.
A loss is a loss, and Gong Yu is not one to be a sore loser.
Once you make contact, the difference in skill becomes immediately apparent. To stubbornly cling to pride would be truly shameful.
Lu Cheng, however, preemptively shook his head, a bitter smile of "shame" appearing on his face.
He rubbed his wrist, as if he had suffered some kind of injustice. His brows furrowed slightly, and he shook his hand, making it look as if his wrist was injured.
"Master Gong, your Baguazhang skills are truly unfathomable."
"In that instant, I felt a numbness in my wrist, and all my strength was transferred to the table by you. That skillful, rotating force was like a drill, and it almost dislocated my arm."
"I took shortcuts, used brute force, and broke the rules."
"Our internal martial arts emphasize listening to and neutralizing the opponent's force, but I only know how to use brute force. I hope you will forgive my ignorance."
Lu Cheng cupped his hands in greeting, his voice sincere, his eyes clear, without the slightest hint of pretense.
His expression and tone made anyone believe that he had truly suffered a loss.
"I lost this round."
"To outsiders—just say that I, Lu Cheng, am inferior in skill and was taught a lesson by Elder Gong. I will definitely reflect on my mistakes in seclusion and dare not be arrogant again."
Gong Yu was stunned.
He stared blankly at Lu Cheng, his mouth slightly open, his goatee sticking up.
He was the one who lost; he was the one whose balance was disrupted and who almost embarrassed himself on the spot.
This young man—they're saving him face.
Moreover, Gong Yu knew exactly what was going on.
That last move by Lu Cheng wasn't just about having profound internal strength.
The ability to instantly retract one's force just before it is about to be released, achieving effortless control, is more terrifying than mere brute strength.
This shows that Lu Cheng's control over internal energy is no less than that of him, a half-step Transformation Realm expert, and perhaps even—
He's stronger than him.
If it really is a life-or-death struggle.
Gong Yu glanced at Lu Cheng's calm, still eyes, and a chill suddenly ran through her.
He—may die.
He would be beaten to death by this young man. There was no doubt about it.
"The Yangtze River's waves push the previous waves forward—"
Gong Yu sighed inwardly, and that stubbornness that refused to grow old completely dissipated at that moment.
He suddenly felt that he had wasted the past sixty years.
But before he could finish his sigh, Lu Cheng uttered his last two sentences.
Gong Yu's face instantly darkened, and a layer of ashen color quickly spread across his thin, old face.
His eyes, which had been somewhat unfocused due to shock, regained their light, but it was a cold light.
He slowly straightened his back, and his spine, which had been slightly bent out of gratitude, was now upright again.
"Master Lu".
Gong Yu's voice was cold and hard, with a hint of anger.
The anger wasn't directed at Lu Cheng, but at himself, and also at this damned "face".
"Your kung fu is excellent, I admire you greatly."
"But your character—you underestimate me, Gong Yu."
After saying that, Gong Yu flicked his sleeve, creating a gust of wind.
Goodbye.
These two words are stiff and unyielding.
The old man turned and left. Although his steps were still steady, there was a sense of desolation in his back.
Lu Cheng stood there, still holding the teacup in his hand, the tea rippling from the earlier vibration.
He was stunned.
I was somewhat surprised.
He meant well, wanting to save face for the old man and the martial arts practitioners.
In his view, isn't the martial arts world all about saving face?
I'll give you face, you'll give me a way out, and we can all get along peacefully, wouldn't that be great?
Unexpectedly—
"Oh."
Lu Cheng suddenly gave a bitter laugh and put down his teacup.
He got it.
He underestimated people.
He thought that people in the martial arts world valued face and reputation.
But he forgot that a true master values "integrity" and "truth".
Those who practice martial arts have strong bones and straight spines. They may lose or die, but they cannot be hypocritical or fake.
Losing is not terrible; what is terrible is not daring to admit defeat and having to rely on the "wins" given by younger generations to prolong one's life.
That was true death. The soul of the warrior was dead.
"It was I who was presumptuous."
As Lu Cheng watched Gong Yu's departing figure, his eyes showed not anger, but rather a hint of respect.
This old man is stubborn, but his stubbornness is endearing, and his stubbornness has backbone.
This is the true spirit of the older generation of martial artists.
It's better to lose standing up than to win on your knees.
but----
Lu Cheng touched his nose, a sly glint in his eyes.
Since you value backbone, then I'll give you backbone.
But in this round, I, Lu Cheng, cannot let you lose too badly.
"Shunzi, Xiaodouzi, come here."
Lu Cheng waved.
Two little rascals were peeking out from behind the curtain.
They had seen that scene clearly. Although they didn't understand internal energy, they could see clearly from the cracked table and Old Master Gong's staggering steps—Master had won!
Upon hearing his master call him, he quickly ran over.
"Master, what are your instructions?"
Lu Cheng lowered his head and whispered a few words in their ears.
As Shunzi and Xiaodouzi listened, their eyes widened, and finally they covered their mouths and chuckled.
"Master, this...this will actually work?"
"Why not?"
Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow. "A storyteller's mouth can bring the dead back to life. Go find Liu Mazi and tell him exactly what I taught you. Remember, you have to make it sound so authentic, as if you saw it with your own eyes."
"Alright, just you wait and see."
The two boys ran off in a flash.
The next day, early in the morning.
Yu Tai Xuan, a long-established teahouse near the overpass, had a long queue forming outside its door even before it opened this morning.
As soon as the shopkeeper removed the door panel, a group of people rushed in and found seats as if they knew the place well.
These are not ordinary amateurs, but a group of trained martial arts practitioners.
Xingyi Quan, Taiji Quan, Tongbei Quan, Bajiquan —
-
The heads, instructors, and senior disciples of various martial arts schools gathered around a huge octagonal table.
Some people were dressed in shorts, some in long gowns, some were twirling iron balls in their hands, and some were resting with their eyes closed, but their eyes kept glancing towards the door.
The tea has been refilled three times, but no one is drinking it.
Everyone is waiting.
Waiting for news from Grandpa Gong Yu.
Everyone knows that yesterday, Master Gong went to the Lu residence to "discuss matters".
News travels fast in the martial arts world; by the end of the night, everyone who needed to know knew.
This is a major event that concerns the reputation of the martial arts community in Beiping.
If you win, you can still hold your head high in the martial arts world; if you lose, you'll never be able to hold your head up again.
"Hey, tell me, what exactly happened yesterday?"
A martial arts school owner, cracking sunflower seeds, asked in a low voice.
His surname is Zhao, and he has mastered the Tongbei style of Chinese martial arts, but he is not confident in his abilities.
"Of course, it goes without saying that Grandpa Gong won."
A fat man next to him curled his lip. This fat man's surname was Wang, and he ran a Bajiquan school. He was straightforward and had a loud voice.
"Although Lu Cheng is capable, he is still young."
"Who is Master Gong? He's a grandmaster who's halfway to the Transformation Realm! He's mastered Baguazhang to perfection. I heard that when Master Gong was young, he single-handedly took on seven martial arts schools in Cangzhou, Hebei, and none of them could last ten moves against him."
"It's just that Old Master Gong is kind and doesn't want to embarrass that guy surnamed Lu too much, so he probably stopped there."
"Giving young people some face is also leaving a way out for us in the martial arts industry."
"That's right, that's right. In the martial arts world, we still need to respect seniority and hierarchy," said an old man practicing Tai Chi, stroking his beard as he spoke slowly.
"Lu Cheng is a capable boy, but he's too arrogant. It's a good thing to let Old Master Gong teach him a lesson and temper his temper."
As they were talking.
"Squeak"
The curtain was lifted.
Gong Yu walked in.
He looked rather somber today, with dark circles under his eyes, clearly indicating he hadn't slept well all night.
He didn't bring his pair of iron flasks, which he always carried with him, today. His hands were empty, and he looked a little lost.
He felt a tightness in his chest, as if a wad of cotton was stuffed inside, making it hard to breathe.
Although he stood up to Lu Cheng and didn't accept the "win" gift.
But how am I going to explain this to my comrades?
Could it be that I, a senior who is half a step into the Transformation Realm, was instantly killed by a young man in one move?
Who would believe it if I told them? But that's the truth.
He accepted that he had lost.
For martial artists, winning and losing are common occurrences; he's had his share of losses in his life.
But looking at the expectant eyes in the room, he felt as if his mouth was weighing a ton.
This isn't just about saving face for him alone; it's about saving face for the entire old-school martial arts community in Beiping.
If you tear it off, the bottom will be a bloody and embarrassing mess.
"Elder Gong, you've arrived."
Fatty Wang, with his sharp eyes, was the first to stand up, greeting them with a broad smile, his belly trembling slightly.
"Quickly, quickly, take a seat and serve some tea. Everyone has been eagerly awaiting your good news this early in the morning."
Everyone stood up, their eyes filled with eagerness, like amateur opera enthusiasts waiting for the performer to start singing.
"Yes, Elder Gong, what exactly were the arrangements yesterday? Did Lu Cheng back down?"
"I knew it! Experience counts. With you involved, that kid's bound to behave!"
Surrounded by the crowd, Gong Yu sat down. Listening to these words, her face flushed red and then turned pale, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
The chair felt like a red-hot iron plate, so hot that he couldn't sit on it.
He took a deep breath, his throat was dry, and he was about to grit his teeth and say the truth about losing yesterday.
A short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one; you can hide it for a while, but not forever.
"Everyone————"
Gong Yu's voice was a little hoarse.
"Yesterday, I went to the Lu residence and had a go at Lu Cheng's place—"
"Oh, Elder Gong, please stop keeping me in suspense."
Before he could finish speaking, Fatty Wang, looking excited, saw that the person in question had arrived and stopped trying to hide it, speaking up in his own words.
"My apprentices already knew about it. This morning, Liu Mazi, the storyteller under the overpass, started telling his story very early."
"He spoke so eloquently that several hundred people gathered to listen."
"knew?"
Gong Yu was taken aback, her heart skipped a beat, "You know what?"
Could it be that Lu Cheng, that little brat, turned around and spread the word that I lost?
Yes, young people are full of vigor and will naturally want to show off when they win.
Thinking of this, Gong Yu's heart sank, his face turned even uglier, and the knuckles of his fingers holding the teacup turned white, with veins bulging.
"Hehe, the storyteller has started."
Fatty Wang was beaming, spitting as he spoke, as if he had witnessed it firsthand. He gestured with famous hand signs, his expression full of emotion.
"The situation at the Lu residence yesterday changed dramatically."
"You unleashed the ultimate Bagua Palm technique, 'Soaring Dragon and Startling Swan,'" the palm strikes were like mountains, and your movements were as swift as lightning, forcing Lu Cheng to retreat step by step.
"Your steps are based on the eight trigrams: Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui. Each step is like a lotus blossom, unpredictable and beyond the comprehension of gods and ghosts."
"Although Lu Cheng also possesses brute strength, he is completely constrained and unable to exert his full power in the face of your exquisite internal energy transformation skills."
"He said that as soon as he released his strength, you gently guided it and deflected it onto the table, cracking a perfectly good mahogany table."
"at last----"
Fatty Wang paused deliberately, keeping everyone in suspense, and looked around at the crowd.
Everyone craned their necks, staring at him expectantly.
"What happened in the end?" Someone nearby was so anxious that they were scratching their head and wished they could strangle him.
"In the end, it is said that the two fought for three hundred rounds, from the hall to the courtyard, and from the courtyard to the corridor. They were evenly matched, like two equally matched generals."
"But after all, experience counts, and Lu Cheng is young and inexperienced, so he made a mistake."
"But you were a master, and considering his contributions to the war against Japan and his promising talent, you stopped him at the last moment, so as not to embarrass him on the spot."
"It is said that Lu Cheng 'narrowly lost' to Old Master Gong."
"And you even gave him some pointers, saying he was evenly matched and that the younger generation is truly formidable."
"Tell him to be humble and diligent in his training; he will surely achieve great things in the future."
"Everyone outside is praising him, saying that Grandpa Gong has brought honor to our martial arts world, but he also saved face for the younger generation. That's martial virtue, that's the demeanor of a grandmaster!"
"The storyteller's performance was so captivating that the audience applauded and cheered."
"哄一"
The teahouse erupted in cheers, and flattery poured in like a tidal wave.
Everyone smiled, a genuine smile that seemed to come from the bottom of their hearts, as if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders.
"Old Master Gong is mighty!"
"Old Master Gong is benevolent and righteous!"
"That was a brilliant move. It taught the younger generation a lesson without damaging the harmony. Brilliant, truly brilliant."
"I knew it! With Elder Gong on the case, one is worth two."
Gong Yu sat there, completely dumbfounded.
A narrow defeat?
Three hundred rounds?
Guiding the younger generation?
What the hell is this all about?
It was clearly a one-hit kill, it was clearly the other party who stopped, and it was clearly me who lost everything, down to my underwear.
A three-hundred-round battle?
From the moment he entered the room to the moment he made his move, it took him less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Looking at the admiring eyes and relieved expressions of the crowd, he recalled Lu Cheng's words from last night: "Just tell everyone that I lost."
Suddenly, he understood.
This belongs to Lu Chengqian.
This kid—
He knew his old bones were hard to break and refused to accept his "concession" to his face.
So he resorted to the tactic of "acting first and reporting later".
Through the storyteller's words, the matter was definitively settled.
Moreover, he spoke so convincingly that he both saved Gong Yu's face and prevented him from actually being burdened with the empty title of "winner".
After all, it was a "narrow defeat" and a "evenly matched" result; the balance between them was handled with remarkable precision.
This is not just about giving face.
This is leaving behind the last fig leaf for the older generation of martial arts practitioners in Beiping.
A fig leaf that is both respectable and won't invite criticism.
"This child—"
Gong Yu's hands trembled slightly inside her sleeves.
He wanted to stand up and clarify, to shout, "That's not how it is, I lost, I lost in one move."
But looking at the excited and proud faces of his colleagues around him, as if they had regained their backbone, he couldn't bring himself to say the words.
If the truth were told at this moment, it would be a slap in the face to everyone, and it would extinguish all hope in this room.
It's like breaking the back that had just straightened up again.
"Lu Cheng, oh Lu Cheng—"
Gong Yu sighed inwardly, her eyes becoming slightly moist.
He quickly lowered his head, using the gesture of picking up a teacup to cover it up.
"What you're doing is—pulling your heart out to serve as a stepping stone for us old folks!"
He slowly picked up the teacup. The tea was a little hot, but he drank it all in one gulp. The scalding liquid slid down his throat, burning his heart and making him feel a mix of emotions.
"Everyone————"
Gong Yu put down her teacup, cleared her throat, and tried to calm herself down.
"Since everyone already knows, then I won't say any more."
"Boss Lu — he's a promising talent."
He paused, then added that these words came from the bottom of his heart.
"It is also a blessing for the martial arts community of Beiping."
"From now on, let's get closer together and stop having any sectarian prejudices. Martial arts practitioners are, in the end, one family. We're all here to pass on what our ancestors taught us, so that foreigners won't laugh at us."
"Yes, I will follow Elder Gong's teachings."
Everyone responded in unison, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
Gong Yu looked out the window.
The direction of Qianmen Street leads to the location of the Lu residence.
The sunlight was just right, shining brightly on the bluestone path.
He silently recited a sentence in his heart.
"Master Lu, I'm afraid I can never repay this favor."
at the same time.
The backyard of the Lu residence.
Lu Cheng was sitting on the veranda, holding a small file in his hand, repairing a sword from the stage.
The sword was made of wood and coated with silver powder, making it gleam in the sunlight.
Shunzi and Xiaodouzi squatted on either side of him, vividly describing the scene in the teahouse.
"Master, you didn't see it, those old men were laughing their heads off."
Shunzi gestured dramatically, "Wang Pangzi's mouth is so wide it almost reaches his ears!"
"Everyone says that although you lost, you are still a hero. To be able to fight Old Master Gong like that, you are still honorable even in defeat."
Little Bean chimed in, "The storyteller said that even though you lost the last round, your spirit remained undiminished. You even clasped your hands in a gesture of respect and said you had learned a lot." That was quite the display of grace.
As Lu Cheng listened, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
He put down the file, picked up the cloth beside him, and carefully wiped the blade.
"That's right."
"Face is for others to see, substance is for yourself."
"As long as the martial arts world of Beiping doesn't descend into chaos, as long as everyone can unite as one, and not become a laughingstock to outsiders—"
'
"What's wrong with me losing once?"
He looked up at the white clouds floating on the horizon.
The clouds were very thin; they dispersed with a gust of wind.