Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 8: Clues!

Editor: Larbre Studio

Goju-Ryu Karate, although not as popular as Kyokushin-ryu Karate, which gained fame due to Masutatsu Oyama, is still one of the more well-known and practical styles within Karate. And indeed, it originates from the traditional martial arts of the southern styles.

The founder of Goju-Ryu, Chojun Miyagi, was a student of the celebrated Karate master Kanryo Higaonna. In turn, Higaonna learned from Xie Zhongxiang of Fujian, who was known as “Ru Si” after. Chojun Miyagi himself also went to China to study boxing. Both their techniques were handed down from the Nan Shaolin White Crane Sect. Even the name Goju-Ryu comes from the phrase “the method is to be supple and firm,” found in the ancient military text “Book of Military Preparedness” from the Ming dynasty.

As for why modern people flock to learn Goju-Ryu, dismissing traditional martial arts as mere flowery fist and embroidery leg, this situation is quite ironic… The reasons are very complex and difficult to clarify in a few words.

Though Li Yan was born into a northern martial arts family, he had spent a full seven years in Guangdong; coupled with his strong foundation and high talent, his understanding of southern martial arts was on par with that of his southern peers of the same age. When he said he wanted to show Cheng Hunan the skills of the White Crane Sect, it was not just empty talk!

Li Yan’s fingers formed a claw, hooking onto Cheng Hunan’s wrist and twisting it outward, while his left three fingers together resembled a bird’s beak, jabbing fiercely into his armpit like an iron spike,

Cheng Hunan, a veteran of many battles, despite suffering a huge disadvantage, reacted extremely quickly. Instead of attempting to increase the distance, he endured the pain in his right arm, as if it had been pierced by a steel nail, and lunged into Li Yan’s arms, wrapping his right hand around Li Yan’s waist like a steel whip, brawling like a street fighter, and attempted to bite Li Yan’s ear!

If one lacked ample combat experience, even an older generation martial artist with a higher skill level than Li Yan could easily have the tide turned against them by such bestial biting and tearing. Sadly for Cheng Hunan, 25-year-old Li Yan’s combat experience was astounding, earning him the nickname “Hejian Skinny Tiger.” These four words were earned by Li Yan through blood-infused blows.

The moment Cheng Hunan’s arm made contact with Li Yan’s waist, Li Yan’s right elbow had already smashed viciously into Cheng Hunan’s face, with a thud of a dull thump!

Blood and sweat sprayed out, and two broken teeth twirled through the air, flying out of the ring.

Cheng Hunan was staggered by the direct elbow strike, while Li Yan’s hands, quick as arrows, slammed brutally onto his body!

The spectators below the ring saw clearly that only Cheng Hunan’s heels were touching the ground, his body seemingly broken in half, resembling a shattered doll, bearing the brunt of Li Yan’s pounding fists.

The Crane Cry Fist techniques of Twin Arrows! Single Split Bucket! Left Right Splitting Palm, Twin Snakes Spitting Venom! Grasp Hammer! Crane Top! All poured upon Cheng Hunan without pause! Large patches of blood soaked through, and the fierce punches almost turned Cheng Hunan into a pulp.

“Silk~”

The gamblers were dumbstruck, their throats seemed to be choked, their eyes wide open, immovably staring at the blood-drenched body of Cheng Hunan. They were unaware of their cigars burning down to the end.

It took three full breaths before Cheng Hunan fell to the ground with a thud, blood soaking through in large clumps, and streams of bloody froth sprayed from his nostrils and mouth, which after a moment, stopped convulsing…

There was silence above and below the stage.

Li Yan stood up straight, blood dripping from his fingers onto the boxing stage, drop by drop. He shook his fists and turned to look at the stands.

Only then did Fuyi Building erupt with screams and shouts like a tsunami.

“That’s the spirit! Now that’s satisfying!”

“I bet a million on this kid to take him down, I’m backing him all the way!”

“Handsome, give us another round with weapons!”

Li Yan looked around at the audience in the stands, a flash of crazed bloodlust in his eyes, but it quickly receded.

Red Ghost nodded his head in satisfaction.

“Well fought.”

The small private box had darkened, obscuring any activity inside.

Beneath the enchanting disco lights, seductive and continuous panting could be heard…

Slender palms groped in the dark, oblivious to knocking over a champagne flute, and after a while, found an opened bottle of champagne.

Judy’s face was flushed, and beads of sweat dripped down her smooth collarbone. She picked up the bottle of wine and poured it over herself in a gentle stream.

She turned over and, propping herself with her arm, gazed at Li Yan on the screen, her alluring face rippling with seduction as the corners of her mouth curved upward.

…

“What’s so urgent that it requires the trouble of bringing out Li sir?”

A member of Kowloon Walled City’s Executive Committee and the chief of the Longcheng security team, Si Lizheng, smiled as he brewed a cup of tea and handed it to a stern-looking elderly man with graying hair.

Li Yaoguang, Chief Chinese Detective of the Hong Kong Police Force, renowned as the White-Haired Detective.

“Committee Member Si, I’ll be straightforward. I want to deploy the Flying Tigers to handle a case in Longcheng.”

Si Lizheng shrugged his shoulders.

“Since when does the Hong Kong police need to report their investigations to the Committee? What Li sir says goes.”

As he spoke, he sipped his tea, a hint of sharpness flashing in his eyes, “But to call in the Flying Tigers, it must be something serious. Someone try to assassinate the Governor?”

Li sir placed four photographs on Si Lizheng’s desk.

“What’s the big deal with them?” Si Lizheng asked casually.

“The Mafia.”

Si Lizheng’s brows furrowed as if scalded by the tea.

“The leader is called Dong, with a criminal record. The other three are from his hometown. Four days ago, they robbed Fengbao Bank of over 4.6 million Hong Kong dollars, jewelry worth around 20 million, and a collection of antiques. During the heist, they killed five security officers. The robbers are skilled shooters with bold nerves, hard to deal with. When the police encircled them, one of them got shot. Though we recovered most of the stolen goods, the whereabouts of the antiques remain unknown. We’ve locked down Tseung Kwan O and Kwun Tong. We’ve searched every hospital in Hong Kong, to no avail,” he said.

As Li sir spoke, he pulled out another photograph of a middle-aged man with a receding hairline.

“This man was the manager of Fengbao Bank and has been fired by the bank. We’ve always suspected that he was collaborating with the Mafia, maybe even the one who brought them in. But last night, his body was found in Kowloon City, beaten to death with a blunt object, and our leads have come to a dead end,” he said.

As he said this, the old man knocked on the table:

“This case has shocked the whole of Hong Kong. The entire city only has private clinics in Kowloon City that would take them in. And with that bank manager found dead here, I hope the Committee can help us locate them,” he said.

Si Lizheng did not hesitate for long. After weighing his options, he replied with certainty.

“Give me three days. If these people are really in Longcheng, I will find them within three days.”

Li Yaoguang’s furrowed brow relaxed slightly.

“Then I’ll leave it in Committee Member Si’s hands. These people are desperate and capable of anything. If you find them, don’t spook them; leave the rest to the police.”

“Police-citizen collaboration.”

Si Lizheng smiled amiably, “By the way, what antiques did they steal? I’ll have someone check for leads.”

Li Yaoguang handed over a list of the stolen antiques. Si Lizheng glanced over the list, and the first line read prominently: A masterwork collection of ancient novels, the ‘Sink Hook Chen Record Book’ by Lin Yutang!

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