Romance of Dragons and Snakes

Chapter 161: Dragon’s Iron Elbow, Liu Yi

“Two months is two months then. I should be leaving anyways.” Wang Chao stood up to leave after hearing Huo Qiyun speak.

“Master, where do you plan on going?” Huo Ling’er’s eyes blinked rapidly in anxiety.

“It’s only natural that I return to Laoshan. My school is still there. If Nguyễn Hồng Tú wishes to stall for time, then staying here would not be the wise choice. I will go and come back to Shanghai when the time for the match is here.”

“Master Wang, since this match was because of my younger sister, it’s only natural that my Huo family will make the proper arrangements for everything.” Huo Qiyun spoke. “However this will not be an ordinary competition. You must be careful; Nguyễn Hồng Tú has plenty of power in Thailand and has the support of the military. I’ve even heard from a telegram that on the day of the competition, several military leaders from Thailand will spectate the match and give morale to him.”

“That much is to be expected.” Wang Chao’s eyes gleamed with light. “This will be considered a contest of Muay Thai and Kung Fu. Even if the match were to be even larger in scale, that would be proper and to be expected. We shall talk about it when the time comes.”

To be truthful, when Wang Chao heard Huo Qiyun say that several military leaders from Thailand would come spectate the match two months from now, his heart had skipped a beat.

“Ever since my appearance in the world, I have fought in plenty of matches in front of many. Excluding martial arts itself, I have fought with Zhang Wei and Cheng Shanming in a proper match between masters of martial arts. They were not underground matches, and neither were they done in private. But this match with Nguyễn Hồng Tú will be the largest one yet.”

This competition between he and Nguyễn Hồng Tú had startled even the military of Thailand. This would mean that the Military Commission wouldn’t stay silent either. Wang Chao had a premonition that this match with Nguyễn Hồng Tú would be the biggest gathering he had ever been in since his debut.

Even without including the military of Thailand and the Military Commission of the Central Party, there was still the Huo family along with the powerful princess Han Xiaoqing and the other powerful youths. Like a swarm of bees, they would definitely bet on the outcome and definitely ensure that this would be no minor gathering.

Furthermore, this matter would also involve the Korean scholar of fighting, the ninth-dan of Taekwondo, the originator of the Jang Baek Style, “Iron Fist Hwarang” Choi Jang Baek.

With so many major figures involved in the initial invitation cards, plenty of powerful figures would for sure keep an eye on the match.

Wang Chao had another premonition that this match would definitely be the most astonishing to everyone.

“In this entire lifetime of battle, my most dangerous one had been in the park against Zhou Binglin. No one was around but Cao Jingjing playing the spectator. In my biggest battle yet, it will be against a master of Muay Thai. Ah, how interesting.”

A decisive battle with an expert had taken place within a small park. A decisive battle with a hired hand would be in front of a massive crowd. This gave Wang Chao a very realistic feeling of the world.

Presently, Wang Chao’s martial arts had already reached an unbelievably deep water of understanding. Walking on the path to perfection, he was already scaling to the next peak from his current height. Nguyễn Hồng Tú might be strong in martial arts and famous in name, but to Wang Chao, there should be no need to see him as a major enemy.

“Master, I’ll go with you to Laoshan!” Huo Ling’er had declared when she saw that Wang Chao would be leaving. After learning under Wang Chao for that moment of time, she had been given a taste for growth. Having experienced that taste, there was no way she would give it up so easily.

“Fine. You may not be my official disciple just yet, but your parents have already agreed, so there should be no problems. As you will be the disciple that will uphold my name in the future, your age and skeletal structure now is at a very crucial and golden time to learn. To delay even a day more would be a damaging loss. Come with me then.”

Wang Chao had naturally agreed to her request.

After gathering up their things, Wang Chao took along the sword he had taken from Jiang Hai. With some change of clothing, he gave a call to Chen Aiyang before preparing to leave for the trip.

“It’s a shame Zhu Jia is currently gathering news overseas. It’d be nice to meet up and talk.”

Zhu Jia was still working at CCTV International so Wang Chao had planned on meeting her when he came by Beijing. But the timing had been off and Zhu Jia had applied to use some money from work to travel abroad for a documentary.

Wang Chao knew that Zhu Jia had always wanted to film a documentary on the lives of the overseas Chinese, but he didn’t think that she would be able to accomplish it so soon.

“Liao Junhua has said that the Chinese living overseas has created many factions and gangs. There’s plenty of danger, so I hope that nothing will happen to Zhu Jia.”

When Wang Chao thought about the fact that Zhu Jia was overseas, he couldn’t help but think about Tang Zichen who had changed his life. Unable to stop himself, Wang Chao let out a deep sigh.

“Master, why are you sighing? I don’t know why, but I can always hear you sigh. Are you unhappy?”

Huo Ling’er was approximately two years older than when Wang Chao begun to learn martial arts, making the difference between the two rather small. Even the average boyfriend and girlfriend would be within this age gap. But with Wang Chao’s history within the forest of spears and hail of bullets that was the secular world, he had far more experience than she did.

The Wang Chao of today was far more experienced and mature than his contemporaries.

“What? Master Chen, you want to come to Shandong to see my school? Then that’s great, we can go together.” As he was speaking with Chen Aiyang over the phone, Chen Aiyang had suddenly mentioned that he had wanted to go to Shandong to see Wang Chao’s school. For that, Wang Chao was more than glad to agree.

After the phone call, the group of three had arrived at the airport. Huo Ling’er consigned the sword through the proper procedures before they boarded the airplane towards Shandong.

“This match of yours and Nguyễn Hồng Tú has caused quite the stir.” Chen Aiyang mentioned grimly after sitting down. “Nguyễn Hồng Tú has the backing of the Thai military, so even I was able to hear about this match.He and Zhou Binglin are good friends, so not only will this match be for the sake of taking Huo Ling’er as a disciple, it will also be for dealing out justice for Zhou Binglin. The martial art circles within Beijing all already know about Nguyễn Hồng Tú fighting you now.”

“Nguyễn Hồng Tú is not an opponent for me.” Wang Chao stated. With his level of martial arts, he could more or less figure his chances of winning.

“I’ve heard that Nguyễn Hồng Tú has persevered for a long time after his battle with Zhang Guangming; even after he departed the arena with broken ribs. For the sake of revenge, he traveled to India and learned the secrets to Yoga. After that, his martial arts saw a large increase in improvement. It would be unwise to underestimate him. Did you know? He is currently with Choi Jang Baek and is learning the Sun-style Taichi under Zhou Binglin himself. With his understanding of martial arts, two months is plenty of time to breakthrough. You cannot afford to underestimate him.”

“Oh, so I see. No wonder he wanted to schedule the match to months from now.” Wang Chao’s eyes brightened for a moment, but his face did not show any change in expression. “This would be the rational thing to do by handing down the Sun-style Taichi to Nguyễn Hồng Tú. Zhou Binglin must know that Nguyễn Hồng Tú is no match for me and is afraid that he would die by my hand. The way I see it, the reason why Choi Jang Baek and Nguyễn Hồng Tú are substituting for Zhou Binglin is so they can inherit the Sun-style Taichi.”

“Zhou Binglin doesn’t have any other choice. If someone else wants justice for him, he can’t just simply watch by the sidelines as you kill them.” Chen Aiyang drank a cup of water and looked out to the cloudy skies.

“The Sun style Taichi is a very original art. When I fought with Zhou Binglin, I wasn’t able to fully comprehend it. It’s good that I will be able to watch it from Nguyễn Hồng Tú then.”

“Are you going to kill him?” Chen Aiyang’s head turned around quickly. He could sense from Wang Chao’s voice his killing intent. “I can only assume that after two months worth of time, Nguyễn Hồng Tú will only have a lower level understanding of it.” Chen Aiyang smiled.

“This is what it means to really be an expert! Even while joking around, the death of the opponent is determined. Master and big brother Aiyang are really cool!” Huo Ling’er had wanted nothing more but to shriek out loud after listening to the two. “I wonder when I’ll be able to reach such a state like that. I’d be cool, too cool even!”

In the afternoon, the airplane had finally arrived at Qingdao where Wang Chao, Chen Aiyang, and Huo Ling’er were able to move to Laoshan in a flash.

The sunset glow was already filling the air and covering the seas in a breathtaking view. With such a view of both the sky and the seas, anyone would feel exuberantly comfortable.

The Laoshan School of Internal Martial Arts had expanded greatly by now. There was an external campus for martial arts similar to the model of Shaolin. The main part of martial arts would be taught in the mountains, similar to the inner and outer courtyards of Shaolin.

In the outer courtyards, masters of the Praying Mantis style and several other experts roped in by Lin Yanan from several institutes of Guoshu would teach. Even several of the more outstanding secular disciples of Shaolin were invited to teach the standard forms of martial arts to those martial art enthusiasts and people who had plenty of money to spare. Sometimes the students would pair off against each other, as like in Shaolin.

The inner courtyards was the equivalent to the Taiyu mountains where the warrior monks of Shaolin were. This was the area where genuine martial arts would be taught for the sake of upholding the school. Primarily in this inner courtyard was Zhao Xinglong and even the other soldiers belonging to Boulder’s squad; it was not at all like where the hidden dragons were in Shaolin however.

Because of Wang Chao’s young age, he wasn’t able to formally take in any disciples.

The three traveled up the mountains before arriving at the inner courtyards of the school.

Wang Chao could see Lin Yanan standing side by side to another young woman. Boulder, Hammer, Axe and three other soldiers were sparring with Liao Junhua and Dai Jun, and even Zhao Xinglong was currently practicing with an elder wearing a centipede-styled buttoned robe.

Zhao Xinglong was vigorous and forceful with each elbow and fist he struck out with. Agile in movement and flexible in how he released Jin, his chop and pull were proportionate in strength. Both hands were like how a butcher would use an iron hook to slaughter a pig.

At a glance, Wang Chao could see Zhao Xinglong’s martial arts had improved greatly. He had learned both Bajiquan and Piguaquan with an unordinary grace that maintained the essential points of both disciplines.

The elder Zhao Xinglong was practicing with had been moving with grace and fluidity despite the flexibly fierce style of fighting of Zhao Xinglong. His body would flicker or distance itself away with just the perfect amount of force. With each movement at the most crucial of moments, he was able to cut off Zhao Xinglong’s fist and iron elbow.

“This elder is far beyond Zhao Xinglong’s level in even Bajiquan. Like holding a cleaver with ease, the purity of his martial arts could possibly reach into the pinnacle of perfection.” Chen Aiyang declared.

When Wang Chao, Chen Aiyang, and Huo Ling’er entered the inner courtyards, the elderly man had seen them. Pulling back, he waved his hands at Zhao Xinglong to indicate that he was stopping, allowing him to stop before his next course of action.

“Yanan?” When Wang Chao saw Lin Yanan, his heart had paused for a moment. Because of Duan Guochao’s death at the hands of Lin Yanan and him, the two of them had been subjected to the shanggui of the central party. Although nothing had come from it, he couldn’t help but worry for his partner.

“Head instructor, you’re back?” Seeing that Wang Chao had wanted to say something, Lin Yanan spoke first for him. Hurriedly looking to Wang Chao, she spoke, “This is my master.”

Lin Yanan’s introduction had been for the elder that had been practicing with Zhao Xinglong.

“So this is Lin Yanan’s master. No wonder he is so strong.”

The elder walked towards Wang Chao and cupped his fist in his hand, “So this is master Wang, this humble servant is Liu Yi.”

“So you are Lin Yanan’s master, master Liu. Please, there is no need to be polite. Calling me little Wang will suffice.” Wang Chao hurriedly bowed. Having been given an inch, Wang Chao would return a foot. Since this was Lin Yanan’s master, Wang Chao would naturally not dare have the air of a master around him.

“Eh? I’ve heard that whomever’s success comes first is to be the senior. There is no seniority when it comes to age. Master Wang has conquered the Beijing circle of martial arts and crippled the arm of that codger Zhou Binglin with martial arts of the utmost pinnacle strength. Although this one may be older in age, I will not be like Zhou Binglin and take myself to be better than those younger than me because of my age.” Liu Yi waved his hand.

“Hm, there seems to be some hatred between Lin Yanan’s master and Zhou Binglin.” Wang Chao thought after listening to hm.

“Master Liu was the master of Bajiquan in the seventies. He holds the moniker of ‘Dragon’s Iron Elbow.” Liao Junhua explained as he walked towards Wang Chao.

“Master Liu, you are far too polite. It is getting late, so why not eat dinner with us? You are of the previous generation and is the master of Lin Yanan, there is no way I could dare neglect myself.” Wang Chao smiled in a hurry.

“Han Xiaoqing?” At that moment, Wang Chao saw the girl standing right next to Lin Yanan. It was the same girl who had shot at him several days ago in Beijing.

“With you fighting a Muay Thai practitioner and me placing a bet on you, of course I’d come visit.” Han Xiaoqing’s smile had been dazzling.

“I’ve already had some people prepare a feast in the guesthouse. Let us all go down.” Lin Yanan spoke.

The group traveled down to the guesthouse and immediately began to eat and pop open the bottles of maotai. Lin Yanan’s master Liu Yi had been very straightforward and downed two cups straight away.

“Master Wang, I came to your school this time for two things. The first is to give my thanks for taking revenge for me.” Liu Yi held out his left hand and turned it so Wang Chao could see his pinky. From there, Wang Chao could see that it had been rather flabby as if there was no bone within it.

“It’s….”

“To speak the truth, when in 1984, I was teaching martial arts in Heilongjiang. By then, I was ten years older than he was and had some fame. Using Chin Na, he challenged me and pulverized the bones in my pinky. Afterwards, I was no longer able to teach. I had to find a new way of life to feed myself. So when I heard that you crippled his arm two months ago, I was overjoyed. So today, I came to give thanks firstly and for Lin Yanan secondly.”

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