Chapter Forty-Four Zhang Old Way

  Shaolin Wuxingquan actually has five beasts and five birds, Wang Zhan's crane-shaped frame is one of the five birds and five shapes of tiger, crane, dragon, snake, and monkey, which is different from the secret skills of most people who know the dragon, tiger, leopard, snake, and crane.

  Internal practice of vital energy, external practice of skill, refers to being light and agile like a white crane resting on a branch pecking at food, like a flying crane shooting a hidden arrow.

  Adding the body method of Wang Chan's snake turning into a dragon, it was originally used in the midst of thousands of soldiers and horses to quickly change shape and avoid swords and hooves. The most perfect running skill, hands like a crane beak, body like a snake turning into a dragon, with one pounce, the entire spine seemed to fly out from the back, as if they were one entity, soft and boneless, all the force of the whole body concentrated on that point, shaking hands in an instant.

  Shaolin martial arts, broad and profound, although legend has it originated from Bodhidharma, in fact, it is the crystallization of countless martial artists' blood and sweat since ancient times. Until the Song and Yuan dynasties, Shaolin Temple produced a legendary figure "Autumn Moon Zen Master", who integrated the hundred schools of thought and reorganized the old sect's methods through his hands, and finally sorted out more than 170 forms of Shaolin boxing, making it truly famous throughout the land, giving rise to the saying that all martial arts come from Shaolin.

  It seems that Shaolin Wuxingquan was also created by Master Qiuyue at that time.

  And after him, the founder of Wudang Zhang Sanfeng, according to the legend, also learned from Shaolin Temple's Jueyuan Monk in his youth, and later, while practicing in Wudang Mountain, he suddenly understood the true meaning of Taiji when he saw a snake and a crane fighting each other, thus creating Wudang Taiji Quan. (Jueyuan Monk was indeed a historical figure, also from the same era as Bai Yufeng's Autumn Moon Zen Master, and Jin Yong's Jueyuan Monk originated from this.)

  The snake-like escape, combined with the crane-like pecking, adds up to "Snake Crane Battle of Life and Death".

  They were originally arch-enemies in nature, locked in a battle to the death. Now that they've joined forces, their combined strength is truly awe-inspiring.

  Those two Russian mercenaries had just let out a loud shout, raised their heads to look forward, and saw Wang Chan rush to the door like a gust of wind, raise his hand to strike, cold wind like an arrow. Just as they were about to loudly cry out in alarm, they were immediately frightened by Wang Chan's strike, their scalps numb with fear. At this critical moment, who had the mind to care about anything else?

  They were all real mercenaries who had experienced life and death tests, received extremely harsh and rigorous military training, and their sensitivity to danger was even far beyond that of ordinary martial arts masters. Facing the incoming Wang Chan, the big man standing on the left showed his ferocity, making a low growl in his throat, and didn't dodge or evade, relying on being several tens of centimeters taller than Wang Chan, with long arms and legs, he suddenly threw a straight punch with great force.

  With a loud crash in front of him, a strong gust of wind whistled by, and unexpectedly, he managed to unleash a mournful explosion punch that was on par with an external family master.

  The ancestors of the Russians were among the world's earliest nomadic peoples, naturally brave and prone to impulsiveness. Like China's Mongolians, they have their own traditional martial arts passed down through generations. Developed into modern times, one branch is called "Sambo", which translates to "unarmed self-defense" or "empty-handed defense".

  This Russian giant threw a straight punch, the sound of breaking through the air lingering for a long time. Judging solely by his punching power, he is already one of the world's top boxers. Adding to that, this man is nearly two meters tall, with fists as big as basins. If an ordinary person were hit by this punch, they would likely be killed or crippled on the spot.

  But Wang Zhen didn't think much of it, and instead countered with a strong attack, using the typical tactic of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao". His moves unchanged, he charged forward, shrinking his neck and hiding his head, using his shoulder to nudge the big man's arm aside, and with a burst of strength, he lifted the man's arm high up in the air. At the same time, he lightly tapped the man's ear gate acupoint with his crane beak.

  Thud! The nearly two-meter-tall body fell straight to the ground, and the Russian giant immediately convulsed all over, losing consciousness.

  The ear gate is one of the thirty-six fatal points on the human body in Chinese martial arts. Even if an ordinary person clenches their fist and strikes heavily, they can cause a person to faint. In Western medical theory, it is also the place where the trigeminal nerve passes through and converges. Once struck, it will immediately become unbearably painful, causing convulsions that are life-threatening.

  Wang Chan's move was not very powerful, but it was precise and targeted, striking the big man's brain directly with a single blow, scattering his brains, truly ruthless.

  At this time, the big man standing on the right also flew up, Wang Chan's feet made a mistake, his waist twisted and turned, and the whole person was like a high-speed spinning windmill, his arms moved with his body, and with a crisp sound, Iron Arm Single Whip, authentic whistle energy, backhand whip, just hit the other side of the big man's head, hitting him so hard that he left the ground with both feet, and fell to the ground like a vegetable.

  Seeing the over 200-pound body about to crash onto the floor, Wang Chan stretched out his toes and lightly kicked it, surprisingly stopping the big man's falling momentum in an instant. He then pulled back and released, gently placing it on the carpet without making a sound.

  The remaining big Han, at the moment his body left the ground, half of his head was shattered by Wang Chan's whip, and he died instantly.

  His ears moved slightly and he heard a faint whisper of voices coming from inside the room.

  "Zhang Da Zhang, are you saying that this time I rely on Lin Gongzi will definitely bring disaster? Is there anything that can't be handled with the power of the Lin family in the capital?"

  At the same time, in the luxurious suite, Liu San Ye, who was half bald and had a big belly, was stroking his increasingly smooth head with one hand, while pacing back and forth in the spacious hall with a slightly anxious expression.

  Right in front of him, on the sofa opposite, was an old man with a clear face, who, like Lei Ting, had his hair tied up high on his head with a long pin, wearing a loose blue Tang suit, with eyes shining like stars.

  "Liu San Ye, I won't engage in idle chatter with you either. This time, I came from Laoshan Mountain with another purpose, and visiting you was just to take advantage of your connections here to ask about something for the Taicheng Palace. However, upon seeing you today, I noticed a faint black aura between your hairline and forehead, which has already condensed into a dark cloud looming over your head in a short period of time. This tells me that you must have made some crucial decision recently that will affect your entire life."

  This old man's hair was white, his skin was ruddy and healthy, and he had a somewhat immortal air about him. However, as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, it was all abstruse philosophical terms, just like those street corner fortune tellers who spout nonsense that makes people's hearts skip a beat.

  "There has been a saying since ancient times that accompanying the ruler is like accompanying a tiger. In the imperial court, they mutually undermine each other, and in the end, it's all done under the guise of justice, but actually for personal gain. The Lin family may seem to dominate the world, but in reality, it's just an empty name. If you don't listen to my advice and insist on getting involved, I'm afraid disaster is not far away!"

  "Huh? How can I not believe Daozhang's words? If it weren't for Daozhang's guidance back then, I, Liu Lao San, would probably still be a hoodlum, and who knows, maybe one day I'd be killed by enemies on the streets. Where would I have today's wealth and glory? But that Lin Gongzi, his methods are ruthless. Since he's already spoken out to recruit me, if I don't comply, it would be easier for him to deal with me than squashing an ant. What can I do?"

  Liu San Ye grasped his scalp tightly and hummed a sound, with a helpless expression on his face.

  "Let's put this matter aside for now, and I'll think about it before making a decision. However, Master Dao, you've been cultivating in Mount Lao for years, what exactly is going on that requires your presence here? Can't you just make a phone call instead of coming all the way here yourself? As for me, Liu Laosan, I may not be capable of much, but there aren't many things that can't be done within or outside the provincial city."

  "Well, since that's the case, I'll be straightforward. Liu San Ye, do you know of a person in Hu Lin named Zhou Lin? I've come down from the mountain specifically to find him!" Zhang Lao Dao smiled faintly upon hearing this, "This person has great significance to me. If Liu San Ye can find him, I will certainly reward you handsomely."

  "Zhou Lin?" Liu San's expression suddenly changed, "How is it that Zhang Daode actually still recognizes this person?"

  "Huh? Does Liu San know where this person is? Tell me quickly!" Seeing the change in Liu San's expression, Zhang Lao also changed color and said: "This person has something in his hand, which is an ancient object that was lost outside my school for hundreds of years. Recently, I received news that it had fallen into his hands, so I came to find him."

  Liu San Ye chuckled: "This is strange, why is everyone looking for him?"

  "Has anyone else looked for him?" Zhang Lao's face tightened slightly.

  "Who else could it be, if not Master Lin? I happen to know that Zhou Lin secretly transported a batch of antiques back from Russia some time ago. It's said they were all looted by the Eight-Nation Alliance in Beijing back then, and every single piece is genuine. If it weren't for this, Master Lin wouldn't have come all the way here!"

  "So the Lin family knew about it all along?" Zhang Lao's words had just left his mouth when he suddenly paused, and his ears on both sides of his head flapped back and forth several times: "Liu San Ye, no wonder you even have people armed to the teeth in your own home, guarding so tightly, it turns out that you really do have a lot of enemies!"

  As he spoke, the old Taoist's face sank slightly, and he turned his head to look towards the door with a pair of eyes.

  "What's going on? Andrei, Baburov..." Liu San's eyes narrowed into a line, with two faintly visible rays of light like venomous snakes shooting out from his eyes, staring fixedly at the door. He called out the names of the two Russian giants outside the door twice, and when no one responded, he immediately waved his hand, and a sharp-looking bodyguard in a black suit stepped forward from the corner of the room and strode towards the door.

  At this moment, Wang Chan also gently pushed open the door from outside and walked in with a smile.

  －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

  Thank you all for your support, Lao Lu bows to you!!! New book uploaded, urgent need for collection, click on recommendation, the more the better!!!