activa-t Chapter 52 Azure Dragon Returns
Chapter 52 Azure Dragon Returns
Liu Yishou was completely focused on his gun, never expecting such a move.
He subconsciously turned his head and closed his eyes, causing his gun to pause.
Zhou Xing lay on his back on the ground, but with a twist of his waist and hips, he used his hands and feet to slide backward several feet along the blue brick floor with a "whoosh," swift and strange, like a snake pulling out of grass!
As he darted away, he grabbed the clothesline next to him and pulled it downwards with force.
"Boom!"
The rope snapped, and several old gray cloth shirts were suddenly unfurled like large birds, covering Liu Yishou's head and face!
My view was instantly blocked!
Liu Yishou, experienced and composed, remained calm despite the shock. He listened to the wind and pinpointed the location, unleashing a powerful "Night Battle in All Directions" with his spear. The spear shadows blurred, protecting his body as it spun towards the clothes in the air.
"Sizzle! Sizzle!"
The sound of tearing fabric suddenly rang out!
In the instant that clothes were flying everywhere, Zhou Xing straightened his back, stood up, and lunged at the row of wooden dummy dummies next to him.
With a light touch of his toes on the horizontal arm of the wooden dummy, he rose into the air like a wisp of smoke, leaping over Liu Yishou's head and landing behind him!
Hearing the wind rushing overhead, Liu Yishou knew something was wrong. Before he could retract his spear, he didn't even turn around, but instead leaned his left shoulder back sharply!
His internal strength cultivation had penetrated to his shoulders and back. This lean seemed hasty, but it was actually the culmination of many years of hard work. His shoulder blades were like iron plates, carrying a heavy and fierce force. If he were to lean on it firmly, it would be enough to shatter his internal organs.
While Zhou Xingren was in the air, he could sense the sudden tension in the muscles behind the shoulder and the convergence of qi and blood.
He twisted his waist and changed direction, landing with his toes pointing slightly backward, like a swallow skimming the water, deftly dodging the hidden force from his shoulder and back.
Liu's hidden force missed its mark again, his blood and qi surged, and he could no longer hold back, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
One step back, then another step forward.
His right hand, hanging at his side, reached towards his lower back.
A glint of light, clearer than the morning light and colder than the autumn water, was silently drawn from its sheath.
Gong family short sword.
With a flash of light, the blade slipped silently through the open space under Liu's outstretched armpit as he held the gun.
In that very instant.
A fierce glint flashed in Liu Yishou's eyes. He suddenly loosened his grip on the spearhead with his front hand and gripped the butt of the spear tightly with his back hand. His waist and hips spun rapidly like a millstone, using the twisting power of his entire body!
Using centrifugal force, the spear's tail swung like a venomous dragon's tail, drawing a dangerous arc from bottom to top. The spear tip, a three-edged armor-piercing cone, pierced back towards Zhou Xing's face with a piercing shriek!
A surprise attack!
This spear thrust, taking advantage of the enemy's close proximity and combining the power of the waist and stance, makes the spear shaft an extension of the arm; with a twist and a shake, the force penetrates to the very tip.
It was unexpected and extremely ruthless!
Before the spear tip even arrived, the sharp wind that gathered had already stung Zhou Xing's brow!
In the blink of an eye, Zhou Xing, the [River Demon], reached the pinnacle of his life.
He jerked his neck back, his spine cracked softly, and his head seemed to vanish from his neck for a moment!
The cold steel awl grazed his scalp, severing a few strands of hair.
At the same time, he maintained his momentum with the short knife. His back arched backward, and his arm holding the knife snapped open like a taut bowstring, slashing upward from under his armpit!
The blade flashed like a green dragon's tail, a ruthless and decisive counterattack from defeat.
Bagua – Azure Dragon Returns!
"Pfft!"
The short knife pierced precisely through the gap between Liu Yishou's left ribs, angled upwards, and deeply penetrated his heart.
Liu Yishou's whole body trembled violently, and his spear thrust came to an abrupt halt.
He looked down at the hilt of the sword in front of his chest in disbelief, then slowly looked up at Zhou Xing.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but only a mouthful of bloody foam came out.
Zhou Xing drew his sword and retreated.
Blood spurted out.
The fierce glint, astonishment, and resentment in Liu Yishou's eyes quickly faded, and his lips moved slightly.
"...Master...I haven't learned the gun technique completely..."
The sound grew softer and softer until it fell silent.
He swayed, and the large gun in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter." He then fell backward, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The morning light completely filled the courtyard, illuminating his wide-open eyes and the dark red that was rapidly spreading beneath him.
The wind swept through the courtyard, leaving only the lingering smell of blood.
In the distance, someone's chicken crowed for the first time.
Zhou Xing stood three steps away, breathing heavily. He flicked the blood off his short sword and sheathed it. He looked at Liu Yishou, who had fallen to the ground.
Liu Yishou is a true master, with decades of experience and his internal strength reaching his chest and back. He is highly proficient in both Xingyi and Bagua.
A knife for years, a staff for months, a gun for a lifetime.
Liu Yishou's final Xingyi spear technique was truly amazing. If he could integrate Xingyi and Bagua and forge his own path, he might very well reach the level of Huajin (transformation skill).
Unfortunately, due to his wicked intentions, he could not escape his fate.
Of course, if Liu Yi had been wielding a large spear while Zhou Xing had run far away with a musket, their chances of winning might have been greater. But he recalled Gong Er's advice: martial arts must be pure.
Ordinary pistols are no longer a threat to someone with the skill of transforming internal energy. If he wants to advance further in his boxing skills, he cannot rely on tricks when fighting against such a master.
Zhou Xing turned around and looked up, gazing towards the main house.
Wang Yun had somehow moved to the dilapidated doorway and slid down to sit on the ground. Her face was as pale as paper, and her fingers were gripping his black short jacket so tightly that her knuckles turned blue.
Several of Guo Zhen's personal disciples, carrying sticks, stood frozen outside the Moon Cave Gate. They had obviously rushed over after hearing the commotion, but were stopped by their master's wife.
They looked at Liu Yishou on the ground, then at Zhou Xing, their eyes filled with surprise, anger, and mostly bewilderment.
Zhou walked over, squatted down in front of Wang Yun, and looked her in the eye:
"Madam Guo, are you able to leave?"
Wang Yun looked at him, her gaze slowly focusing. She nodded, and tried to get up by leaning against the door frame, but her legs went weak.
The eldest disciple rushed forward to support her, calling out "Master's wife," his eyes reddening.
Zhou Xing was about to leave with Wang Yun when a thought struck him. He looked at the disciples, his voice low but clear:
"Your master is dead. He was killed by Liu Yishou. The mastermind behind it is a sorcerer who impersonated your master."
"If you want to avenge Master Guo, then protect your master's wife and come with me to a place where you can publicly recount what you saw and heard."
The disciple suddenly looked up:
"Where to?"
"Yue Family Association".
Zhou Xing stood up. "The Tianjin Martial Arts Symposium. Your master should be here."
……
There was no opera performance at the Yue Family Guild Hall's main theater today.
The building was packed with people, both upstairs and downstairs.
Long gowns, short jackets, silk, coarse cloth. The aroma of tea mingled with the smell of cigarettes from Hademen, and the buzzing of voices filled the carved beams and painted rafters.
"...Southerners' fists are soft, and their moves are all show."
"I've heard that women's boxing relies on just their two hands to kick around. When they encounter our Northern masters with their long bridges and big horses, heh..."
From the corner, a few scattered murmurs could be heard from time to time.
Gong Baotian sat in the main seat in the center of the second floor, wearing a dark blue cloth jacket, silently twirling two shiny mountain walnuts in his hands.
To his left was Zhang Zhankui, dressed in a brand-new jacket with copper buttons, holding a covered bowl and slowly blowing away the foam.
To the right of the lower seat sat no ordinary military man. He was around fifty years old, with a slightly dark complexion, a burly build, and wore a finely made officer's uniform.
Zhang Pinyou was standing behind this person, dressed in a crisp school uniform, her face showing more spirit and composure.
To the right is Li Xingjie, Li Cunyi's nephew, around forty years old, with a square face, sitting upright, eyes downcast, expressionless.
Ip Man sat at the head of the guest seats, dressed in a long blue robe, quietly drinking tea. Behind him stood Ah Leung, his back ramrod straight, sweat beading on his forehead.
The ground floor had an empty space in the middle, with the blue brick floor polished to a shine, which served as a fighting stage.
Just then, a foot massage therapist from Hebei finished speaking, clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the second floor, and said in a loud voice:
"Master Ye, our Northern style emphasizes striking from a distance, while your Wing Chun, when it comes to the Bao Tui style, is just about the hands moving around in a small area. It's probably okay for women and children to defend themselves."
Speaking of founding a school of martial arts and spreading Southern Fist to the North... hey, not that I'm being blunt, but it's hard to believe!
There were low chuckles from below, and someone echoed, "That's exactly right!"
Ip Man put down his teacup, about to speak, when a man beside him stood up, laughed heartily, and his voice boomed like a bell.
It's Guo Zhen. Or rather, the leader.
He was also dressed in a smart outfit today, his face glowing. He bowed to the foot-stamping master with a hearty smile:
"Master Wang, you can't say that. There are no superior or inferior fists, only superior or inferior people. Master Ip's Wing Chun was the skill that made Mr. Leung Jan famous back then. It's no ordinary skill."
We northern men need to be tolerant and forgiving.
He turned to look at Ip Man, his smile earnest:
"Master Ye, please don't take offense. These roughnecks are just honest people."
How about this, we'll spar a bit, without really fighting, and let them see what Wing Chun's "Listening Bridge" and "Inch Punch" really feel like. That way we can save ourselves from arguing.
Upon hearing this, many people downstairs nodded in agreement.
Guo Zhen was well-liked in Tianjin and had excellent martial arts skills, so he was the most suitable person to step in and smooth things over.
Someone joked, "Master Guo, why are you siding with outsiders?"
Guo Zhen laughed and scolded, "What are you talking about! This is a martial arts exchange! Learning from each other's strengths and making up for each other's weaknesses!"
The room was filled with laughter.