activa-t Chapter 37 The Feast at Hongmen
Chapter 37 The Feast at Hongmen
Just this one action.
Zhao Debiao suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.
The young man's eyes changed, like a drawn sword. They held an invincible fighting spirit, a murderous aura that seemed to roam the ghost market.
Zhao Debiao felt as if his entire body had been stripped bare, from skin to bone, left exposed inside and out.
The hairs on the back of his head stood on end. He wanted to back away, but his legs felt like they were made of lead.
Zhou Xing took a step forward.
Just one step.
Zhao Debiao's knees buckled as he tried to steady himself, but his calf struck the chair leg, and with a crash, he and the chair tipped backward.
He frantically tried to grab the edge of the table, but accidentally knocked the teacup off and smashed it to pieces with a "crash!"
The floor was covered in shards of porcelain, a complete mess.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Ip Man's hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air, his eyelids drooping slightly, obscuring his expression, but his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
Guo Zhen's smile froze, his eyes lowered, and he took two steps forward to help Zhao Debiao up.
Zhang Pinyou's eyes widened in surprise, then she felt it was only natural.
Gong Er stood by the door, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. Her gaze shifted from the broken porcelain to Zhou Xing's profile, lost in thought.
Just then.
The curtain in the main room was lifted with a "whoosh," and Gong Baotian came out.
The old man stood under the eaves, his hands behind his back. His gaze swept over the broken porcelain, over Zhao Debiao who was getting up in a disheveled state, and finally landed on Zhou Xing.
After a pause, he slowly began to speak:
"Young man, you have a short temper; it's not good to break things."
Zhou Xing bowed deeply:
"I apologize for disturbing you, sir."
Gong Baotian didn't say anything more, and turned to walk towards the main room:
"Come in, everyone."
The group followed Gong Baotian into the main room.
The room was bright and spacious, with a rosewood table facing the entrance, upon which sat a large bronze Buddha statue. Several calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, their ink colors ancient and worn.
Gong Baotian sat down in the main seat and gestured to the chair below him: "Sit."
Ip Man and Zhou Xing took their seats in turn. Guo Zhen sat down next to Ip Man, with Zhao Debiao standing behind him, his face grim as he stared at the cracks in the blue bricks on the ground.
Zhang Pinyou was a little at a loss. Zhou Xing nodded slightly to him, and he sat down next to Zhou Xing, only sitting on half of his buttocks.
Gong Er silently stood beside her father.
"Master Ye, is there something you need today?"
Gong Baotian spoke, his voice calm and emotionless.
Ip Man glanced at Zhou Xing, who then picked up the conversation, stood up, and clasped his hands in a fist salute:
"Master Gong, I am Zhou Xing. I have come today to express my gratitude to the Gong family for the knife and medicine they provided. Without this knife, I might not have been able to escape unscathed from the Ghost Market last night."
He spoke sincerely, but when he mentioned the words "ghost market," his eyes swept over "Guo Zhen," whose expression remained unchanged.
Gong Baotian's gaze fell on his face, and he looked at him carefully:
"His Qi and blood are somewhat depleted, but his spirit is intact and his foundation is undamaged; in fact, he has made even greater progress. It seems that his claim of achieving Ming Jin in seven days is true."
He paused for a moment, then said, "The knife was a gift from Ruomei. She doesn't need it, but you can. That's fate. There's no need to thank me."
Zhou Xing cupped his hands in greeting again before turning to look at Zhang Pinyou:
"This is Zhang Pinyou, the nephew of General Zhang Yuting of Fengtian. He was kidnapped the other day, but by chance, he was rescued by me."
He was injured and feared the thieves hadn't given up, so staying at the inn wasn't safe.
I think that since Master Gong and Marshal Zhang have a past relationship, there is no safer place in Tianjin than here.
So I took the liberty of bringing him here, hoping the old man would take care of him for a few days.
That's a very sensible statement.
Instead of mentioning "protection," they say "care"; instead of mentioning "giving favors," they say "seeking refuge."
This both highlights Zhang Pinyou's status and value, and hands over the decision-making power to Gong Baotian.
Gong Baotian looked at Zhang Pinyou.
Zhang Pinyou quickly stood up and bowed in greeting:
"Grandpa Gong, do you still remember me? Two years ago, on my uncle's birthday, I followed behind the motorcade and toasted you from afar..."
"Remember."
Gong Baotian nodded slightly. "Zhang Shuai's nephew got into trouble in Tianjin, and I am indeed involved. Let him stay; he can stay in the guest room in the west wing. If he needs anything, just tell the servants."
He spoke calmly, but the four words "there is indeed a connection" were enough to acknowledge the favor.
Zhou Xing felt a slight sense of relief.
With this matter settled, Zhang Pinyou is safe and sound, and I have repaid part of the Gong family's kindness in giving me the knife.
Guo Zhen then laughed and said, "Old Master Gong is very generous! Nephew Zhang, you can stay at the Gong family home with peace of mind. With Old Master Gong here in Tianjin, no one will dare to touch you."
These words flattered the Gong family and were in line with his enthusiastic nature.
He then asked Zhou Xingdao, "Young Brother Zhou, are you still staying at the Yuelai Inn with Master Ye?"
"Yes."
Zhou Xingdao said, "I am grateful to Master Ye for not abandoning me and for guiding me in my kung fu."
Guo Zhen continued, his tone casual:
"Brother Zhou, you are very fortunate. Master Ye's Wing Chun is a unique skill in Southern Fist. Since you live close by, you can spar and learn from each other regularly, and your skills will surely improve by leaps and bounds."
He smiled and chatted casually.
Zhou Xing paused slightly in his teacup. Was this a probe, a delineation of his sphere of influence?
"It is my good fortune to receive guidance from Master Ye."
Zhou Xing remained expressionless, took a sip of tea, and said, "Back when I was in Mingjin, Master Guo gave me a lot of guidance. At that time, you even said, 'This kid has good bone structure,' which greatly encouraged me."
Guo Zhen laughed and waved his hand:
"I had a pretty good eye, didn't I? I told you back then that you had good flexibility and were good at boxing!"
Judging from Brother Zhou's steady gait and focused eyes, he's probably not far from reaching the level of internal strength. Truly a formidable young man!
These words were even more venomous. While seemingly a compliment, they actually thrust him into the spotlight.
The mere mention of "seven days of visible strength" has already attracted attention; if news of "hidden strength on the horizon" were to follow, it would undoubtedly draw countless inquiries and resentment.
Moreover, he even knew the specific words Guo Zhen had said at the time; the preparation was extremely thorough.
Zhou Xing looked up and met Guo Zhen's gaze. The other man's eyes held a gentle smile, showing no sign of anything amiss.
"Master Guo is joking."
Zhou Xing lowered his eyes, "My Ming Jin (manifest strength) is just beginning to take shape, and my Qi and blood circulation is still rudimentary. An Jin (hidden strength) is still a long way off. Practicing boxing is like climbing a mountain; you have to take it one step at a time. I dare not be too ambitious."
"secure."
Guo Zhen gave a compliment, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said no more.
Gong Baotian listened quietly before speaking: "Practicing boxing is a gradual process; it can't be rushed. If you build a solid foundation, you will naturally make progress in the future."
Even when you have nothing to do, you can come and visit more often, and exchange martial arts techniques with Ruomei. It's not good to be isolated and try to learn everything in isolation.
He then changed the subject, "Master Ye, how are the preparations for the meeting in seven days going?"
Ip Man replied, "I am deeply grateful for the kind words of my seniors; I will certainly do my best."
Guo Zhen chimed in, "Don't worry, Master Ye. We'll spar a bit and show everyone the style of Southern Fist."
Ip Man smiled and said, "Master Guo, you are too kind. The reputation of Xingyi Quan as 'hard strikes and unrestrained advances' is known throughout the world. Please go easy on me then."
The two talked amicably, creating an atmosphere of mutual respect among martial arts practitioners.
Zhou Xing observed coldly from the sidelines.
The fake Guo Zhen's words, actions, demeanor, and bearing were exactly the same as the generous and righteous Xingyi Quan master Guo Zhen.
If it weren't for his obsession with that half of the tiger tally, Zhou Xing himself would hardly have suspected anything.
After chatting for a while, they talked mostly about the current situation of the martial arts world in Tianjin and anecdotes about various schools.
Guo Zhen spoke with ease and familiarity, recounting the origins of various schools and renowned masters. He also spoke without hesitation about the current situations of several boxers who were friends with the real Guo Zhen.
It was flawless.
Zhou Xing's heart sank. This person was far too prepared, having even figured out these minor details.
He had originally planned to use the Gong family's influence to conduct a secret investigation, but now that the person in question was right in front of him, chatting and laughing freely, there was no need to mention his original plan.
Without evidence, all speculation is just that—speculation. Speaking out would only alert the enemy.
After several rounds of tea, Guo Zhen rose to take his leave: "Master Gong, Master Ye, Brother Zhou, I'm sorry to have bothered you today. I have other guests at home, so I'll be taking my leave now."
Zhao Debiao stood up and glared at Zhou Xing, but dared not say a word.
Gong Baotian nodded: "De Biao, the essence of Yanqingquan lies in 'lightness, agility, and speed,' not in fighting and brawling. The glory of our ancestors must be earned through real skills, not just talked about."
Zhao Debiao's face turned a deep purplish-red, and he bowed his head and said meekly, "Yes, Grandpa Gong is right."
The two left. The sound of their footsteps faded into the distance in the courtyard.
Gong Baotian did not linger and asked Gong Er to see the guest out.
Ip Man and Zhou Xing also stood up, exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, took their leave. Zhang Pinyou stayed at the Gong family's residence.
Outside the alley, Guo Zhen and Zhao Debiao had long since disappeared. Sunlight shone brightly on the blue brick wall.
Zhou Xing shook his head: "It's watertight."
Ip Man remained silent for a moment, then said, "Let's go back to the inn first."
Just as the two were about to take a step, a person turned out from the alleyway behind them.
"Brother Zhou, wait a moment."
Zhou Xing turned around and saw Guo Zhen, wearing a silk mandarin jacket and with a ruddy face, returning with a hearty smile on his face.
"Is there anything else, Master Guo?" he asked.
Guo Zhen took a few steps closer, his smile unchanged, and looked into Zhou Xing's eyes:
"Young Master Zhou, we get along quite well. If you have some free time these next few days, why not come to my martial arts school for a chat, have some tea, and discuss boxing techniques?"
My wife is a decent cook, and she keeps saying she wants to meet this rising young talent.
He spoke naturally, like a senior mentoring a junior, with genuine sincerity.
Zhou Xing's heart skipped a beat.
Before he could reply, "Guo Zhen" came over and put his arm around his shoulder, his tone even more friendly:
"No need to stand on ceremony. It's settled then, tomorrow afternoon."
He then looked at Ip Man, "Master Ip, you won't blame me for taking your disciple, will you?"
Zhou Xing was grabbed, his shoulder and neck muscles tensed, then relaxed instantly. He didn't respond immediately, his mind racing:
This person was waiting specifically to observe whether they lingered at the Gong family's residence.
Was the invitation to his home a pretense? A test? Or...?
The Feast at Hongmen?
To go or not to go?