Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

"Excellent punches! The power is well-integrated and penetrating; it's clear he's put in a lot of hard work."

The speaker was a young man in his twenties, wearing the standard short jacket of a security escort agency. He was tall and upright with a square face, and was carrying a white waxwood stick in his hand, as if he had just been practicing shooting.

He walked up to the fourth brother, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "I am Li Sanyuan, also of the Sanhuang Paochui school. The boxing style of you two brothers is somewhat different from what we practice in our escort agency. Could you please teach me a few moves?"

The fourth brother glanced at Cheng Shaojiu, who nodded.

"I dare not presume to offer my guidance, but let's exchange pointers." The fourth brother grinned and resumed his stance.

Li Sanyuan handed the white waxwood staff to the person next to him, steadied his feet, and assumed the starting stance of the Three Emperors Cannon Fist.

The two stood facing each other for two breaths before Li Sanyuan made the first move.

"Opening fire!"

He stepped forward, his right fist flashing out from under his ribs, aiming straight for the fourth brother's center. The punch was powerful and fierce, and the wind howled.

The Opening Cannon is the first and most basic move of the Three Emperors Cannon Fist, emphasizing "the fist strikes like a cannon," with fierce power, and it follows a straight attack along the center line.

The fourth brother did not retreat. He slightly turned his body and used his left arm to block Li Sanyuan's fist from the outside in. At the same time, his right hand flipped up from below, using the "diarrhea cannon" technique, with the fist aimed straight at Li Sanyuan's lower abdomen.

Li Sanyuan reacted extremely quickly, his foot stomping and his body taking half a step back to avoid Lao Si's diarrhea cannon. At the same time, his left hand chopped down from above—"Mountain Splitting Cannon".

The fist, carrying a heavy downward force, slammed down from above, as if trying to smash Lao Si's shoulder into the ground.

Instead of retreating, the fourth brother advanced, crouching down and crawling under Li Sanyuan's arm. He pushed up with his shoulder, his whole body like a stake wedged into the opponent's defense. He swept his right elbow horizontally, the tip of his elbow cutting towards Li Sanyuan's ribs.

Li Sanyuan twisted his waist, his ribs barely avoiding the elbow tip, but the elbow gust brushed past his clothes, causing a piece of fabric to tremble.

The difference is minuscule.

The two men were locked in close combat, exchanging blows and elbows, engaging in a fierce fight for four or five rounds. Every punch landed hard, and every move was powerful, drawing cheers from the onlookers.

Li Sanyuan is a member of the younger generation in the escort agency. He has solid martial arts skills, internal strength cultivation, and his moves are more flexible and varied than those of the fourth brother.

But the fourth brother had the advantage of rich combat experience; the fists he honed in the army didn't care about aesthetics.

It emphasizes effectiveness, with every punch aimed at a point where it can kill; the moves are extremely simple.

The two fought to a standstill, neither gaining the upper hand.

After a few more moves, Li Sanyuan's "corner cannon" missed its mark. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lao Si swung his elbow back, striking Li Sanyuan's forearm, causing his palm to go numb and his tiger's mouth to ache slightly.

Li Sanyuan took two steps back, shook his hand, and instead of showing any anger, he grinned and said, "That was satisfying! People from the army are indeed different; they're ruthless and decisive."

The fourth brother smiled and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Brother Li's boxing style is highly varied and his moves are executed with great speed. I admire him."

The two smiled at each other, and that was how they became friends.

This sparring match made the people from the escort agency look at these outsiders from Tianjin with new respect; their previously scrutinizing gazes now held more approval.

Chen Zhan, who was on the sidelines, did not get up from beginning to end, and remained seated on the stone bench drinking tea and watching the play.

He noticed that Song Caichen had been standing at the entrance of the second courtyard, watching the sparring match with a satisfied smile on his face.

For a security escort agency, they can tell whether someone who comes to them for help has real skills as soon as they start working together.

Cheng Shaojiu's brothers are skilled in martial arts and have authentic fighting techniques. They can definitely hold their own in the escort agency. Song Caichen couldn't be happier with such manpower.

After watching the exchange, Chen Zhan picked up his teacup and turned his gaze to the depths of the second courtyard.

That's the core area of ​​the escort agency. The residences of the chief escort and several senior escorts, the meeting hall, and the treasury of the escort silver are all inside. Outsiders are not allowed to enter.

The chief镖头 (chief镖师) hasn't returned yet, and the real person in charge isn't here. Today is just a preliminary visit to make an appearance.

To formally become a bodyguard, one must first see the chief bodyguard.

Chen Zhan put down his teacup, leaned against the wall, and squinted his eyes.

The sun in the capital was warmer than in Tianjin, and it felt lazy on the skin. The sounds of fists clashing, swords clashing, and disciples cheering and laughing mingled together in the training ground in the front yard, creating a lively atmosphere.

It was a completely different world from the bloody battles and turmoil of those days in Tianjin.

The martial arts skills of the bodyguards from Huiyou Escort Agency were more mixed than Cheng Shaojiu had expected.

He originally thought that since it was a school of Sanhuang Paochui, most of the students there would be practicing the Paochui style, but he found out that wasn't the case when he came in.

Almost all styles of boxing can be found in the North, including Xingyi, Bagua, Bajiquan, Chuojiao, Fanziquan, Chaquan, and Mantis Boxing.

There were even a few Mongolian men who practiced Tongbei wrestling and wrestling. Their bodies were as thick as a wall. When they stood in the middle of the arena and competed with others, they would knock people far away with a single lean.

There were quite a few from the south as well. There was a middle-aged man from Guangdong and Guangxi who was skilled in Hung Kuen and his bridge hand techniques were extremely sharp.

There was also a tall, thin guy from Fujian who practiced the Southern Eagle Claw style. His five fingers were like hooks, and his technique of grabbing people's joints was fast and accurate. The bodyguard who was sparring with him had his wrist grabbed three times, and he was in so much pain that he grimaced.

In the corner, a bald old master was practicing Iron Palm. His palms were immersed in a basin of black medicinal water. He took them out and repeatedly slapped them against an iron sandbag. The "slap slap slap" sound was dull and powerful. His palms were already red and shiny, covered with a thick layer of calluses.

Cheng Shaojiu's brothers watched intently, occasionally whispering among themselves.

"That guy who practices Hung Kuen is formidable; his bridging technique is incredibly tight. We'll likely have a hard time getting close to him."

"That eagle claw is even more vicious; once it grabs you, it locks you in place. Once the joints are engaged, you can't break free no matter how hard you struggle."

The镖局 (bodyguard agency) disciples also became interested in this group of outsiders from Tianjin and took the initiative to approach them, strike up a conversation, and challenge them to a fight.

Cheng Shaojiu's brothers are all practical fighters with a foundation in internal strength. They come from the military and their fighting style is decisive and efficient. They fight without any hesitation or fuss. After several sparring matches, they have won and lost on each other, but they have never suffered a major loss on the field and have won a lot of applause.

Lu Jun couldn't hold back any longer.

He had been watching from the sidelines all morning, his hands itching to join in. A镖局 (bodyguard agency) escort bowed to him, indicating that he wanted to spar. Lu Jun stood up and walked to the center of the arena.

The escort is a role in the security escort agency responsible for clearing the way and scouting. They may not be the best in martial arts, but they are quick-witted, agile, and good at dealing with unexpected situations, making them excellent combat fighters.

This practitioner specializes in the "Chuojiao Fanzi" style, characterized by its tricky leg techniques, combining kicks and sweeps with incredible speed.

Lu Jun adopted the stance of a monkey in Xingyi Quan, his body agile and his footwork unpredictable. After a few dodges, he found an opening and struck his opponent's shoulder with a monkey-shaped hanging seal, the force penetrating through.

The scout staggered back three steps, his face turning pale.

Before he could even regain his footing, Lu Jun had already caught up, his arm outstretched in a monkey-like motion, his five fingers gripping the other's wrist, pulling and twisting it outwards. The man lost his balance and was spun around halfway.

Lu Jun slapped him on the back with a palm strike, reducing the force by 70%. The man stumbled forward several steps, but after regaining his footing, he clasped his hands in a gesture of complete surrender.

He switched to another opponent, and Lu Jun defeated him decisively, forcing his opponent out of the circle within three moves.

Qin Ming couldn't resist either, and stepped into the arena to face a Ming Jin镖师 of the same level, with the outcome being evenly matched.

The excitement lasted until the afternoon, by which time everyone had tried their hand at it.

Only Chen Zhan remained motionless.

He sat on the stone bench at the foot of the courtyard wall, from morning till night, without changing his position.

He had gone through three pots of tea while watching the ongoing sparring matches in the arena. He had changed his appearance and now looked to be in his thirties, of medium height, with an ordinary face. He wouldn't stand out in a crowd. His only distinguishing feature was his composure; he never showed any surprise at anyone's moves.

Song Caichen stood at the entrance of the second courtyard and watched for an entire afternoon.

He had exceptional eyesight. He had seen thousands of martial artists coming and going in the escort agency, and he could tell their strengths and weaknesses just by looking at them a couple of times.

Chen Zhan hadn't made a move yet; he truly couldn't fathom the depth of this person's abilities.

But one thing is clear.

Cheng Shaojiu, a master at the peak of internal strength, showed genuine awe towards Chen Zhan; his respect was evident from the bottom of his heart and could not be faked.

Song Caichen decided to give it a try.

He walked out of the second courtyard, crossed the area, and went straight to Chen Zhan.

"Why doesn't Mr. Chen offer some pointers? Our Huiyou Escort Agency has always been generous with its efforts; mutual exchange helps us grow."

Chen Zhan looked up at him and smiled, "Alright, but my knowledge is diverse, and there are too many experts at the Huiyou Escort Agency. If we were to spar with them all, it would probably take until tomorrow."

Song Caichen chuckled, "That's easy. I may be unskilled, but I'd be happy to spar with you, brother."

Upon hearing this, all the disciples sparring in the arena stopped and turned their attention to this.

The deputy chief镖头 (chief镖师) personally goes into action, and you might only see him a few times a year.

Chen Zhan stood up, walked to the center of the arena, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "I have long admired Master Song's masterful Three Bows technique, but unfortunately I was born a few years too late and never saw Master Song's true face. It is truly an honor to have Master Song's personal disciple here."

Song Caichen clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute: "Mr. Chen, you flatter me. But I still don't know which school or sect you belong to?"

Chen Zhan thought for a moment: "It can be considered a branch of Xingyi Quan, but it doesn't have a specific lineage. The teachings of Master Lao Neng are widely circulated in the countryside."

The "Old Man" is Li Luoneng, the founder of Xingyi Quan. His disciples are all over the north, and he has many successors. Indeed, there are many scattered branches of the tradition circulating in the countryside. Saying that you are one of them is neither conspicuous nor will it attract any questions.

"I understand. Let's have a brief spar."

Song Caichen took two steps back and assumed a fighting stance.

The starting stance of the Three Emperors Cannon Fist is to firmly plant both feet, draw both fists to the waist, slightly lower the body, shift the weight to the back leg, and lightly touch the ground with the front leg, ready to strike.

The aura around him tightened the moment he made his move, and a powerful force surged from his waist and hips into his limbs. As a master of internal energy, every muscle and bone in his body was in a state of combat readiness. His strength was no longer concentrated at one point, but spread throughout his body, ready to be used at any time.

Chen Zhan adopted the San Ti stance of Xingyi Quan, with his left foot forward, right foot back, left hand extended forward, right hand retracted to his ribs, and body slightly turned to the side.

Song Caichen's eyebrows twitched slightly.

This three-body stance looks ordinary, but the distribution of weight is extremely subtle. The front three and back seven are just right. The front hand blocks the center, and the back hand can strike with a collapsing fist or a splitting fist at any time.

What bothered him even more was that after the young man put on airs, his aura remained unchanged, neither tense nor relaxed, exactly the same as when he was sitting on the stone bench drinking tea.

Song Caichen made the first move.

"Opening fire!"

He stepped forward, his right fist flipped out from his waist, the fist rotating, aiming straight for Chen Zhan's center.

The opening cannon of Sanhuang Paochui is somewhat similar to Xingyi Bengquan, both being direct attacks along the center line with fierce force.

However, the starting point of the opening cannon is further back, and the force is transmitted from the Mingmen point through the waist and hips to the fist. There is an extra period of power accumulation in the middle, so the punch is heavier and thicker than the Bengquan, but it is slightly slower by half a beat.

Chen Zhan's response was extremely concise.

The right hand strikes out from the ribs, a Xingyi Bengquan (a type of fist strike), the fist rotates, and spiraling force runs through it, directly emitted from the San Ti Shi (a stance), without any unnecessary transition.

Bengquan (崩拳) versus Kaimenpao (开门炮), center line versus center line.

"Boom!"

The two fists collided, and the muffled sound of their impact echoed through the arena, causing the blue bricks beneath their feet to tremble slightly.

Song Caichen slid back half a step, his foot leaving a white mark on the blue brick.

Chen Zhan stood still, without moving an inch.

Everyone around could see it clearly.

Song Caichen's expression darkened slightly, and he took a step forward, charging forward once more.

"A barrage of shots!"

He threw punches alternately, one after another, as dense as a string of pearls, with the wind whistling through the air.

The essence of the "continuous punch" lies in the word "continuous": after the first punch is thrown, the second punch follows up with the momentum of the first punch, resulting in a continuous and uninterrupted force.

Chen Zhan changed his moves, using the Xingyi "Drilling Fist".

The fist rotated and drilled upwards, slipping through the gaps in the rapid-fire punches, spiraling upwards, and drilling into the gap between Song Caichen's alternating punches. The fist flipped upwards from below, aiming straight for the chin.

Song Caichen's head snapped back, the force of the punch grazing his chin, less than half an inch from his skin.

The rapid-fire rhythm was disrupted.

He took a step back, readjusted his stance, and began to circle around Chen Zhan, searching for a new angle to attack.

Chen Zhan followed suit, and the two of them circled around each other in the middle of the venue.

After circling twice, Song Caichen suddenly changed direction.

"Crossfire!"

He suddenly stopped, his body abruptly changing from a circling stance to a straight line. He threw out his fists in a cross shape, his left fist sweeping horizontally and his right fist thrusting straight forward, blocking Chen Zhan's upper body.

The Cross Cannon is the most difficult move to defend against among the Twelve Cannon Techniques. It unleashes two forces simultaneously, one horizontal and one vertical, completely blocking all directions. Unless you retreat, you are guaranteed to be hit.

Chen Zhan did not back down.

He took half a step forward to face the cross cannon, his body suddenly sinking down, and he passed under the cross cannon's horizontal fist.

The form and meaning of "Snake Crouching in Water".

His body twisted like a snake in a tiny space, his shoulders almost touching the ground as he moved half a foot to the side. The two blasts of force from the cross cannon passed over his head and shoulders, missing their mark.

As he crawled through, his right hand had already flipped up.

Xingyi "Cannon Fist".

The fist thrust upwards from below, aiming straight for Song Caichen's ribs, combining both upward pushing and forward thrusting.

Song Caichen pressed down with his left elbow, blocking the fist. With a "bang," his elbow tip went numb from the force of the punch, and half of his arm ached, but he managed to block it.

The two parted ways again. (End of Chapter)