The Hard-Soft Style of Karate, though not as widely popularized as the Kyokushin Karate made famous by Masutatsu Oyama, is nonetheless a renowned and practical school within the realm of karate. Its roots can indeed be traced back to the Southern Traditional Martial Arts.
The founder of the Hard-Soft Style, Gongchengchangshun, was a disciple of the Tang Hand master Dong Enna Kuanliang, who in turn had studied under the Fujianese luminary known as "Hou Ru Si," Xie Zongxiang. Gongchengchangshun himself had also journeyed to China to learn the art of boxing. The techniques passed down by both masters belong to the Southern Shaolin's White Crane School. Even the name "Hard-Soft Style" is derived from the phrase "the law of hardness and softness, of swallowing and spitting" found in the Ming Dynasty's renowned military treatise, "Military Preparedness Records."
As for the modern fervor to learn Hard-Soft Style, while traditional martial arts are dismissed as mere 'flowery fists and embroidery kicks,' the situation is quite ironic... The reasons behind this are complex and not easily summarized in a few words.
Li Yan, though hailing from a northern martial arts family, had spent a full seven years in Guangdong. With a solid foundation and exceptional talent, his understanding of southern martial arts was on par with that of southern boxers of his age. When he said he would show Minami Kido the prowess of the White Crane School, it was no idle boast.
Li Yan's fingers curled into claws, hooking and flipping Minami Kido's wrist outward, while his left hand's three fingers converged like a bird's beak, stabbing towards Kido's armpit like a steel spike.
Minami Kido, battle-hardened as he was, had taken a severe disadvantage but reacted swiftly. Instead of trying to increase the distance, he bore the pain as if a steel nail had pierced his right arm, and he lunged into Li Yan's embrace. His right arm, like a steel whip, wrapped around Li Yan's waist, and with a streetfighter's tenacity, he aimed a bite at Li Yan's ear!
If one lacked extensive combat experience, even an older martial artist with skills surpassing Li Yan's could easily have the tables turned by such bestial ferocity. Unfortunately for Kido, the 25-year-old Li Yan's combat experience was astonishing, earning him the nickname "Hejian Skinny Tiger." These four characters were forged through bloodied fists and feet, each letter steeped in blood.
As Minami Kido's arm made contact with Li Yan's waist, Li Yan's right elbow had already savagely smashed into Kido's face with a thudding impact!
Blood mixed with sweat sprayed out, and two broken teeth spun through the air, flying out of the ring.
Minami Kido was staggered by the elbow strike to the head, and Li Yan's hands shot out like arrows, slamming ruthlessly into his opponent.
The audience around the ring could clearly see that only Minami Kido's heels touched the ground, his body bending as if broken in half, like a shattered doll, under the barrage of Li Yan's fists.
The Crane Cry Fist's "Double Inserting Arrow" unleashed a barrage of blows upon Minami Kido. The "Single Split Fight," the "Left and Right Split Palm," and the "Twin Snakes Spitting Venom" were followed by the "Grasping Hammer" and the "Crane Crown," all pouring down upon him in rapid succession. Clumps of blood began to seep through his clothing, the ferocious force of the punches nearly pulverizing Minami Kido into a pulp.
A soft "sigh~" escaped from the onlookers.
The gamblers stood agape, their throats seemingly clutched by an invisible hand, their eyes wide and unblinking as they stared at Minami Kido's body, now nearly saturated with blood. The cigars in their mouths were close to burning out, yet they remained unaware.
It took three full breaths before Minami Kido collapsed to the ground with a thud, blood spreading around him in large patches. Frothy blood spurted from his nose and mouth, and after a short while, his convulsions ceased...
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The arena fell silent, both in the stands and on the floor.
Li Yan stood up straight, blood dripping from his fingers onto the boxing ring, drop by drop. He shook his fists and turned to face the stands.
It was then that the Fuk Yee Mansion erupted with screams and shouts like a tidal wave crashing ashore.
"What power! That's the thrill of it!"
"I bet a million for this guy to go down, and he pulled through! I knew he had it!"
"Handsome, give us another Weapons Fight!"
Li Yan scanned the audience, a flash of crazed bloodlust in his eyes, which he quickly reined in.
The Red Ghost nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad at all."
The small private box had dimmed, and the movements within were obscured from view.
Under the hypnotic disco lights, enticing and continuous panting could be heard. On the LCD screen, Li Yan stood with blood dripping from his hands, his gaze defiant, his muscles smooth and suggesting explosive power, soaked with the scent of masculine hormones.
The panting grew from deep and slow to increasingly rapid, culminating in a satisfied sigh.
A delicate hand fumbled in the darkness, knocking over a champagne flute without notice. It took a while before the hand found an open bottle of champagne.
Judy's face was flushed, her collarbone glistening with sweat. She picked up the bottle and poured it over herself, the liquid trickling down. It took some time before she recovered from the afterglow.
She turned over, resting on her arm, and gazed at Li Yan on the screen, her seductive face alive with a playful smile, her lips curving upward.
...
"What's the big deal that requires Sir Li's personal attention?"
Si Lizheng, a member of the Kowloon Walled City Executive Committee and the head of the Dragon City Security Team, smiled as he brewed a cup of tea, handing it to an elderly man with half-white hair and a stern demeanor.
Li Yao Guang, the Chief Chinese Detective of the Hong Kong Police Force, renowned as the "Silver-haired Detective God."
"Committee Member Si, let me be frank. I need to deploy the Flying Tigers Squadron into Dragon City for a case."
Si Lizheng shrugged his shoulders.
"When does the Hong Kong Police have to report to the Committee? Sir Li is the one calling the shots, isn't he?"
As he spoke, he took a sip of his tea, a glint of sharpness flickering in his eyes. "But to call out the Flying Tigers Squadron for such a tight operation, has someone attempted to assassinate the Hong Kong Governor?"
Sir Li placed four photographs on Si Lizheng's desk.
"What's the story with these?" Si Lizheng asked casually.
"Big Circle Boys."
Si Lizheng's brow furrowed as though scalded by his tea.
"The ringleader is called Ah Dong; he has a criminal record. The other three are his fellow townsmen. Four days ago, they robbed the Fengbao Bank of over forty-six million Hong Kong dollars, jewelry worth around twenty million, and a batch of antiques. During the heist, they killed five security personnel. This gang is skilled with firearms, audacious, and tough to handle. When the police cornered them, one of them was shot, and although most of the loot was recovered, the whereabouts of the antiques remain unknown. We've locked down Tseung Kwan O and Kwun Tong. We've searched every hospital in Hong Kong, but there's no trace of them."
As he spoke, Sir Li pulled out another photograph, this one of a middle-aged man with a receding hairline.
"This man was the manager of Fengbao Bank. He's been dismissed by Fengbao. We've always suspected that he colluded with the Big Circle Boys, perhaps even that he was the one who brought them in. However, last night, his body was found in the Kowloon City slum, his head repeatedly bludgeoned to death with a blunt object. We've hit a dead end."
With that, the elderly man rapped his knuckles on the table:
"This case has now shocked the whole of Hong Kong. The only place in Hong Kong that has a private clinic willing to take them in is Kowloon City slum. Plus, with the bank manager found dead there, I hope the Committee can help us locate them."
Si Lizheng didn't hesitate for long. After weighing his options, he responded with a resolute tone.
"Three days. If these people are really in Dragon City, I'll find them within three days."
Li Yao Guang's furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
"Then I'll have to trouble Commissioner Si. These people are desperate and capable of anything. If you find them, don't spook them. Leave it to the police to handle."
"Cooperation between the police and the community."
Si Lizheng smiled. "By the way, what antiques did they rob? I'll have someone check if there are any leads."
Li Yao Guang passed a list of the antiques to him. Si Lizheng glanced over it, and the first line read conspicuously: Lin Yutang's Master's Treasured 'Ancient Novel Sinker Records'!
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