Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Departure

Zhao Xuanqi and Liu Changfeng locked their fingers, deadlocked in the center of the yard in a contest of raw strength.

At this moment, Zhao Xuanqi’s arms, chest, and back had swelled to an exaggerated degree, making his physique even more robust than Liu Changfeng’s!

Liu Changfeng clearly hadn’t expected Zhao Xuanqi to be able to match him in a direct test of strength without being at a disadvantage. Now he understood why Zhao Xuanqi dared to face him using the Red Tiger Style’s stance.

’This change in strength is simply outrageous! How on earth does he do it?’

The two remained deadlocked for a while, neither able to overpower the other. Then, exerting their power almost simultaneously, they instantly separated, leaping three to five meters apart.

BANG!!

Then, almost at the same instant, they both stomped on the ground, their bodies shooting forward to collide once more.

The Red Tiger Style—its techniques wide and sweeping, firm, fierce, and overbearingly furious—was now on full display in their exchange!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Their fists and palms clashed nonstop, producing a sound like muffled thunder.

Labored breaths, terrifying force, and whistling wind—the entire courtyard seemed to tremble from their impacts.

Luo Moyou watched the two men in the courtyard collide like savage beasts, feeling immensely grateful that he hadn’t been the one to step forward.

In just a few short minutes, the two had exchanged dozens of blows, and Liu Changfeng was gradually showing signs of being overwhelmed.

After all, his fighting style was not as refined as Zhao Xuanqi’s.

He possessed only firmness and ferocity, while Zhao Xuanqi’s Red Tiger Style had reached the point of blending firmness and softness.

The transitions between firm and soft were so seamless that it could no longer be called pure Red Tiger; it was more like a combination of Red Tiger and Black Tiger.

This, in fact, was likely the strongest way to practice the Tiger Form Fist.

Liu Changfeng, after all, had not yet truly begun Inner Cultivation. After several minutes of fighting, Zhao Xuanqi’s blended Tiger Form Fist completely disrupted his body’s rhythm, forcing him out of that miraculous state of coordination. Pushed back step by step, he finally raised his hand in surrender.

"Junior Brother, I am no longer your match."

Liu Changfeng said with a sigh, though his expression was one of magnanimity.

"Excellent, truly excellent. Qi, with your current strength, you’ll be a significant figure even at the Guangdong Martial Arts Conference. Perform well there, and Master will help you fight for a good future."

Weng Xiaolin said, standing up with a smile.

"Yes, Master."

Zhao Xuanqi said, cupping his fists and bowing.

"Take care of your personal affairs soon. In three days, we depart for Guangdong."

Weng Xiaolin said.

...

...

「Three days later, at the Celestial Sea Prefecture train station.」

Zhao Xuanqi and Weng Xiaolin stood with their luggage, waiting to board the train.

Given their status, they had booked first-class tickets. As a result, there were fewer passengers waiting in their area. All were well-dressed, and Zhao Xuanqi and Weng Xiaolin even recognized a few, with whom they exchanged greetings.

In contrast, the waiting areas for the other cars were packed like a sea of people. The passengers’ clothing and general demeanor were also noticeably different.

The passenger trains of this era were still steam-powered. With a loud hiss of air, a black, old-fashioned train pulled into the station.

The first-class passengers boarded in an orderly fashion. The ticket inspectors all had smiles on their faces, their attitudes respectful, and they were happy to answer any questions.

The third-class cars were a different story. The sheer number of people was immense, and many were riding a train for the first time. The inspectors there couldn’t be bothered to answer questions, leading to frequent arguments and a constant, chaotic din. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Zhao Xuanqi followed Weng Xiaolin into the first-class car. The environment was indeed excellent, with individual cushioned sofa seats and small, Western-style tea tables between them. There was even a bar at one end of the car where one could order food at any time. It looked even nicer than a coffee shop.

After the two were seated, Weng Xiaolin, who couldn’t stomach the foreigners’ coffee, ordered a pot of hot tea.

When it was time for departure, the train started with a low rumble. Steam-powered trains were extremely noisy and prone to violent vibrations. Furthermore, due to certain technical limitations of the era, train accidents were common, with the locomotive at the front being the most dangerous part.

The first-class car, however, was located at the very end of the train, farthest from the locomotive. This meant it experienced the least noise and vibration, had the highest level of safety, and was a symbol of status.

In these chaotic times, having money and power not only allowed one to enjoy a better life but also provided greater security for one’s life.

"Will Eldest Brother be coming this time?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked Weng Xiaolin.

From the day he had joined the school until now, he had never once met this nominal Eldest Brother of his. Even during the Lunar New Year, when Weng Xiaolin’s daughter, Weng Qiuman, had returned from Guangdong for the holiday, his Eldest Brother, Zhang Hongyun, had not come back. He had, however, sent someone to deliver quite a few gifts.

"Your Eldest Brother is considered to have graduated from his apprenticeship now. Besides, he’s in the army and isn’t his own master, so he definitely won’t be able to make it this time."

"As you know, the world is not at peace lately. There’s something I, as your master, need to be upfront with you about. I received word from your Eldest Brother that the Giant Spirit Army is preparing to weaken the influence of the various martial arts halls and schools. They want to centralize power, personnel, and profits. This Martial Arts Conference is just a way to gather all the schools to make this happen. Making concessions this time will be unavoidable. I’m afraid you’ll have to give up a significant portion of the profits from your five city blocks. However, since we have someone in the army, the interests we have to concede can be fewer. I’ve heard that for some schools and martial arts halls, the plan is to completely strip them of their power, or even absorb them entirely."

"So, I hope that you will do your absolute best at this Guangdong Martial Arts Conference. The better you perform, the more attention you’ll attract. This isn’t just about your own future; it’s also tied to the interests of our Martial Arts Hall. To be honest, after this conference, there isn’t much more I can teach you. In fact, you could already be considered a graduate of my apprenticeship. Celestial Sea Prefecture and the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall are too small for you. You deserve a brighter future. But even if you become wealthy and powerful one day, I hope you won’t forget that this Martial Arts Hall is your home."

Weng Xiaolin said to Zhao Xuanqi, his expression solemn.

"Master, I will never forget the kindness the Martial Arts Hall has shown me. I will do my best this time."

Zhao Xuanqi nodded. He didn’t really care about his own future prospects. In fact, he had no intention of serving under any of the Warlords’ factions. The kindness the Martial Arts Hall had shown him, however, was something he wanted a chance to repay.

"That’s good, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. At the Yuehai Martial Arts Association conference, over a hundred martial arts halls and factions from all over Yuehai will be participating. Although the Giant Spirit Sect, which controls the Giant Spirit Army, won’t participate directly, the four major schools under its command are teeming with talent. You may be unrivaled in Celestial Sea Prefecture, but things will be different in Guangdong. Don’t get discouraged when the time comes. After all, you’re still young."

Weng Xiaolin said to Zhao Xuanqi with a smile.

The steam train was very slow. The journey of several hundred kilometers from Celestial Sea Prefecture to Guangdong took nearly ten hours to complete.

After getting off the train and leaving the station, they saw a group of tall, sturdy men waiting amidst the crowd of people there for arrivals. The men held up several signs with words like "Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall," "Wind Tiger Martial Arts Hall," and "Longsheng Martial Arts Hall" written on them.

These men were all dressed in uniform black Martial Arts Uniforms. On their chests, the three words "Taihe Tiger Form" were visible, making them stand out in the crowd like cranes among chickens, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Those are people from the Taihe Tiger Form Fist. In the Martial Arts Realm, our Tiger Form Fist is considered a major category. There are a total of eight martial arts halls and factions in Yuehai that teach Tiger Form Fist, each with a different school of thought. The Taihe Tiger Form Fist is the strongest Tiger Form school in all of Yuehai. They’re based in Guangdong, so they’re acting as the hosts. Their school is filled with abundant talent, and at every Martial Arts Association conference, they host the various Tiger Form Fist halls from other regions. So pull yourself together in a moment; don’t bring shame upon our Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall."

Weng Xiaolin told Zhao Xuanqi.