No taboos in the world

Chapter 17 Half Division
"Master Hong's presence brings honor to my martial arts school. Please come in!"

"Master Zheng, you are too polite. You are the elder, please go first!"

Zheng Liwei was very polite, so Hong Chen naturally would not let him lose face in front of his disciples.

So, starting from the door, the two of them started talking and laughing, and were polite to each other.

After they sat down, Zheng Liwei waved his hands to send his disciples away, poured a cup of tea for Hong Chen, and then asked with a smile: "Master Hong, I wonder if you have any advice for me?"

Hong Chen didn't beat around the bush and said directly: "Master Zheng, as a martial artist, I have heard a long time ago that Bagua, Tai Chi and Xingyi are known as the three major internal martial arts. It's a pity that I have never had the opportunity to see them before. Today, after watching Master Zheng's Baguazhang, my curiosity was aroused again, so I came here specially to ask Master Zheng for advice."

Hearing his words, Zheng Liwei immediately smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Alas, I lost miserably this morning."

Hong Chen shook his head and said, "Master Zheng, don't worry about it. In fact, I can see that you and Master Luo don't know much about Master Ye and Wing Chun, but Master Ye must know something about Baguazhang."

"Haha, Master Hong, I know you are trying to save face for me, and what you said is not wrong, but then again, if you lose, you lose. He, Ip Man, is better than me, so I definitely admit it. But the reason I lost to Ip Man was because of me, Zheng Liwei, not Baguazhang!"

Hong Chen smiled and nodded in agreement.

Zheng Liwei was naturally happy to see this. He blinked, stood up and said, "Since Master Hong is interested in Baguazhang, I will definitely not hide anything. Master Hong, how about I show you how to do it? If you want to learn, I can also teach you everything I know."

Hong Chen stood up, clasped his fists and bowed: "Thank you, Master Zheng!"

Times have changed.

This is a truth that every boxer has long understood, and perhaps their masters and ancestors understood it even earlier.

It is not to say that there are no schools of Chinese martial arts that are not passed on to outsiders, but at least the mentality and vision of today's boxers are much more open than before.

Moreover, Hung Gar is one of the earliest open styles of boxing. Wong Fei-hung's disciple Lam Sai-wing compiled everything he had learned throughout his life into a book, recording in detail the top-secret matters that had only been passed on orally within the sect in the past, and printed it in large quantities, making an indelible contribution to the spread of Hung Gar.

At the same time, it also led other sects to gradually make more things public to the world.

We will not judge whether this is good or bad, but what is clear is that not only many ordinary people benefited from it, but many boxers who were almost starving under the wave of the new era also found a livelihood that suits them best.

The martial arts school is the best proof.

Hong Chen also knew that in the future, when ordinary people evaluated a Kung Fu, they would no longer look at whether it could be used in fighting, because no matter how powerful it was, it could not be beaten by guns and cannons. What people would look at was how many people in the world practiced this Kung Fu.

Wing Chun is the best example.

As a boxer who is proficient in Baguazhang, Zheng Liwei also has a clear and authentic teacher.

It cannot be said that his talent is bad, it can only be said that not all talented people have a good family background and an unremitting love for Kung Fu like Ip Man in the past.

Master Zheng started working to support his family very early. After he started making some money, he just practiced Kung Fu every day out of habit, without much enthusiasm.

However, the foundation he laid in the past was excellent and it still benefits him today; otherwise, he would not have been able to fight with Ip Man at the round table.

Therefore, it was more than enough to teach Hong Chen, a layman in the Bagua Sect.

Baguazhang was first created by Dong Haichuan from Hebei in the late Qing Dynasty.

Because the movements are crisscrossed and divided into eight directions, four cardinal points and four corners, the theory of the boxing is also based on the principles of the Book of Changes and hexagrams, so it is called Baguazhang.

Because in actual combat the artist moves in a circle with his steps swinging and hooking, encircling the enemy in the center, and his moves are continuous and linked to each other, it is also called "Floating Bagua Palm" and "Bagua Linked Palm".

Baguazhang is based on changing palm techniques and walking and turning. It uses palms instead of fists and walks in circles, breaking through the traditional boxing style that mainly uses fists and walks in straight lines.

Use palm as method, use walking as function, blend kicking, hitting, throwing and grabbing into one, and there is no end to the interaction. Avoid the straight and go to the side, follow the trend and strength, be unpredictable, and escape like a shadow.

It moves like a dragon, you can see the head but not the tail; it is as fast as the wind, you can see the shadow but not the shape.

Looking ahead, it is there, and suddenly it is behind you.

Softness is like a needle hidden in cotton, and it will melt as it sticks.

The hardness is cold and explosive, as fast as thunder. After Zheng Liwei finished practicing a set, he saw Hong Chen's eyes full of interest, so he began to explain slowly.

Then, he pulled Hong Chen, and the two of them walked one in front and one behind, practicing one and learning the other.

Hong Chen had a solid foundation in Hung Gar, so he could learn Baguazhang much faster than ordinary people. This also made Zheng Liwei quickly feel the joy of being a teacher.

Hong Chen himself was also attracted by Baguazhang. He was completely absorbed in it without any distractions.

Time flies by quickly without us noticing.

At dusk, Zheng Liwei's wife came to call the two of them to eat, which finally interrupted this exciting you-teaching-me-learning session.

Because Hong Chen had an appointment with Ip Man, he could only decline the invitation to dine with Master Zheng's family, and at the same time asked them to treat him the next night.

Zheng Liwei personally sent him to the door.

Before leaving, he pursed his lips again and again, and finally couldn't help but said: "Master Hong, if you have time in the future, you can come over anytime."

"Okay, I just happen to have many questions to ask Master Zheng."

"No problem, I'll be waiting for you at home anytime!"

Hong Chen thought for a moment and said solemnly: "You're welcome. What I learned today is of great benefit to me. From now on, I will treat you as a half-teacher. I hope Master Zheng will not despise me as a half-disciple." As he spoke, Hong Chen bowed.

Hearing this, Zheng Liwei's body trembled. He hurried forward to support Hong Chen: "Don't despise me, don't despise me. If you do this, Master Hong..."

"Don't worry, Master Zheng. My master won't mind."

Zheng Liwei breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good! Didn't you make an appointment with Master Ye? Go quickly and don't miss the time."

"Okay, Master Zheng, goodbye!"

Hong Chen turned and left. Zheng Liwei stood at the door and watched him go. His face showed sadness at one moment and laughter at another, which was very strange.

On the other side, Hong Chen came downstairs to Ye Wen's house and saw from afar that Ye Wen had changed his clothes and was waiting for him.

"Master Ye, sorry for the wait!"

"Not long ago, I just came down too." Ye Wen smiled and rubbed his hands, looking a little shy.

Hong Chen smiled and looked upstairs: "Master Ye, it would be a bit boring for the two of us to have dinner together, why don't we call your family?"

When Ye Wen heard this, he immediately shook his head and refused: "No need, Brother Hong, they have already eaten."

However, Hong Chen understood Ye Wen's current situation better than anyone else. Maybe his wife and son had eaten, but they must not have eaten well or even full. As for Ye Wen, he definitely didn't eat anything.

It's true that a penny can make a hero fall.

However, Ye Wen was determined and Hong Chen didn't want to force him.

After a while, the two came to a restaurant box.

Ye Wen looked at the table full of dishes and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Hong, will so many dishes be wasted?"

Hong Chen smiled and shook his head: "Master Ye, don't worry, I have a big appetite and eat a lot."

Two glasses of wine were poured, and the two took a sip before starting to eat.

The two of them ate and chatted, but it was mostly Ip Man who did the talking and Hong Chen who answered. It wasn't that he was pretending to be cool, but he knew that Ip Man was hungry, so he didn't take the initiative to disturb him while he was eating.

After a while, Ye Wen's movements slowed down a lot, and he gradually took the initiative to open the conversation.

"Master Ye, I actually heard your name a long time ago."

(End of this chapter)