Eight years ago, Lu Qing was seventeen.
During that time, it coincided with the opening of the 'Guangling Academy'. Coupled with the Great Yan Court's years of promotion, the concept of 'New Martial Heroes' burst onto the scene with great popularity, while the 'Old School Martial Heroes' were heavily criticized and charged with various old habits and drawbacks.
The older generation of Old School Martial Artists were indignant and furious.
But for hot-blooded youth like Lu Qing, the rhetoric of the Great Yan Court and the various concepts of 'New Martial Heroes' made him revere and wholeheartedly believe in them.
Thus, at the opening of Guangling Academy, young and reckless Lu Qing rebelled against his master, decisively leaving to join Guangling Academy with determination.
At that time, Lu Qing had an unpleasant fallout with Cheng Fengxiao, Yan Chuan, and the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall.
Youths felt aggrieved.
Determined to one day return to the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall and prove that his choice was not wrong.
For a full eight years, until today——
"Senior Brother, you've been sitting complacently in the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall, looking at the sky from the bottom of a well, and have long been outdated."
"Today, in front of so many fellow disciples, I don't want to disgrace you."
Lu Qing shook his head at Yan Chuan: "Please ask Master to come out!"
He had practiced arduously for eight years, never daring to approach the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall. His arrival today was spurred by the news that Tu Tiannan from the 'Six Sand Palm' had defeated the famous master Chu Cheng from Immortal Mist Mountain, making Lu Qing feel confident that he could face Master Cheng Fengxiao, and even win, prompting him to come forward.
As for Yan Chuan——
Ha!
Respecting him for his seniority and character, calling him Senior Brother, that's all. In terms of strength, he knew Yan Chuan's aptitude all too well from their early martial arts days; how dull he was then, commendable only for his steadiness and diligence, while everything else was not worth mentioning.
Seeing Lu Qing's arrogance, Yan Chuan shook his head: "Even if your 'Six Harmonies Fist Club' leader Wang Zhengyi were here, he wouldn't dare speak so boastfully. You're just a marginal figure among the 'Six Wanderers' and yet dare to make bold claims?"
Lu Qing looked up at Yan Chuan and laughed: "So Senior Brother has been paying attention to me after all!"
A thought widened his mind.
With a sense of contentment: "In that case, let Senior Brother first see what I've learned from the new faction in these eight years, and see my capabilities as a marginal 'Six Harmonies Fist Club' independent cultivator."
Lu Qing showcased a move, not 'Cheng Family Boxing', but——
"Six Harmonies Fist!"
...
"'Six Harmonies Fist' is one of the eighteen boxing styles of 'Guangling Academy', originating from the previous dynasty. It's said to be created by the Wang Family of Shao Qing based on popular techniques in the Jianghu at the time, hence also known as 'Wang Family Boxing'. Over the years, it has been continuously revised and improved, and now it has achieved great success, known for its tight structure, rhythmical advances and retreats, comprehensive attack and defense, realistic postures, and strong practical combat capabilities."
"Eight years ago, the present-day inheritor of 'Six Harmonies Fist', Wang Kuan, and his only son Wang Zhengyi, joined Guangling Academy and offered their family's absolute skills. Since then, it has become one of the widely spread boxing techniques of 'Guangling Academy'."
Yan Chuan stared at Lu Qing, recounting the origins and characteristics of the 'Six Harmonies Fist' to increase the insight among both old and new disciples in the Martial Arts Hall, so they can better respond when they encounter it in the future.
But Lu Qing laughed: "Senior Wang Kuan offered 'Six Harmonies Fist', and now he's a revered elder in the Inner Courtyard of Guangling Academy, while his only son became the leader of the 'Six Harmonies Fist Club', listed among the 'Guangling Ten Outstanding'. If only Master had been willing to offer 'Cheng Family Boxing', would he be in such a desolate state?"
Ignoring him, Yan Chuan continued: "'The 'Six Harmonies' in 'Six Harmonies Fist' refers to the four directions of east, south, west, and north with up and down, implying that during practice, one must keep in mind the front, back, left, right, up, and down. Achieve hand and eye coordination, foot and body coordination, and mind and strength coordination. Practice this technique according to the forms of dragon, tiger, crane, rabbit, and monkey and the eight diagram directions, demanding movements like a dragon drifting, staying still like a crouching tiger, swift as a cunning rabbit, nimble as a monkey, and light as a crane. The technique emphasizes hitting, seizing, throwing, with postures requiring dignity and handsome demeanor, agility, clever turns and dodges, dynamic and static differentiation, light and heavy variation, intelligent and flexible."
The basics of 'Six Harmonies Fist' have been widely spread for hundreds of years.
But its true legacy is held only by the Wang lineage, and now also by 'Guangling Academy'.
"Senior Brother's theoretical prowess remains formidable, but I wonder, no matter how much you understand the Six Harmonies Fist, can you counter my technique." Lu Qing, impatient, stepped forward with a feigned attack.
Yan Chuan, composed and confident, moved with stable steps, skillfully managing Lu Qing's ferocious attacks while continuing to explain: "'Six Harmonies Fist' attacks by encircling, blocking, intercepting, and locking the opponent's outer perimeter. Its techniques mainly include entangling, pulling, guiding, poking, bursting, framing, leaning, splitting, smashing, kicking, stepping, and throwing. Its combat strategy is to attack by defending and defend by attacking, with offense and defense covering front, back, left, and right. It reacts flexibly, moves smoothly and generously, balances soft and hard forces, with clear differentiation between dynamic and static, and seamlessly integrates peaks and troughs, tightly and coherently connecting."
"Iron Fan Sealing Gate!"
"Cloud Hand!"
"Split Palm!"
"Poke Palm!"
"Sweeping Palm!"
"Split Palm!"
"Small Entangled Silk Kicking!"
Yan Chuan skillfully executed and analyzed Lu Qing's moves, providing commentary: "Kicking, punching, throwing, grappling, these are the four absolute skills of 'Six Harmonies Fist', essential in nearly all boxing styles for strengthening and practice. But notice, this man's 'kicking' and 'punching' display some control, yet his 'throwing' and 'grappling' are lacking. Even though his qi power surpasses mine, I evade his kicks and punches and break his throws and grapples, disrupting his rhythm."
Everyone present almost entirely supported Yan Chuan, initially worried that Yan Chuan, traditionally seen as dull in aptitude, might not be able to compete with Lu Qing, who had advanced studies in Guangling Academy for eight years, they all held their breath.
However, after dozens of rounds of fast-paced combat, witnessing Yan Chuan seemingly retreating but actually securing his position, their anxious hearts finally settled.
This Lu Qing indeed is strong!
But Yan Chuan isn't weak either!
Wei Wude, knowledgeable and experienced, with eyes shining: "For those practicing 'Six Harmonies Fist', their attack is first fierce, second consecutive; once attacking, it's fierce, and an attack is aimed to break. Punches and foot kicks, coupled with elbow thrusts, catch the opponent off guard, known as fierceness. Consecutive feet, three consecutive hammers, leave the opponent breathless, unable to defend, known as consecutiveness. But Lu Qing, aside from the advantage in the opening rounds, has mostly been suppressed by Senior Brother. His punching and kicking fail to achieve merit, lacking fierceness. The consecutive feet and three consecutive hammers, either evaded or blocked and deflected, fail consecutively."
Wei Wude saw that Lu Qing's proficiency in 'Six Harmonies Fist' was evidently not low, yet he was now being consecutively parried and counterattacked by Yan Chuan, turning into suppression.
In the crowd.
Liu Hengbo, unfamiliar with 'Six Harmonies Fist', couldn't gauge Lu Qing's proficiency, but familiar with 'Cheng Family Boxing', he noticed Yan Chuan's foundation: "Tiger Form, Crane Form, Bridge Hand, Gongzi Fuhu, Ten Forms, various boxing forms readily at hand, unfettered by structured moves, moving with wishfulness. Especially the combination of Tiger Form Boxing and Crane Form Boxing, it's integrated so well that it's almost like a brand-new boxing form. They say this eldest disciple under Master is dull, but seeing now, this is not a poor student, he's clearly mastered 'Cheng Family Boxing', already possessing the demeanor of a grandmaster!"
"Indeed!"
"Grandmaster!"
Wei Wude finally found a term that aptly described what he saw in Yan Chuan's current state.
The air of a grandmaster!
The boxing techniques were precise, the advance and retreat well-measured!
It was assumed this battle had no suspense—Lu Qing was sure to win over Yan Chuan.
Yet the result, the outcome is unpredictable, and there's much to see!
...