Jianghu Qimen Lu

Chapter 10: 6 Major Fist Schools

Bai Shandian dropped his book, strode to the wall of the cave, and carefully inspected it with a torch. However, after circling around, he found no more mechanisms or switches! He loudly ordered his soldiers to search the entire cave, including the ground, the beds, the bookshelves... leaving no detail unchecked.

"Stop!" Just then, Elder Xiang hurriedly walked in from outside the cave, followed by six strange-looking people, each holding a weapon and with murderous intent on their faces! Bai Shandian recognized them immediately; they were the six hall masters of the famous Southern Fist Sect.

These are the six most famous styles of martial arts: Hung Kuen, Lau Kuen, Choy Li Fut, Mok Kuen, Wing Chun, and Pak Mei Kuen. Originally, in southern China, numerous schools of martial arts existed, with these six styles ranking among the top and each dominating its region. A few years ago, a martial arts tournament was organized in the Jiangnan area, but the leader of the Southern Fist style, Xiang Kuen, outshone all the other masters, winning the championship. He then used this opportunity to recruit these renowned martial arts figures, thus establishing the Southern Fist School.

Although the six famous boxing styles held the position of hall masters within the sect, each of them had numerous disciples in their own boxing school, making them veritable overlords of the martial arts world. Originally, each of them was proud and arrogant, so how could they be willing to be driven by others? It was only because Xiangquan's Southern Fist skills were indeed superior, and moreover, she came from a wealthy and influential family, a renowned family with a reputation overseas, that she was driven by ambition and made to work for her.

A few days ago, after hearing the devastating news of the massacre of their sect leader, Xiang Quan, people from all directions rushed to Hangzhou to pay their respects and gathered together. They had originally planned to hold a grand funeral after their son-in-law, Bai Shandian, arrived, but unexpectedly, Bai Shandian led a large group of people in early this morning and made a startling remark, revealing that their sect leader, Xiang Quan, might not actually be dead.

The group was discussing the matter privately in their guest room when they suddenly saw Elder Xiang rushing over, asking them to come down into the underground cave with him... Hearing that there was trouble in the sect, they were all filled with righteous indignation. They immediately grabbed their weapons and rushed out with Elder Xiang!

Bai Shandian was wary of these martial arts masters, knowing that not only were his men no match for them, but even the Eight Banners soldiers surrounding the Xiang Mansion wouldn't be enough to defeat these six! He hurriedly raised his hand to stop the soldiers: "Stop the search! Let's hear what he has to say!" Hongchen, however, was somewhat unwilling and whispered to Bai Shandian, "Why are you afraid of him? Even if we don't find the wanted criminal, Stinky Feet, these martial arts manuals from various schools are still evidence! Because the Southern Fist School is suspected of invading others' privacy! Once they circulate in the martial arts world, how can the various schools tolerate them? It'll be a bloodbath!"

Elder Xiang coldly said, "My Xiang family of Jiangnan is the leader of the Jiangnan martial arts world. The hall masters behind me are all the heads of their respective martial arts sects. As for the martial arts manuals here, they are all the result of the hard work of the heads of these sects and our sect. What is wrong with discussing martial arts based on martial arts? Although there are many martial arts sects in the world, they are nothing more than the seven major sects of Nan, Hong, Liu, Cai Li Fo, Mo, Wing Chun, and White Eyebrows."

Bai Shandian felt a surge of anger and couldn't help but say, "Father-in-law, you are an official from a prominent family, yet you don't seem to know much about the martial arts world! You talk about the Seven Great Schools, but those are just the martial arts schools in the south of China. You should know that there is a saying in the martial arts world: 'Southern Fist, Northern Leg.' For example, my Shaolin School is a martial arts school in the north."

At this moment, a hunchbacked old man emerged from behind the old man in the incense pavilion and said in a deep, hoarse voice, "While that may be true, Chinese martial arts have a long and rich history. It took countless generations of senior practitioners combining and researching techniques to create the various schools and styles we see today. You could say that my Choy Li Fut style also contains elements of Shaolin Kung Fu! This is because I created Choy Li Fut by fusing the Choy Family Kung Fu of Shaolin Temple, the Li Family Kung Fu of Xinhui by Li Youshan, and the Buddhist Kung Fu of Foshan by Lin Shirong!"

Beside him stood a tall, imposing middle-aged woman with a cold, ashen face. She said, "Take my Hung Kuen for example. It has many branches. Within my school alone, there are two main styles: the Five Elements Fist and the Ten Forms Fist. The Five Elements Fist is further divided into Metal Clamping, Wood Strike, Water Wave, Rocket, and Earth Fist styles. The Ten Forms Fist is even more complex, with ten elephant-shaped fist techniques: Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Leopard, Crane, Lion, Elephant, Horse, Monkey, and Leopard! According to the previous leaders of Hung Kuen, the founders of Hung Kuen were called the Five Ancestors of Hung Kuen, five sworn brothers. There was a high-ranking monk from Shaolin, a Taoist priest from Wudang, and a renowned martial arts master... These five predecessors shared a common spirit and generously shared their skills, practicing and researching together, thus creating the Hung Kuen school."

Elder Xiang laughed heartily, retorting to Bai Shandian, "What do you mean I don't understand the martial arts world? I think you're the one who's ignorant—you don't know your own limitations! If Chinese martial arts are to flourish, we must abandon sectarianism, gather the essence of all schools, leverage strengths and avoid weaknesses, and create new styles—that's the best strategy! This is the very principle behind the Southern Fist School founded by my daughter, Xiang Quan! The secret room you are in now is the sacred place where my daughter and her six hall masters studied Chinese martial arts. How can outsiders be allowed to enter at will? Bai Shandian, my daughter has just died tragically, her body is barely cold. As her husband, why aren't you trying to avenge her? What are you doing here? Get your men out of here right now!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Shandian and Hongchen exchanged glances, speechless for a moment. The atmosphere tense, a stalemate ensued. The air was thick with silence; you could hear a pin drop! Suddenly, Bai Shandian closed his eyes, as if deep in thought. After a moment, he sighed softly and began to sing: "Father loves..."

I haven't seen you for many years.

I woke up crying in my dream to find my own child's face.

The waning moon shines coldly outside the window at midnight.

When will I return home?

This song, "Remembering Jiangnan," is a nursery rhyme sung by his youngest son, Bai Jin, when he misses him. Does he miss his son now?

Of course, no one knew his current mood; they all thought he had gone mad in utter despair—what kind of time is this! With a formidable enemy at hand and masters surrounding him, what's wrong with him? And what kind of song is he singing!

Suddenly, several loud creaking sounds were heard, and another cave entrance appeared on the western stone wall! The entrance rose upwards, revealing a large hole before everyone! People were stunned for a moment, then a five- or six-year-old boy with braids ran out crying! Bai Shandian rushed to greet him, his eyes brimming with tears of joy! The boy, exquisitely beautiful, buried his face in his arms, crying, "Father! I've missed you so much!" Tears streamed down his face, and Bai Shandian also wept bitterly!

The old man was stunned!

Suddenly, another little girl, dressed as a princess, about eight or nine years old, ran out, laughing, "Father, what brings you here?" Behind her were two important figures, both with livid faces. It was Xiang Quan, dressed as a Han Chinese woman, and the handsome man with a feather fan and turban, named "Stinky Feet"! Hong Chen was stunned for a moment, then quickly shouted, "Quickly, arrest this wanted criminal! Don't let him escape!" He led the guards forward and surrounded Stinky Feet!

"You shameless bastard, White Lightning! You even used your youngest son! How utterly despicable!" Xiang Quan walked over, her eyes wide with anger, and pointed her finger at White Lightning's nose, berating him fiercely! It turned out that the four of them had been hiding in the secret chamber when White Lightning suddenly used his telepathic inner power to transmit his voice across the stone walls, singing the song of longing his youngest son had once sung to him. This immediately provoked a strong reaction from Little White Gold beside him, who kept shouting, "Father? Isn't that Father's voice? Ah, it's him! He's come to take me away, Mother! Father's back!"

He tried to activate the mechanism to open the door, but Xiang Quan pulled him back, holding him tightly in her arms, and whispered a scolding, "Don't speak loudly, or bad people will hear you!" He was confused, bewildered. His young, innocent mind couldn't understand why his mother was so afraid of his father, why she was hiding here, why she cruelly deprived him of the opportunity to see his father intimately, and why she said his father was a bad person. He was, after all, just a child, and he started crying and making a fuss!

After spending a few days with her mischievous nephew, the woman with stinky feet grew quite fond of him. Seeing his face flushed red and his cheeks streaked with tears, she felt a pang of sympathy and snatched Little White Gold from his sister's arms, coaxing and comforting him while wiping away his tears. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Little White Gold suddenly broke free and ran to a protruding blue brick a step away. He stepped lightly on it, and immediately, with a crunching sound, the cave door opened wide…

Seeing Bai Shandian's cunning, Xiang Quan, being a leader of the Southern martial arts world, restrained himself from making a move. Hong Quan and the five hall masters were both surprised and delighted to see that their sect leader was indeed unharmed. They rushed over and surrounded Xiang Quan, showering him with concern and warmth, leaving Bai Shandian standing there in the cold!