Romance of Dragons and Snakes

First, Tang Zichen explained the key differences between the basics of Bagua and Xingyi Quan before finally demonstrating the movements.

“Take a good look, of the five ways to issue power, the first is to chop, similar to the chopping and whipping motion of Bagua Zhang. Chopping means to resemble the motions of an axe. The second is to smash like how a bayonet or spear strikes by ramming through the person. The third is to drill, its movements is like how a fist will strike at an unusual angle or how a snake will sway to the sides before striking. The fourth is to pound, when issuing, the movements must be sudden and fierce like a cannon being shot out from a cannonball! The fifth is to cross, similar to the Returning Body Palm, both requires the usage of to throw away the enemy. As long as the enemy is close in hand, then you can throw them down, This fifth way contains methods to trip them.”

Tang Zichen had demonstrated the five motions before also showing Wang Chao an example of how to issue power with a posture that focused on the waist and legs. By the end, even Wang Chao had felt this was quite simple.

“The chopping fist originally derived from the ways of the knife. Bagua uses the knife as well, and since you’ve knowledge on that front, learning this won’t be hard. The other four fists you must learn to polish your skills on how to issue power, take a look at me first.”

With that, Tang Zichen leapt onto the vat of water and stabilized herself. With her fist held near her ribs and the palm of her hand facing the inside, she suddenly stabbed outwards with her hand.

Chi! The entire sandbag was suddenly stabbed by her hands, causing a hole to form. The sand inside it began to drip out in an instant.

The sandbag’s exterior was made from a thick canvas, but it had been penetrated so easily whereas a knife would have a hard time cutting into. But to Wang Chao, he wasn’t surprised by this.

If his sis Chen couldn’t stab into this sandbag, Wang Chao would definitely be surprised.

“This is the way to issue the smashing fist. It is like an arrow, a spear, or the point of a knife.” She explained. “Watch me issue the pounding fist!”

With that said, Tang Zichen’s foot pressed against the vat and sent her into the air. With her fist aimed downwards, she struck out fiercely against the sandbag.

Bang! The entire interior of the sandbag seemed to be like a firework as it exploded with sand flying in every direction. Even Wang Chao had hurriedly closed his eyes, but with his mouth wide open, sand had been thrown inside.

After the sand had fallen, Wang Chao began to spit out the sand in his mouth without stopping.

“The drilling fist takes after the element of water and is also called the Overturning Wave Jin. When a viper bites a person, they abide their time and sway their heads. Then, when your guard drops, they strike out and bite down with their teeth. At this moment, one must issue Jin.”

Tang Zichen demonstrated once more with an abrupt explosion of her fist. As if her fist was a snake entering its hole, Wang Chao couldn’t see it enter the sandbag as her entire arm went in. But then the arm exploded out from the other side without a single drop of sand leaking out from the hole.

“As for the crossing fist, I’ve told you before when I spun the ball all over my body. The crossing fist is the mother fist of the five Xingyi fists. You must learn this by yourself carefully.”

With the five fists being explained, Tang Zichen allowed Wang Chao to demonstrate for her.

That had added yet another assignment for him. Everyday he would learn the stances of the five fists of Xingyi Quan with the three integrals blended in. Slowly, he maintained a healthy life while also learning to issue power when striking the sandbag at night.

But this time, he was striking the sandbag from the ground instead of the water vats.

But after practicing the five Xingyi fists everyday, Wang Chao had realized that the fierceness of the fists was almost unnatural. Each fist was far stronger than the fists of the Bagua style.

If it weren’t for the foundation he had established while learning Bagua where he had to seal his pores, Wang Chao would have definitely been unable to seal his pores now with these fierce strikes.

But this way, Wang Chao could realize that after day and night training for an entire half month, his abdomen had become as hard as iron.

Even his center of gravity had changed so that when he focused on his tailbone, the hair on his arms would instantly straighten up as goosebumps formed all over his body like pellets!

Even the knuckles on his fists began to even out as it gained calluses from striking the sandbag.

At the same time, Wang Chao’s leg ligaments grew stronger as well as flexible. He could now kick up at a level near his chest.

But this leg strength had to be contributed mostly to his practice on top of the vat of water. Each time he had fallen down from it, his waist and legs still grew stronger thanks to the collisions with the floor and such.

But Wang Chao continued to grow stronger thanks to Tang Zichen’s instructions. If it weren’t for her, then Wang Chao would have fallen to his death on the very first day or be stuck in the hospital.

Half a month later, Tang Zichen finally began to teach the twelve postures of Xingyi Quan; Dragon, Tiger, Monkey, Horse, Chicken, Goshawk, Sparrow, Snake, Crocodile, Phoenix, Eagle, and Bear.

“Xingyi Quan has two types of Chinese boxing, one for issuing power, another for the postures. When in battle, combine both effectively. Each person has their own understanding and form their own style.”

Tang Zichen began to teach the 12 postures for the next month with a varying difference in focal focus in each posture as well as the distribution of gravity.

As Wang Chao learned the 12 postures, he began to feel that Chinese Boxing was growing quite complicated.

But before Wang Chao could learn them all completely, after the month was over, Tang Zichen spoke, “You can continue to learn the 12 postures on your own time. I’m going to teach you Taichi now!”

Tang Zichen grabbed a long spear from the weapons rack.

This spear was rather thick and long at about two heads taller than the average person. “The spear was suitable for soldiers on the battleground to kill hundreds with while on their horse. In Chinese boxing, whether it is Xingyi, Taichi, or Bagua, the spear is the most essential part. Past Xingyi masters have all started their own schools where each one formed their own special styles to fight. When a school has made this combination, it becomes their school’s killing weapon. This combination is then passed down as the school’s tradition.

“Back when Shang Yunxiang started the Shang style Xingyi which combined the attacks of bear and eagle. My branch of martial arts combines both dragons and snakes. The dragon is the horse, and the snake is the spear. From the ancient myths, the horse is the dragon embodied, and since the horse compliments the spear, the dragon compliments the snake and kills people like grass.”

“Taichi is an exceedingly simple martial art. There are only two moves, one is to use Hidden Jin and the other is to listen to the Jin of the other person. Borrow power to use power. This listening is not through the ears, but the pores! Both the “Fair Lady Works with Shuttles” or “Grasp the Bird’s Tail” were things that Yang Luchan used to deceive the high ranking officials.”

Tang Zichen spoke, “Pay attention, everything that I’ve said is within my assault of dragon and snake.”