59: Chapter 58 From the Inside Out

Li Changsheng listened from the side, feeling a fire burning in his heart, as if it were about to burst forth.

It is often said that one must first learn morality before learning martial arts, and learn etiquette before learning craft.

What is martial arts? The character 'Wu' (martial) is formed by the components for 'stop' and 'spear.' High-level martial arts attains the Dao and brings peace to the world; mid-level martial arts cultivates wisdom and calms the body and mind; low-level martial arts refines skills to prevent harm.

Therefore, the original purpose of martial arts was for self-defense and resisting foreign enemies. In fact, many styles of fist arts were born from battlefield spear techniques and combat methods, which also illustrates the significance of martial arts.

Yet, nowadays, there are people using martial arts to harm others, carrying out the deeds of the wandering knights of old.

In ancient times, 'wandering knight' was not exactly a positive term. In the writings of Master Jin, those knights-errant were indeed heroes who saved the country and the people.

But in reality, wandering knights and knights-errant were actually just a group of unemployed vagrants; in modern terms, they would be thugs or hoodlums.

For instance, after the State of Qin unified the world, it strictly cracked down on these wandering knights who did not farm or work, as these people spent their days wandering about.

When people do not work or do proper business, they are always thinking of some Evil Path or crooked ways, wanting to gather crowds to cause trouble.

Of course, I have digressed. At this moment, the few people in the courtyard were silent, with only the onlookers outside the village discussing the matter incessantly.

The Legacy of the Mo Family Fist was already a problem, and now the villagers were even more terrified at the mention of practicing martial arts.

Seeing this, Li Changsheng felt helpless. Perhaps before long, the essence of another martial art would be lost.

However, upon hearing Li Changsheng's account, Elder Mo still hurriedly organized people to search. A large group of people rushed to search inside and outside the village and made inquiries.

Only then did they learn that, in the morning, a man wearing a hooded windbreaker had indeed entered the village, and not long after, he had left in a hurry.

This was half an hour ago, meaning that after Li Changsheng clashed with him, that person had also left without looking back.

As for chasing him, after careful consideration, they decided against it. The country roads were complex and winding; it was hard to say whether they could even catch up. Even if they did, with such a dangerous individual, they feared that four or five village lads would be killed in retaliation.

Li Changsheng wanted to try, but was stopped by the sharp gaze of Elder Zhang.

When everyone gathered in the courtyard again, just then, two men in police uniforms walked in.

Li Changsheng took one look and was immediately stunned.

"Captain Zheng, Captain Zhang!"

The people who arrived were none other than Captain Zhang from the Nanshan Branch and Captain Zheng from the Armed Police Detachment. Both were dressed in formal uniforms with grave expressions, though they were also slightly surprised to see Li Changsheng.

"Hmm! You... aren't you Consultant Li? Why are you here too?"

Captain Zhang was speechless, thinking to himself that this kid was everywhere.

"Uh, Captain Zhang, I am not only here, I am also a person with knowledge of the situation," Li Changsheng said awkwardly, not expecting to run into them again.

"What? You are a person with knowledge of the situation? Then tell us exactly what happened."

Facing the questions from the two acquaintances, Li Changsheng naturally told them everything in detail.

"So it seems you clashed with the killer, but you didn't see the person's appearance clearly. Wearing a hood and a windbreaker, height around 1.75 meters, is that right?" Captain Zhang asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, more or less. This person should be related to those previous cases," Li Changsheng nodded.

"Yes, it was our brother units here who told us, which is why we rushed over."

Captain Zhang nodded helplessly. Fortunately, Dongguan was not far from Shenzhen, and it was quick to take the highway.

"However, there is a new development in the case."

"A new development?" Li Changsheng asked suspiciously.

"Yes, after successively killing the successors of Choy Li Fut and Mo Family Fist, that person killed another successor of the Liu Family Fist. Adding this Mo Xinliang, there is one more."

As Captain Zhang spoke, his expression turned bitter. The situation had developed to this point, and its impact was already extremely severe.

Now, the higher-ups had given them a strict order: they must apprehend the suspect this month, or at the very least, achieve a Breakthrough.

But such a dangerous individual was not easy to capture. The person not only possessed extremely strong counter-reconnaissance capabilities but also superb combat skills. In tight spaces, firearms were ineffective against such an expert.

Li Changsheng also felt that the matter was becoming increasingly tricky; this killer was far too bold. However, judging from his previous experience clashing with him, the opponent was a lunatic, so this was not surprising.

Just then, a voice broke the silence.

"In that case, the matter can be connected."

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice; the person speaking was none other than Zhang Youdao.

"Who is this..."

Captain Zhang and Captain Zheng both looked at Zhang Youdao with curiosity, casting a glance at Li Changsheng.

"This is Elder Zhang Youdao, a Great Master of Chinese Martial Arts," Li Changsheng introduced concisely.

"So it is Elder Zhang. I wonder what your thoughts are, Elder?"

Upon hearing this, the look in Captain Zheng's eyes as he gazed at the elder brightened. To be worthy of the title of Great Master of Chinese Martial Arts, the other party must certainly have some real skills.

Zhang Youdao just smiled politely, then his expression turned grave again. After organizing his thoughts slightly, he spoke:

"Choy Li Fut's fists, Mo Family's legs, Liu Family's blades—these were the Martial Artists of the past who wanted to walk the path of All-Martial Arts!"

Hearing the elder's words, everyone present was stunned.

"Elder... Elder Zhang, what does this mean?" Captain Zheng asked, puzzled.

"It is very simple. This is a mnemonic: first train the fists, then train the legs, then Grappling, then use weapons, from the inside out. It is just a martial arts mnemonic from the past for those who wanted to become comprehensive experts."

"In fact, this old man only wants to say it is wishful thinking. A person spends countless energy just practicing one kind of kung fu in a lifetime, so how can one be proficient in everything? Moreover, this person even wants to practice every style to an extreme level."

Zhang Youdao shook his head. He had painstakingly studied for so many years and knew a great many kinds of kung fu; it could be said he covered almost everything from fist and leg techniques to Grappling and weapons.

But so what? What he was most proficient in was still fist techniques; the others could only be considered passable.

"Elder, are you trying to say that this person wants to train to achieve peerless martial arts?" Li Changsheng felt it was somewhat magical.

What era is this? How can there still be such a person?

"Heh, you find it strange? It is just that this era is different, so it is normal for you to find it strange. If you go back sixty or seventy years, there were not a few people who had such thoughts."

Zhang Youdao chuckled. He crouched down, looked at Mo Xinliang's corpse, and said calmly:

"He killed an extra Mo Family Fist successor, perhaps because he discovered he had made a mistake and that the person who truly inherited the essence of the Mo Family Fist was here, so he made an extra trip."

"However, Elder Zhang, didn't you say first Grappling and then weapons? This Grappling is missing one person." Captain Zheng suddenly said.

Upon hearing this, the elder glanced at him and gave a light huff: "Is the one who died named Xiao Yong? He was not only a Liu Family Fist successor, proficient in the Liu family's fists and blades, but also proficient in Southern-style Grappling. Therefore, by killing him, he filled two quotas."

"I imagine the body at that time must have been twisted abnormally, with not only traces of blade fighting but also traces of joint distortion, right?"

"This..."

For a moment, Captain Zhang and Captain Zheng were speechless, looking at each other, and both saw the look of shock in the other's eyes.

This elder's analysis was exactly the same as the forensic pathologist's determination.

"Then is the next step 'from the inside out'? But what does 'from the inside out' mean?" Li Changsheng also spoke up at this moment.

"From the inside out refers to Internal Martial Arts. If I am not mistaken, his next targets should be the successors of Taiji, Baguazhang, and Xingyi Fist." Zhang Youdao's tone was calm, but it made Li Changsheng's heart skip a beat.