Romance of Dragons and Snakes

Chapter 106: Flying Horse Treading on Sparrow, A Combination of Techniques!

“A woman who went by the surname of Tang.” When Wang Chao heard Chen Aiyang’s words, Wang Chao’s mind immediately thought of an indescribable memory. This feeling had been like a landslide near the ocean and an eruption of a volcano.

“What was her name?” As he spoke, Wang Chao’s began to quaver, no longer having that calm and collected tone.

“Hm?” Sensing that Wang Chao’s heart had been perturbed, Chen Aiyang gave a curious stare. When it came to a master of Chinese boxing like Wang Chao, even if Mount Tai itself was crumbling in front of him, he would not bat an eye. After cultivating his mind to a high state, for something like this to cause so much shock, Chen Aiyang couldn’t help but feel curious.

“Eh…uh…no, it’s nothing. Do you happen to know what her full name was?” Wang Chao quickly calmed his nerves and adopted a calm expression.

Chen Aiyang shook his head, “Before the competition, she only said her family name was Tang without mention of her full name. After the matter, I wasn’t able to find out any details to her identity. It’s almost as if she has no identity. But, the world is truly vast with hidden dragons and crouching tigers throughout the lands.”

“How old was she?” Wang Chao asked.

“She looked to be 25 or 26 years old. But with her martial arts reaching perfection and the realm of nothing, her appearances cannot be an accurate guess to her real age. However, I would guess that she is at least 30 years old.” Chen Aiyang thought.

“What did she look like?” Wang Chao pressed on.

“I can’t describe her well, but there is a recording of our fight from that day, take a look! Her martial arts has truly reached the pinnacle of it all, but I don’t know just how she managed to do such a feat. She held back on that day, otherwise, I would have been killed there and then.” Chen Aiyang spoke with some lingering fear. But he shook his head as if trying not to believe the reality of what happened in that fight.

“You have a recording! Why didn’t you say that sooner?” Wang Chao spoke.

When Chen Aiyang said that he had fought against a woman with the family name of Tang, Wang Chao couldn’t help but think of the Tang Zichen would left him three years ago.

The very same Tang Zichen who had changed his life.

Tang Zichen’s skill at martial arts had brought her to a level where water would only reach to her knees, a level far beyond Chen Aiyang. By the time she had written the True Record of Guoshu, she had already been 28 years old. It had been four or five years since then, and with Chen Aiyang’s estimation that she was around 30 years old, this would fit with her approximate age.

The perception of an expert was quite intense, and that was especially true for an expert like Chen Aiyang who had reached the Transforming Jin realm.

The signs were obvious, the woman with the family name of Tang was definitely Tang Zichen. But Wang Chao couldn’t help but feel anxious and didn’t dare accept it. Chen Aiyang only knew that her last name was Tang after all.

“Brother Wang, what has gotten into you today for you to be so jumpy?” Chen Aiyang’s eyebrows narrowed together.

Smiling, Wang Chao barely managed to rein in his nerves, “Let’s first take a look at the recording.”

Making a phone call, Chen Aiyang relayed an order for someone to bring the recording over. Soon enough, the recording was played back on the LCD TV mounted on the wall. With a flickering motion, the fight within the lounge of the headquarters could be seen on its display.

Spellbound, Wang Chao was entranced by the purple-dressed woman on the display. Every camera angle, every word, and every movement had been a breath of fresh air to him. It had left such a deep and immeasurable imprint on Wang Chao that he would never be able to get rid of it.

Seeing this image, the memories of three years ago that had nearly been forgotten all came rushing back such as practicing with Tang Zichen at the shores of Lake Tianxing. Every scene, every action, everything came flowing back to him in crystal clear memory.

Walking on the water jars, hitting the sandbags, and taking a tumble onto the ground. Each time he had a bruise, it had been Tang Zichen who carefully used medicine or her needles to treat his wounds.

Every single time he practiced with the spear and felt his arms begin to ache, it had been Tang Zichen who helped massage the arms to lax the muscles.

Every time he practiced another set of stances, it had been her who corrected him. Every mnemonic of martial arts he had learned, it had been her who explained it to him.

In those two years, food, clothes, living–everything had been provided for by Tang Zichen.

To Wang Chao, Tang Zichen had been like his beloved elder sister who was looking after her weak younger brother lovingly. This type of feeling had suddenly came gushing out as soon as he saw the familiar figure of her on the display.

“Your younger brother has grown up, did you know that? But yet, your younger brother has still not caught up with you. I cannot pass down your teachings just yet.” Wang Chao spoke to himself in a voice only he could hear with a look of anguish.

His train of thought had brought him to that evening.

The sunset was giving off its final radiance over the glittering Lake Tianxing.

With both oars drifting through the waters, the tiny boat gently floated to the center of the water.

Tang Zichen stepped upon the water, and floated away from him.

From that moment on, Wang Chao had never seen her again. From that moment on in Wang Chao’s heart, this sister of his was akin to the Immortals from Daoism that descended into the mortal world to enlighten him.

From that day, that familiar sensation of melodious and pure singing would forever drift through Wang Chao’s heart.

“Together we paddle this boat,

Through the waves it shall float,

A beautiful white tower rising above the waters

This scenery surrounded by trees and the red wall moat,

The boat is gentle, and upon the waters it feels fair,

Blowing ahead with this cool and refreshing air……”

The song of a child was filled with a liveliness that contained no impurities.

Ah, the secular world. If only it was like the songs of a child in its cheerfulness and purity. A world without guilt, how beautiful that would be.

Before Tang Zichen left, Wang Chao’s heart had been like a child.

“We are all merely mortals. No matter how strong our martial arts or how exquisite our skill, we still must struggle to live within the world of mortals. Perhaps your meaning was to leave behind a legacy that would allow for martial arts to slowly pass down one generation from the next. You’ve said to me many times before, there is another world I should not step into. And that I should live my life in peace. But, even now, I have slowly stepped into the very same world as yours. In this world, I cannot be as happy as a child. I cannot be as clean, and neither will my song be as carefree. Maybe I have failed to live up to your expectations.”

The pure and clean song of a child, Tang Zichen’s Immortal figure, the battles of the secular world, bloody murder, money, power, and seduction. Everything had already mixed together to choke Wang Chao’s heart.

Wang Chao’s mind had already oscillated back and forth many times before arriving back at a deep realm of thinking.

This realm of thinking was quite curious. It was almost as if he could see through everything in the outside world and could hear all. But. His heart seemed as if it had fled into the void and stood detached from this outside world.

His body was in the secular world, but his mind stood above the clouds.

“Master Chen, her martial arts is truly impeccable. Her inner organs and muscles are both capable of emitting the sounds of thunder. As with the universe, she is one, and so she has returned to a realm of nothing. You are truly not an opponent for her.” Wang Chao’s mind had snapped back in place. In that split-second, he had remembered something important.

“When in the Jianghu, one cannot move freely. Sis Chen, you were right. We martial artists are not Immortals. Despite our hearts being able to depart from the secular world, our bodies remain connected to it. Even now, it seems that you are no exception to it.”

“In the Jianghu, we must help each other in the most humble circumstances. With my current identity, even if I were to seek you out. It may not necessarily be a good thing to meet. With my current skill and miniscule achievements, I am still a ways away from your level.”

Wang Chao gave a deep exhale.

In a split moment, he had put himself in the shoes of another. After thinking about him in the place of Tang Zichen, he had made his decision.

Even in the Jianghu, one mustn’t forget to help each other in the most humble circumstances.

Even up to this day, Tang Zichen remained in Wang Chao’s mind. She was not some sort of unattainable dream–but she too was a member of the secular world.

Martial artists were not Immortals. Their hearts could transcend, but their bodies could not.

Wang Chao’s calm demeanor had been such that even Chen Aiyang had been unable to see the billows of emotions underneath his expression.

Turning off the monitor, Chen Aiyang said, “In this world, there will always be grandmasters. The grandmasters Yang Luchan, Dong Haichuan, Li Luoneng and Sun Lu-tang, they have already been lost to the sands of time. All that is left of them are legends meant for the later generations to admire. Even after a hundred years since then with so many experts appearing one after another, none of them have reached the degree the grandmasters of the past were capable of. Within this flourishing and decaying century, I believe that the grandmasters of now are only capable of the attaining the Transforming realm. In the future, amongst these men, perhaps you or I will be one of them, but who can tell? The world rises, the world falls, as does martial arts.”

“You are right, but even then, it is still a long ways from now. We shouldn’t speak of this for now.” Wang Chao slowly recollected himself. “I came here today because I heard that you were injured and that you were sent a challenge. So I wanted to be your replacement for the match. How heavy are your injuries?”

“It’s nothing too serious, the meridians within my chest has been injured. But with a month of recuperation, I should heal up. Your help this time, I truly apologize for the trouble.” Chen Aiyang had a melancholic expression on his face. Because of his loss, it could be seen that the power struggle had damaged his mood.

“Don’t say those words. We are practitioners of Chinese boxing, our promises are ones that must be kept. I believe that in the future, if something were to happen to me, you would come lend a hand as well.” Wang Chao spoke. “But, this challenger is another fellow disciple with Zhang Guangming; a Canadian martial artist by the name of Cheng Shanming. Do you know of any potential information?”

“Zhang Guangming was born in the 1980s. In the past, he studied Bajiquan under the tutelage of Manchurian Baji master Huo Qingyun. After seven or eight years, Huo Qingyun passed away, causing Zhang Guangming to leave for Vietnam where he established his name. In that match, it was actually by luck that I won. In terms of skill, he is not inferior to mine own.”

Chen Aiyang began to think back on his memories, “That competition was truthfully the most shocking match I have ever been in. But after that victory, I was given money and fame. Not only did Zhang Guangming learn Bajiquan, but he was also an expert of Baguazhang. I’ve only heard Zhu Hongzhi mention the younger disciple once; he is a direct descendant of the Cheng Sect’s Baguazhang. Cheng Mingshan’s patriarchal grandfather is the elder Cheng Tinghua.”

“Baguazhang. In the past, Li Shuwen taught Huo Diange, and in turn, Huo Diange taught Huo Qingyun. And in those eight years before Huo Qingyun passed away, he taught the nephew of Cheng Tinghua. The two sects helped each other, thus, the lineage of Huo Qingyun has Baguazhang mixed in with their Bajiquan.”

Wang Chao nodded his head, “The Wulin of the past would often times help each other. That is a story that everyone knows. Sun Lu-Tang had once helped Hao Weizhen and later received a secret to Taichi. But Cheng Shanming, how is his skill at martial arts?”

“His martial arts has not yet reached the Transforming Jin realm, but he has at the very least reached the pinnacle of Hidden Jin. But that was three or four years ago, and Zhu Hongzhi had only mentioned him once. Whether he has improved or degraded, I do not know. But this battle is not one where either of us has any guarantees.”

Chen Aiyang spoke, “The Chinese Revival Society had only left the letter two days ago. With there only seven days to respond, that means we only have five days left.”

“To be able to fight with such a high-leveled expert, that is something I have always dreamed of.” Wang Chao smiled.

Chen Aiyang gave a determined stare at Wang Chao for a moment before suddenly speaking, “Master Wang. You are open-minded, and have the air of a master. For the sake of an insignificant friend like me, you are willing to risk your own life. I cannot hold back anything from you. You must know that despite me being known for my Taichi in the martial arts world, my strongest killing move is in fact not from Taichi.”

“Eh?!” Wang Chao gave a startled look.

“My killing move is a combination of techniques, the “Flying Horse Treading on Sparrow”.

TL Note: A joke of the real life statue: Galloping Horse Treading On Flying Sparrow

马踏飞燕 (The statue) and 飞马踏燕 (The killing move)

“Flying Horse Treading Sparrow!” Wang Chao was stunned.

“This is an ancient technique from the past, a killing move on the battlefield that was passed down from the Han Dynasty. Afterwards, it became a secret that was later honed by countless of masters of martial arts. Soon, it became a one-strike kill move. In essence, it is a combination of the horse stance and the sparrow stance of Xingyiquan.” Chen Aiyang explained.

“In truth, many disciplines of martial arts originated from the movements of animals. Xingyi is like Bagua, Bagua is like Taichi, and Taichi is like Xingyi. Wingchun is like Bajiquan, and Bajiquan is like Hung Ga. Everything has their similarities.” Wang Chao explained.

“You speak correctly.” Chen Aiyang said. “I saw your Pounding Jin of the horse stance. Already it has reached a stage where countless permutations can evolve from it. As long as you perfect the sparrow stance, then your attainments in martial arts will be able to lead you to being able to master the form and spirit of the “Flying Horse Treading on Sparrow”. If used within a match, then your chances of winning will be that much larger!”