Amidst the tranquil surroundings of pine trees insouthern Qing Tao Hills, Lao San Shou enjoyed his solitude by drinking wine from a jug after his friend De Qi's and his daughter's departure with his disciple Kai Seven.
Reflecting on recent events, he harboured regret over his decision to allow Kai to leave. If not for them, he might have taken more drastic action, even disowning Kai or leaving him to be dealt with by those three Hu Fa brothers.
His frustration stemmed from feeling deceived and taken advantage of, particularly as he had invested his time and effort into training Kai into a warrior and better person he should be. While doing so during their time together, he also saw in Kai a reflection of his younger self thirty years ago.
Despite his easy-going and jovial demeanour, he bore a sombre past marked by his behavior, betrayal and financial ruin. His misguided friendships had left him bankrupt and burdened with debt, with his wife, Ping Er, bearing the brunt of their financial struggles by doing several jobs just to keep them both surviving and making ends meet.
Her passing on the day of Yin Er's birth compounded his joy and sorrow in equal measure, leaving him to entrust his daughter into the care of his friend amidst mounting creditors and their assassins who led him on the run and in hiding. That was precisely why he eventually chose to live in the woods rather than towns and cities.
As a skilled warrior and former member of now-disbanded Huang Ming Manor Sect, his expulsion had been the result of his reckless behaviour and disregard for the sect's principles. His past indiscretions, including an affair that resulted in Ping Er's pregnancy, further contributed to his downfall gradually.
Now, observing Kai, San Shou saw echoes of his own youthful mistakes and recognized the potential consequences if Kai failed to amend his ways. Frustrated by the young man's apparent ingratitude and recklessness, he grappled with the fear of history repeating itself. Despite the counsel of his daughter and friend to let Kai go and offer guidance to the Highness, he remained troubled by the possibility of Kai following a similar path that led to his plight.
At this point, Kai Seven stumbled into the hut, catching his master off guard.
"Hey! Where have you been and why did you untie your hands?" His master stood up; his concern evident as he observed bruises on Kai's face.
As Kai hesitated to respond, his master's worry deepened. "What happened to you? Did you get into a fight with someone?"
"Master, I don't want to talk about it!" Kai became angry about that incident involving him and his friends at Dai En brothel.
"Hey, hey, come and take a seat." He urged, motioning for Kai to sit at the bench. "Tell me what happened."
Knowing that his master already became upset over him accompanying his daughter to see and provide Highness consultation, Kai did not want to agitate him further but maintained silence.
"Kai, haven't I already told you?" His master's voice carried a mix of frustration and disappointment. "Just because I teach you some basics does not mean you can take on the whole world. But you never listen! No matter how good you think you are, there will always be others better than you."
In an unexpected turn, his master began pouring some wine upon Kai's face causing Kai to wince in pain.
"Hey, master, what're you doing? That hurts!" he exclaimed, instinctively touching his bruised face.
Unfazed by Kai's protests, his master explained, "Young man, I am treating your wounds. Consider it another favour you owe me. Now, tell me, how did you end up in a fight when you were supposed to be accompanying my daughter to see the Highness?"
"Master, I don't want to talk about it." Kai remained adamant about indulging further details.
Instead he opted to change the subject, adopting a more serious tone as he addressed his master. "Master, I have been here with you for over a month now, haven't I?"
His master nodded but then posed a question of his own. "What's wrong? Do you intend to run away again?"
Kai hesitated before responding. For he was uncertain of what to say next. He simply did not wish to recount the events that transpired at Dai En brothel where he intended to celebrate with his friends, only to end up being assaulted by a young brown-haired man claiming to be some law enforcer. Additionally, his god-sister Yin Er, who was also his master's daughter, could not accompany him back due to her duties as among the Highness's maids.
Tired of being lectured by his master, his father, and even his god-sister about his past troubles, Kai did not want to cause his master any further worry by revealing his recent ordeal.
After a brief pause, Kai spoke up. "Master, I apologize for all the trouble I caused you. I decided to dedicate myself in learning from you."
His words caught his master off guard, causing him to pause in his drinking. "Really? Why this sudden change in your attitude?" he inquired.
"Because if I don't take my training seriously, I will be letting you and my family down, including your daughter, who is also my god sister," Kai explained.
Despite his earnest words, his thoughts lingered on seeking revenge against the newly appointed brown-haired law enforcer if their paths crossed again.
His master chuckled before responding, "You should have had this attitude from the start. But considering your current condition," He gestured to Kai's bruised face, "let's wait for you to heal first before we resume our training, okay?"
Kai nodded in agreement.
Two days later, Lao San Shou and his disciple Kai Seven were back at the exact same spot.
For that was his wooden hut's only compartment besides the open-air kitchen where they trained and slept together besides surrounding woods. There were no other rooms and San Shou wanted to keep it that way so that he could monitor his disciple despite being outwitted by him recently.
As he poured a bowl of wine from the jug, he offered it to Kai and said: "Drink up."
Perplexed by the sudden request, Kai questioned, "Why you ask me to drink wine all of a sudden?"
"Just follow my instructions. Once you finished, I teach you another skill," San Shou replied, attaching a condition to his offer.
Though hesitant, Kai complied and drank the wine as instructed.
"Now we can get started." San Shou announced, his smile indicating his readiness.
Suddenly, he seized Kai's arm and propelled him aside, away from the table and bench. Without further ado, he delivered a swift palm blow to his disciple's chest, causing Kai to stagger backward.
With practiced fluidity, San Shou began to demonstrate his expertise, showcasing the mastery of his sole and most formidable skill.
Drunken martial arts, also known as Zui Quan, was more than just a fighting style.
It was an art form that embodied the unpredictable and fluid nature of intoxication.
Lao San Shou's mastery of this unique skill stemmed from a moment of desperation in his life, where he found himself drunk yet forced to defend against creditors and assassins. From that lowest point, he discovered and developed this hidden talent within himself, one that allowed him to transform seemingly clumsy movements into a deadly and effective fighting technique.
As he demonstrated his expertise in drunken martial arts, his movements defied expectation. Each sway and stumble flowed seamlessly into the next, creating an illusion of vulnerability that masked his true intent. Behind the facade of intoxication lay a calculated and precise strategy, designed to disorient and disarm opponents before delivering decisive strikes.
For Kai Seven, witnessing his master's display was both bewildering and enlightening.
At first, the chaotic nature of the movements left him struggling to find meaning amidst the seeming randomness. Yet, as he observed more closely, he began to discern the underlying logic behind each action. What appeared as disorganized flailing revealed itself to be a carefully orchestrated dance of combat, with each motion serving a strategic purpose.
As his master continued to showcase his mastery, his appreciation for drunken martial arts deepened. Despite the initial confusion, he could not help but be captivated by the grace and efficiency with which his master executed each technique.
Though he may not have fully understood the intricacies of the style, he recognized the power and skill it embodied, leaving him in awe of his master's abilities.
Observing his disciple's puzzled expression, Lao San Shou maintained his smile while remaining focused on demonstrating his skill.
"Hey! Don't just sit there and watch!" he remarked, encouraging Kai to actively participate. "If you want to learn from me, come and spar with me!"
Without hesitation, Kai Seven initiated his own attack but still caught off guard by his master's sudden palm strike to his chest.
However, much like his previous encounter with the arrogant young man, he could not land any blows as his master skilfully blocked his attacks and countered with precise palm strikes.
As he staggered back, he realized that what initially seemed like nonsensical movements from his master were indeed effective and even deadly.
Refusing to yield despite the risk of further injury, he attempted a body flip followed by a roundhouse kick, only to be thwarted by his master's adept defensive maneuvers, resulting in another strike to his chest.
"As I said before and again, I am your master and always better than you." His master resumed his normal standing posture and still smiled.
Despite the setbacks, Kai remained determined but given his three successive defeats and not wanting to risk further injury, he had no choice but to nod and agree with his master.
In the days and weeks that followed, Lao San Shou continued to train Kai Seven relentlessly.
They practiced not only his formidable Zui Quan skill but also advanced punching, leaping and kicking techniques, both within the confines of their wooden hut at night and in the surrounding woods during the day when the weather permitted.
Furthermore, San Shou imparted his knowledge of flying daggers and archery to Kai. This decision stemmed from Kai's accidental acquisition of emerald crossbow, seven arrows, and five sacred daggers found in a jade treasure chest, which belonged to the Hu Fa brothers' late leader..
While acknowledging the possibility of his assumptions being wrong, San Shou believed that these skills were essential for Kai's development, especially if he were to fulfil Hu Fa brothers' expectations of becoming their next leader.
On the first day of following month, San Shou rose from his slumber as usual, only to find his disciple missing.
Shocked by his absence, he called out for him, searching every nook and cranny of his hut and the surrounding woods, but to no avail. It was not until he returned to his customary spot at the table for wine and a meal that he noticed a handwritten note left behind by his disciple.
Master,
Thank you for your guidance for the past 2 months.
Learning and mastering what you taught me, I'm now more than ready to face and challenge anybody.
I miss my family very much and like to return home.
At the same time, I have an important task to fulfil.
So forgive me for leaving you once again without informing you.
From your disciple
Kai Seven
Upon reading those words, San Shou again felt doubtful and upset about his disciple's actions. While now sensing his sincerity and commitment to learn and develop from his teachings, his disciple remained rash and reckless. Despite his reassurances, he could not shake the feeling of foreboding that settled over him. As in his disciple's recklessness would lead him into more trouble, perhaps more than just a bruised face.
Er Fen and Chi Feng were now on Dai En Brothel rooftop garden where they first met each other.
The only difference was now they were entirely on their own as Chi Feng lost his master whom he was deeply devoted to when his master was alive, and she now being freed from serving men for now.
Unlike other men she was forced to serve upon by Madam Huang, she felt perfectly comfortable with Chi Feng even though he was mute and could not speak other than just conveying his expressions and body language which took her a while to comprehend.
Witnessing how committed he was to his master and fellow disciple at Dai Ming cemetery she and owner Lady Li Shi accompanied him with as well as his dedicated swordplay, she began to develop feelings for him despite sensing he might not feel the same about her despite helping her twice.
At this moment, she began having a vague recollection of having met him before even their encounter at Dai En. Of someone who looked like him and saving her from being raped by another group of men. Then again, since this happened so long ago and she was unable to recollect further, she would consider here as where they first met.
"How do you find my cooking?" She asked with a smile as he ate what she prepared for him in the same small containers.
Chi Feng nodded in appreciation as he savoured the meal Er Fen had prepared for him. With each bite, he conveyed his gratitude for her hospitality.
Once he finished eating, he closed the containers and returned them to Er Fen with a smile. Then, reaching into his pocket, he presented a red needle ball bought and given to him by his late master. With a gesture, he offered it to Er Fen as a token of his repayment for her kindness.
"What's this?" Curious, Er Fen examined the red ball in her hands, puzzled by its significance.
Chi Feng could only gesture with his hands, indicating needles and a round shape, since he could not convey the full meaning verbally
"Is this a needle ball?" Er Fen ventured, seeking clarification. "But isn't this a gift from your master? Are you sure you want to give it to me?"
In response, Chi Feng simply nodded, his silent gestures speaking volumes about his intentions.
"Thank you," Er Fen said, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Actually, you don't have to give me anything in return. So long as you enjoy my cooking, I will be very happy."
Chi Feng returned her smile warmly, his silent expression conveying his appreciation for her understanding and acceptance of his gift.
At midnight, the Grand Chancellor's residence exuded an air of quiet dignity and authority, standing as a beacon of power in the darkness.
Despite being warned by his new mentor, Lady Li Shi, not to take matters into his own hands, Chi Feng refused to heed her advice. Riding his sleek DQ-8 red and black hoverbike, he moved swiftly and silently while staying concealed within the shadows of the trees. Memories of how his senior disciple and master died drove him to seek justice on his own terms, even if it meant venturing into perilous territory alone and laying down his life as well.
Clad in his new red and black biker armor, he exuded an aura of determination while mounted on his bike, waiting patiently for the opportune moment to strike. His helmet mask, adorned with intricate designs matching the colors of his armor, concealed and casted his face in shadow while enhancing his imposing presence. Behind the visor, his eyes burned with fierce resolve.
At his side, securely fastened to his waist, hung his trusty beam saber, gleaming with a faint luminescence in the dim light. The weapon, a symbol of his martial prowess and unwavering resolve, served as a reminder of the task at hand to confront Premier Hu and his cohorts and exact justice for the lives they had taken.
Fuming with anger and nursing the sting of humiliation inflicted by both the Highness and Empress Dowager, Hu Qi refused to accept defeat passively.
Memory of the stinging slaps delivered by Eunuch Lin under the Highness's command still burned fresh in his mind, a constant reminder of his failed attempt to violate her.
Utilizing his communications link, he contacted his aunt, Madam Tang, for support in his time of need. In response, a hovercraft, accompanied by a squadron of ten hover bikers as his personal bodyguards, was swiftly dispatched to retrieve and bring him back to his uncle's residence.
With his plans now in disarray due to Empress Demeika's oversight, he needed to reevaluate his strategies from scratch. Betrayed by those he intended to manipulate, he decided to turn to his uncle for solace and assistance, despite his aunt's prior warnings about the potential repercussions of antagonizing the Highness.
Even ensconced within the air-conditioned craft, he could still feel the lingering pain from bruises on both sides of his face.
In the stillness of the night, Chi Feng crouched low behind the cover of foliage, his eyes fixed intently on the approaching hovercraft and bikes.
As the convoy approached, he readied into action, his hand gripping his beam saber handle. Just as he prepared to accelerate his bike and launch his attack, chaos erupted. Without warning, three of the bodyguards were felled by a barrage of arrows, their lifeless bodies tumbling from their hover bikes to the ground below.
Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, he hesitated, his initial plan thrown into disarray by the unexpected assault. For a fleeting moment, he wrestled with the decision to proceed with his attack or to retreat and reassess the situation. Sensing the uncertainty in the air, he opted for caution, choosing to bide his time and observe from the safety of the shadows.
Feeling that he had learnt enough from his master, Kai Seven decided to return to Dai Capital City and seek vengeance against that arrogant new law enforcer.
Upon reuniting with his four friends, who had also been injured while defending him at Dai En brothel, he learnt that the young man was Hu Qi, nephew of Grand Chancellor Premier Hu. Hu had also taken over as new West District major and commander following the abrupt departure of Li Neng Yuan and his family.
Aware that openly challenging Hu Qi in Dai En Brothel or open streets of Capital City would attract unwanted attention, he devised a plan to infiltrate the Grand Chancellor's residence, despite its heavy security and restricted access to commoners like himself.
Learning from his friends that Hu had recently incurred wrath and face punishment from the Highness, he all the more decided to make matters into his hands.
Equipped with his adept tree-climbing skills and backpack consisting of crossbow, seven arrows, and two sacred daggers, he patiently awaited his opportunity. Upon seeing the hovercraft descending with the bikers, he seized the moment to aim and unleash a barrage of arrows from his crossbow, leveraging upon the archery techniques he recently learnt from his master.
After deploying all his seven arrows, achieving three hits and four misses, he boldly emerged from his concealment by leaping and landing before the hovercraft and its remaining bikers. As the top bubble glass of the hovercraft cockpit lifted open, his anticipation peaked. Out emerged the familiar figure of the brown-haired young man, dressed in his customary white attire and magneto tunic.
"Oh, it's you!" The young man remarked as he stepped out of the craft to face Kai.
"That's right. It's me! You didn't expect, did you?" With determination, Kai responded, withdrawing his twin sacred emerald daggers in readiness for the confrontation ahead.
The remaining bodyguards stood poised, their blasters and hover bike turret guns at the ready.
Upon noticing the bruise on the young man's face, Kai could not resist a taunt. "What's wrong with your face? Been in a scuffle with someone else? Looks like karma is catching up with you, without me even lifting a finger."
Indignant at the long green-haired fellow's arrogance and sarcasm, Hu Qi countered, "Last time I spared you, and yet you are still here courting your own demise."
Unfazed, the green-haired fellow responded, "Since you've already got hit by someone else, I won't take advantage. If you kneel and apologize for what you did to me and my friends, I let you off."
"Since you chose to court death, I grant your wish!" Hu Qi declared. With swift precision, he drew his magnum blaster and unleashed two crimson energy bolts, reminiscent of how he dispatched both Dai Commanders Fu and Kuang.
With only his twin daggers for defense, Kai Seven found himself in a precarious position.
Desperation fuelled his movements as he deftly deflected the crimson energy bolts hurtling towards him. The absence of arrows rendered his crossbow useless, leaving him to rely solely on his agility and skill.
Yet, his opponent showed no signs of relenting but pressed forward with determination, firing shot after shot with unwavering accuracy. Each bolt seemed to close in on Kai with increasing intensity, leaving him with little room to maneuver.
Remembering his master's teachings, Kai decided to gamble on the Flying Daggers technique, hurling his only weapons towards his adversary.
However, fortune favoured his opponent, who effortlessly intercepted the daggers mid-air before flinging them back at Kai with precision.
The twin daggers found their mark, embedding themselves firmly into Kai's shoulders and pinning him against the tree upon impact. Before he could recover, his opponent was already upon him, pressing the barrel of the magnum blaster against Kai's forehead.
"Your skills have certainly improved but compared to me, you are still far from the mark." It was his opponent's turn to taunt him as Kai felt full pain upon being stabbed by his own daggers into his shoulders and pinned to the tree truck. "I'm afraid, this time you don't have any chance to retaliate anymore."
Amidst the tension, the sudden roar of an approaching bike pierced the air, signalling the arrival of an unexpected rider.
The remaining bodyguards sprang into action, unleashing a barrage of firepower with blasters and bike turret guns in response, but their efforts were in vain against the agility and speed of the newcomer.
In a blur of motion, the assailant swiftly dispatched the trio with illuminating blue blade, wielded with lethal precision while still balanced upon black and red bike. As the dust settled, the rider now closed in on Hu Qi, his arrival causing a ripple of shock to pass through the scene.
Hu Qi, caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events, found himself facing a new and unknown threat, his expression mirroring the astonishment that Kai had experienced only moments before.
As he continued to unleash a relentless stream of crimson bolts from his blaster, his frustration grew as each shot failed to find its mark against the agile and elusive new assailant. Despite his best efforts, it soon became apparent that his firepower was proving ineffective against this unexpected adversary who deflected every bolt with his blade easily.
Before he could fully comprehend the situation, Hu Qi found himself disarmed and defenceless, his blaster rendered useless as it was swiftly taken from him by the assassin. Now at the mercy of the dark rider and his illuminating blue blade at his still injured and bandaged neck, Hu Qi realized the gravity of his predicament, finding himself in exact position as Kai seconds ago.
Unlike his opponent, Hu Qi was not trained in close-quarters combat, his expertise more on marksmanship rather than swordsmanship. Without any handheld weapon at his disposal and the assassin maintaining his advantage by remaining balanced on bike, he could not counter effectively.
Then a laughter suddenly rang into the atmosphere.
"Splendid! Absolutely splendid!"
Chi Feng turned to see a dark-bearded man clad in robes of dark and sky-blue, accompanied by a retinue of Dai guards, emerging from automatic opening gates.
"What a brilliant show you just put up! Being able to defeat my guards and even my nephew easily and quickly." The man complimented.
Approaching Chi Feng, he continued: "Since you are so good in riding bike and swordsmanship, why don't you offer your services to me and the Majesty as one of our bodyguards instead? If you want, I can arrange for you to work for me immediately and you never have to worry about money again."
Chi Feng deactivated his beam saber. Just as he turned from his opponent and was about to start his bike again, he was being halted by the bearded man, asking: "Please hold on! You don't believe me? Do you know who I am? If not, let me tell you. I'm Grand Chancellor Premier Hu and head of Imperial Royal Circle."
This revelation ignited a firestorm of rage within Chi Feng, who had long sought vengeance against this very man for the death of his senior disciple and master. In a surge of fury, he abruptly turned his bike towards the Grand Chancellor and his guards, reactivating and brandishing his beam saber with intent.
But before he could strike, a cloud of crimson smoke enveloped the scene, obscuring everything from view. In the ensuing chaos, he was incapacitated by a pair of mysterious assailants on dark hoverbikes, their identities concealed behind black masks.
In that critical moment, Kai Seven managed to extract himself from the grip of his own daggers, the pain in his shoulders intensifying with each movement.
Struggling to maintain his balance, he staggered away, his hands stained with blood, a testament to the severity of his wounds.
Though weakened and in agony, Kai knew he had to get help fast to survive.