Chapter 45

With a teasing smile he says to Jin, "How's that for martial arts? Hope our small exchange hasn't disappointed you yet Master Jin."

He rushes into a jump in the air kicking his legs consecutively to the upper body.

Using the opportunity as he falls Tony hits a punch to his stomach making him fly in the air.

Catching himself Jin did a mid-air somersault landing on the ground.

Rushing back into close combat with a short distance sidekick to Tony's left rib-cage.

Which he easily defends against by moving his body slightly backwards as the kick closes in.

Using momentous speed, he catches that leg with his arms and hits a punch on the open space of his ribs.

The hit sent him on the ground suffering in agony as he held his broken rib.

Not allowing a single breath of moment to be wasted, he got to the stunned enemy and kicked Jin's head in the ear.

As he was running towards Jin he spoke, "Your first mistake, even before the fight began, was looking down on your enemy. To let down your guard, is to ask for a beating."

Stunning Jin as he head hits the ground, trying to stand back up but was too dazed.

Following that kick to his head Tony launches another kick to his stomach.

Sailing on the floor of the living room before the force was squeezed to a stop as his body backs against the wooden door. Producing a quake on his body.

Holding his stomach he coughs out some blood due to the great internal injury that will take some time to recover from.

With a fearful expression as he with the help of his men stood back up again, "My northern boxing has lost to your southern one."

Tony shakes his head and calmly answers back, "Is not the style of martial arts. The weakness lies in your own skills. Don't let self-defeat cover the truth that lies in your heart."

Ending the fight the group of northerns opened the door and went outside the door with their heads down.

Too humiliated to stare into the eyes of their onlookers.

Gone was the original arrogance and prideful ways of Jin. Some of the crowd look with anger, some with pity, others with hate.

"So who won?" someone from the crowd asks.

"Look how depressed he is. He must have lost." A man from the crowd jeers.

"Get lost! Go back to your hometown!"

"Get lost, you out-of-towners!

The people were clapping happily in excitement that a villain was defeated. Shouting in joy to each other for regaining Foshan's reputation.

Captain Li came through the entrance excitedly saluting Tony, "Master Hui Liang! You fought very well!"

Lin was carrying the injured group of martial arts masters coming in to congratulate, "Brother Hui Liang, this time you've not only regained the honor of our martial arts clubs. But also the reputation of Foshan."

Hearing all these flatters Tony only smiled and shook his hand.

Telling Lin sincerely, "It is only a small matter, no need to exaggerate."

"Master Ip Man, you've taught an excellent student," the martial arts masters complimented. Ip Man recieve it mildly with a kung fu salute.

Winning or losing is only a matter of skills, where there's success there will also be failure.

Tony took their compliments with a grain of salt, because he knows arrogance invites ruin, whereas humility invites growth.

It was night time as Jin and his group of friends walked with their heads bowed down in the quiet street.

Some citizens were walking past them pointing fingers at Jin and gossiping among themselves.

One of his men seeing the people that's pointing fingers at them got very angry.

Putting on an intimidating furious expression and was rolling up his sleeves about to walk towards them for a beating.

Jin who still had his head bowed down in silence pulled back his men.

Saying to him in a commanding voice, "Zhang, isn't it already disgraceful enough?" Shaking his head, while also rubbing his stomach in hunger.

He walks and sees a food stall selling hot sweet potatoes.

Walking to the stall owner Jin reached into his brown coat for some coins to buy some food for his men.

Reaching out of the coat pockets he opens his palm to see only a few spare coins.

The stall owner recognizing who Jin was saids to him, "Aren't you the Northerner who got defeated by Ip Man's student. Stop stalling my business, are you going to buy or not."

Jin stopped his hesitation and put his coins on the counter.

Slowly letting his hand leave the touch of those coins, still staring at them as the stall owner took them into his own hands to count down.

Finishing counting the coins, the stall owner took a white wet cloth and grabbed two sweet potatoes from the bamboo steamer. Handing them into the hands of Jin.

Feeling the warmth of the potatoes in his cold fingers. Jin took a deep sigh before breaking the two potatoes apart and handing them to his men. Choosing to eat with the smallest piece of potato he has broken apart.

"Here, this is our dinner tonight," Jin says in a low tone as he hands them the broken potatoes.

The youngest of his men Zhang pushes his piece away, insisting on putting it into the hands of Jin.

"No Brother Jin, I can't take this large piece," Zhang says in mandarin.

"I'm telling you to eat, so eat," Jin insists as he puts the potato into Zhang who breathed a small sigh.

Knowing that once his brother decides on something he won't change his mind.

The men were crouching on the grounds and sitting like beggars on the walls of the silent street.

There was this mourning air in the atmosphere as they all sat in silence.

Taking in small bites of the potato, to fully savory the sweetness of each and every bite.