Chapter 0014: Kicking the Gym (Part 1)

*Bang... Bang... Bang...*

Three men were walking by the training ground when they heard the sounds of someone striking a wooden post. One of the thinner men asked, 

"Brothers, what's that sound?" 

"That's Big Brother practicing his punches in the training hall. He practices every day around this time," the tall, lean man replied, a hint of disdain on his face. 

The thinner man didn't notice the expressions of the other two and excitedly said, "Then can we go watch? If Second Brother's punches are so powerful, Big Brother must be even more impressive!" 

The last man, with a square face, shook his head. 

"Oh, we can't watch? But Big Brother must be practicing some really amazing moves!" The thinner man seemed disappointed. "What a pity." 

"No, Sixzi, you misunderstood." 

"Misunderstood? How?" 

"Big Brother is practicing the Horse Stance Punch that Second Brother taught you yesterday. It's not that we can't watch; it's just that there's nothing special about it!" 

"Ah, no way! Big Brother is practicing that? But didn't Second Brother say that the Horse Stance Punch is the most basic move?" The thin man, Sixzi, was puzzled. 

"Who knows? Big Brother's always like that. If it's Second Brother supervising us, sometimes he teaches us some moves, and they're quite useful. I even used the moves Second Brother taught me to take down a local thug. But when Big Brother's supervising, he just makes us do the Horse Stance Punch. It's so boring!" said the square-faced man. 

"How could that be? Isn't Big Brother the one who started training the earliest?" 

"Yeah, Big Brother did start first, but he was lucky. He was just a bookworm back then. Unlike Second Brother, who was out in the world early on and had powerful martial arts skills!" 

"So, Second Brother is stronger than Big Brother?" Sixzi asked curiously. 

"Of course, but it's said that two years ago, Second Brother lost to Big Brother!" said the tall, lean man. 

"You don't know the full story. At that time, Second Brother accidentally stepped on a piece of wood, lost his balance, and the fight was interrupted when Master arrived. If it had continued, Big Brother would have definitely lost!" 

"Ah, so that's what happened!" 

"Of course. Second Brother knows so many martial arts moves, while Big Brother just keeps practicing the Horse Stance Punch. There's no way Big Brother could match Second Brother. I've heard that Master has taught Second Brother the Huo Family Fist now. Big Brother is no longer Second Brother's match!" 

"That's true!" Sixzi nodded, thinking about Huo Yuanjia's prowess in the arena. Indeed, the Huo Family Fist was an impressive martial art. 

"So, Sixzi, if you want to learn martial arts well, you should focus on learning from Second Brother. If you can master just one or two of Second Brother's moves, you'll be able to walk confidently through Tianjin. And if you can learn one or two of Master's moves, then..." 

"Enough with the daydreaming! Let's hurry to the training hall. Second Brother's teaching punches this morning!" 

"Let's go, then!" Upon hearing that Liu Zhensheng would be teaching, Sixzi grabbed the other two, and they rushed to the training hall. 

**At the gate of Huo Family Manor.**

"Who are you?" A guard from the outer disciples of Huo Family stopped three men trying to enter. 

"Don't you know where you are?" 

"Where is this place?" the leading middle-aged man asked, smiling. 

"You don't know how to read?" The guard pointed to the plaque above the gate. "This is Huo Family Manor!" 

"Huo Family Manor? I'm looking for Huo Yuanjia, is he here?" 

"My master isn't here. If you want to see him, come back another day!" The guard spoke politely, assuming the man was an elder, since he addressed Huo Yuanjia by name. 

"Huo Yuanjia isn't here? Then is Liu Zhensheng here? Tell him to come out!" 

"Who are you exactly?" Now the guard knew these men were troublemakers and asked coldly. 

"Yangjia Village, Yang Jun!" The leader of the group stepped forward. 

"What...?" The guard's eyes widened. 

The man named Yang Jun was the younger brother of Yang Yi, who had been killed by Huo Yuanjia in the arena. It seemed this was a revenge visit. Yang Jun had likely chosen this day to come because he knew Huo Yuanjia wasn't around. Outside of Huo Yuanjia, the only other person in the Huo family who could be considered a challenge was Liu Zhensheng. As for Chen Zheng, Yang Jun didn't think much of him—after all, a bookworm from four years ago couldn't be that strong. 

"You're the one who killed my brother, but he signed a death contract! He lost fair and square, it's your fault for not abiding by the martial arts code!" 

"I'm not breaking the rules. I'm here to kick the gym. I'm here in my own name, tell Huo Yuanjia to come out!"