Martial Arts Livestreaming
Chapter 159 - 145 Martial Artist Guards the National Gate

Chapter 159: Chapter 145 Martial Artist Guards the National Gate

"Given that, why did the live stream say that masters of Traditional Martial Arts are in the military? According to the host’s theory, even the truly formidable ’King of Soldiers’ might not necessarily have strong combat skills, right?"

"Since even Special Soldiers aren’t required to have particularly strong combat skills, that’s even more the case for regular troops."

"Right, so are there any masters in the military?"

...

Netizens brought up a new question, and the director tossed it to Wu Li, who now felt that having Wu Li on the variety show was really appropriate: famous, topical, skilled, good-looking, and notably eloquent and quick-witted, a far cry from the brute of a Martial Artist who only knew how to practice martial arts in his mind.

"The military actually likes to recruit soldiers with a background in Martial Arts. I’ve heard that some special forces units will specifically recruit from Martial Arts Schools, and there are also troops that specialize in combat training, which is for competing in matches and striving for honor; so yes, there are indeed combat masters in the military. Also, some special units’ combat instructors, or people like Zhongnanhai bodyguards or Special Agents, in situations where it’s inconvenient to use guns, require a very high level of combat capability. Therefore, among these people, there might also be combat masters, the kind that are more practical and real-world focused," said Wu Li facing the camera.

"Indeed, in situations where it’s inconvenient to use guns, combat skills are very important. The military or the state should also be specifically training such talents, right?"

"What is the identity of the person the host is visiting this time?"

Finally, someone started to ask about Li Changsheng’s identity, so Wu Li shared the information he had found online last night with the netizens:

"Li Changsheng, born in 1946, joined the army in 1964, and after being discharged in 1976, came to Luo City to become a Drug Enforcement Police. During his tenure, Li Changsheng repeatedly distinguished himself and in 1983 was promoted to Deputy Director of the Luo City Police Department..."

"Damn, seven years from an ordinary staff member to a deputy division-level position, what kind of speed is that?" exclaimed a netizen who understood the industry.

"How long does it normally take to get promoted?"

"If everything goes smoothly, it would take about twelve years for an ordinary staff member to be promoted to deputy division-level, but for most, they spend their whole life at a regular staff level, you all know what I mean."

"The host said this person was in drug enforcement, you can imagine how many accomplishments he had!"

"That’s crossing the line between life and death countless times, respect!"

"This is a truly experienced master with rich real combat experience, it’s too bad he’s over seventy years old now."

"Should there be a successor then?"

...

Holding a tablet with Li Changsheng’s information, Wu Li read out some of the honors received by the other party and then his tone suddenly turned solemn:

"In 1993, Li Changsheng’s eldest son, Li Le, also became a Drug Enforcement Police and voluntarily requested to be an undercover agent."

"In 1995, Li Le was sacrificed, at the young age of 24."

"That same year, Li Changsheng’s younger son, Li Tian, voluntarily applied to transfer to the Luo City Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Squad, and Li Changsheng agreed."

"In 2002, Li Tian was sacrificed during a mission. His son was just six years old that year."

"In 2018, the son of Li Tian, Li Ping, applied for a transfer to the Luo City Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Squad, and Li Changsheng, who was retired by then, wrote a recommendation letter for his grandson."

"In 2019, Li Ping was involved in a drug raid operation. Sensing something amiss, the drug trafficker attempted to flee in his car, and Li Ping gave chase by car. Eventually, he forced the trafficker’s car to stop, and a shootout ensued, with Li Ping sacrificing his life on the spot."

Wu Li read the information with as calm a voice as he could manage. It wasn’t until he saw these details last night that he understood why Gu Qing said this was a person worthy of respect, truly deserving the phrase ’for the country and the people.’

"This is too..."

"Our peaceful days exist because there are those who carry the burden and march forward for us!"

"They say the greatest hero serves the country and the people, but for such a hero, I hope they’d also consider themselves for once."

...

The atmosphere in the live stream room turned somber.

Wu Li fell silent for a moment before finally speaking: "When we meet the senior Li later, I won’t bring up his family matters, and I ask everyone else to refrain from asking, too. Let’s just talk about Martial Arts."

Having said this, Wu Li looked towards the director.

The director nodded, "Don’t worry, I’ll only field questions related to Martial Arts."

...

An hour later, the Seeking Martial Arts program team’s car arrived at a nursing home in the suburbs, where Li Changsheng was living.

After explaining their intentions to the guard, the program team’s car entered into a courtyard.

The place looked more like a vacation village, surrounded by mountains and water, beautiful scenery. The courtyard was filled with plants and flowers, and several elderly people were walking around.

Wu Li got out of the car, followed by the director and the cameraman.

He approached one of the old men and smiled as he spoke, "Hello, I’d like to ask where Mr. Li Changsheng lives?"

The old man glanced at the camera behind Wu Li, not too surprised, "Are you journalists? Old Li doesn’t usually stay here; he has a separate courtyard."

"He doesn’t live here?" Wu Li was taken aback.

The old man nodded, "Right, he only comes over for meals, usually he stays alone in a courtyard over there."

Wu Li asked, "Then could you please tell us how to get there?"

The old man gave directions to Wu Li and his group; they left the large courtyard and took a small path through the woods, walking for about ten minutes, they saw a low wall enclosing a small yard.

As they approached the gate, Wu Li saw a very thin elderly man wearing black cloth shoes practicing punches in the yard.

Wu Li recognized at a glance that the old man was practicing Baji Fist and used System Detection on him, revealing that the old man’s Baji Fist was at Master Level.

Finding another Master Level Martial Artist, this time, Wu Li felt no joy in his heart.

The old man also heard the movement from Wu Li and his group, turned his head to look over, and showed some surprise when he saw the camera, "Who are you all?"

"Are you the senior Li Changsheng?" Wu Li asked.

Li Changsheng nodded.

"Senior Li, hello. My name is Wu Li, and I practice Xingyi Fist." Wu Li took a few steps forward and greeted Li Changsheng with a clasped-fist salute.

Li Changsheng seemed a little surprised, probably not expecting this to be the first thing Wu Li would say.

"Senior Li, we’re working on a TV program related to Traditional Martial Arts. It’s about visiting various martial artists in the community who have mastered traditional martial arts. I learned about you from Master Gu Qing, so I made a special trip to visit you," said Wu Li.

When Li Changsheng heard Gu Qing’s name, his expression softened considerably.

"Come in, have a seat."

The group entered the courtyard and Li Changsheng asked everyone to sit.

"Do you know Gu Qing?" Li Changsheng took the initiative to ask.

Wu Li replied, "I happened to meet Master Gu’s disciple, and later, I got to know Master Gu through his disciple."

Li Changsheng nodded. "His disciple, seems to be called Zhao something. He mentioned him to me a few times. He’s practiced Bagua Palm quite well. Have you exchanged moves with his disciple?"

Wu Li: "We have sparred."

Li Changsheng: "How far has his disciple reached now?"

Wu Li: "Extract Kan and Fill Li."

Li Changsheng exclaimed, "Old Gu has taken on a good disciple."

Then he looked at Wu Li. "From this, it seems your Xingyi Fist must have already ’Returned to Innate’?"

Wu Li nodded.

Li Changsheng: "The younger generation is indeed formidable."

Wu Li: "I heard from Master Gu that you, Senior Li, had practiced your Baji Fist to the point of Hum-Ha Breathing and Thunder Sound Following."

Baji Fist’s Hum-Ha Breathing is a type of breathing method used to assist in the release of power and to enhance force when striking; at a higher realm, using Hum-Ha Breathing, the body will make a booming sound similar to thunder when striking hence it’s called Thunder Sound Following, a signature of Master Level Baji Fist practitioners.

Li Changsheng laughed upon hearing this. "That was when I was young. I can’t compare to that now. If you had come ten years earlier, I could still have tried to spar with you."

Wu Li smiled as well. "This time I’m here mainly to find out about some of your past experiences in the military and also to ask if you know of any other martial artists skilled in Traditional Martial Arts?"

Li Changsheng thought for a moment, "In the military, that was more than fifty years ago, I’ve forgotten a lot. There are some things I remember, but there are regulations, I can’t discuss them. As for other martial artists, those I know, Gu Qing knows as well. He only introduced you to me, and the only person I can introduce to you is him."

Wu Li: "No problem, Senior. Just talk about whatever you can, or perhaps share some stories from when you first practiced Baji Fist."

Li Changsheng’s eyes gazed into the distance as if he were lost in memories.

"My lineage of Baji Fist is a family legacy, initially..."

He slowly recounted his experiences practicing the fist art as a young man. His memories came in fits and starts; sometimes when he truly could not remember, he would fall silent for a long while before speaking again.

The courtyard was very quiet, the only sound was the slow speech of the old man.

After a while, Li Changsheng paused. He looked towards Wu Li’s camera crew: "Your program, it’s going to be broadcast on television, right?"

Wu Li nodded.

Li Changsheng: "Then do you know about my son and grandson?"

Wu Li hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Li Changsheng stood up. "In that case, I’ll take you to a place."

Wu Li also stood. "Senior, where are we going?"

Li Changsheng did not speak, merely walked ahead in silence.

The group followed him out of the courtyard, walking along the mountain path for about twenty minutes, until they arrived at a cemetery.

The cemetery was large, and at first glance, there were nearly a hundred tombstones.

Following Li Changsheng into the cemetery, Wu Li noticed that the tombstones only had names inscribed on them, with no photographs.

The place appeared to be well-maintained, as the ground was very clean.

Li Changsheng stopped in front of a tombstone inscribed with the name: Li Le.

He turned to look at Wu Li, pointing at the tombstone. "This is my son."

Wu Li nodded silently.

"Undercover, his identity was exposed. He was tortured by drug traffickers for 45 hours to reveal the identities of his colleagues, but he said nothing in the end. We were able to catch the traffickers thanks to another undercover."

Looking at the tombstone, Li Changsheng spoke calmly.

Then he took two more steps forward, to a tombstone next to him inscribed with the words ’Li Tian’.

"This is also my son. In ’02, after receiving information about a deal in Luo City, he led the charge. A gunfight broke out, and he led from the front, killing two on spot. While apprehending another, he was killed by the grenade the target had on him."

Two more steps forward, he came to a tombstone bearing the name Li Ping.

"This is my grandson. In ’19, while chasing down fleeing traffickers, he used his car to block theirs. He was shot seven times, but those drug traffickers didn’t get away in the end."

Li Changsheng looked at the tombstones before him, his back toward Wu Li.

"When I was learning to box, my father told me, ’Scholars should do what scholars ought to do, and martial artists should do what martial artists ought to do.’"

"Later, I passed down the same words to my son and grandson. They, too, practiced martial arts with me; they were like me, martial artists, and they did what they should have done."

Wu Li looked at the tombstones before him, speechless for a long time.

Three generations of the Li family, martial artists guarding the country’s gates!

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