Martial Arts Livestreaming
Chapter 160 - 146: A Promise Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold

Chapter 160: Chapter 146: A Promise Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold

Li Changsheng finished speaking about his son and grandson and didn’t stop there but continued to walk forward.

"Sun Lei, 13 years old, a joint drug enforcement operation across three cities in Yun Province. During the mission, he was stabbed seven times."

"Huang Wei, also from the joint operation of the three cities in the 13th year, took five bullets and couldn’t be saved."

"Zhang Quan’an, undercover twenty-one times, and the last time it went wrong."

...

Li Changsheng walked forward step by step, stopping at each tombstone, where he gave Wu Li and the others a brief introduction of how the owner of the grave died.

There were more than a hundred tombstones in the entire cemetery, and this man, over seventy years old, didn’t hesitate or pause for a moment as he went from one to the next.

The process lasted more than an hour, with Wu Li silently following behind, without interrupting.

The number of viewers in the live broadcast didn’t decrease due to the somewhat dry content; instead, it kept increasing.

After Li Changsheng finished with the last tombstone, he slowly turned around.

The old man looked somewhat weary as he faced the camera, "There are a total of one hundred and fifteen tombstones here, representing comrades from the Luo City Police Department who have sacrificed themselves in the past decade."

"Do you know why there are no photos on these tombstones, only names?" asked Li Changsheng.

Wu Li nodded, "Afraid that their families will be retaliated against by drug traffickers."

There was once a drug enforcement police officer who, on a mission, accidentally encountered his daughter and mother-in-law. Just because his daughter called out ’Daddy’, a few days later, the mother-in-law’s family was burned to death.

Therefore, after drug enforcement officers sacrifice themselves, most do not have tombstones erected to avoid drawing drug traffickers’ attention to their families who come to the graves. They don’t publish photos, leaving at most a name behind.

Li Changsheng nodded, "Originally, these comrades didn’t have tombstones. It was after I erected ones for Li Le and Li Tian that I suggested to the department that the rest of our comrades could also have their own here, and I would guard this place."

"In life they were nameless, and in death they could not manifest their glory. By having a tombstone here, if someone comes, I can tell others of their deeds."

Wu Li looked at the ground, devoid of fallen leaves and dust, and imagined the old man sweeping here alone every day.

Li Changsheng had retired in 2011. In 2012, he erected tombstones here for his two sons. By 2013, the rest of the tombstones were gradually completed, and since then, for seven years, he had stood guard here.

Perhaps every day he came to talk to his old comrades-in-arms, and over seven years, he became familiar with each person’s story, which allowed him to recount them without pause.

Actually, with Li Changsheng’s achievements, he could have had the chance to be promoted to the provincial office and become a department head before retiring, but he declined the opportunity for promotion several times, staying in Luo City until his retirement.

"My two sons were born here and died without ever backing down; if I left, wouldn’t I be a deserter? I won’t leave!"

This was his reply to the provincial office.

"Aren’t you worried about staying here?" asked Wu Li in a soft voice.

Li Changsheng snorted, "I’m an old man, what do I have to fear? Let them come!"

Wu Li nodded and didn’t ask further.

The group returned to the courtyard, where they saw an additional person wearing a police uniform.

Wu Li, leading the way, was the first to react and turned to block the camera, "Don’t film for now!"

The director was stunned and then understood, directing the cameraman to turn the camera away.

"Did you get anything?" asked Wu Li.

The cameraman shook his head, "No."

The person was obviously there to see Li Changsheng and dressed in a police uniform, which meant he was likely involved in drug enforcement too.

"Master," the newcomer greeted Li Changsheng upon seeing him, then looked at Wu Li and the rest behind him.

Li Changsheng turned to look and, seeing the cameraman hadn’t followed into the yard, nodded and pointed to Wu Li, "He’s from the TV station, making a show, and they came to interview me today."

"This is my disciple; he has been learning Baji from me for several years," Li Changsheng told Wu Li.

The person nodded to Wu Li and the others.

"Senior Li, since you have guests, we won’t disturb you any further," Wu Li said.

Li Changsheng thought for a moment, "You’ve come for my martial arts today, but didn’t get much content. Before you go, let me perform a set of fist techniques for you."

Wu Li replied, "Okay."

Li Changsheng asked his disciple to step aside and summoned the cameraman back in.

He stood in the middle of the courtyard, took an archer’s stance with his right elbow raised at the front and his left hand at his waist.

Taking a deep breath, the old man began to perform his fist routine, the movements not fast but sharp and powerful, full of energy.

"Angry hair erect on head, leaning on the railing, the relentless rain has ceased!"

The old man’s voice, full and powerful, carried on, hands unceasing in their movements.

Lifting hammer, explosive bow, rapid arrows!

"Raising my eyes, I bellow to the sky, with fierce ardor!"

— Dragon descends, Five Peaks toward Heaven Spike!

Wu Li recognized it, this was Baji Fist, Vajra Eight Forms!

"Thirty years of fame turned to dust, eight thousand miles of clouds and moon!" the old man recited loudly the poem "Man Jiang Hong".

— Fu Hu, Six Harmonies Ground Covering!

"Why wait in vain, youth passes by, the grief is pointless!"

— Mountain Splitting Palm, steel added to Splitting Mountain Axe!

"The shame of Jingkang, still unavenged.

The minister’s hatred, when will it be put out?"

— Exploring Horse Palm, Mountain Climbing and Horse Searching accurate!

"I drive my chariot, breaking through Helan Mountain’s breach!"

— Tiger Embrace, Circle Barrier Tiger Embrace rushing!

"Heroic aspirations starved for the flesh of foreign foes, laughing over the talk of thirst quenched by the blood of the Huns!"

— Bear Squat, Bear Squat hard push squeeze!

"Wait to start anew, to tidy up the old rivers and mountains, toward the heavenly palace!"

— Crane Step Push, Crane Step Push Mountain Steady!

As the last line of poetry finished, the Vajra Eight Forms also came to an end, and the old man slowly retracted his fighting stance.

Wu Li watched, spellbound. He felt from the old man an overwhelming presence:

It was the ferocity of one whose anger makes his hair stand on end!

It was the magnanimous bellowing to the heavens!

It was the hunger to consume the flesh of foreign enemies and the laughter over the thirst quenched by their blood that spoke of anger and fearlessness!

The ’power’ in the old man, similar to the Fist Intent Wu Li felt when he first used the Master-level Experience Card, showed that this was a different conception, representing two distinct intents of the fist.

This was the first time Wu Li felt the presence of Fist Intent from another martial artist.

After finishing the routine, Li Changsheng was visibly tired. He asked Wu Li to wait and went inside the house.

Moments later, he emerged with a roll of Xuan paper in hand and passed it to Wu Li.

"Thank you for coming to see me especially. This is for you, as a memento."

"Thank you, senior!" Wu Li accepted it with great respect.

Li Changsheng nodded, then turned and walked back into the house.

Watching his retreating figure, Wu Li clasped his fists tightly and did not let go for a long time.

...

Walking back to the parked courtyard, Wu Li chatted with the camera and his online friends for a while before ending the live broadcast.

"It’s getting late now, and it would be even later if we drive back into the city, so let’s just stay here tonight and relax for a day tomorrow," the director suggested.

This retirement home doubled as a vacation resort, open to the public and welcoming other guests.

Seeking Martial Arts had been a demonstrable success, so the TV station had allocated a generous budget, and the director took this opportunity to treat the crew.

"Sounds good to me," Wu Li had no objections.

The rest of the crew unanimously agreed, hands raised, "Thank you, Director!"

Cheers erupted from the group.

"We should thank Wu Li," said the director with a smile. "This place was his choice."

"Thank you, Brother Wu!"

"Thank you, Master Wu!"

The crew thanked Wu Li with smiles.

Wu Li knew the director was giving him favor, and he responded with a smile, "Everyone, eat and drink well tonight, my treat."

"Wow!"

Amidst the laughter, the group entered the reception hall.

There weren’t many visitors usually, so there were plenty of vacant rooms. The director generously booked one room per person for the six people in Wu Li’s group.

After checking in, Wu Li entered his room and unrolled the Xuan paper to reveal a written line in brush strokes:

"In standing talks, life and death as one, a promise worth a thousand in gold."

Wu Li read the words in his hands several times over.

Standing up, he felt something welling up inside that he wished to express, so he began practicing Xingyi Fist in his room, slowly, while recalling the earlier scene of Li Changsheng boxing and the song "Man Jiang Hong."

Gradually, Wu Li became immersed, each movement seemingly carrying deeper meaning than before.

"Bam bam bam, Wu Li, it’s time for dinner!"

After an uncertain amount of time, when the director knocked on the door, Wu Li snapped back to reality.

Looking at his hands, he pondered, "Fist Intent?"

"Wu Li?" the director’s voice came from outside again.

"Coming."

...

"Come on, everyone’s been working hard, I’ll toast to you all."

At the dinner table, the director said, raising his glass.

Everyone lifted their glasses and then started to enjoy the meal and drink.

Wu Li was quieter than usual, his mind still on the feeling he had while practicing boxing in the room.

"Wu Li," the director beside him called out.

"Hm?"

"Look, isn’t that person the disciple of Mr. Li that we met in the yard earlier?" The director pointed towards the entrance.

Wu Li looked up to see a man in police uniform entering the hall, the very person they had met in Mr. Li’s courtyard earlier.

"Yes, it’s him."

The man got an Experience Card at the front desk and went upstairs.

Shortly after, he came down dressed in casual clothes and found himself a table in the hall, as if he too wanted to have dinner.

"Why don’t we invite him to join us?" suggested the director.

Wu Li thought for a moment, "Okay, I’ll go ask."

He got up and approached, "Hello, my name is Wu Li."

The man looked up at Wu Li, "Wu Li, I know you. My name is Zhao Kai."

"You know me?" Wu Li was a bit surprised.

Zhao Kai smiled, "I’ve seen your program, Seeking Martial Arts, right? You came to visit my master today?"

Wu Li nodded, "Right, Brother Zhao, would you like to come over and have a drink with us?"

Zhao Kai hesitated for a moment, "Wouldn’t it be inconvenient?"

Wu Li laughed, "What’s inconvenient about it?"

Zhao Kai also laughed, nodded in agreement, and stood up, "Okay."

With the addition of Zhao Kai, there was a moment of silence at the table.

"Brother Zhao, let me toast to you!" Wu Li took the initiative to raise his glass.

"We toast to you too!"

The director and the rest of the crew all raised their glasses, filled with respect for the policeman after hearing about Li Changsheng’s deeds today.

Zhao Kai stood up, clinked glasses with everyone, and they all drained their drinks.

Much was said without words.

Sitting back down, Zhao Kai took the initiative to ask, "Wu Li, the phrase that Master gave you earlier, what was it?"

Wu Li slowly replied, "In standing talks, life and death as one, a promise worth a thousand in gold."

Zhao Kai nodded and took a sip of his drink, "That was the oath my master made when he joined the army."

"To remain here, he couldn’t let his family visit, or it might bring them danger. In fact, when Master chose to stay here alone, he was prepared to be without family," Zhao Kai said.

"He’s been here for seven years, and many have advised him to return home to enjoy his later years, but he refuses. He says he needs to stay and tell more people about his comrades. So he’s always happy when people like you come to interview him."

Zhao Kai poured another glass for himself and drank it down, "Actually, I know Master doesn’t want to face his family because he feels he owes them. It was he who raised his son and grandson into heroes, into martyrs."

Wu Li also filled his glass and drank in one go, "To Mr. Li!"

Everyone raised their glasses, "To Mr. Li!"

"Enlisted at eighteen, retired at thirty, worked in drug enforcement for thirty-five years, and now he’s alone, guarding those tombstones. The oath my master made when he joined the army, he’s fulfilled it!"

In standing talks, life and death as one, a promise worth a thousand in gold!

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