Chapter 538: Vintage Newspaper! Chronicles of Huo Yuanjia!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The final cabinet creaked open, revealing a book nestled within. The system had priced it modestly; it was worth a few tens of thousands.
Upon closer inspection, the title read, “The Mighty Power Technique.”
“Holy smokes!” one exclaimed, “I was drinking water, and I nearly choked when I saw the title!”
“Hahaha, is this the legendary martial arts secret manual? The Mighty Power Technique?”
“The collector’s eclectic tastes are truly intriguing!”
“Who would have thought this unassuming individual is a kung fu enthusiast?”
“This title can give ‘The Buddha’s Palm’ a run for its money!” Luo Feng looked bemused, then he announced, “This is genuine!”
“Real or fake, does it matter?”
“Do real martial arts secret manuals even exist?”
“We are talking about the real world, not fantasy! There are no secret martial arts manuals!”
Luo Feng responded, “Indeed, reality and fiction are different realms. Yet, one cannot deny this technique’s existence. The Mighty Power Technique may sound like an exaggeration, but the content outlines a methodology for internal martial arts breathing!”
“Uh, host, are you okay?”
“Are we discussing an internal martial arts routine here?”
Luo Feng shut the book, “You would harbor fewer doubts if you knew the author.”
“Who penned it then?”
Luo Feng replied, “None other than our esteemed Chinese martial arts master, Du Xinwu!”
“No way, Master Du wrote this?”
“Who is Du Xinwu? I’ve never heard of him.’
“The host referred to him as ‘ours’, so he must be a Chinese master!”
“Listening to you, Luo Feng, is like attending an intensive course!”
Luo Feng elaborated, “Speaking of kung fu during the Republic period, you can’t bypass Du Xinwu. His fame might not eclipse Ip Man’s, but he was genuinely skilled. Du Xinwu easily places within the top five!”
Luo Feng had poured over numerous martial arts manuals, gaining substantial Imowledge of Chinese martial arts.
“During the Republic era, we saw an abundance of masters, marking a zenith in
Chinese martial arts. It’s incomparable to today’s jesters like Ma Baoguo!”
“The kung fu masters of the past were formidable, unlike today’s pseudo masters with a handful of disciples!”
“They mastered lethal techniques and earned their reputation through combat, none were frauds!”
Luo Feng brandished the book and proclaimed, “If you’re serious about learning martial arts, the methods in this book would prove effective.
However, martial arts training requires long-term commitment, best started from a young age.”
“Baguazhang?” he questioned, picking up another book titled with these three characters.
“Dong Haichuan’s Baguazhang was a sensation in the martial arts world!” “The world’s best martial artist, the late Qing martial saint, Sun Lutang!” Luo Feng inhaled sharply upon spotting a renowned Tai Chi manual. “Good heavens, these were all penned by national martial arts masters!” “I wouldn’t have guessed, I suppose it’s a handwritten copy of Baguazhang!” “Whether it’s an original is immaterial, what counts is the martial spirit.”
Luo Feng shifted his gaze to another secret manual labeled “Hung Ga.”
He had already come across a myriad of martial arts secret manuals, mostly handwritten copies. Each had a value ranging from tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand.
These were all relics from the past.
Unlike the modern churn of printed books, subjected to numerous revisions.
Upon opening the next cabinet, Luo Feng found a stack of newspapers titled “Shen Bao,” dating back to 1909. They contained stories about a Chinese strongman and a competition between Chinese and Western strongmen.
“All three newspapers cover the same event, which has been romanticized into numerous tales for future generations!”
“What story?
“The story of Huo Yuanjia! Specifically, the episode where Huo Yuanjia challenged a strongman. The real incident wasn’t as dramatized as in the novels. The challenge never took place because the strongman stipulated that Huo Yuanjia couldn’t use ankle hooks and finger jabs!” Luo Feng explained.
“Why on earth would they prohibit him? They might as well have tied him up and let them fight!”
“Didn’t they end up fighting? I heard Huo Yuanjia defeated him and was subsequently poisoned?”
“That’s what happens when you consume too much television and cinema. How could that be the truth?”
Luo Feng set down the newspaper and picked up a thread-bound book.
“This is the Youth Magazine!” he exclaimed.
It was filled with Chinese characters, all easily understood, and it dated back to 1916.
It was an issue published by Pioneer Chen.
Luo Feng remained reticent, given the sensitivity of discussing Old Chen’s contents.
Such vintage newspapers carry significant value.
However, they hadn’t yet stumbled upon anything extraordinarily valuable.
The goal of four billion was still far out of reach..
