Chapter 23: The Power of Iron Sand Palm

  The 25th instructor training class was stationed at the training ground, where the recruits were sitting on the ground in twos and threes, resting. Standing at the edge of the training ground were three instructors, one of whom was Liang Dawei.

  Li Da Wei looked like he was in a bad mood, his face had been gloomy all along. His gaze would occasionally sweep over the crowd to Chu Tian Ge, with some complex emotions in his eyes. Zeng Che had gone to the cafeteria to catch someone, but it seemed that he had seen through his intentions and kicked the problem back to him. In the Special Affairs Department, the higher-ups were always right, and obedience was paramount, so although Li Da Wei was unwilling, he could only accept this task that was doomed from the start. However, regardless of whether he really wanted to catch someone or not, looking at Chu Tian Ge's reputation among the students, it was unlikely that he would be able to capture him in public - the students were fearless and dared to do anything. The problem was that although the higher-ups of the 25th Division had expressed their support, they had also ambiguously stated that the military was not suitable for taking action, so their so-called "support" became empty words. As for the special training group's students, it was pointless to expect anything from them - since they found out that the "Hebei Incident" was caused by the "Anti-Japanese Heroes", those guys had become their idols and were now worshipping them... Li Da Wei thought to himself, Chu Tian Ge's image was gradually merging with that of a porcupine, making his head ache.

  Liang Dawei was paying attention to Chu Tian Ge, who in turn was also noticing him and intentionally or unintentionally hiding himself among the crowd. Before coming, Ouyang Yun had specifically instructed him that all actions should prioritize safety, and if it's really not possible, then retreat. These words warmed his heart and also solidified his determination to complete this "glorious mission".

  The two people's eyes seemed to unintentionally yet intentionally collide a few times, under Liang Dawei's initiative (Chu Tiange thought so), with a momentum that was about to spark. He decided to use the last move that Ouyang Yun had taught him.

  Perhaps it was a tacit understanding between the two brothers, but Chu Tian Ge didn't know that at almost the same time, Ouyang Yun was also using this move. The name of this move was called "Small Path Message".

  He mysteriously asked the students around him: "Have you heard?"

  "What?"

  "A certain high-ranking official of the National Government has already signed an agreement with the Japanese."

  "What agreement is being signed again? Won't it be another Tanggu Agreement?"

  "Almost, I heard one thing about our training class."

  "Huh?" "Come on, say it."...

  "Japanese demand dissolution of 25th Student Training Corps."

  "What? What's with the Japanese? He says disband and we disband?"

  "What a Japanese said is nothing but if it were ordered by the Military Commission?"

  "What's going on?!" "Is this military committee surnamed China or Japan?" "Where did you hear that from, isn't it a rumor?"...

  "Rumors? Then just wait and see."

  "Brother Chu, I believe in you." "The training class has been disbanded, what are we going to do?"

  Chu Tian Ge and others were just waiting for this sentence, he quickly added: "I've already thought of a place to go."

  "Chu Tian Ge, where are you going?"

  "29th Army Academic Brigade."

  "29th Army?" "The one that defeated the Japanese devils at Xifengkou and made them drop their helmets and armor?" "I know about the 29th Army, 'The Big Sword March' was written for them." "Brother Chu, can you take me with you?" "I want to go too."

  "Going, everyone knows Ouyang Yun?"

  "Of course I know, aren't they the 'Anti-Japanese Heroes' who are as famous as you?"

  "He is actually Shen Yun."

  "Ah, you mean Shen Yun is actually Ouyang Yun?"

  "Yes, he is my elder brother. He has already contacted Song, the commander of the 29th Army. I don't know what you think, but we have made up our minds. As soon as the training class is dismissed, we will immediately go to the 29th Army."

  "I'm going too." "Chu big brother, you must take me with you!"

  ……

  The instructors found that the recruits had suddenly gathered together, and many of them looked very excited. They didn't know what was happening, so three of them rushed over to check. As they approached, they heard that the recruits were discussing the fact that their training class would be disbanded. Liang Dawei was fine, but the other two were shocked. One of them, a lieutenant named Lu Dahong, immediately shouted: "Everyone return to your positions! The training class will not be disbanded, it's just a rumor, don't believe it!"

  Li Da Wei grabbed him and whispered: "I'm afraid it's true."

  "Huh?" Lu Dahong's eyes widened.

  Li Da Wei smiled wryly and said, "Sorry about this, it's our fault." The Japanese didn't actually have any complaints about the training class, but they were holding the "Hebei Incident" against the "Special Action Group to Eliminate Traitors". Those who knew the inside story all understood that the core members of the Tianjin Special Group in the Secret Service Bureau had come from the special training group within the training class. Just for this reason alone, it seemed reasonable for the Japanese to demand the disbandment of the training class.

  Lu Dahong had always been opposed to Zeng Che and others setting up a special training group in the training class, for no other reason than that this special training group had almost poached all the elites from the training class. Once he understood this relationship, he said bluntly: "You know, the training class is the reserve of officers for our 25th Division. But after we worked hard, it turned out that we did a good job for your Special Operations Bureau. Originally, this was nothing, and everyone was serving the party and the country. But now, what's going on? Not only were the talents poached by you, but even the remaining students couldn't be kept!"

  Listening to him say this, Liang Dawei's heart felt even more bitter. He thought to himself: "We're being wronged, we're taking the blame for Ouyang Yun and Chu Tiange." However, he couldn't say it out loud, so he could only force a smile on his face and say: "This is our fault, Lu brother, we really owe you an apology."

  "Ah, never mind, it's not easy for them either," another instructor from the 25th Division chimed in.

  Lu Dahong let out a snort and left. Since the training class was going to disband sooner or later, what was the point of him staying here anyway?

  The news of the training class being disbanded spread like wildfire, and soon everyone in the 25th Division knew about it. The next day, when Song Zheyuan called the commander of the 25th Division, Guan Linzheng, to ask for troops, the latter symbolically asked for fifteen Czech-made ZB-26 light machine guns and readily agreed. As a result, Lu Dahong specially went to the division headquarters to make a fuss, and it wasn't until Guan Linzheng personally came out to explain that the "rumor" was basically true that he reluctantly left.

  That night, Chu Tiange, the spreader of rumors, was "arrested" by the 51st Army and taken to Caijia Garden.

  When Ouyang Yun arrived at the training class the next day and received this news, seeing that all the students were very anxious, he smiled with relief - there must be a hidden reason behind this "arrest", it seems that Chu Kuo had taken action overnight after being alerted by the attack on him last night, nominally arresting but actually protecting his own nephew.

  That day at Song's residence, Ouyang Yun, Song Zheyuan, Jiang Shuren, and later joined by Guo Biao, the four of them chatted until nightfall. In between, two traitors came but were blocked by Little Li. Later when Ouyang Yun left the city, he was ambushed, which was caused by one of them cleverly reporting to their master that there were "unusual people" in Song's residence.

  After dark, Song Zheyuan invited Ouyang Yun to dinner. Ouyang Yun hadn't eaten lunch and was starving, so he accepted without hesitation.

  Eating and drinking can best bring together the emotions of men. Song Zheyuan, since being dismissed from office, had been depressed in Tianjin. Now that the 29th Army has a good prospect, he was in high spirits and accompanied three young people to drink several more cups.

  Since Duke Song condescended to come, the three juniors naturally responded with open arms. As a result, Jiang Shuren fell down on the spot, and Guo Biao and Ouyang Yun also got a big red face. Guo Biao, who was drunk, remembered Ouyang Yun's method of killing Japanese people, among whom Ryuusei Ryūjin was still one of Japan's three greatest masters and the leader of the Ryuusei school. He couldn't help but feel itchy; while Ouyang Yun also felt a bit resentful about his previous defeat in the arm-wrestling match, thinking that fighting wasn't just about brute strength. So the two men sympathized with each other and performed a martial arts performance in the Song Mansion courtyard.

  Song Zheyuan also made a good show of it, having someone set up a lantern in the courtyard and watching with great interest, accompanied by several guards.

  Kuo Piao was the first to take action, he came down with only a vest on, then took a deep breath and got into position in the arena. Ou Yang Yun knew that fighting bare-handed would not be his strong suit, as Kuo's palms were extremely deadly weapons, so he didn't dare to get close. Instead, he fetched a pair of nunchucks from his car and began to swing them around, warming up his hands and feet before stepping into the arena.

  The nunchaku was originally a performing prop, and this display of his had already earned him a round of applause.

  Kuo Piao saw this weapon for the first time, and was very cautious. He started to test it out with a few moves, but as soon as his palm extended, he was met with a painful blow from the double-headed staff. After being hit three times in a row, he sucked in a few mouthfuls of cold air, and no longer dared to underestimate his opponent. He carefully circled around Ouyang Yun, thinking about how to get close enough to utilize the advantages of his "short-range weapon" and his own strength.

  But Ou Yang Yun's strength was not as good as his, and his skills and combat experience were not inferior to his. This pair of nunchucks he had been practicing since childhood, and his mastery of it was no less than that of his own arm. He had already seen through Guo Biao's plan, so he kept a distance from the opponent all along, relying on the nunchucks' extraordinary close-range and long-range striking ability to smash Guo Biao's hands into buns, but not letting him get close for a single step.

  Kuo Piao felt a surge of anger in his heart, and although he had a tough skin, he couldn't withstand such blows! Unconsciously, he became truly enraged, clapping his palms together with force, preparing to unleash his Iron Sand Palm technique.

  Ouyang Yun saw him like this and knew he was serious, her heart secretly trembling.

  Song Zheyuan had seen the ferocity of his iron sand palm, and with one slap, he could smash a pig's internal organs. It was said that if a person touched it, they would be injured. He hastily stopped him: "Biaozi, what are you doing? Ouyang is our own brother!"

  Guo Biao ate and drank, and only then did he come to his senses. However, at this time, he had already circulated the internal energy in his hands, and if he didn't release it, he would suffer a setback of at least ten months. So, he hastily turned around and slapped the trunk of a nearby tree with a diameter as big as a bowl.

  “Crack!” The tree shook, and Ouyang Yun was stunned. Before he could figure out what had happened, the tree suddenly broke in half with a loud "crash" and fell to the ground. When he looked at the broken part, it was already rotten. He couldn't help but take a deep breath, thinking that if he had been hit by this palm strike, even with bulletproof armor, he might not have survived. This was the true power of the Iron Sand Palm? He quickly put away his nunchucks and said to Guo Biao: "Guo brother, Ouyang admits defeat."

  Guo Biao took a deep breath, rubbed his palms together again, and then pulled out a porcelain bottle from his bosom, poured some liquid onto his hand, and massaged it in. With a serious expression, he said: "Younger brother, I really owe you an apology earlier. If not for Jun Zuo's reminder, I would have made a big mistake. However, your stick was also too ruthless, even my iron hands couldn't withstand it. Hehe, this battle, we actually didn't win or lose."

  Ouyang Yun shook his head and said seriously, "I lost, my body can't compare to this tree. This palm strike would have been a fatal blow, splitting me in two. I should thank Song Gong for saving my life."

  Song Zheyuan burst out laughing and said, "You don't have to be modest anymore. When you get the chance to go onto the battlefield, we'll see who's better at killing Japanese devils. That's what a real hero is."

  The two men exchanged a glance, and Guo Biao said: "Jun Zu is right, Ouyang brother, let's see the real thing on the battlefield if we have the chance!"

  Ouyang Yun burst out laughing: "It's settled then!"