Lu Fan's car sped along, slowing down whenever they encountered beautiful scenery to admire the views. He wasn't particularly tired. Hong Xiaojiao, in particular, enjoyed herself immensely, eating, drinking, and playing all the way.
The Tai Chi Wang family wasn't located in a big city but in a small place called Qingfeng Ridge. It was a place of clear waters and picturesque mountains, far from the hustle and bustle of major cities. It was truly a hidden paradise suitable for recluses.
After driving along a small river for over ten miles of mountain road, a gatehouse over ten meters high appeared ahead. The words "Qingfeng Ridge" were clearly marked on it.
Lu Fan drove the car inside. A few hundred meters later, a village appeared. While it was called a village, its condition didn't resemble a rural settlement at all. From the gatehouse of Qingfeng Ridge to the few streets within the village, the roads were all wide, paved with cement. The streets were lined with two-story villas, all of identical design and layout. It was easy to tell that this village was very wealthy.
Lu Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of awe, realizing that such affluent villages had existed for a long time. However, he was confident that his own village, once completed, would be even more beautiful than this one.
They traveled from one end of the village to the other, reaching the foot of the Qingfeng Ridge mountain. Another gatehouse appeared at the foot of the mountain, bearing the words: "Tai Chi Wang."
It seemed the entire mountain belonged to the Wang family!
Lu Fan slowed down his car and gradually drove onto the mountain road. Strangely, no one obstructed their path. The drive was smooth, and the vehicle reached the mountainside. Suddenly, a young man in his early twenties, dressed in a long robe, appeared.
"May I ask if you are the recruitment envoys?" the young man asked, cupping his fist in greeting, before Lu Fan could even ask for directions.
Lu Fan was taken aback. It seemed they had been expected, and someone was waiting for them. He smiled slightly and replied, "I am indeed!"
"Esteemed Recruitment Envoy! My name is Wang Fu! I am a fourth-generation disciple of the Tai Chi Wang Family Fist. The Tai Chi Wang family has a rule: if one wishes to ascend the mountain, I am the first gate. Who among you would like to proceed first?" Wang Fu said, cupping his fist again.
"Heh heh! Xiaojiao! This is your chance to gain experience! Tai Chi Fist overcomes hardness with softness, a nemesis to your Hong Fist. It's up to you!" Lu Fan smiled. The Tai Chi Wang family was quite interesting. It was a way to test their strength without causing animosity, much smarter than the Xue family.
"Hmph! Then let me see how powerful Tai Chi Fist truly is!" Hong Xiaojiao pouted, shaking her small fist, and stepped forward to face Wang Fu.
"Miss, please!" Wang Fu immediately cupped his fist and said.
*Whoosh...* Hong Xiaojiao didn't hold back and threw a punch towards Wang Fu.
*Swish...* Wang Fu slightly shifted his body, and Hong Xiaojiao's fist grazed his chest, missing by an inch.
Suddenly, Wang Fu's palm lifted Hong Xiaojiao's elbow. With a slight shift of his body, he stepped forward. *Swish...* Hong Xiaojiao was spun around by Wang Fu's push.
*Swish...* Hong Xiaojiao quickly jumped back, narrowly escaping Wang Fu's "entangling" technique.
"Hahaha! Xiaojiao! Do you understand what it means to overcome hardness with softness now!" Lu Fan burst into laughter. Hong Xiaojiao lacked experience and was merely playful. This time, it was a valuable lesson for her.
However, Lu Fan was also experiencing the profundity of Tai Chi Fist for the first time. This young, fourth-generation disciple was only exhibiting the superficial aspects. If it were the family head or an elder of the Wang family demonstrating it...
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...* Hong Xiaojiao, naturally unwilling to admit defeat, swung her fists and attacked again. However, she was much more cautious this time.
*Pat, pat, pat...* After fighting for over ten rounds, Hong Xiaojiao seemed to have found a rhythm and fought with increasing vigor. Her movements became less prone to errors.
"This little girl is quite clever! She's found the opponent's weakness so quickly," Lu Fan murmured to himself, nodding in approval.
In a large villa on the mountainside, several elderly men were watching video surveillance. The screen displayed the fight between Hong Xiaojiao and Wang Fu.
"This little girl is using Hong Fist! How is Hong Fist related to the recruitment envoys?" one of the elders suddenly asked.
"This girl's boxing style is a bit rough, suggesting she's a disciple from the Hong Fist family. With this skill, let alone defeating the Xue family, she probably couldn't even get past the main gate. It seems the young man beside her is the true recruitment envoy. But this young man is also only around twenty years old...?" another elder said with surprise.
"Don't be hasty! I have some acquaintance with Hong Jiancheng of Hong Fist. Let me ask him!" another elder said, taking out his phone.
...
Hong Xiaojiao and Wang Fu exchanged blows for a full fifty rounds before she finally seized an opportunity and repelled Wang Fu with a punch.
"You two! You have passed my gate. However, there are still three more gates ahead. Be careful," Wang Fu said, stepping aside.
"Hmph!" Hong Xiaojiao snorted proudly, looking at Lu Fan. She had expected him to praise her, but instead, she saw him frowning and shaking his head.
"Little brother! I won! Why do you have that expression!?" Hong Xiaojiao asked, pouting.
"My dear sister! You fought for over fifty rounds, and I was almost falling asleep. Didn't you hear there are three more gates? If you fight like this, we won't reach the top of the mountain until nightfall," Lu Fan said, pursing his lips.
"What? You mean I have to fight all the remaining three gates? Are you... are you treating me like forced labor! The ones ahead will surely be seniors from the Tai Chi sect. How can I possibly defeat them?" Hong Xiaojiao said with a distressed expression.
"Of course, you have to fight them. I'm too powerful; if I make a move, people will die! Alright, you should carefully ponder the path ahead and figure out how to fight the next gate! Don't let them beat you into a pig's head!" Lu Fan said, suppressing a chuckle, and started walking up the mountain.
Hong Xiaojiao, being obedient, immediately began to ponder the recent fight, replaying the entire sequence of events in her mind again and again...
Seeing Hong Xiaojiao suddenly enter a state of comprehension, Lu Fan secretly gave her a thumbs-up. This girl had a talent for martial arts.
Ahead, another man in his forties, dressed in a long robe, appeared.
"Esteemed Recruitment Envoy! This is the second gate. To pass, you must first defeat me. Please make your move!" Seeing that both individuals who had arrived were young men and women in their twenties, the man sneered. Although his words were polite, a hint of disdain showed in his eyes.
"Please wait a moment. My little sister Xiaojiao is currently figuring out how to defeat you. She should be done soon, so no need to rush! Heh heh!" Lu Fan said with a grin, seeing that Hong Xiaojiao was still in a state of contemplation.
"Heh heh! Improvisation is key! Kung fu isn't about taking shortcuts!" the man said with a cold laugh. What kind of person was this? Coming to the battlefield and still needing to think about how to draw their sword? Tsk!
"Don't be in a hurry, don't be in a hurry! A little preparation before battle can still be effective! What if it leads to your defeat!" Lu Fan said, then casually sat down beside the road, resting his head and appearing to doze off.