Internal and External Martial Arts

After their meal, the two didn't rush into a spar.

Instead, at Li Hui's request, they went for a walk first to aid digestion.

The two strolled leisurely around the bureau, with Tian Tian trailing behind them, of course.

Tian Tian kept a distance from them, pretending to be out for a stroll herself, but Li Hui knew exactly what she was up to.

Still, it didn't matter. He didn't chase her away and let her follow.

Along the way, Li Hui began recounting his glorious past deeds to Lin Yuan, like single-handedly fighting off three or five drug traffickers, or subduing an armed thug with his bare hands.

By around 1:30 PM, the bureau was practically deserted.

Only then did the two stop in a clearing shaded by trees.

Lin Yuan and Li Hui stood facing each other, about four to five meters apart.

"Officer Li, please guide me."

"Remember, just a touch, no serious harm."

As soon as the words fell, both struck their starting poses.

Lin Yuan practiced internal martial arts, while Li Hui practiced external martial arts.

Internal martial arts emphasize stillness to counter movement and striking after the opponent attacks, whereas external martial arts are the opposite, focusing on directness, using speed to overcome slowness and movement to counter stillness.

Therefore, Lin Yuan assumed a standard defensive stance, with virtually no openings in his entire body.

Li Hui, on the other hand, was poised to strike, his eyes like an eagle's, fixed on Lin Yuan's every move.

At this moment, though they hadn't exchanged blows, a palpable tension had spread to their surroundings, causing even Tian Tian, who was secretly watching from the side, to hold her breath.

Suddenly, an autumn breeze swept through, scattering fallen leaves.

Li Hui suddenly exploded into action.

His movements were lightning-fast, his iron fists aimed at Lin Yuan's upper and middle sections, his techniques incredibly swift.

This move was the Hand Waving Like a Pipa from Arhat Fist.

As the fist wind approached, Lin Yuan felt no fear, instead thinking, "Good."

He sank his shoulders, dropped his elbows, settled his wrists, and contracted his chest, his entire body almost resting on his left leg.

This posture was the first half of the Catching Sparrow's Tail pressing technique, which dodged Li Hui's upper-level punch aimed at Lin Yuan's face.

The second half of the technique targeted Li Hui's middle-level punch, specifically his right fist attacking Lin Yuan's chest.

Lin Yuan placed his hands palm-down on Li Hui's right wrist and elbow, then, using his lowered posture, prepared to rise and deliver a shoulder strike.

Seeing this, Li Hui quickly retracted his fist and retreated.

Though he retreated, it wasn't a rout; it was a retreat with intent to advance.

Lin Yuan didn't pursue aggressively, instead choosing to counter any move, as he also wanted to see what the Arhat Fist was all about.

Seeing this, Li Hui knew he was being underestimated and a spark of anger ignited within him as he let out a roar.

He stepped forward, his offense now three parts stronger than before.

Li Hui clenched his left fist and drove it straight towards Lin Yuan's face, a direct and brutally simple move.

Lin Yuan's body was light; he simply shifted a step to the left and evaded it.

But this attack from Li Hui wasn't just a single strike; it was a series of three, known as the Cloud Top Three Charges.

The Arhat Fist had eighteen forms in total, and the Cloud Top Three Charges was Li Hui's specialty.

One punch came, and another followed immediately.

Li Hui's right fist instantly arrived before Lin Yuan, who immediately extended his left hand to block.

However, this exposed a weakness in Lin Yuan's chest.

Li Hui laughed and immediately launched a punch with his left hand, aimed at Lin Yuan's middle section.

Just as he thought he had succeeded, the hand Lin Yuan had used for blocking suddenly reversed, pressing down and grabbing Li Hui's right wrist. He twisted it outwards and pulled forward.

Li Hui's entire body lost its balance.

As the saying goes, "Strength originates from the ground." Without balance, strength loses its source, and his left-hand punch instantly lost all its power.

Not only that, but his entire body tilted forward, and he was on the verge of falling.

Li Hui reacted quickly, abandoning his attack on Lin Yuan with his left hand. He changed his fist into a palm and pushed off the ground.

Although this resolved the immediate danger, he was effectively captured.

However, Li Hui was extremely experienced in combat and immediately thought of a solution.

He had no hands, but he still had his legs.

Thus, he unleashed a Sweeping Leg towards Lin Yuan's lower section.

"He's quite quick with his reactions," Lin Yuan chuckled.

Lin Yuan chose not to attack Li Hui's face with his other hand, opting instead to counter leg with leg, to see who had superior leg techniques.

The two exchanged kicks and punches.

Li Hui attacked foot by foot, and Lin Yuan parried each move.

When Li Hui attacked, Lin Yuan deflected. When Li Hui gathered his strength, Lin Yuan disrupted him. He used Li Hui's own force against him, turning a small effort into a large one.

In no time, Li Hui was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

After a dozen more moves, he collapsed onto the ground, waving his hand.

"I can't fight anymore, I can't fight anymore."

Lin Yuan was still in high spirits, but seeing Li Hui like this, he didn't want to continue.

"I concede."

Lin Yuan extended his hand and helped Li Hui up from the ground to a nearby chair.

After Li Hui caught his breath, he looked at Lin Yuan as if he were a monster.

"Kid, did you really only start practicing six years ago?"

"What else? Why would I lie to you? I only started practicing Tai Chi six years ago."

Lin Yuan didn't dare admit he'd been practicing for less than a month.

"Damn it," Li Hui couldn't help but curse, "Comparing people is maddening. It's like all twenty years I've practiced Arhat Fist have been for nothing."

"Tell me honestly, how much strength did you use just now?"

"Seventy percent."

"Really?"

Lin Yuan gave a guilty smile but insisted, "Seventy percent."

"Forget it, forget it. I'm almost fifty, I don't need to argue with you about this. Age is catching up to me. What the old folks say about boxing favoring the young isn't wrong at all."

"Indeed. If you were my age, I might not be your opponent."

"Kid, don't try to comfort me. It's not like I can't handle losing. Although I'm old, I still have good judgment. Even when I was young and strong, I probably wouldn't have been your opponent. But speaking of which, are Internal martial arts really that powerful?"

"Internal versus external, which is superior, there's never been a definitive answer since ancient times. It can only be said that each has its own specialties. Internal martial arts have their advantages, and external martial arts have their strengths."

"However, if Officer Li were my age, I'd suggest practicing Internal martial arts. It's good for health and fitness. It's probably more useful than drinking wolfberry water every day."

Li Hui couldn't help but laugh. "You're indirectly calling me useless, aren't you? But if I understand you correctly, you want to teach me?"

"I wouldn't say teach. You can find information online these days. I can at most give you a few pointers. Of course, if you don't mind, I'd like you to teach me a few moves from your Arhat Fist."

Li Hui finally understood. "So that's why you were being so nice, you had your eye on my Arhat Fist."

"Deal!"

"When?"

"Are you that impatient, kid?"

Looking at Lin Yuan, Li Hui vaguely understood why he had lost.

But in reality, his assumptions were completely unnecessary.

"Tomorrow morning at seven, come to the bureau."

"OK!"