Palm Kills the Bull

In the Beijing, there is a secluded courtyard.

Surrounded by ancient trees reaching for the sky, the environment is quiet and solemn.

Zhang Yang and Chen Zhang walked into the compound, passing through several gates along the way, surrounded by guards, making it a heavily guarded area.

"My grandfather has a very regular lifestyle. At this time, he should be taking a walk after lunch and a short rest, or playing chess and drinking tea with his old comrades in the yard," Chen Zhang said to Zhang Yang. "Let's go take a look at the back of the yard."

The two crossed the courtyard and came to an archway.

Outside the door stood a man in his thirties with a buzz cut, his posture ramrod straight and his demeanor sharp as a sword.

"Brother Wang, is my grandfather inside?"

"Yes, the commander is exercising." The man with the buzz cut said, while his eyes unconsciously swept over Zhang Yang.

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Yang was thoroughly looked up and down.

Zhang Yang remained calm and did not feel anything was amiss. The man in front of him was clearly a bodyguard, and naturally had his own habits and duties.

"Okay, Zhang Yang, let's go in." Chen Zhang looked at Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang nodded and followed Chen Zhang inside.

Although it was late autumn, the small garden deep in the courtyard was still full of life, with ancient trees reaching for the sky.

Amidst the lush foliage, an elderly man, though very old and with snow-white hair, was practicing Tai Chi with great energy and leisurely ease in the garden.

Tai Chi for health and wellness.

Practicing this style of boxing is naturally the best option.

"Huh?" Zhang Yang glanced at it twice and nodded slightly.

The old man's boxing stance was surprisingly standard, and his every move was quite graceful, indicating that it wasn't just a hobby.

"You're here?" The old man's voice was loud and clear. He withdrew his fist and turned around.

"Hello, Grandpa." Chen Zhang quickly stepped forward to greet him and helped the old man up.

Zhang Yang also stepped forward and greeted them respectfully, his words conveying reverence for his elders.

"No need for help, I'm strong enough." The old man waved his hand, looked at Zhang Yang with a smile, and said, "You're the friend Chen Zhang mentioned... Little Zhang, right?"

"Yes, it's me." Zhang Yang nodded.

"Hmm, you do look young and promising, quite handsome," the old man nodded. "I've heard you're very skilled in martial arts?"

"I wouldn't presume to say that, but I do know a little," Zhang Yang said.

"The Tai Chi I just practiced was also taught by a master. Tell me, how did I do?" the old man asked with great interest.

"Completely harmonious and natural, your Tai Chi must have been practiced for at least twenty years," Zhang Yang said without hesitation.

"Indeed, I've been practicing for twenty-five years." The old man nodded in satisfaction. "Would you like to try a set?"

Zhang Yang didn't refuse and stepped forward directly.

Instantly, his head merged with the sky, his feet merged with the earth, his chest merged with emptiness, and he effortlessly performed Tai Chi in a state of selflessness.

"This is..." The old man's expression seemed natural at first glance, but then his expression suddenly became serious.

The figure before me moves like a willow in spring breeze, rises and falls like waves crashing against the cliffs, shifts like the bearings of all things, its energy rises and falls like tides, and its spirit flows like clouds and water.

Is this truly the highest realm of Tai Chi, a state of forgetting oneself and the external world, a unity of heaven and man?

"Great!" he exclaimed involuntarily.

Zhang Yang calmly withdrew his fist, as if everything that had just happened was merely a gentle breeze across the water, and nothing had ever occurred.

In his presence, the fighting techniques of Tai Chi naturally disappeared.

At this moment, what is being practiced is purely the health benefits and spirit of Tai Chi.

"Grandpa, Zhang Yang's traditional martial arts are indeed exquisite. You can rest assured that I've made a good friend of yours, right?" Chen Zhang said with a smile.

"When have we ever been without your or my trust?" The old man smiled and glanced at Chen Zhang.

Chen Zhang smiled, his expression revealing barely suppressed joy.

To receive a word of praise from one's own father is more refreshing than drinking ice water when one is thirstiest in the sweltering summer.

"Comrade Zhang, it's truly commendable that you've mastered Tai Chi to such a high level. I heard you're organizing a competition, mainly to promote our traditional Chinese martial arts culture, which is excellent." The old man said with approval.

"Go for it! If you need any support, just ask... Come on, let's go have a cup of tea."

He pointed to the stone table and benches beside him and invited them.

Zhang Yang didn't stand on ceremony, thanked him, and sat down at the table.

It was late autumn, and the courtyard was quiet, filled with the sound of falling blossoms, creating an indescribable sense of tranquility.

The three sat at the table, admiring the flowers and chatting, discussing the past and present.

Of course, it was mainly the elderly who were asking questions, Zhang Yang who was answering.

Although it was only a few words, Zhang Yang's realm, level, vision and pattern were fully revealed.

"Comrade Zhang, it's truly remarkable that you have such a broad vision and perspective at your age." The old man's eyes shone with admiration. "No wonder your Tai Chi skills are so advanced."

Chen Zhang, standing to the side, also looked surprised.

His understanding of Zhang Yang, to put it bluntly, was still limited to Zhang Yang's martial arts skills. His respect for Zhang Yang also stemmed from his abilities. However, he had never truly understood his friend from another perspective.

And now, watching Zhang Yang speak eloquently in front of his grandfather, quoting various classics and offering all sorts of insightful opinions, he was truly amazed.

He was utterly amazed.

This was approval from his own grandfather! Who was his grandfather? He was the person he admired and worshipped most in his life! A person whose words could have a significant impact!

To receive such high praise from his own grandfather, this friend is simply...

For a moment, Chen Zhang felt nothing but admiration for Zhang Yang.

During their conversation, the guard, known as Brother Wang, walked in from outside the courtyard, bent down by the stone table, and whispered a few words in the old man's ear.

"Okay, you can arrange it." The old man nodded.

After the guard left, the old man looked at the two of them.

"Chen Zhang, I'm going to visit the children's welfare home you donated to build this afternoon. By the way, your sister has been volunteering there recently, you know that, right?"

Chen Zhang nodded. "I know, Chen Wu goes there to do volunteer work for a few days every month."

"Yes, you'll come with me," the old man instructed, then looked at Zhang Yang, "Comrade Zhang, are you busy? Want to come along?"

"Of course I'm not busy," Zhang Yang nodded with a smile.

A moment later, the elderly man's bodyguards, staff, and medical personnel, along with three vehicles, slowly drove away from the compound.

About half an hour later.

Outside a sizable children's welfare home.

Three cars stopped one after the other, and a group of people crowded around them to greet them.

Zhang Yang stood beside the old man's guard and watched from afar as the director and staff of the children's welfare home came up to shake hands with the old man, along with some local officials who were accompanying him.

"Mr. Zhang, I heard you're very skilled in combat?" the guard surnamed Wang asked, his eyes scanning the surroundings intently.

"It's alright," Zhang Yang said casually.

"Would you like to practice your skills together sometime?" the guard surnamed Wang asked again.

Zhang Yang smiled but did not give a direct answer.

Far away··

"Zhang Yang, Zhang Yang!" Chen Zhang waved from afar.

"What is it?" Zhang Yang stepped forward and asked.

"Come on, I'll take you to meet my sister." Without saying another word, Chen Zhang pointed to a figure in the distance.

In the distance, a slender figure stood with two thick, black braids.

Is this Chen Zhang's sister?

Zhang Yang couldn't help but recall what Li Xingyu had said to him not long ago.

It is said that Chen Zhang has a sister who was disfigured in a car accident when she was young. She was quite chubby when she was a child and has not appeared in the entertainment industry for many years.

And the person in front of me?

Not far away, the girl was bending down to pick up a little girl who had a slight limp and was comforting her.

"Chen Wu, Grandpa's here, why aren't you going out to see him?" Chen Zhang stepped forward with a smile. "Come, let me introduce you to a friend Zhang Yang... Zhang Yang, this is my younger sister, Chen Wu."

"Your friend?" The girl with the braided hair turned around gently, revealing her profile, her voice soft and gentle.

"Hello." Zhang Yang looked at the profile of the person in front of him and extended his hand.

Her profile is quite pretty, delicate and charming, like a lady from a well-to-do family. Where is she disfigured?

"Huh?" Chen Wu instinctively looked away as soon as she met Zhang Yang's gaze, hiding most of her face behind the child. "Hello?"

She hesitated for a moment, then quickly reached out and touched Zhang Yang's hand before pulling it back.

At this moment, Zhang Yang noticed.

On the other side of the child's face, hidden behind the child, were several deep scars.

On this fair and delicate face, it was strikingly conspicuous and incongruous.

Seemingly noticing Zhang Yang's lingering gaze, Chen Wu hurriedly looked away and turned her back, saying, "You... you go first, I'll soothe the child and then go see Grandpa."

Chen Zhang took a deep breath, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and then nodded.

"Alright, let's go ahead then... Zhang Yang, let's go first."

Zhang Yang nodded and left with Chen Zhang first.

"You saw it too, my sister's face..." Chen Zhang said with a wry smile as they walked.

"It's been quite a few years, hasn't it? Didn't you think about going back then?" Zhang Yang asked.

Given the medical resources available to the Chen family, this shouldn't be a problem.

"I saw it. It was even worse back then. This is the result of a lot of expensive treatment. These scars have apparently damaged the dermis. It's impossible to completely eliminate them without leaving a trace. Moreover, my sister has a tendency to form keloids. If we treat it rashly, it might become even more noticeable," Chen Zhang sighed.

"A girl's face is her life. My sister was quite outgoing when she was little, but look at her now, she hides from everyone... It's unbelievable in a family like ours."

Zhang Yang nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

Children from families like theirs should be full of confidence, freely expressing their personalities and showcasing their vitality.

But to see even an inferiority complex in someone like Chen Wu is truly unimaginable.

"Huh?" Zhang Yang suddenly thought of something.

A few days ago, he seemed to have redeemed an item from the system shop called Ice Skin Ointment, which seemed to have miraculous effects on scar removal and beauty. He wondered if it could be used on Chen Zhang's sister.

But then he thought about it again and changed his mind.

It's better to avoid trouble.

Why add uncertainty to something already uncertain? Maybe it's best to leave it for now.

In the square outside the welfare home building, an elderly person was listening attentively to the introduction given by the person in charge of the welfare home, occasionally asking questions about the details and nodding from time to time.

Zhang Yang and Chen Zhang followed behind the crowd, chatting as they walked.

A moment later, a small figure jogged over from a distance and joined the group of staff members from the welfare home.

It was Chen Wu.

In front of everyone, the old man and Chen Wu did not greet each other, but simply smiled and nodded.

Those who were not involved in the conversation were unaware of Chen Wu's true identity.

"Zhang Yang, you see, my sister is a very kind person with a good personality. If it weren't for that accident, she would probably be very beautiful too," Chen Zhang suddenly whispered in Zhang Yang's ear.

"I know you're not the type to judge a book by its cover. How about you get to know my sister? Our family doesn't have any requirements for her partner, as long as he's upright, ambitious, and genuinely good to her."

"No, so that's what you were planning." Zhang Yang was speechless. "It's not that I disagree, it's just that I have a girlfriend. I can't be the kind of person who starts something and then abandons it, right?"

"You... sigh!" Chen Zhang only mentioned it casually, and when he heard Zhang Yang say that, he just clicked his tongue and didn't say anything.

After the tour, the group returned to the main building.

The elderly man shook hands with all the staff members, and when he shook hands with Chen Wu, his eyes showed a smile, indicating his approval.

Chen Wu nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Just as everyone was about to leave, a guard jogged up from a short distance away.

"What's wrong?" the old man asked.

"Sir, a mature bull from a nearby cattle farm has been startled and run into the street. You'll have to hold off on going out for a moment. We've already arranged for someone to handle the situation urgently," the guard reported.

"A bull?" The old man chuckled. "Were any people injured?"

"Nothing for now. We've already arranged for the evacuation of people from the streets, and residents in the surrounding area have been asked to stay indoors until the situation is resolved," the guard said.

The old man nodded, about to say something.

Suddenly, a commotion arose in the distance.

"They're coming this way!"

"Close the door! Close the door immediately!"

Zhang Yang turned his head and saw a strong, muscular bull galloping wildly down the street. Then, the bull turned its head and headed straight for the orphanage.

The electric gate of the welfare home is slowly closing.

Judging from the situation, it's unlikely the gate will be closed before the bull arrives.

"Protect the leader!"

Several guards reached for their waists and shielded the old man behind them.

As they were talking, the bull had already frantically brushed past the electric gate.

An adult bull, weighing between 800 and 1,000 kilograms, running wildly at this moment has an impact force no less than that of a speeding car.

The mere electric gate was instantly knocked askew; how could it possibly stop this bull?

Everything happened so suddenly that the crowd scattered in all directions.

The bull, its eyes bloodshot, stared at everything before it, then mustered all its strength and charged in one direction.

Everyone else knows to run.

Chen Wu was the only one standing there dumbfounded, as if she had been scared out of her wits.

"My sister!" Chen Zhang's eyes were red.

It wasn't that no one tried to stop it, but the key thing is that it all happened in the blink of an eye.

In the square, Chen Wu stood there dumbfounded, watching the bull charge towards her.

The ground rumbled and pounded, the weight of a bull charging with its full ton of body weight kicking up dust from beneath its rampaging hooves.

Disaster is about to strike!