Work Prophet-Chapter 909: A Lone Martial World
For the first time, Zhu Zhigang came into contact with martial arts and the martial world through an old movie called "Shaolin Temple".
This kung fu blockbuster, supposedly co-starred by martial arts elites from across the nation, deeply shook Zhu Zhigang's young heart, immersing him in the world of wuxia, from which he never looked back.
Zhu Zhigang was born into an ordinary farming family. His father died very early, and soon after, his mother remarried to another province and lost contact with him. He was raised by his second uncle's family.
After finishing middle school, like many young people in the village, Zhu Zhigang joined the workforce, although he could only do some black-market work at first due to his young age.
During that time, Zhu Zhigang often worked sixteen hours a day, leaving only eight hours for eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom, year-round without rest. His only entertainment was reading books.
However, compared to Zhu Zhigang's meager salary, the price of paper books was prohibitively expensive, even the poorly printed pirated books from street vendors were beyond his means.
Fortunately, the nineties were the golden age for book renting businesses, with various rent-book stores opening in every nook and cranny, and one could rent a book for a day for just thirty cents, even cheaper with a membership.
Zhu Zhigang finished reading Jin Yong's complete works with the help of these rental stores, and afterward, he also read novels by Gu Long, Liang Yusheng, and Huang Yi.
The martial world and martial arts depicted in the books fascinated him, making him realize that there was another world waiting for him outside the brick kiln spewing hot air and dense smoke.
There were spirited white steeds and strong spirits, the glint of blade and sword, the chivalrous spirit, and passionate relishes of gratitude and vengeance.
Thus, a year and a half later, Zhu Zhigang told the boss of the brick kiln that he wanted to leave.
The boss stepped down from his newly bought Audi 100, glanced at Zhu Zhigang upon hearing this, and asked what he intended to do outside, to which Zhu Zhigang said he planned to practice martial arts and become a hero.
The boss shook his head, "With the reform and opening-up, now it's an economic society. Everyone is busy making money. Heroes are useless now. You seem honest, why not learn to drive and work for me as a driver? I'll pay you double the salary."
Zhu Zhigang remained silent, not agreeing with the boss's notion that heroes were obsolete, but at a loss for words to refute, so he said nothing.
Seeing that he was determined, the boss didn't insist further and said, "Practicing martial arts is fine, too. If you really can't find a job, you can come back and watch over my place. I'm planning to open a nightclub in the city sometime soon."
Zhu Zhigang, young and exuberant at that time, felt that a martial artist should uphold justice and could not degrade himself by becoming a lackey of the wealthy, guarding their estates.
In wuxia novels, this was the lowest choice for minor characters, although he did work as a security guard at Poly Xin Yu later on, but that was a story for another time.
In the end, Zhu Zhigang left with the nine hundred yuan his boss gave him, ending his first job and embarking on his journey to become a hero.
His first stop was at the foot of Song Mountain.
Why Song Mountain? Because all martial arts under heaven originate from Shaolin. Zhu Zhigang always aspired to learn Shaolin Kung Fu.
At the foot of Song Mountain, Zhu Zhigang received his martial arts enlightenment, diligently practicing fundamental skills like stance and footwork. Subsequently, he learned Shaolin Long Fist, Bagua Palm, Tai Chi Boxing, and also practiced weaponry... then he left.
Not because he didn't want to continue, but because the money he earned from his first job was only enough for one term's tuition.
Moreover, upon entering the martial world, the environment of the school was not as he imagined. The coaches there were far from the masters depicted in movies and books, more like Zhao Zhijing's lot.
They would arbitrarily shout at and beat the students, never venturing out for chivalrous deeds, just indulging in whims.
However, Zhu Zhigang was not discouraged; he always believed that chivalry existed in the world.
After leaving Song Mountain, Zhu Zhigang continued to work and study martial arts, largely relying on secret martial arts books he purchased from major bookstores for practice. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
Later, with the advent of the internet, Zhu Zhigang also learned to go online, got a membership, and went to internet cafes to collect fist manuals and masters' videos.
Aside from diligently honing his martial arts, Zhu Zhigang never forgot the purpose of his practice and often upheld justice. He once used qinggong to chase down motorcycle thieves and helped a victim retrieve a necklace.
He used Hong Family Iron Wire Fist to battle robbers blocking the road, fighting against five without falling behind, eventually saving a bus full of passengers.
He even dived into water to rescue a suicidal woman...
Zhu Zhigang never left those he saved a chance to thank him, always leaving swiftly, his glory concealed.
Until one time, he broke a thief's wrist while catching him, ending up in a police station and paying a thousand yuan in medical expenses.
Zhu Zhigang recalled his boss's words when leaving the brick kiln; he understood nothing about an economic society, but the officer interrogating him told him it was now a legal society.
Avoid using force whenever possible, for if you lose, it's hospitalization, if you win, it's jail time.
Thus, Zhu Zhigang became silent once more. He had his doubts. Could what he learned truly be outdated?
But Zhu Zhigang still believed that chivalry never went out of date in any era.
As long as evil continued to exist in the world, and as long as there were cries for justice, there would always be a need for heroes.
Hence, Zhu Zhigang continued to uphold justice, albeit more discreetly, to avoid drawing the attention of authorities, never staying long in one place.
Every two to three months, he changed cities, also visiting local schools to exchange and learn martial arts.
Zhu Zhigang's last job on Earth was as a security guard, by which time he no longer harbored youthful brashness and had already come to terms, no longer bothered by what job he held.
Regardless of whether it was a kilns worker, a yard guard, or a factory hand screwing bolts, it did not stop him from being a hero.
As long as one harbors chivalry, what harm is there in hiding among the marketplace?
Then, Zhu Zhigang was assassinated, but he hadn't expected that after death, instead of entering Yama Hall, he was taken by someone claiming to be the Prophet to another continent.
Moreover, he was in a new body, whose strength and speed were not diminished but enhanced, with a pair of wings grown on his back.
Yet unchanged were Zhu Zhigang's chivalrous soul and righteous heart.
The first thing he did upon arriving in this new world was to repay his debts, for a great man in the world should distinguish between right and wrong, with a vengeance to exact and gratitude to repay.
Furthermore, after getting to know more, Zhu Zhigang found that Li Yu and his Double Rest Teaching Institute were not engaged in evil deeds, thus he willingly became Li Yu's follower.
First, he helped rescue former Imperial Forest Guard Captain Duren, then successfully assassinated Hirodod in Duolin City, assisting Miss Rabbit in capturing Shajia and his group who came to Green Field seeking trouble.
After that, Zhu Zhigang utilized his martial arts and flying abilities to complete tasks assigned by Ireya or the Double Rest Sect time and again.
When the great battle ended, Miss Rabbit wanted to grant Zhu Zhigang the title of Earl along with land, but he refused.
"Then what do you wish for?" the young girl on the throne asked.
"To become a hero," Zhu Zhigang replied without hesitation.
"A hero? What is that?"
"It's like a knight here, an honor," Zhu Zhigang explained, "but heroes are different; their honor is not granted by the king but by the common people. The great among heroes serve the country and its people."
Miss Rabbit was confused but intrigued, "Oh, so there in the Divine Country, civilians can grant honors too?"
Zhu Zhigang didn't know how to explain, so he simply nodded and added.
"I also ask Your Majesty to allow me to lay down my arms and return to my fields."
"Where do you plan to go?"
"The martial world."
"Where is the martial world? Is there such a place in Bratis?" Ireya asked the maid to help find the map.
But Zhu Zhigang said, "Wherever there is chivalry, there is a martial world. Even if I encounter another economic or legal society, I'm no longer afraid, for I alone can be the martial world."
With those words, the follower of the Double Rest Sect spread his wings and flew away from the Imperial Palace, beginning his hero journey in another world.
