Snake (Five Ancestors #3)(3)
Author: Jeff Stone

The dirty man laughed. “Hurt me? I’m counting on it! One new thing you’ll know for every solid blow! That’s the name of the game. Understand?”

“No …,” Seh replied, struggling to pull his arm free. “I strongly suggest you release me. This is your last warning—”

“That’s the spirit!” the man said. “Fight back, and perhaps I’ll answer some of your questions. One new thing you’ll know for every solid blow! If you land a solid blow, I have to answer one question. Likewise, if I land a solid blow, you have to answer one of my questions. I’ve been playing this game with travelers for years, which is probably why my nose looks the way it does. Some people think I’ve been hit in the head a few too many times, and perhaps they’re right. But for some reason, I can’t seem to stop playing. I love it! I find friendly sparring matches a great way to exchange information with strangers. Why, just the other day, I—umpfff!”

The man’s words were cut short by a lightning-quick front kick to the lips.

Seh returned his foot to the ground and the pressure on his arm released. He jerked his wrist free and took a step back.

The dirty man rubbed his jaw and looked down at Seh’s foot. “Very nice kick!” he said with a bloody grin. “One new thing you’ll know for every solid blow! For that lovely bit of footwork, I’ll answer one question. Go ahead, ask me anything.”

Seh stared at the man’s happy, bleeding face. “Who are you?”

“My name is NgGung.” The dirty man bowed.

“Your name is… Centipede?” Seh said. “That’s Cantonese.”

“That’s right,” NgGung said. “I have a Cantonese animal name, just like you, Seh”

Seh’s eyes widened. “How do you know my name?”

NgGung laughed. “Not yet, kid. One new thing you’ll know for every solid blow!”

“But—”

NgGung lunged forward and slammed the heel of his palm into the center of Seh’s chest. Seh stumbled backward, certain he’d never been hit that hard before. NgGung’s hand was as hard as stone.

NgGung laughed again. “Yes! A solid blow for me! My turn to ask a question. Let’s see…. Since you’re here, I can only assume something has happened at Cangzhen. Ummm … Did someone attack the temple?”

Seh coughed and rubbed his aching chest. “What? Yes. My former brother Ying, he—”

NgGung raised a filthy hand. “Rules are rules. You just answered my question. More than one, actually. I’m not entitled to any more information. That is, until I hit you again!” NgGung lunged at Seh.

Seh reacted without thinking. As NgGung came at him, Seh spun to one side and dropped low to the ground. He extended all four fingers on one hand and pulled them tightly together, bending his wrist ninety degrees. He tucked his thumb against the side of his hand, cocked the snake-head fist back to his ear, and thrust it forward with all his might straight into NgGung’s midsection.

Seh’s hand bounced off NgGung’s stomach like a spear tip bouncing off a thick plate of iron. Seh felt the reverberation all the way up to his elbow. He scowled and looked at NgGung, who stopped his attack and took a step back. NgGung grinned and opened his vest.

Seh stared in disbelief. Even in the moonlight, he could tell that NgGung’s stomach was unlike any he had ever seen. NgGung’s abdominal muscles were thick like iron bands and perfectly formed. They looked like the segmented armor of an insect.

NgGung pointed to a red mark just below his belly button. “Look here!” he said excitedly. “Your strike landed right on top of my dan tien—my chi center. You have excellent aim, my friend. That blow would have brought most men to their knees. However, I’d venture to say that that one hurt you more than it hurt me! Even so, we’ll count it as a solid blow because of your amazing accuracy. In response to your question, I learned your name from Mong.”

“Mong?” Seh said. “How do—”

NgGung smiled and shook his head. “One new thing you’ll know for every solid blow!” He took a step toward Seh, cocking one leg and one arm back.

Seh hissed. It was time to bring this game to an end.

NgGung whipped his body around with amazing speed, extending one arm and one leg. Seh jumped over NgGung’s spinning kick and barely raised his forearms in time to block NgGung’s spinning arm. The impact of NgGung’s arm against Seh’s forearms sent Seh tumbling sideways through the air. Seh hit the ground on one shoulder and tucked into a roll. He popped up onto his feet and turned to face NgGung.

NgGung was grinning from ear to ear. Seh was not. His forearms were killing him. NgGung’s arm, like his stomach, was as hard as iron. Seh realized NgGung must practice Iron Shirt kung fu. Hitting any part of NgGung’s upper body would be useless.