Chapter Nine - Lǎohǔ Zǒu Sēnlín (Tiger Walks Forest) Part I

Martial Arts became a way of life in the bunker. Every week they had formal practice in the gym in order to perfect their skills. In the meantime, Haruo, having achieved Level 10 in alchemy started concentrating on achieving black belt in martial arts mainly due to the fact that as an instructor, he needed to be at the top of his game. Black Tiger Fist Kung Fu (技術虎 originating in the Shandong Province), from which Sim Fu was derived, was characterized by low stances, acrobatic kicks and extensive footwork, which when one looked at both forms, bore distinct resemblance to each other. Within the Shaolin framework, Black Tiger Fist Kung Fu was the most external of the five forms, though with more practice, meditation and internal direction was the focus of the practitioner. Sifu Wang Zhenyuan, was the originator of the form in the late nineteenth century. Sifu Zhu Yuan, who originated Sim Fu had studied with the master of the Black Tiger Fist Kung Fu form for many years prior to creating his own martial art form and he had drawn from many parts of the form; thus Sim Fu or Tiger Grasping Heaven (Lǎohǔ zhuā tiāntáng) Kung Fu was only slightly distinguishable from Black Tiger Fist Kung Fu.

It was only traditional that the most advanced student fought the master in demonstration of their skills. And of course in that respect, River, being the most advanced with a blue belt, drew the short straw of going up against her fiance. Fighting more advanced students allowed the junior students to increase their skill and their confidence, while the older student learned the ropes of guiding the less skilled student. In that respect, they learned to teach. Of course, Haruo didn't hold back because he wanted her to learn exactly what it was that would keep them all alive.

Each student got their chance with the master: Mickey was next. Haruo was measuring his abilities and so far River had outshone him at every turn. But hopefully, Mickey could be the third person who would be helping to instruct the students. And as the bunker grew in population due to the children, the children as they hit teen-age would be able to join in the martial arts training regimen.

Even so, this was not a feel-good situation. They all knew that the skills that they were learning were meant to kill any and all those who would oppose them topside. Incapacitate meant eliminating the opponent - deprive them of their existence. Noel ended up being next on the list.

And once again, Haruo did not ease up on the student. After all this training was going to be what would save them when they went up against anyone who meant them harm. Noel got his share of good kicks in, but they weren't as powerful as the ones that Haruo was returning against him.