(reproduced from https://shaolin.org/general/legends-of-southern-shaolin/legends51.html)

When Hoong Hei Khoon reached Guangzhou, he went to meet his siheng, the Venerable Sam Tuck, the abbot of West Zen Monastery. At that time, his sidai, Luk Ah Choy, was there.

(“Siheng” referred to a senior kungfu brother, and “sidai” referred to a junior kungfu brother.)

While Sam Tuck, Hoong Hei Khoon and Luk Ah Choy were talking about the good old days, a monk ran in and told Sam Tuck that a group of people were chopping down trees in front of the temple.

The Venerable Sam Tuck told his two sidai, “In front of West Zen Temple, there is a forest of birch trees. They were planted by our ancestors. It looks that today I have to move my limbs (i.e. take action).“

They saw that between twenty and thirty people were chopping down huge birch trees. A few trees were then falling down with a loud noice.

“Anyone who dares to chop trees in my temple must stop!” Sam Tuck shouted. Otherwise, don’t say that monks are not compassionate!”

Those chopping trees stopped their action. They saw that Sam Tuck was the abbot of the temple, and his hand was holding a staff. Behind him stood two persons who were empty handed.

The leader of the group of people chopping trees was called Li Kang. He thought that the monk should get more people if he wanted to stop them felling trees. There were only three of them, with the monk holding a staff. There were more than twenty people chopping trees, and all were holding axes. Wasn’t it moths charging at fire (i.e. were the monk and his two companions committing suicide)?

Not only he did not run away, he went forward a few steps, and said, “These trees grew up naturally. There are no owners. Everyone can chop them down. You say that these trees belong to West Zen Temple. But around here for tens of miles, there are no less than a million birch trees. You can point out each tree to me, telling me what year, what month and what day it was planted. If you can do so, we shall move away. If you cannot do so, we shall continue our chopping.”

The other people laughed out loudly.

“You have forcefully used words to abuse reason. This shows that you all are not good persons. Right, you can chop the trees, but you must ask my companion.”

Li Kang thought that his companions were the two persons, Hoong Hei Khoon and Luk Ah Choy, behind Sam Tuck. So he said, “You ask them yourself. We just watch.”

Sam Tuck held up his staff and exclaimed, “My companion is here. You all can ask it.”

Li Kang was furious. He waved his axe, and asserted, “This monk has no manners. Today let us show him our terror!”

Saying this, he led the group with axes in their hands to attack Sam Tuck.

Sam Tuck just smiled. He told Hoong Hei Khoon and Luk Ah Choy, “This group of robbers’ hair. I alone will be sufficient to handle them. Please just watch and do not help me.

Thus with staff in hand, Sam Tuck rushed into the crowd. Left strikes and right hits, like a tiger entering into a herd of sheep. He knew very well that to catch the thieves, he must first catch the chief. So, without more words, he struck a hard hit onto the shoulder of Li Kang.

Li Kang sustained a hard hit. He cried loudly and ran. Others seeing Li Kang running away, dropped their axes and ran like mice.

Sam Tuck smiled and commented, “A group of crows!” Then he spoke to Hoong Hei Khoon and Luk Ah Choy, “A person who has left his family (i.e. a monk), moves his hands and moves his legs (i.e. performs unnecessary action), has gone against pure rules (i.e. temple rules). This will cause much laughter.”

Hoong Hei Khoon and Luk Ah Choy quickly replied, “We dare not laugh!”

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(reproduced from https://shaolin.org/general/legends-of-southern-shaolin/legends47.html)

In Fa Yun, or Flower District, of Guangdong Province there was a kungfu master called Sung Chan. He had a kungfu school and treated “thiet ta” patients, or patients suffering from falls and being hit. He was well known in the area.

(“Falls and being hit” is “thiet ta” in Cantonese, or “die da” in Mandarin pronunciation. Please note that “d” in Mandarin written in Romanized Chinese, is pronounced like “t” in English. “Thiet ta” is a special branch of Chinese medicine, and is best translated as “traumatology”. It was usually treated by kungfu masters, not by doctors.)

Sung Chan had a son called Sung Cheong, who was known as Black Bone Cheong. Indeed, his real name was seldom known.

Black Bone Cheong learned kungfu from his father since he was small, and had a lot of muscular strength. But he was hot tempered, so his father sent him away as an apprentice in a wine shop.

There was established another kungfu school in the district city by Mok Lou Luk, or Old Mok Six. Black Bone Cheong felt exasperated when hearing about this new kungfu school. Because of his arrogance, he did not believe there were other capable persons. He wanted to kick the foundation of this school (i.e. defeat the master of this school, resulting in the school to close).

So one day he visited this kungfu school, and was surprised to find Old Mok Six in his advanced age, thin with a hump on his back, and his face was yellowish. Old Mok Six did not look at all like a kungfu master.

Black Bone Cheong told Old Mok Six that he was the son of Sung Chan, had heard of the fame of Old Mok Six, and so he came to seek teaching.

Old Mok Six said, “I have started teaching here for less than a month, and young master said that you had heard of my fame. I don’t know from where have you heard this. But your father is a well known kungfu master. His fame is already well established. Why do you sacrifice near and look for far?”

“I’ve heard of your name, so I’ve come to learn.”

“Glorious people do not speak hidden words. Please tell me straight (i.e. honestly). How would you come to learn?” asked Old Mok Six.

Black Bone Cheong stood up and answered, “I want to exchange some moves with elderly master.”

Old Mok Six was an old stream and lake (i.e. experienced person). He knew that Black Bone Cheong’s intention was to kick his foundation. With a greeting, he answered, “Please!”

Black Bone Cheong moved forward with a punch, which Old Mok Six deflected. Then Black Bone Cheong struck out his two palms. Again Old Mok Six warded off the attack and gave the opponent a kick. The two persons exchanged a number of moves.

Eventually, Black Bone Cheong gripped Old Mok Six’ pigtail, and pulled hard, causing Old Mok Six to tilt his head.

“Ha, ha,” laughed Black Bone Cheong, “Elderly master Mok, even when you are skillful, what techniques would you use to escape from this predicament?”

“You better let go of your hand,” the old master warned, “or else you will regret.”

Black Bone Cheong thought that the old master wanted face (i.e. too proud to concede defeat). He said, “In combat, don’t you use your best techniques?”

Old Mok Six turned around and used his index and middle fingers to dot on the opponent’s energy point at the ribs. This art was called “dim mark”, or dotting energy points. Black Bone Cheong was unprepared. He felt his body numb, and he involuntarily let go of his grip.

“Seng yeong, seng yeong (i.e. thank you for allowing me to make my moves). Young master’s art is definitely not shallow.”

The elderly master’s words were meant for Black Bone Cheong to apologize in front of the master’s students. Then he would release the blockage of energy at the energy point.

But Black Bone Cheong was too proud. He did not want to lower his head (i.e. to be humble) in front of other people. Without saying another word, he ran out of the kungfu school.

When he returned home, he told the happening to his father. Sung Chan was both angry and apprehensive. He was angry that his son was useless, and could not do big things. He was apprehensive because he did not know how to release energy blockage at energy points, and thus was unable to overcome his son’s injury. To beg Old Mok Six to release the energy blockage might damage his reputation.

He could only prescribed some medicated powder to clear blood blockage and generate blood flow for his son, but it could not clear energy blockage. After a few days, not only his son was not cured, his injury became more serious.

Wong Kiew Kit
16th January 2018, Sungai Petani

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