Bodyguard_Fugitive by Chris Bradford

Author:Chris Bradford [Bradford, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780241334676
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2018-05-02T22:00:00+00:00

‘The Demon Gate is located here,’ said Zhen, her grandmother prodding a stubby finger hard as a nail into Connor’s chest. Just above his right nipple and between his pectoral muscles, he could already feel a sharp pain from her pressure. After two days of relentless Iron Shirt exercises – where he’d been beaten in the stomach, had heavy bricks piled on top of his chest and lain on sharp rocks to condition his body – Connor had been relieved when Lăolao suggested they move on to Iron Hand techniques. Now he was thinking that he might regret that decision.

‘This point should be hit in and towards the spine,’ continued Zhen, translating Lăolao’s words. ‘A strike here disrupts a person’s qi flow and can cause injury … or even death.’

Without warning, Lăolao jabbed hard with her fingers and Connor’s chest seemed to implode. A tidal wave of agony crippled him to his very core. As if his life force was swirling down a drain, his body became completely sapped of energy and he dropped to his knees. Unable to stand or defend himself, he could only manage to utter a feeble plea of ‘Why?’

An amused Amir looked on from his usual perch, his tablet and keyboard on his lap, as Zhen knelt down beside Connor in the courtyard. ‘Lăolao says, you must experience Demon Gate in order to do Demon Gate.’

‘OK,’ he wheezed with a weak nod, ‘that’s enough experience for one day!’

Zhen beckoned Amir over to help. Lifting him to his feet, the two of them supported Connor as her grandmother thumped him on the back in three specific qi points. The reaction was instantaneous. Like a floodgate opening, Connor’s energy rushed into him and the debilitating effects of the Demon Gate strike vanished. Aside from a dull throb in his chest at the point where he’d been hit, Connor felt completely fine.

He blinked in astonishment. From his bodyguard training he was acquainted with kyusho pressure points – physical vulnerabilities in the human body and nervous system that could be exploited to control or subdue an attacker. But this qi style of attack, targeting the energy centres, was a revelation to him. If he could master this particular technique, then he’d surely possess an unbeatable defence against Mr Grey when they next met.

Connor pointed to his chest. ‘Is this where you hit that thug who took your shopping?’

Lăolao responded with a toothless grin and nodded. ‘Combined with Iron Hand, no man can withstand such a strike,’ she said via Zhen.

Connor turned eagerly to Amir. ‘I need to practise this – on you.’

Less than keen at the prospect, Amir began to back away. ‘Erm … I’m a bit busy with the encryption.’

‘Come on – it’ll be like Buddyguard training,’ coaxed Connor. ‘It’ll only take ten minutes, promise.’

In fact, it took half that time. Connor’s prior skill in martial arts meant his strikes had pinpoint accuracy. After three or so semi-effective attempts, he hit the Demon Gate on the button and Amir dropped like a sack of rice.

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