Chapter 8: A Busy Marketplace, Hong Kong

Haggling here, haggling there. The place was filled with vendors hawking their wares to the people passing by. One stall was having a sale on what looked like Nike sportswear. However, closer inspection revealed that it was just fake since the logo’s checkmark was in reverse. Another stall was selling pirated computer programs and games while others were displaying whatever goods they had to offer. To someone looking for cheap deals or just window shopping, this was the place to be.

Two youths walking side by side, however, weren’t looking for something to buy in this part of town. Occasionally, a vendor would smile and greet the two as they passed and they would reply in kind. Being well-respected in the area, Yun and Yang Lee had a good reputation with the people in the area since they were excellent martial artists despite their ages. Besides that, they also helped keep notorious Triad gangs from extorting money from the traders in the district. A few altercations and the gangs soon learned to leave the Lee brothers alone deciding to venture their pursuits elsewhere.

"Hey, Yang. What do you think about this year’s Streetfighter Tournament?", asked Yun.

Yang looked at his younger brother and answered, "To be honest, I'm really looking forward to the competition. It would be great to test our skills against strong opponents."

Both brothers continued on their way while talking about the tournament. Their respective fights were just a few days away and they had been training very hard for the past few months to prepare themselves.

Rounding a corner, they were suddenly surrounded by a group of five rough-looking men. One of the men, apparently the leader, stepped in front and addressed the two, "Ahh… the Lee brothers. You’ve been making our lives pretty miserable since you two showed up."

Unfazed, Yun spoke first, "So what? All we did was kick your sorry behinds for picking on some friends of ours."

Yang added, "What do you want right now? Back for some more punishment, maybe?"

The leader of the group snapped back, "Why, you… you won’t be so cocky after we’ve taken care of both your corpses. Boys, let’s get them!!!"

Both Yun and Yang went into their defensive stances and prepared to meet their rushing attackers.

Yang first stopped a club-wielding thug by catching his opponent’s leading arm and made him release it by bashing the wrist. He then dispatched the unarmed man with five quick palm strikes to the chest and lower jaw.

Yun, on the other hand, was having fun dodging and avoiding the knife of his attacker. When the man made a careless lunge, Yun quickly sidestepped the thrust and proceeded to beat the living daylights out of his opponent. A backhand to the face, a quick punch to the gut and a straight kick to the temple and the man was out cold. As soon as he was done another thug came rushing at him. Seeing this, Yun waited until the last possible moment before vaulting over the man’s back. Stunned momentarily and wide open, he easily fell victim to Yun who struck him in the windpipe before sending him flying with a shoulder ram.

Yang ducked a swing from a bat and countered by sweeping the man’s feet from below. Falling hard on the ground, the attacker was knocked unconscious by Yang who rushed over to him, pulled him up slightly off the floor by his shirt, and hit squarely in the face. Four down, one to go.

Seeing his men dealt with easily by the brothers, the leader decided to make a run for it while he could. Yun nodded to his brother and tossed a fist-sized rock towards him. Yang judged the distance and aimed for his target before kicking the rock Yun tossed him.

The rock hit the man at the back of the head sending him sprawling on the ground. Although the hit was not serious, it was enough to disorient the man’s senses and keep him dizzy until the brothers approached.

Yang spoke first, "I don’t think you’ll be getting up for quite some time yet. Tell your boss that if he keeps this up, we’ll personally make sure that he’ll get what’s coming to him."

That was all the leader heard before he went unconscious. Still breathing, but out cold.

"Well that was fun…", Yun remarked.

Yang answered, "Yeah. So it was. Anyway, I think we’d better head back home. All this activity has made me hungry. What do you say?"

Yun started to run and shouted, "Last one does the dishes!!!"

Yang started chasing after him and wearily replied, "Hey! No fair!!!"