Actor in Hollywood

Matt Damon appeared particularly enthusiastic, showing none of the airs of a Hollywood superstar. He was eager to try squatting in the horse stance.

His attitude was commendable.

But those slender arms and legs...

It wasn't that he was weak; Matt worked out, and his muscle definition was quite impressive. But it was obvious at a glance that his muscles were more for show than for function—purely decorative.

Horse stance? Probably difficult.

Nick wasn't surprised either. He turned to the skinny guy and asked, "Excuse me, if there's a challenge, who would we be up against?"

If it was against a student from the martial arts school... then losing the match could actually be a good opportunity for Matt to witness real martial arts and open his eyes a bit.

To Westerners, Chinese martial arts are mysterious and mystical, capable of almost anything, with a level of wonder comparable to the world of magic.

Later this year, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is set to hit North American theaters. After its release, the film will sweep the box office and become the first foreign-language film to gross over $100 million in the North American market, with a final tally of $120 million. It will hold the record as the highest-grossing foreign-language film in North America for 23 years.

Martial arts are not only mysterious and profound but also rich in Zen philosophy.

To be honest, Nick was a bit eager to try it himself and momentarily forgot that it was Matt, not him, who was supposed to take on the challenge.

Zhang Sheng's smile froze slightly, almost collapsing.

He glanced towards the storage room, where Wuxi had already disappeared. Zhang Sheng took a deep breath, resigned himself to the situation, and pulled his gaze back. He paused, forced a smile, and showed his teeth.

"Then it's him."

Everyone's eyes followed Zhang Sheng's pointing finger.

Anson looked completely innocent.

"Haha, you!" Matt burst out laughing, his expression completely relaxed. "If it's you, I think I can do it. I should be able to pass the test."

As soon as he said that, Matt realized his words might have been misunderstood.

He quickly waved his hands and explained, "Sorry, I didn't mean to disrespect you. I just think that since you're an amateur and I'm an amateur, at least I won't get beaten down too badly."

Haha.

After he finished speaking, Matt laughed heartily.

Anson smiled brightly. "It's okay, I wasn't offended."

If Matt underestimated or even looked down on him, that would be even better. That way, the satisfaction of proving him wrong would be immense, and Anson certainly wouldn't mind.

Chen Sheng's gaze darted back and forth between Matt and Anson, a bit excited. Since that kid Wuxi was probably already having his fun and wouldn't be coming back anytime soon, why not enjoy the show in front of him?

A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes.

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Chen Sheng maintained a serious and stern expression, cleared his throat, and continued with a poker face, speaking loudly, "This is an amateur enthusiast. Although he's been here for a while, he's mostly been practicing the basics. He's only recently started working on the wooden dummy, so he's probably at your level."

It was all wordplay, with everything deliberately vague, hiding the fact that Anson had been training there for over two months.

Chen Sheng stifled a laugh.

"Why don't you two practice pushing hands? If you can push him down twice, you'll pass…"

Before he could finish his sentence, Chen Sheng's trap had already taken effect. Matt, eager as ever, asked, "So, does that mean I can start learning here?"

Chen Sheng paused for a moment. "...At that point, we'll know your level."

Matt caught on—

Don't underestimate Matt; after all, he went to Harvard, even if he didn't graduate.

But Matt didn't mind. He picked up on the cautious tone in Chen Sheng's words and turned to look at him. "You don't believe I can push him down twice, do you? No worries, I'll do it, and then I'll meet the master."

He grinned.

Matt looked at Anson again and, in an exaggerated voice, said loudly, "You, come here!"

Anson wore an expression of helplessness as he trudged to the center of the floor, facing Matt, his entire demeanor relaxed.

Nick began to feel a bit uneasy—

Because Anson seemed too relaxed.

But what's wrong with being relaxed? This was just a friendly match.

Nick couldn't pinpoint the issue, so he chalked it up to instinct. After a moment's hesitation, he reminded Matt, "Matt, be careful. Focus on your core strength."

Matt didn't respond, just gave a sly smile, standing opposite Anson.

Matt knew that his on-screen image had always been that of a bookish type, and the public had developed a stereotype of him. People were often surprised to see his muscle definition, never suspecting that he worked out regularly.

So, Anson must see him the same way.

But if that's the case, Anson was in for a rude awakening.

Matt was a bit excited. Today, he could finally test the results of his recent workouts and boxing practice. Sorry, young Anson.

Even though Matt's skills were rudimentary, he was confident he could handle Anson.

The Anson standing before him was tall and thin, with a cold and handsome face. Despite the sweat still lingering on his forehead from a recent run, his figure remained slender. Even though he was much taller than Matt, it seemed like their weight was almost the same, and Matt believed his victory would be easy.

A smile crept up Matt's face.

Matt looked at Anson, "So, how do we play this pushing hands game?"

Anson thought for a moment. "Have you seen the movie 'Pushing Hands'?"

Matt recalled for a moment. "The one by Ang Lee?"

Anson nodded. "Yes, like the Tai Chi pushing hands in that film."

"Ours is a simpler version. Left hand behind your back, only using your right hand. Basically, we use the palm, wrist, and forearm to push and maneuver."

"I push you, you push me."

"In principle, we try to keep it within the arm area, but pushing the arm towards the body is also allowed. As we push each other, we try to maintain balance while looking for an opportunity to exert force and push the opponent down."

As he explained, he demonstrated the moves.

Pushing hands itself wasn't difficult, and Matt quickly grasped the basic rules.

But to Matt, this was new and exciting, a real display of martial arts, which got him even more pumped. "So, it's just about seeing who can push the other down, right?"

Anson nodded.

Matt said, "I'm ready. Let's start now."

Anson was a bit surprised. He was still guiding Matt and demonstrating the technique of using force against force, but clearly, Matt was eager to get started.

Anson glanced at Nick, "Are you sure?"

Nick couldn't see anything wrong, but still reminded Matt, "Core strength, focus on your waist and abdomen."

Matt didn't joke around this time. He put away his smile, imitating Anson's movements, and struck a stylish opening pose like Wong Fei-hung.

Their right hands connected.

Chen Sheng watched this scene with great interest, wishing he had some sunflower seeds to snack on.

"Begin!"

With that command, Matt immediately took the initiative, pushing against Anson's arm with his right hand, channeling all his strength forward, trying to use his superior force to break the balance between them.

However!

Matt never expected that as he pushed forward, Anson's body leaned slightly to the right, and his right hand grasped Matt's wrist, continuing to pull forward in the direction of Matt's push.

The combined force of their movements.

Without any direct collision, Matt found his center of gravity suddenly shifted, and he staggered forward, his entire body flying through the air.

Like a fallen leaf.

What just happened?

Wait, what… what just happened?

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