甲午年间（1890年），军界“刘坤”请李存义教授士官武术，在讨贼中他屡立战功，不久即升职。因为过不惯受限制的军官生活而辞职，后去保定府开设“万通镖局”。李存义轻财好义，为人厚道，又因管理不善，镖局资本用尽，“万通镖局”开设五年而关闭。
一八九五年，河北定兴县张祖庄村名镖师李梁栋先生（人称花刀李）在莫州镇“瑞生祥布庄”创办“义友镖局”，特赴深县请李存义来主持“义友镖局”。
李存义先生初到“瑞生祥布庄”时，众人为试探他的功夫，有意将两只大狼狗放出。晚上李存义应邀赴宴，当他推门入院，两只凶猛的大狼狗骤然扑来，李存义惊愕之余并不慌乱，随用“佛袖扫尘”把两只恶狗打得乱滚乱叫，此时客厅里有人出来相迎，李存义笑着说：“手重了，想不到两只狗经不起一掌”，此事在河北地区无人不知，武术界亦无不叹服。
李存义上任不久，负责护送数辆布车去北平。行至雄县南十里铺村时，正好中午，村东有座古庙，庙前有一口水井，便想借此休息，取井水人畜饮用，却不想从庙内走出一三十来岁身强力壮的和尚，粗野大叫，不许取水，并说佛门净水岂能畜生饮用。李存义谦和地说：“路过贵处，取点井水，还请僧爷多行方便，我等不胜感谢！”和尚不屑地说：“要喝水也可以，让你们的镖师和我比试，除非赢了我，否则没门！”此处本是交通要道，又是去北平的必经之地，如不除此恶僧，也必然影响来往路人。李存义平静地说：“请你上手吧”。和尚迅速以右手猛劈李存义的面门，李存义不慌不忙，用左臂一挡，顺势一个进步劈拳便将和尚打出丈外，摔倒在地，**连连。俄而起身下拜，恳请李存义收他为徒。李存义正色道：“你既入佛门，当有善心，却如此无礼，岂能收你！今日只是稍做惩戒，并未伤你，日后当多行善事，不可再造次，否则不饶你！”和尚连连磕头称是，周围围观民众无不拍手称快！
此后，任丘、新安、新城、定兴、雄县等众多武术高手纷纷拜于李存义门下。
During the period of Sino-Japanese war(1890), Liu Kun in the army invited professor Li Cunyi to teach Wushu to the sergeancy. Li was awarded several times in the war and got promotion soon. Later since he was not accustomed to the limited life of military officer, Li resigned to open the “Wan Tong Security Company” in Baoding government. Li is an upright and genuine man who cares little about the money. Thus, the fund of the Security Company was used up due to the poor management. As a result, the“Wan Tong Security Company” had opened for only five years.
In 1895, Mr. Li Dongliang(called as “Hua Dao Li) from Zhang Zuzhuang village, Dingxing courty in Hebei Province opend the “Yi You Security Company” in the “Rui Sheng Xiang Texiles” in Mozhou town. And Li was especially invited to host the“Yi You Security Company”.
When Mr. Li Cunyi firstly came to the “Rui Sheng Xiang Texiles”, people loosed two large hounds in order to test his Kungfu. In the evening, Li came to the dinner upon invitation. When he came the yard, two large ferocious hounds quickly flew out at Li. However, Li still kept calm, though surprised, and he struck the hounds to cry with the trick “Fu Xiu Sao Chen”. At the same time, someone came from the sitting-room, while Li smiled to say: “ Heavy hit. It’s extraordinary that the two hounds can’t bear it.” After that, it is known across the whole Hebei Province and everyone in the Wushu circle speaks highly of it.
Within a few days of taking office, Li Cunyi was designated to escort several carriages of cloth to Peking. It’s noon that he arrived at Shilipu Village which is in the south of Xiong County. In the east of the village, there stands a temple. And a well is in front of the temple. Li Cunyi wanted to have a rest and draw some water for both guarders and horses. All of a sudden, a physically strong monk in thirties shouted rudely to stop his drawing water and said that animals were forbidden to drink the Buddhism water. Li Cunyi said politely and modestly, “We happen to pass by your distinguished temple, and hope to fetch some water. We’ll appreciate it very much for your kindly permit.” The monk said contemptuously, “You can drink the water on condition that your guard leader can beat me, otherwise, it’s impossible!”
This road is both traffic artery and the only way to Peking must be passed by. The following passers-by will be troubled by the hateful monk, if he is not defeated. Thus, Li Cunyi said calmly, “Please start with you.” The monk hacked his opponent’s face fiercely and quickly, while Li Cunyi avoid the monk’s hacking by his left arm leisurely and punched the monk ten feet away at the same time. The monk lay on the ground… After a while, he stood up and kneeled to ask Li to take him as his apprentice.
Afterwards, many Wushu superiors from Renqiu, Xinan, Xincheng, Dingxing, Xiongxian acknowledged Li Cunyi as their teacher one after another.
