MMB Chapter 106 The Grandmaster's Request
Chapter 106 The Grandmaster's Request
Ma Baoguo?
Upon hearing the name, Ma Cong paused for a moment, then realized what it meant.
He remembered that a while ago, a "master" named Ma Baoguo was indeed extremely popular online.
However, it wasn't because he was good at kung fu, but because he was too boastful and embarrassing.
He claimed to be the "Head of Hunyuan Xingyi Taiji School," but when he went to the ring to fight an amateur boxing enthusiast, he was knocked out three times in thirty seconds.
After the match, he even recorded a video with a black eye, saying something like, "Young people don't have sportsmanship, they try to cheat and ambush me, but I'm a 69-year-old old comrade," which amused the whole country.
This incident became the final straw that broke the camel's back in the reputation of Chinese martial arts.
From then on, whenever the term "traditional martial arts master" was mentioned, everyone would think of "Ma Baoguo" and "fraudster".
Ma Cong never expected that the ridiculous Ma Baoguo was actually the grand-disciple of Sun Changqing, the grandmaster of Xingyi Quan.
This is...too dramatic!
Seeing Ma Cong's strange expression, Sun Changqing's old face also showed a hint of embarrassment and helplessness.
"What a misfortune for my family! What a misfortune for my family!" He shook his head repeatedly and sighed, "My disciple was not strict in accepting students, and he taught such an ambitious but dishonest person, who has disgraced Xingyi Quan and the entire Chinese martial arts community."
"I came down the mountain this time for two reasons: first, to cleanse the sect and expel this wicked child from the school; and second, for you."
"For me?" Ma Cong asked, puzzled.
"That's right." Sun Changqing's expression turned serious. "Kid, you fought very well in the ring today. You were very inspiring."
"Your 'Mountain-Piercing Lean' not only shattered that foreigner's sternum, but also shattered the huge boulder that has been pressing down on the heads of all true martial arts practitioners over the years."
"You have shown the world what true Chinese martial arts are like."
"But, son, have you thought about what to do next?" Sun Changqing looked at Ma Cong, his eyes becoming deep.
"Defeating a Titan is easy."
"However, if you want to revive the entire Chinese martial arts world, which is rotten to the core, your fists alone are not enough."
Why has traditional Chinese martial arts declined in recent years? Why is it being regarded as a fraud and a joke?
"On the one hand, it's because there are too many charlatans like Ma Baoguo. They use the banner of traditional Chinese martial arts to swindle and cheat, driving out good with bad, and making the whole environment a mess."
"On the other hand, and more importantly, it is because those of us who truly understand and practice Chinese martial arts have chosen to stay at home and escape."
Sun Changqing's tone carried a heavy sense of self-reproach.
"We used the excuse that 'Chinese martial arts are killing techniques and are not suitable for the ring' to watch those swindlers ruin the reputation passed down from our ancestors, and we did nothing about it."
"We adhere to the so-called 'sectarianism' and 'the way is not easily passed on,' preferring to take all our skills to our graves rather than share them with others and promote them."
"It is we who have personally led traditional Chinese martial arts to this half-dead state."
"We were wrong."
As he finished speaking, the nearly 100-year-old grandmaster's voice even trembled with emotion.
Ma Cong fell silent.
He could sense the deep, heartbroken emotion in Sun Changqing's words, and he knew that what Sun Changqing said was true.
While the prevalence of charlatans is undoubtedly a major reason for the decline of traditional Chinese martial arts, the conservatism, stagnation, and inaction of the true inheritors are equally to blame.
"Then... Mr. Sun, what do you think I should do?" Ma Cong asked humbly.
Although he has a system at his disposal and his strength is improving rapidly, when it comes to his understanding of the entire martial arts world and his life experience, he is still far behind the century-old man in front of him.
"Child, today you tore open a hole with your fist and let the light in." Sun Changqing looked at Ma Cong with eyes full of expectation. "Next, I hope you can raise a flag."
"A banner truly belonging to Chinese martial arts!"
"Bring out all those old guys like me who are hiding in the deep mountains and forests, barely clinging to life."
"Gather together those true martial artists who are scattered among the people and still have passion in their hearts."
"We want to establish a true national martial arts alliance!"
"We need to establish new rules, clean house, and sweep all those charlatans into the dustbin of history!"
"We must break down sectarian barriers, share resources, and pass on the essence of each school, carrying it forward and making it flourish!"
"We must revive traditional Chinese martial arts!"
Sun Changqing became more and more excited as he spoke, and an astonishing power seemed to erupt from his aged body, his eyes flashing with a burning light.
Ma Cong's heart was also stirred by his words.
Establish the National Martial Arts Alliance! Clean house! Break down sectarian barriers!
Isn't this exactly what he's always wanted to do, but didn't know where to start?
Isn't this the ultimate mission of "rectifying the reputation of Chinese martial arts" issued by the system?
He never expected to hear such a grand plan from the mouth of a highly respected grandmaster here.
"Mr. Sun, I..." Ma Cong was about to agree when Sun Changqing waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Child, don't rush to agree."
"This matter is not as simple as you think."
"Raising this flag means you're going to be in the eye of the storm."
"You will not only have to face the fierce backlash and retaliation from the swindlers whose livelihoods you have cut off, but also the questioning and obstruction from the so-called 'reputable schools' who are conservative in their thinking and stuck in their ways, and even pressure and supervision from the authorities."
"This road will be difficult and dangerous."
"Therefore, I need you to give me a definite answer."
Sun Changqing's gaze sharpened as he stared into Ma Cong's eyes, asking each word carefully, "Do you dare to take on this responsibility?"
Sun Changqing's gaze was like two sharp knives, piercing into the depths of Ma Cong's heart.
The air in the entire room seemed to freeze.
Ma Cong could feel an invisible pressure enveloping him.
This is not an act of physical oppression, but a spiritual ordeal.
"Do you dare?"
These three words echoed repeatedly in his mind like a resounding bell.
He knew that Sun Changqing was not joking.
Once he nods, it means he will shoulder the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the entire martial arts community.
Just as Sun Changqing said, this road is full of thorns and traps.
The enemies he will face are no longer simple-minded brutes like Titan, but complex interest groups from all sides.
There are those charlatans who use the title of "traditional martial arts master" to open classes, sell fake medicine, and sell "power pills," earning millions or even tens of millions of yuan a year.