ca-book Chapter 107 I'll Raise This Banner
Chapter 107 I'll Raise This Banner
Ma Cong's appearance was tantamount to directly destroying their livelihood.
These people will use any underhanded means for profit: if they can't do it openly, they'll do it secretly, poisoning, assassinating, kidnapping family members, they'll stop at nothing.
And then there are those so-called "reputable and upright families".
Although they are not as thoroughly evil as charlatans, their minds are more stubborn than granite.
They cling to the outdated notion that "ancestral methods cannot be changed," treating the skills of various schools and sects as their own private property and keeping them secret.
Ma Cong wanted to break down sectarian barriers and get them to share their best skills, which was even more painful than killing them.
In their view, Ma Cong's behavior was "betraying his master and ancestors" and "a traitor to the martial arts world".
They will unite to suppress and ostracize Ma Cong from both a moral and public opinion standpoint.
Finally, there is also pressure from the authorities.
The tree catches the wind.
If Ma Cong really gathers all the martial artists in the country and establishes a "National Martial Arts Alliance", what enormous power will this alliance possess?
A civilian organization that is not under official control and possesses powerful armed forces is something that no authority can tolerate.
They will use all sorts of rules and regulations to restrict you, supervise you, and even divide and dismantle you.
Any one of these three mountains could crush an ordinary person.
Is Ma Cong really going to shoulder all of this alone?
He was silent.
Sun Changqing didn't urge him, but just watched him quietly.
He was waiting, waiting for the young man to make his own choice.
This choice will determine whether Chinese martial arts will either decline or rise from the ashes.
Time passed by, and the room became so quiet that only the two of them could be heard breathing.
After an unknown amount of time, Ma Cong finally raised his head.
The hesitation and struggle that had been on his face were gone, replaced by an unprecedented determination.
His eyes were like a deep pool, calm yet containing boundless power.
He looked at Sun Changqing and slowly began to speak.
His voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm and resonant: "Mr. Sun, I understand everything you've said."
"I know this road won't be easy."
"However, my master, Old Man Chen, taught me a principle since I was a child."
He said that a person should do something meaningful in their lifetime.
He said, "We martial artists train not only our muscles and bones, but also our spirit of speaking out against injustice."
He said, "Some things, even if you know they are impossible, you must do them."
The image of that old man, always wearing a tattered vest, lying in a rocking chair drinking cheap tea, flashed through Ma Cong's mind.
That old man had a sharp tongue, a terrible temper, and always cut back on his allowance.
However, he taught Ma Cong what it means to be a "great hero who serves his country and its people" through the simplest words and the most rigorous training.
Although the era of inter-state martial arts has ended, Chinese martial arts are now facing a critical moment of survival.
If even someone like him, who possesses a inherited system and was chosen by the times, chooses to retreat and escape, then there is truly no hope for Chinese martial arts.
"so……"
Ma Cong took a deep breath, solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Sun Changqing, and declared, "I will carry this banner!"
"I will walk this path!"
"I will cure this century-old ailment of traditional Chinese martial arts!"
"Under this bright and clear sky, with the justice of Heaven shining forth, I, Ma Cong, am willing to use my fists to carve out a new future for Chinese martial arts and for my nation!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful confidence emanated from Ma Cong!
His momentum surged at that moment!
His spirit, his will, and his beliefs were elevated to an unprecedented level the moment he made this decision!
A body of jade bones and golden skin is not only a physical tempering, but also a mental refinement.
Only by possessing a fearless, responsible, and unwavering heart, capable of remaining calm even in the face of a collapsing mountain, can one truly unleash the full power of this body!
Looking at Ma Cong before him, Sun Changqing's aged face broke into a heartfelt smile of satisfaction, his eyes glistening with tears of excitement.
"Good! Good! Good!" he exclaimed three times. "Old Chen, you've taken on a fine apprentice!"
"Our Chinese martial arts have successors!"
He stepped forward and patted Ma Cong on the shoulder forcefully: "Child, from today onwards, you are the first leader of our 'National Martial Arts Alliance'!"
"My old life, Sun Changqing's life, and the more than three hundred members of my Sun family's Xingyi School, are all in your hands!"
"From now on, if anything happens, just say the word, and I, Sun Changqing, will go through fire and water without batting an eye!"
This grandmaster, who held a revered position in the world of martial arts and whose seniority was terrifyingly high, actually uttered such words of loyalty to Ma Cong, a mere nineteen-year-old boy.
If the martial arts community outside knew this, it would probably shock everyone.
However, Ma Cong was wronged.
He knew that what Sun Changqing was entrusting him was not just a vague and uncertain position as the leader of the alliance, but also a heavy trust and responsibility.
"Mr. Sun, you flatter me," Ma Cong said, helping Sun Changqing up. "I'm just a flag bearer."
"This alliance belongs to all those who truly love Chinese martial arts."
"In the future, I will need your advice and guidance."
"Hahaha, easy, easy!" Sun Changqing laughed heartily. "From now on, you can call me Brother Sun. Let's each stick to our own way; I don't want to be outdone by that old man Chen."
Upon hearing this, Ma Cong couldn't help but laugh.
The atmosphere in the room instantly became relaxed and harmonious.
An old man and a young man, two generations of martial artists, reached a consensus in this small budget hotel room for a common and great goal.
None of them could have imagined that this seemingly ordinary night would become a great beginning for the rebirth and revival of Chinese martial arts.