HCB Chapter 46 An 8-Year-Old Master of Internal Energy
Chapter 46 An 8-Year-Old Master of Internal Energy
Looking at the amused smile on Ma Cong's face, General Zhou felt even more uneasy, not at all.
What he feared most was Ma Cong's expression.
The last time Ma Cong showed that expression, those three Americans were sent straight back to their hometown.
This time, the opponent is Wudang Mountain, a prestigious and renowned name in the Chinese martial arts world. If something serious happens here, things could get really messy.
"Teacher Ma, well... Wudang is, after all, a prestigious sect with far-reaching influence. What I mean is, could we... stop here this time?" General Zhou's tone carried a hint of negotiation.
He now truly treats Ma Tong like a national treasure that needs to be carefully protected, fearing that if Ma Tong loses his temper, things will spiral out of control.
"General, don't worry." Ma Cong saw his concerns and waved his hand with a smile. "I know what I'm doing. They want to 'discuss the Dao,' right? Then I'll discuss it with them. Martial arts exchange isn't about fighting on the battlefield. Besides, if we lose, it's my face that's lost. If we win, it's the prestige of our 'National Martial Arts Combat-Oriented' program that's enhanced, isn't it?"
Upon hearing this, General Zhou felt that what he said made sense.
This challenge presents risks, but the opportunities outweigh the risks.
Ma Cong had previously beaten foreigners, which was impressive, but some people would always criticize him, thinking it was "an amateur beating an amateur".
But this time it's different. The opponent is a direct descendant of Wudang, a recognized "authentic master of internal martial arts".
If Ma Cong wins, and wins convincingly, the impact on the practical application of Chinese martial arts will be immeasurable! This is tantamount to declaring to the entire Chinese martial arts community: stop clinging to sectarian prejudices, and stop arguing about internal and external styles; true skill lies in fighting!
"Good! Teacher Ma, if you have that confidence, then I'll back you up!" General Zhou's military spirit was also ignited. He slammed his hand on the table, "What do they want to say? Time? Place?"
"Well..." Ma Cong stroked his chin, a shrewd glint in his eyes, "Don't they like to stand on the moral high ground, emphasizing things like 'orthodox sects' and 'refined halls'? Then let's give them a sufficiently large 'refined hall'."
"Oh? Teacher Ma, what do you mean?" General Zhou didn't quite understand.
"What I mean is, don't do it secretly." Ma Cong's voice wasn't loud, but every word carried an undeniable force. "Let's hold a public, live-streamed 'Discussion Conference' right here at our training base!"
"What? Live stream across the entire internet?" General Zhou was genuinely shocked this time; he almost stood up from his chair.
This is way too much!
Conducting a live broadcast from a military camp is inherently a troublesome matter requiring multiple levels of approval. Moreover, the content of the broadcast is a combat competition, which carries inherent uncertainties.
What if... what if Ma Cong loses?
Wouldn't their painstakingly established "practical application of martial arts" project become a joke in the eyes of the entire nation? Wouldn't these generals be made a fool of themselves along with them?
"Teacher Ma, this...this is too risky!" General Zhou's forehead was covered in sweat. "Let's have a private competition. If we win, then we can release the results. That would be much safer."
"No." Ma Cong shook his head, his attitude resolute. "General, think about it. What is the ultimate goal of our project? It's to 'rectify the reputation of Chinese martial arts'! It's to let the whole world see the power of Chinese martial arts. To achieve this goal, it's far from enough for us to just practice behind closed doors and rely on one or two edited videos."
"What we need is a real, unreserved, and public battle! We want everyone—believers, skeptics, and those waiting to see us fail—to witness it firsthand! Only in this way can the resulting demonstration of power be the most authentic, the most impactful, and the most irrefutable!"
Ma Cong looked at General Zhou and said, word by word, "They question whether I use martial arts of killing, then I will defeat them with the 'Taoist Kung Fu' they admire most! They say my skills are not up to par, then I will give them a vivid public lesson in traditional Chinese martial arts in front of the entire nation!"
These words stirred General Zhou's blood.
Looking at the young man before him, his confidence and charisma that seemed to look down upon the world impressed even this battle-hardened general.
Yes, if you're timid and hesitant, what kind of path to a strong military is that?
If we want Chinese martial arts to rise again and if we want Chinese soldiers to master this top-level fighting art, we must have the courage and determination to face all challenges!
"Alright!" General Zhou slapped his thigh, making up his mind. "We'll do it your way! Live stream it across the entire internet! I'll personally apply to 'the higher-ups,' even if it costs me my reputation, I'll get this done for you!"
"You don't need to worry about the venue, equipment, or publicity; the military will handle everything!" A fierce fire blazed in General Zhou's eyes. "We'll not only broadcast it live, but we'll also invite the most influential media outlets! We want to make this 'dialogue' a phenomenal event!"
"Then thank you very much, General." Ma Cong smiled.
He knew he had achieved his goal.
The progress bar for the system task "Rectifying the Name of Chinese Martial Arts" surged to 5.0% after the exchange meeting, giving him a taste of the benefits of "high-quality influence".
If handled well, this public challenge to Wudang will have an impact ten or even a hundred times greater than the last exchange held within the military camp!
At that point, won't the mission progress bar take off?
"By the way, did that Master Qingfeng mention what specific method he would use to 'discuss the Dao'?" Ma Cong asked.
"He said it in the post." General Zhou pulled up his phone and found the post. "He said, 'The discussion will be divided into two parts. One is a literary discussion, and the other is a martial arts discussion. The literary discussion is about sitting down and discussing the principles of boxing, yin and yang, and the understanding of internal force. The martial arts discussion is about physical sparring, stopping when the point is reached."
"Literary discourse? Military discourse?" Ma Cong's smile deepened upon hearing this. "Interesting, making it sound quite formal. Alright, I'll wait and see. Whether it's literary or military, I'll play along to the end."
General Zhou felt a sense of peace upon seeing Ma Cong's calm and composed demeanor.
He had a strong premonition that this Wudang master, who called himself "Qingfeng," was about to run into a brick wall.
No, it's not a metal plate.
It is a bottomless, seemingly ordinary mountain, but in fact, it holds a world within its depths...
"Alright, Teacher Ma, you go ahead and prepare. I'll go arrange the relevant matters right away." After saying that, General Zhou left in a hurry. He was full of energy and couldn't wait to get this "Discussion Conference" going.