togophonebook Chapter 109: The First Shot Was Fired, War Was Declared!
Chapter 109: The First Shot Was Fired, War Was Declared!
Looking at Ma Cong, Sun Changqing's last remaining concerns vanished.
This kid is not only tough, he's also very smart.
He wasn't just a brute who relied on brute force; he was brave, but also resourceful.
We should start by targeting those fake masters with the worst reputations and the least real skills. This is called having a legitimate reason to take action, and it's also called making an example of them.
Firstly, it can quickly establish a positive image of the "National Martial Arts Alliance" in the general public, helping to combat fraud and promote authenticity, and thus gain the greatest public support.
Secondly, it also sends a signal to those truly reclusive inheritors of traditional Chinese martial arts: we are not trying to destroy everyone's livelihood, we are just cleaning house and sweeping out the scum.
In this way, not only will it not push everyone to the opposite side, but it will also make those martial artists with a sense of justice feel a sense of identification with them.
As for Ma Cong's claim that he could handle all challenges on his own, Sun Changqing has no doubt about it now.
He was joking; he still vividly remembered the power of that "Mountain-Pulling Strike." That was a power that no human could possibly possess.
Let alone those clowns like Lei Lei and Tian Ye, even if Sun Changqing himself went up there and got hit like that, he would probably fall apart on the spot.
"Good! Kid, I think your plan will work!" Sun Changqing became more and more excited as he thought about it, a flush of excitement spreading across his aged face. "These swindlers have been jumping around for so many years, they've completely disgraced our ancestors, it's time to teach them a lesson!"
As he spoke, he pulled an old-fashioned flip phone from the pocket of his faded cloth shirt. The edges of the phone case were worn so badly that the plastic inside was exposed, and the screen was pitifully small.
Ma Cong looked at the phone, a little doubtful. This thing…is it still usable?
Sun Changqing obviously didn't notice Ma Cong's gaze. He put on his reading glasses, squinted, and searched through the small phone book.
"Hey? Is this Old Crazy Wang?" As soon as the call connected, Sun Changqing shouted into the microphone, his voice full of energy, not at all like a man who was almost a hundred years old.
A similarly irritable voice came from the other end of the phone: "Sun Changqing? You old bastard, you're still alive? Calling me in the middle of the night, are you going to my funeral?"
"You're the one who's dead!" Sun Changqing retorted. "I called you to talk to you about something important! What are you still doing in that wretched mountain ravine? Get the hell out here right now!"
"Why would I go out like you? Wandering around aimlessly? I don't have time for that. My grand-disciples are waiting for me to teach them." Old Madman Wang said impatiently on the other end of the phone.
"Feeding moves? Feed my ass!" Sun Changqing's temper flared up. "If you keep feeding them, traditional Chinese martial arts will be ruined! Didn't you see the news tonight?"
"What news? The signal's terrible in this mountain valley, what am I supposed to watch?"
"Bajiquan! A young man named Ma Cong, on the ring, used a move called 'Tie Shan Kao' to kill that damn fighting behemoth Titan!" Sun Changqing's voice was full of pride and excitement.
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Old Crazy Wang's voice became excited: "Really? One move? He killed that foreign devil? He used 'Mountain-Sticking Lean'?"
"Nonsense! Why would I lie to you!" Sun Changqing said smugly. "That kid is right next to me!"
"What?!" Old Madman Wang yelled on the other end of the phone, "Old Sun, where the hell are you? Hurry up, I need to see this kid!"
"We'll have plenty of opportunities to meet!" Sun Changqing's tone shifted, his expression turning serious. "Old Wang, let me tell you, this kid is Old Chen's apprentice. He wants to raise a banner and establish a 'National Martial Arts Alliance,' calling all of us old guys out to clean up those charlatans and restore the reputation of traditional Chinese martial arts! You, are you in?"
There was another silence on the other end of the phone.
This time, the silence lasted even longer.
Ma Cong could hear heavy breathing coming from the phone.
A full half minute passed before Old Madman Wang's voice rang out again, but this time, his voice lacked its previous irritability and instead carried an unprecedented solemnity.
"Old Chen's apprentice... wants to vindicate traditional Chinese martial arts..." he murmured repeatedly, "Damn it, Old Chen wanted to do this back then, but unfortunately... he didn't succeed."
"Now, his apprentice wants to take over!" Sun Changqing said, enunciating each word clearly. "Old Wang, just give me a straight answer: do it or not? If you're still a lad and think you're a Baguazhang practitioner, then get out here! If you're scared, just pretend I didn't make this call!"
"I'm not afraid of your mother's legs!" Old Madman Wang roared on the other end of the phone. "Wait for me! Send me the address, I'll buy a ticket and head over tomorrow! Damn it, these old bones of mine have been wanting to get some exercise for ages! Anyone who dares to stand in the way of promoting Chinese martial arts, I'll snap their neck first!"
"Good! This is the Wang the Madman I know!" Sun Changqing laughed heartily.
After hanging up, he dialed a second, then a third...
"Hey, Old Liu, stop playing chess and come out of the mountains!"
"Hey, Li the Cripple, put those cheap medicinal herbs aside for now, something big has happened!"
"Hey, Blind Zhao..."
Sun Changqing made seven or eight phone calls in a row.
The people on the other end of the phone were either furious, taciturn, or hesitant.
However, when they heard the words "Old Chen's apprentice" and "to vindicate traditional Chinese martial arts," everyone's answer was surprisingly consistent.
"Dry!"
Ma Cong listened quietly from the side.
He could sense an invisible force converging from all corners of China through these old telephone lines.
These elderly people may be old and out of touch with the times, but the fire burning in their hearts for martial arts has never been extinguished.
They are just waiting.
Waiting for someone who can raise the banner.
They are waiting for someone who can give them hope.
And now, this person has appeared.
After finishing the call, Sun Changqing breathed a sigh of relief. He put his phone back in his pocket, looked at Ma Cong, and his eyes were full of relief and anticipation.
"Kid, I've brought them all. These old guys are all veterans who fought alongside me and your master back in the day; they're all tough guys. With them backing you up, you'll have a solid standing in terms of reputation."
Ma Cong nodded solemnly: "Thank you, Brother Sun."
"Thanks my ass." Sun Changqing waved his hand. "Now, it's your turn to make a move."
Ma Cong smiled, took out his phone, and opened Weibo.
He glanced at his account, which he had just registered not long ago and had only a few hundred followers, and then began to edit the text.
His fingers flew across the screen without the slightest hesitation.
Sun Changqing leaned over to take a look.
The content of that Weibo post was simple, direct, and extremely domineering.
"I am Ma Cong. The National Martial Arts Alliance is established today."
"From this day forward, I will issue a public challenge to all those who call themselves 'Masters of Traditional Martial Arts' in the country, in my capacity as the leader of the National Martial Arts Alliance."
"First batch of names: Lei Gong Tai Chi, Lei Lei; Li He Tui, Tian Ye; Wing Chun, Ding Hao."
"You decide the time, place, and rules. I'm always ready to oblige."
"There's only one condition: sign a waiver of life and death, and step into the ring. The loser must publicly admit to being a fraud and will never again claim to be a successor of Chinese martial arts. If they dare not accept the challenge, they will also be considered fraudsters."
"This battle aims to clean house and restore the reputation of Chinese martial arts. We welcome netizens and media from all over the country to witness it."
"This is my pledge!"
In just over a hundred words, every word was piercing and filled with murderous intent!
Sun Changqing's eyelids twitched as he read it.
This kid is even more direct and ruthless than he imagined!
This is no longer a challenge, this is a declaration of war!
This is a declaration of war by one person against the entire corrupt and chaotic so-called "traditional martial arts world"!
"Kid, aren't you going to reconsider?" Sun Changqing couldn't help but ask. "Writing it like this leaves no room for maneuver."
"No need for maneuvering." Ma Cong's face remained completely calm. "To deal with swindlers, you have to use the most direct method."
As he spoke, he pressed the "send" button.
After doing all this, he put away his phone and looked up at the night view outside the window.
The wind is about to rise.