12dz Chapter 106: The pre-competition press conference was ridiculed by everyone!
Chapter 106: The pre-competition press conference was ridiculed by everyone!
A week later, the pre-competition press conference for the National Wushu Sanda Championships was held in the International Convention and Exhibition Center in the provincial capital.
Top athletes, coaches, and martial arts experts from all over the country gathered together.
Flashbulbs went off constantly, and reporters crowded together, all eager to be the first to get the latest news.
On the stage of the press conference, a row of experts and leaders in suits and ties sat.
The elderly man with white hair and beard in the very center is Chen Shanhe, the chief referee of this competition, Liu Jianguo's master, and a leading figure in the Chinese Sanda world.
Liu Jianguo sat next to Chen Shanhe with a smug smile on his face, occasionally whispering something to Chen Shanhe.
The host, microphone in hand, enthusiastically introduced the guests and contestants present.
When Lu Jingchen was introduced, the host paused for a moment, a strange look appearing on his face.
"Next, let's welcome Lu Jingchen from Jiangzhou University, the only contestant in this competition representing traditional martial arts!"
The moment the words were spoken, the entire room fell silent.
All eyes turned to Lu Jingchen.
Flashbulbs went off wildly as reporters' cameras were all pointed at the nineteen-year-old boy.
Lu Jingchen, holding Su Muyue's hand, slowly walked out from backstage.
He was dressed in a simple white casual outfit, with a calm and composed expression.
Facing countless cameras and gazes, I felt no nervousness whatsoever.
However, the contestants and experts in the audience all showed expressions of disdain and mockery.
"This is Lu Jingchen? He doesn't look like much, all delicate and fair-skinned."
"Exactly, a college student, instead of studying properly, comes to participate in a national competition?"
"Traditional martial arts? Does anyone still practice traditional martial arts these days? Aren't they all just for show?"
"I think he's just trying to ride the wave of popularity; he's desperate for fame."
The murmurs rose and fell, reaching Lu Jingchen's ears without any attempt to conceal them.
Su Muyue clenched her fists in anger and whispered to Lu Jingchen:
"They've gone too far! How could they say that?"
Lu Jingchen patted her hand and said calmly:
"It's alright, let them talk."
"They'll shut up once the match starts."
Lu Jingchen walked to the players' bench and found a seat.
As soon as he sat down, a Sanda fighter next to him turned around, looked him up and down, and showed a hint of mockery on his face.
"You're Lu Jingchen? I heard you were pretty arrogant in Jiangzhou?"
"But I advise you to give up now, so you don't get beaten up and end up crying for your mom."
Lu Jingchen glanced at him and said:
"If you're afraid of getting hurt by me, you can still forfeit now."
The contestant was furious on the spot, pointing at Lu Jingchen and saying:
"Don't be so arrogant, kid!"
"When the match starts, I'll be the first one to beat you up! See how I deal with you!"
Lu Jingchen smiled dismissively and ignored him.
Soon, the press conference moved into the Q&A session.
The first reporter to stand up pointed the microphone at Lu Jingchen.
"Hello, Lu Jingchen, I am a reporter from Jiangzhou Evening News."
"As the only traditional martial arts competitor in this competition, what are your goals?"
Do you think traditional martial arts still have practical combat effectiveness in modern fighting?
Lu Jingchen picked up the microphone and said calmly:
"My goal is simple: to win all the championships."
"As for the practical combat capabilities of traditional martial arts, I will prove it to everyone on the field with my strength."
These words immediately caused an uproar in the room.
Everyone was stunned and couldn't believe their ears.
"What? He won all the titles? Is he crazy?"
"This is a national competition! It's full of top players from each province!"
"How arrogant! They're utterly ignorant of their own limitations!"
"I think he's just here to make a joke. He's supposed to win all the championships. He'd be lucky to win even one game."
Chen Shanhe's face instantly darkened on the podium.
He picked up the microphone and said coldly:
"Young man, don't speak so confidently."
"The national competition is not a place for you to show off your power; strength is not something that can be demonstrated by words."
"Traditional martial arts have long since declined; now it's the era of modern combat sports."
"I advise you to face reality and give up as soon as possible to avoid making a fool of yourself."
Liu Jianguo echoed:
"Chief Judge Chen is right!"
"Lu Jingchen, don't think you're invincible just because you beat a few lousy guys in Jiangzhou."
"This is a national competition, full of top experts. Your fancy moves are simply not enough to compete."
"I think you should go back now, don't waste everyone's time here."
The contestants and experts in the audience also joined in the cheering.
"Exactly! Traditional martial arts are all show and no substance! They have absolutely no practical combat ability!"
"Just give up already! Don't embarrass yourself here!"
"Chief Referee Chen is right! We live in the era of modern combat sports!"
For a moment, the entire press conference was filled with mockery and skepticism.
All the blame was directed at Lu Jingchen.
Su Muyue was so angry that she was trembling all over, and tears were about to come out.
Ma Xiaodong and Shi Lei were also furious and wanted to stand up and refute, but Lu Jingchen stopped them.
Lu Jingchen slowly stood up and picked up the microphone.
The entire room fell silent instantly, everyone staring at him, wondering what else he would say.
Lu Jingchen scanned the entire room and said calmly:
"Since you all think that traditional martial arts are just for show and have no real combat ability."
"Then today I will demonstrate to everyone what true traditional martial arts are."
As he spoke, he walked to the edge of the stage at the press conference.
There was a steel plate there, three centimeters thick, used to demonstrate the power of Sanda (Chinese kickboxing).
Lu Jingchen pointed to the steel plate and said to Chen Shanhe:
"Chief Referee Chen, you're saying traditional martial arts are just for show."
"Then how about we make a bet?"
"If I can kick this steel plate to pieces, you must apologize to Chuanwu in front of everyone."
"If I can't break it, I'll immediately forfeit and never participate in any martial arts competition again."
These words caused another uproar in the room.
"What?! He kicked through a three-centimeter-thick steel plate? Has he gone mad?"
"Even world champions might not be able to do that!"
"I think he's just desperate after losing so much that he's ready to give up."
Chen Shanhe was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter:
"Okay! I'll bet with you!"
"If you can kick this steel plate apart with one kick, I'll apologize to Chuanwu in front of everyone!"
"If you can't break it, get out of here right now and never mention the words 'traditional martial arts' again!"
It's a deal.
Lu Jingchen nodded and put down the microphone.
He walked to the steel plate and stretched his ankle.
Everyone held their breath, staring intently at him.
The reporters' cameras were all pointed at the steel plate, ready to record this historic moment.
A smug smile appeared on Liu Jianguo's face as he thought to himself:
"Hmph, you think you can kick a steel plate apart? Dream on!"
"Wait till you can't break it, then I'll see how I humiliate you!"
Just then, Lu Jingchen made a move.
He took a deep breath and suddenly raised his right leg.
Swift as lightning, powerful as thunder.
"Bang!"
A deafening roar echoed throughout the entire convention center.
Lu Jingchen's right foot struck the steel plate solidly.
The three-centimeter-thick steel plate instantly broke in half.
The cut is neat and smooth, as if it were cut by a cutting machine.
The broken steel plate flew several meters away and crashed heavily to the ground with a loud bang.
The entire press conference fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone froze on the spot, their mouths agape, wide enough to fit an egg.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
The smiles on the faces of the contestants and experts who were just mocking Lu Jingchen froze instantly, and they all looked like they had seen a ghost.
Chen Shanhe suddenly stood up from his chair, his eyes wide open, staring intently at the broken steel plate on the ground.
His face was filled with utter horror, and his body began to tremble slightly.
"No... Impossible... This is absolutely impossible..."
He muttered to himself, unable to believe what he was seeing.
The smug smile on Liu Jianguo's face vanished instantly.
His face was deathly pale, and cold sweat streamed down his cheeks.
My legs were trembling so badly I almost collapsed to the ground.
Lu Jingchen slowly withdrew his leg and patted the dust off his pants.
He turned around, looked at the dumbfounded Chen Shanhe, and said calmly:
"Judge Chen, you can apologize now."
Chen Shanhe's face flushed red and then turned pale, so embarrassed he wanted to disappear.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.
If he doesn't apologize in front of the national media, he'll never have the face to show his face in the martial arts world again.
After hesitating for a long time, Chen Shanhe finally gritted his teeth, spoke softly into the microphone:
"I'm sorry, I was wrong."
"Traditional martial arts do indeed have practical combat capabilities."
Although the sound was very soft, it was clearly heard by everyone in the quiet meeting room.
Lu Jingchen nodded and said:
"very good."
"I hope everyone remembers that traditional martial arts have never been just for show."
"It is a treasure left by our ancestors, and it is the soul engraved in the bones of the Chinese people."
"I will prove this to everyone with my strength at the national competition three months from now."
After speaking, he put down the microphone, took Su Muyue's hand, and turned to leave the press conference.
He left behind a deathly silence, and a group of stunned reporters, contestants, and experts.
As they walked out of the convention center, Su Muyue excitedly hugged Lu Jingchen:
"Lu Jingchen, you're so handsome!"
"That kick just now was absolutely awesome!"
"Did you see their expressions? They were all dumbfounded! That was so satisfying!"
Lu Jingchen smiled and ruffled her hair, saying:
"This is just the beginning."
"At the national competition, I will let more people know how powerful traditional martial arts are."