C17 Martial Inheriting Was Weak

"Senior Brother Jiang, did you really wait for me at the sports field early this morning just to ask me to join the Martial Inheriting Society?" Feng Manlou asked with a wry smile. "Isn't that a bit too..."

"Mad, right?" Jiang Gongyin let out a sigh. "I didn't want to resort to this, but we're in a dire situation. I had no other choice."

"Has something happened to the Martial Inheriting Society?"

"A big something."

Vice President Jiang, towering over 1.8 meters with a face of integrity, grimaced as he explained, "Yesterday, one of our members abruptly left the Martial Inheriting Society for the Taekwondo Club. As you know, if a club can't muster five members, the director will force us to disband and relinquish our activity room."

"It's just one person leaving. How is that a big deal?"

Feng Manlou paused, baffled. "Wait, what? One member leaves, and the Martial Inheriting Society faces dissolution? Are you telling me that in the entire academy of tens of thousands, only five people practice Martial Inheriting?"

Jiang Gongyin nodded, looking on the verge of tears. "There's nothing I can do. There's a prevailing negative attitude towards Martial Inheriting these days. Everyone dismisses it as all flash and no substance, ineffective in a real fight, making it impossible to attract new members."

He seemed to steel himself before continuing, "Alright, I'll level with you. The person who left wasn't just any member; she was our president's girlfriend. They broke up last night, and she quit the society in the aftermath..."

Feng Manlou nearly choked in disbelief.

Good grief, the Martial Inheriting scene on Blue Star has really hit rock bottom. Back in my previous life, despite being the butt of jokes for not having international champions, Martial Inheriting was still thriving at the grassroots level!

"Senior, may I ask you something?"

"Go ahead. If you're willing to fill out the application, you can ask me anything."

"When you say you're proficient in a certain Fist Technique, do you truly mean it, or are you just skimming the surface?"

Jiang Gongyin's expression darkened, and Feng Manlou felt he already knew the answer. So-called proficiency was merely knowing how to throw a punch. No wonder they were struggling so much.

Seeing Feng Manlou purse his lips and shake his head, Jiang Gongyin immediately knew what was on his mind and quickly interjected:

"Don't get the wrong idea. Our president's family has been running a courier and security agency for five generations, and we've all been trained in authentic martial arts from a young age. We're legitimate heirs of the Southern Fist style!

I've even won a silver medal in the Long Fist category at the provincial martial arts competition—I'm no fraud!"

"Are you sure?" Feng Manlou eyed him with skepticism.

"I'd stake my life on it!" Jiang Gongyin asserted. "Even if you don't trust my words, you should believe the fact that I sent that lunatic flying with a kick yesterday. Without real martial arts skills, who would dare to confront a knife-wielding man head-on!"

"Wasn't it me who was confronting him? And wasn't your kick more of a surprise attack?" Feng Manlou pointed out.

Jiang Gongyin fell silent...

Upon reflection, it did seem like he had taken advantage of a sneak attack rather than displaying any real martial arts prowess.

Noticing Jiang Gongyin at a loss for words, Feng Manlou chuckled and playfully punched his arm, "I'm just messing with you, don't take it so seriously. Joining the Martial Inheriting Society is no big deal—you don't need an invitation from me; I've been wanting to join for a while!"

"Really?! You're not pulling my leg?!"

"Absolutely, truer than pearls."

"Ha! Come on, let's go grab some breakfast. Afterward, we can fill out the application form and get you into the society right away."

Jiang Gongyin led Feng Manlou towards the cafeteria.

"Senior Brother Jiang, I need to clear something up. How much are the dues for the Martial Inheriting Society each semester? I'm not exactly flush with cash."

"You're breaking my heart here! Once you join the Martial Inheriting Society, we're brothers. Forget about club fees—they're completely waived!

Let me give you the inside scoop: our Martial Inheriting Society isn't like the others. Besides the nominal funds we get from the academy for essentials like water, we have other sources of revenue. We don't depend on member dues to keep things running.

Now that you're one of us, let me share another perk of joining the society.

After you join the Martial Inheriting Society, for every new member you recruit, we'll send you a $20 bonus!

Aren't you short on cash? Well, here's your chance to make some money—get out there and bring in new members!"

Feng Manlou's mouth twitched slightly as he thought to himself, is this really a legitimate university club? It feels more like a pyramid scheme. Have I gotten myself into a mess?

Even if Martial Inheriting is declining, there's no need for this. They've lost all the dignity of martial artists!

Hold on, if I bring in Big Bai, Hai Zi, Sanqiu, Annoying, and Amu to the Martial Inheriting Society, I could quickly make a hundred bucks!

This could be quite profitable!

After breakfast, Feng Manlou, carrying a bag of steamed buns, tea, and milk, returned to his dorm and announced his intention to join the Martial Inheriting Society.

Ren Haoqiu, known as Sanqiu, pondered for a moment and then shook his head, "Man, Martial Inheriting isn't the way to go. You've made an enemy of a thief; you should learn some martial arts that can actually protect you."

Du Xinbo, called Big Bai, spit out the water he was drinking and agreed, "You should join the Comprehensive Combat Club instead. They're the toughest. Or at least consider joining clubs like Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing, or Sanda."

"I still think the Comprehensive Combat Club is the best," Lee Nan, also known as Amu, said as he approached Lee Fann, who was in the middle of putting on his pants, and suddenly applied a chokehold, "I've heard that with the chokeholds from the Comprehensive Combat Club, you can take someone down in seconds!"

Lee Fann's pants dropped to the floor as he was choked.

"Damn it, take this—Monkey Steals Peach!" Lee Fann bellowed, reaching back with a counter-move.

Lee Nan quickly dodged, "Martial Inheriting really is underhanded, always aiming for the eyes or the groin. If you're so skilled, let's have a proper fight!"

"Save it. Fighting isn't a game. When we strike, we go for the kill!"

These were the opinions of netizens on Martial Inheriting. As university students constantly bombarded with new information, they could easily come up with such commentary.

Feng Manlou was uninterested in the ruckus caused by Amu and Ren Haoqiu. He pinched his nose and declared, "Listen up, you all need to take this seriously. It's not just me who's joining the Martial Inheriting Society; you're all joining too. I've already signed you up."

The group was taken aback. Du Xinbo cursed, "What the hell? Why do we have to join?"

"Practicing Martial Inheriting will make us a laughingstock, not to mention having to wear those hideous silk uniforms for performances. Do you want me to stay single for another four years?"

"Because for every person I recruit, the Martial Inheriting Society gives me 20 bucks," Feng Manlou explained with a flourish.

Du Xinbo, Ren Haoqiu, Lee Nan, and Lee Fann were at a loss for words.

"Ugh..."

Zhou Sihai's sigh echoed from the restroom. He opened the door and gave Feng Manlou a look of disappointment. "Are we really only worth 100 yuan to you? You've really let us down."

"Cut the drama and lay out your terms," Feng Manlou retorted, rolling his eyes.

Taking a drag from his cigarette, Zhou Sihai suggested, "Let's use the money for a good meal out."

Feng Manlou snapped his fingers in agreement. "No problem. That was my plan all along. Once we get the cash, we're hitting the town for a feast!"

Together, the five of them cheered, "Thanks, Boss Feng..."

"Pfft—"

"Damn it, Sihai, how many times have I told you not to open the door while you're using the toilet? And you're spraying it all over the place. Are you trying to suffocate us?"

Later that day, Feng Manlou led Du Xinbo and the others to the student club activity center.

Located in the southwest corner of the campus, the six-story building housed 48 large classrooms dedicated to various club activities.

Every extracurricular club at the East Sea Vocational Technical Institute, from soccer, basketball, volleyball, singing, street dance, martial arts, flower arranging, modeling, drama, tea ceremony, cycling, writing, to model building and anime, was represented there.

If there was one building at the institute that was the most popular, this was undoubtedly it.

"Enough already! I brought you here to join the Martial Inheriting Society, not to ogle the spicy girls at the Hot Dance Club!"

Feng Manlou eyed the five guys drooling outside the Hot Dance Club's window and seriously considered giving each one a swift kick.

"Madman, get over here! They're starting to dance jazz, and it's sizzling hot!" Ren Haoqiu called out, waving his hand.

"Come on, what kind of guy do you take me for?

Big Brother Bai, scoot over to the left and make some room for me!"