149: Chapter 149 The "Martial Arts Fans'" Carnival: Preparations for the Offline Meet-and-Greet

Section 1: The Opportunity: The Passion of Tens of Millions of Martial Fans Ignites the Spark of Preparation

Three days after the global livestream of Basic Stance Training and Martial Virtue ended, Chen Wu's team's desks were piled high with letters and packages from all over the world—there were Pyramid Qi Energy Stone specimens sent by Egyptian Martial Fans, hand-drawn "traditional martial arts Guardian" comics by Brazilian Martial Fans, a collective "Workplace traditional martial arts Letter of Thanks" signed by Su Man's colleagues in London, and even drawings of "Master Chen Wu's Stance Training Drawing" on cardboard with charcoal by children in Syrian refugee camps, with "Thank you, Master, for teaching us to protect ourselves" written crookedly along the edges.

Lin Mo's tactical tablet kept popping up "Martial Fan Feedback" alerts: discussions in the global Martial Fan community exceeded 500 million, the hashtag #RequestChenWuOfflineMeetup dominated the top of global trending lists for three consecutive days, and the inquiry hotline for the Traditional Martial Arts Protection Bureau was overwhelmed, receiving 1.2 million messages requesting to "participate in offline activities" in just 24 hours. "Brother Wu, the enthusiasm of the Martial Fans has exceeded expectations!" Lin Mo swiped through the tablet, the screen filled with creative requests from fans, "Some people want to learn Stance Training on-site, some want to take photos with the three selectees, and some are even bringing family heirlooms, wanting you to help authenticate traditional martial arts antiques."

Chen Wu picked up a letter from Huangtu Slope written by Old Zhao, the lines filled with anticipation: "Teacher Chen, I've been leading 200 coworkers at the construction site to practice Stance Training. Now, everyone's backs no longer ache, and we have more energy for work. We all want to see you in person and present you with a silk banner that says 'traditional martial arts Benefiting the People, Boundless Karma.'" Tucked inside the letter was a photo of the workers practicing stances; everyone's smiles were dark and bright against the backdrop of the dusty construction site, yet it exuded a vibrant vitality.

"We cannot let the Martial Fans down," Chen Wu said, putting down the letter and looking at Grandmaster Yang Mingyuan and Zhang Qiming. "How about we hold a 'traditional martial arts Fan Offline Meet-and-Greet'? Let's set the location at Taiji Villa. It will allow the fans to experience the traditional martial arts atmosphere while also utilizing the equipment of the smart training grounds, so everyone can have fun and learn effectively." Zhang Qiming immediately made the decision: "The Traditional Martial Arts Protection Bureau fully supports this! We'll handle the venue, equipment, and security. We also need to hold a global synchronized livestream so that fans who cannot attend can also participate, turning this meet-and-greet into a 'Global traditional martial arts People's Carnival'!"

When the news was announced via the global livestream, the Martial Fan community instantly erupted—Amir from Egypt was the first to sign up, stating he would bring ten children from the Pyramid traditional martial arts Team; Nurse Emily from London organized patients and medical staff from the hospital into a "Traditional Martial Arts Recovery Squad," preparing to demonstrate the recovery effects of Stance Training on-site; Hamid sent a video message from the refugee camp using a volunteer's phone, showing him leading 50 children in Stance Training, their youthful voices shouting, "We're going to see Master Chen Wu!" In the global livestream's live chat, messages of "Martial Fan Carnival" flooded the screen. Data from the Technical Department showed that within just 10 minutes of opening the registration channel, the number of applicants exceeded 500,000, and it approached 1 million after an hour, setting a record for traditional martial arts event registrations.

Section 2: Registration: A Creative Carnival of Tens of Millions of Martial Fans, Every Original Aspiration is Moving

To select 5,000 lucky Martial Fans from the 1 million applicants, Chen Wu's team designed a screening standard based on "traditional martial arts Original Aspiration + Creative Display"—fans needed to submit "My traditional martial arts Story" and "Reasons for Wanting to Meet Chen Wu." Outstanding participants could also earn the title of "Traditional Martial Arts Experience Officer" to participate in the design of the meet-and-greet segments.

During the screening process, countless moving stories poured into the backend: 65-year-old Beijing Martial Fan Wang Jianguo submitted a copy of a 1985 Xingyi Fist Manual with his father's annotations on the title page: "Practice the fist by first becoming a man; only with a righteous heart can one have righteous energy." His story read: "I've practiced traditional martial arts for 40 years. I used to think it was just my hobby until I watched Teacher Chen's livestream and realized that traditional martial arts can protect more people. I want to bring my father's manual for Teacher Chen to see that the traditional martial arts spirit of the older generation is still alive today."

22-year-old college student Li Mengmeng from the mountains of Yunnan sent a video of herself leading left-behind children in the village through simplified Stance Training. The children's faces were flushed red from the cold, yet they smiled with great earnestness: "We don't have traditional martial arts teachers in our village. I learned from Teacher Chen's livestreams and then taught the children. They used to be afraid of the dark, but now that they've practiced Stance Training, they dare to walk the night roads alone. I want to bring the children to see Teacher Chen and tell them that if they practice their energy diligently, they too can protect their hometown in the future."

The creativity of overseas Martial Fans was even more eye-opening: Zhang Wei, a Chinese-American Martial Fan, used 3D printing to create a "Taiji-Xingyi Fusion Energy Technique Model" that could visually demonstrate the flow of Qi Energy; Yamada, a traditional martial arts enthusiast from Japan, turned Chen Wu's Stance Training movements into "manga panels" with bilingual Chinese-Japanese commentary, hoping to let more Japanese people understand authentic traditional martial arts; most moving of all was Musa, a Martial Fan from Syria and Hamid's neighbor, who submitted a "Refugee Camp Traditional Martial Arts Diary" documenting every day Hamid taught everyone Stance Training, concluding with: "traditional martial arts is not a weapon, it is hope. We want to say to Teacher Chen in person, thank you for bringing us hope."

The three selectees also joined the screening work—Hamid was responsible for reviewing "traditional martial arts in Adversity" stories, and whenever he saw fans with physical disabilities like himself, he would always write "Keep it up, let's work hard together" in the comments; Chen Feng focused on "protection-focused" stories, paying special attention to fans who were veterans or firefighters, and even offered to spar with them on-site; Su Man preferred "Public Benefit Martial Arts" stories, recommending fans who used traditional martial arts to help others to participate in the "Martial Fan Story Sharing Session."

The final 5,000 selected Martial Fans covered 50 countries globally, with the youngest being 6 years old (a little girl practicing stances with her mother) and the oldest being 78 years old (a grandmother who had practiced Taiji for 50 years). They included ordinary office workers, students, veterans, medical staff, and public welfare volunteers, truly realizing the concept that "traditional martial arts is for everyone, and Martial Fans know no bounds of age, nationality, or status." When the list was announced, the global livestream chat was full of "Congratulations to the lucky ones!" and "I'll sign up next year!" messages. Fans who weren't selected also expressed that they would "watch the livestream to support," and the atmosphere in the Martial Fan community was warm and enthusiastic.

Section 3: Preparation: The Warmth of Global Collaboration in Details, Heartfelt Intent in Every Corner

As the countdown to the meet-and-greet began, Taiji Villa turned into a busy and bustling "Martial Arts Carnival Ground"—staff from the Traditional Martial Arts Protection Bureau were busy setting up the stage, the smart equipment team was debugging the "Global Synchronized Broadcast System," and craftsmen at Taiji Villa were hanging red lanterns and traditional martial arts banners around the training grounds, while the three selectees led Martial Fan volunteers in setting up the "Traditional Martial Arts Memory Wall."

The "Traditional Martial Arts Memory Wall" was Su Man's idea; the 50-meter-long display board was covered with traditional martial arts stories and old photos submitted by fans—there were photos of Taiji practitioners practicing stances from 1950, energy technique diagrams drawn by fans themselves, and drawings of "The traditional martial arts in My Heart" made by children with crayons. Hamid carefully pasted the drawings from the children in the refugee camp in the center of the board, placing a pot of inheritance grass next to them. Its pale green petals shimmered with light, as if guarding these warm memories. "On the day of the meet-and-greet, I'm going to tell every fan who comes to see the drawings the stories of the children practicing stances." Hamid's eyes sparkled as his right hand gently brushed over the paper, filled with treasure.

Chen Feng led veteran Martial Fan volunteers in setting up the "Traditional Martial Arts Combat Experience Zone"—they moved the simulation pods from the smart training grounds outdoors and specially designed a "low-intensity Spirit-Devouring Puppet experience" so that fans could safely feel the fun of "countering Spirit-Devouring Energy." "When I was in the army, I practiced to protect my home and country. Now I practice traditional martial arts to protect the Legacy; the essence is always 'protection,'" Chen Feng chatted with the volunteers while debugging the simulation pods. "Try this experience later and feel the sensation of Hard Energy force redirection. It's much more satisfying than just watching a livestream!"

The most bustling area was the "TMA Merchandise Area," where Martial Fans brought their own traditional martial arts creative products. Old Zhao and his coworkers used scrap wood from their construction site to carve 100 "Taiji Stance Training Mini-Statues," each with a unique posture corresponding to different Stance Training details. Amir from Egypt brought "Qi Energy Induction Keychains" made from Pyramid Qi Energy Stones, which could sense a fan's Qi Energy fluctuations and light up in different colors. Nurse Emily from London prepared a "Stance Training Rehabilitation Manual," documenting cases where she used Stance Training to help patients recover, complete with simple exercise steps.

There were some minor hiccups during preparations—due to the massive number of overseas Martial Fans signing up, some encountered visa issues. The Traditional Martial Arts Protection Bureau immediately contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to open a "TMA Meetup Green Channel," helping 200 overseas fans resolve their visas in just three days. Some fans also mentioned they "wanted to bring family heirlooms for appraisal but were worried the crowds would be too large to get attention," so Chen Wu specially arranged a "TMA Antiquities Appraisal Area," inviting Grandmaster Yang Mingyuan and several traditional martial arts experts to provide free appraisals of ancient manuals and weapons for the fans.

"I used to think preparing for events was exhausting, but now, being with the Martial Fans, it feels lively instead." Lin Mo wiped the sweat from his forehead but smiled happily. "Just now, a fan gave me a 'Qi Energy Induction Bracelet,' saying it could help monitor my Qi Energy fluctuations during training—it's even more convenient than my tablet!" The global livestream's "Preparation Highlights" channel broadcasted these heartwarming details in real-time. The bullet chat was filled with messages like "So thoughtful!" and "I'm so jealous of the fans who can be there!" Fans who couldn't attend also used the "Online Support" feature to design event segments and vote on the theme song, truly achieving a "Global Fan Collaboration."

Section 4: Special Segments: A Carnival Tailored for Fans, Full of Surprises Every Second

Chen Wu's team, together with fan volunteers, designed five "Fan-Exclusive Segments," each closely tied to the themes of "Carnival" and "Legacy," making the meetup both fun and meaningful.

The first segment was the "TMA Stance Training Grand Challenge." On the 108 stance positions of the smart training field, fans could challenge categories like "Fastest Standard Stance" and "Longest Duration Stance." Smart devices recorded the data in real-time, and winners received a copy of the "Taiji-Xingyi Fusion Stance Training Manual" signed by Chen Wu. Old Zhao had booked the challenge early with his coworkers, saying with a laugh, "We practice Stance Training on the construction site every day; maybe we can win the 'Longest Duration' award and make our fellow workers proud!"

The second segment was the "Martial Fan Story Sharing Session," where ten fans from different countries and backgrounds took the stage to share their traditional martial arts journeys. These included Hamid's experiences in the refugee camp, Chen Feng's "Military Soul TMA" story, and Li Mengmeng's heartwarming daily routine of teaching Stance Training to left-behind children. Su Man specially designed a "Story Wall Interaction" for this segment, where audience members could write their feelings on sticky notes and post them on the wall, eventually compiling them into a "Global Martial Fan Manifesto."

The third segment was the "TMA Sparring Mini-Arena," where fans could voluntarily go on stage to spar using basic traditional martial arts Moves. Chen Wu and the three candidates took turns acting as "referees," not only critiquing the Moves but also providing on-site teaching to correct errors. To make the sparring safer and more interesting, "Qi Energy Buffer Zones" were set up around the arena to ensure no fans were injured. "I want to spar with Big Brother Chen Feng in Xingyi Fist!" a veteran fan shouted with his hand raised. Chen Feng immediately replied with a smile, "No problem! I'll let you see the power of 'Military Soul TMA' in a bit, and I'll learn some Moves from you too!"

The fourth segment was the "TMA Antiquities Exhibition." traditional martial arts artifacts brought by fans, after being appraised by experts, were displayed in a dedicated area, including old manuals, ancient weapons, and traditional accessories. Each exhibit was accompanied by the fan's story card. Sixty-five-year-old Wang Jianguo's "Xingyi Fist Manual" was placed in the center spot, with Grandmaster Yang Mingyuan writing a notation beside it: "This manual is perfectly preserved; the annotations embody the martial virtue of the older generation and are worth studying for all fans." Seeing his family heirloom treated with such respect, Wang Jianguo's eyes reddened with emotion: "I never thought my father's manual would be seen by so many people. This is what Legacy is all about!"

The fifth segment was the "Global TMA Fan Group Photo." All attending fans stood in the Martial Arts Arena of Taiji Villa to form a giant Taiji diagram. Smart devices used drones to capture the image while simultaneously connecting with online fans worldwide, projecting their avatars via holograms into the empty spaces of the diagram. This created a final "Global TMA Fan Group Photo," preserved as a precious souvenir in the history of traditional martial arts. "Even though we aren't there, it feels like we are!" one overseas fan said in the livestream comments, deeply moved.

Additionally, there were smaller segments like the "TMA Food Area" (offering wellness meals from Taiji Villa with ingredients from the villa's organic garden), the "Smart TMA Experience Area" (where one could try the Qi Energy Trajectory Analyzer and AI Coaching System), and a "Signing Session for the Three Candidates," ensuring fans could play to their heart's content and learn happily, truly feeling the atmosphere of a "TMA Carnival."

Section 5: Warm-up: Fans Gather Early, A Night Full of Surprises

The day before the meetup, Taiji Villa welcomed the first batch of early arrivals. Old Zhao and five coworkers arrived at 3:00 AM, bringing not only silk banners but also a self-made "Stance Training Wooden Dummy" from their construction site as a gift for Chen Wu. Hamid and Musa, accompanied by three children from the refugee camp, arrived safely with the help of volunteers. The children looked at the equipment in the smart training field with eyes full of curiosity, constantly asking, "Can we practice Stance Training here?" and "Can we see Master Chen Wu?"

At dusk, a spontaneous "Fan Warm-up Mini-Party" began in the plaza of Taiji Villa. Fans gathered around a bonfire, roasting signature snacks from the villa while sharing their traditional martial arts stories. Some played guitars and sang adapted "TMA Songs," while others taught a "Stance Training Fitness Routine." Even Grandmaster Yang Mingyuan was drawn in, practicing Taiji Cloud Hands alongside the fans.

Chen Wu also joined the party and was immediately surrounded by fans. Everyone pulled out phones and notebooks for his signature, and some asked questions about Stance Training, to which he responded patiently. "Teacher Chen, I always feel like my Qi won't sink down when I practice Stance Training. What should I do?" a young fan asked. Chen Wu immediately demonstrated: "Try to contract your abdomen when inhaling and relax when exhaling. Let the Qi Energy follow your breath; don't force it, just take it slow." The young fan followed the instructions and soon found the rhythm, saying excitedly, "It works! The Qi can reach the Dantian now. Thank you, Teacher Chen!"

The global livestream's "Warm-up Party" channel broadcasted the lively scene in real-time. The bullet chat was flooded with comments like "I'm crying with envy!" and "I'm definitely going next year!" Data from the Technical Department showed that the warm-up livestream's viewership exceeded 80 billion that night, with many fans who couldn't attend stating they were "already looking forward to tomorrow's meetup."

As night deepened, the fans gradually dispersed, but the lights of Taiji Villa remained bright. Staff members were performing final equipment checks, fan volunteers were organizing materials for the next day, and Chen Wu stood in the Martial Arts Arena. The Four Symbols Qi Energy in his Dantian resonated with the Leyline Qi Energy of the villa. He knew that tomorrow's meetup was not just a carnival for fans, but a new opportunity for the Legacy of traditional martial arts—to let more people approach traditional martial arts out of love and uphold them through inheritance. This was the most precious power of traditional martial arts.

The final image of the global livestream lingered on the starry sky above Taiji Villa. The warmth of the bonfire remained, the laughter of the fans seemed to echo in the air, and the inheritance grass bloomed in the center of the plaza, its eight-colored petals glowing faintly against the banner that read "Martial Fan Meetup." The bullet chat scrolled with uniform text: "Fans celebrate at Taiji, never forgetting the original heart of the Legacy; looking forward to tomorrow's grand event, the light of traditional martial arts shines everywhere!" 180 billion viewers lit up their screens simultaneously, forming a river of rainbow light that illuminated the night sky of Taiji Villa and the traditional martial arts dreams in the hearts of fans worldwide.