Medical Sage

”Of course, it’s true. Just a few months ago, my dad was still in a wheelchair. But now... Director Ma, you’ve met him before, haven’t you? What do you think of his health now?” Hearing the surprise in Ma Yingtian’s voice on the other end, a matter-of-fact expression appeared on Xuu Peiyi’s face.

After all, she had been just as shocked and shaken as he was. That level of medical skill was truly Peerless, worthy of comparing him to a modern-day Hua Tuo or Bian Que.

”GULP...” Hearing Xuu Peiyi’s words, Ma Yingtian was so shocked that he swallowed hard, at a loss for words. He finally understood why she had issued that order.

”But... Minister Xuu, forgive my bluntness for asking. Doesn’t Old Master Xuu have Elder Xunn Lun by his side? He is the Master of the Medical Sage Hall, so why...” He couldn’t help but ask. For decades, everyone of any standing in the Forty-Nine City knew that the Master of the Medical Sage Hall, Elder Xunn Lun, was always with Old Master Xuu. And yet, Old Master Xuu had still ended up in a wheelchair.

Could it be... A look of horror and absurdity surged in Ma Yingtian’s eyes as the thought struck him. Could it be that even Elder Xunn Lun was helpless against Old Master Xuu’s condition, but that Chen Fei, Mr. Chen, managed to cure him? If that’s true, what does it mean? It would mean that this young Traditional Medicine practitioner named Chen Fei has medical skills even greater than Elder Xunn’s!

Suddenly, Ma Yingtian felt his long-held worldview collapsing. After all, for a Divine Doctor on the level of Elder Xunn Lun, the Master of the Medical Sage Hall, forget about finding someone better; even being compared to his level of medical skill was the highest praise a practitioner in the Traditional Medicine of the Republic could receive. He was a Mount Tai Beidou among the national masters. But now...

”If you really want to know, Director Ma, there’s no harm in me telling you the truth,” Xuu Peiyi said, her voice filled with emotion as she recalled the incident, before gradually turning serious. ”At the time, Elder Xunn was indeed at a loss regarding my father’s condition. It was he who personally recommended Mr. Chen to treat my father. Do you now understand why I gave such an order and had someone parachute in out of nowhere?”

”Minister Xuu, I understand now. My apologies,” Ma Yingtian said, his face flushed with embarrassment.

For a peerless Divine Doctor, to whom even Elder Xunn Lun deferred, to personally participate in their China vs. South Korea Traditional Medicine competition... it’s an incredible honor for us. How could I have been so ignorant as to call and question it? It was ridiculous.

He thought about it again. How could someone in the position of Deputy Minister of Health act rashly or without careful consideration? At this thought, his expression grew even more bitter.

”Well then, Director Ma, I’m hanging up,” Xuu Peiyi said, ending the call.

After she hung up, Director Ma Yingtian stood frozen for a long moment. He finally let out a deep breath, a look of frustration on his face as he muttered, ”That Li Dongshen is really trying to sabotage me!” If he hadn’t been so cautious, and if he hadn’t been aware that her position and background were far superior to his, he might have questioned her directly. That would have led to huge trouble.

After all, this was a peerless expert, a Divine Doctor to whom even Elder Xunn Lun had deferred. Moreover, he was the savior of Old Master Xuu, one of the towering pillars of the Republic. What weight did he, Ma Yingtian, a mere director in the Ministry of Health, carry? What right did he have to question such a person?

Putting his phone away, Ma Yingtian wiped his forehead, only to find it beaded with cold sweat. What a close call... What a relief...

...

Time flew by, and soon it was the evening of the next day.

As everyone knew, this was the final day of the China vs. South Korea Traditional Medicine Competition, and the very last match. If Huaxia lost, Korean Medicine could rightfully break away from its roots in Traditional Medicine and become its own independent school. This would be a profound disgrace to the Traditional Medicine Community of Huaxia. They would be ridiculed by the world media, unable to face the great masters of Ancient Huaxia in the Underworld.

Therefore, tonight’s battle was absolutely crucial. It was a battle for their honor and reputation, and they absolutely could not lose! Otherwise, their entire generation would be branded as sinners!

And so, amid tremendous anticipation and tension, the final showdown of the China vs. South Korea Traditional Medicine Competition finally arrived with the fall of night.

The team to walk out first before the world’s media, heads held high, was once again the Korean Medicine Team from South Korea. It couldn’t be helped; they had already won two rounds with overwhelming dominance and had every right to be proud.

Many among them were already fantasizing about the glorious moment when their Republic of Korea Korean Medicine Team would claim victory in all three matches. When that happened, they would command the attention and admiration of the entire world! Then, they would return home as heroes, becoming Great Meritorious Ministers in the history of Korean Medicine, their names recorded for a hundred generations as a source of national pride.

Perhaps it was precisely this inflated ego that led them to an even more provocative act. For tonight’s final battle, they decided to swap out their prodigy, Jin Bingying, and send in someone else. What was that supposed to mean? Did they think Traditional Medicine was no longer worthy of their full effort?

Instantly, every citizen of the Republic and every professional in the Traditional Medicine field who followed the event felt a burning slap across their faces. They were utterly humiliated, and their expressions turned ugly.

”Damn it, these Korean bastards are too arrogant! Who the hell do they think they are?”

”Fuck, fuck, fuck... Are they trying to completely stomp on the face of Great Huaxia’s Traditional Medicine? This is outrageous! Damn it!”

”Sigh, what can you do when our skills are inferior? If we had won the first two matches, would those Korean bastards dare to be so arrogant? In the end, we brought this on ourselves.”

”Sigh, even if that’s true, they’re going too far, aren’t they? What is this? They’re looking down on Huaxia, thinking we’re not even qualified enough for them to go all out? I can’t stand it!”

”If you can’t stand it, all we can do is hope we pull ourselves together for the final match! Even if we can’t beat that prodigy Jin Bingying, we should at least be able to beat this new guy, right?”

”Hey, are you even one of the People of Huaxia? How can you boost their morale while crushing our own?”

”Just stating the facts...”

...

The internet was also in chaos, with countless people furiously posting comments.

In reality, whether Korean Medicine could legitimately separate from Traditional Medicine had no direct impact on most of their lives. Yet, as People of Huaxia, as people of flesh and blood, there were certain things they felt compelled to protect and defend. Otherwise, what was the difference between them and cold-blooded animals?

Backstage at the Gymnasium of Capital University, Elder Li Dongshen made one last attempt to persuade Principal Song Bing. ”Principal Song, have you really thought this through? It’s not too late to change your mind. Once that kid gets on stage, there will be no turning back.”

Standing beside him was a man in his thirties, his face filled with outrage and gloom.

He shot a twisted look at Chen Fei, who was meditating with his eyes closed nearby. Unable to suppress his anger, he turned to the principal and demanded, ”Principal Song, on what grounds? I, Zhou Zhengping, come from a distinguished lineage and am the foremost leader of the younger generation in the Traditional Medicine Community of Huaxia. I single-handedly cured a certain high-ranking official’s chronic illness! I’ve never even heard of that guy. What gives him the right to replace me and fight in the final battle?”

”Zhengping, shut up! How dare you speak like that? Apologize to Principal Song right now!”

Seeing this, Elder Li Dongshen offered a half-hearted reprimand before continuing his student’s line of argument with a grim expression. ”My apologies, Principal Song. Zhengping is just a bit anxious. But I think he has a point. This is the final battle. If we lose, Korean Medicine will be able to rightfully separate from our Traditional Medicine. This is a momentous affair; that kid can’t bear such a responsibility!”

Ever since his phone call with Director Ma Yingtian the day before, which had gone unanswered afterward, a sense of foreboding had been nagging at him.

But then he thought of his disciple, Zhou Zhengping. If Zhengping could compete, he would surely turn the tide and lead the Traditional Medicine Community of Huaxia to victory. The overwhelming praise and immense prestige that would follow... when he considered these temptations, he couldn’t stand to let such a perfect opportunity slip away. That’s why he had come to argue for it again.

Although Principal Song Bing privately agreed with them and found the decision absurd, Deputy Minister Xuu Peiyi herself had made the call. How could he, Song Bing, dare to refuse her?

With this in mind, he shook his head decisively. ”Elder Li, Zhengping, it’s not that I, Song Bing, am disrespecting you. It’s just that I truly have no say in this matter...”

”I...” Zhou Zhengping grew even more furious, almost choking on his rage. He quickly pressed a hand to his chest, rubbing it back and forth.

After a few moments, the unnatural flush on his face subsided, and his breathing grew a little smoother. But then, his expression twisted with vicious resentment as he glared back toward Chen Fei. His heart seethed. Such a golden opportunity for fame and glory was being stolen right from under his nose.

Thinking this, his face contorted with rage as he strode directly toward Chen Fei.

”Hey, Zhengping, what are you doing?” Principal Song Bing’s expression changed instantly, and he reached out to stop him.

But Elder Li, who was standing beside him, stepped forward first to block his path. With a sly, unfriendly grin, he said, ”Principal Song, I happen to have something else I wanted to ask you. Why don’t we step aside and chat privately? Actually, I think it might be good to let them talk. If that kid has no real ability, maybe Zhengping can convince him to back out, right? Principal Song, everything I do is for the sake of our Traditional Medicine Community of Huaxia.”

”I... alright then...” Hearing this, Principal Song Bing’s expression flickered through several emotions before he finally sighed. He gave a helpless, bitter smile.

When all was said and done, he also had no confidence in the kid who had appeared so mysteriously out of thin air.