Medical Sage

”I concede! That Korean bastard actually gave in!?”

”Nice! Dominant and mighty! Someone finally stood up for our Huaxia Traditional Chinese Medicine.”

”That kid is awesome!”

...

At the scene, the Huaxia commentator couldn’t help but let out an uncontrollable roar, his voice vibrating with excitement. ”Player Che Engui from the Korean Medicine Team has conceded! This match is won by Player Chen Fei from the Chinese Medicine team!”

”We won! We finally won a match!” At this point, many normally composed Chinese Medicine practitioners couldn’t contain their excitement, speaking with a somewhat hysterical vigor. Their tones were even changing!

There was no helping it; they couldn’t be blamed for their emotional outburst. After all, they knew that if they lost this match, the young generation of Huaxia would be completely decimated. Then, those traitorous bastards of Korean Medicine could rightfully break away from being a branch of Chinese Medicine. How humiliating that would be! How could they face their ancestors and the ancient sages of Chinese Medicine?

Until just a moment ago, when their representative from the Huaxia Chinese Medicine team, Chen Fei, performed the miraculous Seven-Star Moon Worship technique before their very eyes! That single act had instantaneously filled them with immense satisfaction, a refreshing delight, and a deep sense of vindication!

They had finally won! This was undoubtedly a triumph that delighted everyone! Of course, one victory wasn’t enough.

”Conceded?” Chen Fei said with a smirk, having expected this. ”If you’ve conceded, then hurry up and get off the stage. I told you I don’t have time to dawdle. Who’s next? Come on up.” He was still arrogant, not even sparing the Korean another glance as he scanned the host.

”I...” Che Engui’s face turned beet red as if he had suffered the greatest insult. But this time, he truly lacked the courage or the gall to refute anything in front of a monster like Chen Fei.

It was impossible. Seven-Star Moon Worship? A level of acupuncture even more terrifying than Seven Chirps of the Tail Needle? Was that something a human could even accomplish? In any case, he, Che Engui, couldn’t do it. Neither could his master or his master’s master!

He had lost, and so miserably at that. His heart was shaken to its very core by such an unbelievable acupuncture technique. What face did he have left to argue? What face did he have to remain on stage any longer? And so, he slunk off the stage in disgrace.

On the other side, in the area occupied by the South Korean Korean Medicine Team, everyone looked at each other, their faces a mixture of shock, shame, and bewilderment. Then, they all turned their eyes toward Jin Bingying on the stage.

Clearly, in their minds, the only one who could possibly turn the tide for them was their nation’s pride, the Korean Medicine prodigy from the Republic of Korea—Jin Bingying!

”Jin Bingying, destroy him! Make them understand the greatness and power of our Korean Medicine!”

”That’s right! Our Korean Medicine is supreme! We must break free from that damned Chinese Medicine! Victory is the only option! We cannot lose!”

”Exactly! Jin Bingying, get on stage! If you can’t win, you’ll be a disgrace to the Republic of Korea!”

...

A few of the more emotional Koreans shouted in their native language.

”Damn it...” Upon hearing their shouts, even a prodigy like Jin Bingying couldn’t help but pale. The pressure was immense, and beads of sweat began to trickle down his forehead.

Had it been half an hour earlier, he would never have felt any pressure facing an arrogant youth in his twenties like Chen Fei. But now, after Chen Fei had displayed those incredible acupuncture skills, he was almost stupefied. Was that something a human could do? Seven Chirps of the Tail Needle? How could anyone in the world possibly reach that level? The dark side of the Korean character was on full display. If they won, it was a source of national pride and self-respect. But if they lost, well, you would immediately be knocked off your pedestal and become a national traitor! How could the Republic of Korea possibly lose!? They couldn’t lose; they could only win!

”Bingying,” his master, Li Binglie, whispered seriously in his ear, ”I believe this fellow is only skilled in acupuncture. His other methods, like observation, listening, questioning, and prescribing medicine, can’t be that good. After all, a person’s energy is finite, and look how young he is. So, don’t feel pressured. Avoid competing in acupuncture, and you can definitely defeat him. Win glory for our Republic of Korea and display our nation’s might.”

That’s right.

Upon hearing this, Jin Bingying trembled slightly, and then a wild joy surged in his eyes as he snapped out of his trance.

Yes, how old is that kid anyway? It’s one thing for his acupuncture to be formidable, but how impressive could his other skills possibly be?

”I understand, Master! Rest assured, I will represent our Republic of Korea and ensure those from Huaxia’s Chinese Medicine lose so convincingly they’ll have no complaints! Just like in the previous two rounds!” This thought alone vastly boosted Jin Bingying’s confidence. The next moment, without hesitation, he strode onto the competition stage, his head held high with an arrogant, condescending air.

”Not bad,” he said, looking at Chen Fei with an air of superiority, as if he were a venerable elder offering guidance and judgment. ”Those few moves of yours did show some skill...”

”Oh, really? Thank you for the compliment,” Chen Fei chuckled coldly, a faint trace of mockery on his icy face. ”What are you competing with me in? Acupuncture again?”

These Koreans have so little actual skill, but they’re masters of posturing. ’Some skill’ indeed!

”No, no, no...” Hearing Chen Fei mention acupuncture again, Jin Bingying’s expression changed abruptly, and he quickly shook his head.

Acupuncture again? Are you kidding? He might as well concede right now. His acupuncture skill wasn’t even on par with Che Engui’s, so what right did he have to compete with Chen Fei?

Of course, while he thought this, he would never admit it aloud. Instead, he put on a serious and imposing air. ”Didn’t you just say you could compete in anything? What, are you trying to go back on your word now?”

Seeing the other man’s flustered attempt to feign dignity, Chen Fei shook his head, looking both exasperated and amused. ”Fine, fine, fine. What do you want to compete in? And don’t say our Chinese Medicine is bullying your Korean Medicine. Name your challenge. Anything goes.”

”Arrogant!” Witnessing Chen Fei’s dismissive attitude, Jin Bingying instantly became furious. His face twitched as he shouted, ”Then let’s compete in prescribing medicine! Bring Yong Jun up here!”

Immediately, the patient with tinea who had already appeared twice was brought onto the stage.

Upon seeing the patient, Jin Bingying immediately smiled, the corners of his mouth uncontrollably curling into a confident smirk. When his gaze turned back to Chen Fei, it was filled with mockery and disdain. ”We’ll compete using Yong Jun’s tinea. Do you dare? If you’re not brave enough, we can find another patient and have two rounds. The rules will be the same as the previous two matches. Do you dare?”

”So, you really only know how to treat this one disease?” Chen Fei was speechless seeing the same patient brought out for a third consecutive round. ”Sigh, whatever. Shall we start now?”

Is he afraid people won’t know that he can only treat this one patient with this one disease? Fine, if this is how you want to play, I’ll play along. Some arrogant Koreans need to be put in their place and forced to accept their defeat, right?

”Hmph! We start now! I’d like to see what gives you the right to compete with me, Jin Bingying, in treating tinea,” Jin Bingying snorted angrily, but then he couldn’t help but sneer.

He had painstakingly studied Yong Jun’s disease for nearly three years and had an incredible amount of experience. For his opponent to be foolish enough to challenge him on this was simply suicidal! He was certain he had already won. He could already picture Chen Fei crumbling and admitting defeat. After all, skin diseases, especially a mutated variant of tinea, are incredibly difficult to cure!

At this thought, he decided to appear magnanimous and asked Chen Fei, ”Do you want to go first, or shall I?”

”Whatever. You can go first,” Chen Fei said nonchalantly, clearly feeling no pressure.

”You...” Chen Fei’s completely unconcerned demeanor, as if this were all child’s play, nearly made Jin Bingying’s lungs explode with fury. His face flushed with anger, convinced that Chen Fei was looking down on him, humiliating him! Shaking with rage, he stopped wasting words and walked over to Yong Jun, putting on a show of examining him.

Obviously, he had already diagnosed Yong Jun countless times in private; how could he not be familiar with his current condition? This act was just for show, and to quickly confirm if there had been any significant changes. If not... then the prescription was already clear in his mind.

”Alright, your turn,” Jin Bingying said after about ten minutes. He had written down what he considered to be the most comprehensive prescription. If the patient followed the regimen, a full recovery from the tinea wouldn’t be a problem.

”Okay,” Chen Fei nodded crisply and walked over to the patient.

Another Korean immediately interjected, ”Yong Jun doesn’t speak Chinese or English. If you have any questions, you can tell me first, and I will translate for him.”

”Is that so? Alright, then please ask him what he does for a living,” Chen Fei nodded and asked directly.

”Don’t you need to take his pulse first?” The interpreter was taken aback by the question.

”Do you even understand pulse diagnosis?” Jin Bingying laughed derisively upon seeing Chen Fei’s ”amateur” performance. He didn’t hold back his scorn. ”You don’t observe the patient’s symptoms or take their pulse, but instead, you start by asking such a meaningless question. You truly disappoint me.”

”Shut up and get out of the way,” Chen Fei snapped without even looking up. He then said calmly, ”Referee, if he continues to interfere with my diagnosis, can he be disqualified for forfeiting?”

”You... Hmph!” Jin Bingying’s expression changed. He let out a heavy snort but finally stopped his posturing and remained quiet.