Medical Sage

When the Bald Second Elder of the Celestial Group saw Zheng Weiguo arrive, his face twitched violently. He stared at Zheng Weiguo with a somber expression and said, ”Bureau Chief Zheng, aren’t your Central Guard Bureau members a bit too presumptuous? Too full of themselves?”

”Too presumptuous? Too full of themselves?” Hearing this, Zheng Weiguo let out a cold snicker, his eyes filled with mockery. ”I don’t see it that way. Isn’t it perfectly normal for youngsters to spar with each other?”

”Sparring? But that brat wanted to cripple my disciple!” the Bald Second Elder of the Celestial Group exclaimed in a rage.

”My apologies, leaders.” At that moment, Chen Fei suddenly laughed. His pitch-black eyes, as clear as glass, swept over the crowd before finally resting on the gloomy face of the Bald Second Elder of the Celestial Group. ”I just didn’t expect him to be so weak,” he said lightly. ”He couldn’t even handle that. How about you give me a heads-up next time? So I can be mentally prepared?”

The crowd instantly erupted into an uproar!

Luo Qinghai’s and the Bald Second Elder’s expressions became a sight to behold. Even the face of Kou Bin, the Group Leader of the Celestial Group, turned extremely grim.

Chen Fei’s words were a vicious slap across the face of the Celestial Group, the kind that left a stinging, resounding smack. What did he mean by asking for a heads-up? Mental preparation for what? To put on a show with the so-called young elites of their Celestial Group so they wouldn’t be too thoroughly embarrassed? To pretend their younger generation wasn’t so weak they couldn’t even withstand a single exchange with him? After a speech like that, what more needed to be said?

This was an utter disgrace! A complete humiliation!

When Luo Qinghai saw Chen Fei daring to mock and insult him like this, his face swelled and turned a furious, mottled purple from extreme humiliation and rage. Unable to contain his shame and anger any longer, he lost all reason, leaping to his feet and pointing at Chen Fei’s nose. ”Who the hell do you think you are? What right do you have to make such accusations? Do you have any idea who I am?”

”Elder Xiuu, I suggest you advise your disciple to watch his words. Does he hope to win with his mouth when he can’t win with his skills?” As the Bureau Chief of the Central Guard Bureau and the man in charge of this friendly exchange, Zheng Weiguo couldn’t just stand by idly. His face grew cold as he spoke.

”It’s alright, Bureau Chief. When it comes to a battle of words, it seems I truly am no match for him. However...” A strange smile touched Chen Fei’s lips. Before he could even finish his sentence, he stepped forward, raised his hand, and brought it down across Luo Qinghai’s face.

SMACK!

Everyone on site was instantly stunned, their faces slack-jawed. In a fraction of a second, the entire area fell so eerily quiet you could have heard a pin drop. Nearly everyone stared wide-eyed at Chen Fei in utter disbelief. Luo Qinghai himself, the Bald Second Elder, Kou Bin—they were all thunderstruck. Luo Qinghai clutched his face, unable to process what had just happened for a long time.

What the hell? Am I going crazy, or is this some kind of insane dream? I’m a proud young elite of the Celestial Group! My Group Leader and my master are right here! And yet...?

After what felt like an eternity, Luo Qinghai finally snapped back to his senses. Still clutching his cheek, he stammered in disbelief, ”You... you... you fucking hit me?!”

”Is it so strange that I hit you? Why shouldn’t I? Have you forgotten what the Four Departments of Capital City are for? I’m doing this for your own good, to save your life. Here, I’m just slapping you. But what happens when you’re out on a mission? Do you think the enemy will talk nicely to you? That’s putting your life on the line,” Chen Fei lectured with earnest gravity. He raised his hand and slapped him again.

SMACK!

The sound left everyone present completely dumbfounded and speechless. The way they looked at Chen Fei was now filled with a strange, almost eerie, reverence. This guy’s mouth was practically magical; he could talk you into believing black was white! He was clearly just hitting someone, slapping them across the face, yet he managed to sound so magnanimous and righteous, as if he were truly doing Luo Qinghai a favor. The thought sent a cold shiver down the spines of many in the crowd.

If they were in Luo Qinghai’s shoes, to be humiliated so publicly... They couldn’t even imagine it. The mere thought made them tremble, a cold sweat breaking out on their foreheads. This was a nightmare! A total disaster!

”You... you... you...” It took a long moment for Kou Bin and the Bald Second Elder of the Celestial Group to find their voices. The elder’s aged face was an iron-grey mask of cold fury; he looked like he was about to explode with rage. He wasn’t the only one. Even Group Leader Kou Bin, who had been silent until now, shot Chen Fei a deep, fierce glare before turning to Zheng Weiguo. ”Bureau Chief Zheng,” he said coldly, ”I can understand that your man is young and impulsive. That can be excused. But this? Hasn’t this gone too far?”

Hearing this, Zheng Weiguo could only shake his head and smile wryly. He knew Chen Fei was burning this bridge down to the ground. Being slapped in the face like this in front of everyone, with members of all Four Departments of Capital City watching... of course Kou Bin is furious! But with things as they are, what am I supposed to do? Scold Chen Fei? Is that even realistic? Not a chance! I’ll just have to see this through. Besides, if I can’t handle it, isn’t Old Man Huang Xing still behind us? Our Central Guard Bureau has been at the bottom of the Four Departments for so many years. We’ve put up with more than enough goddamn frustration for long enough!

Compared to all that, is this really such a big deal, Kou Bin? You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. With that thought, he stated plainly, ”Too far? How so? I think Chen Fei made a good point. If your skills are inferior, you train harder. It’s just a bit of discipline and taking a few hits. Didn’t we all go through the same thing in the army? If you want a smooth ride, you need the strength to back it up!” He paused for a moment before continuing gravely, ”Otherwise, if you receive a truly dangerous mission, personal honor is a trivial matter. What happens if the mission fails?”

Hearing this, Kou Bin felt as if his lungs would explode, his face turning an ashen grey. As the sitting Group Leader of the Celestial Group, did he really need a lecture on these principles from Zheng Weiguo? The simple fact was that his side was outmatched. Anything they said now was pointless. Otherwise, would they be in such a passive position? At this thought, he couldn’t stop himself from pointing an accusing finger at Chen Fei. ”Skill aside,” he seethed, ”this brat dared to strike someone right in front of us. Isn’t that a complete lack of respect for seniority and hierarchy?”

He had no choice. As the esteemed Group Leader of the Celestial Group, he couldn’t just stand by while one of his own was slapped twice in the face. If he tolerated this, what would happen to the Celestial Group’s reputation when word got out?

”Seniority? Hierarchy?” Chen Fei suddenly laughed, his face dripping with sarcasm. ”You want to talk about that? Fine. Let’s talk about what seniority and hierarchy really mean. First, you’re just the Group Leader of the Celestial Group. Do you really think you’re so damn great that you run all Four Departments of Capital City? Who the hell do you think you are?!”

”What... What did you say?!” Kou Bin was so enraged by Chen Fei’s words that he was left speechless. Chen Fei was right. Strictly speaking, his power and influence were confined to the Celestial Group.

”What did I say? Do I have to spell it out for you? Fine.” A smirk played on Chen Fei’s lips as he continued his taunts. ”I’m with the Central Guard Bureau, and you’re the Group Leader of the Celestial Group. I don’t see how that gives you any right or capital to posture and boss me around. If you can’t stand the sight of me, feel free to report me to the general bureau. My position there is just in name only. Strip me of that title, and your Celestial Group can squeeze me however you like.” He paused dramatically, the mockery on his face intensifying as his voice rose to a sharp crescendo. ”But do you have the guts to do that?”

Kou Bin fell silent. But the furious glint flashing in the depths of his eyes and his deathly pale face were enough to show the turmoil raging within him. He was incandescent with rage. As the Clan Leader of the Celestial Group, one of the Four Departments of Capital City, Kou Bin was not all-powerful in Forty-Nine City, but he was accustomed to being treated with respect wherever he went. How many years had it been since a young man had talked back to him like this? It was utter humiliation.

”Young man,” Kou Bin said at last, his eyes fixed on Chen Fei with chilling intent, his tone grim. ”Be careful that your pride today doesn’t become tears tomorrow. And remember, Luo Qinghai is not the only member of our Celestial Group’s younger generation.”

It was clear Kou Bin was truly furious, but Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, was completely unfazed. ”Is that so? Then I shall wait and see.”

Chen Fei’s lips curved into a faint smile. His gaze shifted to the Bald Second Elder, whose face was still a mask of ferocious anger. A provocative light entered Chen Fei’s eyes. ”Later, if your Celestial Group really runs out of people, you can send him in. Or you can send in that old fossil, Yii Xiao! Oh, and by the way, if you see him, be a dear and pass on a message for me. Tell him I’ve arrived as promised. He should wash his neck and get out here. He’d better not cower like a dog, too scared to show his face.”

Having said his piece, he turned and walked away with a cold laugh. No one dared to stop him.

Seeing this, Zheng Weiguo shook his head with a helpless sigh and threw a final line over his shoulder. ”Group Leader Kou, don’t keep us waiting too long for the friendly combat exchange.” Then he, too, departed.