Divine Level Witch Doctor

”Put on a show and then just leave? The world doesn’t offer such a sweet deal,” Zhao Yuan said with a cold laugh.

Kobayashi Haruo’s face instantly darkened.

’That’s right. Before coming here, his plan was indeed to show off and then leave, to flick his sleeves and not take a single cloud with him. But what actually happened? He was only halfway through his act, not even at the high point, when Zhao Yuan kicked him flat on his face.’

’This wasn’t showing off and leaving—this was getting slapped in the face and fleeing in disgrace! And even though he was in such a pathetic state, Zhao Yuan still wouldn’t let him go. At that thought, a blaze of anger ignited in his heart.’

But for all his anger, he didn’t dare let it show.

After all, this was the Jing City Acupuncture Association’s turf, and he had already thoroughly offended every single person here. If he dared to lash out at Zhao Yuan, whom the Jing City Acupuncture Association saw as their savior, it would be a miracle if he didn’t get a brutal beating.

For a moment, Kobayashi Haruo was stuck in a very awkward position.

’Get angry? He didn’t dare. Force his way out? That wasn’t an option either—the people from the Jing City Acupuncture Association were eyeing him like hungry tigers. If he dared to make a break for it, they would definitely throw a punch. They were probably hoping he’d try, just so they could beat him up and vent their frustrations...’

Kobayashi Haruo forced himself to remain calm and said, ”I’ve already promised that I’ll publish an apology in a well-known medical journal when I get back. What more do you want?”

Zhao Yuan said coldly, ”You came to the Jing City Acupuncture Association to stir up trouble and won using despicable means. If I hadn’t seen through your tricks, you would have used the Jing City Acupuncture Association as a stepping stone to build your own fame. You would have even viciously trampled on all of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Acupuncture! Now that your shameless plot has been exposed, you think you can get away with just publishing a few apologies? It’s not that simple.”

Kobayashi Haruo opened his mouth, wanting to defend himself, but Zhao Yuan didn’t give him the chance. He continued, ”And don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. You’ll publish those apologies in some highly specialized journal that, while famous, very few people actually read. It’ll be buried in the most obscure section, taking up a space no bigger than a postage stamp. How many people will see an apology like that? What good will it do?”

This time, Kobayashi Haruo was speechless, because that was exactly what he had been planning to do.

’In his plan, even if he apologized, not many people would see it. Sure, many people had seen the livestream, but that didn’t matter. With a bit of good PR, he could minimize the fallout. Once the dust settled in a couple of months, he’d find a way to generate some hype and re-emerge as the most influential rising star in East Japan’s Traditional Chinese Medicine!’

He never imagined that Zhao Yuan would see right through his perfect little plan.

A deep sense of defeat washed over him. He felt like Zhao Yuan had completely dominated him in every way.

Taking a deep breath, Kobayashi Haruo asked with a grim expression, ”Then what do you want?”

”It’s simple. I have three demands!”

Zhao Yuan held up three fingers.

”First, you must publish a written apology. Not just in medical journals, but in newspapers—major newspapers with huge influence and readership, not some gossip tabloid. Furthermore, this apology isn’t just for the Jing City Acupuncture Association. You have to include the Acupuncture Associations of Yangcheng City and Hu Hai...”

”On what grounds?” Kobayashi Haruo couldn’t help but interject.

Zhao Yuan sneered. ”On what grounds? Heh, you used dirty tricks in your match against the Jing City Acupuncture Association. You expect me to believe there were no issues with your matches against the associations in Yangcheng City and Hu Hai? I don’t buy it! The level of Acupuncture in those two cities is even higher than in Jing City! Of course, it doesn’t matter if you don’t admit it. Chairman Cui, contact the Acupuncture Associations in Yangcheng City and Hu Hai. Have them send people over for another match with Kobayashi Haruo. I won’t interfere, I’ll just watch from the side...”

Before he could finish, Kobayashi Haruo cried out in a panic, ”Alright, alright! I admit it! I pulled some tricks in my matches against the Acupuncture Associations in Yangcheng City and Hu Hai! I will formally apologize to them in my public statement! Is that good enough? Chairman Cui, hurry up and put your phone away, don’t make the call!”

In the livestream chat, a wave of laughter erupted.

”PFFT!”

”HAHAHA!”

”I’m dying! Kobayashi Haruo is such a coward, isn’t he? What happened to all that arrogance and pride from before? He broke character so fast!”

”The Great God is so mischievous. The moment Kobayashi doesn’t listen, he pulls out the ultimate move: ’Let’s have another match.’ And that move works on him like the head-tightening curse on the Sun Monkey. It’s guaranteed to work, and the effect is spectacular!”

Chairman Cui put his phone away, a look of regret on his face.

Zhao Yuan snorted and continued, ”Second, you will get the hell out of China immediately, and from this day forward, you are forbidden to ever set foot in China again! We Chinese may be kind and hospitable, but we are not to be trifled with. As a song lyric goes: We have fine wine for our friends, but for jackals that come, we greet them with hunting rifles!”

”No problem!”

Kobayashi Haruo agreed to this demand instantly, without the slightest hesitation.

’This trip to China... he had been so arrogant and pleased with himself at the start. But after hitting a brick wall with Zhao Yuan, he’d had a rude awakening. He now realized that the great nation of China was full of countless experts, and it was not a place where he could act so presumptuously. His smooth sailing before was just dumb luck; he hadn’t run into a real master. Otherwise, he would have been beaten to a pulp long ago!’

In fact, he had already decided in his heart that once he left China, he would never come back, which was why he agreed so readily.

Zhao Yuan spoke again. ”Just apologizing and getting kicked out of China is letting you off too easy. My third demand is this: you will donate your entire life savings to our Project Hope, so that children in remote, impoverished mountain regions can have better opportunities and environments for their education! Don’t frown, I’m doing this for your own good. After all, you’ve used so many despicable and shameless tricks, you’ve severely damaged your karmic virtue. Do a good deed, accumulate some back, so you don’t suffer endless torment in Hell after you die.”

”What? Donate my entire life savings to Project Hope? Impossible!” Kobayashi Haruo shouted, agitated.

Apologizing and admitting defeat was just a matter of losing face. For a thick-skinned guy like him, it was no big deal. But being told to donate money—his entire life savings, no less—was worse than death itself and far harder for him to accept!

As the most dazzling rising star of East Japan’s Traditional Chinese Medicine, the fortune he had amassed was by no means small.

”Impossible?” Zhao Yuan sneered, reaching into his pocket and touching an Enchanting Talisman.

Lately, he had been Drawing a few Enchanting Talismans every day. On one hand, it was to practice his technique; on the other, it was to temper his will and Wish Power. He now had several dozen Enchanting Talismans on hand!

”Impossible!” Kobayashi Haruo said, gritting his teeth.

A smirk played on Zhao Yuan’s lips as he activated an Enchanting Talisman.

The talisman paper instantly turned to ash, and a gleam of light, invisible to the naked eye, shot swiftly into the space between Kobayashi Haruo’s eyebrows.

”Donate all your savings to Project Hope. Now! Immediately!” Zhao Yuan repeated his earlier words.