Medical Sage

”...Kid, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear what you just said. Remember, in this world, some things shouldn’t be said without thinking. Otherwise, even if you’re that old bastard Ming Daochuan’s disciple, it won’t save you. Do you understand what I mean?” the old man in the gray robe leaning on a cane finally said in a cold tone after a long silence.

”You... you know my Master?” Now it was Chen Fei’s turn to be surprised. A hint of astonishment flickered through his fierce eyes. Judging by what he said, could it be that he really knows my Master!?

This time, the gray-robed old man with the cane didn’t respond. He silently took out a phone from his robe. His movements were slow, as if he was struggling and hesitant, but he finally expressionlessly dialed a number etched deeply into his memory and turned on the speakerphone.

”RING, RING, RING... Hello.”

After a brief ringing, a familiar, aged voice came through the speaker.

Is it really Master? Hearing that voice, Chen Fei’s expression became somewhat awkward and surprised. He hadn’t expected the man to actually know his Master, which meant...

”Hey, old bastard, it’s me,” the gray-robed old man with the cane said into the phone, his voice strange and his gaze complex.

”I know it’s you, but didn’t I tell you not to call me again?” Ming Daochuan, Chen Fei’s Master, replied indifferently over the phone, catching Chen Fei off guard. Chen Fei shot a sideways glance at the old man’s complicated expression, murmuring to himself in his heart.

It seems there’s some history between them that I don’t know about.

”Yes, that’s why it’s been over twenty years, hasn’t it? I think this is the first call I’ve made to you in all that time... Eldest Martial Brother,” the gray-robed man with the cane suddenly said while Chen Fei was still puzzled. The words startled Chen Fei.

What... what the hell? Eldest... Eldest Martial Brother!? Chen Fei was instantly dumbfounded. If the man called his Master ’Eldest Martial Brother,’ didn’t that make him... Chen Fei’s Martial Uncle!

Suddenly, Chen Fei felt an awkward sweat break out on his forehead. He genuinely hadn’t expected things to take such an unexpected turn. This old man is actually my Martial Uncle!?

In the next moment, however, his expression froze. Over the phone, his Master, Ming Daochuan, suddenly said dispassionately, ”Eldest Martial Brother? I’m afraid I don’t deserve that title anymore. We already cut off all ties, didn’t we?”

”...But in my heart, you have always been my Eldest Martial Brother,” the old man said in a low voice after a long silence.

However, Ming Daochuan was not moved. He simply said indifferently, ”Alright, what do you want? If there’s nothing, I’m hanging up. You should know I don’t want to hear your voice.”

”Your disciple is here with me,” the gray-robed old man said, licking his lips with a somewhat despondent tone.

”My disciple? Xiaofei?” Ming Daochuan’s tone suddenly rose upon hearing this.

Chen Fei immediately and carefully spoke up, ”Master, it’s me.” He keenly sensed the tension in the air and decided it was prudent to stay on the sidelines and not get involved.

”The two of you... Alright, I understand. He is indeed my disciple. Let’s leave it at that.” The voice on the other end of the line clearly did not wish to continue the conversation.

”Wait.”

But Chen Fei suddenly called out, speaking carefully, ”Wait a moment, Master. How... how should I address him now? As Martial Uncle, or...?” Normally, he wouldn’t need to ask this, but he had just heard his Master use the words ”cut off all ties,” which forced him to think more carefully.

”How to address him?”

Hearing Chen Fei’s question, Ming Daochuan actually fell silent on the other end of the line. Seeing this, the gray-robed old man leaning on the cane looked unusually tense. Sweat formed in the palm of his withered, claw-like hand, its veins protruding, and his murky, deep eyes flickered.

”...Don’t you worry your head about the older generation’s affairs, kid. Call him whatever you want. That’s all. I’m hanging up.” With that, Ming Daochuan immediately ended the call.

’Call him whatever I want?’ Chen Fei’s expression was extremely odd, and he felt a bit frustrated. How am I supposed to know what to call him?

Just then, the gray-robed old man with the cane suddenly smiled at him. ”Kid, thank you.”

”Thank me? For what?” Chen Fei asked, becoming even more puzzled. My brain can’t keep up with all this.

”It’s nothing, hehe. Are you interested in visiting my place? Speaking of which, that makes you my Martial Nephew,” the gray-robed old man said with a laugh, posing the sudden question.

Visit? Chen Fei’s expression changed slightly, and he gave an awkward smile. ”Um, well, how about we forget about today? Next time, next time. What do you say, Mar... Martial Uncle...?” He couldn’t help it. The situation was mortifyingly awkward. After all, they had nearly fought to the death just moments ago, and now they were suddenly Martial Uncle and Martial Nephew. He’d wait for next time, after he’d had a chance to prepare himself mentally.

”Martial Uncle, hahaha. Alright then, since you say next time, let’s make it next time. Here, take this little trinket. Almost everyone in the Hong Kong Black Market recognizes it.” The gray-robed old man burst out laughing for some reason and casually tossed over a token-like object.

”What is this?” Chen Fei asked subconsciously as he caught the black token.

”It represents my identity. It should help you avoid some minor troubles, especially here in Hong Kong,” the old man said calmly, an unintentional air of superiority flowing from him that exerted immense pressure.

However, this pressure meant little to Chen Fei; in fact, it had virtually no effect. He thoughtfully pocketed the token and said cautiously, ”Um, Martial Uncle, may I take my leave now?”

”Goodbye,” the old man replied with a faint smile, not trying to make him stay.

”Then I’ll be on my way. Martial Uncle, see you next time...” After saying this, Chen Fei immediately turned and walked toward the Phaeton parked not far away.

”He’s that old bastard’s disciple, alright. Cut from the same cloth,” the gray-robed old man murmured absently to himself after Chen Fei left. It sounded like a complaint, but his tone was filled with nostalgia.

”It’s just a shame. I originally wanted that kid to do me a favor, to represent our Black Market and fight those youngsters from the Dark Angel Alliance. But now, he’s actually broken through to the Innate Realm of Ancient Martial Arts. His cultivation level is way too high. I can’t even ask a senior to bully a junior now. What a pity...” He shook his head again with regret and turned to leave.

”Mr. Chen, are you okay?” As soon as Chen Fei walked over, Chen Yaoyang scrambled out of the driver’s seat, looking tense and terrified.

You have to know that if you deeply offend Lord Yama, one of the three vice-chairmen of the Hong Kong Black Market, it would be impossible to take a single step in Hong Kong. It could even lead to a devastating disaster, and you would be utterly powerless to resist!

”I’m fine. Let’s go. It’s all over,” Chen Fei said quietly, rubbing his head, a little lost for words. It was clear he was still dazed and hadn’t fully processed everything.

Martial Uncle? He truly hadn’t expected to suddenly acquire a Martial Uncle, and a mighty Innate Mid-Stage Ancient Martial Artist at that! Not to mention one of the three noble and high-ranking vice-chairmen of the Hong Kong Black Market—a man of esteemed status and immense power.

But this Martial Uncle’s relationship with his Master seemed incredibly complicated. They had even ”cut off all ties,” leaving him unable to guess the full story behind their past.

”Ah, my head hurts! Forget it, I can’t be bothered to guess anymore. Let the older generation handle their own issues!” Chen Fei shouted in annoyance as he stretched. Deciding not to waste any more brain cells, he got into Chen Yaoyang’s Phaeton and left.

***

Afterward, at the enthusiastic insistence of Chen Yaoyang’s family, Chen Fei stayed in Hong Kong for two more days. After truly experiencing the world-famous, bustling metropolis, he declined Chen Yaoyang’s kind offer to fly him directly back to Northern Mountain City on the Hong Kong Chen Family’s private jet. Instead, he dutifully took a flight from Hong Kong to Tongzhou City in Jiangnan Province and then a high-speed train from Tongzhou, finally returning to his home base—Northern Mountain City!

Meanwhile, a great uproar erupted throughout the Special Department of the Three Lingnan Provinces in Huaxia—the Headquarters of Flying Leopard—and the entire southern circle of Ancient Martial Artists.

Junn Yuanyi, the Young Master of the Holy Fire Sect—one of the Eleven Second-Rate Ancient Martial Arts Sects in Inland Huaxia and the direct grandson of the sect’s only Half-Step Innate Powerhouse ancestor—had an arm cut off! It was done without mercy, a truly shocking event.

In the Circle of Ancient Martial Arts in Huaxia, any one of the Eleven Second-Rate Ancient Martial Arts Sects possessed a foundation that completely surpassed the power of entities like Hong Kong’s Five Great Tycoon Families. Excluding special cases like the Yuue Family, this fact alone showed their might.

Therefore, many within the circle found it hard to believe. Who could be so audacious as to challenge the mighty Holy Fire Sect on their own turf? Even more terrifying, they had severed the arm of the grandson of the sect’s Half-Step Innate Powerhouse. No matter how you looked at it, it was an act of pure, reckless suicide.

After learning the full story, the Holy Fire Sect was, predictably, enraged.

Normally, existences like them did not casually appear in the secular world. But now, someone had dared to challenge them—and an arrogant young man in his twenties at that. This was a slap in the face that their sect absolutely could not accept.

”This person must die! It doesn’t matter if our Holy Fire Sect acts personally or if you, Flying Leopard, wish to do it on our behalf. This isn’t about us violating orders; it’s about the fact that the dignity of our Holy Fire Sect cannot be challenged,” the Sect Leader of the Holy Fire Sect personally called Lei Long, one of the Five Deputy Instructors of Flying Leopard. His tone left no room for negotiation.

Chen Fei had dared to touch someone from their Holy Fire Sect, and he had to pay the price! He would be eliminated by them, with no hope of survival.

Receiving the call, Lei Long of Flying Leopard fell silent. He clearly also believed that Chen Fei had made a huge mistake and stirred up immense trouble.

That was the Holy Fire Sect! They were one of the publicly recognized Eleven Second-Tier Sects in Huaxia’s Circle of Ancient Martial Arts, even ranking somewhere in the middle. Not only that, but one of the Five Deputy Instructors at their Flying Leopard Headquarters had come from the Holy Fire Sect and was now serving the country. This was really bad news.