Medical Sage

So, I’ve decided to take a trip to Italy… and wipe out their nest!”

”Reckless! Do you even know what you’re talking about?” Upon hearing Chen Fei’s boundless arrogance, Yama’s expression darkened on the other end of the line. ”The Crimson Fang has at least four S-rank Ability Users or Vampire Dukes in Italy. You say you’ll wipe them out, just like that? On what grounds? Just you, a brat in his twenties?”

It was no wonder he was so agitated. After all, even with his current cultivation level as a Mid Innate Ancient Martial Artist, he would feel incredibly constrained when facing those four old monsters lurking in the darkness, let alone a young man like Chen Fei.

Wipe out the Crimson Fang’s nest? Is that something you can accomplish just by saying it? Absolutely reckless!

”...Uncle, I’m not interested in hearing any of that right now. I just want information about their lair. Can you tell me?” Hearing this, Chen Fei’s face hardened, and his tone grew colder.

Four S-rank Ability Users or Vampire Dukes? So what? They’ve already come for my head. Am I supposed to just grit my teeth and take it? Sorry, but I, Chen Fei, don’t have that much patience. To hell with enduring this!

”...Are you serious?” Hearing the subtle shift in Chen Fei’s voice, Yama was momentarily taken aback before he spoke again, slowly.

Only then did he suddenly remember that the twenty-something-year-old martial nephew he was talking to was no ordinary person. He was an Innate Ancient Martial Artist whose talent and aptitude were monstrously freakish. For such a prodigy to be targeted for assassination and then be expected to just let it go was clearly unrealistic. After all, this kid had a huge temper and had nearly fallen out with him before.

”The lair of an Assassin Organization like the Crimson Fang is always shrouded in mystery. Even we in the black market only have a general idea… However, I can give you a contact. If you really intend to go to Italy, you can reach out to him,” Yama said after a long silence.

”Thank you, Uncle.” At this, Chen Fei finally broke into a satisfied smile, and his tone returned to its previous, amiable self.

”Kid, I’m advising you to think this through. Italy isn’t like home. If you really go there stirring up trouble, you might provoke some troublesome old-timers,” Yama said, shaking his head as if in helpless resignation, trying one last time to dissuade him.

Once abroad, it was no longer the turf of the People of Huaxia. If he drew out the old patriarchs of the Italian Mafia Families, the trouble could become immense. At that point, even with the strength of an Early Innate Ancient Martial Artist, Chen Fei could find himself in a very dangerous situation, attacked from all sides.

”But they dared to come to Huaxia Land to assassinate me! If that’s the case, and we don’t return the favor, wouldn’t it make our great Huaxia seem weak and cowardly?” Chen Fei retorted coldly, refusing to concede.

”This… Then what do you plan to do?” Yama was left speechless by Chen Fei’s counter.

”What do I plan to do? Just what I said before… I’ve decided to go to Italy… and wipe out their nest!” Chen Fei repeated emphatically.

Hearing this, Yama’s eyes twitched. After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly, ”...You’re really serious about this, kid!?”

”I never said I wasn’t. If those rats aren’t taught a lesson, they’ll never understand that there are some people they cannot afford to offend! Hmph!” Chen Fei snorted heavily, his voice dripping with killing intent.

”You…” Yama was at a loss for words. He couldn’t accuse Chen Fei of being a fool with a narrow worldview, and the boy’s unshakeable resolve made further persuasion futile. At this thought, even he, the renowned ”Iron Mask God” of the black market, couldn’t help but shake his head in resignation. ”Does your master know about this?” he asked slowly. He couldn’t believe that old man would allow his only disciple to be so reckless and impulsive.

”My master… For some reason, I haven’t been able to reach him, and his phone is unreachable,” Chen Fei replied, his simmering rage finally giving way to a frown. It had been several days now, ever since he returned from Capital City, that he had been unable to contact his master. It was strange and gave him a vague sense of unease.

”Unreachable?”

On the other end of the line, Yama was stunned, a look of surprise flashing in his aged eyes. ”I understand. Let’s leave it at that for now.” With that, he hung up.

That old man, could it be…

His gnarled fingers pressed down hard on his cane. He picked up the phone again and dialed a secret number.

RING... RING...

After a long wait, just as Yama’s old heart began to beat faster, the call finally connected. A weak and impatient old voice came through the receiver. ”Hello, who is this?”

”Senior Brother, it’s me,” Yama said, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

”It’s you? What are you calling me for again?” Elder Ming Daochuan’s impatient and cold voice came from the other end.

”Your disciple said he couldn’t reach you, so I thought you might be at that place… What’s wrong? From the sound of your voice… you’re injured?” Yama asked.

”My disciple? That boy doesn’t usually contact me unless something’s wrong. How did he find his way to you?” Elder Ming Daochuan sounded surprised before adding slowly, ”Mm, I sustained some minor injuries, so I came back here to recuperate. There’s no signal.”

”Senior Brother, you’re really injured!?” Yama’s expression changed abruptly. ”What happened? With your current cultivation level, who could possibly injure you?” He knew his Senior Brother, Ming Daochuan, had reached the Later Stage of the Innate Realm over a decade ago. Across the entire Martial Forest, how many people could possibly harm him?

”...It’s nothing, I was just ambushed,” came the reply after a moment of silence.

”Ambushed? By whom?” Yama pressed.

”...Luo Zun!” After a long pause, Elder Ming Daochuan’s grim words came through.

Yama’s expression stiffened. Luo Zun?

”I remember he was at the Innate Mid-stage Peak. How could it be? Did he break through again?” he asked in disbelief. Luo Zun belonged to the generation after him, only rising through the ranks recently. How could he have surpassed him already?

”He has not only reached the Later Stage of the Innate Realm, but he has also become extremely tricky, very strange… Anyway, let’s not talk about this. What did the boy want from you?” Elder Ming Daochuan muttered before changing the subject.

”He… it seems he was the target of an assassination attempt in the country,” Yama said, stammering slightly.

”Assassination!?” Elder Ming Daochuan’s face instantly darkened. ”What happened? Who did it?” he demanded coldly.

”I’m not clear on the details, but… it seems it was assassins from Italy,” Yama said.

”From Italy… the Crimson Fang?” Elder Ming Daochuan frowned in thought. ”I remember there was a troublesome assassin organization over there. I believe that was their name.”

”That’s right. Your disciple called me a little while ago, asking for specific information on the Crimson Fang’s lair. I managed to put him off,” Yama said slowly.

”You put him off? Why?” Elder Ming Daochuan asked, taken aback.

”Because he said… he wants to go to Italy and destroy the Crimson Fang’s nest,” Yama replied in a strange tone.

”Destroy the Crimson Fang’s nest? Him?” Even Elder Ming Daochuan’s voice sounded peculiar. He finally understood why Yama had put him off. Did that boy really think this was a joke? That he could just wipe them out by saying so? Such big talk, wasn’t he afraid of biting his own tongue?

”But from his tone, it sounded like he’s dead serious… Senior Brother, maybe you should give him a call? Try to talk some sense into him?” Yama’s voice came through again. He had to ask. He saw no merit in Chen Fei’s arrogant plan, but he was unable to persuade the boy himself. His only hope now was his Senior Brother.

”Persuade him?” Even Elder Ming Daochuan shook his head helplessly. ”That boy is as stubborn as a mule; he can’t be reasoned with, especially when it’s a matter that touches his bottom line. I’m afraid he’s truly lost his temper this time. After being bullied right at his doorstep, he won’t rest until he’s vented his anger.”

”But Italy…” Yama still hesitated, feeling helpless. After all, Italy was the known stronghold of Mafia families. If their old patriarchs were provoked, an expert at the Innate Early Stage like Chen Fei really wouldn’t stand a chance.

”You’ll follow him in secret,” Elder Ming Daochuan’s cold voice suddenly cut in. ”There’s no persuading him, and forcibly stopping him is useless. Besides, for those Italians to dare come to our Huaxia to kill people… they have indeed been far too presumptuous!” His voice grew colder with each word.

Chen Fei was his disciple. The assassination attempt had angered him greatly. If not for his current inconvenient circumstances, he might have been tempted to make a trip to Italy himself.

Hmph! Do they really think the Huaxia Land is a playground for them to mess around in!? It seems we old folks have been quiet for too long, so long that some have forgotten the might—and the limits—of Huaxia’s dragon!

”Alright then. I understand.”