Medical Sage

While netizens across the country were in a fervent uproar, inside a teaching building of the Medical Department of Capital University in Capital City, many Chinese Medicine experts and young doctors were gathered to discuss the second Sino-Korean medical skills competition scheduled for that night. After all, having already lost the first round, they could not afford to be careless again.

Just then, the assistant to Song Bing—the Vice Dean of Capital University and Chief Professor of its Medical Department—knocked on the door and entered with an anxious expression. He leaned close to Principal Song’s ear and whispered urgently.

Upon hearing the news, Song Bing’s expression quickly changed. He glanced at the famous Chinese Medicine practitioners from all over the country, including Jiangnan Province’s foremost Chinese Medicine doctor, Elder Du; the director of the Northwest Institute of Chinese Medicine, Lu Lao; and the Vice President of the Traditional Medicine Association, Li Dongshen.

”Everyone, the representatives of South Korean Medicine have already left their hotel. According to our latest information, that young man, Jin Bingying, will be competing again tonight,” Song Bing said, his expression fraught with worry.

This year’s Seventh Chinese Medicine Symposium and the Sino-Korean medical skills competition were both hosted by the Medical Department of Capital University. As the university’s Vice Dean and a professor in the department, Song Bing naturally hoped to represent the Traditional Medicine Community of Huaxia and thoroughly crush the arrogance of those shameless, self-important South Koreans. However, the emergence of the young Korean medical genius named Jin Bingying, a true prodigy, had caught him completely off guard.

”Jin Bingying?” Elder Du muttered, frowning deeply with a mix of anger and gravity.

While he was intensely annoyed by the South Koreans—arrogant, shameless, and traitors to their own heritage—he had to admit they had come well-prepared. Based on his observations from the first match the previous night, the young Korean doctor’s medical skills far surpassed those of the younger generation in Chinese Medicine. He was a rare talent, a prodigy even. That was why the Korean delegation dared to make such a scene.

”Teacher, everyone, I’m sorry. I was useless and brought shame upon you all. I’m so very sorry.” At that moment, a man in his thirties, dressed in a suit with an exhausted look on his face, rose to apologize. His voice trembled, and he seemed too ashamed to even lift his head.

This man was none other than Du Quanshan, the youngest chief doctor from the Traditional Medicine Hospital of Capital City, who had represented Huaxia in the competition the night before. He had studied under Elder Du for several years in his youth, and his expertise in Chinese Medicine had grown remarkably since. Because he shared the same surname, the public had affectionately nicknamed him ’Little Elder Du’ as a recognition of his skills.

Otherwise, how could he have become the youngest professor and chief physician at the Traditional Medicine Hospital of Capital City? How could he have earned the name ’Little Elder Du’? Yet, he had still lost, easily defeated by the Korean prodigy Jin Bingying. The guilt was still eating away at him, making him feel he had disgraced all of Chinese Medicine in Huaxia.

”Victory and defeat are to be expected. You lost, and that’s that. The fact is, that Korean boy’s medical skills are superior to yours. There’s no arguing it,” Elder Du said nonchalantly. He was well aware of his nominal disciple’s capabilities. He knew he was no match for his opponent, so the loss was not surprising, nor was it anything to be ashamed of.

”It’s true that winning and losing is normal, but this matter concerns the reputation of our entire Chinese Medicine community in Huaxia. Losing so publicly is still a rather unfortunate turn of events, wouldn’t you say?” At that moment, a portly, balding old man suddenly squinted and spoke with a mirthless smile. This man was none other than Li Dongshen, the Vice President of the Traditional Medicine Association.

Hearing this, Elder Du paused, his eyes flashing for an instant, but he maintained a cold expression and did not retort.

”Elder Li, I’m sorry,” ’Little Elder Du’ Du Quanshan said, bowing his head in apology once more.

”That Korean boy’s strength was unexpected, so you can’t blame Quanshan for everything. Besides, now is not the time to assign blame for the first loss. The second match is about to begin, and they’re sending Jin Bingying out again. What about our side? Who’s going up? If we lose again, it will cause a massive stir and suspicion in the international medical community. The damage to our reputation would be terrible. Shouldn’t we be taking measures right away?” Song Bing said anxiously.

”Indeed, Principal Song is right. Our Chinese Medicine is the progenitor. If we can’t even defeat these Korean doctors, it would be a complete joke, and the impact on our international standing would be devastating. We must come up with a plan immediately! What do you think, Elder Du?” Li Dongshen chimed in, squinting, a hint of schadenfreude on his face.

After all, Du Quanshan had been the first contestant, recommended by Elder Du himself. Now, he had lost spectacularly, shaming them in front of the entire nation and the world’s media. Wasn’t that a direct slap in the face to Elder Du, his sponsor? Li Dongshen was certainly enjoying the sight. He and Elder Du had been at odds for a long time.

”What’s with all the useless chatter? Li Dongshen, don’t you have a disciple who’s quite capable? I’m always hearing you boast about him. Why not let him have a try?” Lu Lao, known for his blunt and fiery temperament, had no patience for Li Dongshen’s insinuations and spoke up loudly.

In his view, while Li Dongshen’s character left something to be desired, his skills were undeniable. He was the real deal.

Furthermore, the man was an exceptional teacher. In recent years, any young practitioner who successfully completed his apprenticeship had earned the full recognition of the older generation. That was simply a fact.

The disciple Lu Lao mentioned, the one Li Dongshen was always praising, was his newest and most prized closed-door disciple. His name was Zhou Zhengping, thirty-four years old, and perfectly eligible for this competition.

More importantly, according to Li Dongshen himself, his young disciple Zhou Zhengping had already mastered sixty to seventy percent of his own skill. If that were true, wouldn’t defeating the South Koreans be a piece of cake? Possessing that much of Li Dongshen’s ability was no laughing matter; it would be enough to completely dominate the younger generation.

”Lu Lao, are you talking about Zhengping? How kind of you to think of him. It’s truly his honor! However, while Zhengping was filled with righteous indignation when he heard about this and wanted to rush back immediately to represent our Chinese Medicine and bring glory to the nation, he’s currently in Milan, Italy. He’s part of an important medical research project and simply couldn’t get away. He only managed to get leave this afternoon, so I estimate the earliest he can be back is tomorrow around noon. He’ll only be able to make the final match,” Li Dongshen said with a smile upon hearing Lu Lao’s words.

What a joke. His, Li Dongshen’s, closed-door disciple—what an esteemed position that was! How could he possibly appear in ’merely’ the second match? That wouldn’t be fitting for his status or refinement. It would even drag down his own prestige as the master. What was his, Li Dongshen’s, standing? He would never allow that to happen!

Since this was his closed-door disciple, he absolutely had to be the final, show-stopping act!

Only in that way could they demonstrate the high standing of both master and disciple. Only then could his disciple, Zhou Zhengping, make a dazzling entrance as a ’savior’ at the most critical moment. He would turn the tide, leading the Traditional Medicine Community of Huaxia back to glory and toward victory under the adoring and excited gaze of countless eyes!

The praise and prestige they would gain would be unimaginable! And that was what he, Li Dongshen, truly wanted. As for everything else? To hell with it. He couldn’t care less.

”Tomorrow?”

Upon hearing Li Dongshen, Principal Song and Lu Lao evidently didn’t read into his intentions. They simply frowned again, pondering who to send up for the match that night.

Only Elder Du gave Li Dongshen a long, deep look, a flicker of anger visible in his aged eyes. It seemed he had guessed what Li Dongshen was plotting.

Afterward, they conferred in the room for a long time, making numerous calls to discuss the matter with other Chinese Medicine masters in Capital City who were following the situation closely. In the end, they unanimously chose the closed-door disciple of another renowned master to participate in the second Sino-Korean competition that night.

This disciple’s name was Zheng Zerui. At only thirty-one, he was still very young, but his medical skills and grasp of Chinese Medicine had already reached sixty to seventy percent of his master’s level—a truly extraordinary feat. Everyone was very confident in him.

By evening, around seven or eight o’clock, the delegation of South Korean Medicine representatives had already arrived in full force at the Indoor Stadium of Jingdong University. All three rounds of the competition were to be held here, and tonight was the second.

Elder Du and the others also arrived, accompanied by Zheng Zerui, or Doctor Zheng.

”Zerui, don’t be nervous. Just relax. I believe in you,” Elder Du encouraged him on the way.

”Don’t worry, Elder Du. I’m confident.”

Zheng Zerui replied with a self-assured expression, ”Our Chinese Medicine is profound, with a long and rich history. Even if those South Koreans learned a few things from our ancestors, how could it possibly compare to our orthodox heritage? I will make them concede their defeat without reservation.” He was clearly brimming with confidence.

He was, after all, the closed-door disciple of a nationally renowned master. He was a man of real skill. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to step onto this stage.

”Concede without reservation? Heh, you People of Huaxia really are arrogant.” Just then, a voice speaking broken, awkward Chinese came from nearby.

Instantly, Elder Du, Zheng Zerui, and the others turned to look. In the distance, a group of smartly dressed South Koreans were approaching, fawning over a young man with a haughty expression on his face.