Medical Sage

The black-clad figure appeared swollen, the muscles beneath his skin seeming ready to burst through the fabric of his clothes. An exceptionally icy temperament radiated from him, wholly out of place amidst the shaded walkways of the campus. His exposed hands were particularly menacing, with bulging veins crisscrossing his skin. The thick, scarred calluses around the webbing of his thumbs suggested a constant familiarity with a certain object. Could they be the marks of someone who often handled a gun?

”Who are you?” Upon seeing the man walking directly toward them, Elder Du instantly sensed that something was wrong. His expression changed as he sharply demanded an answer, casting a startled look at the black-clad man.

It was clear that Elder Du was no stranger to the world. Yet, the aura exuded by this individual reminded him of the special forces soldiers he had encountered at the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Nursing Home of Capital City. That was the place Capital City’s esteemed elders favored for convalescence and recovery.

”Excuse me, are you Chen Fei, Mr. Chen?” the black-clad man asked, ignoring Elder Du’s question. He walked up to Chen Fei, gave a slight bow, and spoke in a slow, measured voice.

”I am. Who are you?” Chen Fei responded, his face expressionless.

”Someone entrusted me to deliver an invitation to you. Please take a look,” the man said, immediately producing an invitation.

But Chen Fei did not take it. Instead, his gaze turned colder as he stared impassively at the man. ”Who sent you? Don’t you think it’s impolite to only tell half the story?”

The man visibly shuddered, his body seeming to shrink under an invisible pressure. His previously tranquil eyes roiled with shock. Looking at Chen Fei again, his expression shifted to one of alarm, a faint stiffness and panic spreading across his face.

”Mr. Chen. The sender said that you would agree upon seeing the invitation,” the man said, his voice trembling slightly. Evidently, power was the most effective deterrent.

”See the invitation?” Chen Fei’s brows furrowed slightly, but he took the invitation from the man’s hand. He tore open the seal and pulled out a thin, gold-embossed paper. Facing him were seven large, calligraphic characters that seemed to dance like dragons and phoenixes—Sky Boxing Club. Below it was a time: eleven o’clock tonight.

Chen Fei paused, his eyes then catching a line of smaller print in the bottom-left corner of the paper—it appeared to be a name. Chen Kun!?

Chen Ruofeng? A Chen family name? Chen Fei’s brows knitted even more tightly.

”Now that the invitation has been delivered, I will take my leave,” the man said, bowing once more before turning to depart. A look of grave concern appeared on Elder Du’s face as he turned to Chen Fei. ”Doctor Chen, what’s going on? Has something happened?”

”It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it, Elder Du.”

Chen Fei simply shook his head to reassure him. This was a matter concerning him and the Chen Family, and he didn’t want to involve anyone else.

Seeing this, Elder Du hesitated but ultimately refrained from probing further. He figured if Chen Fei was reluctant to speak, it was best not to pry. There was no need.

「」

Meanwhile, far from Capital University in a luxurious villa complex in Capital City, a stern-looking young man in an expensive suit stood before one of the most secluded and valuable mansions. After taking a phone call, he turned, pushed open the door, and entered the villa.

Inside the grand living room, a young man with a completely emotionless face was engrossed in a copy of ”The Thirty-Six Stratagems.” Despite appearing to be around Chen Fei’s age, this young man emanated a composure and serenity that seemed to belong to someone who had lived for decades.

It was a peculiar sight. This man was none other than Chen Kun, the fourth-generation leader of the Chen Family, who had previously been involved with Dongtai, the Earth Level Witch Doctor from a certain stockade in the Southern Borderlands.

The Old Chen Family was a top-tier Red Family in Forty-Nine City, yet Chen Kun had chosen not to enter politics or the military. Instead, he focused on strategy and excelled at forming alliances with remarkable and unusual individuals. Dongtai was one of the many such people Chen Kun had befriended during his travels across the Republic.

And now, they shared a common goal.

”He’an, any news?” Chen Kun’s eyes lit up as the stern-faced young man entered.

The man known as He’an nodded. He approached Chen Kun and said with some hesitation and gravity, ”Cang Lang says the invitation has been delivered to him. But he doesn’t know if he’ll come.”

”He will definitely come.” Chen Kun smiled slowly, his lips curling with an air of sagacity. ”If I’m not mistaken, he should be aware of his identity by now.”

Hearing this, the man known as He’an looked even more uncertain. He spoke hesitantly, ”Young Master Kun, do we really have to go after that kid? I’m worried…” He was cut off before he could finish.

”He’an.” Chen Kun stared at him intently. ”Don’t tell me you’re scared.”

”Scared? I… How could I be scared?” The stern-faced young man put on a brave front, but his eyes betrayed his fear.

After all, this was a scheme he was plotting with Chen Kun in private; his family knew nothing about it. But if this were exposed and angered his great-grandfather, Old Master Xuu, what would he do?

”He’an, it seems you still don’t understand the current situation. Come, let me analyze it for you.” Chen Kun uttered an ”oh,” then closed his copy of ”The Thirty-Six Stratagems” and said with a serious expression, ”That young man is now highly favored by your great-grandfather—that is, Old Master Xuu—and has even overshadowed your entire Xuu Family. I’m not wrong on this point, am I?”

”You’re not wrong,” Xuu He’an bit out, a surge of anger rising within him. What virtues or abilities did a kid like Chen Fei possess? Yet he had somehow become the favorite of his great-grandfather, even managing to squeeze out their Xuu Family. This forced their family to keep a much lower profile, as they no longer had their backer.

The reason Xuu He’an addressed Old Master Xuu as his great-grandfather was due to a bit of history.

It turned out that this Xuu Family was not the main branch.

In his youth, Old Master Xuu had a comrade-in-arms who was like a brother to him. They were extremely close, and since they both shared the surname Xu, they became sworn brothers. Old Master Xuu was the elder, and his comrade was the younger.

Later, however, Old Master Xuu’s sworn brother was killed in battle, leaving behind only a wife and son. This was the origin of Xuu He’an’s branch of the Xuu Family.

To distinguish their family from the Old Xu Family, outsiders would privately add the word ’Lesser’ before their family name. Of course, they would only do this in private; face-to-face, they would still respectfully call them the Xuu Family.

As for this Xuu He’an, he was the recognized leader of his family’s third generation.

In the past, it was always someone from their family who was favored by Old Master Xuu, who had his ear. After all, their old bond remained, and they were skilled at using it. But now, their favored position had been snatched away by Chen Fei, a figure who had appeared out of nowhere.

How could Xuu He’an not be furious?

”Exactly,” Chen Kun said, crossing his arms over his chest. ”Things being as they are, if you don’t take action, do you intend to give up on Old Master Xuu, that towering tree of support? Forgive my candor, but without Old Master Xuu’s influence shielding your Xuu Family in Forty-Nine City, your clan is nothing more than Third Tier.”

”I…” Xuu He’an’s expression stiffened, becoming extremely unsightly.

But he couldn’t deny it. What Chen Kun said, though blunt, was correct.

Without the Old Xu Family, without Old Master Xuu backing them, their family was indeed just Third Tier. A figure like Chen Kunn, the fourth-generation leader of the Old Chen Family, would never have given them a second glance.

”We now have a common reason to be his enemy. If my cousin returns to the family without any trouble, don’t you think that would pose a threat to my position?” Chen Kun continued slowly, his eyes filled with a cold light. A person like him relied on the Old Chen Family to wield immense power and influence. If that backing were gone, what power would he have left?

”I… I understand. Let’s proceed with the plan. Oh, right, are you sure the person you found can eliminate him? What if the plan fails and it all comes to light?” Xuu He’an nodded gravely, then voiced his concerns.

He had personally dispatched Cang Lang, so he knew what level his strength was at. But even a super-elite special forces soldier like Cang Lang had admitted in a recent phone call that Chen Fei was unfathomable; he might not even be a match for him. So, could the so-called expert Chen Kun found really handle it?

”He’an, don’t worry.” In response, Chen Kunn stood up with immense self-assurance. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gave a cold, confident sneer. ”The person I’ve found can kill him as easily as slaughtering a chicken or a dog. Even if it all blows up in our faces in the end, what does that have to do with us? It’s just an underground boxing match, a vendetta in the martial world. The higher-ups won’t meddle in this, and our elders certainly won’t.”

He spoke with absolute certainty. He knew the martial world had its own rules, a line that even the state wouldn’t easily cross.

Therefore, since it was a matter of martial world grievances, even if blood was spilled and someone died, it would remain a matter within that circle. What did it have to do with outsiders like them?

It was a simple and easy-to-understand principle.

”Good. Let’s do it then.” Xuu He’an slowly rose to his feet. ”It’s about time. We should go and prepare.”

Soon after, a luxury car drove out of the villa. The evening gloom deepened, becoming more chilling and grim.