Medical Sage

”Is that so?”

The other elder’s expression didn’t change upon hearing this. He continued to smile gently and said, ”No worries. Sometimes, those involved in a situation can’t see it as clearly as an onlooker. I’m quite muddled myself right now, so it would be better if you gave me some advice. Since you don’t know how to play Go, don’t think about specific moves or rules. Just go with your gut and tell me where you think the stone should go.”

Go with my gut and tell him where the stone should go?

Even Chen Fei was momentarily stunned by such a bizarre request. He instinctively glanced at Old Master Xuu, who was just smiling with his eyes narrowed, but found no answer there. He could only turn his gaze back to the other elder and smile helplessly. ”Well, in that case, I’ll give it a try.”

With that, he lowered his head to observe the board.

Although Chen Fei truly didn’t understand Go, there was an old saying: a game is like life itself. Some even see a match as a grand stratagem, the embodiment of a greater power struggle! From this perspective, the game seemed to share a subtle and complementary brilliance with the Path of Cultivation that Chen Fei practiced.

Cultivation reflected the great tides of heaven and earth, all of which could be revealed on a game board. If one could reach that state of mind and understanding, what did it matter whether one knew the rules? At least, Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, felt no such constraints or bindings in his heart.

In his eyes, the game between Old Master Xuu and the stranger was like a battlefield of black and white. The black stones were advancing like a hot knife through butter, pressing against the city walls, about to break through and claim victory. In contrast, the white stones were in a precarious position, looking to be on the verge of a total collapse. Yet, amidst this disastrous momentum, Chen Fei’s slightly furrowed brow suddenly unfurrowed, and a flicker appeared in his eyes.

The next moment, to Old Master Xuu’s growing astonishment, Chen Fei suddenly plucked a white stone from the bowl in front of the other elder and placed it firmly on the board. The stone landed with a crisp sound, and his entire demeanor changed. In that instant, the strategic situation on the board, as Chen Fei perceived it, seemed to undergo an earth-shattering shift. The imminent collapse of the white stones was suddenly averted.

”You really don’t know how to play Go?” Seeing this, Old Master Xuu couldn’t help but stare, his eyes wide with amazement.

”When have I ever lied to you? I truly don’t know how to play; I was just going by instinct. What do you think, sir?” After placing the stone, Chen Fei felt surprisingly refreshed. Hearing Old Master Xuu’s question, he smiled. While he truly didn’t understand the game, he now felt that it didn’t matter.

”The momentum of a mountain, venturing into peril, unafraid to strike the dragon’s head... This move is simply brilliant. Truly magnificent,” the other elder said, his eyes shining with admiration. He marveled at how Chen Fei could make such a heaven-defying move. It was precisely because he understood Go and played it exceptionally well—to the point where few in the country, aside from a handful of top grandmasters, could defeat him—that he could fully appreciate the ingenuity of Chen Fei’s move. It had single-handedly revitalized his collapsing position! It was simply masterful! Even he himself hadn’t seen that such a move was possible.

Snatching life from the jaws of death! But as he thought about it, he couldn’t help but sigh internally. As the saying goes, a person’s path in life is like their path on the board. The way one plays reflects the way one lives! This young man’s style is one of strong individualism, a kind of heroic dominance. It reflects a strong, unbending personality—someone who would rather break than bend. In that case, certain misunderstandings will indeed be harder to resolve.

With this thought, the elder sighed softly, then rose to his feet. ”Old Master Xuu, young man, I just remembered I have something to attend to at home. I must be going.”

Chen Fei was filled with doubt upon hearing this. Suddenly remembered something at home? Isn’t that excuse a little too obvious?

”Is that so?” Old Master Xuu, in contrast, showed no surprise. He simply shook his head at the elder with a look of resignation and said with a slow smile, ”Well, since you must go, I won’t keep you. Feel free to come by for a visit when you have time. We both lead boring lives, after all.”

”Boring?” The elder couldn’t help but give a bitter smile, understanding that Old Master Xuu was teasing him. He stood up, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, gave Chen Fei another kind smile, and then turned and left.

”That old gentleman... he acts rather strangely,” Chen Fei remarked, a puzzled look on his face as he watched the elder’s retreating back.

”Strange? I don’t think so,” Old Master Xuu said, shaking his head with his eyes slightly narrowed. ”If you knew who he was, you probably wouldn’t think so. In fact, you might even regret making that move for him.” His words left Chen Fei feeling rather puzzled.

”Regret making that move for him? Grandpa Xuu, can you stop being so cryptic? I don’t understand what you’re saying at all,” Chen Fei said, his expression growing more confused, though a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

”My boy... was it really that obvious you were trying to fish for information? You’re still too young, not calm enough,” Old Master Xuu said, seemingly seeing right through him. He smiled slowly, picked up his teacup, and took a sip, the narrow squint of his eyes becoming even more pronounced.

”Er...” Chen Fei’s expression stiffened. He then shook his head helplessly, smiling wryly to himself. Experience really does trump all. Old Master Xuu is too sharp; he saw right through that.

Thinking this, he decided to ask directly. ”Grandpa Xuu, please stop beating around the bush. You asked me to come here today because of that old gentleman, didn’t you?”

”So you’re not completely clueless,” Old Master Xuu nodded slightly, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. ”Do you know who that ’kid’ was?”

”Who was he?” Chen Fei, of course, had no idea, but he played along.

”His surname is Chen. Name’s Chen Bingzhang. Nowadays, the entire Old Chen Family is under his control,” Old Master Xuu finally revealed, no longer keeping him in suspense. But as soon as the words left his mouth, Chen Fei’s expression changed drastically, his face turning grim.

”A member of the Chen Family? The current Family Head?” he murmured, his face devoid of expression and his voice laced with a hint of frost. If I had known who he was, I would have never been so polite. It seems Grandpa Xuu was right. Had I known his identity, I definitely wouldn’t have helped him with that move.

”Why the silence? Are you angry?” Seeing Chen Fei suddenly go quiet, a bitter smile appeared on Old Master Xuu’s face, just as he’d expected. He shook his head and asked. This boy’s resentment toward the Chen Family seems even deeper than I imagined.

”I’m not angry, I just feel a little unsettled,” Chen Fei said, forcing a faint smile, but his expression showed little emotion. His mind was in turmoil.

”To be honest, I didn’t know he was coming either. It must have been a coincidence. But what’s your impression of him? Speaking of that incident with you and your mother back then, from what I know, he wasn’t involved at all. He just pretended he knew nothing,” Old Master Xuu suddenly asked, his eyes flickering. He paused for a moment before continuing, ”And you also know his son. You two have had some interactions before.”

”I know him too? Could it be...” Chen Fei was taken aback. The image of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties surfaced in his mind. He blurted out, ”Is he Minister Chen Zhenjun’s father?” If that was the case, the resistance in his heart suddenly lessened.

For one, he had previously had a brief but positive interaction with Minister Chen Zhenjun. For another, even his mother seemed to have no ill will toward Chen Zhenjun, having been willing to ask Chen Fei to help him. This proved, at the very least, that that branch of the family had likely not been involved back then and held no grudge against him and his mother.

”Correct. He is Chen Zhenjun’s father,” Old Master Xuu confirmed with a nod and a smile. ”Speaking of Bingzhang, he’s been under tremendous pressure lately. Ever since Elder Xu passed away, the entire burden has fallen on his shoulders. He has to personally handle every little messy detail. Isn’t that pitiful?”

”It is a bit pitiful, but what does that have to do with me?” Chen Fei only offered a faint smile, a strange light appearing in his dark, glass-like eyes. ”Grandpa Xuu, you didn’t call me over just to tell me all this, did you? If so, I might as well head over to the Central Guard Bureau and discuss my challenge to the Celestial Group with Elder Huang. I can come back tonight to keep you company. How does that sound?”

”You’re really planning to do that?” Old Master Xuu was naturally taken aback and looked at him, speechless. After a moment, he rolled his eyes before his tone suddenly turned serious. ”You’ve really got some nerve, finding ways to shut me up, huh? Fine. Since you don’t want to listen, I’ll drop it. Let’s talk about the real issue.”

”The real issue?” Chen Fei raised an eyebrow.

”Yes, the real issue!” Old Master Xuu affirmed, his gaze turning serious as he looked at Chen Fei. ”That kid from the Chen Family is still with you, right? Release him quickly. People from the relevant departments have already come to me about it. What you’re doing is a bit out of line.”

”You mean Chen Weishan?” Chen Fei was stunned. He hadn’t expected this to be the ’real issue’ Old Master Xuu was talking about. Do they really have that much power and influence? Enough to get the relevant departments to come knocking on Grandpa Xuu’s door? This is completely unexpected!