Medical Sage

The Celestial Group elder prided himself on his status; he couldn’t bring himself to lose face by arguing with Chen Fei, a punk in his twenties, in front of everyone. Yet, when Chen Fei so blatantly dismissed their Celestial Group with such absurd remarks, the elder, as an Elder of the Celestial Group, naturally couldn’t swallow the insult.

”Hmph!”

”Bureau Chief Zheng, who is this?” he snorted coldly, his aged, turbid eyes sweeping disdainfully over Chen Fei before settling on Zheng Weiguo’s face. He asked with a stern expression, looking quite displeased.

However, hearing the Celestial Group elder’s words, Zheng Weiguo grew even more unhappy. To his ears, it sounded exactly like an interrogation. And who was he, Zheng Weiguo? He was the current director of the Central Guard Bureau, one of the Four Departments of Capital City! And the other man’s status? Merely an elder of the Celestial Group, another of the Four Departments. They were on completely different levels of the hierarchy.

And now? This old fellow was actually using such a questioning tone with him, as if he thought Zheng Weiguo was good-tempered, wouldn’t get angry, and was made of clay?

At this thought, his expression inevitably turned much colder. He completely ignored the elder’s question, instead glancing at Chen Fei before his eyes swept over the wide, empty area outside the Celestial Group’s base. A cold smile touched his lips. ”This area outside is quite nice, plenty of space. What do you say, Elder Qi, shall we have our competition out here? It would save us the time of going inside, wouldn’t it?”

As he spoke, his eyes flickered toward the elder, whose expression had suddenly turned ugly. Hmph, Zheng Weiguo sneered inwardly. Although the Four Departments of Capital City aren’t traditional bureaucratic departments, rank and status still mean something. Does this old man truly believe he can act presumptuously just because of his age, thinking himself infallible? Isn’t that a bit naive? With my status and rank, speaking bluntly, it wouldn’t have been excessive for me to openly rebuke his behavior! I’m only restraining myself for the dignity of the Central Guard Bureau; as its director, I can’t afford to lose my composure. But if this path isn’t acceptable, then surely another one is? I, Zheng Weiguo, have been in this game for so many years. Do they think I don’t know how to hide a dagger behind a smile? Please, if I were really that stupid, would I be sitting in my current position? Anyone with half a brain knows the answer. And given my status, if the Celestial Group hadn’t tried to make things difficult from the start, even casually sending an elder to receive us just to brush us off, would I have gotten so angry? Would I have taken Chen Fei’s words and turned their plan against them? In any case, if we don’t step through the gates of this base today, only the Celestial Group will lose face. The esteemed Celestial Group, ranked second among the Four Departments of Capital City, lacks even basic hospitality. If word got out, wouldn’t they become a laughingstock?

”Bureau Chief... Bureau Chief Zheng, what do you mean by that?” Upon hearing Zheng Weiguo’s words, the elder, whose surname was Qi, found his face changing drastically. The wrinkles on his old face bunched together, creating an ugly, jarring sight, while his eyes echoed with a mix of shock, anger, and gloom.

Meanwhile, amidst that complex mix of emotions, panic and disorder began to brew. He knew very well that if the representatives from the Central Guard Bureau truly didn’t enter the gate behind him today, it would be an absolute disgrace for the Celestial Group! Intolerant, ungracious, and inhospitable! These three failings alone were enough to slap a heavy, unflattering label on the Celestial Group. And who would want to bear such a label? Who would be willing to carry that burden?

”My apologies for not welcoming you from afar, Bureau Chief Zheng,” said Kou Bin, wearing a smile as he finally made his tardy appearance. In truth, he had been watching from the gate the entire time but now had no choice but to show himself.

”It’s nothing, Group Leader Kou. You manage countless affairs daily; you can’t personally attend to everything. I understand, I understand,” Zheng Weiguo said with a smile. On the surface, they were exchanging pleasantries, but his words dripped with sarcasm. After all, their positions were equal. If he, Zheng Weiguo, wasn’t busy, how busy could Kou Bin possibly be?

”Hehe, not at all, not at all.”

Kou Bin, Group Leader Kou, certainly caught the mockery in Zheng Weiguo’s words. But since their Celestial Group had been rude first, any further arguments or rebuttals would be feeble and pointless. Realizing this, he dropped the matter and, with a smile, changed the subject, leading Zheng Weiguo and the other representatives from the Central Guard Bureau through the base’s main gate.

Different people were led to different areas within the base. Chen Fei’s group was taken to a section where most of the younger generation from the Four Departments of Capital City had gathered.

Their arrival immediately drew a great deal of attention. Many people wore curious expressions, silently observing from a distance, trying to figure out what unknown trump card the Central Guard Bureau had brought this time.

After all, while the Four Departments of Capital City weren’t exactly a band of brothers, they still communicated frequently. Normally, if there was anyone particularly powerful or famous, everyone would know them. An unfamiliar face, therefore, was very likely to be that trump card.

Consequently, all eyes fell on the people around Cao Qiguo, scrutinizing them.

”Seems pretty crowded. Are they all here for the show?” Chen Fei remarked with a casual grin to Cao Qiguo, a comment that instantly caught the notice of many attentive onlookers.

”Who’s that kid? Why have I never seen him before?”

”Could he be the Central Guard Bureau’s trump card this time? He doesn’t look the part, though. How old is he? Is he even thirty?”

”Wait a second, I think I’ve seen him somewhere… SMACK! That’s right! Sunx Long from the Sunx Family—didn’t he die at his hands? We even got his photo at the time. This kid is actually from the Central Guard Bureau?”

”You’re right, now I remember! Our team leader did show us his photo. He’s from the Central Guard Bureau? Then that incident last time was…”

”A setup, staged by the Central Guard Bureau themselves. No wonder the whole thing just fizzled out later. I was so confused back then, but it all makes sense now.”

Suddenly, the crowd was buzzing with discussion, with some having instantly identified Chen Fei.

The incident with Sunx Long had caused quite a stir, but it had ended mysteriously with no resolution. Even the Old Sunx Family had gone strangely silent. It was impossible for them not to have been curious back then; they only held their tongues due to their positions and out of deference to the Sunx Family and the Central Guard Bureau.

And now, finally, the ”truth” was out.

So, the kid was from the Central Guard Bureau. In hindsight, the unresolved matter must have been because the Old Sunx Family gave the Central Guard Bureau face in the matter.

”Buddy, what are you doing here?” A surprised voice cut through the chatter. A young man in a punk jacket and jeans approached from a distance, an astonished look on his face.

”Liu Chudong, is that you?” Chen Fei turned toward the voice and was surprised to see it was the young man his age he had met on the plane to Capital City.

”Of course, it’s me. Buddy, I can’t believe it’s really you. I saw you walk in from over there but wasn’t sure. Are you here representing the Central Guard Bureau today? Don’t tell me this whole bizarre move by the Bureau is because of you…” Liu Chudong’s voice grew quieter and quieter, until only Chen Fei, standing in front of him, could hear. And the more he spoke, the more shock and awe couldn’t help but fill his eyes. After all, even if he didn’t fully understand who Chen Fei was, his background, or his strength, Liu Chudong was certain that this guy was no pushover. So if the Central Guard Bureau’s move was really because of him, then things were getting interesting… Even Yan Zhen might not necessarily be stronger than this mysterious fellow, right?

”I have a personal grudge with the Chen Family and the Celestial Group, so I thought I’d come stir up some trouble since I had nothing better to do. On the other hand, looking at your entourage, your background doesn’t seem so simple either, huh?” Hearing this, Chen Fei’s dark eyes twinkled. He didn’t hide anything, offering a simple explanation before his lips curved into an amused smile.

At this moment, Liu Chudong was not alone; he was followed by two elderly men with white beards who looked formidable at a glance. By my estimation, those two men possessed, at the very least, the strength of the Early Stage Peak of the Innate Realm, an S+ power rating. For individuals of that caliber to follow so obediently, could his background possibly be simple? You’d have to be an idiot to think otherwise! It seems my previous guess was likely correct. This Liu Chudong must have some connection to the Old Liu Family, one of the three great Red Nobility families of Forty-Nine City. Otherwise, he couldn’t possibly have appeared at such a special event.

”Uh…”

As expected, Liu Chudong chuckled awkwardly, then decided to come clean. ”Buddy, I won’t lie to you, I’m from the Old Liu Family. I’ve been bored sitting at home these last few days, and when I heard about this, I thought I’d come join the fun. Who knew I’d run into you? It must be fate.”

He paused, then leaned closer and asked in a low, curious voice, ”And that business with the Sunx Family before, that was you too, right?”

”That was also me.” There was nothing to hide, so Chen Fei admitted it freely.

”I’ve got to say, buddy, you’ve really got guts. Of the three major Red Families in Forty-Nine City, you’ve already offended two! And their subordinates, the Celestial Group and the Dragon Group, are no pushovers either,” Liu Chudong said with a meaningful look, giving Chen Fei a thumbs-up.

”I understand. Thanks.”

Chen Fei clearly caught the warning in his words. He smiled his thanks, then slowly shook his head. ”There’s not much I can do about it now. They were the ones who happened to pick a fight with me. It’s not like I can just bow my head to them, that’s not very realistic. Besides, when you have enough lice, you stop feeling the itch. It’s all the same to me now.”

Clearly, our Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, was in a remarkably calm state of mind. He had the defiant air of a dead pig that no longer fears boiling water.