Jin Liuwu arrogantly extended his right index finger, waving it back and forth, indicating his disdain for Chinese medicine.
His attitude was revolting.
It was utterly without restraint.
Since the successful UNESCO intangible cultural heritage inscription of the Korean medical text "Dongui Bogam," South Korea had claimed Traditional Chinese Medicine as their own, believing it originated from their country and that Chinese medicine had been borrowed from them.
This was indeed the case; they had succeeded in their inscription, and with the decline of Chinese medicine and the rise of Korean medicine, there were reasons for others to look down upon it.
After all, what he said was true: facts speak louder than words. With medical skills laid out, how could one argue with them?
As for people who even tried to claim the Dragon Boat Festival for themselves, what face could you expect them to have?
Shameless.
As Yu Jingming was about to speak, Xia Feng raised his hand and interrupted him. Xia Feng stood up and said softly, "Dr. Jin, when the opportunity arises, I strongly agree with your words: facts speak louder than words."
Huh???
Xia Feng's statement caused representatives from various countries to turn their eyes towards him.
Why did the Chinese representative support Jin Liuwu's remarks? Was China preparing to admit that Chinese medicine was learned from South Korea?
"Professor Xia." Feng Guping looked at Xia Feng with doubt.
"Well, you are a smart person. Smart people usually have good medical skills. If you are willing, you can apprentice yourself to me on the spot, and I will teach you some Korean medicine."
Jin Liuwu looked at Xia Feng with admiration and, in passing, made the offer to take him as a disciple.
If a Chinese doctor were to apprentice himself to a South Korean doctor at a medical exchange conference, it would bring great prestige to South Korea, and the status of Korean medicine would become even more firmly established.
"You've misunderstood. I just said that your statement is correct: in the face of strength, all sophistry appears pale and powerless. Your 'Dongui Bogam' quotes our Chinese 'Ben Cao Gang Mu,' yet you shamelessly applied for world intangible cultural heritage. I truly admire your audacity."
"Changing a name doesn't make it your heritage. Chinese medicine has a long history of development, and after thousands of years of evolution, it is now the world's top-tier medical art. Your Korean medicine has only learned a superficial bit of Chinese medicine, so isn't it a bit premature to boast so grandly?"
"Go back and review your Korean history. Learning more will benefit you. It's embarrassing enough to disgrace yourselves in your own country, but to do so in front of the entire world is utterly ignorant. In my eyes, Korean medicine doesn't even qualify to carry the shoes of Chinese medicine."
"Your Korean medicine is merely what our ancestors prepared to discard. You simply picked up discarded medical practices, and you treat these cast-offs as treasures. It's truly laughable."
Xia Feng's remarks made Jin Liuwu blush furiously. Just moments before, he had praised Xia Feng as smart and offered to take him as a disciple, only to be utterly denigrated by Xia Feng afterward.
The Chinese representatives listened, their blood boiling, finally feeling a sense of catharsis.
Feng Guping glanced at Xia Feng apologetically, having almost misunderstood him.
This young and handsome man, filled with such patriotism, should not have doubted his own people. He felt he deserved to be condemned. How could a Chinese person not trust a fellow Chinese?
"You are the one spouting nonsense. Look at Chinese medicine in your country; does it still have the qualification to be compared with Korean medicine? If you want to prove it, I, Jin Liuwu, will challenge you here and now in front of representatives from all over the world."
Xia Feng had finally torn away Jin Liuwu's facade of hypocrisy, and he could no longer maintain his pretense, even issuing a challenge to Xia Feng on the spot.
"Very well, I accept your challenge on behalf of Chinese medicine."
Xia Feng had come precisely to promote Chinese medicine, to show the world how this supreme medical art could bring the dead back to life, flesh to withered bones, mend broken bones, and make dead trees sprout branches, imbuing all things with vitality.
Since Jin Liuwu was willing to be a stepping stone, Xia Feng naturally intended to step on him.
Xia Feng was a cultivator, but he had Chinese blood flowing in his veins. He bore the responsibility of protecting China's honor and glory.
Elder Li had once called him China's guardian spirit, responsible not only for China's safety but also for its honor.
This was the responsibility and goal that every Chinese person should have.
"Good. How do you wish to compete? And what if you lose?"
Xia Feng's acceptance of his challenge surprised him. Both Korean medicine and Chinese medicine required years of arduous practice. He himself had spent decades meticulously researching Korean medicine to achieve his current accomplishments. Now, a young man who hadn't even fully grown his beard had accepted his challenge, making him overjoyed.
This was simply a windfall.
He had one hundred percent confidence in this competition; he couldn't believe his medical skills would be defeated by a young man, especially when facing Korean medicine.
If the challenge were against Western medicine, Jin Liuwu might have hesitated. But now, challenging Korean medicine against Chinese medicine, why should he fear anything?
Once he defeated him, not only would Korean medicine gain international renown, but he would also be adored in his own country, instantly becoming the number one figure in Korean medicine in South Korea. It was truly a matter of gaining both fame and fortune.
He never expected such a great surprise from a casual remark.
"If you lose, you will kneel and apologize to China, admitting that Korean medicine is a discarded inferior product of Chinese medicine." Xia Feng said calmly to Jin Liuwu.
"And if you lose, what happens?" Jin Liuwu asked.
"I will submit to whatever punishment you decree." Xia Feng shrugged helplessly.
"Your words are hard to believe. How can you guarantee that if China loses, it will admit it?" Jin Liuwu questioned.
"Aren't the media here? Don't worry, we Chinese are men of our word, unlike you Koreans who are so shameless," Xia Feng said, pointing to the media filming around them.
Jin Liuwu glanced around and understood Xia Feng's meaning.
In this regard, he had to admit that Chinese people kept their promises.
Moreover, with representatives from so many countries as witnesses and media coverage, it would be self-inflicted trouble for China to renege on its word if it lost.
"Good. If you lose, you will apprentice yourself to me on the spot, and China will announce to the world that Korean medicine is a stolen imitation of Chinese medicine." Jin Liuwu proposed his terms.
"Agreed," Xia Feng nodded.
"How shall we compete?" Jin Liuwu asked.
"Naturally, the more difficult, the better. If neither of us can achieve it, it will not be considered a draw, but we will consider it a loss. After all, as the master of Korean medicine, we should concede a little to you."
Xia Feng stated with great certainty.
Jin Liuwu's eyes lit up. This was practically a gift from heaven; how could there be such a foolish person?
He almost burst out laughing.
Even though Jin Liuwu had absolute confidence in his medical skills, he was unwilling to pass up such a brilliant suggestion.
"Alright, we'll do as you say."
.........................
(Facts show you do not like this kind of plot content. I will quickly end this section and write about what you previously liked. You said you wanted more of Xia Feng, but then you said you didn't like it. Alas, I am truly in a difficult position. I can only say that pleasing everyone is impossible, and I have succumbed to reality. You have won.)