From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Huang Youlong handed another book "An Introduction to Bone Setting" to Xu Chunliang, which was also an ancestral secret of the Xu Family. After a little contemplation, Xu Chunliang realized where the problem lay. His grandfather was quite conservative regarding the ancestral secrets, having only recently accepted Zheng Peian as a disciple.

Obviously, these books couldn’t have come from the old man’s hands; the biggest possibility was Renhe Hall.

Zhou Renhe’s two sons, Zhou Yiwen and Zhou Yi Wu, as legitimate successors of Renhe Hall, certainly had access to the Xu Family’s secrets. Now Renhe Hall and Mingde Group were deeply collaborative.

While one guards against night theft, one cannot guard against a thief inside; Zhou Renhe certainly wouldn’t expect his two adopted sons to engage in dishonesty.

Huang Youlong said, "The main problem with Huichun Hall is also the issue that traditional Chinese medicine is generally facing today: being overly conservative and complacent. Many so-called ancestral secret recipes are passed down only within the family, with some even passed to sons but not daughters. It is precisely this feudal family inheritance method that has hindered medical exchange and dissemination, leading to the decline of traditional Chinese medicine today."

Xu Chunliang said, "Even so, quite a few secret recipes have been lost overseas. It’s not because the inheritance method of Chinese medicine is too traditional but because we have too many potential thieves around. Has President Huang ever heard of the old saying ’It’s not the thief we fear, but the thief who covets’?"

Huang Youlong laughed heartily, "Mr. Xu, you are so young; you should broaden your horizons. Although Huichun Hall has some secret recipes, in the whole of the Chinese District, they are just a drop in the ocean. To confess frankly, I have been collecting folk secret recipes for twenty years, striving to eliminate the false and retain the true, to discard the dross and select the essence, intending to recompile and improve these ancient recipes using modern medical concepts. My ultimate goal is to compile a contemporary version of the "Compendium of Materia Medica" to revive traditional Chinese medicine."

Looking at the ambitious Huang Youlong, Xu Chunliang cursed silently in his heart. This guy is truly ambitious. If you really achieve this wish, wouldn’t all these Chinese secret recipes be under your control? It can be imagined that in the future, all Chinese medicine secret recipes could become Korean classics. This is clearly a form of disguised plunder.

Huang Youlong seemed to have guessed Xu Chunliang’s thoughts, smiling, "You don’t need to worry about me keeping these ancient recipes for myself. My collection scope isn’t limited to the Chinese region; it includes Neon, the Peninsula, An Nan, and Tianzhu..."

Xu Chunliang mocked, "All acquisitions are done without asking permission, like with Huichun Hall?"

Huang Youlong replied, "Mr. Xu, you don’t need to overthink. There’s nothing illegal in the process of collecting these materials."

Xu Chunliang said, "It seems President Huang and I have different understandings of the law. Oh, I forgot you’re Korean."

Huang Youlong said, "Mr. Xu has insufficient understanding of the power of capital. Let me give an example: if someone offered ten million to buy Huichun Hall, you might not sell, but what about one hundred million? Or one billion?"

Xu Chunliang countered, "Did President Huang choose medicine to heal and save lives or to seek profits?"

Huang Youlong smiled, "To heal and save lives while incidentally creating some wealth; there seems to be no conflict between the two."

Xu Chunliang said, "Let me clarify: no matter what Mingde Group wants to do or how rich you are, I advise you not to target Huichun Hall. I’m a person without community sense or much culture, but if I think someone crosses the line, I certainly won’t show any courtesy."

Huang Youlong nodded, "Though young, Mr. Xu is very perceptive."

Xu Chunliang said, "In our Chinese saying, that means putting the ugly words first."

He glanced at the rubbing on the wall, "Some things are not yours. It’s always inappropriate to hang them so openly on the wall."

Huang Youlong said, "If you like it, I’ll give you this rubbing."

Xu Chunliang said, "Since President Huang puts it that way, I’d accept it gratefully."

Huang Youlong indeed kept his word. When Xu Chunliang was about to leave, he instructed someone to take the rubbing down, pack it, and give it along with the two Xu secret recipe books to Xu Chunliang.

On the way back to Dongzhou Restaurant, Wang Jiancheng couldn’t help but say, "I didn’t know you used to be neighbors."

Xu Chunliang said, "President Wang, have you ever heard of the saying?" He paused and then continued, "The one who ties the bell must untie it."

Wang Jiancheng frowned, as this phrase from Xu Chunliang clearly reminded him of his father’s illness, hinting perhaps that his father’s poisoning might be related to Huang Youlong. Wang Jiancheng considered Xu Chunliang’s words groundless. He had once sought Xu Chunliang’s help; Xu said that to cure his father’s illness, they must find the herb "Ghost Dragon Network."

Wang Jiancheng only turned to Huang Youlong out of desperation. Given Huang Youlong’s identity issue, Wang Jiancheng thoroughly checked his background and found no criminal records. Huang Youlong had a good reputation in the medical industry, and after he treated his father, his father’s condition quickly improved and has now mostly recovered.

Xu Chunliang knew his words might offend Wang Jiancheng, but he still needed to give the warning. He could conclude that Huang Youlong’s motives weren’t so simple. By treating Wang Zhengdao, he had successfully linked up with the Wang Family. The poison of the ghost bat was not so easily resolved unless he had the antidote in hand beforehand.

The acquisition and development of the Mingde Group in the Chinese District have not raised much alarm. Everywhere people are promoting concepts like the big picture and international perspective, which Xu Chunliang believes is utter nonsense.

He always believed there must be boundaries between people, between organizations, and even between nations. As the ancestors said, you must not harm others, but must be wary of being harmed. The more others preach to you about concepts like no borders and sharing, the more it proves they want to take advantage of you. They covet your good things and brainwash you in this manner.

When you wish to share with them, they will immediately set up one barrier after another. What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is still mine. There has never been any unreserved mutual exchange in this world—only schemes in abundance.

Only equivalent exchange of interests is eternal. To hell with the idea of borderless medicine. Traditional medicine is ours, Korean medicine is ours, and Neon’s Hanfang is even more so ours.

Wang Jiancheng said, "Huang Youlong is very capable and broad-minded. I am an outsider when it comes to medicine, but I think traditional Chinese medicine needs reform."

Xu Chunliang said, "If you check out Huang Youlong’s background in Dongzhou, you’ll find that his origins aren’t clean."

Wang Jiancheng was stunned: "What?"

Xu Chunliang cast his gaze out the car window. He knew families like Wang Jiancheng’s feared this most and didn’t feel like explaining further. If Wang Jiancheng was curious, with his capabilities, it wouldn’t be difficult to uncover the truth.

Xu Chunliang got out at Dongzhou Restaurant, waved goodbye to Wang Jiancheng, and returned to his room. He called Liu Haiyu and recounted his visit to Jingfu Building today.

Liu Haiyu said, "Can you affirm that the rubbings he gave you included the dragon bone I gave you last time?"

Xu Chunliang said, "I can confirm it."

Liu Haiyu said, "In that case, this Huang Youlong is quite extraordinary."

Xu Chunliang told Liu Haiyu about Huang Youlong’s aggressive acquisition of traditional medicine clinics and secret recipes domestically, urging him to conduct a thorough investigation. Huang Youlong is plotting with ill intentions and must be guarded against.

Liu Haiyu assured him that as long as Huang Youlong’s criminal behavior could be verified, actions would be taken against him immediately.

Xu Chunliang felt that Liu Haiyu still didn’t realize the threat posed by the Mingde Group. If they use capital to acquire enough information and repackage it, it could severely damage domestic traditional medicine, potentially even uprooting it. Everything demands evidence, and by the time you catch said evidence, it might be too late.

Liu Haiyu regretted hearing about the cancellation of the dragon bone transaction, as the original plan of setting a trap also had to be canceled.

Xu Chunliang realized that expecting Liu Haiyu to handle such a big issue might be asking too much of him. It would be best to alert relevant domestic departments to introduce measures to restrict foreign acquisition of traditional medicine factories and clinics, preventing these foreign forces from engaging in pervasive cultural theft.

Shortly after ending his call with Liu Haiyu, Mo Han came to visit.

Xu Chunliang was very aware that she was concerned about the dragon bone transaction. He handed her the rubbings he obtained from Huang Youlong.

Opening them, Mo Han’s heart was moved. There were as many as twelve rubbings: "Where did you get these?"

Xu Chunliang recounted his visit to Jingfu Building today.

After listening, Mo Han said in a low voice, "In that case, this Huang Youlong really is playing a big game."

Xu Chunliang said, "Mingde Group is collecting traditional secret recipes everywhere. Now, Huang Youlong has a lot of valuable information in his hands." He couldn’t help but think of the Mu Tian Group. The Mu Tian Group, introduced to Weishan Island by Mo Han, also has a Japanese capital background. Going forward, more caution should be exercised against Equatorial Capital, as they might share a similar agenda with the Mingde Group.

With a deeper understanding of the international situation, Xu Chunliang saw more clearly the nature of these two neighboring countries. Compared to the vast and resource-rich China, their lands and resources are scant. So they have never stopped coveting. Resources and culture are the two fields in which they are most envious. Due to China’s rising power, blatant robbery is no longer an option. Their most common tactic now is using capital for annexation, cloaking theft as investment. Culturally, they’re also evolving actively, introducing their worthless trash under the guise of exchange, using the entertainment industry and so-called idol culture to cultivate a large group of mindless fans.

The sad part is that most of the Chinese lack vigilance. Some unworthy individuals would sell ancestral legacies for a pittance, unaware that what they lose is far greater than what they gain.

Some who don’t recognize their ancestry go crazy seeing their idols, crying and fawning. Meanwhile, some ignorant domestic celebrities worship and flatter stars from the Peninsula, all because of their cultural strategic play, proving that we urgently need to strengthen our cultural propaganda work.