Chapter 80 - 80 80 The Challenge of the Hua Family Patriarch

80: Chapter 80: The Challenge of the Hua Family Patriarch 80: Chapter 80: The Challenge of the Hua Family Patriarch Hua Chun nodded and said to Hua Yi, “Starting from tomorrow, you shall enter the mountains! There, take good care of the herbs, and you can also focus on studying medical skills and cultivating ancient martial arts. I hope this year’s time can smooth out your edges.” Hua Yi said with a downcast air, “Yes.” Hua Chun paid him no further mind and walked up to Fang Bai. He sized him up and down for a moment and then said with a beaming smile, “Young man, my son owes you a million, and I shall pay it for him.” Fang Bai replied, “Elder, you are profoundly just; Fang Bai admires that!” Hua Chun chuckled, “A bet is a bet; there’s nothing to be said. My son’s ancient martial arts and medical skills stand out among the younger generation of the Hua family; I am quite impressed that you won against him!” Fang Bai said modestly, “Perhaps it was just a coincidence.” Hua Chun laughed heartily, “Both martial arts and medical skills are solid abilities; where would coincidence come into play? The young man jests!” At this point, Hua Chun suddenly erupted with an imposing aura, bearing down on Fang Bai before speaking in a deep voice, “I am now putting up five million as a wager; do you have any interest in betting against me?” Hua Chun, as the Hua Family Patriarch, had cultivated both medicine and martial arts from a young age. By the age of thirty, with his remarkable martial arts and superb medical skills, he became renowned across the world as a standout of his generation in Huaxia. Now, thirty years later, Hua Chun’s mastery of martial arts had reached the so-called Yellow Level High Rank in the Ancient Martial World, and his medical skills were among the top tier in Huaxia’s medical community. Especially in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, if Hua Tianhe and Qian Haoduo are considered first-tier, then Hua Chun is the leader of the second tier. As the years passed and with the rise of the younger generation of the Hua family, Hua Chun, whether in ancient martial arts or medical skills, had not personally taken action for many years, leaving others uncertain of his true capability. Now, Hua Chun’s sudden proposal to have a high-stakes bet with Fang Bai was unexpected to everyone at Rejuvenation Hall. With the Family Head personally stepping forward, this was a rare opportunity; the descendants of the Hua family, except for a few who felt perplexed and confused, were mostly excited and thrilled. Those who were perplexed and confused thought that as the venerable Family Head, well-versed in both martial arts and medicine, taking personal action against a junior seemed to have no advantages, regardless of the outcome. If he won, others would say Hua Chun, the elder, had bullied a junior, and his victory would carry no honor. If he lost, others would say the Hua Family Patriarch was actually a match for an unnamed junior, suggesting he was all bark and no bite, which would be a huge blow to both Hua Chun’s personal reputation and that of Rejuvenation Hall. Of course, none of the disciples of Rejuvenation Hall considered the possibility of Hua Chun losing to Fang Bai, as in their eyes, such a thing was impossible. And those excited Hua family descendants hoped to see their Patriarch demonstrate his powerful presence, utterly defeating Fang Bai in both martial arts and medical skills, thereby glorifying the Hua family. “Five million?” Upon hearing this figure, Fang Bai immediately became interested. His eyebrows raised as he asked, “What’s the bet?” Fang Bai, in his previous life, was the Invincible War Emperor. After seizing the body and being reborn, he also brought with him the strong will to fight. To perceive in battle, to sublimate in battle, that was Fang Bai’s Martial Dao. Confronting a challenge, if he was full of fighting spirit, fearless and daring to battle, forging ahead, his strength would improve rapidly. If he were timid and chose to escape, shrinking back from combat, then on the path of martial arts, he would struggle to make any progress. This was true for both Martial Dao and the way of medicine. Thus, he hardly hesitated before accepting Hua Chun’s challenge. From Fang Bai’s perspective, Hua Chun’s initiative in proposing a challenge and betting five million was akin to him giving away money. Whether in medicine or martial arts, defeating him would be as easy as reaching into a bag and taking what he needed. “My son lost to you both in Ancient Martial techniques and medicine, so let’s still bet on these two aspects,” “Fine, name the time and place, and how we shall bet,” Fang Bai said. “The time is now. As for the place…” Hua Chun looked around and said, “If it’s a contest of medical skills, there are many patients in this hall which makes it the best venue for the bet. If it’s a contest of Ancient Martial skills, there are too many onlookers here, so it’s not suitable, we can go to the training ground in the back hall. As for the betting method…” Hua Chun paused for a moment before continuing, “If we’re comparing medical skills, we’ll each sit at the doctor’s seat and diagnose and treat the conditions of patients in line, coming up with the most suitable treatment methods. Within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, whoever diagnoses and treats patients quickly and accurately will be the winner in medical skills… How does that sound?” Fang Bai nodded, “Good, it’s simple and direct, just how I like it. What about Ancient Martial skills?” “For Ancient Martial skills, we will compete in hand-to-hand combat, use of weapons and concealed projectiles, as well as lightness skills and movement technique. What do you think?” Hua Chun said. Fang Bai said, “I have one question: if I bet on medical skills and lose, but win in Ancient Martial skills, how will the bet be settled?” Hua Chun smiled proudly and said, “If you win both, the five million is all yours. If you can defeat me in any one aspect, you get half of the five million. That’s fair, isn’t it?” Fang Bai said, “But what if I lose in both aspects? I can’t come up with five million for the bet…” Hua Chun laughed and said, “That is easy. If you win, you sign a work contract with our ‘Rejuvenation Hall,’ and you come to work for ‘Rejuvenation Hall’ from now on.” Only then did the Hua Family members present realize that the Family Patriarch’s hefty bet with Fang Bai was not solely to retrieve his son’s lost face, but more importantly, to keep Fang Bai, to serve ‘Rejuvenation Hall.’ Someone who could defeat Hua Yi, the first genius of the younger generation of the Hua Family both in medicine and martial arts, can truly be described as a rare talent, and indeed worth Hua Chun’s effort to win over. Fang Bai laughed loudly, “If you lose, you only lose five million; if I lose, I have to work for your ‘Rejuvenation Hall’ for a lifetime… what a clever calculation you’ve made, old man!” Hua Chun said, “I won’t let you work for ‘Rejuvenation Hall’ for free, I can offer you an annual salary of one million.” His words immediately aroused envy among the many ‘Rejuvenation Hall’ staff present. It was well-known that the ‘Rejuvenation Hall’ provided excellent employee benefits, the best in the industry, but only a few respected senior traditional Chinese doctors from the Hua Family were able to earn a yearly salary of a million. Hua Chun’s treatment of Fang Bai clearly showed how much he was valued. However, when they thought about it more carefully, people understood. Fang Bai, who appeared to be only about twenty years old, was able to defeat someone older than himself, born into a family prominent in both traditional Chinese medicine and the Ancient Martial arts, and hailed as the first genius of the Hua Family’s younger generation. Leaving aside other considerations, his future held boundless possibilities. S~eaʀᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Bai’s excellence alone proved his extraordinary talent and limitless potential. Who could say that in a few decades, he wouldn’t become the next National Doctor? If ‘Rejuvenation Hall’ could attract Fang Bai, it would be like finding a treasure. From this perspective, not to mention a million annual salary, even if they had to pay a higher price, it would be worth it. Realizing this, the ‘Rejuvenation Hall’ staff looked at Hua Chun with admiration. The Family Head was worthy of his title, indeed a master of cunning plans.