Chapter 497 - 497: Retiring from the Medical Field

Kawashima Haruhiro immediately agreed. He couldn't wait to get out of there.

The cheers from the Chinese team and the silence from the Japanese were like countless razor-sharp blades stabbing and slicing at him, inflicting a death by a thousand cuts.

He simply couldn't bear the shame of staying here any longer.

If he didn't leave, he was afraid he would follow in his master's footsteps and pass out from the humiliation.

Kawashima Haruhiro and his juniors quickly helped Genji Doju to his feet, preparing to slink away in disgrace.

But Zhao Yuan, who was surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers, noticed their movement and suddenly called out, "Wait."

Kawashima Haruhiro and his group stopped involuntarily.

They didn't understand why they'd obeyed Zhao Yuan.

Perhaps it was the sheer force of Zhao Yuan's presence. Or maybe, having lost the competition, they felt diminished before him.

"Leaving just like that? Without an apology?" Zhao Yuan said coldly. "First, Kobayashi Haruo used fraudulent means to spread rumors and swindle people. After I exposed him and sent him packing back to Japan, you not only failed to punish him, but you actually sent Kawashima Haruhiro to avenge him. Heh. Your Genji School, your entire school of Traditional Chinese Medicine... you're all utterly shameless, aren't you?"

Before Genji Doju could speak, the masters from other schools of Traditional Chinese Medicine who were present began to sell out their supposed ally without a moment's hesitation.

"Lord Zhao, the Genji School was indeed in the wrong here. But you can't blame all of us practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine for their actions. We had no idea about the history behind this."

"Yes, exactly! We were misled by the Genji School as well! We thought you were challenging all of Traditional Chinese Medicine, but it turns out the Genji School orchestrated this whole thing and was stirring up trouble from the start! We're victims here, too!"

"Genji Doju, what your school has done is outrageous! Apologize to Lord Zhao and all our colleagues in the Chinese medical community, right now!"

"That's right, apologize! Apologize now!"

In the end, every master of Traditional Chinese Medicine there was roaring the word "Apologize!" at Genji Doju and his disciples.

This scene left the doctors on the Chinese side completely dumbfounded. They couldn't help but curse internally, 'Weren't you all supposed to be comrades? Weren't you just fighting together in the same trench? How could you turn on each other and rebel in the blink of an eye? Talk about "better you die than me." You people are ruthless!'

They had guessed correctly. Right now, those masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine were all thinking the same thing: 'Better him than us.'

The national battle—the fight for their tradition's honor—was utterly lost. There was no coming back from this. If they couldn't offer up a scapegoat, then every single one of them would become a disgrace to Traditional Chinese Medicine and the entire Japanese medical community.

They refused to accept that fate. Thus, putting forward a target to take all the heat became their top priority.

The Genji School, as the instigator and catalyst for the entire incident, was the obvious choice.

Under these circumstances, it was no surprise that the masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine present would all turn on their own.

Genji Doju was a sharp man. As soon as he heard the clamor from his peers, he immediately understood their reasoning.

He gave a miserable smile and swept his gaze over his so-called "allies" who were now kicking him while he was down. "How clever you all are," he said coldly. "When there's profit to be had, you swarm over each other to get your share. But when it's time to take responsibility, you're all experts at passing the buck. So shameless, so despicable. No wonder you've all reached such heights in your careers!"

His sarcasm struck a nerve, and the masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine flushed with shame. But their anger quickly overcame their guilt, and they erupted with a new, even louder round of accusations.

But Genji Doju ignored them. Turning to Zhao Yuan, he said, "You are right. We were in the wrong. I hereby apologize to you and to all the gentlemen of China's Traditional Chinese Medicine community!"

With that, he gave Zhao Yuan a deep, formal bow.

At the same time, a different thought ran through his mind: 'Our only mistake was underestimating your strength. A pity it's too late for regrets. If I could do this all over again, I would never have let Kawashima challenge you so recklessly.'

After finishing his bow, Genji Doju then had Kawashima Haruhiro apologize to Zhao Yuan and the Chinese doctors.

Finally, in a somber voice, he declared, "To show the sincerity of our apology, I, Genji Doju, will retire from the field of medicine as of today! I will hold a formal retirement ceremony upon my return to Japan. As for the man who started this whole affair, Kobayashi Haruo, I will expel him from the Genji School!"

Zhao Yuan was taken aback. He hadn't expected Genji Doju's "sincere" apology to be quite so dramatic.

But then it hit him—Genji Doju was making a strategic retreat.

Genji Doju was sacrificing himself and expelling Kobayashi Haruo to preserve the Genji School, giving it a chance to survive. It was a slim chance, but if he didn't do this, the Genji School would surely be crushed by the collective pressure of the entire Traditional Chinese Medicine Community in Japan, leaving it without a shred of Vitality.

'He's worthy of being a school founder. Truly formidable,' Zhao Yuan praised silently.

Meanwhile, back in Japan, Kobayashi Haruo was watching the live stream. When he heard Genji Doju's pronouncement, he completely broke down, sobbing, "It's over. I'm completely and utterly finished."

Back at the venue, Zhao Yuan didn't press Genji Doju's group any further. He waved his hand, dismissing them.

The other masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine trailed after Genji Doju's group, eager to leave as well. They couldn't bear to stay and watch Zhao Yuan and the Chinese doctors celebrate their victory.

But just then, Zhao Yuan spoke again, pointing to one of the masters. "You, wait a minute."

The master he'd singled out flinched, his expression instantly turning foul. "Is... is there a problem?" he stammered.

Zhao Yuan said, "I seem to recall you saying that if I managed to cure Liu Lili's illness, you would eat the microphone off that camera. Am I right?"

Large beads of cold sweat instantly broke out on the master's face. He wanted to deny it, but the memory that so many people had heard him—and that it had been broadcast on the live stream—told him denial was useless. With a miserable look, he stammered, "Yes... I... I did say that."

"Well then," Zhao Yuan asked, "isn't it time you made good on your promise?"

"I..." The master looked like he was about to cry. He desperately wanted to weasel out of it, but in front of so many people, not to mention the media, he didn't dare.