Urban Genius Divine Doctor

Chapter 236: Chapter 236: The Contest Begins

For this trip abroad, Wang Chenning appointed Wu Jingyi as his secretary. He also assigned a male disciple named Jin Shoucheng, along with Lin Qingyan and Zhang Manxin, as his assistants to help handle various matters.

Wu Jingyi was naturally delighted to become Wang Chenning’s secretary. She felt that Wang Chenning saw her in a special light, and her status was now clearly a cut above the other disciples.

However, Yang Xiaofu’s appearance suddenly made her feel pressured.

She was also well aware that outstanding men were bound to be popular with women.

Moreover, this wasn’t a simple matter of first-come, first-served. It was a case of striking first to gain an advantage; hesitate and you lose your chance.

They say when a woman pursues a man, there’s only a paper-thin barrier between them. Whoever broke through it first could make him her husband.

Wang Chenning’s earlier comment about a "master’s wife" further solidified this idea in her mind.

Lin Qingyan and Zhang Manxin, however, had a different take. They both felt Wang Chenning was just toying with them.

They also believed Wang Chenning was the type of man who had been spoiled by women, making him arrogant beyond belief.

’Hmph, so he doesn’t take us seriously? Fine, we’ll show him just how brilliant we are.’ The two women had come to more or less the same conclusion.

They boarded the plane soon after. Wang Chenning had the window seat, with Wu Jingyi next to him, and the other male disciple next to her.

Lin Qingyan and Zhang Manxin were seated in the row in front of them.

Wu Jingyi was very pleased with this arrangement.

To her frustration, however, Wang Chenning only discussed work with her during the flight. Once they were done, he claimed he hadn’t slept well the night before, leaned back in his seat, and went to sleep.

This came as a blow to Wu Jingyi, who had hoped to use the flight to connect more with Wang Chenning and show him her best qualities.

Zhao Xiao’an was seated at the very front of the plane. After boarding, she and her colleague filmed a quick segment before she settled into her seat to rest.

She spotted Yang Xiaofu as well, and was instantly on alert.

She assumed Yang Xiaofu was acting as Yang Xiaofei’s eyes and ears, following them to Seoul to keep an eye on Wang Chenning.

Although he was surrounded by several beautiful women, Wang Chenning didn’t flirt with any of them. There were too many potential complications.

The nearly two-hour flight was rather dull, so he could only close his eyes and rest.

Fortunately, the two hours passed quickly.

As the plane began its descent, a flight attendant’s sweet voice came over the intercom: "Ladies and gentlemen, we will soon be landing at Incheon International Airport. The air quality in Seoul is excellent today. Passengers by the window can enjoy the beautiful scenery of South Korea..."

As Wang Chenning stared out the porthole at the scenery, Wu Jingyi, sitting beside him, suddenly asked, "Teacher, do you prefer the name Hancheng or Seoul?"

"It makes no difference to me," Wang Chenning said, turning back with a smile. "Hancheng doesn’t mean ’City of the Han.’ It’s just located on the banks of the Han River. It has nothing to do with the Han people."

Wang Chenning’s answer surprised Wu Jingyi. "I always thought that both the Han River and Hancheng were related to our Han people having once ruled there!"

"Of course they’re related!" Wang Chenning smiled and nodded. "If they hadn’t been influenced by Han culture, they wouldn’t have chosen that name. Of course, the people there might also be descendants of the Han. After all, we brought the region under our rule during the Han and Tang dynasties. With the large-scale migrations during times of war, perhaps our bloodlines trace back to the same source!"

Hearing him say this, a spark lit up Wu Jingyi’s lovely eyes. She whispered to Wang Chenning, "Teacher, do you hope that the Han River, the city on its banks, and the other territories will one day return to Han rule?"

To Wu Jingyi’s surprise, Wang Chenning simply replied, "You’ve got to have a dream. What if it comes true one day?"

Wu Jingyi didn’t know how to respond.

As the plane landed on the runway and everyone began gathering their luggage to disembark, Wu Jingyi whispered another question to Wang Chenning: "Teacher, are you planning to thoroughly humiliate the Korean doctors this time?"

Wang Chenning replied, "If they provoke me."

Wu Jingyi’s eyes widened again, then she broke into a smile that made her eyes curve into crescents.

At the airport, they were greeted by representatives from their country’s foreign affairs agency. Joining the welcoming party were a deputy director-general from the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, a vice-president of Seoul University, and a vice-chairman of the South Korean Traditional Medical Association.

The head of the Chinese foreign affairs agency, Zheng Chusheng, and the welcoming South Korean deputy director-general, Jin Zaiying, exchanged speeches during the ceremony. After a round of pleasantries, all members of the exchange delegation boarded vehicles arranged by the South Korean side and headed for the city.

Wang Chenning, several delegation leaders, and the South Korean representatives all rode on the same bus. Zhao Xiao’an and the other journalists, who had been quiet for most of the journey, were on the bus with them as well.

Of Wang Chenning’s entourage, only Wu Jingyi remained by his side; the rest took other vehicles.

On the way, the South Korean representative, Jin Zaiying, chatted with Zheng Chusheng the entire time.

As the bus was about to enter the city, Jin Zaiying suddenly changed his tone, speaking to Zheng Chusheng with a hint of aggression: "My country has made great strides in traditional culture over the years, with several projects successfully registered as intangible cultural heritage. We preserve the culture passed down from antiquity better than anyone. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be the saying that the cultures of the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties all reside in South Korea!"

After the interpreter relayed Jin Zaiying’s words, the expressions of many people on the bus soured.

Many knew that in recent decades, South Korea had often stirred up cultural disputes.

Everyone was also aware that this cultural and artistic exchange would inevitably lead to conflict. The competitions between the delegation members were just another manifestation of the argument over cultural ownership.

But no one had expected the Koreans to raise such a pointed issue the moment the delegation arrived.

After hearing the translation, Zheng Chusheng chuckled. "We both belong to the Chinese cultural sphere. We are neighbors separated only by a narrow strip of water. While the traditions we have inherited may have some minor differences, they all stem from the same branch. Therefore, we should have more exchanges to improve together!"

This was pure diplomatic rhetoric. It sounded like he said a lot, but it was no different from saying nothing at all.

But Jin Zaiying wasn’t about to drop the subject. He continued, "In recent times, Chinese culture has been one of mere survival, focused only on fending off humiliation. Only in South Korea do our artifacts and attire still preserve the ancient systems of the Han, Tang, and Ming. The common etiquette and customs also retain much of their ancient character. For this reason, its scholars know righteousness and value integrity. Gentlemen, are you aware that these are the words of one of your own past sages? It is the best proof of who is the true orthodox successor."

When the interpreter finished translating, an uproar swept through the bus.

Zheng Chusheng was caught off guard by Jin Zaiying’s words and, for a moment, couldn’t think of a rebuttal.

Just then, a clear voice rang out, "From the sound of it, Mr. Jin must be a man of great learning, with a deep understanding of traditional culture. I presume Mr. Jin also knows that the strongest bonds of cultural inheritance are writing and language. The culture of the Central Plains was passed down through Chinese characters and the Chinese language. But today, do people in South Korea still use Chinese characters or speak Chinese?"

"I also recall hearing that the ancient books in your museums are all printed in Chinese characters, yet most of your young people can no longer read these classics. I’d like to ask Mr. Jin, is *this* what you call being the orthodox successor?"

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!