“He’s here. Do you need to see him?” Willow asked, puzzled.
“Could you please inform him that Seung Kim, President of the Goryeo Medical Research Association, is here to visit?” Seung Kim said with a smile.
Hearing this, Willow was taken aback.
Willow knew about the upcoming competition between Leo and Seung Kim. She didn’t expect Seung Kim to come to Leo so close to the competition.
After her initial shock, Willow quickly turned and went into the clinic to find Leo.
In the clinic’s reception room.
Seung Kim extended his right hand to Leo. “Dr. Leo, hello.”
Leo politely shook his hand.
Leo was somewhat surprised by Seung Kim’s visit since he had already made his stance clear to both Jay Park and Justin.
With the competition tomorrow, what did Seung Kim want now?
After they sat down, Seung Kim directly asked, “Dr. Leo, who was your mentor?”
“I had no mentor; I taught myself,” Leo replied casually.
So this old man was here to probe into his background.
Seung Kim was momentarily stunned, then smiled. “Dr. Leo, do you know who my mentor was?”
Leo shook his head. “No, and I don’t care to know.”
Although Leo cut him off, Seung Kim shamelessly continued, “I started learning medicine at the age of three under a master of Needlework.”
“My master’s medical skills partly came from Atraria and partly from his own diligent research. The Bronze Acupuncture Figure my disciple showed you was passed down from my master.”
Leo watched Seung Kim’s monologue with cold eyes.
Seung Kim seemed to enjoy talking to himself, ignoring Leo’s expression. He continued, “Dr. Leo, with my master’s legacy and the Bronze Acupuncture Figure, my Needlework skills have reached an extraordinary level.”
“I believe that no one in the world can surpass my Needlework skills. I challenged you to prove this point.”
“Of course, if you concede now, I might consider sparing some dignity for Atrarian traditional medicine.”
Seung Kim’s ugly face finally showed its true colors.
Leo’s expression remained cold as he retorted, “You just said your master’s skills partly came from Atraria. Does that mean Korean Medicine, represented by you, is actually a disciple of Atrarian traditional medicine?”
Seung Kim’s face changed at Leo’s words but forced a smile. “There’s an old saying in Atraria: ‘The student surpasses the master.’ Our Goryeo Kingdom is a nation that excels at learning. The rise of Korean Medicine and the decline of Atrarian Medicine prove this point.”
“Whether it’s Needlework or medical skills, only the strong deserve to inherit and pass them on. Therefore, Korean Medicine can completely replace Atrarian traditional doctors. Don’t you agree, Dr. Leo?”
“Nonsense!” Leo couldn’t hold back his anger at Seung Kim’s shamelessness. “My clinic does not welcome you. Get out!”
Seung Kim stood up and sneered. “Tomorrow at 9 AM, at the International Convention Center. I hope you will be there on time. Let’s go!”
Watching Seung Kim and his entourage leave, Leo clenched his fists.
These shameless Goryeo people must be taught a harsh lesson with reality!
Shortly after Seung Kim left, Brennen called.
“Leo, you should have met Prince George and the Queen today. How did it go?” Brennen asked.
“What Prince George and the Queen?” Leo responded.
Brennen was stunned for a moment before urgently asking, “What? The prince and princess didn’t meet you?”
“No,” Leo shook his head.
“This is outrageous!” Brennen was furious. “They met with Seung Kim yesterday. They should have met with you today. Their failure to do so is a sign of disrespect towards Atrarian traditional medicine!”
Leo felt a chill in his heart as he replied, “Mr. Holland, there’s no need to be angry. After tomorrow’s competition, they will forever remember Atrarian traditional medicine!”
“Leo, we’re counting on you tomorrow. I’ll be waiting for you outside the International Convention Center.”
After hanging up with Brennen, Leo’s phone rang again.
This time it was Old Xavier from the museum.
After answering the call, Leo drove to the city museum because it concerned Chloe and the Western Xia Treasury.
In Old Xavier’s office, he mysteriously closed the door.
“Old Xavier, is something wrong?” Leo asked.
“There is indeed a tricky matter that might need your help.”
“What is it?”
Old Xavier turned on a nearby computer screen, revealing a dark scene with only a single light in the center.
A voice off-screen said, “It’s too dark; how can we see anything? Turn on the main light.”
“Miss Chloe, but if there’s still kerosene here, the high temperature of the main light might…”
“There’s no kerosene left; I’ve confirmed it. It’s too dark to record anything meaningful.”
Hearing Chloe’s voice, Leo immediately focused.
Leo recognized the long tunnel as having the style of the Western Xia Treasury. But hadn’t most of it already been excavated?
Where was this unexplored area?
Old Xavier remained silent and pointed at the screen.
Chloe’s expedition team turned on the main light and moved forward.
With the light on, the surroundings brightened up almost like daytime.
Leo noticed that the patterns on the stone carvings lining the path were different from those in the Western Xia Treasury. They were more primitive and bold, resembling marks made by cave dwellers using ox blood on stone walls during fire-making rituals.
The expedition team cautiously moved forward until they stopped in front of a three-person-high bronze door.
Despite the ravages of time, the bronze still shone as if new, as though time itself had been buried and frozen deep underground.
Chloe’s voice carried a hint of excitement as she said, “This is the real Western Xia Treasury.”
The expedition team gasped in awe but quickly suppressed their excitement as if afraid of disturbing the spirits resting within the treasury.
“The real Western Xia Treasury?” Leo turned to Old Xavier.
Old Xavier nodded as the screen paused.
“These are all the images we received from ahead.”
“A treasury within a treasury? There’s an actual inner vault deep underground?” Leo found it hard to believe.
Although the importance of the Western Xia Treasury was undeniable, it didn’t seem necessary to go to such lengths for deception.