
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
Given the function $f(x) = \log_a x + m (a > 0, a \neq 1)$, whose graph passes through the point $(8, 2)$, and the point $(3, -1)$ symmetric about the line $x = 2$ is also on the graph of $y = f(x)$.

(1) Find the expression for $f(x)$;

(2) If the function $g(x) = f(x - 1) - 2f(x)$, find the maximum value of the function $g(x)$ and the value of $x$ when the maximum value is attained.

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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