"Alright, then,"
Bai Yichen, awkward at interacting with his son, or rather, unsure of how to interact with him, sheepishly retracted the hand holding the antidote.
He stood there, a picture of helplessness, a far cry from the composed demeanor he'd displayed upon arrival, as if he were the one who had made a mistake and was awaiting reprimand.
"Uncle Bai, Bai Er didn't mean anything by it. He's just too used to being stubborn and has forgotten how to yield. Since Uncle Bai has won this round, and thus fulfilled the agreement with the Imperial Uncle, why don't you join us on our side and catch up with old friends?"
Bai Yichen nodded, signaling his agreement.
Meanwhile.
Yan Tinghao, who hadn't expected to lose this round, looked on in disbelief: "How could Murong Wu fail?"
"More accurately, how could that Bai family kid possibly win?"
Old Master Yan retorted, then, perhaps feeling his tone was a bit too harsh, patiently explained to his son: "Bai Yichen became the Chief Physician of the Imperial Hospital at the age of twenty, and is known as a divine physician. Undeniably, that Bai family kid is indeed formidable. However, in medicine, the more seasoned one is, the more esteemed. Moreover, Bai Yichen has been devoted to his medical studies all these years. Even if the Bai family kid is exceptionally talented, he is nowhere near being Bai Yichen's equal. Therefore, the outcome of this challenge was evident from the start."
At this moment, Murong Bai was being helped back by Hua Jinrong. "My Lord, I have returned defeated. I beg your punishment."
"Then I shall fine you, Forensic Examiner Murong, one year's salary."
"My Lord, Forensic Examiner Murong has already done his best, you cannot simply..."
Yan Tinghao's protest was cut short as Lu Mingxuan, whose presence was often overlooked, tugged at his sleeve: "Constable Yan, have you forgotten? Forensic Examiner Murong does not receive a salary; he is paid based on the number of autopsies he performs."
"Ah, that's right. Forensic Examiner Murong doesn't have a salary, so is My Lord not truly punishing Forensic Examiner Murong?"
As Yan Tinghao's mind was processing this, Bai Yichen had already approached Lin Qingge, smiling faintly, "Lord Lin, we meet again."
"Brother Bai, don't just smile at Lord Lin, look at me too!"
Had Madam Yan not been held tightly by the scowling Old Master Yan, she would have surely rushed forward to give her 'Brother Bai' a long-awaited embrace.
On the stage.
Liu Chenfei waved his flag, signaling for both sides to continue.
It was now Lin Qingge's side's turn to issue a challenge. Leng Ningyue stepped forward without hesitation, but before she could, a note was delivered from Prince Wucheng's side. Lin Qingge leaned over to read it and almost burst out laughing at its contents. The note read:
"Prime Minister Shangguan is in our hands. If you don't want him harmed, surrender voluntarily."
"Tell your master that you can kill him or mutilate him as you please, but just remember to clean up the aftermath. Don't dirty my mother's reincarnation path."
As if intimidated by the undisguised killing intent in Leng Ningyue's eyes, the messenger fled in a panic. However, one scheme failed, and Prince Wucheng's side devised a second. This time, Prince Wucheng used the lives of all the female disciples of the Jade Maiden Sect as a threat. Leng Ningyue's maternal grandmother had been traveling the world for years, and Leng Ningyue had been absent for so long that the acting sect leader, Leng Shuang, had gone to the capital to look after children. With the sect leaderless, Prince Wucheng, a despicable individual, had seized an opportunity.
However, after reading the note, Leng Ningyue continued to walk off the stage, only to be stopped by Lin Qingge, who grabbed her. Pulled to a halt, Leng Ningyue glanced down at the hand holding her arm, then looked up at the person before her and said, word by word: "To me, everyone present combined is not as important as you."
"But lives are at stake. Perhaps I should send someone else?"
Unlike Shangguan Hong, that old scoundrel, Lin Qingge had never met the disciples of the Jade Maiden Sect. However, she could not bear to watch a small group of people perish in order to save a larger group. Meeting Leng Ningyue's overly cool gaze, Lin Qingge pleaded with all her might, "Madam, you see, we have already won three rounds. Even if we lose the next round, we can win it back in the one after that."
Their eyes met. Staring at those stubborn eyes for a long time, it was Leng Ningyue who finally relented. "Alright then. If we lose the next round, no matter the reason, you cannot stop me again."
"Of course," Lin Qingge nodded eagerly. She immediately instructed Hua Jinrong to gather reinforcements to rescue the Jade Maiden Sect disciples while also strategizing. Through Bai Yichen's previous challenge, she had opened up a new line of thought. She understood that even without martial arts skills, one could win a challenge by being an outstanding expert in a certain field. Therefore, she wanted to participate herself. After all, in certain aspects, she considered herself unmatched. However, her proposal was met with unanimous opposition from everyone present. She couldn't understand it; even pandas had to go out to work, so why couldn't she?
In response, Hua Jinrong explained: "My Lord, when others go up, it's a contest. But if you go up, it becomes an incident! With Prince Wucheng watching us so covetously, we don't have the extra manpower and energy to solve a case afterwards."
"So you're saying if I go on stage, people will die?"
"My Lord, it's good that you understand. Actually, it's not wrong for you to go, but I fear the opponent who steps forward to face you might be someone we know. What if there's an accidental injury?"
Unexpectedly persuaded, Lin Qingge no longer insisted and instead sent Lu Huaiying to issue the challenge. To her surprise, the opponent who stepped forward was none other than Prince Wucheng himself! Prince Wucheng had once saved Lu Huaiying's life, and Lu Huaiying could not bring himself to fight him, so he forfeited.
Lin Qingge, having forgotten about this matter and not expecting Prince Wucheng to personally enter the fray, was filled with regret. But the competition had to continue.
The sixth round.
An old Taoist priest emerged from Prince Wucheng's side, swaying his way onto the stage: "Amitabha, Blessed One. This old Daoist, Hehuan Sanren, greets all heroes!"
Seeing the not-so-unfamiliar old priest, Lin Qingge couldn't help but sneer: "They say misfortunes last for ten thousand years. I never thought this scoundrel would still be alive!" Hehuan Sanren was Hua Die's master, notorious for his wickedness. He had surrendered to Prince Wucheng and had previously helped Prince Wucheng ambush Lin Qingge's party outside the capital.
"He got away last time, but not this time." Leng Ningyue said, making a move to step onto the stage, but was once again stopped by Lin Qingge. "Madam, please wait."
The young Taoist priest carried onto the stage an eight immortal table covered with a red cloth, and Hehuan Sanren pointed to the items on the table: "Everyone, please partake." As he finished speaking, the red cloth was lifted. On the table sat a finely crafted pagoda, about three feet tall. Hehuan Sanren circled the table twice, pointing at the pagoda: "Everyone, this is a treasure this humble priest stumbled upon, the Zhen Bao Pagoda. If anyone can decipher its mechanisms and retrieve the item hidden within, they will be declared the victor of this round!"
"Zhen Bao Pagoda?" Lin Qingge murmured the name, her eyes immediately lighting up.