Chapter 625 - 349: Match
Chapter 625: Chapter 349: Match
Pei Guanli walked over and took Yuan Liu’er’s hand, casually slapping Ma Liangcai as she did so. "Step back a little. You were cowering earlier, so why are you stepping up now?"
Taking the slap, Ma Liangcai swallowed the words that had reached the tip of his tongue. He smiled bitterly. "You are right to scold me, Senior."
He then looked at Yuan Liu’er and instructed her, "Since your martial grand-aunt has spoken, just do your best. It would be best if you win, but if you accidentally lose..."
Thinking of Chen Yi, Ma Liangcai stood a little taller. "Your grandmaster is here, so it doesn’t matter."
If the Jishi Medicine Hall did not belong to the Xiao Family, and if he wasn’t worried that losing a Medical Dao competition would negatively affect Chen Yi, he wouldn’t care at all. Ma Liangcai knew very well how formidable Chen Yi was. Not only was his Medical Dao extraordinary, but he also had Mastery over Music, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting. The most reassuring point of all was that Chen Yi was the "Dragon Tiger" Liu Wu whose name resonated throughout the Shu State.
Let alone Wen Xiuyin being a mere disciple of the Jiuqu Lineage, even if the Jiuqu Divine Doctor himself came all the way from the You State, Ma Liangcai would not be afraid. Whenever he was unsure of something, he could simply go to Chen Yi. After all, he, Ma Liangcai, was now Chen Yi’s very first disciple.
Yuan Liu’er naturally did not know her master’s inner thoughts. Seeing that Ma Liangcai was completely serious, she put down her burden and stepped forward with Pei Guanli.
In truth, Yuan Liu’er was not a bashful person. When her father was still alive, whenever he went out to work, she would stay home to help her mother care for her younger siblings. She had been independent and decisive since childhood. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone to the East Market without a word to sell herself into servitude to pay for her father’s funeral after his death.
Moreover, she was now a part of the Jishi Medicine Hall. Facing humiliation from outsiders, it was only right and reasonable for her to contribute whatever meager strength she had.
However, despite thinking this way, Yuan Liu’er still didn’t have much confidence in what she had learned of the Medical Dao, nor did she have much faith in winning this competition. She wasn’t even entirely sure what her entry-level Medical Dao status truly meant. She only knew what her master, Ma Liangcai, had told her—her grandmaster, Chen Yi, said her talent was exceptional and told her to work hard. As for what kind of talent that was, she had no idea.
Before long, a clear space was made in the center of the Medicine Hall. Wen Xiuyin and her disciple stood on one side. Pei Guanli sat boldly on the opposite side, with Ma Liangcai, Liu Quan, and others standing behind her, exuding an imposing aura as if she were the master of the house.
In the center of the venue, Yuan Liu’er wore the outfit of an apprentice from the Jishi Medicine Hall—a short blue jacket, with her hair coiled at the back of her head and wrapped in a square scarf. Her small face was tight and solemn.
Across from her, Jiuqu Zhou Wenying looked completely at ease, displaying the demeanor of an expert.
Wen Xiuyin scanned the area and said, "In a Medical Dao competition, we can test medical theory, Medical Skill, pharmacology, medicinal materials, and so on. What would Miss Pei like to compete in?"
Pei Guanli naturally didn’t understand any of this. She glanced at Yuan Liu’er, and seeing her nod slightly, she waved her hand dismissively. "Visitors are guests. You can decide."
As soon as the words left her mouth, the onlookers secretly shook their heads, especially the Jianghu People who knew the formidable Medical Dao of the Jiuqu Lineage.
"The little girl from the Mountain Race is being a bit arrogant."
"The resident Physicians in this Medicine Hall only treat ordinary commoners. They can’t save just anyone."
"That’s right. Although the Jiuqu Lineage has a somewhat poor reputation, they truly possess extraordinary skills, particularly in treating injuries to the meridians and internal organs."
"Previously, Senior Jin Guang of our Shu State had a vital acupoint behind his ear injured by the Evil Demonic Dao of the Illusory Sound Sect, causing his True Essence to circulate poorly. He only managed to fully recover after seeking out the Jiuqu Divine Doctor."
"Different professions are worlds apart, let alone Martial Arts and the Medical Dao."
"The Mountain Race is formidable with Poisoning and Witchcraft, but they are ultimately unfamiliar with the Medical Dao."
Pei Guanli naturally heard their murmurs. She glared at them with slight displeasure and threatened, "If Little Sister Liu’er loses, don’t blame me for not being polite to you."
"Uh, we wouldn’t dare..."
The Jianghu People immediately shut their mouths, clearly unwilling to provoke the Mountain Race.
Wen Xiuyin, however, chuckled as she relaxed inwardly. Ultimately, the Mountain Race was still not as civilized as the Central Plains. Trying to play the hero without even assessing their own capabilities? Wen Xiuyin looked at Zhou Wenying and Yuan Liu’er, smiling. "I won’t bully you all. Let’s just follow the traditional four categories of a Medical Dao competition."
Pei Guanli certainly didn’t know what the four categories of the Medical Dao were, but she had never feared anything in heaven or on earth. She coughed and said, "Then present your challenge."
Wen Xiuyin knew she was clueless but didn’t plan to make an issue out of it. She directly gestured and explained, "The first category is simple. My disciple and the apprentice from the Jishi Medicine Hall will be blindfolded. They must identify medicinal materials relying solely on touch and scent.
"Whoever identifies the materials with the most precision wins."
Pei Guanli more or less understood. She instinctively looked at Yuan Liu’er, only to see that her previously tense little face had relaxed. She couldn’t help but ask, "Little Sister Liu’er, is there a problem?"
Yuan Liu’er looked back at her and shook her head. "Senior, this is easy."
She hadn’t learned much else over these past few days, but she knew the medicinal materials and pharmacology inside out, so she naturally felt quite confident.
Seeing this, Pei Guanli immediately nodded. "Then let’s begin."
Wen Xiuyin said no more. She had someone blindfold Zhou Wenying and Yuan Liu’er while she and Ma Liangcai prepared the materials for the competition. The two of them successively took out ten types of herbs from the medicine cabinets and placed them in front of the girls.
However, Wen Xiuyin had her own ideas. She remarked, "Since the medicinal materials are provided by your Medicine Hall, that little apprentice has a slight advantage."
Pei Guanli raised an eyebrow. "What do you propose?"
"I merely wish to substitute one item with a medicinal material I carry on me. Only then will it be fair."
"Then do as you wish."
Pei Guanli didn’t have much confidence in Yuan Liu’er, but she had complete faith in Chen Yi. Besides, she had also witnessed Yuan Liu’er’s terrifying talent in Martial Arts. Letting Wen Xiuyin swap out one material was no big deal.
However, when they saw the material Wen Xiuyin brought out, the expressions of Ma Liangcai, Elder Physician Li, and the others shifted. They saw that what Wen Xiuyin held was no ordinary herb or insect part, but instead a piece of Scale Armor—interspersed with gray and black, with a hard and smooth texture.
It was actually an incredibly rare Jiao Scale.
Of course, it was not the scale of a true Jiao Dragon, but from an Exotic Beast that lived in the bitter cold lands—the Deer Jiao. It possessed the head of a snake and the body of a deer, and only bore a single piece of Scale Armor on its neck. Ordinary Physicians had never even heard of it, much less seen it. Even Ma Liangcai and Elder Physician Li did not recognize it, making them feel rather nervous at this moment.
Noticing their abnormal reactions, Pei Guanli naturally guessed there was an issue with the material Wen Xiuyin presented. But since she had already blocked off any chance of retreating, she could only bite the bullet and stay silent. The surrounding onlookers largely felt the same.
After placing the Deer Jiao’s Reverse Scale on the table, Wen Xiuyin flashed a smile at Pei Guanli and the others before turning back around.
"Begin."
Subsequently, Yuan Liu’er and Zhou Wenying simultaneously reached out to pick up the materials in front of them, identifying them one by one. As they identified them, they called out their answers aloud.
"Cassia Seed," Yuan Liu’er said.
"Money Plant," Zhou Wenying answered.
"Celestial Silkworm Flower," Yuan Liu’er continued.
"..."
Both of them were at the entry-level of the Medical Dao, so basic skills like identifying medicinal materials were a walk in the park. Yuan Liu’er, in particular, had spent quite some time in the Medicine Hall, so she knew exactly what materials were kept there.
Taking only a quarter of an hour, they were both down to their final item.
Zhou Wenying wiped the sweat from her forehead and picked up her last piece of medicinal material, first feeling it with her hands. Just as she was about to answer, she swallowed her words back down. To be safe, she brought the material to her nose and sniffed it.
A moment later, Zhou Wenying revealed a hint of hesitation. The material in her hand felt exactly like Aloe Vera Soil in both shape and texture, but the medicinal scent on it was definitely not Aloe Vera Soil. Instead, it smelled like another, far rarer medicinal material—Jade Green Earth.
Wen Xiuyin had intended to watch Yuan Liu’er make a fool of herself, but seeing her own disciple hesitate, she couldn’t help but frown. Before she could even utter a word of warning, Zhou Wenying hesitantly gave her answer.
"Jade Green Earth?
"This medicinal material is Jade Green Earth!"
Wen Xiuyin froze, silently cursing the fool, her face turning cold.
In contrast, a smile appeared on Ma Liangcai’s face. He had kept his wits about him while preparing the materials earlier. He had deliberately brought out an aged Magical Artifact from among the Aloe Vera Soil. If an ordinary person lacked confidence in themselves, they would definitely make the wrong judgment.
And sure enough...
At this moment, everyone’s gaze landed on Yuan Liu’er. They saw her still stroking that piece of Scale Armor with a calm expression, showing absolutely no sign of nervousness. After a long while, she gently brought the Scale Armor to her nose, sniffed it, and smiled.
"I know what this is.
"This is a Deer Jiao’s Reverse Scale!"
"Impossible! You—how could you possibly recognize this item?!"