Chapter 20, Cruel Elimination Methods

Translator: StarReader

 

As night deepened, the mountains grew silent. Exhausted yet exhilarated, Su Chen eventually succumbed to sleep in the cave, lying on the ground in a deep slumber.

 

At dawn, birds chirped in the mountains, awakening Su Chen. Remembering that he had spent an unknown amount of time inside the fish monster’s belly yesterday, he worried about being disciplined by Li Kui. He picked up his medicine basket and rushed toward the southwestern outskirts of Gusu County City to reach the Medicine King Estate.

 

The journey from the dense forests of Vaulting Mountains to Gusu County City was no easy task, with its rugged terrain stretching for miles. Finally, after traveling through the difficult landscape, Su Chen arrived at the Medicine King Estate.

 

He discovered that his time unconscious had been brief—short enough to stay within the deadline set by Li Kui.

 

As for the strange occurrences he had experienced in the mountains, he kept them to himself. Such tales were too outlandish for anyone to believe them. Moreover, he had stupidly tested himself with the snake poison, nearly falling victim to the fish monster. Revealing such a folly would undoubtedly invite ridicule from his senior brothers and sisters.

 

Several days later, the Medicine King Group’s biannual outer apprentice evaluation finally arrived.

 

Li Kui walked into the training courtyard, maintaining the usual serious and impassive demeanor while instructing the disciples in their martial arts. This was to be their final lesson. After this session, decisions would be made regarding their continuation or dismissal.

 

Su Chen mentally geared himself up, giving his all to prepare for this critical biannual evaluation.

 

Meanwhile, Zhang Tieniu, Yang Caizhi, Qin Huihui, and Kong Xinqiao, the four outer disciples, displayed impressive focus during their cultivating. Each one put forth their best effort, dreading any misstep that might displease their master at this decisive juncture.

 

Only Wang Fugui and Li Jiao, the two inner disciples, continued cultivating as usual, chatting and laughing. This biannual elimination process held no effect on them, as they were about to complete their three-year apprenticeship under their master.

 

By midday, Master Li Kui’s expression turned cold, his gaze filled with cunningness as it swept over Su Chen and the other four outer disciples.

 

“This is my last guidance to you in martial arts,” he began. “The six-month period is up, and according to the Medicine King Group’s rule of biannual elimination, it’s time to make some decisions. Stand in line!”

 

Su Chen and the other four outer disciples straightened up, standing respectfully before their master, hands folded, and waiting for instruction.

 

Their future status and prospects within the Medicine King Group, as well as which division they would be assigned to, all depended on Master Li Kui’s decision at this moment.

 

Wang Fugui and Li Jiao, the two inner disciples, stood quietly aside, whispering among themselves and speculating about who might be eliminated first in their master’s biannual elimination.

 

Master Li Kui did not rush to make a decision. Instead, he appraised each of the five outer disciples in turn. Having taught them for more than half a year, he was well aware of their talents and personalities.

 

Zhang Tieniu was a butcher’s boy and ate a lot of meat, growing tough and stocky, a good talent for martial arts. His talent in the Lower Dantian was the highest among all seven of them. However, it was dubious if it would pass on to Middle Dantian as well. Also, he was foolish, rude, and impulsive, easy to instigate and manipulate. Putting him in the Swordsmanship Hall was the best choice.

 

Yang Caizhi’s father was an accountant in a city’s store and taught his son how to be shrewd and sharp. He had average talent but a quick wit. He was the type to go where the wind blows. It wasn’t a weakness, for at the bottom of the martial world, one needed to adapt to survive.

 

The two girls, Qin Huihui and Kong Xinqiao, were well-behaved, simple, and hard-working. Girls were weaker than boys by nature when it came to martial arts. They were the weakest of the five.

 

Lastly, there was Su Chen, the son of a fishing family in Zhou Village. Knowledgeable and patient, he accepted any hardship and overcame it. He often went to the library to read until late at night. Apart from the two inner disciples, Su Chen had the highest potential. Three years might be fast, but in ten years, he could very well become the strongest of the five.

 

It was a pity that Su Chen was alienated from his master. Every time he saw the boy, all he found was a wild wolf, making him feel disgust.

 

Overall, the five outer disciples were ordinary, good and bad. In ten years, it would be fortunate if they could reach a second-rate level.

 

He didn’t plan on deciding himself who got eliminated.

 

“The five of you shall go outside the courtyard and discuss this among yourselves. Once you’ve reached an agreement, come back inside and take one blank bamboo slip. Write the name of the person you wish to eliminate on it, then hand the slip over to me. The individual who has the most votes will be eliminated.

 

“Whatever decision you reach regarding who gets eliminated is entirely your choice. You should not complain about this matter in the future. I treat each one of you equally; there’s no favoritism involved.”

 

Su Chen, Zhang Tieniu, Yang Caizhi, Qin Huihui, and Kong Xinqiao were tense as they waited for their master’s final decision.

 

They assumed he would just eliminate the one he held in lowest regard, bringing an end to the matter.

 

Su Chen had even carefully analyzed the situation, reasoning that among the five outer disciples, he was the least favored and prepared for the possibility of being eliminated.

 

In comparison, Yang Caizhi and the others had always been quite favored by Li Kui, often receiving gifts in private. Their chances of being eliminated were considered very slim.

 

However, none of them anticipated hearing this decision. Master Li Kui treated all five of them equally—not showing any special favor to Yang Caizhi or Zhang Tieniu, nor treating Su Chen, who was usually the most distant from him, with indifference.

 

Instead, he instructed them to discuss and decide among themselves, ultimately determining whom to eliminate through the bamboo slips.

 

The five outer disciples were all taken aback.

 

Wang Fugui and Li Jiao were also whispering together, trying to figure out what was going on. When they heard this, they were both startled and puzzled.

 

This method of elimination was unexpected for them. It didn’t feel like something Li Kui would do—unlike his usual authoritative style, where he made decisions without anyone daring to oppose him.

 

Li Kui waved his hand. The five outer disciples looked dazed as they left the courtyard one by one to discuss among themselves outside.

 

Only Li Kui, Wang Fugui, and Li Jiao remained in the courtyard—both of them being inner disciples.

 

“Master treats all disciples fairly; it’s truly just,” Li Jiao said, seizing the chance to compliment him.

 

Although she was an inner disciple and had three years of cultivating without worrying about being eliminated midway, she knew that staying in Master’s good graces meant he would teach her more carefully about medicine and martial arts.

 

“Fair?”

 

Li Kui sneered, lifted the corner of his white robe, and sat down on a stone bench in the middle of the courtyard. He picked up the tea that Yang Caizhi had already brewed on the stone table and took a sip.

 

In terms of tea brewing, Yang Caizhi was naturally the best among all the disciples, so he had always been the one to brew tea for Li Kui. Even inner disciples like Wang Fugui and Li Jiao were inferior.

 

But were small gestures enough? Just a few cups of tea and a few kilograms of bacon would be enough for him to treat Yang Caizhi, Zhang Tieniu, and others differently?

 

[Humph, naive and ridiculous!]

 

Li Kui put down the teacup and said, “This elimination of outer disciples is also an important lesson for you two inner disciples. Fugui, tell me, why did I do this?”

 

Wang Fugui was also confused and puzzled. Hearing Li Kui’s question, he racked his brains for a while and then replied cautiously, “Master’s kindness can make disciples grateful, and Master’s punishment can make disciples respectful. Rewards and punishments are the Master’s favor to the disciples, and they are also your power. But Master had them discuss and decide to eliminate one among themselves. This way, you are giving up your right to reward and punish, which is contrary to common sense. And this arrangement may cause… internal fighting among the five people!”

 

Wang Fugui began without much thought, but suddenly, he realized it and felt cold all over.

 

Whether they would be eliminated or not was a matter of great stakes. It was impossible for them to show deference; once the contest began, they would inevitably resort to dirty tactics. Master instructed them to decide among themselves, and it was unlikely that they wouldn’t end up resenting each other in the process.

 

Could it be that behind this facade of impartiality, Master was secretly inciting discord among the five outer disciples to test them? But why would Master choose such a cold and ruthless elimination method, seemingly fair and equitable but in reality, harsh beyond measure?