The entire training ground fell deathly silent.
Everyone stared with their mouths agape, as if they had all been struck mute, utterly speechless.
After a long moment, Zhao Yangqiu was the first to snap out of it. Staring at the Ant Queen being passed around like a precious treasure, he completely deflated, muttering to himself, 'How could this be? How is this possible?'
Zhao Yangqiu had spent his entire life studying the suspended silk pulse diagnosis technique. He prided himself on his mastery of this Medical Skill, believing that if he wasn't the absolute best, he was at least among the top tier.
Before today, when it came to suspended silk pulse diagnosis, he had never feared or conceded to anyone.
But now, he was afraid, and he had been well and truly beaten.
Zhao Yangqiu knew his own limits. He was well aware that if it had been him, it wouldn't have been difficult to determine the red silk was tied to the chair. He was even confident he could have detected a bug hidden inside from the faint vibrations transmitted through the armrest. But to do what Zhao Yuan had doneānot only detecting the bug but also identifying that it was laying eggs and was disabledāthat was something he could never, ever do!
For a moment, Zhao Yangqiu wondered if he was dreaming. He pinched himself hard. It hurt.
This was reality, not a dream!
Seeing his action, Zhao Yuan couldn't help but chuckle. "Mr. Zhao," he said, "what do you think of my suspended silk pulse diagnosis technique? Is there anything that needs improvement? Please, enlighten me."
Zhao Yangqiu's expression was incredibly awkward.
'Enlighten you? I don't even know how you did it! How could I possibly enlighten you? How would I dare?'
Zhao Yangqiu stewed for a long time before finally forcing out, "I admit my defeat, completely and utterly! Your suspended silk pulse diagnosis technique is far superior to mine!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his vision went dark, and his body swayed, about to pitch forward.
He was overcome with rage!
At the critical moment, Zhao Yangqiu bit his tongue hard, forcing himself back to his senses. He dropped to one knee and braced himself with his hands, barely avoiding the humiliating fate of falling flat on his face.
However, to the onlookers, it looked as if he was kneeling before Zhao Yuan!
Instantly, the reporters surrounding the training ground grew excited, their shutters clicking furiously to capture the scene. They had already thought of a headline: "Miraculous Teen's Peerless Medical Skills Drive a Famed Doctor to His Knees to Beg for Mercy." It was pure clickbait gold!
Zhao Dezhu's face was thunderous. He quickly ordered someone to help Zhao Yangqiu up, terrified his Third Uncle would do something even more disgraceful.
"So, Elder Zhao admits defeat?" Zhao Yuan said. "You don't want another round?"
Zhao Yangqiu seemed to have aged years in an instant. He sighed deeply. "I admit defeat. I won't compete further. My skills are inferior. To continue would only bring more shame!"
Beside them, Li Heping, Qiao Zhixue, and the others all nodded in agreement.
In their eyes, the victor of this Pulse Diagnosis competition was already decided!
Zhao Yangqiu's suspended silk pulse diagnosis technique was indeed top-tier, no doubt about it! But Zhao Yuan's display of suspended silk pulse diagnosis had surpassed the top tier, reaching a god-like, miraculous level! If they continued, Zhao Yangqiu would still lose; there was no chance for a comeback!
Professor Tu lamented, "I've read in the history books about an Imperial Physician during the Qianlong Era who was an expert in the Pulse Diagnosis Technique. He could supposedly use suspended silk pulse diagnosis to determine there was an egg-laying female insect inside a piece of wood. I always thought it was too absurd, probably a story fabricated by the ancients. I never expected to witness such a miraculous scene with my own eyes today!"
"Indeed. This has been a real eye-opener for all of us today!" Li Heping nodded, then turned to Zhao Yuan. "Student Zhao Yuan, I must apologize to you. A moment ago, I thought you were just messing around and was on the verge of scolding you."
"Me too," said Qiao Zhixue. "I was about to yell at you as well, but I held back out of respect for Principal Ma. Thinking back now, I'm glad I didn't. Otherwise, I would have made a complete fool of myself!"
At his words, everyone burst into laughter.
Only Zhao Yangqiu didn't laugh. His expression turned even uglier.
Because he was the one who had openly mocked and berated Zhao Yuan just moments ago.
He had enjoyed scolding him at the time, but thinking back now, those taunts and rebukes felt like a series of loud slaps across his own face!
Slapping your own faceācould anything be more humiliating?
Meanwhile, in the online livestream chat, a flood of apologies appeared in the bullet comments.
"My bad, I shouldn't have doubted and mocked this dude! That was the sickest flex I've ever seen!"
"Student Zhao Yuan, I was wrong! I shouldn't have doubted you. You're incredible! A true credit to our West Hua Medical University! I'm so proud of you!"
"Can some expert please explain how he knew what was inside the armrest? It can't really be just from those red silk threads, right? Or does he have some kind of special power, like X-ray vision?"
"I don't care how he did it. I just want to know: where's the guy who said he'd eat shit if Zhao Yuan won? When's the feast? Make sure you stream it! I'll donate money for your stomach pump!"
Waves of Wish Power generated by these netizens surged into Zhao Yuan's body.
Although this was only Wish Power born of admiration, which couldn't compare in intensity to the Wish Power of gratitude, a mosquito is still meat. Zhao Yuan certainly wasn't going to be picky, especially since many small gains could become a large one.
After a few moments of laughter and jokes, Li Heping and the others composed themselves, their expressions turning serious as they announced, "In the Pulse Diagnosis duel, Zhao Yuan is the victor!"
Zhao Dezhu let out a cold snort. His expression was grim, but he was helpless. He could only pin his hopes on the next two rounds of the Medical Skill competition!
They had to win the remaining Medical Skill duels. They couldn't afford to lose again!
But in his heart, Zhao Dezhu no longer felt certain of victory.
After ordering his family members to help Zhao Yangqiu away to rest, Zhao Dezhu stood up and announced, "The second round, the Prescription Medicine contest, begins now!"
The Prescription Medicine contest wasn't as flashy as the Pulse Diagnosis one, and the rules were simple. Both sides would write a prescription for the same patient. In the end, the two prescriptions would be compared, and the judges would discuss them to decide the winner.
At the suggestion of Li Heping and the others, and with the agreement of both Zhao Yuan and Zhao Dezhu, they decided not to find a new patient for the Prescription Medicine contest. Instead, they would use the patient with the four-layered pulse as the subject for their prescriptions.
The person Zhao Dezhu sent out this time was named Zhao Chengliang. In terms of seniority, he was Zhao Dezhu's second paternal uncle. Given what had happened with Zhao Yangqiu, no one was surprised that another elder was taking the stage.
Yang Jingbo began explaining Zhao Chengliang's background to Zhao Yuan.
"Zhao Chengliang is known as the Jinling Medicine King! Not only has he memorized and thoroughly mastered every formula the Jinling Zhao Family has accumulated over centuries, but he has also traveled all over the country to visit famous doctors. Through exchanges, trades, and even by secretly learning their techniques, he has obtained numerous Secret Formulas! You could say he's a living dictionary of Chinese medicine, a walking compendium of secret remedies! Don't get cocky just because you won the Pulse Diagnosis match. You must be extremely cautious with him!"
Zhao Yuan nodded. "Don't worry. I'll definitely give it my all!"
Zhao Chengliang overheard this and snorted lightly, but he didn't offer any mocking remarks.
With Zhao Yangqiu's failure as a cautionary tale, he didn't dare underestimate Zhao Yuan just because of his age.
"Bring out the tables, chairs, brushes, and ink!"
At Zhao Dezhu's command, two sets of tables and chairs were brought onto the training ground and placed at opposite ends to prevent any cheating.
As Zhao Yuan and Zhao Chengliang took their respective seats, the Prescription Medicine contest officially began!