NOVEL NEXT Chapter 134 Not Convinced
DONG!
DONG!
DONG!
Three tolls of the bell rang out.
At once, all the old hands and apprentices in the hall, even the masters, who had been prepared, gathered towards the source of the bell—the Grand Martial Arts Arena.
"Today is the tenth of the month. It must be time to select three pharmacy representatives to attend the Consultative Assembly."
"The timing seems about right."
"Hey, who do you think the three representatives will be this time?"
"After all, several outstanding disciples have emerged over these four years."
People began to list them one by one:
"Each of the three Shopkeepers has three disciples:
The Store Manager's disciple, Kou Ming, is from Prefecture City, a man with a significant background and origins. His Cultivation Realm also tops those of the other disciples; he's rumored to have reached Mystic Barrier Peak.
The Second Shopkeeper's disciple, Zhang Renfeng, also from Prefecture City, doesn't rival Eldest Senior Brother Kou Ming in terms of Cultivation Realm but has reached the Mystic Barrier Realm nonetheless. He is also said to have achieved the Minor Achievement Stage in 'Immortal Points the Way,' one of the techniques of the Shopkeeper lineage's Five Elements Qi Needle.
The Third Shopkeeper's disciple, Lan Fuxi, is on especially good terms with everyone. Though older, he was initiated twenty years ago and is now at the Second Layer of the Mystic Barrier.
Besides the disciples of the Shopkeeper lineage, there's Elder Nong Baosen's disciple from Hundred Herbs Courtyard, Miss Huo Xiaoxia. She hails from Jingwu Martial Arts School within the city, an ally of our Medicine King Hall. She has a good background, pleasant looks, and remarkable talent in alchemy. Having joined five years ago, she lacked the qualifications to be a representative four years prior, but now she too has reached the Mystic Barrier Realm. It is said that she can now refine Second Realm Elixirs. With such a resume and abilities, particularly within our Medicine King Hall, which is centered around elixirs, she can truly be called a rising star. I think she has the greatest chance of being chosen as one of the representatives this year.
The rest are Elder Yang's two disciples.
Senior Brother Yang Shaoqi became a disciple two years ago. He possesses extraordinary talent and reached Inner Qi Perfection within two years. However, he has yet to reach the Mystic Barrier, making it somewhat challenging for him to be selected.
But the other one, Junior Brother Chen Ku, is entirely different. He was taken as a disciple by both Old Monk Yang and Elder Shang. Now, having joined for just over half a year, he is rumored to have reached the same level of Inner Qi Perfection as his senior brother. Combined with his Irresistible Power of Four Elephants Root Bone, I think he is also one of the disciples likely to become a representative this time."
Someone else remarked, "Junior Brother Chen Ku is indeed a genius. Reaching Inner Qi Perfection in half a year demonstrates a cultivation talent and speed that might not be seen again in the hundred-year history of Medicine King Hall. But Inner Qi is, after all, Inner Qi, and the Mystic Barrier is the Mystic Barrier. The three Shopkeepers' disciples are all at the Mystic Barrier Realm. It will be difficult for him to displace one of them relying only on Inner Qi Cultivation. Of course, I'm not saying Junior Brother Chen Ku lacks qualifications in any way. His only shortcoming is the timing. I believe, given another four years, he will unquestionably be a representative."
Having achieved Inner Qi Perfection in just half a year, it was estimated that in another four years, he might not only reach the Second Realm of the Mystic Barrier but possibly even the Third Realm, Jade Skin.
DONG DONG DONG!!
At the Grand Martial Arts Arena, where the bell continued to resound, aside from the employees and apprentices scheduled to work in the main hall today, all other active employees, apprentices, and even masters converged.
"Chen Ku, just wait here."
After Yang Luochen had spoken, he and Monk Yunfang moved towards the high platform of the Grand Martial Arts Arena, where seven armchairs had already been prepared. He took the first armchair on the left, and Shang Yunfang closely followed, taking the second seat.
Soon after, the three Shopkeepers—Store Manager Qin Sifan, Second Shopkeeper Zhang Yuanhai, and Third Shopkeeper Cao Shouxiong—along with Elder Nong Baosen from Hundred Herbs Courtyard and Instructor Chai Bao from Guardian Hall, also took their seats, occupying the remaining five armchairs.
At this moment, a master accompanying the Shopkeepers glanced at the numerous apprentices and the Medicine King Hall's five disciple candidates in the Grand Martial Arts Arena.
Chen Ku was seeing so many disciples gathered for the first time. Among the six prominent disciples, his Senior Brother Yang Shaoqi needed no introduction. Huo Xiaoxia, Elder Nong's disciple with whom he had practiced alchemy, had a very good temperament. Senior Brother Lan Fuxi was also pleasant. Today, he had even met Zhang Renfeng. The only one he had not met was Eldest Senior Brother Kou Ming, who had never shown himself and was nowhere to be seen even today.
Such a mysterious person.
"Silence!"
At this time, the master standing before the seven armchairs slowly spoke, "Today, the bell was rung to publicly select the three disciple representatives who will represent Medicine King Hall at the guild consultative conference on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, New Year's Day. As in previous years, the Shopkeepers and several masters will nominate candidates by name, with everyone present as witnesses. Finally, the Shopkeepers and masters will vote to confirm the top three. These three will represent Medicine King Hall at the conference in five days to discuss guild affairs for the next four years."
The associates were quiet; the apprentices held their breath. For them, this selection of representatives was an event where they merely served as witnesses to see who the three Young Shopkeepers for the next four years would be. Even the masters from the various courtyards turned their attention to the five candidates.
Then, the master in front of the armchairs stepped aside, allowing those seated to speak.
Yang Luochen was the first, "I nominate my disciple, Chen Ku, as one of the representatives for the new four-year term. Who among you supports, and who opposes? Please raise your hands to vote."
After speaking, he raised his hand, "I agree."
Shang Yunfang was the first to follow, smiling as he said, "I agree too." He raised his hand after Yang Luochen.
No one was surprised. Being the disciple of two masters, Chen Ku essentially already had two votes.
At this moment, the associates and apprentices subconsciously looked towards the reactions of the other four disciples standing at the front, apart from Chen Ku.
Yang Shaoqi surprisingly gave his junior brother a little nudge with his elbow in public, then made a face as if to say, "I knew it," causing Yang Luochen's expression to darken.
Lan Fuxi maintained a calm expression.
Huo Xiaoxia's eyes flitted towards Chen Ku, but being a lady, she maintained her composure and made no large gestures.
Zhang Renfeng simply closed his eyes slightly, as if not wanting anyone to see his expression.
However, unexpectedly, another voice declared, "I agree as well," following closely after Shang Yunfang.
Zhang Renfeng couldn't help but open his eyes and look over, only to see it was… Instructor Chai.
He raised his right hand.
Chen Ku looked at the instructor. Though they lacked the formal titles of master and disciple, the reality of such a bond existed between them, and a trace of warmth filled Chen Ku's eyes. Although Chen Ku also admitted that when he first saw the large chest in the room that day, his initial reaction was shock. But upon opening it, he realized... it was Instructor Chai who had secretly been teaching him archery.
At this moment, Yang Luochen raised an eyebrow, sensing something unusual, but it was also a time when every vote counted. So he chose to look composed and pretended not to notice anything amiss.
Unexpectedly, a cheerful voice said, "I also agree. Chen Ku has exceptional natural talent, which I greatly admire. I have no objections to him being a representative."
It was Nong Baosen. He raised his right hand and glanced provocatively at Yang Luochen, his eyes seemingly saying, This is for your disciple's sake. Let's see you try and make me put my hand down.
Who would have thought Yang Luochen wouldn't even lift an eyelid? It was as if he had already anticipated this and had his own calculations.
All four senior masters had cast votes of approval, constituting more than half the votes from the seven seated figures. Even if the three Shopkeepers disagreed, his disciple was very likely to be chosen.
And after a silence of one or two breaths, someone from among the Shopkeepers also voted.
"I agree."
Yang Luochen opened his eyes. He saw the person who had voted: the Third Shopkeeper, Cao Shouxiong.
At that moment, the Third Shopkeeper simply and slowly raised his right hand.
Yang Luochen said with pleasant surprise, "Five votes! Now it's settled."
Unexpectedly, "I object!"
All eyes turned to the source of the voice.
It was none other than the Second Shopkeeper, Zhang Yuanhai, who spoke with a flat expression, "Disciple Chen Ku certainly has decent natural talent and shows remarkable aptitude in the various skills of Medicine King Hall. However, he has only been with the Hall for half a year, and his cultivation is still shallow. Selecting him as a representative will make it difficult to win public approval, and even more difficult for him to properly represent our Hall's prestige at the assembly."
Yang Luochen didn't engage or speak.
A single vote of dissent is no concern. My good disciple already has five votes; there's little fear of him not being chosen.
Finally, all eyes turned to the Store Manager, Qin Sifan. If Chen Ku could obtain one more vote, then with six votes, the selection would be beyond dispute.
Unexpectedly, the Store Manager, with an impassive, Buddha-like face, slowly said, "I abstain."
Yang Luochen took a deep breath.
This Store Manager is always like this, never making a final decision nor showing partiality, always playing the peacemaker.
"Chen Ku, five votes," the master announced Chen Ku's vote tally publicly, then gestured with his hand, "Please continue. Nominate the next candidate."
"I nominate Zhang Renfeng."
Second Shopkeeper Zhang Yuanhai then said gravely, "Renfeng has already served as a representative for Medicine King Hall once; he has experience and the ability to serve well again. He has been with the Hall for nine years, his cultivation is not lacking, and he is at the Second Layer of the Mystic Barrier. He has also achieved proficiency in our lineage's Ultimate Skills. If he can serve again as a representative, he will not disgrace the prestige of Medicine King Hall. I support Zhang Renfeng. Who else agrees?"
As Zhang Yuanhai finished speaking, he was the first to raise his hand, waiting for others to echo his vote.
Unexpectedly, none of the four senior masters raised a hand, all acting as if they hadn't heard.
Zhang Yuanhai's expression turned grim. He immediately looked left and right but found that Third Shopkeeper Cao Shouxiong, who had initially seemed about to move his hand, pressed it firmly against the armrest upon seeing no movement from the four senior masters, his expressionless face turned forward.
In the end, he looked towards the Store Manager.
Qin Sifan coughed. "I abstain."
Zhang Yuanhai's face turned ashen in an instant.
Seeing that the result was decided, the vote announcer called out the final count, "Zhang Renfeng, one vote."
One vote.
This nearly declared that Zhang Renfeng was completely out of the running for representative and would also have to relinquish the title of Young Shopkeeper that he had held for four years.
At this moment, a voice filled with intense emotion rang out in the Grand Martial Arts Arena. In front of the hundreds from Medicine King Hall, the masters, and the seven figures in the armchairs, it shouted, "I do not accept this!!"