Bai Zifeng waited expectantly for their reply. Old Master Jiang remained silent. President Han didn’t look at him. Qin Jinhai glanced at him sideways, his expression full of contempt.
"Hu Yao won’t survive this competition. I have no interest in his secrets."
Bai Zifeng’s eyes widened. He knew the Bai Family had lost all hope. He hung his head, allowing the bodyguards to drag him away.
President Han, his face ashen, watched Qin Jinhai. His face was always hidden behind a mask. It had been so for many years. No one knew who he was.
"What do you want to do?"
"Rather than letting him harm our outstanding doctors in the arena again, it’s better to eliminate him immediately. His actions have long deserved death. Once A-country loses Hu Yao, they will lose their combat strength."
"What about you? Poisoning Hu Yao sounds simple, but if it were that easy, he would have died a thousand times over. Are you going to risk your life?"
Qin Jinhai said indifferently, "It doesn’t matter if I die."
Fu Bing would never forgive him.
If he died, perhaps she would feel a little more at ease.
As long as he lived, he wasn’t sure he could stop himself from seeking her out if she were right in front of him.
Perhaps death was the best solution for them.
Old Master Jiang said angrily, "Dying? What are you talking about? Even this old codger isn’t thinking about dying yet, so why should you? Calm down! There must be another way. If you dare act rashly, don’t blame me for taking all my frustrations out on Fu Bing!"
Old Master Jiang understood his young apprentice well. He didn’t cherish his life, nor did he fear death. If it weren’t for Fu Bing, he would have recklessly thrown his life away long ago.
President Han said, "The competition must continue without disruption. This is a critical event for cultivating talent in the medical field for the next decade and for setting the direction of medical development. It’s of utmost importance. Personal issues should be resolved privately."
"And then wait for him to eliminate Fu Bing or me?" Qin Jinhai countered coldly.
President Han had no answer.
Qin Jinhai said, "There’s no issue with the individuals selected for this competition. They can all achieve remarkable development in the next ten years. Hu Yao is worthless to us. His only remaining value to A-country is to eliminate more of our people in this competition. I no longer plan to live behind a mask. I will use my true identity to eliminate him."
"What did you say?" President Han’s lips trembled. "You’re no longer the team captain?"
He’s only twenty-seven.He’s the future leader of the medical world. It’s not worth it for someone like Hu Yao.
"I don’t want to wear the mask anymore."
This mask only brings Fu Bing pain, again and again.
"There could be many solutions," President Han offered.
"The only truly fitting way is for me to personally put an end to this identity," Qin Jinhai stated.
"You..." These recent troubles had nearly angered President Han to death. All those messes combined hadn’t infuriated him as much as the words this man before him had just spoken. "I won’t allow it. You’re only twenty-seven. Whatever it is, we can sit down and discuss it properly."
"I don’t want to talk anymore."
President Han felt an overwhelming urge to slap him. He really couldn’t understand how a genius’s mind worked.
Old Master Jiang said, "Little Han, step out for a moment. I’ll talk to him."
"You must talk some sense into him. It’s understandable for a young person to be emotional, but there’s no need for such drastic measures."
President Han left, though very reluctantly.
Old Master Jiang glanced at his beloved apprentice. "Did you have a conflict with Fu Bing?"
Qin Jinhai remained silent.
"Since you’ve decided to let Fu Bing compete, you have to be prepared for anything that might happen. Throughout this half-month competition, Fu Bing must be in the spotlight. That was our original plan. If you fight Hu Yao, whether you end up dead or injured, you’ll steal Fu Bing’s attention. If you dare to die, all the focus will be on you. What would be the point of Fu Bing participating in this competition then? Just for her to be doubted and criticized? Can you bear to let that happen to her?"
"I couldn’t bear that."
"So, my good boy, stop thinking about dying all the time. Do whatever you want for Fu Bing, but don’t despair at every setback. Fu Bing is a good girl; misunderstandings can be talked out. If that doesn’t work, then go kneel before her. If she doesn’t forgive you in a day, kneel for half a month."
"Is that how you used to kneel before your master’s wife?"
"When one makes a mistake, kneeling is required. Without gentle, water-like women, we’re just homeless wanderers. Their presence gives us a place to return to," Old Master Jiang said, patting his shoulder. "Alright now, go back to your room and rest. Leave the rest to your Master."
Qin Jinhai’s irritability eased somewhat.
He left with a cold expression, coincidentally running into Yun Na as she passed by.
Yun Na provocatively lifted her chin at him.
Qin Jinhai stared at her intently.
A very fine silver needle silently pierced her temple and then was withdrawn.
Yun Na felt a sudden, sharp pain in her head, which then vanished. The mysterious captain of the China Team had also vanished.
Yun Na, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her, returned to Hu Yao’s room, puzzled.
Hu Yao was still resting. She lay down beside him.
Soon, her body began to convulse violently.
Hu Yao was awakened by her movements. When he turned on the light, he was startled. Yun Na’s features were smeared with blood. Before long, Yun Na stopped moving.
Hu Yao placed his hand over Yun Na’s unclosable eyes, gently shutting them for her.
He looked around the familiar room.
Forty years ago, the person he loved most had also died beside him just .He had been determined to avenge her and was then expelled from the team.He hadn’t even had the means to tend to her remains.
Even after forty years, Hu Yao still trembled with rage. The deepest hatred in his heart flared up, spreading like wildfire in an instant.
Hu Yao, as if to compensate, meticulously tended to Yun Na’s body, cleaning her thoroughly before allowing the people from A-country to take her away.
The captain of A-country looked at Hu Yao disapprovingly. "You didn’t even spare Yun Na for your experiments?"
"Lies! Only you can make a corpse look so lifelike."
"I’ll ensure the law holds you accountable! After this competition, you’re finished."
"Think whatever you want!" Hu Yao retorted, sitting alone in the empty room. He had long since lost the will to live anyway.This place, the one he loved most, ultimately had no room for him.
Time flew, and the semifinals of the individual competition finally arrived.
Fu Bing hadn’t left her room these past few days, nor had she attended the matches. She stared blankly at one spot every day. Xiaomei dared not leave her side, nor did she ask what was wrong. Every day, Xiaomei punctually accompanied her for meals, trying all sorts of ways to get her to eat.
Many speculated she was just there for show, not actually to compete.
When it was Fu Bing’s turn for the individual semifinals, everyone was shocked.
The individual semifinals were different from previous rounds; they involved real rescue scenarios. The competition still lasted three hours, and each competitor had to successfully treat five patients. The patients were randomly selected. The cases weren’t necessarily within the competitors’ areas of expertise.
Fu Bing looked over at Hu Yao from a distance. Hu Yao looked older than he had just a few days ago.
When the host announced the start of the competition, the first patient for each contestant was wheeled in.
When Fu Bing saw the patient on the bed, she froze.