Chapter 2123 — Forfeit
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Exactly. The rules of the contest haven't even been announced yet—do you really think you're some kind of all-rounder?" You Panhu curled his lip.
Old Master You nodded, signaling that Old Master Zhao could now declare the new rules.
"Very well. As everyone already knows, this contest is an alchemy tournament. Now, I shall announce the rules!" Old Master Zhao said. "The rules for this alchemy contest are as follows: whoever, within the allotted time, refines a tier-three elixir in the shortest time shall be the victor, with second and third place following in like order. There is no restriction on the type of elixir—so long as it is a tier-three elixir, it conforms to the rules! Now, will the contestants from each family and sect please take their places and prepare to refine..."
"Tier-three?" Wei Zhao was taken aback. Who had set these rules? Had they lost their minds? Was there anyone here who could refine a tier-three elixir? If tier-three elixirs were so easy to refine, Bingtang would not have worn such a bitter, worried face!
"Indeed, tier-three!" Seeing Wei Zhao's puzzled look, Old Master Zhao nodded smugly. Just as expected—Wei Zhao could not refine one!
"Is there anyone here who can refine a tier-three elixir?" Wei Zhao asked in return.
"Never mind anyone else. If you can refine one, then refine it!" You Panhu said with a cold laugh.
"Oh, I can't," Wei Zhao said mildly. "Never mind a tier-three elixir—I couldn't refine even a tier-one elixir. So I forfeit. I said before that I would forfeit one match, and now I am making good on my word!"
"Huh?" You Panhu was stunned. Wei Zhao forfeiting was no surprise—after all, he had long since judged it impossible for Wei Zhao to refine a tier-three elixir. What startled him was Wei Zhao's words: he couldn't refine even a tier-one elixir?
How could that be? Was Wei Zhao not an alchemist? How could he fail to refine even a tier-one elixir? At that thought, You Panhu cast a doubtful look at Old Master You.
"Wei Zhao, spare us the nonsense. You're an alchemist—everyone knows it. Claiming you can't even refine a tier-one elixir—who are you trying to fool? Do you think I'd believe that?" Old Master You gave a cold snort. "I know. You saw how high the rules were set, knew you couldn't manage it, and so deliberately tried to provoke me. It doesn't matter—I am not angry, and I don't believe it! Had you said you were injured this morning and lacked true qi to refine elixirs, I might have believed you. But to use such a clumsy excuse to declare your forfeit—truly... tsk, tsk..."
"..." Wei Zhao stared at Old Master You, speechless, and shook his head. He could only sigh. "These days, no one believes the truth anymore. I truly grieve for your intelligence!"
"Hah, you think I'd believe a word you say?" Old Master You curled his lip. "Wei Zhao, if you're forfeiting, then forfeit. Don't go hunting for so many excuses."
"I'm not hunting for excuses!" Wei Zhao said, then turned to Old Master Pi. "Old Man Pi, I said before that if I voluntarily gave up a match, you would lose a bottle of body-tempering potion to me, correct? Well, I've given up now. Hand over the body-tempering potion!"
"This..." Old Master Pi had forgotten all about that. Reminded by Wei Zhao, he recalled the wager at once, and his face darkened. He rather blamed Old Master You for recklessly tampering with the contest rules. So what if Wei Zhao won? Let him win! But with the rules changed, Wei Zhao had forfeited, and he had lost a bottle of body-tempering potion for nothing.
"You can't blame me for this. Blame the alchemy contest—if not for this alchemy contest, I might not have forfeited at all!" Wei Zhao said.