Humiliation.
Utter, blatant humiliation!
Winning or losing didn't matter much to Qin Qian, but to lose by exactly half a point every single time—was there anything more insulting than that?
It was like playing chess where, instead of a normal victory, your opponent systematically wiped out every single one of your pieces until only your King remained, and only then delivered the final blow. It was a mockery of one's skill.
That was exactly how Qin Qian felt right now. He had a sudden, fleeting urge to pick up the board and smash it over Wan Tianqing’s head, just to show him that sometimes, winning and losing happened outside the board as well as on it!
But then he froze, suddenly understanding the deeper meaning behind Wan Tianqing’s earlier words.
“Master Wan, let’s not beat around the bush. You are one of the top combatants of our Great Wei!”
“Do you have confidence in this war? What do you think our chances are?”
Wan Tianqing picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and then spoke.
“Your Majesty, is there truly a difference between a ninety percent chance of victory and a ten percent chance?”
“Of course there is! The probabilities are entirely different!”
“I don't think there's much difference at all. Whether it's ninety percent or ten, both mean that accidents can happen and variables exist.”
“As they say: man proposes, God disposes.”
“All we can do is eliminate as many of those variables as possible. Wouldn't you agree?”
Qin Qian didn't respond. He simply began to gather the black and white stones back into their respective boxes, one by one.
“Master Wan, in my heart, the affairs of the world are like these stones—black or white. There is no middle ground.”
“Events are the same. It is either victory or defeat!”
Wan Tianqing helped him clear the board.
“Your Majesty, what exactly are you afraid of?”
Qin Qian’s movements faltered. He looked up at Wan Tianqing.
“Master Wan, do you truly not know what I fear?”
Wan Tianqing didn't back down an inch. “I do not!”
“Master Wan, how do you think I have fared as your sovereign?”
“In what regard, Your Majesty?”
“In everything!”
“Mediocre.”
That single word made Qin Qian’s face flush a deep, angry red.
Wan Tianqing closed the lid of the stone box.
“How does Your Majesty think you have done?”
Qin Qian shook his head.
“Master Wan, if a man does something wrong and others call him out for it, then he has indeed erred.”
“But if a man intends to do good, yet is thwarted by the interference of others so that the outcome is bad, should that failure still be laid at his feet?”
“Naturally.”
“Why? Do you think that is fair, Master Wan?”
Wan Tianqing paused at the word, looking as if he couldn't believe his opponent was being so naive.
“Your Majesty speaks of fairness?”
“Yes! Fairness!”
“Fairness for whom?”
“Fairness for me! For me, the sovereign of Great Wei!”
Perhaps pushed too far, Qin Qian spoke with unusual firmness today.
Wan Tianqing smiled, pushed the board aside, and stood up.
“Your Majesty, 'fairness' is not a word just anyone can say—especially not you!”
“Why not?”
“Because you are the Monarch of Great Wei!”
Wan Tianqing’s gaze was stern. Qin Qian felt a mountain of pressure weighing down on him, yet he forced himself not to look away.
“Master Wan!”
“Your Majesty.”
“In your eyes, do I even still exist as your sovereign?”
“Your Majesty must be joking.”
Wan Tianqing’s expression remained unchanged as he looked out the window at the sunlight.
“If I didn't hold Your Majesty in my regard, I wouldn't have supported your ascension to the throne in the first place, would I?”
Qin Qian took a deep breath, his expression returning to its previous, composed mask.
“Master Wan is right.”
...
Ever since Yin Yang left with Mr. Yuan, he had been in the laboratory for seven days straight!
After a week of work, they had finally developed a potion that could combat the spores.
However, the side effects were violent. While it could neutralize the spores' influence, it caused the patient to suffer from an unbearable, full-body itch.
One test subject had even died from the sheer intensity of the sensation.
Furthermore, it couldn't reverse the damage already done by the spores.
Festering wounds would scar over, but any extra limbs or digits that had grown would not disappear or revert.
Even so, Mr. Yuan and the others were overjoyed.
After all, the itching would eventually fade, and the wounds would heal into scars.
No matter the cost, lives were being saved.
On a battlefield, that was more than enough.
“Phew...”
Yin Yang removed his protective helmet and tucked away his notebook, which was now filled with dense writing, before taking out a fresh one.
“Mr. Yuan, I believe we can use other drugs to offset these side effects.”
“The Silent Zombie Flower?”
The flower Mr. Yuan mentioned was used in a highly toxic potion.
Its primary use was to stop bleeding, but its side effect was that it would briefly turn the person into a zombie-like state. They would lose control over their body along with all neurological perceptions, including pain and itching.
“Yes. I think the two would be quite compatible.”
“Hmm, that's a good line of thinking. Old Yu, I’ll leave that to you. Any problems?”
“None at all!”
Mr. Yu agreed immediately, then glanced at Liu Hong.
Liu Hong looked utterly exhausted. Over the past seven days, he had been worked like a pack mule.
Yet, even though he felt like he was about to cough up blood from fatigue, he straightened up the moment the two teachers looked at him.
“No problem, sirs!”
As a full participant in this project, he knew all too well how much merit this potion would bring them.
“And what about us, sir?”
Yin Yang rubbed his stiff face and turned to Mr. Yuan.
“We are going to get something to eat, of course. We've been eating boxed lunches for seven days; my intestines are practically tied in knots.”
Liu Hong blinked, his gaze toward Yin Yang filled with a mix of resentment and even deeper admiration.
They had been doing research for a week, and aside from bathroom breaks and quick showers, they had spent almost every waking moment together.
He had witnessed Yin Yang’s terrifying talent firsthand!
Yin Yang understood everything Mr. Yuan and Mr. Yu said—absolutely everything!
Biology, botany, anatomy, and even obscure incantations—he knew them all!
Because of this, their cooperation had been incredibly smooth, while Liu Hong could only scramble to learn as he worked.
In his heart, Liu Hong felt more fortunate than anything. He was lucky to have joined such a team; aside from the credit he would receive, the knowledge he had gained was invaluable.
“Haaa...”
Yin Yang took two deep breaths and clapped his hands.
“Mr. Yuan, we’ve only deciphered one disease, haven't we?”
Mr. Yuan looked surprised. “Oh? How did you know?”
Yin Yang rubbed the bridge of his numb nose.
“There were clues. Two days ago, I saw people coming to consult you, and during dinner, you asked a question that had nothing to do with our current research.”
“So I was thinking... maybe you two are responsible for this one disease, while other teachers are handling the others?”
Liu Hong was stunned. He could hardly imagine that there were several other diseases as formidable as this one.
“And what are you thinking?” Mr. Yuan asked, catching the subtext in Yin Yang’s voice.
“Mr. Yuan, I want to go and help them.”
Mr. Yu looked from Yin Yang to Mr. Yuan.
Selfishly, he didn't want such a perfect assistant to leave. He had even hinted several times that he wanted to take the boy as his disciple, but Yin Yang had never taken the bait.
If he went to another team, who knew if he’d be snatched away?
But from a professional standpoint, he knew just how brilliant and unconventional Yin Yang’s thinking was.
With someone like him around, they might truly be able to conquer even more transcendent diseases.
Rate on N.U.
