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Chapter 23: 23

The gentle orange sun peeked through the horizons, bringing a warm light across Eastern City . While the sky still held remnants of the darkness of the night, all of the teacher-student groups participating in the Frontier Cup representing Eastern University had already gathered .

For this competition, the venue was not at any of the universities . Since some time ago, the organisers had informed the various schools of this arrangement and how their teams would be received and brought to the venue . At the same time, they had been instructed not to bring phones, cameras, and any other image capturing devices . Should they still decide to do so, it would be temporarily confiscated upon reaching the venue .

2

Despite the instructions, Gu Jun had brought his and Li Yuerui’s phones along . Sliding them into leather covers, Gu Jun handed it indifferently to the guard at the entrance . He was not worried that the government was looking for him and knew that the phone was with him . Should they be after this phone as well, they would have long found their way to his doors .

After an extensive screening of more than a hundred professors and students, the crowd was boarded onto 3 large buses and moved to an unknown location .

While these 3 buses were ordinary, the crowd management personnel were peculiarly carrying themselves . Clad in a full suit, they paced the area with their cold and solemn expressions . Their sharp eyes scrutinized every detail like a soldier . From the looks of things, even the intellectually undistinguished student could tell how this season’s competition was not as simple as those in the past .

Along with his small group of 6 students, Professor Gu boarded the bus in front .

As they boarded, a perplexed and surprised chatter broke out within the other groups who had first boarded . “Isn’t that Tycoon Gu?”

1

Like wildfire, the astonished observation spread throughout the entire bus . Everyone had realised that Tycoon Gu had a spot in this prestigious competition .

In fact, the name “Tycoon Gu” had quite a considerable fame within the university . The news of his rigorous training in the past 2 days had swept across his batchmates . Never had they expected it to be true . In their minds, they had questioned Professor Gu for his decision .

Did old age rust and chip away Professor Gu’s brain?

How dare he let his own biases get the better of him on such a momentous occasion! The presence of Tycoon Gu here just dropped the standards into the abyss!

“Haiz, he probably is just taking him along to take a look…”

“If not for Professor Gu’s upright morals, I would have believed that Gu Jun had bribed him . ”

1

Needless to say, the suspicions and gossips by the students were all soft and whispers . It was clear that it was not wise to tease a renowned professor .

Facing these rumours and gossip, Xu Hai, the team’s “Gossip King”, had long heard them . Being a good teammate, he had made it known to the rest . Together with Zhang Haoran and He Yuhan, they were annoyed and took offence at all the malicious remarks .

Hmph! Let these people look down on Gu Jun . Let them underestimate him! When the time comes… hehe hehe hehe

2

“How’s your condition?” Wang Ruoxiang turned around and asked Gu Jun, who was sitting in the back seat . Compared to yesterday night, his complexion looked much better .

“No problem . ” Last night, Gu Jun fell into a deep sleep and recovered much of his stamina . This morning, he also took the mysterious medication . His body and mind were very sharp and clear and at its peak condition . He narrowed his gaze onto Wang Ruoxiang, inspecting her physique . To his surprise, he saw thin arms and legs . There was not a trace of any strong muscle .

Perplexed, he asked, “Are you really a black belt in karate or were you kidding?”

“I’m serious . ” She waved her hand and sent a crackle as it whipped through the air . “If not for medicine, I would be a professional by now . ”

That had Gu Jun stumped and at a loss for words . Beside him, Cai Zixuan also lamented . “Class monitor, you remind me of Mulan, a woman in a man’s clothing . ”

2

With the chats limited to murmurs, they stopped after a few words . It was especially uncomfortable with the curious gaze from the other teams, scanning them from top to bottom .

Seconds morphed into minutes . Sometime later, they arrived at a small stadium just as they expected . There were security personnel guarding the doors and throwing a cold atmosphere to the teachers and students . Immediately, a serious expression paralysed their faces .

Gu Jun and his team followed Professor Gu down the vehicle . They quickly saw the other buses, which were carrying the teams from Qingyun University and other schools, coming in .

The moment Eastern University students met the eyes of the Qingyun University students, sparks of rivalry crackled . It was as if enemies met . Both were coming from the base of Mt . Qingyun, setting a deeply rooted feud which spiralled into hate .

“Huh, are those people from the mountains?”

“What? Those are the students of Eastern? You meant East-West, right?”

While they may be metres apart, it didn’t stop them from slurring at each other . Of course, most of it was for the youngster’s fun . Everyone still put in the effort to straighten their backs and raise their heads . This would accentuate the majestic white coats on their bodies . They could not allow the other teams to look down on them . As for the teams from Jihua Medical and Dongyang Medical, the students had unanimously agreed that they were only here to make up the numbers .

The teams from Eastern and Qingyun Universities had garnered tremendous attention . It was especially so for the special teams marked as “School Teams” . These students were handpicked by the top professors and recognised by the student body for their exceptional talent .

The school team for Eastern was led by Professor Yu Shaowei, and the team from Qinyun was led by Professor Feng Jing . Both of them were highly respected and critically acclaimed surgeons and clinical medicine experts . They had even sat as the jury for many clinical skills competitions .

Compared to Professor Gu, they were quite a few notches higher .

Regardless of what competitions these two teams were placed into, they would no doubt be the best of the best .

“Rascal,” Professor Gu said to Gu Jun . His old wrinkled face held a tinge of self-deprecation . “I brought you under immense pressure . Today, you have to prove to them that I was right about you!”

“I will . ” Gu Jun nodded solemnly . Today, he came here to be at the top .

It was a magnificent sight as hundreds of teachers and students from the top medical schools walked into the stadium . However, they had no idea, even now, as to how the evaluation of the competition will be .

When they entered the stadium, they saw that the vast area had been emptied . Apart from the few surgical tables, experimental tables, tables and chairs placed in the middle, there was nothing else . There was no big banner cheering them on or a single soul as a spectator . This vast emptiness set a balling uneasiness within the students .

The organising committee slowly ushered each team to their seats . The Eastern at the right, and Qingyun University on the left . Qihua took their place at the back, and Dongyang sat at the front . The rest of the schools were split, filling up the empty spaces . Within a few minutes, the crowd had settled .

Within Eastern University’s seats, the team that Professor Yu had chosen are at the front-most seats, leaving Professor Gu and his team at the back .

“Will there still be a speech from the chairman of the competition?” Xu Hai whispered . He Yuhan joked back, “Probably? Didn’t the higher-ups look highly about this event?”

Indeed, she was logical . However, some part of her wished it was untrue . After all, a momentous event such as this would have brought together several prominent figures . She had not come here to endure the torture of waves after waves of dull and dry speeches .

“I don’t think so,” Gu Jun said . “This is an emergency . ”

Emergency? Xu Hai and the rest snorted . What? How could it be so severe?

Unexpectedly, Gu Jun was spot on . Immediately, a young man took centre stage, acting somewhat like the emcee of the event . Holding the microphone, he addressed everyone, “Welcome, distinguished professors and students . Please welcome our judges for today . ”

With a massive round of applause, tens of ladies and gentlemen walked in clad in similarly regal white coats .

They were men and women, both middle-aged and elderly . While the emcee called them professors, all of the crowd threw confused glances at each other . Being medical slaves, all of them present were proud to say that their combined knowledge would cover all of the vast and noteworthy figures within the medical world . Yet, none of them recognised any of these professors that will act as judges .

With his focused eyes, Gu Jun scanned every single one of their faces, etching it deep into his memory .

These people were from that mysterious industry . He could sense an ominous aura from them .

“I believe you have all heard that today’s competition is especially to select a group of new medical talents . However, I’m not sure if you understand the meaning of this sentence . ” The professor chairing the jury was named Qin Chengye . He said with a microphone, “You will soon understand . ”

1

Professor Qin was well into his silver age with a head full of white hair and a pale face almost as white as paper . Covered with old age spots, he looked more than seventy years old; more senior than Professor Gu and the other professors .

However, when Professor Qin’s eyes swept, everyone felt a sharpness that was visible to the naked eye . This was a strength that the young people did not necessarily have . With such eyes, they could easily judge by themselves that this man was, without doubt, an expert within the experts in the medical field . He was likely a god-level surgeon having been through several hundreds of surgeries .

Professor Qin’s eyes repeatedly swept across the students sitting in the front row on all sides . Evidently, he had been notified that they were the best amongst the students present .

Feeling the immense expectations in the eyes of Professor Qin and other judges, the “school team” students’ faces tensed more seriously and felt the great mission they were bearing .

“Usual skills test . ” Professor Qin continued, “like intravenous infusion, tracheal intubation, the 4 thoracentesis . All of these would be tested . You can send anyone from the team for these . However, we will not be testing them this morning . Today, we have something special arranged for the morning . Now, the country is in dire need of your talents . None of you will be left doing nothing . The question is, where should we position you . Let me tell you, anyone who distinguishes themselves would start at the highest possible starting point . ”

The message was clear . This morning’s test was the aim of the entire competition .

Slowly releasing his tight grip, Gu Jun told himself, I need to find a way to stand out amongst everybody .

Wang Ruoxiang and Cai Zixuan have also steeled their own determination . No one wanted to become another Tom, Dick, or Harry .

4

“Let’s begin . ” Professor Qin’s gaze swept across the students again . “I hope that among you, we can pick two or three people . ”

What?!? This time, a huge uproar blazed within the audience . Many students couldn’t digest that last statement properly . The most elite medical students in Eastern Province had gathered together . Yet, he just wished to select two or three people?

As Professor Qin finished speaking, a team of staff pulled the next test out of the aisle . Immediately, screams and shrieks pierced through the uproar from the audience .

When Gu Jun saw the thing, his heart raced, and his eyes widened several sizes .