"Young lady!"
Zi Jin exclaimed, wanting to follow but was stopped by Gu Qian's command: "You wait right there."
During this time, several long snakes attempted to encircle Gu Qianying, but she repelled them with the medicinal powder she scattered from her hand.
She had prepared some poison powder upon arrival, and it finally proved useful.
The air was filled with a unique scent mixed with a strong smell of blood.
Gu Qianying first reached Nangong Xuanning, dragged her up, slapped her twice, then dragged and pulled her, throwing her to Zi Yin, instructing Zi Yin to move Nangong Xuanning to a safe place.
The remaining people had more or less been infected by the snake's saliva, their movements were slow, and they gradually lost consciousness.
Actually, Nangong Xuanning was not bitten by a snake; she had merely fainted from fright upon seeing several snakes.
After being slapped and dragged by Gu Qianying, she regained consciousness.
Before Nangong Xuanning could even react to her surroundings after waking up, she was commanded by Gu Qianying, who was dragging the last person, to "get to work."
"Those snakes should have consumed the Yi Ling Poison Pill, which is why their movements are slow. Those bitten by the snakes, infected by their saliva, naturally also contracted the same poison. The Yi Ling Poison is not difficult to cure.
Your Highness the Princess has also learned some poison arts for the past few days. These people will be detoxified by Your Highness the Princess."
With that said,
Gu Qianying instructed Zi Jin and Zi Yin to divide those bitten by the snakes into two rows. One group would be detoxified by her, and the other would be detoxified by Nangong Xuanning.
Naturally, Zi Jin and Zi Yin, to show consideration for Gu Qianying's hard work, only assigned two people to her.
The remaining several unconscious individuals would all be detoxified by Nangong Xuanning alone.
During this time, Zi Yin specifically gave Nangong Xuanning several detoxification pills from her own supply, which naturally included the necessary pills she had prepared for Zi Jin's pouch.
Looking at the several foolish, dazed people lying askew before her, Nangong Xuanning became angry: "Gu Qianying, who do you think you are? Why should I, this princess, listen to you? Hmph! What relationship do these people have with me, this princess? Why should I detoxify them!"
"If Your Highness the Princess does not wish to advance, you can simply do nothing and stay aside to cool off. If Your Highness truly does this, you might regret it."
Although Nangong Xuanning was arrogant and somewhat willful, she was not foolish.
Within a few breaths, Nangong Xuanning suddenly looked at Gu Qianying: "You mean...? But why should I believe you? What if you are deceiving me!"
"Believe it or not!"
Gu Qianying was too lazy to explain much to Nangong Xuanning.
She symbolically detoxified the two people lying before her.
After they regained consciousness, their behavior was normal.
Subsequently, Gu Qianying instructed Zi Jin to lure all the still-living snakes into the house and then set the entire place ablaze.
Zi Jin did as she was told without asking why.
A moment later, Gu Qianying, Zi Jin, and Zi Yin leisurely watched the two people busy themselves.
Nangong Xuanning, not being foolish, first attended to Nangong Jingyun, and then the two of them helped detoxify everyone.
During this time, a woman in a blue dress rushed over. Upon seeing the people lying on the ground, she immediately stepped forward and took out her own detoxification supplies to treat them.
The hem of her skirt, embroidered with plum and bamboo patterns, fluttered slightly in the wind, lifting her hair. Her profile came into view.
Zi Jin and Zi Yin were slightly stunned.
The shocked expressions on their faces quickly passed.
Soon, their expressions returned to normal.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in her line of sight. Gu Qianying followed her gaze.
Her movements in treating people were very skilled, and she had brought a considerable amount of detoxification supplies in her medicine pouch, indicating she was well-prepared.
This woman is interesting!
It seemed that quite a few people had qualified for the first round.
As the woman in blue approached, Nangong Xuanning, who was busy, paused, seeming to recognize her.
However, she was currently focused on her own tasks and could not spare any attention for the woman in blue.
As the heads, tails, and bodies of several snakes in the house, along with the furnishings and the entire room, were almost completely burned, the others gradually woke up.
Five or six medicine boys entered in single file, carrying medicine jars.
An old physician, dressed in green with a white beard, followed them.
"Congratulations to everyone for winning the first round of the examination."
After the old physician spoke, his attendants began to clear out who would stay and who would leave.
Whether someone stayed or left depended on the remaining amount of detoxification supplies in their medicine pouches.
Before entering, these contestants would naturally prepare some practical or commonly used pills and poison powders.
Upon entry, everything they brought, except for their weapons, would be recorded. The recorded items were linked to the first round of the examination.
Those who had the least amount of rescue supplies remaining were those who had rescued the most people. Where these people went and what they used were constantly monitored by the medicine boys here.
To date, no one had been found to have cheated.
Therefore, those who remained were the contestants who had not been bitten by snakes and were willing to stay and help others.
This naturally included Gu Qianying, Nangong Xuanning, Zi Jin, Zi Zi, Nangong Jingyun, and the woman in blue, as well as others who had rescued themselves in a similar manner in other rooms.
On the other side, there were naturally also the victorious men. They were first arranged by the medicine boys to rest in another area. The medicine boys here stated that there was no hidden agenda or further examination required, and it was purely a resting place for everyone.
As for the women, the old physician had the medicine boys prepare a cup of good tea, using it as a toast to congratulate everyone for their good fortune in winning and to welcome the second round of the examination.
The disciple recruitment assessment had a total of three rounds, with each round being more difficult than the last.
Those who passed all three rounds would have the honor of meeting the Divine Son of Poison Medicine himself. Finally, the Divine Son of Poison Medicine would personally set the questions for the final test.
The winner would then become his disciple.
After the old physician spoke a few brief words, his gaze suddenly fell upon the house that was about to collapse from burning.
His accompanying medicine boys dared not rush to put out the fire without his command.
"Who did this?" the old physician asked.
Destroying all the snakes and insects in the house with a fire, while it could prevent more people from being infected by snake and insect saliva or flesh and contracting poison, was too crude a method.
As the old physician inquired,
Gu Qianying exchanged a glance with Zi Yin and Zi Jin.
Instantly, the three of them pointed collectively at Nangong Xuanning, who stood there looking bewildered.
The old physician's expression darkened. He looked at Nangong Xuanning with displeasure: "Although this contestant has passed the first round, you have damaged the house within our Poison Medicine Sacred Hall. Those who damage property are at fault. Since you have made a mistake, you must be punished. Today, you will clean the latrines for one day."
Gu Qianying's lips curved slightly.
In her previous life, although she had not participated in the internal entrance examinations of the Poison Medicine Sacred Hall, she had heard about the temperaments and preferences of the invigilating elders within the hall.
And this white-bearded, seemingly old invigilating elder before her was an absolute hoarder who cherished possessions.
Possessions naturally meant everything here.
In fact, she had also heard that most of the items used in the Poison Medicine Sacred Hall, including the tables, chairs, cups, bowls, and decorative items, were procured by the white-bearded old man, who naturally cherished them dearly.
After the old physician spoke,
The crowd was dumbfounded.
Nangong Xuanning was even more furious: "You old thief, do you know who I am? I am a princess of the current dynasty, with unparalleled noble status. You actually dare to ask me to clean the latrines? How dare you!"
The old physician's tone was indifferent: "This contestant, being able to enter and participate in the advancement examination, naturally knows the rules here. No matter who you are or how noble your status may be, here, you are just a contestant. Therefore, please accompany this medicine boy to the latrines."
The old physician gave Nangong Xuanning no opportunity to refuse, nor did he bother to consider her status as a princess.
The Poison Medicine Sacred Hall had always operated under such rules.
Even if the King of Heaven himself came, he would be treated equally.
By evening,
The contestants who remained after the first round gradually returned to their assigned rooms to rest.
They would rest to gather their energy for the second round of the examination the next day.
Gu Qianying's bed was adjacent to Zi Jin and Zi Yin.
To her right was Nangong Jingyun.
Nangong Yuwan had already been screened out in the first round, and Nangong Xuanning was currently cleaning the latrines.
With only her three companions left, she sat quietly, not daring to provoke Gu Qianying any further.
"Sister, I've run out of detoxification pills in my medicine pouch. Could I borrow a few from you?"
Just as Gu Qianying sat by the edge of her bed, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, a figure in a blue dress blocked her view.