"I am..."
Such direct words were unheard of by Luo Muchen, and moreover, they were spoken by a woman.
Luo Muchen was momentarily at a loss for how to react.
His ears turned red, and after a long silence, he spoke: "Medical competitions cannot overstep boundaries. While your medical skills are passable, if you wish to compete directly with me, you must follow the rules, step by step, and not overstep. These are the rules set by the Poisonous Doctor Sacred Hall."
Gu Qianying: "..."
She realized that this man, if stubborn, could be quite infuriating.
"Give him to me."
Gu Qianying suddenly stepped forward, standing in front of Luo Muchen, and extended her hand.
The distance between them was very close.
Whether it was a recollection of what had just happened, or because he was a bit embarrassed after Gu Qianying's bold statement, Luo Muchen's cheeks flushed as Gu Qianying looked at him.
"Alright."
He returned the little Yi Hao in his arms to the young lady before him.
As she took the little bun from his embrace, Luo Muchen suddenly felt an emptiness in his heart.
He was somewhat reluctant to let go.
Gu Qianying, holding little Yi Hao, turned to leave.
"Miss, wait a moment."
Luo Muchen suddenly called out to her.
She turned back with little Yi Hao in her arms, remaining silent, only looking at Luo Muchen.
"May I ask... Miss's... name is..."
For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity with him and the little bun.
She wondered if there would be an opportunity for a master-disciple relationship with the little bun in the future.
"Gu Qianying."
Gu Qianying replied to Luo Muchen.
The words "Gu Qianying" exploded in his mind like "fireworks."
A headache struck.
The words "Reincarnation Tribulation Crossing" reappeared in his mind.
Luo Muchen lowered his gaze, supporting his head with one hand, as if enduring something.
Gu Qianying frowned, handed the little Yi Hao in her arms to Duan Xifeng, who was watching blankly from the side, and then walked up to Luo Muchen.
She reached out as if to take Luo Muchen's pulse.
"Miss Gu, if you have time in the future, could you allow me to formally recognize kinship with the little bun?"
The moment the headache disappeared, the blurry images in his mind also vanished.
Luo Muchen raised his eyes and met Gu Qianying's clear, cold gaze.
"What? Recognize kinship? Become my husband?"
Gu Qianying's eyes widened in surprise.
This person... hadn't he just said he wanted to follow the rules?
What did he mean now?
As the word "husband" was spoken, Luo Muchen's cheeks flushed again.
At this time, with the Du family's matter concluded, fewer people were watching.
And with Magistrate Yang's departure, the crowd had thinned out.
The remaining individuals were those who were about to participate in the Poisonous Doctor Sacred Hall's medical competition.
"Miss Gu misunderstands. I am very fond of your son. Your son, at such a young age, possesses exquisite medical skills and is a promising talent. I have been studying medicine for many years and have no disciples. I wish to take your son as my disciple. May I ask if Miss Gu would agree?"
The little bun was not participating in the Poisonous Doctor Sacred Hall's event.
Therefore, there was no need for him to abide by the rules of the Poisonous Doctor Sacred Hall's medical competition.
"I refuse!"
Gu Qianying rejected him.
What a joke! Her son's medical skills were personally taught by her.
Why would he need to take anyone as a master?
"Does Miss Gu have any concerns?"
Luo Muchen was not in a hurry; his voice remained as gentle as ever.
"He can meet with you as a father and as a master."
"..."
Her son had finally taken a liking to an uncle.
She naturally wanted this "Uncle Luo" to become her son's father, to make her son happy.
"I agree!"
Little Yi Hao suddenly woke up, turned, and looked at Luo Muchen with a smile.
Gu Qianying raised her hand and pinched little Yi Hao's ear.
Her eyes warned: Your mother refused, and you agreed. Don't I lose face?
Little Yi Hao looked back at Gu Qianying and winked, his eyes conveying: Mother, you big fool. Become a master first, then a father later. It all depends on my efforts!
"..."
And so, little Yi Hao stayed by Luo Muchen's side to learn medicine as a disciple.
Learning medicine was a tedious affair, so little Yi Hao followed Luo Muchen every day, seeking guidance and learning.
Even when Luo Muchen returned to the Luo Manor, little Yi Hao would follow behind him.
Meanwhile, Gu Qianying had already begun the first round of the medical competition.
The first round was relatively simpler.
Within the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, participants needed to identify the medicinal properties and effects of the herbs taken from the Poisonous Doctor Sacred Hall, based on their varieties, and then write a prescription.
Although this first round was not difficult, time was limited. If anyone exceeded the time of half an incense stick, they would not pass.
There were over a thousand participants in the medical competition. After half an incense stick, a large portion of them were eliminated.
These individuals failed to complete the task within the allotted time, thus failing the challenge and losing.
Those who lost had to leave.
The winners could proceed to the next round.
Gu Qianying was among these people.
She had registered at the Poisonous Doctor Sacred Hall under the name "Duan Xifeng," and at this time, she naturally had to participate in the medical competition as Duan Xifeng.
Leaving the crowd, Gu Qianying returned, having changed into men's robes, and adjusted the human skin mask on her face.
The real Duan Xifeng, at this moment, was preparing his younger sister's favorite dinner at the First Restaurant.
Meanwhile.
The first round of the medical competition had concluded. Those who remained were arranged in a side hall of the Poisonous Doctor Sacred Hall to prepare for the second round.
At night, sitting on the bed, Gu Qianying looked at the surrounding men in uniform, withdrew her gaze, and looked down at the bed beneath her.
She felt helpless!
Not accustomed to sleeping in the same room with so many men, Gu Qianying put on her robe and went out in the middle of the night.
As soon as she stepped out, she encountered someone.
"Halt!"
A long sword was extended from behind Gu Qianying, placed at her neck.
The man behind her wore purple robes and a mask covering his face, revealing nothing.
Gu Qianying's body stiffened.
This... the voice was too familiar.
Her eyes welled up with tears.
However, due to the special circumstances, she could not reveal her identity and had to pretend not to recognize the person behind her.
"What do you want?"
She held back tears as she spoke, her lips trembling slightly.
"Take me to the main hall!"
The voice of the person behind her was somewhat cold.
Gu Qianying's pupils contracted.
The main hall was where the results of each medical competition participant, as well as the questions and herbs for each round, were stored.
Why was her brother going there?
Could it be... he intended to destroy it!
Turning back, she raised her hand, and to the astonishment of the person behind her, Gu Qianying knocked him out with the fastest speed possible.
The sword in her hand was about to fall, but Gu Qianying caught it with her bare hands.
At the same time, little Yi Hao, who had followed Luo Muchen back to the Luo family, was surrounded by the Luo couple and Miss Luo.
"You say, who is Luo Muchen to you?"
Old Master Luo's voice was quite loud, and he glared at the little bun before him with surprise.
"...Grandpa, he is my father!"
Little Yi Hao sat on the table, his short legs swinging back and forth.