The night is getting deeper, and there is silence in the mountains. A wave of sleepiness hit, and the tired and excited Su Chen couldn't stay sleepy after all, so he lay down on the ground in the cave and fell asleep.

At dawn, the birds in the mountains chirp and become noisy.

Su Chen came to his senses, thinking that he didn't know how long he had been in the belly of the fish in the lake yesterday, and he was worried that he would be punished by Master Li Kui, so he carried the medicine basket on his back, and hurried to the Yaowang Villa in the southern suburbs of Gusu County.

From the deep mountains and old forests of Qionglong Mountain to Gusu County, the rugged mountain roads for dozens of miles are not easy to walk.

Around evening, he hurried back to Yaowang Villa.

After Su Chen returned to Yaowang Villa, he found that he had only been in a coma for a short time in the belly of the fish monster in the lake, and it had not exceeded the deadline for Pharmacist Li Kui to come back within three days.

He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

As for the bizarre things he encountered in the mountains, he didn't dare to tell anyone, these things were too bizarre for others to believe.

Besides, he stupidly tested the venom of the golden snake and was almost eaten by the fish monster, and I am afraid that he will be laughed at by his brothers and sisters if he says it.

...

A few days later, the semi-annual outer apprentices of the Medicine King Gang were eliminated, and they finally came.

On this day, Li Kui walked to the practice courtyard with his hands behind his back, and instructed the disciples on their martial arts as usual with seriousness and indifference.

This is the last martial arts class, and after this class, it is time to make a final decision.

Su Chen started a twelve-point spiritual practice to deal with the upcoming semi-annual apprentice elimination.

Zhang Tieniu, Yang Caizhi, Qin Huihui and Kong Xinqiao, the four outer disciples, all showed their strength one by one when they were cultivating, for fear that something would be wrong, and the master would be dissatisfied with him at this critical time.

There are only two inner disciples, Wang Fugui and Li Jiao, who are still cultivating as usual, talking and laughing. This semi-annual elimination naturally has no impact on the two inner disciples who will follow the master for three years.

At noon, Pharmacist Li Kui's expression suddenly turned cold, and his slightly gloomy gaze swept over Su Chen and the other five outer disciples.

"This is the last time the master will guide you in martial arts cultivation. The half-year period has arrived, and according to the semi-annual elimination rules of my Medicine King Gang, it is time to make a decision. All stand up!"

Su Chen and the other five outer disciples, who were practicing fist and foot kung fu, suddenly looked terrified, and hurriedly stood in front of the master, bowed their hands respectfully, and listened to the lecture.

The status and future of the five of them in the Medicine King Gang in the future, and which hall they will be assigned to are all decided by Pharmacist Li Kui's words at this moment.

Wang Fugui and Li Jiao, the two inner disciples, retreated to the side and stood in a low voice, guessing who the master would be the first to eliminate in this semi-annual elimination.

Pharmacist Li Kui was not in a hurry to make a decision, but looked at the five outer disciples with a cold gaze.

He had taught five outer disciples for more than half a year, and he naturally knew their talents and temperaments well for a long time.

Zhang Tieniu was born as a butcher, has a lot of lard for snacks, and has a long tiger's back and bear waist, and is born to be a good material for martial arts. Xia Dantian's cultivation talent was the strongest among the seven junior brothers. However, when the dantian is cultivated and begins to refine the true qi of the inner family, it is difficult to say. Also, they are stupid, rude and impulsive, and easy to be instigated and used. In the future, letting him go to the Knife Guard Hall is naturally the best arrangement.

Yang Caizhi's father is the bookkeeper of a shop in the city, and he has learned a lot of bookkeeping skills from his father, and his cultivation talent is average, but his brain is quick to calculate and he is shrewd. It is the generation of the flame and the rudder... This may not be all weaknesses, and the disciples who are shrewd and flexible at the bottom of the rivers and lakes are usually okay.

Qin Huihui and Kong Xinqiao, two sisters, are well-behaved and simple, and work diligently. Women are naturally weaker than men in martial arts cultivation and medicinal arts. Their strength is on the weak side of the five.

Finally, Su Chen, this son was born in a fishing family in Zhouzhuang, steady and sensible, he has endured the hardships of cultivation, can endure the temperament to study, and often goes to the library to read books until late at night. Except for the two inner disciples, Su Chen had the highest potential among the five outer disciples. It's hard to say in three years, but in ten years it will definitely be the strongest of the five.

It's a pity that Su Chen has always been very angry with him, the master. Every time he saw Su Chen, it was like seeing an immature wolf, which made him quite bored.

In general, these five outer disciples are all ordinary people, neither good nor bad. Ten years later, if they can cultivate and be promoted to a second-rate realm, they will be considered lucky.

He doesn't plan to make the decision of who to eliminate himself.

Li Kui looked at the five of them, was silent for a while, and then said indifferently: "The five of you senior brothers are similar in strength, each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you have been a teacher for half a year. If you want to eliminate one of you, it is difficult to choose between the teacher's heart.

In this case, the five of you will go outside the courtyard and discuss it for yourself. After discussing, go to the house and take a blank bamboo stick, write the name of the person you want to eliminate on the stick, and give the bamboo stick to the teacher after writing. The one with the most names on the five bamboo sticks will be eliminated.

Which of you is eliminated, this is your own decision, and don't complain about being a teacher in the future. For the sake of the teacher, each of you will be treated equally, regardless of whether you are thin or thick. ”

Su Chen, Zhang Tieniu, Yang Caizhi, Qin Huihui, and Kong Xinqiao, the five outer disciples, all waited anxiously for the master's final decision.

Originally, I thought that the master would directly designate an outer disciple whom he least liked the most to be eliminated, and the matter would be over.

Su Chen even carefully analyzed that he was the most unpopular of the five outer disciples, so he was mentally prepared that he might be the first to be eliminated.

In contrast, Yang Caizhi and others were quite popular with Li Kui in the past, and they often gave gifts in private, and the possibility of being eliminated by the master was very small.

But no one expected that when they heard such a result, Master Li Kui actually "treated them equally", neither treated Yang Caizhi, Zhang Tieniu and others differently, nor treated Su Chen, who was the most estranged on weekdays.

Instead, let the five of them negotiate on their own, and vote for a decision to eliminate one of the five of them.

The five outer disciples couldn't help but be stunned.

Wang Fugui and Li Jiao were also guessing various possibilities in a low voice, and they were surprised and puzzled when they heard the words.

This method of elimination is too unexpected for them, unlike Li Kui's previous style of teaching, which is one-of-a-kind, arbitrary, and cannot be opposed.

Pharmacist Li Kui waved his hand, and the five outer disciples left the small courtyard one by one in a trance and went outside to discuss.

Only Pharmacist Li Kui remained, as well as Wang Fugui and Li Jiao, two inner disciples.

"Master treats all disciples equally, and it is indeed fair. ”

Li Jiao found an opportunity and hurriedly complimented.

Although she is an inner disciple, she can study for three years, and she doesn't have to worry about being eliminated halfway. But she usually pleases the master more, and when the master instructs her on medicine and martial arts, she will naturally be more attentive.

"Justice?"

Li Kui sneered, lifted the corner of his white robe, sat down on a pair of stone benches in the center of the small courtyard, picked up a Biluo spring tea that Yang Caizhi had made early on the stone table, and took a sip of the fragrant tea overflowing with fragrance.

In terms of the level of kung fu in making tea, Yang Caizhi naturally took the lead among the disciples, so it was Yang Caizhi who always came to make tea for him. Even the inner disciples Wang Fugui and Li Jiao are ashamed of themselves and can't compete with them.

But just relying on these gadgets to please and please, make a few teas, and send a few catties of bacon, do you want him to treat Yang Caizhi, Zhang Tieniu and others differently?

Hmph, naïve, ridiculous!

Pharmacist Li Kui put down the teacup and said lightly: "This semi-annual elimination of outer disciples is also an important lesson that Master has given to you two inner disciples. Fugui, tell me why Master did this?"

Wang Fugui was also puzzled, puzzled, and when he heard Pharmacist Li Kui's inquiry, he racked his brains and pondered for a while, and then cautiously replied: "Return to Master." Kindness from the teacher can make the disciple grateful to Dade, punishment from the teacher can make the disciple awe, rewards and punishments are the master's favor to the disciple, and it is also your power.

However, Master let them decide to eliminate one of the five by themselves, which is tantamount to giving up your right to reward and punish, which is contrary to common sense. And in this arrangement, I'm afraid it will cause five people... Infighting!"

When Wang Fugui said this, he was unintentional. But suddenly, I was shocked, and I felt a chill.

Elimination or not, but there are great stakes involved. Mutual humility is simply impossible, and once they fight, they will definitely tear their faces. Master let the five of them decide for themselves, and in the end they didn't turn against each other.

Could it be that behind this seemingly "equal treatment", the infighting of the five outer disciples was provoked, this is the hidden meaning of Master Li Kui!

But for what reason did Master adopt this seemingly non-discriminatory and incomparably fair elimination method, but in fact it was extremely ruthless?