Chapter 139

Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Elimination

Bai Zhengliu continued to observe the actions of the other disciples with his peripheral vision.

He saw everyone picking up the little bamboo tweezers from the boxes, lifting a bit of cotton, then dipping it into the incense powder and bringing it to their noses to carefully sniff… Although it was his first time seeing such a scene, Bai Zhengliu could already guess that they were doing this to minimize direct contact with the incense powder.

After all, they still had several more boxes to smell.

Normally, after eating something spicy or strongly flavored, the tongue becomes numb. At this moment, smelling something with such strong and distinct scents would similarly numb the nose. And unlike the tongue, there was no way to rinse the nose with water.

When all around you smells exactly the same, what can refresh your nose? —Nothing. So, you just have to endure it.

This was probably one of Yuxiang Workshop’s tests for the disciples.

However, even understanding this did little to help him in the upcoming competition.

Bai Zhengliu sighed inwardly, then focused, trying to discern something from the incense in front of him.

He hadn’t expected much at first. Yet as the scent reached his nose, his pupils contracted, and his mindset shifted from “I’ll casually sit through a stick of incense” to “It seems… I can actually smell something.”

This wasn’t because Bai Zhengliu had some extraordinary talent. It was that earlier, when he and Mei Yinghan had told the Cheng couple they knew medicine, it wasn’t empty talk—they had studied various herbs. Even before they could use spiritual energy, when injured in the wild, it wasn’t impossible to gather herbs for bleeding, inflammation, and self-treatment.

Thus, Bai Zhengliu closed his eyes, took a moment to appreciate the scent, and gradually discerned: “It seems to be the smell of ginseng pine.”

Encountering this when having abdominal pain and vomiting was extremely effective.

The strong aroma left a deep impression on Bai Zhengliu.

He licked his lips, put down the bamboo tweezers, and wrote the two characters he discerned on his paper.

Oh, and he also wrote his name and table number.

The character “Bai” had already landed on the paper when the young man’s eyelids twitched, suddenly recalling what Shopkeeper Qiao had said earlier.

When a child’s soul was drawn away by evil spirits, the parents had to call their names to bring them back. Then conversely, if the evil spirits called the child’s name, could they be taken away as well?

Even though he was no longer a “child,” Bai Zhengliu decided to be cautious and didn’t write his full name. After the character “Bai,” he remembered the “ginseng pine” he had discerned and simply wrote the character “Song.”

…He wondered if Yinghan and the two Jun junior disciples had thought of this.

Thinking this, the young man furrowed his brows slightly, a trace of worry appearing in his heart.

But no matter how worried he was, there was nothing he could do now. Perhaps he was just overthinking.Bai Zhengliu put down his brush and continued to discern the scents.

This time, he detected anise, clove, and sandalwood.

The first scent was obvious—distinctive enough that even a small amount could be recognized.

Clove he recognized because when he was in the capital, he noticed people there had a habit of chewing cloves. Supposedly it freshened breath and avoided offending nobles when meeting them.

Bai Zhengliu had tried chewing cloves a few times himself; the taste was neither good nor bad, but it did help him remember the scent, giving him something to write down.

As for sandalwood, it was the scent present in the environment during the audience with the emperor. At first, Bai Zhengliu wanted to write “ambergris,” but upon reflection, he realized “ambergris” might itself be a compound scent, so he adjusted his writing.

By now, he had four answers on his paper.

The surrounding disciples had already started on their second boxes, and some had even opened a third. Bai Zhengliu was clearly behind, but he knew not to rush. He paused to ensure he truly couldn’t detect the next scent before beginning his second box.

…Although it was the second box, the strong scent of the first box still lingered.

No, not in the box—it was in his nose.

Bai Zhengliu initially felt helpless, but then realized perhaps two compound scents shared many overlapping ingredients.

He hesitated briefly, then wrote down “ginseng pine,” “sandalwood,” and “clove.” After thinking a bit more, he added “scrophularia” and “musk.”

The third box.

Was that the scent of rhubarb?

The fourth box…

Atractylodes was present, but Bai Zhengliu could not discern the others.

The fifth box… uh, there was no time to smell the fifth box. The gong signaling the end of the competition rang. All Yuxiang Workshop disciples put down their brushes, stood up, and raised their hands to indicate they would not change their papers.

While doing this, Bai Zhengliu scanned through the crowd to see Mei Yinghan. Coincidentally, Mei Yinghan was also looking back at him through the crowd, a trace of worry on his face.

Bai Zhengliu smiled at him. Mei Yinghan paused, and the worry on his face gradually softened into a faint smile.

At this moment, the chief overseeing Bai Zhengliu’s area walked up beside him.

Seeing the swordsman smile to the side, the chief clicked his tongue in apparent frustration, as if pained: “So much time, and you only wrote down a few ingredients! And you can still smile?”Bai Zhengliu: “……”

He turned his head and replied humbly, “The disciple is slow-witted and will surely work harder in the future to diligently practice the art of incense-making.”

The chief shook his head, his gaze falling on Bai Zhengliu’s paper, murmuring, “What you wrote is… cough! In any case, this is far too little.” He sighed as he walked away to collect the next person’s paper.

Bai Zhengliu took the opportunity to glance several times at the papers of those around him whose sheets had not yet been collected.

…Then quietly withdrew his gaze.

Well, he had originally thought the elder’s comment, “what you wrote is…” meant that even though he wrote little, it was precise, and he might still pass this round. But seeing it now, the others not only wrote more, most were equally precise. His fate was to be eliminated in the first round.

With that thought, the swordsman felt slightly disappointed. But since it was a long-expected outcome, although disappointed, he had no further emotions.

When the list of disciples advancing to the next round was announced, Bai Zhengliu indeed did not hear his own name. Mei Yinghan was also absent from the list, and the Jun brothers, as well… hmm? Why did Jun Yang stand up when a certain name was called?

At first, Bai Zhengliu was surprised, then realized the other must have also written a false name like himself.

The corner of the swordsman’s lips twitched briefly, then pressed down again. After the crowd dispersed and the four regrouped, he asked, “Jun junior brother, did you also write a false name? That’s good. I was wondering how to remind you all otherwise.”

Mei Yinghan said, “After recalling what the shopkeeper said earlier, it was natural to write it that way.”

Bai Zhengliu smiled: “Same here.”

Mei Yinghan: “Now that the Jun junior brother passed the first round, we don’t know what the second round will be like. Round after round, what clues can we obtain…”

Bai Zhengliu: “We might as well split into two groups. Jun junior brother can gather information from the other competition disciples, while the rest of us investigate outside.”

Jun Yang said: “That’s only proper.”

Jun Tao asked: “Wait, what name are you talking about?”

The other three present: “……”

Jun Yang sighed and carefully explained to his younger brother their considerations regarding the name. Finally, he tensed, asking, “Did you write your real name on that paper?”

He worried about hearing a “yes, that’s right” from his younger brother.

Although that answer would have matched his brother’s attitude.

Thinking of this, Jun Yang felt even more like sighing. Yet unexpectedly, after hearing the question, Jun Tao’s expression grew even more confused: “Write the name—ah, I still have to write my name?!”

The other three present: “…???” Could they really not write a name?Jun Tao muttered, “No wonder! When that person collected the papers at the end, he looked at me several times! And kept muttering, ‘The answers are not bad, but…’ I thought he had some opinion about my appearance or handwriting.”

Looking back now, the opinion was real—but it was about his memory.

The other three were a bit speechless. Fortunately, that silence was accompanied by a sense of relief.

Seeing that the departing disciples were all heading in one direction, they figured that direction should be where the disciples’ lodgings were. They followed to first confirm their own resting place.

Just as they took a step forward, a sound came from behind.

“Cong Xiao! You’ve finished the first round?”

The four couldn’t help but focus their attention.

They looked toward the source of the voice. In the corridor on one side of the venue, a young man appeared, seemingly about twenty-three or twenty-four, slightly older than the four Jianghu visitors. Bai Zhengliu covered his eyes with spiritual energy and took a glance; as before, he was just a wandering soul, no different from the others.

Yet this time, he looked completely unaware of his death, his tone light and joyful, walking three steps in two toward the field. Passing by the Jianghu visitors, Bai Zhengliu even heard the jingle of his rings as he walked.

Turning to watch, they saw the young man stop in front of a Yuxiangfang disciple. From his expression, this must be “Cong Xiao.” Seeing him now, Cong Xiao smiled gently and said, “Indeed, Lord Meng, what a coincidence.”

“I’ve told you so many times,” the young man complained, “don’t call me ‘Lord Meng,’ call me ‘Meng Lang!’ Or just use my name, ‘Wenguang.’”

Cong Xiao pressed his lips, seeming embarrassed, “How could that be? You are an official of the court, and I am but a humble disciple…”

“How could it not be?” Meng Wenguang stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and the young man again. “Cong Xiao, after this Grand Competition, you will no longer be just a ‘humble disciple.’ Everyone knows your current ranking is only because you entered the workshop recently and are still young. In terms of strength, who would dare underestimate you!”

Cong Xiao: “You flatter me, Lord—”

Meng Wenguang: “Sigh, you called me ‘Lord’ again.”

Cong Xiao looked helpless, about to speak, when a cold voice cut in from the side: “The competition is already over, Cong Xiao, and you others,”—glancing at Bai Zhengliu and the others not far off—“what are you still doing here? Hurry back and properly prepare for the next round!”

Author’s note:

*The first box in this chapter’s competition contains Four Seasons Pure Fragrance

According to Xiang Cheng: The central yellow qi belongs to earth, governing seasonal escape; in painting halls, libraries, wine pavilions, or flower pavilions, it can all be burned. This incense is best for purifying foulness.

Recipe: 1.5 qian fennel, 1.5 qian clove, 5 qian Lingling incense, 8 qian sandalwood, 1 liang sweet pine, a small amount of musk (grind separately).

The second box contains Spring Hidden in the Eastern Pavilion incense.The Xiang Cheng records: The eastern blue qi belongs to wood, governs spring, suitable for burning at flower banquets, and has the scent of a hundred flowers.

Recipe: 2 liang Chen Su incense, 5 qian sandalwood, 1 qian each of frankincense, clove, and sweet pine, 1 liang of Scrophularia, 1 fen of musk.

The remaining boxes only contained a small amount of materials, so they will not be described in detail.