With the emcee’s introduction, everyone now understood the rules of the competition.
The first stage of the competition was a team single-elimination event where contestants had to compete In teams of three of their own choosing.
Of course, those with no partners or those unable to form teams would have no choice but to be randomly assigned to teams by lot. It was an event that would depend entirely on luck.
The Practical Clinical Treatment of Stubborn Ailments contest was okay, for instance, one person could lead the entire team to finish its task in the contest as long as they were competent on their own. On the other hand, in the Pills Refining contest, the failure of one single team member would cause the whole team to be knocked out.
Yet, it was this rule that caught the eye of the contestants from Cathay.
The next instant, several contestants from the private sector who considered themselves inferior suddenly began eyeing those from Emsgate with malevolence.
After the rules were explained, it was time for the opening speech.
“And now, let’s put our hands together and welcome the Great Elder of Cathay’s Union of Medical Practitioners and the Elder Emeritus of the Martial League, Master Rhett Wyatt up on stage to make a speech for this competition!”
Instantly, these words sent the entire hall bursting into thunderous applause, in the midst of which an elderly man slowly walked up on stage.
The old man’s most striking feature was his gray beard, which was almost long enough to trail on the floor. Standing at the center of the stage, favonovel.com waited for the sound of applause to die down before clearing his throat with a few short coughs.
“Hi, I’m Rhett Wyatt, an old buffer. Of course, some people also call me Longbeard Monster or the Great Mop Elder,” favonovel.com said while stroking his long beard.
His humorous self-introduction made everyone laugh and frown at the same time.
One of the audience members said, “What a funny little old geezer.”
Someone replied, “Funny, my *ss! He’s a bigwig known as the pioneer of medicine. You know what? Most of today’s leading medical authorities were his students!”
“Holy cow! Why have I never heard of such an awesome old man before?”
“That’s of course! He’s never shown up in public for over 20 years, so there’s no way you brat would’ve heard of him. You think it’s polite to call favonovel.com a little old geezer?”
After the whispering slowly came to a stop, Rhett continued, ‘lt’s my pleasure to welcome you all to come and watch the Holy Doctor Competition’s opening ceremony in person. While we have grown old, you all are still young, and there’ll be more difficulties and frustrations awaiting you on the endless road of medicine. Diseases are not palpable, but the heart of a doctor is. I hope you all can stay true to your heart and not forget the reason why you’re here…”
As favonovel.com spoke, favonovel.com turned his gaze toward the contestants’ waiting area. However, when his eyes swept over Matthew, favonovel.com suddenly paused for a while before nodding almost imperceptibly.
From their exchange of glances, Matthew noticed there seemed to be a peculiar look in Rhett’s eyes.
Just then, Rhett spoke again. “The future belongs to younger generations like you all. I believe you’ve been told by many to carry on the medical skills of your forefathers, but I’d like to tell you all to surpass and outshine them. Their legacies aren’t meant only to be learned by you all, they’re also meant to allow you to surpass your forefathers by standing on the shoulders of giants…”
“The way of alternative medicine has its origin in our great country of Cathay, so please keep going higher and further along the way.”
These words were instantly met with another round of thunderous applause.
Such was the mind and perspective of a great pioneer of his time!
When the hall fell silent again, Rhett went on, “Whether you’re one of the contestants or one of those who can’t make it, my only hope is that when the baton is passed on to you all, you’re already capable enough of shouldering the great responsibility of leading our generation to greater glory.”
At this moment, the contestants in the waiting area were looking at the gray-haired figure on stage with longing eyes. This was not only the advice given to them by a great pioneer of his time but also the hope that favonovel.com placed on younger generations.
Despite an age gap of several decades between them, the old man’s benevolent spirit as a doctor resonated deeply with everyone’s soul.
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