Doupo: Rebirth of Gu He, Starting with a Strategy to Win Over Yun Yun

Chapter 46 Reencounter with Consort Ya, Exposing the Traitor During the CompetitionAfter some guidance from Gu He, Liu Ling had an Epiphany.

He shut himself away to practice Alchemy as if he were on stimulants, only appearing late when the Alchemist competition began, not even bothering to show off before the little princess.

Before the competition began.

On the bustling bluestone plaza, tens of thousands of spectators cheered and jumped with joy, looking forward to this rare grand event.

Gu He stood on the VIP stand, observing Liu Ling’s state.

He was very excited, but he looked alright.

Besides, this was the preliminary round; Gu He was not worried at all that he wouldn’t pass.

’Elder has arrived?’ Fama walked over from a distance, followed by Otto and Frank, with Ya Fei walking slowly behind them from afar.

’These two are Otto and Frank from Blackrock City, they are also quite good Alchemists. You two, this is Gu He.’ Fama introduced them kindly with a chuckle.

Who didn’t know the famous name of Gu He? The two hurriedly greeted him.

Gu He replied perfunctorily, then called out to Ya Fei who was trailing behind them, ’You came too?’

Ya Fei walked forward. She wore a thin fox-fur shawl that made her skin look like snow.

Her golden qipao, made of fine silk, swayed gently like golden spots of sunlight on leaves rippling in the wind, with her slender, jade-like legs partially visible.

Her bewitching figure was extremely alluring; some infatuated men in the audience even cast glances her way, but Ya Fei had long since turned a blind eye to such situations, focusing intently on her conversation with Gu He.

She looked at Gu He with a beaming smile, ’I am now in charge of the main auction house, and the Mittel Auction House is the largest supplier of medicinal ingredients for the competition.’

When her amorous eyes looked at Gu He, they conveyed a thousand unspoken words.

Seeing an old friend is better than snow falling in the evening while boiling wine with plum blossoms.

’Oh? Congratulations.’ Gu He looked back at her; in their eye contact were thoughts and feelings that only the two of them understood.

Fama watched their interaction with some curiosity, a trace of slyness spreading across his old face, which was as withered as tree bark.

’So you two know each other... old friends, even?’

’Then I shall take my leave first and not disturb your reunion...’ Fama led the two behind him and walked unsteadily toward the judges’ platform.

Gu He nodded, ’Ya Fei, it really has been a long time.’

’Indeed, speaking of which, I still have to thank you.’

Hearing Ya Fei’s respectful address with a smile, Gu He did not correct her, but asked instead, ’What did I do?’

Ya Fei held a hint of shyness, yet her eyes revealed a wild ambition, contradictory and bewitching, ’If you hadn’t instructed Elder Hai to support me, I’m afraid I would have had to struggle for several more years before I could reach this position today.’

Gu He clasped his hands behind his back, turned around, and murmured, ’A small matter.’

He waved his hand forward, ’Would you like to go to the VIP compartment with me?’

’I have been missing the tea you brew.’

Ya Fei looked at his resolute back, her steps carrying a fragrant breeze as she hurriedly followed.

’Of course I would... but does the dignified Elder Gu He also miss aged Longjing tea?’

Ya Fei walked side by side with Gu He.

Gu He sighed, ’I mentioned ’aged tea’ once, and you’ve remembered it for so long...’

’What about you, Elder? Which part of Ya Fei do you remember?’

At the entrance of the VIP compartment, Ya Fei stood extremely close to Gu He, her voice as light as a drafty wind.

Gu He casually closed the door of the compartment, ’Many things...’

Gu He’s hand brushed against Ya Fei’s fingers. He stepped forward, gripped the railing of the compartment, and looked outside, ’The preliminary round is about to begin, Ya Fei.’

Ya Fei looked at his back and revealed a faint smile.

The smile was inexplicably out of character for her, exceptionally pure.

It was like a drop of lemon juice and gardenia added to water, carrying a hint of tartness within the rich fragrance.

Gu He did not answer her question directly, but she was already satisfied.

Afterward, she walked to Gu He’s side, placed her hand on the railing just like him, but her right hand gently rested on Gu He’s left hand.

Gu He did not repel her. Ya Fei curled her lips, her smile like a Persian cat that had gotten a can of food, full of satisfaction. She narrowed her eyes slightly and also looked toward the arena.

The scorching sun gradually moved. Thousands of fires were ignited simultaneously, flames shining high, lighting up everyone’s faces; the audience was completely boiling with excitement.

Fama stood at the front of the VIP platform, his aged voice carrying a smile. He first introduced the judges present at this competition, then pointed out that Gu He was also present, watching all the contestants.

The contestants in the VIP area and the people in the spectator stands became even more enthusiastic.

In an inconspicuous corner, Xiao Yan stood alone. Hearing Fama mention the word ’Gu He,’ he keenly looked toward the small VIP compartment.

There stood a golden figure and a blue figure.

The golden figure had a curvaceous and full body, and that stunning face, which could make men lose their minds, had eyes filled with affection. Her attention was not on the empty arena, but instead, she frequently looked at the man beside her.

And the man in blue whom she was gazing at affectionately was none other than Gu He!

Xiao Yan clenched his fists, countless feelings of resentment flashing through his heart.

’How could Ya Fei be with Gu He...’

’Had she forgotten everything in Wutan City? Forgotten him, Xiao Yan?’

’What exactly was Gu He’s intention...’

Gu He could hardly fail to notice Xiao Yan’s torch-like gaze.

He looked indifferently toward that corner, his gaze sweeping past without leaving a trace.

’Now, will all contestants please take their seats!’ Fama’s voice spread throughout the entire arena.

One could tell at a glance that this old man, who looked like he was on the verge of death, was also a master with extraordinary strength.

The competition officially began.

The topic for the preliminary round was ’Bone-Growing Pill’, and Liu Ling almost took the top spot.

But the light emitted by the testing machine for the Medicinal Pill he refined could not compete with that of a mysterious young man in gray robes.

The gray-robed person wore a badge, on which a dazzling sun was slowly rising from the horizon—

This image was the very symbol of the Izumo Empire.

As the machine in front of the mysterious person emitted a strong light, Gu He sought out Fama.

’Elder Fama, this contestant is not normal.’ Gu He said straightforwardly.

Fama stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, ’It is indeed a bit strange; his Soul power is likely even stronger than yours was back then...’

’And he is not from our Jia Ma Empire; he is an Alchemist sent by the Izumo Empire to compete.’

Alchemists from the Izumo Empire liked to cooperate with poison masters, so they were despised within the Alchemist community.

Gu He looked at the mysterious gray-robed person and said proactively, ’Elder Fama, I have asked around; this contestant is only seventeen years old.’

Gu He’s eyes held deep meaning.

Fama was stunned, then he looked down at the field.

The competition continued.

The gray-robed man was not at all flustered in the face of the incomplete Pill Formula, as if he had seen through the hidden mysteries within at a glance.

Immediately after, his skilled fire control ability was displayed.

His Soul perception power was actually a match for the stunning and resolute Gu He of back then!

Gu He watched Yan Li, who had already shown his true colors, and smiled, ’His Soul perception power can at least reach the level of a Fourth-Grade Alchemist. A seventeen-year-old Fourth-Grade Alchemist—I don’t believe the Izumo Empire would hide such a Genius and not let a single word of news leak out.’

’You must know how unrivaled my disciple Liu Ling is...’

Fama’s eyes darkened, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation, ’Investigate! We must investigate thoroughly!’

Gu He smiled faintly.

Yan Li, the Vice President of the Izumo Empire Alchemist Association on the field, was still completely unaware of all this.

He had no idea that someone had decided his life or death in a single sentence.