Chapter 33: The pill that refused to be eaten
Li Ming held the jade bottle in his hand. Inside was a glowing golden pill.
The other disciples were fighting like crazy, but Li Ming just stood there, staring.
"...Why does it look like a bun?" he whispered.
His stomach growled loudly.
A disciple nearby shouted, "Idiot! That’s a Grade Three Spirit Pill!"
Li Ming nodded. "Yes. Spirit bun."
The boy almost fainted.
---
Up in the air, Elder Qin shouted, "You cannot eat the pill now! Anyone who does will be disqualified!"
Li Ming froze. "...Then why make it look so tasty?"
Some disciples almost fell over in anger.
---
Suddenly, a tall muscular boy stepped in front of him. Flames danced on his fists. His qi was strong—much stronger than Li Ming’s.
"Hand it over," the boy growled. "You don’t deserve that pill!"
Li Ming scratched his head. "I can share. Do you want half?"
The boy roared, "Fool! A pill can’t be split!"
He threw a fiery punch.
Li Ming panicked, waved his arms, and stumbled backwards. His elbow hit the ground—crack!—and a stone shot into the air.
Bang! The stone smacked the boy right on the jaw. His own fire burst out of control and blasted him out of the arena.
The crowd went silent.
"...Did he just win by falling down?"
"...That’s not fighting, that’s tripping!"
Elder Qin narrowed his eyes. "Strange... very strange."
Li Ming stood up and brushed dust off his clothes. "Why does everyone keep falling around me? Is it my smell?"
---
More disciples rushed at him.
One swung a sword. Li Ming tried to dodge but tripped. The sword bounced off a stone pillar and hit its owner instead.
Another tried to use water qi. Li Ming slipped in the puddle, splashing her with her own attack. She fainted.
By the end, seven disciples were lying on the floor. Li Ming hadn’t even meant to hit anyone.
He looked around in shock. "Did... did I win again?"
The other disciples stared at him with pale faces.
"He’s... he’s a monster!"
"No, he’s a genius hiding his power!"
"No, he’s just an idiot!"
---
Finally, Elder Qin shouted, "TIME’S UP!"
The floating bottles disappeared. Only the ones held by disciples remained.
Li Ming looked at the pill in his hand. "So I passed?"
"Yes," Elder Qin sighed. "You passed."
Li Ming smiled. "Great! Then can I eat the bun—uh, pill—now?"
"NO!" all the elders shouted together.
---
Bonus Bit
Li Ming crouched, staring at the pill.
"...What if I just lick it? That doesn’t count as eating, right?"
An elder in the stands almost fainted.
"This boy will make me cough blood before he ever fails an exam!"
To be continued...