At the center of Lingyin City’s main thoroughfare stood a five-zhang wide white jade dais.
This was the Life-and-Death Stage. Almost every dispute, large or small, within the city was settled here, and patches of the white stone had already been stained a deep, blood-red. Today, two great master apothecaries were to face off in a duel; such a monumental event had naturally drawn a massive crowd. Especially given the illustrious reputation of Grandmaster Lu Fan, who was known far and wide, many had come hoping to catch a glimpse of his peerless demeanor.
Seating had been arranged around the stage, with order maintained by warriors of the Chen Family. As the masters of the city, the Chen Family naturally oversaw the Life-and-Death Stage. City Lord Chen Yuan sat at the highest point, flanked by prominent figures like Li Hong and Lu Fan. On the other side of the stage, however, the area remained empty. This was the designated spot for the "imposter apothecary" Ning Wuchen. Not a single person had stepped forward to stand in his corner.
Chapter 18