Divine Level Witch Doctor

”Another newcomer has arrived.” A man of about thirty pushed up the glasses on his nose and remarked with disdain, ”Kids these days are so clueless. He actually tried to check in at the professors’ registration point. I have no idea who brought him, but he clearly doesn’t know the first thing about the rules!”

It turned out that in addition to inviting renowned experts from the medical field, the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum also allowed them to bring their students to the conference. The registration desk Zhao Yuan had gone to earlier was for experts and professors. This one, however, was for students.

A person beside him who knew him chuckled and said, ”Heh, these newcomers can’t compare to you, Brother Tao! By the way, Brother Tao, I remember this is your third time at the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum, isn’t it?”

A pass hung from Brother Tao’s chest. It read: Capital City Medical University, Tao Hua, PhD Candidate.

Hearing the question, he replied with a proud expression, ”That’s right. My professor has been kind enough to bring me to the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum for the third time now. And let me tell you, the experience you gain at this conference is incredible!”

The person who had asked the question, also from Capital City Medical University, was a master’s student named Xu Qiu.

Xu Qiu said admiringly, ”Brother Tao, your professor really favors you, bringing you to three conferences in a row. I had to beg my professor for ages just to get him to bring me along to see the world. When the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum officially opens tomorrow, I’m definitely taking a ton of pictures to post online. My classmates can just eat their hearts out!”

The more envious the others were, the more pleased Tao Hua became. With a grand wave of his hand, he said with a laugh, ”Just keep studying hard and improving your medical skills. I’m sure your professor will bring you again next time.”

Just then, another person sidled up and asked fawningly, ”Brother Tao, I heard you’re going to be speaking on stage as a representative for the younger generation of doctors. Is that true?”

”Oh? You guys have some good sources. I’m surprised you already heard about that.”

Tao Hua tried his best to look nonchalant, but the smirk playing on his lips and the way he instinctively puffed out his chest betrayed his inner smugness.

”That’s right. The Chinese Medical Exchange Forum was gracious enough to have me speak on stage as a representative for the younger doctors. It’s nothing much, though—only two minutes. I’ll probably just say a few words about how we must strive to improve ourselves and contribute to the field of medicine. It’s all just the usual platitudes, really. Nothing to write home about.”

The onlookers were overcome with envy and began to chime in:

”Brother Tao, you’re being too modest. This is the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum we’re talking about! Who among the speakers isn’t a top-tier Great God in the field? It’s an immense honor for you to be up there!”

”Exactly! Speaking at the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum is a massive honor! It looks like you’re going to be the leader of the pack for our generation of doctors, Brother Tao!”

”If I ever got the chance to speak at the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum, I could die a happy man!”

The praise made Tao Hua grin from ear to ear, but he still said, ”Let’s keep it low-key, low-key.”

At that very moment, Zhao Yuan walked up to the registration desk.

Tao Hua glanced him over and asked, ”First time at the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum? What university are you from?”

Zhao Yuan nodded. ”Yes, it’s my first time. I’m from West Hua Medical University.”

”West Hua Medical University?” Tao Hua raised an eyebrow, suspicious. ”That can’t be right. Didn’t the people from West Hua Medical University get here yesterday?” He then sized Zhao Yuan up and down. Perhaps thinking he looked too young, he added, ”Are you a master’s candidate?”

Zhao Yuan first gave his university and name to the staff member at the desk, then turned to Tao Hua and said, ”No, I’m a freshman.”

”What? A freshman?” Tao Hua’s jaw dropped. He had attended the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum three times now, and this was the first time he had ever seen a freshman.

The few others nearby were also stunned. They couldn’t help but huddle together and whisper among themselves.

”What’s going on with West Hua Medical University? Did they run out of people? Why would they bring a freshman to this conference?”

”I know, right? This is an absolute joke!”

”A freshman hasn’t even finished their foundational courses. What could they possibly get out of attending such a High Level academic forum? What were the people at West Hua Medical University thinking? Have they lost their minds?”

Just then, the staff member at the registration desk looked up. Staring at Zhao Yuan suspiciously, he said, ”Are you really a student from West Hua Medical University? That can’t be right. The students from West Hua Medical University all arrived yesterday. Besides, your name isn’t on the list.”

Zhao Yuan was taken aback. Tao Hua, Xu Qiu, and the others, meanwhile, looked on with faces full of doubt.

Someone ventured a guess, ”This kid... don’t tell me he’s pretending to be from West Hua Medical University to sneak into the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum?”

This suggestion immediately found a receptive audience.

”That has to be it! No matter how desperate they are, West Hua Medical University would never bring a freshman to this conference!” Xu Qiu said, completely convinced.

Tao Hua adopted the tone of a seasoned veteran. ”Every year at the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum, you get people like this trying to sneak in for some reflected glory and attention.” Then, he turned to Zhao Yuan and said condescendingly, ”Kid, if you want to attend the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum, you have to do it on your own merit. Taking these kinds of crooked shortcuts will get you nowhere.”

Zhao Yuan had no time for them. He asked the staff member, ”I really am from West Hua Medical University. Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake? How can my name not be on the list?”

”We absolutely did not make a mistake!” The staff member’s tone was firm, and his gaze toward Zhao Yuan grew warier. It seemed he now believed Tao Hua and Xu Qiu, thinking Zhao Yuan was likely a fraud trying to sneak into the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum.

”That shouldn’t be possible. I only came because I received an invitation.”

As he spoke, Zhao Yuan opened his bag and took out the Level A invitation the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum had sent him.

Nearby, Tao Hua, Xu Qiu, and the others erupted in another round of derisive laughter.

”An invitation?”

”Hilarious! The Chinese Medical Exchange Forum only issues invitations to renowned experts and professors, or to those who have made exceptional contributions. How could a freshman like you possibly get one!”

”If you’re going to lie, at least do some research first. Are you trying to show off how dumb you are?”

Their laughter hadn’t even died down when the staff member, who had taken the invitation for a look, shot up from his seat in utter shock.

He was so agitated that he knocked his chair over, and the loud THUD cut through the crowd’s mockery.

Tao Hua, Xu Qiu, and the others stared at him, bewildered, not understanding what was happening. Just as they were about to ask, they heard the staff member cry out in a choked voice, ”This... This is a Level A invitation!”

PS: Releasing two chapters for now, more to come this afternoon. Please subscribe, vote, and give rewards! Also, Old Wu has to say, your Curses are too ruthless! Old Wu really got sick; the vomiting and diarrhea have been awful. (┬＿┬)