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Upon hearing the requirements for the third contest, several competitors immediately withdrew, leaving only four, including Xiao Ruo.
Xiao Ruo was pondering, now with only four people left, his chances of taking the second place had increased. Unexpectedly, the three other competitors seemed to have conspired together and after a brief whisper amongst themselves, the eldest amongst them spoke to Doctors Zou Chen, "We don't wish to compete against this young Brother Qin."
Xiao Ruo was taken aback, then angrily demanded, "Why not? I advanced through honest skill. What right do you have to force me out of the competition?"
Having barely made it to the final contest, and with the two taels of silver for second place within reach, he couldn't believe they were conspiring to exclude him. Unthinkable and absolutely intolerable!