"The third and final round," Du Kongqing announced, his voice carrying the weight of desperation masked as determination. "We each concoct a poison. The most lethal creation wins."
I watched him carefully. The Poison Doctor King was a cornered animal now, and cornered animals were often the most dangerous.
"Agreed," I said simply.
Dr. Finch stepped forward with obvious concern. "Gentlemen, surely this is going too far. You're talking about deliberately poisoning each other."
"That was always the nature of this competition," Du Kongqing snapped. "If you lack the stomach for it, you can leave."
"I'll go first," Du Kongqing declared, moving toward the extensive collection of rare herbs and toxic substances he had brought.
The watching doctors gathered around as he began his selection process. His hands moved with practiced expertise, choosing ingredients with the confidence of someone who had spent decades mastering his craft.
