When they heard that the first person to take the stage was not Zhang Xiaohua, the rising star of the Herb Department, the entire venue exploded. Most crucially, those disciples who had placed their bets on the Herb Department cried out in alarm. Wasn't this screwing them over? Pill Department's Second Vajra Lü Fengmeng against Herb Department's Six Arhats Liu Quan—how could the Herb Department possibly win?
Wu Zhouxu's expression also changed. He walked into the arena and called out, "Great Leader Chen, shouldn't you give the Pill Department—no, all the disciples—an explanation?"
Chen Fengxiao showed no fear. He strolled calmly into the arena and smiled. "Dalang, that request is far too simple. Even if you hadn't brought it up, I was going to come explain myself."
Then he raised his voice. "Yesterday, I discussed with Dalang that our Herb Department's Ren Xiaoyao would take the stage. But this is a wager match between the Pill Department and the Herb Department. If we arrange for Junior Brother Ren to fight, we naturally have to consider the overall effect, not merely Junior Brother Ren's personal interests. Dalang, rest assured—Junior Brother Ren will certainly take the stage, and the conditions I promised you will certainly be fulfilled."
"But... but..." Wu Zhouxu stammered "but" for a long while, yet could not make heads or tails of an argument. Indeed, the Herb Department had promised that Ren Xiaoyao would fight, but the order of appearance had never been specified as the first match, as he had taken for granted. Any match would do. When he had spoken to Chen Fengxiao, he had never made clear which match it was to be.
Next, Chen Fengxiao clasped his hands toward the disciples of both the Pill Department and Herb Department. "Senior and junior brothers, I imagine