Chapter 4

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 4

Chapter Title: Hundred Flowers Academy Entrance Exam (2)

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If I were a righteous young man...

I would have reported this horrific cheating incident that occurred in a hardly sacred exam hall.

Of course, I did hesitate a little, but I didn't act on it.

Why?

"The squirrel stole a peek at the exam answers and told me!"

If I shouted that out loud?

Even I would think the guy was insane.

The only evidence was my eyewitness account anyway.

And even that wasn't physical proof—just a hunch.

Sure, there's that saying about even brushing sleeves being fate, but...

Honestly, I did think that just a tiny, tiny bit.

It could happen.

Even if I didn't step forward all upright like Camus to report it...

Shouldn't I at least sound a warning to that squirrel duo already resorting to demonic arts like cheating?

After the bell signaling the end of the exam rang out melodiously...

I stood at the entrance, waiting for her on purpose.

Soon, a small head with neatly braided chestnut hair appeared amid the crowd.

I sidled up casually.

She spotted me too and looked surprised.

"Oh! The young master I bumped into on the street!"

I'd been wondering how to approach if she didn't recognize me.

Lucky break.

"Did that urgent matter you were rushing off to back then get resolved okay?"

I feigned casual curiosity.

"Ugh, my squirrel caused some trouble... I just take my eyes off her for a second, and she bolts off somewhere?"

Her puffed cheeks made her look just like her squirrel.

They say owners start to resemble their pets... or was it the other way around?

"Come to think of it, I swear I saw a squirrel near my exam paper earlier too..."

I tossed out the bait and watched her reaction.

For a split second, Squirrel Girl's eyes went wide.

"Ah, well... My Dalam is a real troublemaker. She can't sit still for a second. Hehe."

Her quick pivot was smooth, but I didn't miss the slight stiffening of her expression.

...As I suspected.

She actually pulled off the Ratatouille meta for real.

"The squirrel was admiring my exam paper so intently, then whispered something in your ear."

"Ah... She just likes climbing all over me."

Squirrel Girl was starting to look a bit flustered.

Eh, no need to press her further here.

Passing one written exam doesn't mean much if you flop the rest.

I flashed a bright smile, pretending my curiosity was fully sated to set her at ease.

"Hahaha, just kidding. No matter how spiritual ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the beast, it can't read—"

"Chit?"

My words caught in my throat.

The culprit poked its face out from between her breasts.

....

Whoa...

Look at that...?

"Aigoo, Dalam. Behave."

At first, I'd only seen her cute, innocent face.

But now I saw it—this woman was...

Packed!

"Well, I should go prep for the next exam. Good luck to you too, young master. See you at the academy?"

With their pincer attack, Squirrel Girl had utterly disarmed me. She rattled off her words and scurried away.

See you.

Nice ring to it.

"Ah."

Should've at least asked her name.

Kinda regrettable.

Mulling over the massive pair and squirrel etched in my mind...

I headed to the external strength testing hall next.

Like those brick-breaking feats in street performances.

Pure physical power to shatter stone slabs without channeling internal energy.

...Honestly, I wasn't confident about this one.

It'd only been a year and a half since I shook off my sickbed.

I could build internal energy with elixirs.

But sadly, no steroids or even protein shakes in this world—stuff modern gym rats obsess over.

Not that I slacked on training, absolutely not.

"General track candidate 157, Geum Sihyeon—seven slabs!"

This was top-tier, chewable uppercut level.

"Hngh!"

"Prestige sect track candidate ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠87, Wolsong—ten slabs!"

....

That guy's bald as fuck.

No hair, so at least pack the muscle.

Though the comparison group was a bit brutish...

Among general track folks excluding prestige sect kids, seven slabs was plenty good.

Like not judging a public high schooler by elite academy standards.

If I nailed the retest for internal energy measurement...

Top scorer admission was basically in the bag.

I brushed the stone chips from my sleeves.

With a twinge of anxiety, I returned to the internal energy testing hall I'd left earlier.

"...The measuring device broke?"

Chief proctor Moyong Seol doubted her ears.

A inaugural graduate of Hundred Flowers Academy who'd stayed on ever since—this was news to her.

"Here it is."

She half-doubted it was even possible until her subordinate handed over the tablet.

"Hmm..."

But the clear palm print on the screen was undeniable.

Did he use some heavy hand technique? No way that'd work, she thought, staring at the mark.

Tablet and smartphone.

So-called high-tech gadgets.

Treasures co-developed a few years back by the Zhuge and Sima families, plus some eccentric called "Comhaha" from the East.

Even she, at peak Superlative Realm at twenty-eight, wasn't sure she could smash one purely with internal energy.

Conclusion.

"...Could be a device malfunction. Announce a retest after the other exams end. I'll handle it personally."

"Yes, ma'am!"

With endless applicants, they couldn't delay forever. She sent Yun Jihyang off and continued the tests.

Then Moyong Seol checked the problem guy's application on her proctor tablet.

"Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress, huh..."

The legendary merchant clan who'd invested heavily in those gadgets everyone mocked at first, now boasting Central Plains' top wealth.

No matter how much they guzzled elixirs with that fortune...

Geum Sihyeon was just twenty-ish.

How much energy could a young punk like that have gathered?

Maybe clan intel on the tablet's weak points let him exploit it.

Hard to imagine cheating that blatantly in an entrance exam, but...

A bit later.

Moyong Seol met the problem guy.

First impression.

'...He's handsome.'

To borrow an old phrase, Jade Bone Whirlwind incarnate.

Tall and lean, ruggedly handsome in a manly way.

"Ahem. To avoid repeats, I'll measure your energy personally."

Moyong Seol kept a stern face as she pressed her palm to his.

The calluses suggested serious training. And his hand—big, sturdy... hadn't felt one in ages...

"Hah."

Snapping back, she continued.

"Ever done palm energy clashes? Just focus your energy here."

But the guy was at best First-Rate.

A cute baby compared to her, on the cusp of Superlative mid-stage.

"Here I go."

True energy slowly flowed from his palm.

However.

"...Young hero, don't hold back. I can handle it."

Moyong Seol grew serious.

The sensation was so faint—hard to believe it broke that sturdy tablet.

Did he really cheat with classified info?

Disappointment welled up just as...

"Ah... Sorry. First time gripping a lady's hand like this—rude of me."

Geum Sihyeon's sheepish whisper melted her heart.

But before she could dwell...

Kugugugu...!

An overwhelming surge, leagues beyond before.

"...!"

She didn't show it, but Moyong Seol was rattled.

This was no First-Rate energy.

A bit raw and unrefined, like an average heart method not fully mastered...

But the feral power within? Easily Peak early—no, mid-stage.

Moyong Seol bit her lip, ramping up her energy.

Couldn't lose face as proctor to an applicant.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Silver light gleamed on her jade hands.

Chilling aura rippled around her.

The ice essence from her mother rampaged freely, brutally suppressing his energy.

Or trying to.

Glancing at Geum Sihyeon's eyes.

They sparkled peacefully despite the massive energy pour—unbelievable for a martial world newbie.

Their gazes met; Moyong Seol realized her mistake.

This was just a qualifier.

Not a pride clash.

Escalating could injure him.

"That's enough."

She calmly withdrew her energy.

She'd been called a prodigy herself.

Met countless others dubbed the same.

But this man.

Geum Sihyeon was the real deal.

"Perfect score."

A dragon had entered Hundred Flowers Academy.

Thanks! Life and Death Divine Doctor!

"Heh heh."

The resentment from those elixir soups—wanting to puke up my guts every dose—vanished like that.

Perfect score.

Such sweet words.

Even bonded with a main game heroine.

Moyong Seol.

S-rank ally wielding sword arts and ice freely.

Her age—twenty-eight—was a big flaw.

But befitting one of the Five Flowers, the Ice Flower, her real-life looks... were stunning.

"Real-life" sounds weird.

Anyway.

Proved Dad's investments weren't wasted. Felt damn good.

"Yawn."

All exams done.

Just wait for results.

Announcement tonight.

...No notice for failures, they say.

Lots of sleepless folks tonight.

Our fortress tavern's already booked solid.

Congrats drinks or consolation? Who knows.

With many examinees gone, the streets were quiet as I pulled out my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smartphone.

Scrolling galleries while walking?

Can't resist.

"Oh."

Grabbed academy Wi-Fi.

Finally accessed Hundred Flowers Academy Gallery.

No wonder Shaanxi Gallery was quiet.

They were posting here.

...?

Spotted a familiar ID.

"...."

This was twenty-eight-year-old speech...?

Felt like glimpsing a genius's dark side.

I hit back quick.

And downgraded Moyong Seol from S to A in my mind.

People matter inside and out.

Like me.