Up on the platform, Han Yuan was holding forth:
"Pound for pound, you'll scarcely find a species more fragile than humankind."
"Let alone against terrifying ghosts!"
"And the reason mankind has withstood ghosts all these years is our powerful souls!"
"Soul-Stir, Essence-Soul, Nether Spring!"
"But the precondition for cultivation is that you must have the talent!"
"Reach Grade C, and you can become a reservist of the Ghost-Control Army or the Ghost-Slaying Squad—plus 50 points on the college entrance exam."
"Reach Grade B, and you can become a full member of the Ghost-Control Army or the Ghost-Slaying Squad—plus 100 points on the exam."
"And Grade A... believe me, it will absolutely exceed your imagination!"
Han Yuan smiled mysteriously and said no more.
The crowd stirred restlessly.
They'd all heard some of this before, but hearing a Ghost-Control Army captain say it to their faces was another feeling entirely.
"Begin!"
The test was simple: just place your hand on the giant ghost bead on the platform.
The ghost bead was semi-transparent, a gray-black mist churning slowly inside.
A student went up to test. But there was no change at all.
Then the second, the third...
On the fourth, the mist scattered slightly, as if breathed upon.
"Wait," a staffer beckoned. "Do it again."
The student, thrilled, reached toward another spot.
No matter where he touched, through the glass the gray-black mist was pushed aside, as if dodging his hand.
"This is the sign of spiritual power leaking out."
Han Yuan said clearly, "And only like this can one cultivate."
"His grade is only C. But that doesn't mean his future will be dim."
"It's like IQ. The high-IQ ones learn a little more easily, but that doesn't mean they'll place first."
"Grade can be raised. Those who score low needn't lose heart."
"Next."
One after another, people went up.
Roughly 20 percent had talent. But most were Grade C.
The occasional B drew a chorus of gasps.
Then another went up, and the moment his hand touched down, the mist inside the ghost bead churned fast, as if a wind had blown through it.
"Grade A!"
The crowd cried out at once:
"Holy crap, a big shot!"
"That one's insane!"
"Everyone else is like a light puff of breath—this guy's got an electric fan running!"
Another went up.
Chen Qing's brow furrowed.
Chenkun!
Chenxi's younger brother.
Number two on the must-kill list!
That knife—it was the one he'd driven into Chen Qing's chest.
Chen Qing remembered, of course: his grade was S.
But temperament and circumstance both decide how high one climbs. Last life, Chenkun had started out insufferably arrogant, yet after just one of his ghost pets died, he never again had the nerve to face a ghost—hiding behind Chen Qing's backside for protection instead.
Never mind this life.
However many S's you have, I will still flay you alive!
—Literally, in the fullest sense of the word, flay you alive!
Chenkun was a little nervous. He drew a deep breath and set his hand down.
The ghost bead trembled faintly.
The mist inside churned like a frenzy.
"Holy crap!"
"Did the game just hit a bug?"
"No way, no way—another Grade A?!"
The crowd erupted in astonishment. Chenkun was startled too, then it turned to delight.
Han Yuan was a bit surprised as well, and said in wonder, "A Grade S, actually."
Hearing it was Grade S, everyone was shocked!
"Teacher! Is S the highest grade?"
"How low is that ratio? Does it count as one-in-ten-thousand?"
"Don't fixate on that!" Han Yuan waved a hand. "High talent means faster cultivation, for sure, but it isn't the only factor, and it doesn't decide that his future achievements will top everyone else's."
Say what he might, the crowd was cheering.
They'd seen this plot far too many times!
Didn't the novels always say a person like this cultivates one day and it's worth several of anyone else's?
"Damn, what rotten luck!"
Monkey spat. He and Chenkun didn't get along.
He cursed a few more times, and then it was his turn.
Monkey set his hand on the ghost bead, all nonchalance.
The bead churned faintly.
"Grade C. Next."
Monkey blanked for a moment, then broke into joy!
"I'm about to bring glory to my ancestors!"
Next was Chen Qing.
Chen Qing knew he had talent—which was why, last life, when the Ghost-Control Army's Han Yuan fought his way into Riverside Community, he'd given Chen Qing an introductory cultivation method and promised a higher one once he'd mastered it.
Only, by then it was already too late; in that endlessly tense stretch, Chen Qing could squeeze out only the barest slivers of time to cultivate.
Han Yuan looked at Chen Qing and nodded.
Chen Qing placed his hand down.
Whoosh~
Like a hairdryer switched on, all the mist inside the ghost bead churned up.
"Holy crap! Another one!"
"Another S has shown up!!"
"A big shot's here!"
Han Yuan and several staffers were a little taken aback.
Still, he announced, "Grade S."
"Nice, Little Qing!" Monkey ran right over to congratulate him.
"Will the big shot take a little brother?!"
"Chen Qing! Not bad at all!" Homeroom teacher Happy Jelly came too.
He clapped Chen Qing hard on the shoulder. "See? This is exactly why I made you come take the test."
"Chen Qing!"
Chenkun suddenly walked over, staring coldly at him, flames all but bursting from his eyes.
"You're the one who beat up my mom and my sister, aren't you!"
"I didn't hit them."
Chen Qing shook his head, all sincerity. "When your mom apologized to me, she hit herself—slap on the left, slap on the right. Oh, right!"
"And she didn't just hit herself. She also said, 'I'm the one who's trash,' slap! 'Please, in your magnanimity,' slap!"
Chen Qing acted it all out, vivid and lively.
Then looked at him calmly.
Chenkun had long since clenched his fists in fury—and charged!
"Fuck your mother!"
Chen Qing lifted a leg and drove a hard kick into the base of his thigh.
Chenkun staggered back several steps, clutching his upper thigh, his face twitching with pain.
"Seriously, does no one in your family teach their kids anything?"
Chen Qing frowned. "Your sister steals things at the drop of a hat, your mom throws tantrums at the police station, and you curse people's mothers every other breath."
"Could you show a shred of upbringing?"
"I'll show you upbringing!" Chenkun, half-crazed with rage, came charging again on his bad leg.
Slap!
Chen Qing's palm cracked across his nose.
The nose is fragile, and it's wired to the tear glands; Chenkun's eyes gushed with tears.
Terrified of being seen, he clapped his hands over his face and crouched down.
Chen Qing took hold of both his wrists and slowly pried them apart.
That face, tears and snot smeared into one, was suddenly on full display before the crowd.
"Don't cry! Where's the fun in that?"
Chen Qing said soothingly, "All right, all right, I won't hit you anymore, okay?"
Like a parent coaxing a child.
"You... you..." Chenkun scrubbed hard at his face with his sleeve, pointed at Chen Qing, and ground his teeth.
Chen Qing raised a palm as if to strike.
Chenkun instinctively flinched back hard.
"See? You can't out-fight me, and you're a chickenshit coward, and here you are hollering for your mommy."
Chen Qing said as he cursed.
He waved a hand, turned his back, and ignored him.
Happy Jelly and Monkey both stared at the whole thing, stunned.
Chen Qing...
How had he changed?
That silent, meek boy who swallowed everything down into his own gut...
How had he suddenly become like this?
Wild, unrestrained, as if he'd wrapped himself in the wind, snapping and rippling.
"You okay?" Monkey looked at Chen Qing in astonishment, and asked carefully.
Chen Qing was silent.
Okay?
How could he be?
What person who transforms overnight doesn't have a heap of bitter history behind them?
But he'd never been one to bare his heart, so he only shook his head. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Chen Qing, Chenkun, Yang Xingshui, Huang Sha..."
A staffer read out a whole string of names.
"Please come up to the platform."
"Chen Qing!" Happy Jelly called at once. "They're probably going to drag you into the Ghost-Control Army—don't be too quick to agree! Hold off a few days, see if the Martial School can offer better terms."
The Martial School?
Chen Qing wouldn't consider it.
By the time he got into the Martial School, the Blood Moon would be here.
The group went up onto the platform.
Chenkun really didn't want to stand near Chen Qing right now, so he lagged behind on purpose, trailing far in the rear.
Just as Happy Jelly had said, Han Yuan wanted to bring them into the Ghost-Control Army.
Every student was shaking their head—exactly as Happy Jelly had put it, they now saw themselves as goods, waiting for the best price.
But Chen Qing was resolute. "I have only one condition."
"Oh?" Han Yuan looked over.
"I get my pick of any cultivation method in the Ghost-Control Army."
That was a must!
Cultivation methods?
Weren't those meant for people to learn?
"Greetings, boss!" Chen Qing thumped a fist to his chest in salute.
Han Yuan was surprised Chen Qing knew the Ghost-Control Squad's salute, but returned it at once. "Welcome to the squad!"
The few behind him stood as well, saluting in unison. "Welcome to the squad!"
They looked at one another and smiled, and seeing each other smile, they burst out laughing.
It was a strange, wonderful feeling.
Like crossing ten thousand mountains and rivers only to run into an old friend.