C7 Incoming Exam(2)

Suddenly, a rush of wind came from behind him.

Instinctively, he sidestepped.

Narrowly avoiding a large hand that was thrusting toward his head.

Luo Yan instinctively caught the hand, ready to snap it.

But then he remembered Di Zheng's advice and instead of twisting, he pushed.

Sending a hefty figure tumbling to the ground with a thud.

Bang!

The noise drew everyone's attention.

Eyes swiftly turned in their direction.

First, they landed on the man sprawled on the ground.

Then they shifted to Luo Yan.

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

All the new students in the hall were dressed impeccably, clean and tidy.

Luo Yan, however, was still clad in his worn-out attire.

The man on the ground let out a roar as he got to his feet.

He towered over Luo Yan, with broad, round arms, though his bulk seemed soft.

Blood was trickling down his forehead.

He was livid.

"Where did this savage come from? How did you sneak in?"

"How dare you knock me down? You're asking for trouble!"

Luo Yan recalled Di Zheng's words, wanting to avoid further conflict.

So he spoke up, "I'm a new student."

"You struck first, so I took you down."

His response was terse, sparing no words.

It made the burly youth feel slighted.

His anger turned to alarm when he caught sight of Luo Yan's crimson eyes, and he stumbled backward three steps.

His voice turned shrill as he cried out, "Chi Du! You're infected with Chi Du! Stay back, don't come near me!"

The room erupted into chaos.

The other new students backed away as if Luo Yan were a rampaging beast.

The heavyset man bellowed, "Magemoor City has had the vaccine for three years; Chi Du was eradicated long ago. You still claim to be a new student? You're obviously a savage who's infiltrated our ranks."

"Where's security? The gatekeepers?"

"Where have they gone? Get this man out of here!"

Just then, a commanding voice cut through the noise.

"Silence."

Heads turned to see a middle-aged man, with the bearing of a teacher, accompanied by a black-armored warrior.

The teacher-like figure regarded Luo Yan and spoke evenly, "This is the new student recommended by Regiment Commander Di Zheng. Who dares to send him away?"

The fat man quickly bowed his head in response.

The teacher then added, "Besides, Scarlet Poison isn't contagious. What are you all so afraid of?"

"If you're scared of Scarlet Poison, how can I expect you to battle the behemoths on the surface?"

"What a joke!"

At his words, everyone turned red with shame.

He then produced a magnetic card and handed it to Luo Yan, saying, "This is your registration card. If you pass the exam, it becomes your student ID."

Looking around the room, he announced, "Prepare yourselves; the exam starts in ten minutes."

"The task is to kill a tick. The principal will announce the specific rules shortly."

With that, the teacher departed.

A murmur of dismay filled the hall, but Luo Yan found it odd.

Just one tick? Was that supposed to be hard?

Those creatures weren't tough to kill unless they swarmed.

Lee, the warrior, approached with a grin. "I've got to head back, but here, take this. My number's inside."

"Reach out if you need anything."

He handed a phone to Luo Yan.

Luo Yan was taken aback.

Lee chuckled, "This device only works in the city; it's useless outside."

He then whispered, "I just checked the new student roster. Keep an eye on Lo Beichen."

"His father is a sworn enemy of Regimental Commander Di. Lo Beichen, riding on his family's coattails, is arrogant and capable of anything."

"Be extra cautious if he makes it through the entrance exams."

With an encouraging pat on Luo Yan's shoulder, Lee took his leave.

Luo Yan pocketed the phone and overheard snippets of gossip.

"Who is this guy getting a nod from Regimental Commander Di?"

"I'm green with envy. The written test was brutal this year—nearly eighty percent of the newbies were weeded out, and this guy just waltzes into the practical exam."

"Could he be Regimental Commander Di's secret son?"

"Shush, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Luo Yan remained unfazed by the chatter.

Scanning the room, his gaze landed on the fat man.

He made his way over to him.

The fat man was about to wipe the blood from his face when Luo Yan approached, startling him. "What are you doing?" he asked nervously.

Luo Yan didn't respond. In one swift motion, he tore off a piece of his sleeve, grabbed the fat man, and wiped the blood from his face with the fabric.

The fat man was momentarily taken aback, not understanding Luo Yan's actions. Once the blood was wiped away, Luo Yan walked off without another word.

After some time, the fat man turned to the person next to him and chuckled, "That kid might be rough around the edges, but he knows he was in the wrong. He even took the initiative to clean me up."

Soon, a seasoned voice echoed through the hall. "Greetings, new students. I am your principal, Pann Renfeng. The entrance examination will commence shortly. I will now explain the rules. Participants may take the exam individually or in teams, with a maximum of three people per team. Additionally, a selection of weapons is available for use during the exam. Judges will score your performance, and an average score of 80 or above is required to pass. Those who pass will have their scores converted into credits on a one-to-one basis, serving as your 'starting capital' upon entering the academy. Now, please follow the teachers to the examination hall."

In no time, they arrived at the examination hall. Students had ten minutes to choose their weapons and decide how to take the exam.

As Luo Yan surveyed the weapons rack, a voice reached out to him. "Hello, would you like to team up with me?"

Turning around, Luo Yan saw a young man, probably seventeen or eighteen, with black hair and a lean build. He wore frameless glasses, exuding a sense of cleanliness and intellect. The young man extended his hand with a smile, "I'm Lee Bohang."

Luo Yan gave him a brief look and shook his head, making his way to the weapons rack. He preferred to operate solo; teaming up on the fly would only get in his way. Besides, he was dealing with nothing more than a tick. He chose a long spear from the rack – nothing fancy, but it was long and sharp.

More and more people were opting for firearms.

Luo Yan had only handled an automatic pistol before and was not proficient with it.

Therefore, he didn't join the masses in selecting a firearm.

After all, he had a plan of his own.

Once he had registered, taken his number, and completed all the necessary preparations, the exam commenced.

Students whose numbers were called entered a sealed area.

The area lacked windows, rendering it invisible to the students outside.

Only the judges, or students who had completed the exam, could watch the proceedings on a large screen in an adjacent hall.

One by one, the students entered.

Upon exiting,

some celebrated, others lamented.

A few were carried out, drenched in blood, and rushed for emergency care.

Luo Yan's turn came quickly.

In the hall behind the examination room, the heavyset individual who had caused Luo Yan to trip earlier was resting.

He took extra notice when Luo Yan appeared on the big screen.

Suddenly, he saw Luo Yan pull a ragged cloth from his pocket.

The fabric was smeared with blood.

The heavyset man abruptly recalled that it was part of the sleeve Luo Yan had used to wipe his blood.

He was bewildered,

unable to decipher Luo Yan's move.

In the arena, Luo Yan tied the blood-soaked sleeve to the tip of his spear and nodded to the proctor.

Soon after, a tick was released.

The Behemoth Parasite, as large as a wolf, charged at Luo Yan in a frenzy.

As it neared, it leaped with force, colliding with the spear's tip.

Luo Yan slid back from the impact but managed to brace against the assault with his spear.

The tick, however, impaled itself.

It struggled desperately,

but its efforts slowly diminished.

Eventually, it ceased to breathe.

Onscreen, Luo Yan lowered his spear and walked away.

The hall fell silent.

The entire ordeal

lasted no more than ten seconds.

Moreover, it seemed less like Luo Yan had slain the tick and more as if the creature had willingly met its end.

This...

"Now I understand."

"The tick becomes frenzied at the scent of blood, losing all reason."

"He used the bloodied cloth as bait, enticing the tick to impale itself on the trap."

"Remarkable."

"Brilliant."

The chubby man turned to find a tall, slender young man with rimless glasses standing next to him.

He revealed the secret behind Luo Yan's triumph.

The revelation cleared up the chubby man's confusion.

But then...

His facial muscles spasmed.

"Hold on, that kid wiped the blood off for me."

"It wasn't an oversight."

"He actually used my blood to bait the tick?"