Chapter 78: The Duke Suddenly Felt That the Stand-Up Collar Around You Huo’s Neck Was Tied Too Tightly

Supervisor No. 1006 was an experienced and worldly man; a handful of blood couldn’t possibly scare him to death.

He simply pulled a cloth, wiping his hands and neck, then pressed it against the wound.

“What wedding dress? Why do you have that expression?”

With the earlier incident still fresh, Gao Qi’s attitude toward Qin Jiu had softened somewhat.

He opened the bedroom door and glanced out, exclaiming, “Oh! There’s even a skirt?”

“Looks quite good on you. Who’s wearing it?” He winked teasingly at the two in the room.

Just as he finished winking, he noticed the two were staring at him with terrifying gazes.

How terrifying was it?

It was a completely natural and unquestioning scrutiny, as if just a few seconds longer and that big skirt would be thrown over his neck.

“……”

Gao Qi instantly wiped the smile off his face, went blank for a moment, then turned and ran.

“See you at the banquet!” In one fluid motion, he vaulted onto the balcony and fled back to the neighboring room with the vigor of a man fifteen years younger.

He slipped away too quickly, the manservant outside the door noticing something amiss, peeking in only to come face to face with You Huo.

“What happened, sir?” The footman peered into the room.

You Huo braced against the door, blocking most of his view. “It’s fine.”

He was about to close it when the footman blocked the door with his foot and said, “I heard some noises—”

“Nothing to do with you.”

“But—”

You Huo interrupted him impatiently, “Do you want to watch the madam change clothes?”

With that, he slammed the door shut.

Inside the room, Qin Jiu had just emerged from the bedroom.

Holding up that large gown, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “Which lady is changing clothes?”

Teasing aside, this bastard even held the dress up and made a vague comparison to You Huo before letting out a thoughtful hum.

You Huo: “…”

Huh, your grandmother.

Holding the knife that Gao Qi had used for “self-sacrifice,” he pointed the tip toward the next room and said, “Go change into your formal wear next door.”

Qin Jiu laughed as he set down the dangerous item, then jumped onto the balcony and left.

The ancient castle was truly immense.

When pairs of guests in formal attire and masks emerged from within, it almost created a momentary illusion.

It was as if time had gone awry—as though the other guests in the castle were all genuine nobles from a bygone era.

Zhou Qi was originally looking around at the castle’s interior. At this moment, she carefully took a few steps closer to You Huo.

You Huo glanced at her. “Scared?”

Zhou Qi gave an embarrassed smile and said, “They’re all dressed similarly, their masks are similar too. It’s a bit hard to tell who’s who. Just now, I was standing a bit further away looking at you, and you also felt like one of the people here, like I was the only examinee who slipped in. It’s a bit terrifying…”

You Huo had his hand resting against the stone wall of the corridor, looking down at the people coming and going below, showing no intention of moving.

The manservant urged from the side: “Sir, madam, I will take you to the banquet hall.”

You Huo didn’t even look up: “Waiting for someone.”

The manservant said: “The banquet is about to begin.”

You Huo: “Oh.”

The manservant said: “The Duke is waiting for you.”

You Huo: “Then we’ll wait.”

Male Servant: “The Mistress is already present. Who else are you looking for?”

As an NPC, he seemed unable to comprehend any relationship other than “husband and wife.”

You Huo ignored him.

The servant added, “We could head to the banquet hall first and continue searching there.”

You Huo acted as if he were deaf.

The servant: “…”

As they spoke, the wooden door next door creaked open with a soft groan.

Qin Jiu pushed open the door and saw You Huo standing by the long corridor.

The formal attire accentuated his tall, straight figure, and as he turned to look over, the fabric around his waist and hips formed subtle creases. The mask covered the upper half of his face, its intricate and ornate patterns forming a striking contrast with the cold, reserved curve of his lips below.

Qin Jiu paused in his steps.

In that instant, he suddenly felt that You Huo’s collar around his neck was tied too tightly.

To the point where he wanted to go over and undo the top button, tear off half the mask, bite or kiss it, in short, to do something to ruin that meticulousness, to make those indifferent lips show some other emotion.

Perhaps it was the dim, ambiguous glow of the ceiling lamp.

He found such a You Huo oddly familiar, even able to imagine that aloof expression breaking for a moment.

It almost felt as though he had seen it before.

But only almost.

That subtle sense of familiarity was fleeting, vanishing as quickly as a sudden illusion.

……

“Feeling better now?” the male servant asked again, his face stern but his eyes flickering with unease, as if if You Huo didn’t move soon, he might burst into tears right then and there.

You Huo gave a faint “mm” and straightened up.

He saw Qin Jiu tug at the collar of his formal attire and stroll over unhurriedly, just about to say something.

The other door swung open as well, and Gao Qi stepped out awkwardly, pulling at his sleeves while complaining to Zhao Jiatong, “This thing is so uncomfortable to wear—the collar’s not right, the waist doesn’t fit, are they just trying to mock us for having short necks… Huh? Were you waiting for me?”

He tugged at the hem of his shirt as he asked You Huo.

You Huo paused briefly, then nodded at Gao Qi and said, “Hurry up.”

Gao Qi looked quite moved.

You Huo felt a slight twinge of guilt.

They lived the farthest away and were in no hurry to change their formal attire.

By the time they set off, the third floor was already empty of other examinees.

Their three pairs of guests were actually accompanied by three guiding servants.

Those three footmen walked at a brisk pace—if they could, they would probably have chosen to drag these few examinees down the stairs.

The interior of the ancient castle was generally rather dim.

The Duke seemed particularly fond of colors resembling blood, with curtains, drapes, handkerchiefs, and tablecloths all in such shades.

Every few tens of meters along the corridor walls hung a portrait oil painting.

The paintings depicted a family of three.

A woman in a red robe sat in an armchair, her left elbow resting on the side. Her snow-white neck and shoulders formed a soft, graceful curve, exuding a gentle and dignified aura… In her right hand, she held a mask, covering the upper half of her face.

The visible lips were vibrant red and full, the corners of her mouth upturned in a smile.

By her side stood a little boy, his hair combed meticulously, dressed in an exquisite white suit. With one hand resting on the woman’s wrist and the other also holding up a mask.

Behind the mother and child stood a tall, slender man. He was leaning slightly, supporting himself on the back of the armchair. He too held a mask over his face, a smile curving at the corner of his lips.

This must be the duke’s family.

But now that the lady and child have passed away, only the Duke remains.

The three footmen led them on a hurried journey through the colonnades and several empty rooms, finally arriving at the end of a certain corridor.

There stood a tall and magnificent door slightly ajar, from which faint sounds of clinking glasses and conversation could be heard.

One of the footmen checked the time and finally let out a relieved sigh, saying, “Good, we’ve made it just in time.”

He ushered the guests in, and left himself.

* * *

The long tables in the banquet hall spanned the room from one end to the other, spacious enough for the thirteen groups to sit and dine, with seats to spare.

The vacant seats at the very end were likely reserved for You Huo and his companions, and the man seated at the head of the table was probably the duke.

Although the butler, Douglas, called him “Master,” he was far from old—in fact, he was remarkably young.

Like… around twenty years old.

A dozen children, dressed in snow-white gowns and wearing masks as well, stood on a high platform at one corner of the hall, singing songs.

The duke looked at You Huo and the others, tapping the cup with a silver spoon.

He shushed, and the entire hall fell silent.

“Douglas, are these guests late?” the duke asked the butler beside him.

His voice was strange, as if he was used to speaking in a low, deliberately suppressed tone, with a slight hoarseness. It didn’t sound very pleasant.

Douglas shook his head and said, “No, my lord, the timing is just right.”

“Oh…” The duke nodded slightly.

Though he appeared young, his behavior and demeanor were nothing like a teenager’s. Perhaps it was because he was accustomed to being in a position of authority, giving off an aura of command.

“Not late…” the duke murmured softly under his breath.

He smiled faintly and said, “Then please have a seat. The wine has already been poured. Make yourself at home.”

The food on the table was exceptionally tempting.

With a gentle shake, clear streaks of wine—“legs” clinging to the glass—glistened translucent under the lamplight. The roast chicken, with its crispy golden-brown skin, plump and glistening, gave off a steaming, mouthwatering aroma…

All of this stood in stark contrast to the dry bread provided in the carriage.

The examinees were all struggling a bit to keep up.

But they didn’t dare to eat much.

After going through a few exams, they had become highly alert.

You Huo, on the other hand, casually picked up a glass and took a sip after sitting down.

Zhou Qi let out an “eh” but couldn’t stop him.

“Are you really going to drink it?” She glanced toward the duke and whispered.

You Huo said, “If you’re thirsty, you drink. What’s the problem?”

The food this time was much better than in the previous examination rooms, and the skill was on par with 922’s, so he had no trouble finishing it.

“But…”

Zhou Qi felt he couldn’t quite count as a friend yet, so he couldn’t hold him back. He then turned around to ask Qin Jiu for help.

As it turned out, Qin Jiu had drunk even more than You Huo.

Zhou Qi: “…”

The Duke laughed heartily and said, “I like guests like this…”

He then turned back to Douglas and said, “I like it, and I don’t mind letting them rest a little longer.”

Douglas nodded and replied, “Yes, Master.”

The examinee closest to the Duke faintly overheard these words, hesitated for a few seconds, then also started to move.

That’s just how people are—once two or three take the lead, the others quickly follow suit.

In the blink of an eye, those who had been holding their wine glasses and swirling them without taking a sip finally took a cautious taste. Finding it unlike poison, they gradually picked up their knives and forks.

Just then, the main doors opened again.

A man and a woman hurried inside, the man’s formal attire disheveled with buttons mismatched, looking both anxious and flustered.

The woman’s wide skirt hem was askew, and she huddled behind the man, nervously clutching his arm.

You Huo glanced at them and thought to himself that the system wasn’t entirely devoid of conscience, at least not all the “married couples” were forcibly matched—some were likely genuine lovers.

Even if they weren’t lovers, forming partnerships in such life-and-death exams would inevitably evoke something akin to the suspension bridge effect.

The duke set down his cup and turned to the butler. “Douglas, this pair of guests should surely be late by now?”

Douglas nodded and said, “Indeed, Master.”

His aged eyes looked at that pair of examinees, then said to the Duke with calm indifference, “They’re quite late.”

The Duke nodded and said, “Got it.”

His voice wasn’t loud.

But the hall was very quiet, with everyone else silent and not interrupting, making his words exceptionally clear.

The examinee pair immediately began to tremble, their faces turning deathly pale.

The Duke raised his hand and said, “It’s alright, it’s alright, don’t be afraid. I’m just asking as a matter of routine. Come, sit here. Seats have been reserved for you. The wine has already been poured.”

The man patted the woman’s hand, took a deep breath, and bravely made his way toward the other end of the long table.

There were indeed two empty seats left beside the Duke, as if specially prepared for the tardy guests.

Zhou Qi kept her gaze fixed on the Duke, and after a moment, she whispered to You Huo, “I know that pair of examinees. We were in the same exam hall for the first round. The man’s name is Zhang Pengyi, and the woman’s name is He Jiajia. They were already a couple, and their relationship was quite good…”

As she spoke, she glanced at the Duke and muttered softly, “My boyfriend was originally with me too, but unfortunately, we got separated during the second exam.”

You Huo asked her, “Which exam is this for you?”

Zhou Qi replied, “The fourth.”

Her grades were barely acceptable, giving her a sliver of hope that her boyfriend, who was a bit more capable than her, would likely perform better as long as he didn’t encounter overly strange test questions. After five exams… perhaps they could leave together.

As she spoke, she stared at the duke for a long time.

You Huo asked, “Are you afraid of him?”

Zhou Qi was stunned for a moment, shaking her head before nodding: “Of course I’m afraid, he’s part of the exam question after all. Who knows what he might do? But the reason I keep looking at him is… his mouth looks a bit like my boyfriend’s. I miss him a lot.”

She took a small, dejected sip of wine, glancing first at You Huo, then at Qin Jiu.

With a long sigh, she added, “I miss him even more now.”

You Huo: “…”

Halfway through the meal, the duke tapped the rim of his glass again and said, “Thank you all for coming from afar to remember my Elisa and Colin with me. I believe… I believe that if they knew, they would be deeply moved as well. I heard from Douglas that you promised to heal the townspeople here.”

He paused, then continued in a gentle voice, “On behalf of those poor souls, I thank you.”

“During the day, Douglas will arrange a carriage to take you to town, but please make sure to return before evening. I may not be able to do much, but allow me the chance to provide you all with a fine meal and a warm, comfortable bed.”

As he spoke, he suddenly turned his head and coughed a few times.

It was muffled, but his whole body trembled, as though he was trying to suppress the cough deep in his chest.

Douglas steadied him.

He wiped the corner of his mouth with a cloth napkin, turning around with lips as red as fresh blood.

A soft gasp escaped from the guests at the dining table.

The Duke said, “I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather these past few days, just minor ailments, nothing to worry about.”

“Oh, right, while you’re all staying here, please don’t remove your masks,” the Duke suddenly added. “It looks so much more uniform and elegant this way.”

“……”

Who wants to look all neat and tidy?

This duke must have obsessive-compulsive disorder.

However, given that everyone had mentally prepared in advance, knowing the Duke was bound to have some peculiar habits, they didn’t take it too seriously.

Then the duke said again, “My house is rather large, and it’s easy to get lost at night. So drink plenty of wine and sleep well, so you won’t have to get up during the night.”

He chuckled lightly, “One more request, as I mentioned before—my health isn’t very good, and I sleep poorly at night. I don’t want to be disturbed, so if any of you have the habit of getting up at night, please avoid the first floor of the west tower. When I can’t sleep, my temper isn’t the best, and I’d hate to offend anyone.”

The group nodded, feeling a bit uneasy.

But the allure of fine wine and delicious food was simply too strong, and the Duke had remained quite amiable throughout. Before long, the examinees were lost in their meals again.

The children’s chants drifted lightly in the background, making it hard to resist the urge to doze off.

But everyone was doing their best to stay awake, chatting among themselves.

This exam question seemed a bit strange. In the past, something would happen on the first day, or some implicit requirements for the question would be given.

Or there might also be some kind of punishment for being ranked last, and so on.

But this time, it was strange that nothing had been brought up.

After murmuring a few words with Zhao Jiatong, Gao Qi turned to You Huo with a piece of bread in his hand and asked, “…A, what do you think?”

“What?”

“I’m discussing with Zhao Jiatong whether we should head into town first tomorrow to check things out or take advantage of the duke’s absence and explore the castle. The duke will probably be a big problem, so it’s best not to provoke him for now.” He told Zhao Jiatong about his dream, still troubled by it.

He felt that this castle was one hundred and twenty percent wrong.

“Zhao Jiatong supports going to the town—that’s the safer route. I support exploring the castle. Who do you vote for?”

You Huo said, “I’d like to check out the examination office first.”

Zhao Jiatong: “?”

Gao Qi: “???”

“Has… the invigilator’s office somehow offended you? Why prioritize investigating them?” Gao Qi couldn’t understand.

He turned to look at Qin Jiu again, spoke with exaggerated patience as if holding his nose, and asked, “And what about you? Right now, Zhao Jiatong supports exploring the town first, I support checking out the castle first, and this A wants to go to the invigilator’s office. That’s one vote each, so it all depends on you?”

“Me?” Qin Jiu said, “I want to provoke the Duke a bit.”

Gao Qi: “…”

Why did he have to take the exam with such two freaks?

Not far away, at the head of the table, the Duke covered his mouth with a light cough, then turned to the late examinees Zhang Pengyi and He Jiajia, softly asking, “Are you free tonight?”