<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 12: Descending the Mountain
Reward: Candidate Qi Yang has obtained two lottery draws.
This examination consisted of four sub-questions:
(1) Unknown (5 points)
(2) Unknown (5 points)
(3) The number of diners changed from 13 to 12 (6 points)
(4) Find the cursed tableware (8 points)
Under normal circumstances, this question was worth a total of 24 points. Under special circumstances, there were additional opportunities for bonus points or deductions.
\u2026
New text appeared on the answer wall, and everyone began discussing it quietly.
\u201cThere were actually two unknown questions before this?\u201d
\u201cYeah. We got the points for the third sub-question right away, so the first two must\u2019ve been skipped.\u201d
\u201cNo, the first thing we got points for was solving the character.\u201d
\u201c\u2026\u201d
\u201cJudging by the order, those two points for solving the character probably belonged to the unknown questions.\u201d
\u201cThe points Yu Yao and I got for identifying the refraction might\u2019ve counted too.\u201d
\u201cSo the first two questions were just setup?\u201d
\u201cCould they have been triggered by Hunter A?\u201d
\u201cMaybe. Who knows? Honestly, I don\u2019t even want to know.\u201d
Hunter A\u2019s accidental death caused the first two sub-questions to never appear, becoming permanent unknowns.
Those two questions alone were worth ten points, a significant portion of the total score, but nobody felt any regret.
If Qi Yang hadn\u2019t been there, someone would have died during the very first collection of answer sheets. After that, things would only have gotten worse. Over forty-eight hours, five or six deaths wouldn\u2019t have been impossible.
In that kind of situation, who still cared about answering more questions?
Fewer questions and lower difficulty were exactly what they wanted.
Simply surviving was already a blessing.
\u2026
The answer wall continued calculating scores:
Solving the character: 2 points
Refraction key-point answer: 3 points
Question (3): 6 points
Bonus points: 2 points
Paper deduction: -2 points
Question (4): 8 points
Total: 19 points, exceeding the average score for this question by 11 points.
Total time used: 12 hours, 37 minutes, and 49 seconds.
Compared to the average time, they saved 35 hours, 22 minutes, and 11 seconds.
Yu Wen let out a \u201cWhoa,\u201d then turned to Qi Yang and said, \u201cSo if you calculate it like that, the average completion time is forty-eight hours?\u201d
Proctor 154 was about ready to lose it. \u201cForty-eight hours is the normal amount of time.\u201d
Could you people restrain yourselves a little and stop getting so inflated?
But then he reconsidered.
Out of those short twelve hours, they also had to subtract the three hours Qi Yang spent sleeping, plus the three hours wasted being forced to clean and endure disgusting nonsense\u2026
Which meant that if you excluded confinement time, these people\u2014no, this particular candidate\u2014had finished the exam in less than six hours?
Was he even human???
\u2026
The inhuman Qi Yang received a corresponding reward.
The answer wall slowly displayed another notification:
Reward: Candidate Qi Yang has obtained two lottery draws.
\u201cLottery draws?\u201d Qi Yang frowned.
He had no idea what nonsense the exam system was pulling this time. The answer wall seemed to die briefly after declaring it was \u201cfor encouragement,\u201d then fell silent again without displaying another word.
Just as everyone was confused, a \u201cding-dong\u201d sound suddenly echoed through the room, as though someone had received a new message.
Qi Yang abruptly sensed someone standing behind him. A hand brushed past his cheek from behind, long fingers lazily dangling a box of playing cards before his eyes.
Qi Yang\u2019s face instantly darkened. \u201cYou again\u2026\u201d
\u201cYou recognized me just from my fingers?\u201d
Proctor 001 always spoke with the same careless tone, one that made Qi Yang want to punch him.
Qin Jiu smiled and stepped back just in time to avoid Qi Yang\u2019s hand.
\u201cSneak attacks don\u2019t work on me.\u201d Qin Jiu opened the card box and took out a deck. \u201cDraw first.\u201d
Hearing this, everyone crowded around.
But they were still deeply afraid of Qin Jiu. Somehow, even when he smiled, it didn\u2019t feel friendly or approachable.
So they formed a circle with a four-meter diameter, refusing to move their feet and only stretching their necks forward.
All the card backs in Qin Jiu\u2019s hand looked identical, but the fronts displayed different contents. Some were extremely eye-catching, for example:
> Total score +15 (Single Person)
> Total score +10 (Entire Group)
> Exam Exemption (Single Person, Single Exam; score calculated according to average results)
\u2026
There were also some bizarre ones:
> Cheat Sheet
> Last-Minute Cramming
\u2026
Everyone could roughly guess what those names meant.
But how exactly they worked, and how useful they were during exams, was hard to say.
Besides the obviously rewarding cards, the deck also contained many absurd things that made people laugh helplessly.
Qi Yang swept his eyes over them and saw at least ten cards carrying nearly identical phrases:
> Excellent Candidate, Keep Up the Good Work.
> Outstanding Student, Encouragement Awarded.
> Top of the Class, Special Commendation.
Qi Yang truly couldn\u2019t understand what use certificates of merit had in a hellhole like this.
Translated differently, they basically meant:
Thanks for participating. Please come again.
Qi Yang pointed at several of the strangest cards and asked, \u201cWhat do the black cards mean? Punishment?\u201d
The fronts of those cards were completely black, without a single word on them. They didn\u2019t look like anything good.
Qin Jiu pulled one out and flipped it before Qi Yang\u2019s eyes while dragging out his words lazily.
\u201cNot exactly punishment, but they are special. At the very least, they can\u2019t be considered normal rewards.\u201d
\u201cOne black card represents one reform to the examination system. It takes effect immediately that same day.\u201d
The younger candidates instantly turned green.
\u201cThere are reforms in this damn place too?\u201d Yu Wen looked especially green.
His three years of high school had been tortured by endless reforms. Wherever the winds of reform blew, their study plans changed accordingly. One day it was a 3+2 system, the next day the \u201c2\u201d became a ranking grade system.
He never could have imagined that even after surviving the college entrance exams, he still couldn\u2019t escape reforms.
Just as everyone\u2019s expressions grew uglier, Qin Jiu suddenly shook the card box again and pulled out one final card.
\u201cAlmost forgot this one. You should all like it very much.\u201d
> Direct Admission (Single Person)
The cabin fell silent for a moment before erupting into buzzing discussion.
\u201cThis direct admission\u2026 does it mean what I think it means?\u201d Zhou Jin asked.
Because of his illness, he couldn\u2019t get overly emotional, making him the only one among the background candidates who could ask calmly.
\u201cDoes this mean\u2026 no more exams?\u201d
Before Qin Jiu could answer, 922 eagerly interrupted. He seemed especially fond of introducing the \u201cDirect Admission\u201d card.
\u201cThis one looks a little similar to the exemption card. But the exemption card only lets you skip a single exam and calculates your score according to the average. It\u2019s a very safe card, a pretty standard reward.\u201d
922 grinned. \u201cBut the Direct Admission card is different. This is the true ace card. There\u2019s only one in the entire deck. If you draw it, it means you directly pass all examinations. You can eat well, sleep well, rest properly\u2026\u201d
\u201cWhen you open your eyes again, you\u2019ll be home.\u201d
Home?
The moment they heard that word, every candidate in the room froze.
In the past twelve hours, this was the thing they had least dared to think about. Staying alive already depended on teamwork and luck. Who still dared dream about going home?
But now, this Direct Admission card awakened everyone\u2019s desire to return home.
Old Yu gathered his courage and asked, \u201cIf we don\u2019t get this card, how long will it take before we can go home?\u201d
922 thought for a moment. \u201cDepends on the current examination system. Finish the required subjects and reach the required score. Meet those two conditions, and you can leave.\u201d
Old Yu looked like he wanted to ask something else, but Qin Jiu had already gathered the cards together and shuffled them twice like a poker deck. Then he spread them into a fan shape face-down before Qi Yang.
\u201cCome on. Two chances. Don\u2019t waste time.\u201d
But Qi Yang didn\u2019t move. Instead, he turned to the others and said, \u201cWhoever has good luck, come draw.\u201d
The moment he finished speaking, the radio crackled:
\u3010Warning: Candidates may not transfer lottery rights.\u3011
Qi Yang: \u201c\u2026\u201d
\u201cThe system issued the warning. Why are you glaring at me?\u201d Qin Jiu tilted his chin lazily. \u201cDon\u2019t weaponize your looks. Hurry up and draw.\u201d
Go screw yourself with that \u201cweaponize your looks\u201d nonsense.
Qi Yang\u2019s expression turned colder than winter itself. He stared at Qin Jiu for several seconds before roughly yanking out a card.
The people watching became incredibly tense, holding their breath as they stared at the card face.
Qi Yang flipped it over:
> Top of the Class, Special Commendation.
Note: This is recognition of the candidate\u2019s excellent ability. Please continue maintaining your performance.
Qi Yang: \u201c\u2026\u201d
Exactly what he hated most.
What terrible luck.
The radio beeped inappropriately:
\u3010One lottery right has been used.\u3011
Qin Jiu pressed his tongue against his cheek and smiled slightly. \u201cNot bad. One more.\u201d
Qi Yang had already given up caring. He randomly pulled another card.
Yu Wen clasped his hands together in prayer beside him, though nobody knew what kind of blessing he was invoking. Somehow, it actually seemed to work a little, because this time it wasn\u2019t another encouragement card.
Qi Yang turned over the card:
> Assistance from a Proctor
Note: Your outstanding performance has earned a proctor\u2019s favor. During the examination period, you may make one additional request to a proctor, and the proctor is obligated to fulfill it. Valid until the end of the next examination.
\u201c\u2026\u201d
Qi Yang felt that every sentence on this card was mocking him.
Fortunately, he regained his composure quickly and asked Qin Jiu, \u201cAre the proctors fixed for every exam?\u201d
\u201cOf course not,\u201d Qin Jiu replied. \u201cEvery new subject randomly refreshes the proctors.\u201d
\u2026
The radio crackled again:
\u3010Two lottery rights have been used. Lottery concluded. Congratulations.\u3011
The moment the announcement ended, the long-silent answer wall creaked noisily and displayed new text:
Punishment: One guest sat in the cursed seat. He escaped death and will become the new Hunter A.
\u2026
When the second half of the sentence appeared, everyone stared at the words without understanding them.
Or rather\u2026
They didn\u2019t dare understand them.
\u201cWhat does it mean by becoming the new Hunter A?\u201d someone muttered.
A shrill scream suddenly rang through the cabin.
Everyone stiffly turned their heads.
The bald man sitting in Seat Twelve had finally straightened his body. His eyes were wide with terror as he stared at his hands.
His normal skin color was rapidly fading into a pale bluish gray.
His lips turned bright red, stretching unnaturally toward both sides beneath the contrast of his corpse-like skin. Strange blotches surfaced along his temples and fingers.
The bald man slowly raised his head blankly. After staring in a daze for a long time, he suddenly twisted his neck stiffly and stood up.
His appearance and movements became more and more like the dead Hunter A. Only his expression still faintly retained traces of his original terror.
\u201cNo\u2026 no\u2026 no\u2026 it can\u2019t be like this\u2026 You can\u2019t leave! Stay with me. Stay with me, okay?\u201d
He muttered a few words before suddenly lunging toward everyone.
Whoosh\u2014
The roaring wind and snow surged in from nowhere, blasting directly into their faces so violently that nobody could open their eyes.
Instinctively, they raised their arms to shield themselves.
And when they opened their eyes again, the cabin was gone.
The bald man who had become Hunter A was gone too.
Even the three proctors had disappeared.
They stood in endless falling snow, facing a vast pine forest. In the distance, a path leading down the mountain faintly emerged.
Volume 2: Guess Who I Am<\/p>","protected":false},"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"novel":[],"class_list":["post-3250","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3250"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3251,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3250\/revisions\/3251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}