{"id":3282,"date":"2026-06-01T23:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T23:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/?p=3282"},"modified":"2026-05-10T09:13:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T09:13:54","slug":"global-examination-28","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ko\/chapter\/global-examination-28\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Examination 28"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 28: The Big Shot Has Gone Crazy
He Sewed 16 Dolls

\u201cThat\u2019s right! Last time when Mike listened to the recording, didn\u2019t he recognize the word for grave? He should know it!\u201d

At the critical moment, Yu Wen\u2019s memory suddenly became brilliant.

He jumped up searching for someone.

\u201cWhere\u2019s Mike?! Where is he?!\u201d

\u201cHe\u2019s still passed out on the sofa!\u201d Old Yu sprinted into the room.

The incense smell in the little forest had affected Mike especially badly.

After coming back, he\u2019d vomited twice before everyone settled him into bed, and he still hadn\u2019t woken up.

Everyone had been overly confident earlier, so nobody bothered waking him.

Who knew such a problem would suddenly appear at the crucial moment?

\u201cSorry, sorry\u2026\u201d

Old Yu slapped Mike twice before finally waking him up.

Mike was still dizzy. The moment he opened his eyes, he dry-heaved twice.

\u201cHelp! Help! Help!\u201d

Old Yu immediately used the only English word he knew and dragged Mike outside.

\u2026

In front of the Black Hag\u2019s door, the bone pen was already in You Huo\u2019s hand.

He wrote quickly, forcefully copying the gravestone inscription within two minutes. To save time, he even omitted the Black Hag\u2019s name.

The moment Mike arrived, You Huo drew a heavy final stroke, shoved the pen into his hands, and said:

\u201cWrite.\u201d

As the crow screeched its final two warnings, Mike hurriedly added the word for \u201cgrave.\u201d

\u2026

Whew\u2014

Thank god they made it.

Everyone let out a long breath.

\u201cThat was literally a race against death\u2026\u201d Yu Wen clutched his chest as his heart finally dropped back into place.

\u201cGood thing you stopped me from writing everything yesterday.\u201d

Hopefully the gravestone included the location instead of just saying so-and-so is buried here.

But it didn\u2019t matter.

Even if the inscription lacked the location, Mike still had the word \u201cgrave.\u201d

Double insurance.

Surely they\u2019d score this time.

That\u2019s what everyone thought.

They waited a long while before changes finally appeared in the answer section.

The system\u2019s grading result came out\u2026

A red X.

A glaring crimson X appeared there.

To the left was the copied gravestone text.

To the right was Mike\u2019s word for grave.

The meaning was obvious:

Both answers were wrong.

Everyone\u2014including You Huo\u2014froze in shock.

This result was completely unexpected.

\u201cWrong? How is that possible?!\u201d

\u201cDid the system malfunction? Did it grade incorrectly?!\u201d

Nobody could understand why the answer was wrong.

You Huo stared at the answer wall, brows tightly furrowed.

If neither the gravestone inscription nor the word \u201cgrave\u201d was correct, then unless the system made an error, there was only one explanation\u2014

Those were the Black Hag\u2019s family graves.

But her family members themselves were not inside the graves.

His gaze shifted to Listening Question (3).

Question (3): How many people are inside the Black Hag\u2019s house?

You Huo: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u201d

Question:

Would a superstitious old witch possibly keep her dead family members inside her house?

Answer:

What kind of insane thing wouldn\u2019t that old hag do?!

Before everyone recovered from the shock, new text slowly appeared in the answer section.

Regretful Notice: During this collection round, the system detected no scoring points in your answers.

Punishment Result: One examinee will be randomly selected to enter the coffin.

As those words slowly appeared, You Huo casually patted Qin Jiu\u2019s shoulder.

Qin Jiu turned his head, his gaze traveling from the fingers on his shoulder to You Huo\u2019s face.

\u201cLet me guess,\u201d he said.

\u201cOur Mr. Hm has finally decided to ask for help?\u201d

You Huo: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d

Who the hell is our.

Unless absolutely necessary, he truly didn\u2019t want to use that help card.

But the current situation really was troublesome.

He didn\u2019t know who the system would randomly choose.

Nor did he know whether there was any loophole to exploit.

If things got truly messy\u2026

While he was still thinking, another line slowly appeared beneath the punishment result.

Note: Funeral ceremonies in Chasu Village are always held at midnight. We respect local traditions, so punishment will be carried out tonight.

Tonight?

Unlike the previous exam, this punishment wasn\u2019t being executed immediately.

The instant he saw that, You Huo withdrew his hand from Qin Jiu\u2019s shoulder.

Qin Jiu: \u201c?\u201d

You Huo said:

\u201cThere\u2019s still time. We\u2019ll talk later.\u201d

Qin Jiu: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d

He stared at You Huo for a moment before saying:

\u201cI think I should give you a small reminder.\u201d

\u201cWhen the system executes punishment, it won\u2019t warn you beforehand. It won\u2019t tell you several seconds in advance who\u2019s been selected.\u201d

\u201cYou could be talking face-to-face with someone, and suddenly one of you just disappears.\u201d

\u201cIf the person who disappears is you,\u201d Qin Jiu asked,

\u201chow exactly do you plan to ask for help?\u201d

\u201cThat proctor 922 said before that if we need help, we just write 001,\u201d You Huo replied.

Qin Jiu: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d

\u201cSince we\u2019re talking about this anyway, I might as well ask,\u201d You Huo mocked.

\u201cI heard it has to be written on the answer sheet? What kind of idiotic rule is that?\u201d

In the Hunter Cabin exam it had been manageable because the place was small. Reaching the answer sheet only took a few steps.

But in an exam site like Chasu Village\u2014or someplace even larger\u2014needing to run around in circles just to find a proctor was absurd.

Qin Jiu replied:

\u201c922? I\u2019ll have to remember that one against him.\u201d

\u201cBut that\u2019s only how you contact ordinary proctors.\u201d

You Huo: \u201c\u2026And someone like you, the self-proclaimed chief proctor?\u201d

\u201cOh, there are many methods for that.\u201d Qin Jiu smiled slightly.

\u201cYou could try writing it anywhere in the exam site and see whether I notice.\u201d

You Huo: \u201c\u2026Do I look mentally ill?\u201d

\u2026

When the punishment result first appeared, everyone had at least comforted themselves with the fact that they still had most of the day left.

Only by afternoon did they realize that delayed punishment was actually worse than instant execution.

It was like a blade already pressed against your throat, sharp edge tight against your skin, while the executioner calmly told you:

\u201cSorry, it\u2019s not time yet. Keep waiting.\u201d

As usual, the Black Hag forced them to sew dolls.

She clearly wouldn\u2019t rest until every examinee had been chopped apart.

Nobody could focus anymore.

Everyone sat like they were on needles, restless and anxious.

Their nerves were so frayed that nobody even noticed a certain big shot behaving strangely\u2014

While everyone else was panicking, he pulled several dolls from the basket and casually grabbed a needle.

Normally when people sewed dolls, they paid attention to the stitching.

Maybe not neat, but at least somewhat orderly.

Not You Huo.

One stitch through, one stitch back, and an arm was attached.

\u2026

By the time everyone finally noticed him, a whole row of dolls had already piled up in front of him.

Someone casually counted.

Eight total.

Old Yu nearly dropped to his knees.

\u201c\u2026What are you doing?\u201d

You Huo casually finished the ninth doll without even looking up.

\u201cPreparing something.\u201d

This horrifying \u201cpreparation\u201d continued until the sand in the hourglass completely ran out.

The moment the Black Hag entered, she came face-to-face with sixteen dolls.

Her ancient wrinkled face froze instantly.

After serving as an exam question for so many years, this was the first time she\u2019d encountered guests like these.

She was speechless.

She stared at You Huo like he was insane.

After a long moment, the Black Hag muttered softly to herself while slowly arranging all sixteen new dolls across the wooden shelf.

\u2026

Night came faster than the previous two days.

Taking advantage of the villagers still being outside, everyone crossed the frozen river to speak with them.

\u201cYou\u2019re all still alive\u2026\u201d the female villager greeted them proactively while carrying a basin of broken ice.

Though the content of that greeting was horrifying if you thought about it too much.

Bearing the imperial command of Big Shot You, Old Yu got straight to the point.

\u201cSis, can I ask you something?\u201d

The woman took a moment to react.

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d

\u201cI heard your village has a custom where funerals can only be held at night?\u201d

\u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d

\u201cOh, then around here, do you usually bury people or cremate them?\u201d Old Yu asked.

The woman froze briefly, suddenly falling into a daze.

At that instant, her head tilted slightly as if she wanted to glance toward some part of the forest.

But she quickly recovered and replied blankly:

\u201cBurial. No cremation. Cremation isn\u2019t allowed.\u201d

\u201cWhy?\u201d You Huo suddenly interrupted.

The woman tilted her head and thought for a moment.

\u201cNo reason. It\u2019s just tradition.\u201d

You Huo fell silent in thought.

Old Yu continued:

\u201cAnd when you bury coffins, where exactly do you put them?\u201d

\u201cIn the forest.\u201d

\u201cI know it\u2019s in the forest,\u201d Old Yu said impatiently.

\u201cWhat I mean is, doesn\u2019t the entire forest already have graves everywhere? I\u2019m asking where there\u2019s still empty space left.\u201d

\u201cYou don\u2019t stack coffins on top of each other, right?\u201d

\u201cOh, no, we don\u2019t.\u201d The woman thought for a moment before pointing east and west.

\u201cThat area over there, and that one too\u2014they\u2019re still empty.\u201d

Everyone hurriedly memorized the locations.

Old Yu wanted to ask more, but the woman glanced at the darkening sky and said:

\u201cIt\u2019s getting dark again. I need to hurry home.\u201d

\u201cYou should go back too. Don\u2019t wander around. And absolutely do not enter the forest.\u201d

After saying that, she clutched her iron basin and ran off in panic.

Doors slammed shut one after another.

The village instantly returned to silence.

Old Yu grumbled:

\u201cWith courage like this, they still hold funerals at night\u2026\u201d

\u201cDon\u2019t you think the system is talking nonsense? These villagers don\u2019t even dare leave their houses after dark. How could they possibly go into the forest to hold funerals?\u201d

\u201cIf the exam says so, then it\u2019s so,\u201d Chen Bin muttered.

\u201cThis place can\u2019t be judged by normal logic.\u201d

Regardless, they\u2019d at least figured out the burial locations.

If someone got punished and placed in a coffin, they\u2019d at least know where to search.

\u2026

After leaving the villagers, nobody returned to their own rooms.

You Huo\u2019s house had somehow become headquarters.

Everyone gathered there together.

Night deepened.

While chewing on rock-hard bread, they discussed what to do later.

\u201cIf we\u2019re going into the forest, we should bring more useful tools,\u201d Yu Wen suggested.

\u201cOne, for self-defense.\u201d

\u201cAnd two\u2026 if we get lucky and catch another ghost hand.\u201d

\u201cI found hemp rope in the house,\u201d Old Yu said.

\u201cThere are knives in every room too, though I don\u2019t know if they can beat a bone-cleaver.\u201d

\u201cAnd if we need to dig up coffins, we\u2019ll need shovels too, right?\u201d

As he spoke, he instinctively turned around seeking You Huo\u2019s approval.

Only to find the single sofa behind him completely empty.

You Huo, who\u2019d been sitting there moments ago, had vanished.

\u201cWhere\u2019d he go? He was just here\u2026\u201d Old Yu said in confusion.

Everyone stared at the empty sofa.

The room fell silent for over ten seconds before exploding into chaos.

\u201cFuck?!\u201d

Yu Wen stopped searching and directly shouted:

\u201cBro?! Where are you?!\u201d

He called three times in a row.

No response.

The scariest part was\u2014

Qin Jiu was still there.

During exams, wherever You Huo went, the attached proctor had to follow.

There was only one exception\u2026

System punishment.

Everyone suddenly remembered Qin Jiu\u2019s words from that morning:

\u201cYou could be talking face-to-face with someone, and suddenly they disappear.\u201d

Who the hell could\u2019ve expected the system\u2019s random selection to land this perfectly\u2014

directly taking away their golden thigh.

\u2026

At this very moment, the golden thigh was lying inside a cramped space.

His legs couldn\u2019t fully extend.

His arms couldn\u2019t lift properly.

Oxygen was extremely limited.

No need to think too hard.

He was obviously the \u201clucky winner\u201d randomly selected for coffin punishment.

You Huo wasn\u2019t surprised by the result.

Or rather, no result really surprised him.

Because while sewing dolls that afternoon, he\u2019d already prepared for two possibilities.

If someone else got placed in the coffin, then if absolutely necessary he could use the help card.

If he himself got chosen\u2026

Then maybe he wouldn\u2019t even need the card.

In the darkness, You Huo stretched out and touched the coffin walls.

Cold, damp, carrying the heavy scent of soil.

He guessed the coffin had been buried beneath some muddy patch within the forest.

The forest was enormous.

Even with a general area narrowed down, finding someone inside was like searching for a needle in the ocean.

People searching for people was always difficult.

But\u2026

when it came to other things searching for people, that was another story.

\u2026

Inside the eastern forest of the mountain village, Old Yu and the others wandered around carrying bundles of hemp rope and torches.

Suddenly, everyone froze.

Old Yu nervously made a shushing gesture.

The group held their breath and listened.

The familiar crawling sounds had returned.

But tonight\u2019s crawling sounded different.

Instead of moving toward the village\u2026

they were heading toward the center of the forest.

Several seconds later, Yu Wen gasped.

\u201cHoly shit\u2026 look over there!\u201d

He pointed ahead.

Everyone followed his finger.

Then collectively lost their minds\u2014

More than ten pale ghost hands and feet were swarming in from every direction, gathering around an open patch ahead.

Swinging cleavers of various sizes, they hissed eerily:

\u201cDid you sew dolls today?\u201d

Six feet underground, within thinning air, You Huo replied:

\u201cYeah. Sewed sixteen.\u201d

\u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d

The ghost hands and feet fell silent for a moment.

Then they raised their blades and started hacking wildly.<\/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-3282","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3282"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3282\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3283,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3282\/revisions\/3283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}