{"id":3268,"date":"2026-05-15T23:00:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T23:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/?p=3268"},"modified":"2026-05-10T07:14:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T07:14:52","slug":"global-examination-21","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ms\/chapter\/global-examination-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Examination 21"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 21: Villagers

I feel like I\u2019ve seen you somewhere before.

A foreign language that even translation software couldn\u2019t recognize\u2026

Only this damn system could come up with something like that.

\u201c\u2026What about internet access?\u201d Yu Wen poked frantically at his phone screen, growing anxious. \u201cMaybe my downloaded language packs aren\u2019t complete enough? Would connecting online help? Can the proctor help with that?\u201d

Hearing this, everyone turned toward Qin Jiu.

The proctor stood lazily in a corner of the living room beside a cabinet, absentmindedly inspecting the incense burner. It was like he had eyes on the back of his head\u2014without even turning around, he said:

\u201cYou weren\u2019t the ones who drew the reward card, so why are you looking at me?\u201d

The room\u2019s incense was overpoweringly strong.

He twisted open the burner\u2019s lid, picked out the choking incense chunk inside, and casually tossed it aside. During the process, his long fingers stirred directly through the burner without any fear of being burned.

After hearing his response, everyone stared expectantly at Qi Yang instead.

But before Qi Yang could say anything, Yu Wen, who had first suggested it, gradually calmed down.

\u201cForget it. The language packs should already be complete. I was just asking casually\u2026\u201d

\u201cSeveral different translation apps don\u2019t support Gypsy anyway. Even with internet access, it probably still wouldn\u2019t translate anything.\u201d

\u201cAnd if we end up finding nothing useful, we\u2019ll just waste a reward card for nothing.\u201d

Chen Bin looked around before finally asking:

\u201cWhat reward card? Ever since joining your group, I\u2019ve heard you mention it constantly, but I\u2019ve been too embarrassed to ask.\u201d

Back when the cards were drawn, the entire team had been present, so there wasn\u2019t much reason to hide anything.

Everyone began explaining the reward cards to Chen Bin all at once.

Chen Bin was utterly dumbfounded.

\u201cThere are actually rewards? I\u2019d only heard rumors before\u2014I thought people were making it up.\u201d

\u201cWhat did you all do to earn the chance?\u201d

Everyone looked faintly ashamed.

Inwardly, they thought:

We just got randomly handed a golden thigh by the system.

Chen Bin was sensible enough to read the atmosphere. Seeing everyone\u2019s mixed expressions, he wisely stopped asking further questions.

He glanced toward Liang Yuanhao and noticed that the other man\u2019s lips were tightly pressed together, his face ugly with tension.

Truthfully, Chen Bin\u2019s own expression wasn\u2019t much better.

Although neither of them had personally seen reward cards before, they had heard of them.

No matter what reason someone used to obtain one, it only proved one thing\u2014

This team was extremely capable.

Or more accurately\u2026

Someone on this team was extremely capable.

And it was obvious who that person was.

Unfortunately for them, the two of them had just chosen the exact opposite option from the big shot.

Chen Bin lightly nudged Liang Yuanhao and quietly asked while the others discussed things:

\u201cRegret it?\u201d

Liang Yuanhao kept a dark expression and answered roughly:

\u201cThe consequences haven\u2019t shown themselves yet. Just because he\u2019s right once means he\u2019ll always be right?\u201d

\u201cAnyway, I don\u2019t regret it.\u201d

\u201cI do, a little.\u201d Chen Bin stared at the floor miserably.

\u2026

\u201cBro, should we ask the proctor for help?\u201d Yu Wen asked.

\u201cNo.\u201d

Qi Yang sat on the armrest of the sofa, playing with his phone.

Qin Jiu closed the lid of the incense burner again.

He casually picked up a colorful cloth scarf, wiped his fingers clean, then slowly strolled behind Qi Yang and leaned both hands against the sofa back.

\u201cReally not asking?\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been holding onto that card for quite a while now. I\u2019m honestly dying to use it.\u201d

Without even lifting his head, Qi Yang let out a cold laugh in response.

That only made Qin Jiu more interested.

This candidate was truly fascinating.

For ordinary questions within reasonable limits, he asked endlessly and ordered the proctor around without the slightest politeness.

But the moment the reward card became involved, he absolutely refused to use it.

As though asking for help itself meant bowing his head.

One tough bone to chew.

Proctor 001 silently evaluated him.

\u2026

Qi Yang tapped his phone a few times, and Black Granny\u2019s childish-sounding voice once again filled the room.

This wasn\u2019t like English.

Everyone understood English to some degree. Even if their grades were terrible, replaying something enough times and slowing it down would eventually let them grasp most of it.

But Gypsy?

They truly understood absolutely nothing.

Even if they replayed this recording for an entire day, not a single crack would open in that wall of incomprehension.

Everyone stood silently in the living room, drowning in incomprehensible bird language.

\u2026

The recording played over ten times.

Suddenly, someone snapped their fingers.

Everyone jerked back to attention.

\u201cWho? What happened?\u201d

The one who snapped was actually Mike.

He stood frozen, mouth slightly open, listening carefully through the final few sentences of Black Granny\u2019s recording.

Then he suddenly shouted excitedly.

Because he spoke too quickly, his words sounded like gibberish too.

Old Yu and the others stared blankly for a long moment before turning toward Qi Yang.

\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d

Qi Yang frowned slightly.

\u201cHe says Black Granny\u2019s Gypsy includes Persian and Russian vocabulary mixed into it.\u201d

Then he turned toward Mike.

\u201cYou sure?\u201d

As a four-nationality mixed-blood, Mike might have failed genetically in the looks department, but his language abilities were genuine.

Slowing down his speech, he explained that his maternal grandfather came from Russia. Although Mike himself wasn\u2019t fluent in Russian, his vocabulary was decent.

As for Persian, he had impulsively taken it as an elective during university.

During their migrations, Gypsies were often influenced by the places they settled, so their language frequently absorbed foreign vocabulary.

They also learned local languages.

For example, Black Granny could understand the candidates\u2019 Chinese.

The village chief had mentioned that Black Granny fled here with Russians during wartime. She had likely absorbed Russian influences into her speech patterns over time.

Maybe even she herself didn\u2019t consciously realize it anymore.

\u2026

The moment everyone heard this, excitement exploded instantly.

Yu Wen stared at Mike like an eager golden retriever.

\u201cCome on! Quickly, quickly! What did you hear?\u201d

At that question, Mike suddenly looked embarrassed again.

His slightly chubby face flushed pink. After stammering several times, he finally squeezed out a few words.

\u201cGrave.\u201d

\u201cFlower.\u201d

\u201cNeedle.\u201d

\u201cSun.\u201d

Qi Yang looked at Mike, then turned to the others.

\u201cThat\u2019s all.\u201d

Everyone: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d

\u201cWhat were the questions again?\u201d Old Yu asked.

Yu Wen answered expressionlessly:

\u201cQuestion one: What\u2019s Black Granny\u2019s name?\u201d

\u201cQuestion two: Where\u2019s Black Granny\u2019s family?\u201d

\u201cQuestion three: How many people are in Black Granny\u2019s house?\u201d

Out of those four words, which one answered anything\u2026?

The hope that had barely ignited instantly sputtered out again.

Everyone\u2019s raised heads drooped back down, faces dark with despair.

\u2026

Without anyone noticing, the sun gradually tilted westward and disappeared behind the forest, casting a dim twilight glow.

Yu Yao, who sat beside the window, suddenly lifted the curtain slightly and whispered:

\u201cVillagers\u2026\u201d

\u201cHuh?\u201d Yu Wen leaned over. \u201cWhat villagers?\u201d

Yu Yao pulled the curtain completely open and pointed through the small round stone window.

\u201cPeople are coming outside across the river. They should be villagers, right?\u201d

The frozen river reflected pale evening light.

On the opposite bank, several figures emerged cautiously from houses carrying baskets and slowly approached the river.

\u201cSo there really are people.\u201d Chen Bin muttered. \u201cThe village chief did say everyone comes out around dusk for some activity. Guess it\u2019s more lively with people around?\u201d

\u201cBut\u2026\u201d

How could three lonely figures possibly count as lively???

\u2026

No matter what, where there were people, there were clues.

Qi Yang pulled on his black down jacket, zipped it up to his chin to cover the lower half of his face, and immediately walked outside.

The others gradually followed behind him.

Qin Jiu walked slowly beside Qi Yang, half a step behind.

\u201cBought that jacket with points?\u201d

Qi Yang narrowed his eyes and shot him a glance through thin slits.

\u201cEven though you\u2019ve already given me several lovely gifts, I\u2019m actually a generous person. So let me offer you a few words of advice.\u201d

With both hands in his overcoat pockets, Qin Jiu walked beside him across the frozen river.

\u201cIn this exam system, the number of people who actually pass is tiny. At least, after all my time supervising exams, I haven\u2019t seen many.\u201d

\u201cFor ordinary candidates, it\u2019s best not to waste points recklessly during the early stages.\u201d

Qi Yang\u2019s straight nose remained hidden beneath his collar, though white mist still formed with every breath.

Once he reached the opposite bank, his pale eyes shifted toward a middle-aged woman nearby.

The woman wore the typical clothing of a border-region winter resident\u2014an extremely long coat wrapped from neck to feet, with a massive scarf nearly burying her entire head.

She crouched awkwardly beside the river and called toward the man next to her:

\u201cCome help break the ice.\u201d

Qi Yang watched them briefly before tossing a sentence toward Qin Jiu.

\u201cSave ordinary advice for ordinary people. It doesn\u2019t apply to me.\u201d

Then he walked directly toward the two villagers.

\u2026

The villagers froze slightly upon seeing Qi Yang.

Then their stiff, frozen faces slowly stretched into smiles.

\u201cYou\u2019re one of the new guests?\u201d the woman asked. \u201cThe village chief mentioned you.\u201d

Qi Yang glanced toward the chief\u2019s tightly sealed house.

\u201cYeah. Arrived this morning.\u201d

The villagers nodded without much enthusiasm.

\u201cYou\u2019re staying across the river?\u201d

\u201cMm.\u201d

The two villagers fell silent for a moment before finally failing to hold back.

\u201cDon\u2019t you have anything you want to ask us? You must feel uncomfortable arriving in the village for the first time.\u201d

Qi Yang lifted his eyes slightly. \u201cIt\u2019s fine.\u201d

The two villagers: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d

After exchanging awkward glances, they crouched back down and resumed breaking river ice.

After a few strikes, the woman secretly glanced toward Qi Yang again.

\u201cYou visited Black Granny\u2019s place?\u201d she finally asked.

Qi Yang nodded. \u201cYeah. Stayed there the whole afternoon.\u201d

\u201cOh\u2026 did you do anything there?\u201d

Qi Yang replied, \u201cMade a few dolls. Not sure if you\u2019ve seen them before.\u201d

The two villagers suddenly stiffened slightly.

Qi Yang added casually, \u201cA few people didn\u2019t make them.\u201d

Strangely enough, the villagers shrank back even more after hearing that.

After a pause, the woman looked up and said:

\u201cNo. Usually only guests visit Black Granny. We rarely go across the river.\u201d

Qi Yang asked, \u201cHave guests come before too?\u201d

The woman nodded. \u201cYes. Groups like yours. They always arrive in groups.\u201d

Qi Yang asked, \u201cWhat happened to them afterward?\u201d

For an instant, confusion flashed across the woman\u2019s face.

Then she slowly shook her head.

\u201cIt seems like\u2026 I never saw them leave.\u201d

The candidates who had just crossed the river nearly fell straight into it upon hearing that.

Qin Jiu walked up beside Qi Yang and lowered his head slightly.

\u201cYou really are a genius at getting close to people.\u201d

Qi Yang: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d

He was just about to retort\u2014

When the metal basin in the male villager\u2019s hands suddenly clanged loudly onto the ice.

The two of them looked over.

The man stared at Qi Yang\u2019s eyes for several seconds.

Then he stared at Qin Jiu for several more.

Finally, slowly, he said:

\u201cI feel like\u2026 I\u2019ve seen you somewhere before.\u201d

Qi Yang froze briefly.

\u201cWho? Us?\u201d<\/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-3268","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3268"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3269,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3268\/revisions\/3269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}