"Who practices Mantis Fist like that?!" The deputy leader's eyes widened. He had heard of Mantis Fist before; it was a martial art that mimicked the movements of a mantis. It was about imitating the mantis, not turning into one!
He had gone over the standards for this test multiple times and even had several clever members of the sect try it out. He was sure there could only be one correct answer, the one he provided. Now, two unexpected answers had popped up, and he couldn't accept it!
The leader, however, was more open-minded: "Think about it from a different angle. He just glanced at a mantis and figured out Mantis Fist. Historically, the general from Jin didn’t have any martial talent either. This means that this Lu Yang must have incredible talent. In the end, he reached a level where martial arts became a form of magic. Such talent is rare!"
The deputy leader was momentarily stunned and turned to look at the serious leader, asking, "Are you serious?"
The leader thought to himself, of course, I’m just making this up. I don’t even understand how he turned from a person into a mantis. But as the leader, I can’t show ignorance in front of my subordinates.
The leader nodded, "Of course, I’m serious."
After hearing this, the deputy leader felt a bit better. Since he was a rare genius, it made sense that he stumbled upon a solution by chance. He could reluctantly accept it.
"Everyone who could pass has passed. The first test ends here," the deputy leader said, as countless images floated on the water's surface, showing everyone's performances.
Only a few people grasped perseverance from the spider, and very few figured out strategies from the mantis. Most people fell into despair in the cave, becoming cowards, and were killed by the soldiers of Liang Kingdom, dying nameless. The Liang soldiers didn’t even know that those they killed were once full of spirit.
"The second test begins."
...
"The second test is about making the examiner sincerely want to keep you."
This phrase appeared in everyone's mind, making them forget the context. They only remembered they had to find a way to pass the second test.
Yan Wangsun felt a bit dizzy. He had no memory of what had happened before, just a vague recollection of a rather familiar person asking where he was from. He replied that he was from Huangyue City.
"I am Yan Wangsun, currently applying for a position at the Luodi Jin Qian Merchants' Association. I need to pass an interview, and the requirement is not to tell anyone the interview questions," Yan Wangsun organized the information he had.
Even without the requirement, Yan Wangsun wouldn’t share the interview questions with others. That would only help them and not benefit him at all.
Yan Wangsun noticed he was sitting in the first position, next to a big man in a scholar's robe.
"My name is Mang Gu. What's yours?"
Yan Wangsun didn’t answer because the examiner was calling his name.
As soon as he entered the room, Yan Wangsun noticed a piece of paper on the floor, tossed it into the trash can, and then prepared for the interview.
The examiner was chubby, struggling to fit into his clothes, and always had a smile on his face. "So, Yan Wangsun, right? I need you to go to the market and see if there are any potatoes for sale."
Yan Wangsun obediently left, walked around the market, and found only one stall selling potatoes. He returned and said, "Yes."
The chubby examiner asked, "How many potatoes are there?"
Yan Wangsun had no choice but to run out again. He came back and said, "Eighty pounds of potatoes."
"What’s the price?"
Yan Wangsun cursed under his breath, thinking why the examiner didn’t ask this earlier. He ran out for the third time and found out the price: "Three wen per pound."
"How's the quality of the potatoes? Does the price match?"
Yan Wangsun held back his anger and went out for the fourth time to check the potatoes: "The quality is average, about three or four wen worth, so the price isn’t too high."
The chubby examiner smiled and said, "You’re eliminated."
"What?!" Yan Wangsun shouted angrily. He had run out four times, each time rushing there and back, working hard for half a day, and now he was told he failed?
Is this a joke?
The chubby examiner shrugged. "You ran out four times just to ask about potatoes. How can I trust you with a job?"
"Then why didn’t you just ask all at once?!"
The chubby examiner shook his head. "It’s your fault for not being thorough. How can you blame me for not asking everything? Young man, you need to learn to read the room in your work."
"Come on, do you think you’re the emperor or something?"
The chubby examiner wasn’t angry. "Even though you failed, you can still stay."
Yan Wangsun looked at the chubby examiner suspiciously, worried he was playing tricks on him. "Really?"
"Do you remember the piece of paper you picked up when you walked in? I deliberately dropped it to see who would pick it up."
Yan Wangsun felt a surge of joy. Could this be a test of responsibility and observation?
"We need someone to clean, so you can stay and take care of that."
Yan Wangsun: "..."
He wanted to curse but held back. No matter what, being able to stay meant he passed the test, which was a good thing.
"Next!" the chubby examiner called out.
Mang Gu walked into the room. Yan Wangsun looked at Mang Gu's honest face and felt a bit disdainful, thinking this guy would probably be tricked by the examiner just like him.
"Go check if there are any potatoes for sale at the market," the chubby examiner asked the same question.
Mang Gu said "Okay" and left, returning after more than ten minutes.
"There’s an old man selling potatoes at the market, pushing a cart. He has eighty pounds of potatoes for three wen each. The quality matches the price, and the old man even said if you buy in bulk, he could lower the price by a tenth..."
Mang Gu answered in great detail, even asking about things the chubby examiner hadn’t thought of. Yan Wangsun was stunned watching from the side.
Despite Mang Gu’s big and rough appearance, he was actually very thoughtful and considerate. He was good at learning humbly, especially from Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.
Looking at the current situation, there was still a long way to go before graduation.
"Congratulations, you’re staying."
...
"You see, I told you, this Mang Gu is a good candidate," the deputy leader said happily as Mang Gu passed the test again. This proved that his idea for the test was correct.
Others had to run a couple of times to answer the examiner's four questions, which barely counted as passing.
Only Mang Gu perfectly matched his expectations.
The leader nodded. "It seems this second test is about being thorough and considering your superior's needs."
In the demonic path, one must be careful and leave no traces to avoid being caught by the righteous path.
Moreover, only by considering your superior can you show your potential for advancement, which is why higher-ups would promote you.
The deputy leader designed the second test based on these considerations.
"This time, there shouldn’t be any other methods," the deputy leader said with a smug smile.
The leader didn’t speak, instead focusing on the two who had performed well in the first test.
His intuition told him that there might be other methods after all.
(End of Chapter)