"I wonder why the administrative deacon was suddenly in such a bad mood," Zhao Yunxiao rubbed his chin in contemplation while walking alongside Bo Fei. "I believe that something big must have happened while we were undergoing the test!"
"...You think?" Bo Fei felt the corner of his lips twitch.
Yes, something happened indeed... and that something is you!
You happened!
When he thought back to the scene earlier, Bo Fei could still feel his heart pounding faster.
At one point, not to mention the administrative deacon, but the other applicants were also getting tired of simply watching Zhao Yunxiao.
And that was when the administrative deacons in charge of the recruitment tests for the other roles started entering their test area.
"Why aren't you done yet? Don't you only have five applicants?"
"How slow. I had fifty applicants to test, and I have already finished their assessment!"
"It looks like things here aren't going to end anytime soon. Since that is the case, we shall make our move first. See you later, or maybe tomorrow if that's going to be how long it takes!"
Bo Fei was not sure if the other administrative deacons were deliberately trying to be a tease, but he was sure of one thing – the expression on the face of their administrative deacon in charge only turned darker with every passing remark!
The other deacons might be able to laugh it off upon seeing this, but outer disciples like them felt extremely uncomfortable in that situation.
Especially after the other deacons left, the atmosphere felt extremely oppressive!
At that point in time, Bo Fei really would not be surprised if the administrative deacon simply walked into the array to forcibly pull Zhao Yunxiao right out!
Thankfully, Zhao Yunxiao finally ended his challenge soon after the other deacons left.
In that situation, Bo Fei was extremely relieved that the administrative deacon still decided to pass Zhao Yunxiao along with Ze Qifa, albeit in an extremely cold tone.
Unfortunately, the other three of them failed to qualify for the second stage of the test that would be held tomorrow.
"Regardless, how did you do that?" Bo Fei asked. "I hate to admit it, but you were rather impressive back there!"
"How else? Of course, it is through practice," Zhao Yunxiao rolled his eyes. "This is why I always tell you that hard work is important."
"Oh, spare me," Bo Fei raised his hands in surrender. "If I have to live a life like yours just to be able to do something like that, then I'd rather miss out on this one event."
"That said, it is still not certain that I will pass the test," Zhao Yunxiao reminded.
"Even though you managed to do so well?" Bo Fei was surprised to hear that.
"I might have done all right, but I'm sure you saw that Senior Martial Brother Ze Qifa was able to do just as well, if not better," Zhao Yunxiao said. "And this is just our group of districts. There are plenty of other groups, so who knows how good the others are? In the end, I can only be sure after passing the second stage of the test."
"If there is something bad about the Black Tortoise Sect, it is that there are too many disciples," Bo Fei grumbled. "It's no wonder that I haven't been able to pass the recruitment test in the past."
"It's due to your own lack of hard work that you haven't been able to pass, Senior Martial Brother Bo. Please don't blame it on others," Zhao Yunxiao chided. "And what's with the change of tone? Haven't you always been saying that it is nice that there are so many female disciples in the sect, so that you can always get pleasant surprises after seeing someone new from time to time?"
"Hahaha! That's true, that's true!" Bo Fei laughed heartily.
"All right, we are almost there," Zhao Yunxiao said. "I wonder how the rest did."
Even though he did not agree with how Gu Qiansi and Lu Zhiying were refusing to apply for the roles that they would have the highest chances of passing, he still secretly hoped that, by some miracle, they would be able to pass their respective tests.
As he said that, Zhao Yunxiao and Bo Fei turned a corner to arrive at the Lightwind Pavilion.
Because Zhao Yunxiao's recruitment test had taken much longer than planned, everyone else was already here by the time they arrived.
Gu Qiansi, Lu Zhiying, Nie Hanchang, and Huang An – all four of them were enjoying a tasty dish under the pavilion right now.
"Looks like Junior Martial Brother Zhao is finally here," Nie Hanchang was the first to notice.
"Oh? Senior Martial Brother Zhao! We are here!" Lu Zhiying leapt to her feet and waved excitedly towards them.
"Are you the only one who is welcomed?" Bo Fei felt the corner of his lips twitch.
"Who's the one who walked away from her during your first meeting?" Zhao Yunxiao whispered.
"Still no regrets there," Bo Fei replied in a similarly soft tone. "Some flowers are best admired from afar, for their thorns will prick those who dare venture near."
"Poetic, aren't we? If only you could put as much effort into your practice. Perhaps you wouldn't have failed the test then," Zhao Yunxiao rolled his eyes.
"I'm here!" Bo Fei ignored Zhao Yunxiao and went on ahead.
"How did it go?" Gu Qiansi asked as Zhao Yunxiao followed Bo Fei into the pavilion.
"The training? It felt great," Zhao Yunxiao answered without much thought.
"What are you talking about? I'm asking you about the recruitment test," Gu Qiansi raised an eyebrow. "I knew that your test was lasting a little long. Did you go for some extra training after that or something?"
"Ah, no, that's right. I mean the test – the test went well," Zhao Yunxiao quickly changed his words.
Gu Qiansi narrowed her eyes at him.
On the other hand, Bo Fei could not help but fall speechless.
I knew it! You were taking it as a form of training!
You were using it as training while making everyone else wait like idiots!
No wonder the administrative deacon was furious!
"Does that mean you passed, Senior Martial Brother Zhao?" Lu Zhiying asked.
"For now," Zhao Yunxiao nodded. "What about you? Did you pass on your end?"
"I failed!" Lu Zhiying slumped back into her seat in despondence. "The test is so difficult!"
"Don't worry, I failed as well," Bo Fei shrugged. "There's always next year."
"Senior Martial Brother Bo is right. Don't worry about it too much, Junior Martial Sister Lu. You have only just joined the sect, so it is only natural that you can't compete with everyone else just yet," Zhao Yunxiao consoled. "I'm sure next year will be a different story altogether!"
"Mm..." Lu Zhiying nodded.
Zhao Yunxiao felt a little bad for Lu Zhiying, but he could not help but also feel slightly relieved at the same time.
Lu Zhiying had simply been too monstrous so far, setting records in just about every single aspect.
If she had managed to pass this recruitment test as well, Zhao Yunxiao might just start to suspect that Lu Zhiying had some special master who was teaching her everything in secret!
Zhao Yunxiao then turned towards Gu Qiansi. "And you?"
"Failed," Gu Qiansi said curtly.
"I knew it," Zhao Yunxiao replied in a similar tone. "This is why, year after year, I keep telling you to apply for the role of chef!"
"And I keep telling you that I don't want to be a chef during the opening of the mystic realm!" Gu Qiansi retorted.
"Tch! Stubborn woman!" Zhao Yunxiao shook his head before turning to Huang An. "Needless to say, you passed as a facilitator, Junior Martial Sister Huang?"
"Yes, Senior Martial Brother Zhao..." Huang An answered timidly, very conscious of how fierce he had been when talking to Gu Qiansi just a moment earlier.
"As expected," Zhao Yunxiao nodded.
During the opening of the Four Symbols Mystic Realm, facilitators had the widest range of responsibilities as they were basically required to make sure the entire event flowed smoothly.
This meant that they would require people with various expertise.
And among the skills required, healing expertise was not to be missed.
The Four Symbols Mystic Realm might be abundant with treasures, but it had its own share of dangers as well.
It was not uncommon for participants to be in an injured state when exiting the mystic realm.
While the big shots would be there to render aid to those who were critically injured, most of the injuries would be tended to by the facilitators.
Due to just how important healing was, the more established physicians of the Medicine Pavilion were almost always accepted as faciliators as long as they applied for the role.
Zhao Yunxiao then turned his attention to Nie Hanchang.
"I didn't apply to be a helper," Nie Hanchang said before Zhao Yunxiao could ask anything.
"As expected of you, Senior Martial Brother Nie," Zhao Yunxiao smiled helplessly.
Indeed, Nie Hanchang had always been like this.
Rather than getting involved with the various events within the sect, he would much rather spend the time on his own training instead.
In comparison, Zhao Yunxiao would still spend time and effort on things like gathering resources and expanding his network.
So, if one only looked at training alone, Nie Hanchang could be considered much more hardworking than he was!
"This... Senior Martial Brother Zhao..." Huang An hesitated to ask.
"What is it, Junior Martial Sister Huang?" Zhao Yunxiao asked while digging into his share of the food that Gu Qiansi had silently handed him.
"Yesterday at the Medicine Pavilion, you told me to come look for you today, and that you would pass me some items that I will find useful for hunting..." Huang An said.
"So, it's about that. Don't worry, I have not forgotten," Zhao Yunxiao nodded. "Actually, it's good that Senior Martial Brother Nie is here right now. He might be able to share some hunting tips with you as well."
Nie Hanchang was just as experienced as Zhao Yunxiao when it came to going on hunting trips, if not more so.
Even the monster meat that they were enjoying right now was from one of his hunting trips.
"Are you going on a hunting trip, Junior Martial Sister Huang?" Bo Fei asked. "Why suddenly?"
Since it was something very uncharacteristic of Huang An, Bo Fei was just as surprised as Zhao Yunxiao was when the latter first heard about it.
"Yeah..." Huang An shrank her head back a little from embarrassment. "I just wanted to try stepping out of my comfort zone for once..."
"All of a sudden?" Bo Fei raised an eyebrow in response.
"Don't question her, Senior Martial Brother Bo," Gu Qiansi cautioned.
"I'm not questioning her, I'm just genuinely curious!" Bo Fei shrugged.
"But what is your primary goal for going on a hunting trip?" Nie Hanchang asked. "Are you hunting for the sake of resources? For the sake of assassination experience? Combat experience? Or simply for excitement and to pass the time?"
"This..." Huang An paused to think.
"Isn't it just for the thrill?" Lu Zhiying did not understand the hesitation.
"Not everyone is like you, Junior Martial Sister Lu," Zhao Yunxiao reminded.
"What do you mind by that, Senior Martial Brother Zhao?" Lu Zhiying narrowed her eyes at Zhao Yunxiao, who smartly decided not to reply.
"Ahem! It is fine if you are just thinking of exploring the activity as well," Zhao Yunxiao told Huang An. "Anyway, here!"
With a flick of his wrists, Zhao Yunxiao retrieved a variety of items from his spatial pouch and laid them out on the wooden floor of the pavilion.
Among them was a set of array flags, of which Zhao Yunxiao promptly picked one up and handed it over to Huang An.
"Now then, let me first teach you the fundamentals of arrays."