"So you are the descendant of Sir Han of Spirit Mountain, south of the Giant Frog Marsh."
Upon setting down the letter, Jiang Yongnian took a deep sigh, shook his head and lamented softly:
"I remember hearing stories about Sir Han when I was young. He was a man of fierce loyalty, or at least that's the impression I have."
"I would never have thought that Sir Han has now passed."
"The once magnificent Han Family declined in just a mere four to five decades, from a well-known business clan to now only you being its sole survivor?"
Ye Hanjun's mouth twitched slightly, thinking, 'it's indeed a 'Forged Verification'.'
This non-existent Han surname could still find a notable person in the vicinity as a namesake.
Moreover, possibly, likely, maybe... he's even orphaned and impoverished? That's so fittingly standard.
Regardless of his inner musings, Ye Hanjun naturally assumed his new identity, saying:
"The calamity has passed."
"All I wish now is to move forward and pursue the Path of Spirit Control relentlessly; nothing else matters..."
Off in the distance, Jia Pengpeng who was surreptitiously eavesdropping, was taken aback.
So, everything Mr. Han said was true?
Previously, he mostly doubted Ye Hanjun's story of his journey to the Giant Frog Marsh where he was wounded on his journey by poisonous creatures.
Unexpectedly, this confrontation with Director Jiang brought forth such confirmatory words.
This certainly isn't the effect of a normal letter. There is likely a spirit remnant in the message, representing considerable evidence.
Mr. Han... his family situation is quite tragic!
He's so young, yet has already suffered family annihilation!
Linking this to observing from within a half day, where he had spat up more than a liter of blood, Jia Pengpeng clicked his tongue, his gaze towards Ye Hanjun containing a touch of sympathy.
"Those who enmountain, start from a pinch of soil to form a thousand-fathom precipice."
"Those who dig wells, begin from a hiccup to achieve abyssal depths."
"Young man, adversity, if it cannot break you, will only make you stronger."
Jiang Yongnian smiled, stood up, and slowly turned his back.
In the next moment, a slight hint of concern dissipated, and his hunched old figure cast a terrifying aura as vast as the sea and mountains.
"Identity is not false, you can be considered a destitute noble."
"However, the letter does not conclude that you are qualified to break the nearly two-century-old rules of the Canghai Pavilion, to act as a mentor in my institution with your status as a new Patron."
"Or do you want to play an emotional card, using your family's decline as a reason and ask me for an opportunity?"
Jiang Yongnian's voice grew colder and more ruthless, his tone hinted at a touch of pity, bluntly saying:
"I'm not familiar with Sir Han. I've merely heard of him."
"For you not to be in Spirit Mountain seeking family and friends, pursuing a career path, but to turn up at my Giant Frog Marsh… What's the purpose?"
As soon as his voice fell, the candle flame inside the paper lantern flickered violently.
The shifting shadows, like bloodthirsty monsters gazed greedily at the juicy soul.
Jia Pengpeng, several meters away, shrank his neck, and his legs began to tremble.
Jiang Yongnian is an 'Examiner', this imposing mental pressure, naturally, is his Passive Ability 'Judicial Prestige'.
Any person with malicious intentions, negative thoughts, or those who wish to take shortcuts, would easily reveal their true colors under such pressure, and then because of their fear discard any unwarranted intentions.
Jia Pengpeng could swear to heaven, he had no ill intentions.
Accompanying Mr. Han here, his initial intention was simply not wanting the Canghai Pavilion to miss an Active Awakener with the chance of a Blood Covenant, nothing more.
Even so, with the pressure looming over him, he still felt inexplicably terrified.
What came to mind were images of his childhood, when he used to slack off in class, the icy gaze of his mentor appearing behind him like a ghost, peeping in through the window.
The power level of third position... D-class career Examiner... is so terrifying!
Director Jiang is still in his prime, isn't anyone who dares to provoke him just itching for a beating?!
"Senior, it's the same statement."
"I'm here sincerely and have no intention of offending or taking shortcuts."
Ye Hanjun stood just one meter from Jiang Yongnian, bearing almost ninety percent of the pressure.
That feeling was as if he was carrying a tremendous rock, needing to throw his full strength to counteract it. A slight carelessness would lead to him being crushed to pieces, becoming a lump of unattended dirt on the ground.
But Ye Hanjun... didn't blink a bit!
Even though his weak body sent multiple warnings of nearing its limit.
He still stood tall, looking steadily at the back of Jiang Yongnian's head with calm and cool eyes.
"I may be new to the role of a Patron,"
"But I spent almost my entire childhood buried in books, reading histories, sutras and accumulating extensive theoretical knowledge."
"I am confident that I can become a competent mentor, instructing others, guiding others, and providing reliable advice for their career progression and the cultivation of their Fond Spirits."
"An academic bookworm, then?" Jiang Yongnian chuckled and did not turn around, he smirked and said mockingly:
"No matter how much you read, without practical application in reality, they are just dead knowledge."
"Is this your bargaining chip? In my eyes, it seems rather self-deceptive."
"Director Jiang!" Not knowing from where he summoned the courage, Jia Pengpeng stiffened his neck and weakly added:
"Mr. Han is an Active Awakener and has an unused Blood Covenant. This is also the main reason I was willing to bring him to see you!"
"Oh?"
At this, Jiang Yongnian turned his head, his Judicial Prestige halving almost instantly.
Those eyes full of wisdom and vicissitudes, however, became sharp like a blade, scrutinizing Ye Hanjun over and over again.
"If he is an Active Awakener, indeed it counts as one of the bargaining chips and is worthy of key cultivation."
"But we at the Canghai Pavilion are teeming with talents."
"An Active Awakener, an E-rank power, yet so weak and frail."
"You intend to break the rules and get unlimited support and help... That will never happen!"
Jiang Yongnian's words were resolute and unwavering.
At the end, he patted Ye Hanjun on the shoulder, earnestly advising:
"Young man, the Canghai Pavilion welcomes you to study."
"With your qualifications, and this courage to face me directly."
"Given time, you will certainly be able to be deemed 'excellent'."
"But as for the 'mentor', I would advise you to get rid of such thoughts as early as possible."
"The Canghai Pavilion is one of the top five academies of the Giant Frog Marsh, and it has always held the position of the second best."
"With so many renowned teachers, so many extraordinary young people, there is no reason for them to play along in your farce, breaking rules specifically for you."
"Think carefully about how you want to choose."
"Now, please go back."
With a flick of his hand, the flickering candles suddenly became steady, and the full-circle pressure in 360 degrees vanished instantly.
Ye Hanjun covered his chest and coughed twice, his pale face looking even more sick to the bones under the candlelight.
But this time, he didn't wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth right away.
"Mr. Han, let's go back first."
Jia Pengpeng trotted over, bowed to Jiang Yongnian, and was about to help Ye Hanjun up and lead him to the door.
Ye Hanjun dodged to the side, avoiding his outstretched hand, holding up his index finger in a "stop" motion.
"Director Jiang, you say I recite dead books, knowledge that is yet to be integrated and properly used."
"But you haven't done any testing, and you're drawing conclusions based on your own views. Isn't this another kind of rigid thinking?"
Ye Hanjun's gaze was burning. He stared at Jiang Yongnian's eyes, bolstered by another passive ability, 'Sharp Eye', not showing any fear.
"When we can solve the problem directly by managing a test without loss, why do we have to argue?"
"I've traveled a long way to get here. If you don't convince me, how can I willingly give up my idea?"
A few consecutive rhetorical questions were thrown out, and the air around seemed to freeze.
This terrifying silence enveloped Jia Pengpeng entirely, making him dare not even breathe.
"We're screwed, a disaster's going to strike!"
"In thirty years of service, only a few have dared to haggle with Director Jiang!"
"Now either Mr. Han is going to be flayed, or I'll be flayed... it's the end!"
"Hmm, the young people these days... "
Jiang Yongnian was half a head shorter than Ye Hanjun. In order to look him in the eye, he had to look up slightly.
For a 1st-ranked newly recognized Patron, moreover, a patient with lingering illness.
Neither emotionally nor logically could he possibly activate all his power to repress Ye Hanjun from a higher ground.
But even just a part of that pressure, was it really deflected by this newly recognized Patron, Lord Han?
Silently, the eyes of Jiang Yongnian narrowed gradually.
Just when Jia Pengpeng thought he was about to unleash his fury and kick them out of the mansion, Jiang Yongnian once again withdrew his pressure.
"Sit."
With a sweep of his sleeves, two gusts of wind rose into the sky.
One swept Jia Pengpeng out to the door, and the other, amazingly, helped Ye Hanjun sit down in the sandalwood chair in front of the desk.
"You wait outside the door. If there are more visitors, help me decline them all."
"Yes, yes…"
The rapidly flying Jia Pengpeng only had time to look back, leaving behind a dazed gaze.
When he landed outside the door and the wooden door shut with a bang, his mind was still in a daze, completely shocked by the abrupt change in situation.
"What happened?"
"Who am I? Where am I?"
"When did Director Jiang change his mind? Wait, when did he become so gentle???"
The bewildered Jia Pengpeng, tremblingly, supported himself down the stairs using the railing.
The elegant parrot's worried greeting echoed in the distance…
Inside the wooden door.
Ye Hanjun, now seated, gradually ceased his coughing.
He glanced at the desk, finding a white handkerchief quite pleasing. He reached out, grabbed it, wiped it across the corner of his mouth, and the sticky blood was gone.
"You're really not courteous. This is a fine silk handkerchief made by the 'Tailor', crafted from thirty-six white silkworms. I can hardly bring myself to use it... "
Jiang Yongnian's eyes flickered, a hint of pity crossed his face.
Ye Hanjun gave a slight smile, clasped his hands on the desk, and sat upright and formal, saying:
"Director Jiang, let's start."
"You're the 'examiner', carrying out exams and testing should be your forte."
"A newborn bullish calf, really not afraid of the tiger huh..."
Jiang Yongnian shook his head and laughed, asking in return,
"What if you fail?"
"Naturally, I will obediently become a student of Canghai Pavilion and no longer entertain such wild thoughts."
Ye Hanjun made a fist salute, but in his heart, he had never felt that he would lose this test.