At the most intense moments, Cheng Jinyang found himself more prone to distractions... Perhaps it was because he had surrendered his body to instinct, his thoughts were not serene and clear but rather exceptionally sensitive and active.
Isn't this supposed to be training? Why does it feel so hard? Or is it that the constraint pulse abilities of the Fanyang Lu clan are just that powerful? It's not that the drones are hard to deal with — a burst of bullets would take them out — it's mainly that there are just so many of them, with lasers zipping through the air, making it feel like even a slight slip-up would get him eliminated.
Of course, "zipping" is just an exaggeration. The speed of the laser is fast enough to ignore the travel time; you have to dodge before the laser is even fired.
However, from aiming the target to firing the laser, there's a focusing process. In gaming terms, there's a "cast time" during which you can evade, although it demands keen observation and quick reflexes.
Another quick dodge, the sudden change in acceleration made Cheng Jinyang feel a bit nauseous. A glance at the number in the upper right corner showed 431 drones remaining, while the countdown in the upper left was at 24:08.
Almost at 600 drones, time to ease up...
With that thought, Cheng Jinyang failed to dodge the next attack, getting several lasers through his chest.
Oops, got careless, a mistake.
Crawling out of the device, Cheng Jinyang looked half-disappointed, half-unwilling, and said self-deprecatingly:
"I almost hit 600... Unfortunately, I'm not as skilled as others, I have nothing to say."
Nothing to say, meaning Lu Zhongyou, go ahead and mock me, if I respond to you, I lose.
Yet, everyone present just stared at him in silence, as if looking at some inhuman entity, their gazes enough to make his skin crawl.
"What's the matter?" Cheng Jinyang asked puzzledly. "Ahem, I really tried my best..."
"You're amazing!" Suddenly, Cui Xiaoniang's excited shout almost deafened him, making Cheng Jinyang jump back in fright.
Completely unaware of having scared anyone, Cui Jinqi grabbed his arm tightly, eyes wide and shaking him excitedly:
"That was incredible! How did you do that? 6 minutes, 569 drones! 569!!!"
"Was I really that bad?" Cheng Jinyang asked speechlessly.
Cui Jinqi: ???
She suddenly realized something, and her previously excited pretty face immediately darkened.
"Um, is the pass mark 600 drones?" Cheng Jinyang looked at the Lu siblings again, noticing they had yet to speak.
"Yes," Lu Qingyun said, her lips slightly pursed. "The pass mark is 600 drones."
"Oh." Cheng Jinyang thought to himself, I was just short of passing, why isn't anyone saying anything? This score isn't that disgraceful...
"But," Lu Qingyun smoothed her hair, her expression complicated, "that's just the pass mark for the Lu clan's secret guards, and the threshold for our secret guards is sixth grade."
Cheng Jinyang: ???
Wait, what do you mean?
You gave me an advanced test without telling me beforehand?
"In fact, the Fanyang Lu clan doesn't care about your score on this test. We just wanted to assess your tactical awareness and see how long you could hold out under such high-pressure assault. After all, who expects an eighth-grade supernatural to be the main offensive force on the real battlefield? As long as you can protect yourself and not drag the team down, it's enough."
Lu Qingyun continued, "Of course, your performance this time indeed exceeded our family's expectations. 569 points — even newly recruited Lu clan secret guards would struggle to achieve such an outstanding result. We were quite impolite before; the Shendu Cheng clan truly lives up to being the rulers of Tianluo, a military family with deep traditions. We warmly welcome the Cheng clan's participation in our upcoming operations."
Cheng Jinyang: .....
I was trying to downplay my skills, but ended up showing off instead?
Even after Cheng Yuexian saw off the Lu siblings, Cheng Jinyang was still pondering this perplexing question.
Could it be that one's achievements are really dictated by fate? When your time comes, the whole world conspires to help you, and you can't stop it...
"How exactly did you do it?" Back in Chongben Hall, Cui Xiaoniang(Young Lady) was tirelessly circling around him. "I mean, how did you pull off that flying trick?"
"Huh?" Cheng Jinyang was utterly confused.
"You know, the laser shot at you 'biu~,' and then you dodged 'xiu~'." Cui Jinqi imitated the sounds dramatically. "It was like you knew where it was going to hit and dodged in advance."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Cheng Jinyang felt a bit annoyed.
So what's going on here? I thought the Fanyang Lu family would help me get rid of the Emperor's orders, but instead, they turned around and said, "You already have the strength of a sixth-grade supernatural," and "Our Lu family thinks highly of you."
Wait, I already have the strength of a sixth-grade?
Am I really that strong?!!
"Stop pretending!" Cui Xiaoniang immediately said angrily. "Do you know, while you were flying around in there, I was down here defending your reputation! Lu Zhongyou kept mocking you, you know? And I argued back with solid reasons!"
"You're amazing." Cheng Jinyang said expressionlessly. "Thank you very much."
"Do you think I'm lying again?"
"Absolutely not, you've misunderstood."
"You totally do!" Cui Xiaoniang choked him from behind, not letting him go.
"I really don't, let go... cough cough, someone's coming, someone's coming!" Cheng Jinyang couldn't fight back against her, so he had to struggle carefully.
"I don't believe you!" Cui Jinqi said angrily. "I shouldn't have spoken up for you!"
The next moment, she saw Cheng Jinyang's face turn ashen.
"Seems like I came at a bad time." An icy voice came from the door, devoid of any warmth.
"Ah Zhi, I..." Cheng Jinyang hurriedly tried to speak, but Xing Yuanzhi impatiently interrupted him.
"Shut up! Who do you think you are to call me Ah Zhi?!"
She glanced at him with contempt and disdain, then turned and left without looking back.
Cui Jinqi blinked, watching Xing Yuanzhi's furious departing figure, then looked at Cheng Jinyang, who was squatting weakly, holding his knees — he seemed completely shattered, like he might crumble to dust and blow away any second.
"Oh wow," Cui Xiaoniang remarked, "Trying to seduce me in front of Xing Yuanzhi? Jinyang, I think your engagement with her is completely hopeless now."
"Yeah." Cheng Jinyang said, resigned to his fate. "I'll go propose to your family tomorrow."
"Okay, I'm just afraid you won't dare to come." Cui Jinqi sneered.