Chapter 24: Junior sister, practicing favoritism and malpractice
While the candidates who entered the exam earlier than them were still struggling with the questions, Pei Lianxue and Feng Yudie had already filled out most of their test papers.
This scene did not go unnoticed by Elder Wang and the white-bearded old man, Qi Baishi, who was beside him.
Qi Baishi adjusted his long beard and asked, “Shouren, what’s the story behind those two girls? You personally escorted them into the examination room.”
Wang Shouren bowed and explained, “The silver-haired girl is a direct disciple of Master Tai Xu, so I went to check on her.”
“Master Tai Xu’s disciple? Has she taken on any disciples?”
“Yes, her name is Feng Yudie, and she possesses exceptional spiritual roots. As for the other person, she is here as a companion.”
Qi Baishi’s eyes under his long eyebrows widened slightly, and he glanced at Feng Yudie, chuckling lightly. “So, Master Shouren, you’ve seen the mischievous spirit of Master Tai Xu in her.
Qi Baishi, the white-bearded old man, was an elder of the Longxing Academy at the Xuanxing Sect. Currently, in the middle stage of the Yuanying realm, he wasn’t considered high-ranking within the sect. However, since all the current elders were once his students, even the sect master would respectfully greet him as “Mr. Qi.”
Wang Shouren, feeling a bit anxious, offered tea to Qi Baishi, silently praying that Feng Yudie and Pei Lianxue would answer the questions honestly and refrain from any attempts at favoritism or misconduct.
If Mr. Qi found out about any irregularities, it would surely lead to a stern reprimand. Wang Shouren would then have to bear Mr. Qi’s anger while advocating for Feng Yudie.
However, at this moment, Feng Yudie was already contemplating how to share the answers with Pei Lianxue.
“Xiao Tian, go check how Miss Pei is doing and see if there’s a way to convey the answers to her.”
Xiao Tian, somewhat reluctant, stored away his Heavenly Dao scroll and flew directly to Pei Lianxue’s seat. The prohibitive enchantments on the desk couldn’t hinder him.
“I’ll take a look.”
Pei Lianxue and Feng Yudie were quite far apart, and it took Xiao Tian a while to reach her. Seeing that she was writing seriously, he assumed that the young master from the Hundred Lotus Sect had prepared her beforehand.
But when he saw the content of her paper, Xiao Tian was dumbfounded. The answers Pei Lianxue had written were identical to the passage he had just recited from the Heavenly Dao scroll to Feng Yudie, word for word.
“How…”
The question about the “Dao Heart” had countless possible answers. However, the passage he had recited was the Heavenly Dao’s understanding of the Dao Heart, a level of interpretation that seemed impossible for anyone, let alone a fifteen-year-old, to produce.
Xiao Tian furrowed his brows, unconvinced that Pei Lianxue could have come up with this answer on her own. Even if the young master of the Hundred Lotus Sect had provided her with the question in advance, it was highly improbable that she could write such an answer.
Meanwhile, Pei Lianxue had finished writing and signed her name. Without hesitation, she softly uttered, “Finished.” A glow enveloped her, and she was teleported out of the examination room in advance.
Far away, Feng Yudie, who had already dictated the answers with Xiao Tian’s help, noticed Pei Lianxue leaving. She hesitated for a moment before softly declaring, “Finished,” and was also transported out of the examination room with Xiao Tian.
Wang Shouren, who was stationed at the center of the field, observed that the two of them had submitted their papers after only two-quarters of an hour, which surprised him.
“Both of them finished so quickly?”
He raised his eyebrows, intending to check their papers in advance. However, before he could approach, Qi Baishi beside him waved his hand with spiritual power, bringing Feng Yudie and Pei Lianxue’s papers to them.
“Shouren, did both of them draw the question about ‘Dao Heart’?”
“Yes,” Wang Shouren responded.
“The interpretation of ‘Dao Heart’ is elusive for their age. I wonder how Master Tai Xu taught them…”
“In that case, please be lenient when grading, sir. Both of them are only fifteen years old, and this question might be too challenging for them.”
“I have my sense of proportion,” Qi Baishi said, stroking his beard. He took the papers from mid-air and examined them.
First, he looked at Feng Yudie’s paper and sighed tiredly at the meticulous yet ant-like handwriting. “This handwriting…”
Wang Shouren, trying to ease the situation, chimed in with a smile, “Ah haha… That girl seems to have learned her master’s calligraphy. Master Tai Xu’s handwriting has always been a bit unconventional.”
“Okay, not to learn, but to mimic it so closely…” Qi Baishi sighed again, suppressing his discomfort, and read the content.
However, as he read, his white eyebrows suddenly furrowed. The answer was too perfect. Even if he wanted to find fault for grading, he could only deduct a few points for Feng Yudie’s peculiar handwriting.
“This is extraordinary! To think that Tai Xu’s disciple could comprehend it to this extent,” Qi Baishi exclaimed, not believing that Feng Yudie had figured out the answer on her own. He assumed that Tai Xu must have provided her with the solution.
Wang Shouren, relieved, added, “After all, she is the direct disciple of Master Tai Xu.”
But in the next moment, when Qi Baishi saw Pei Lianxue’s answer, he suddenly slammed the table.
Snap–
“This is unreasonable!”
This action startled Wang Shouren, who quickly asked, “What happened, sir?”
“See for yourself!” Qi Baishi threw the papers to Wang Shouren.
As Wang Shouren took a look, he also gasped. Pei Lianxue’s handwriting was neat and exquisite, but the answer was identical to Feng Yudie’s.
“A single exam, starting simultaneously, yet the two papers are exactly the same, even down to the pauses in the sentences,” Qi Baishi exclaimed.
“…” Wang Shouren couldn’t help but curse silently. Those two foolish girls, couldn’t they have at least made a simple alteration or added a few sentences when passing on the answers? Copying them exactly was asking for trouble.
After a pause, he quickly defended Pei Lianxue, “Sir, maybe this is just a coincidence?”
“Coincidence?” Qi Baishi glared, “Whether delivering or receiving answers, both will be given zero points, and they will be disqualified from the selection.”
“Ah… sir, this… Feng Yudie is Tai Xu’s disciple,” Wang Shouren hastily interjected.
“What about Tai Xu’s disciples? I never condone those who break the rules,” Qi Baishi insisted.
Wang Shouren paused and approached Qi Baishi, whispering, “Sir, Feng Yudie is not only Tai Xu’s disciple but also a descendant of the Holy Emperor. This Xuanxing Sect…”
“The legacy of the Holy Emperor?” Qi Baishi squinted slightly but maintained his stance, “So what? Does the sect master want to give her preferential treatment? Hehe, have the sect master come talk to me later.”
“…” Wang Shouren had nothing more to say.
The sect leader had asked him to keep an eye on Feng Yudie and help if he could. If Qi Baishi disqualified Feng Yudie, he was likely to face a barrage of scolding.
After thinking for a while, Wang Shouren said, “Sir, whether this is a coincidence has not been determined. It needs to be examined with the Heart Tripod. What if it really is just a coincidence?”
Qi Baishi remained silent for a moment, then nodded, “Bring them back immediately. I will personally use the Heart Tripod to inquire.”
“Ah… yes.”
…