A Good-for-Nothing

124. Recruitment of New Members to the Special Talents Training Program (2)

Translator: Dragon Rider

“I heard that this year some disciples of the Tigers and Dragons Mountain and the Mao Mountain also entered their names. I guess that’s them.”

He Zheng’s eyes rested on the man in the middle of the group. Chen Qianlin, who seemed to have noticed He Zheng, contemptuously curled up the corner of his mouth in a faint sneer.

“You and that guy know each other? Why do I feel that he’s hostile to you?” Kang Ba was somewhat worried. “That guy’s name is Chen Qianlin. I made some inquiries previously. It is rumored that he’s quite tough, that even if he directly takes the recruitment test without any training, he’ll be able to pass it.”

He Zheng blandly withdrew his gaze. “I don’t know about that.”

Lin Zhuo’s eyes flicked from He Zheng to Chen Qianlin and back again, but found no traces of what was going on.

They were talking when the bell sounded for the start of the interview. The door of the office hall that had been closed all along opened, and staff members responsible for maintaining order showed up on the side. “Come on. Everybody line up. Enter the hall one by one.”

“Everybody is supposed to walk through this security check machine and observe regulations of the examination room. Please place all your communication tools, cellphones included, in silent mode.”

Admission cards for the examination had been issued beforehand, all of which had been numbered at random. Since their numbers were not consecutive, this group of people who had just made the acquaintance of each other had no choice but to split up.

He Zheng looked at the serial number of his admission card for the examination. It was 008 of this line, but coincidentally, Chen Qianlin’s number was 007. The two of them, at the sight of each other, had a disgusted expression, as if somebody had just forced a fly into each of their mouths. Every one of the other applicants were standing almost against the one before them, but between these two people, there was a gap about the length of an arm.

He Zheng fiercely eyed the back side of Chen Qianlin’s head. “Be careful not to touch me.”

Chen Qianlin coldly snorted and gave him a dirty look, as if scorning to stoop to speaking to him.

There were indeed a great number of applicants this year. Three examination rooms had been prepared. It was said that examiners were eight directors of the Counter-demon Committee, Director General Zong included. Li Zong and Zhang Jingqiu were not eligible to be examiners.

Applicants formed three lines, each in front of an examination room. Even so, the long lines still stretched to the fountain.

Ever since the start of the examination, applicants had been entering the halls one after another. He Zheng was waiting in the line when someone patted him on the shoulder.

He twisted his head back and was greeted by Zu Zhichong’s grinning face. “Hey, Cutie. You feel nervous?” said Zu Zhichong.

Zu Zhichong was just about to say something else when his eyes fell on Chen Qianlin standing before He Zheng, and held back the words that had sprung to the tip of his tongue. Eyes fixed on Chen Qianlin, he craned closer to He Zheng and said under his breath, “How did you come to end up being in the same line as his?”

“Bad luck,” He Zheng snorted.

Zu Zhichong, as if something occurred to him, put his arm around He Zheng’s shoulders and whispered to him, “Let me tell you something – it seems that this guy paid Chief a visit in private and offered to stand Chief a meal, but Chief declined.”

He Zheng knitted his eyebrows. It turned out that Chen Qianlin visited Li Zong on that day because he wanted to stand Li Zong a meal! What a wild dream he had!

“Why did he want to stand Li Zong a meal? He intended to get in by the back door? He seriously believed Li Zong would do that for him?” He Zheng gave a snort.

“You really don’t know?” Zu Zhichong cocked a disbelieving eyebrow at him and muttered, “This can’t be happening. Did Chief not tell you about it, by any chance?”

He Zheng was thrown into perplexity. “Exactly what is it that you’re referring to?”

“Those who successfully pass the final test of STTP and perform well enough may directly join the first action group,” Zu Zhichong informed him. “Our group has been short-handed for quite a long time and has always been trying to figure out a way to recruit some new members. The best one of this batch of applicants is definitely the most likely to be selected. He must have told Chief about his intention beforehand.”

He Zheng flicked a dark glance at Chen Qianlin before him, filled with annoyance. Li Zong had never mentioned to him qualifications for admission to the first action group. He hadn’t mentioned anything whatsoever!

Li Zong kept this from him!

He Zheng instantly flied into a temper and intended to leave and seek Li Zong out. At this time, Chen Qianlin had just entered the hall. He Zheng tossed Zu Zhichong a glance and said, “Tell Li Zong I’d like a word with him after this is over.”

Zu Zhichong had never thought that his words would bring a hornet’s nest about his ears. Too concerned to waste any time, he mumbled something about having business to attend to and then ran away.

He Zheng was confused with anger and his countenance went even more sepulchral. Lan Bai waiting in another line on the side was just about to walk up to him to greet him when she saw his sullen face and kept from doing so.

The couple of people standing behind He Zheng were in casual clothes that disciples of the Tigers and Dragons Mountain typically wore when practicing kung fu. The relatively tall one cast He Zheng a few earnest glances and also specially walked out of the line to scrutinize He Zheng. As he got a clear view of He Zheng’s face, a flicker of astonishment crossed his eyes and his face grew even graver.

Because of the high number of applicants, examiners only gave each of them five minutes to answer the questions, but Chen Qianlin had been in there for almost ten minutes and still hadn’t exited. He Zheng had been fidgety all along. The hum of discussion of people around him and what had happened a moment ago made him feel even more impatient. Right at the moment when He Zheng was about to ignore the rules and directly enter the hall, Chen Qianlin finally came out.

There was a bland smile on Chen Qianlin’s face in the instant that he was walking through the door. Of course, his countenance instantly fell as disgusted as previously when he caught sight of He Zheng. With that, he raised his chin, threw a glance at He Zheng and said in a provocative tone, “Good luck to you.”

The voice of an examiner came from inside. “Number 008. Come in.”

He Zheng couldn’t be bothered to make a response to Chen Qianlin’s words. The two of them brushed past each other, almost producing sparks.