Old Zhao seemed to have long understood their taste for mischief. He had clearly encountered similar trials and difficulties in his own time. But when he looked at Huai Shi, his gaze was imperceptibly tinged with a hint of curiosity.

He wasn't worried about Huai Shi being dejected or becoming demoralized if things went south at such an important event. After all, so-called geniuses need to have such a degree of resilience; otherwise, why bother to perform? Wouldn't it be better to have fun at home instead?

He was merely curious about how Huai Shi, with his rapidly improving Ability, could interpret this tumultuous melody, believed to have originated from the devil, to what level.

For this group of old-timers, it was just the last bonus question on the test. It wouldn't earn any extra points even if answered, but only those who could answer were truly good students.

So, where was Huai Shi's limit?

In the silence, on the wall, the clock hands silently moved to the eleven o'clock mark.

The hour hand, the minute hand, and the second hand, for a brief moment, lined up perfectly with each other.

Just then, in the monitoring room, the captain of the Ghouls abruptly stood up and grabbed the walkie-talkie, a cold glint passing through his eyes, "Begin the operation!"

In an instant, everyone looked up.

The net was cast wide, sealing off the last gap.

The hunt had begun.

***

"Monitoring network alert!"

In the command channel, Yao Queer's voice rang out, "Jinling's lock has detected a Source Fluctuation. Preliminary comparison confirms that a visiting professor from the Human Exhibition Bureau, a Hell organization, has infiltrated Current Circumstances, located at the Jinling Music and Art Museum. Members on standby in the resting area, please prepare to dispatch within three minutes."

"The Human Exhibition Bureau?"

In the resting area, Yuan Zhao, who had been playing games, jumped up. Ignoring the heated battle on his phone, his eyes lit up with excitement and joy, "Isn't that a Level Three emergency?!"

In the Jinling Current Circumstances Social Security Management Bureau, alarms are divided into five levels. The usual level of vigilance is categorized as Level Five. The invasion of Border species is Level Four. Level Three is an emergency situation when important fugitives are detected throughout the territory. This requires all Sublimators on standby to quickly deploy and extinguish the threat with utmost speed.

Although the situation was urgent, Yuan Zhao suddenly became thrilled—wasn't this the perfect time for him, Young Master Yuan, to show what he was capable of?

Imagine, under everyone's gaze, Yuan Zhao taking the lead, wielding the Silver Spear, defeating the freak from the Human Exhibition Bureau within a single encounter. How wonderful would that be!

Thinking of his teammates' amazed expressions and Sister Mo San's admiring gaze, Yuan Zhao excitedly blushed, kicking the chair of his dozing comrade and picking up his spear.

"Let's go, let's go!"

He rushed out of the resting area in the lead, "Move out!"

Behind him, his teammates looked at the overjoyed Yuan Zhao. After glancing down at the detailed briefing on their phones, they exchanged looks.

Well, let's not tell the kid that Huai Shi is nearby—let him be happy for a bit longer...

「Social Security Bureau, emergency dispatch!」

***

Meanwhile, inside the examination hall, the silence was finally broken.

Huai Shi placed down the sheet music in his hands.

"I'm ready."

He looked up and let out a long, slow breath.

In his mind, the hallucinatory and fragmented sounds of the piano finally began to merge together slowly, the intense melody scraping through his consciousness like numerous blades.

In meditation, the phantom-like piano sounds seemed to mutate. They gained substance under the reflection of Alchemy Fire, and when they collided, they erupted into a soul-stirring low hum.

Huai Shi had never rushed to learn a piece so urgently, even with the Book of Fate in his possession. At this moment, he felt a vague sense of exhaustion.

If it weren't for the nourishment of that floral scent, he would likely look even more bedraggled.

Huai Shi lifted his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his face but saw a paper towel being passed over.

"Too hasty, aren't you?"

Seeing his bloodshot eyes, Old Zhao said softly, "Huai Shi, this is just an exam, you understand?"

"Ah, I know that," Huai Shi nodded, wiping a trace of sweat from his face, and sighed with relief, "Actually, I got distracted for a moment just now."

"Hmm?" Old Zhao was puzzled.

"I've been thinking about a friend's question from this morning," Huai Shi said, "—she asked me if I actually like playing the cello?"

"And the result?"

"I still haven't figured it out."

Huai Shi smiled, tapping the cello cradled in his arms, and began laughing softly, "To be honest, I don't know how much of my persistence is to make more money and how much is because I truly love it. But even if I don't have much talent or pursue art for art's sake, it has accompanied me for so many years. We have shared so much hardship together. I think I must like it."

Old Zhao's pupils lifted slightly, not expecting such an answer, unsure whether to feel relieved or shocked.

"That's why I feel I must pass this exam."

Huai Shi cheerfully lifted the Bow in his hand, smiling at him, "...to prove that my choice was right, and to show that the years spent with this cello and me were worthwhile."

Old Zhao fell silent. He wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or relieved. But looking at the now-faded signature on the cello case, he suddenly smiled softly, "Having such a radiant approach to life is truly wonderful."

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