Chapter 823
Chapter 823 - 809: Soft-hearted?
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Captain Xia’s participation in this exam was actually somewhat unjust and suppressed her talents.
In the previous official qualification exam, she participated as a professional with a pure combat profession... and among professionals, the one thing there is never a shortage of is the pure combat profession.
Especially the close-combat professions, and those who "use the sword" in the competition track, once the numbers go up, the internal competition inevitably becomes fierce.
At that time, she was only a third-tier, not yet a true Sword Saint, and her resistance to contamination was average, so naturally, she got swept away in the competition.
"If they organize it again, you should be able to pass..."
This was not only Lu Ping’an’s consolation but also a demand cemented by reality once they went out.
So what if there are many warriors? Outside, there are too many greedy for wealth, the more combat power, the better, and only a strong fist can make the hard case.
If they really organize a re-exam, pure combat professions won’t suffer such cruel treatment...
"Now if I go take the temporary qualification exam, as long as my luck isn’t bad, I should be able to pass."
She was very confident and did just that, just like Meow, she didn’t tell Lu Ping’an about such matters... Actually, it was because saying it out loud always felt somewhat embarrassing.
In many ways, Xia Qin was Lu Ping’an’s guide and protector for a considerable length of time; now the latter had become a representative of "outstanding Explorers," while she herself had to take a makeup exam to get a temporary License. Although there were valid reasons, she always felt inexplicably ashamed to raise her head.
"...Perhaps, we need to consider giving up."
And now, the strongest among them has uttered the words "to give up."
The exam hadn’t been going on for long, but the pressure on the students was growing ever greater.
The harsh environment forced the students to stick together, and the ensuing "big monsters" brought about disaster after disaster.
In the team Xia Qin was currently in, there were a full thirty people... The troubles along the way had already forced the "examiners" in the team to take action, and they had even sustained some injuries.
From the perspective of a candidate who hoped to pass the exam, Xia Qin should leave this large but insignificant team, or find a few capable members to try and hold on as long as possible.
"...The current situation is no longer about whether one can pass the exam. Many people do not meet the qualification to become Explorers. The top priority now is to stay alive securely."
Xia Qin did not hold the "sacred sword" and had grown accustomed to acting as a mercenary instead of using her authority.
With the decryption of "information truth," most people knew that it was no longer just a test... The other side of substantially increased risk was the more astonishing rewards and benefits.
Xia Qin glanced over those young faces, some looking guilty, some full of remorse, and others calm and composed.
She was still not as ruthless as Lu Ping’an; as a protector, she tried to ensure everyone’s safety as much as possible, which naturally made the team more and more bloated.
Some people no longer met the needs of the battlefield, but they were unwilling to leave, either out of wishful thinking or simply because they felt they had struck it lucky and wanted to latch onto the stronger individuals until the very end.
Xia Qin sighed, feeling somewhat helpless.
She had seen through it all... In her past experiences as a Law Enforcer, she had encountered too many such situations.
Those who use special agents as cannon fodder, who hide important information, sometimes being the so-called whistleblowers themselves are the real culprits... Merely dragging special agents along as bodyguards in dangerous areas couldn’t even make her angry anymore, because it was all too common.
"I’m not a police officer right now, but a candidate..."
Xia Qin squinted her eyes, her hand touching the hilt of her sword, feeling like it was time to act.
If Lu Ping’an were here, what would he do?
"...He would drive these people away. No, he’d beat them up first, then keep the useful ones and kick out the useless ones directly."
"Meow wouldn’t. If it was Lu Ping’an, unless he had a compelling reason to act, he would just watch them live or die, then happily take note of the foolishness and tell us about it, meow."
Just then, a familiar voice suddenly appeared behind Xia Qin.
Her back turned cold, and she quickly looked around, only to see Meow stealthily appearing behind her... When had she come over, and how had she evaded all her defenses and gotten behind her without notice?
"Cat, completely avoiding my senses, if she had stabbed me in the back... Has this girl’s strength advanced again? Like him... is she a genius too?"
Xia Qin was a bit astonished and even marveled at the formidable armament and resources Meow had obtained through someone’s favoritism.
But in the next moment, she saw a fawning Meow, lowering her head and offering her cat ears and head for a pet.
"Sister Xia, Meow has offended that stingy brat, can you help Meow speak for her later, meow?" Meow was earnestly acting cute, which generally happened after she had done something bad...
This cat was indeed cunning enough.
In a team before, every time I made a fool of myself and angered Lu Ping’an, I would hide behind Xia Qin, making it difficult for Lu Ping’an to act.
Sometimes, when I made Xia Qin mad... uh, I would run to Lu Ping’an and get him to figure out a way to deal with Xia Qin.
Now, I’m resorting to the same old tricks again.
And watching Meow, who showed no difference from the past, Xia Qin sighed helplessly.
"Why do you always drag me into your squabbles? Anyway, Lu Ping’an really spoils you and wouldn’t really do anything to you... Sometimes, the ’special care’ Lu Ping’an showed to Meow made the other members of the team somewhat envious.
But now, seeing Meow was actually a good thing for Xia Qin...
"Shuiyun, you’ve come at the right time, help me deal with some trouble..."
Xia Qin knew that "not being heartless enough" was her biggest weakness; as a law-enforcer and peace officer, she had never abandoned anyone worthy of rescue and capable of being helped.
Even now, unless it was a desperate situation, she couldn’t bring herself to end another person’s "career path."
She knew this was somewhat foolishly compassionate if the situation was a matter of life and death, she could decisively expel people without hesitation, but if it wasn’t urgent enough, she wasn’t decisive, letting some people think they could get away with just a bit more...
"...Just don’t beat anyone to death. I’ll speak with Lu Ping’an for you."
"Ha, piece of cake, Meow! Let the Cat handle this!"
Meow was overjoyed to be trusted by sister Xia.
The rules never said candidates couldn’t take action against each other.
Five minutes later, Holy Water bottles were smashed, and nearly twenty out of thirty people had lost their qualifications.
Some sighed in resignation while others glared at Xia Qin with hatred in their eyes... Those who glared at the Cat were all lying on the ground, as Meow showed no mercy in the face of malice.
In fact, everyone in Lu Ping’an’s team knew that his favoritism towards Meow had its reasons, as sometimes Meow was just like him.
That style of "aside from the people I care about, why should I bother with anyone else" was hard to tell if it was an imitation of Lu Ping’an or just her nature...
"Cats are naturally beasts, and they are actually quite cruel towards their prey, no, towards lives outside their ethnic group..."
Lu Ping’an had casually commented before, and while most people in the team thought it was a cop-out, Xia Qin knew it was probably true... In her eyes, Meow had an astonishing level of indifference and cruelty in her bones and needed to be properly guided as a "potential bad kid."
But now, this bad kid had been a tremendous help.
Those who had long deserved to be eliminated but were still there due to Xia Qin’s soft-heartedness were all disqualified by Meow’s claws... There was no need to forcefully eliminate those who could withstand Meow at this point.
Xia Qin was indeed overly soft-hearted, but she wasn’t foolish; she knew how to make full use of a "partner" to achieve a good outcome.
𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
And her personality always made her unsuspectingly become the "Captain"... Even the examiner, who had been forced to show himself now, was following her orders.
"The effects of the Holy Water are getting weaker, disqualified candidates should please leave the examination area as soon as possible. Meow, you go escort them out..."
"Ah, I’m not going, Meow, there’s no benefit, Meow, these people are still glaring at me. Hmph, keep looking at me, keep looking at the Cat, and the Cat will throw you out, just leave you here, to die here!"
Meow’s threat with her little fangs showing was somewhat cute, and even elicited suppressed laughter from some.
But Xia Qin knew it was serious and that someone might actually die.
She sighed helplessly, deciding she might as well do it herself.
"Qualified, you’re already qualified!"
At that moment, the examiner who hadn’t even introduced himself suddenly made a statement, acknowledging Xia Qin’s temporary license.
She was silent for a moment, squeezing out an awkward smile at the examiner she had just saved.
"Thank you..." At this moment, she felt awkward and couldn’t really smile.
She thought for a moment, trying hard to say something in response.
"... I almost forgot, I’m still in the middle of an exam; I’m still a candidate." The too-honest confession made the atmosphere instantly awkward.
But their troubles were just beginning.
Or rather, the troubles had already found them.
— End of Chapter 823 —