1,000 credits?
Tang Ling accepted the tube of white paste. Despite being only as big as his hand, it was so expensive.
However, he was too famished to think of the cost and value. He assumed that Uncle Su Yao must have 1,000 credits, so he had better just owe him first.
With that thought in mind, Tang Ling twisted the cap of the white nutrition paste and squeezed it into his mouth violently, swallowing it mouth after mouth.
“Tang Ling, three-star Genetic Chain Talent. Pass,” Yang Kong also calmly announced his result at the same time.
Fei Long purposely glanced over at Tang Ling. He did not spot any unusual reaction from the young boy as he buried his face in the nutrition paste. He did not seem disappointed by the result, which made Fei Long a little relieved.
Was eating that important? The second round was not even tiring. Had Su Yao been torturing him somehow?
In conclusion, Fei Long liked those who showed optimism. At least, they would not be defeated easily by this era.
The exam had come to an end. Although no one noticed the micro reaction on Tang Ling’s face when he heard his own result, he froze slightly for a fraction of a second. Did he perform that badly? He ranked the last among the others who were going into the First Reserved Camp.
Tang Ling then finished his nutrition paste which was similar to a nutrition bar. Although it was tasteless, it was a lot easier to swallow.
Tang Ling did not mind the taste. He only knew that the nutrition paste was rather miraculous. After swallowing the whole tube, it slightly but effectively cured his hunger. At least, he regained the strength to stand up and think.
“The exam for the First Reserved Camp ends here and now. Fall in line at Glory Square tomorrow at 7 a.m. sharp. Whosoever is late will be disqualified.” Without any congratulatory words, when Tang Ling walked out of the machine, Fei Long announced the time and venue for them to gather. He also told Yang Kong to inform someone to bring the teenagers out of Glory Hall.
Tang Ling followed the others and walked out of the mysterious room quietly.
While they were walking, the short Andy gulped nervously and spoke softly to Tang Ling, “Being able to pass is good enough. The important thing is getting good results in the training camp.”
Tang Ling smiled at Andy in a friendly way. His eyes did not show a hint of disappointment which Andy anticipated.
After he regained his ability to think, Tang Ling pondered about what he saw back in the machine. Was it such a coincidence? He made it to the third black lock in the mist, and his talent was rated three stars. If he insisted on walking to the end to the ninth lock, would he have been classified as a nine-star talent instead?
Was a nine-star talent even powerful? What was the theory behind the measuring of the Genetic Chain? Was everyone the same as himself? Were their talents decided by how far they walked in the mist? Or did all the locks represent talents? Would it somehow be a mistake?
Tang Ling was deep in his thoughts and did not expect Fei Long to suddenly call him.
“I’m looking forward to your performance in the First Reserved Camp.” Fei Long did not say those words to Orston or Yu, who had solid backgrounds and outstanding talent. He did not even say it to Amir but just Tang Ling alone.
It seemed like he really wanted to encourage Tang Ling so that the kid would not sink here and now.
As for whether he was biased or not, Fei Long never cared about such problems.
Looking at Fei Long, Tang Ling continued reflecting on his own questions. He did not trust Fei Long yet, so he did not ask why the sudden encouragement.
******
The sky was a little dark after they walked out of Glory Hall. There were scattered gales and the thick clouds showed signs of rain, but would it really rain later?
Anyhow, the exam for the First Reserved Camp had ended. Regardless of the result, he should really relax a bit.
The boys and girls scattered back to their homes.
Tang Ling walked to a corner of the square where Su Yao was. The man stood there like a mountain, so it was difficult not to notice him. With a cigarette in his mouth, he asked with squinted eyes, “Did you pass?”
“I did.” Tang Ling was calm, but he did not sound happy about passing the exam.
“Mm,” Su Yao also simply grunted to him in reply and walked away. Tang Ling followed behind him.
It was then that Tang Ling’s expression showed disappointment.
He was a three-star talent? How far could he go from there? If he gave his life to train by himself, would he be able to beat the black-robed man from that night and get his revenge?
No, no, not yet. There were still other enemies in the sector. Would he be able to fight them?
Tang Ling did not show his concern and disappointment of getting such a poor outcome in his talent test in front of everyone, but when he saw Su Yao, he somehow felt like he could not contain his feelings.
Su Yao did not turn around, so he did not see the expression on Tang Ling’s face. He said on his own, “I’m just asking you on purpose. Glory Hall sends someone out to inform the whole sector whenever someone passes the exam. I’m just trying to make you nervous, hahaha…” He chuckled delightfully.
What was there to be nervous about though? Should passing the exam make him feel nervous? Was it funny to him? Tang Ling could not understand Su Yao’s logic.
The lousy gag did not pacify Tang Ling’s disappointment at all.
“Haha, you must be upset, aren’t you?” Su Yao suddenly stopped and turned around, but what he saw was Tang Ling’s disappointed gaze.
His smile was frozen. He then let it fade as he removed the cigarette from his mouth with his hand and spat a mouthful of smoke out. “Spill it.”
“I only have three-star talent, but I saw… I saw nine…” Tang Ling was not being clear. He felt helpless, and the grievance of people misunderstanding him got to him. He was like a kid who had spent his effort drawing a picture, thinking that he had drawn very well, but in the end, the others laughed at him for drawing poorly and simply comforted him by saying that being able to draw was good enough.
Tang Ling was a proud young man. More importantly, what did the nine locks represent? Did everyone see it like he did? Was the so-called talent determined by how far one could walk? He was afraid to get the answers from Su Yao although he believed the man understood all this.
Uncle Su Yao was not just wearing the standard-issued armor, but he was as strong as the Purple Moon Warriors.
Tang Ling did not finish what he was going to say. His words were half-way out before Su Yao covered his mouth.
“Let’s talk when we go back,” Su Yao said very strictly. His furrowed brows did not convey disappointment or pride but anxiety and worry. An indescribable pressure shrouded him like the mist.
Tang Ling felt a little lost, but his trust in Su Yao stopped him from talking. He quietly followed him and strode back to their house.
Su Yao’s quick steps gave away his anxiety. Tang Ling had to jog to catch up with him. Even though he held it in for a long time, he ultimately called Su Yao.
Su Yao impatiently huffed without turning back, “Didn’t I say we’d talk when we go back?”
“But, Uncle Su Yao, I owed that invigilator 1,000 credits.” Tang Ling then quickly added, “And I’ll never go to work…”
“You little motherf*cker, did you go in for an exam or call for a prostitute?” The veins on Su Yao’s forehead were twitching. He was furious as he grabbed Tang Ling by the collar and strode back to their house.
Tang Ling somehow felt afraid. What’s a prostitute? Is it that bad?
1,000 credits?
Tang Ling accepted the tube of white paste. Despite being only as big as his hand, it was so expensive.
However, he was too famished to think of the cost and value. He assumed that Uncle Su Yao must have 1,000 credits, so he had better just owe him first.
With that thought in mind, Tang Ling twisted the cap of the white nutrition paste and squeezed it into his mouth violently, swallowing it mouth after mouth.
“Tang Ling, three-star Genetic Chain Talent. Pass,” Yang Kong also calmly announced his result at the same time.
Fei Long purposely glanced over at Tang Ling. He did not spot any unusual reaction from the young boy as he buried his face in the nutrition paste. He did not seem disappointed by the result, which made Fei Long a little relieved.
Was eating that important? The second round was not even tiring. Had Su Yao been torturing him somehow?
In conclusion, Fei Long liked those who showed optimism. At least, they would not be defeated easily by this era.
The exam had come to an end. Although no one noticed the micro reaction on Tang Ling’s face when he heard his own result, he froze slightly for a fraction of a second. Did he perform that badly? He ranked the last among the others who were going into the First Reserved Camp.
Tang Ling then finished his nutrition paste which was similar to a nutrition bar. Although it was tasteless, it was a lot easier to swallow.
Tang Ling did not mind the taste. He only knew that the nutrition paste was rather miraculous. After swallowing the whole tube, it slightly but effectively cured his hunger. At least, he regained the strength to stand up and think.
“The exam for the First Reserved Camp ends here and now. Fall in line at Glory Square tomorrow at 7 a.m. sharp. Whosoever is late will be disqualified.” Without any congratulatory words, when Tang Ling walked out of the machine, Fei Long announced the time and venue for them to gather. He also told Yang Kong to inform someone to bring the teenagers out of Glory Hall.
Tang Ling followed the others and walked out of the mysterious room quietly.
While they were walking, the short Andy gulped nervously and spoke softly to Tang Ling, “Being able to pass is good enough. The important thing is getting good results in the training camp.”
Tang Ling smiled at Andy in a friendly way. His eyes did not show a hint of disappointment which Andy anticipated.
After he regained his ability to think, Tang Ling pondered about what he saw back in the machine. Was it such a coincidence? He made it to the third black lock in the mist, and his talent was rated three stars. If he insisted on walking to the end to the ninth lock, would he have been classified as a nine-star talent instead?
Was a nine-star talent even powerful? What was the theory behind the measuring of the Genetic Chain? Was everyone the same as himself? Were their talents decided by how far they walked in the mist? Or did all the locks represent talents? Would it somehow be a mistake?
Tang Ling was deep in his thoughts and did not expect Fei Long to suddenly call him.
“I’m looking forward to your performance in the First Reserved Camp.” Fei Long did not say those words to Orston or Yu, who had solid backgrounds and outstanding talent. He did not even say it to Amir but just Tang Ling alone.
It seemed like he really wanted to encourage Tang Ling so that the kid would not sink here and now.
As for whether he was biased or not, Fei Long never cared about such problems.
Looking at Fei Long, Tang Ling continued reflecting on his own questions. He did not trust Fei Long yet, so he did not ask why the sudden encouragement.
******
The sky was a little dark after they walked out of Glory Hall. There were scattered gales and the thick clouds showed signs of rain, but would it really rain later?
Anyhow, the exam for the First Reserved Camp had ended. Regardless of the result, he should really relax a bit.
The boys and girls scattered back to their homes.
Tang Ling walked to a corner of the square where Su Yao was. The man stood there like a mountain, so it was difficult not to notice him. With a cigarette in his mouth, he asked with squinted eyes, “Did you pass?”
“I did.” Tang Ling was calm, but he did not sound happy about passing the exam.
“Mm,” Su Yao also simply grunted to him in reply and walked away. Tang Ling followed behind him.
It was then that Tang Ling’s expression showed disappointment.
He was a three-star talent? How far could he go from there? If he gave his life to train by himself, would he be able to beat the black-robed man from that night and get his revenge?
No, no, not yet. There were still other enemies in the sector. Would he be able to fight them?
Tang Ling did not show his concern and disappointment of getting such a poor outcome in his talent test in front of everyone, but when he saw Su Yao, he somehow felt like he could not contain his feelings.
Su Yao did not turn around, so he did not see the expression on Tang Ling’s face. He said on his own, “I’m just asking you on purpose. Glory Hall sends someone out to inform the whole sector whenever someone passes the exam. I’m just trying to make you nervous, hahaha…” He chuckled delightfully.
What was there to be nervous about though? Should passing the exam make him feel nervous? Was it funny to him? Tang Ling could not understand Su Yao’s logic.
The lousy gag did not pacify Tang Ling’s disappointment at all.
“Haha, you must be upset, aren’t you?” Su Yao suddenly stopped and turned around, but what he saw was Tang Ling’s disappointed gaze.
His smile was frozen. He then let it fade as he removed the cigarette from his mouth with his hand and spat a mouthful of smoke out. “Spill it.”
“I only have three-star talent, but I saw… I saw nine…” Tang Ling was not being clear. He felt helpless, and the grievance of people misunderstanding him got to him. He was like a kid who had spent his effort drawing a picture, thinking that he had drawn very well, but in the end, the others laughed at him for drawing poorly and simply comforted him by saying that being able to draw was good enough.
Tang Ling was a proud young man. More importantly, what did the nine locks represent? Did everyone see it like he did? Was the so-called talent determined by how far one could walk? He was afraid to get the answers from Su Yao although he believed the man understood all this.
Uncle Su Yao was not just wearing the standard-issued armor, but he was as strong as the Purple Moon Warriors.
Tang Ling did not finish what he was going to say. His words were half-way out before Su Yao covered his mouth.
“Let’s talk when we go back,” Su Yao said very strictly. His furrowed brows did not convey disappointment or pride but anxiety and worry. An indescribable pressure shrouded him like the mist.
Tang Ling felt a little lost, but his trust in Su Yao stopped him from talking. He quietly followed him and strode back to their house.
Su Yao’s quick steps gave away his anxiety. Tang Ling had to jog to catch up with him. Even though he held it in for a long time, he ultimately called Su Yao.
Su Yao impatiently huffed without turning back, “Didn’t I say we’d talk when we go back?”
“But, Uncle Su Yao, I owed that invigilator 1,000 credits.” Tang Ling then quickly added, “And I’ll never go to work…”
“You little motherf*cker, did you go in for an exam or call for a prostitute?” The veins on Su Yao’s forehead were twitching. He was furious as he grabbed Tang Ling by the collar and strode back to their house.
Tang Ling somehow felt afraid. What’s a prostitute? Is it that bad?
