The Entry-plundering Demon Hunter

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: The Pretender

”Good thing I dodged quickly, or you would’ve kicked me...”

Wei Nan dodged out of the way, just barely.

He then looked at Zhou Qi, his expression displeased.

Zhou Qi gave an awkward laugh. ”Sorry about that, it was just a reflex. You’re not hurt, are you?”

At this, Wei Nan dusted off his clothes.

”I’m fine, it’s no big deal!”

Wei Nan’s graciousness only made Zhou Qi feel guiltier.

Lin Yi walked over, smiling. ”Let me make an introduction. This is a classmate of mine, and also my childhood friend—a brother I’ve known since we were kids.”

”These are my fellow students from the Martial Arts Hall...”

Lin Yi then introduced each of them by name.

Wei Nan smiled and nodded. ”I’ve heard Lin Yi talk about you all. He said you’ve really looked out for him at the Martial Arts Hall.”

”Once the exams are over today, dinner’s on me!”

”No, no, no! I still feel terrible about what happened earlier!”

”Let me treat everyone today!” Zhou Qi quickly offered with a smile.

Instantly, Sun Tao, Shen Mengyi, and the others all shot Wei Nan a look.

Finally, Lin Yi grinned and nodded. ”Alright then, we’ll let Senior Brother Zhou Qi treat. He’s loaded!”

”Hahaha, don’t mind if I do then!”

The group exchanged glances and burst out laughing, then headed into the center together.

The entrance to the Martial Arts Examination Center wasn’t particularly large.

It looked just like any other Martial Arts Hall.

But once they were actually inside, they realized that wasn’t the case at all.

The vast lobby was well over a hundred square meters.

The hall was currently swarming with students.

They came from various high schools, all wearing different uniforms.

Mingling with the students were staff members in uniform, explaining things to them.

As Lin Yi and his friends were looking around curiously,

a man in his thirties wearing a white shirt and tie

approached them, a faint smile on his face.

”You few students, are you also assigned to this test site?”

Lin Yi and the others nodded. ”Yes!”

”You’re all clear on the exam rules, right? The morning session tests your cultivation level and basic techniques, while the afternoon has two major assessments...”

The man held a file and began explaining to Lin Yi’s group.

Liu Song had already gone over these rules yesterday.

There were four parts to the test in total: cultivation level, basic techniques, and two major assessments.

The two major assessments were currently confidential; their content wouldn’t be revealed until just before the test.

Furthermore, their head teacher had emphasized that the real high-scoring events were these two major assessments.

As long as one passed the cultivation level check, all that mattered was giving their all in the two afternoon assessments.

Passing the basic fist and leg technique portions would be icing on the cake.

”Here are your exam numbers. An announcement will be made in the main hall shortly. When your number is called, a staff member will escort you to the testing area.”

”Alright, thank you,” Lin Yi said, nodding politely.

The man gave a faint smile, his eyes sweeping over the group.

The moment his eyes met Lin Yi’s,

a warning flared in Lin Yi’s mind.

Lin Yi was taken aback. When he looked for the man again, he had already vanished into the crowd.

”There was something wrong with that man!”

He said it subconsciously, then turned to look at Zhou Qi, Wei Nan, and the others beside him.

But he found their gazes were vacant.

They were staring straight ahead, as if they’d been frozen in place.

Just as Lin Yi was about to call out to them,

Wei Nan shuddered violently and snapped out of it.

”Huh?” he asked, as if nothing had happened. ”What did you say? Who has a problem?”

Once he spoke, Lin Yi realized it wasn’t just Wei Nan who had snapped out of it.

Zhou Qi, Shen Mengyi, and the others had also regained their senses.

Seeing their reactions, Lin Yi shook his head. ”It’s nothing.”

And so, the group went back to waiting in the hall for the exam to start, just like all the other students.

...

Meanwhile, inside an office at the Martial Arts Examination Center.

Yang Yong, having just parked his car, knocked on the office door.

When a deep voice from inside said, ”Come in,”

Yang Yong pushed open the door.

Inside, the Old Master, Guo Wu, Tang Zhan, and the Golden Robe Guard Commander were all present.

Seeing it was Yang Yong, the Old Master glanced over his shoulder at him.

”Did Lin Yi get into the test site?”

”Yes, I brought him here myself. Teacher, just now outside, I noticed a few suspicious individuals mingling in the crowd.”

”They’ve even infiltrated the ranks of the staff and students...”

At his words, the Old Master nodded.

”They infiltrated long ago. It’s not just the students and staff.

You can find their shadows even within the police department and the public security teams!”

Hearing this, Yang Yong’s expression changed drastically.

”Teacher, who are they? Are they the Blood Drop Believers, or...”

The Old Master shook his head. ”They’re all demons.”

”Demons?” Yang Yong was stunned.

The Old Master then turned to look out the window.

After a long moment, he said softly, ”They are all demons wearing human skin, masters of hiding in plain sight, waiting for the right moment to strike. These demons can alter their appearance to look just like an ordinary person, with no discernible flaws.”

”We call this type of demon ’Imposters’.”

”But no matter how convincing their disguises are, they can never completely conceal the foul demonic aura they carry.”

”For now, they wouldn’t dare cause a scene. Guo Wu, Lei Sheng, prepare to move out.”

”Yes, Old Chief!”

The two men nodded and left the office.

The Old Master then turned to Tang Zhan. ”Start by clearing out the Imposters from the police department’s ranks.”

”Understood!”

Tang Zhan also nodded and headed out.

Once only the Old Master and Yang Yong remained in the office,

he looked at Yang Yong and said, ”Your mission is to ensure the safety of the test site. You must not let those demons succeed.”

”Yes, Teacher!”

Yang Yong nodded quickly.

After everyone else had left the office,

the Old Master tilted his head back, gazing at the distant sky.

At the edge of the horizon, a patch of blood-red was still faintly visible.

The bright daylight

made the crimson stain appear somewhat faded.

If one didn’t look closely, it was difficult to spot.

A flicker of worry crossed the Old Master’s eyes.

’Old Daoist, you all should be on your way there by now, shouldn’t you?’

...

”Number 113, number 114, number 115...”

In the Martial Arts Examination hall, the broadcast voice rang out periodically.

Ten numbers were called each time.

The calls came quickly, with a new batch announced every ten minutes or so.

As examinees finished, they exited from the other side of the testing area.

You could guess their results just by looking at their expressions.

”Oh man, I’m getting so nervous!”

Holding his number tag, Wei Nan’s brow furrowed in worry.

Lin Yi, on the other hand, was completely relaxed.

He no longer felt any psychological burden about the day’s exam.

”The morning test should be pretty simple, right?” Sun Tao said with a small laugh, glancing at Wei Nan. ”It’s just a level check and demonstrating the basic fist, body, and leg techniques. Isn’t that what we practice every day?”

Wei Nan nodded. ”I know, I know. I just can’t help it...”

”Number 121, number 122, number 123, number 124...”

Suddenly, a new batch of numbers was called.

Wei Nan quickly glanced down at his number tag.

It clearly showed the number 135.

Wei Nan’s palms began to sweat.

He glanced at the number tags held by Lin Yi, Zhou Qi, and the others.

”We’re up next!”

Lin Yi nodded. ”Didn’t we agree we’d go to the New District together? Don’t drop the ball now, just do what you normally do.”

Hearing this, Wei Nan nodded.

”Right. We’re going to the New District together. I have to pass today’s Martial Arts exam. I’m going to the New District...”

Abruptly, Wei Nan seemed like a different person.

The nervousness he’d felt just moments ago vanished, replaced by a firm, determined look in his eyes.

This surprised even Lin Yi. ’That’s a quick attitude change,’ he thought.

As they were talking,

ten minutes flew by.

Then, the broadcast voice sounded again.

”Number 131, number 132, number 133, number 134, number 135...”

Lin Yi and his friends each glanced at the number tags in their hands.

They exchanged a look and a smile. ”It’s our turn.”

No one spoke; they just nodded lightly.

They walked toward the entrance of the testing area ahead.

It was clear that Zhou Qi, Sun Tao, and Shen Mengyi

had been nervous the entire time.