The Red Vulture

Truth be told, Han Xuhan had expected to see the old man fly off into a fit of rage, yelling things like "Give our sect face", or "Junior, you dare?"

Suffice it to say, seeing Lao Jun perform a completely cool-headed and rational deconstruction of his small scheme made him strongly feel that this world didn't operate on the sort of logic found in trashy Xianxia fics.

He couldn't be complacent with his rudimentary plans, which hinged on the opponent's idiocy!

Like a loach, Han Xuhan immediately changed his tactics. Rather than relying on his momentum to pressure Lao Jun, he cast a trap with the man's own attack.

"You say I propose? Fine! I propose fair!"

He pointed a finger at the small gathering of participants in front of the tent who had been selected as disciples today.

"Among you. Prove qualifications. Challenge any three from unselected participants. Do you dare?"

His suggestion had opposite effects on both sides. The faces in the crowd of selected participants turned awkward and nervous, whereas those behind Han Xuhan roared in tandem with him, expressing their agreement.

The population ratio between both sides was more than one to ten. But to make every selected disciple compete for their position with three unselected ones could guarantee that many capable but unlucky participants would be granted the sole opportunity they needed!

Predictably, old man Lao Jun sided with the minority.

"What a terrible suggestion! You've been preaching about fairness since the start. Is this your idea of fairness? It will still result in luck-based selections for many."

But the old man's retort and the collective dissent of the selected disciples were drowned out by the sea of voices passionately clamoring behind Han Xuhan.

He didn't even pretend to struggle while speaking this time. The fish had been hooked.

"Even where fairness cannot be ensured, one must strive to be fair."

Lao Jun's anger finally bested his rationality.

"You damned charlatan! I knew you were faking the accent! I was correct!"

Han Xuhan gave Lao Jun an unabashed smile, and replied, "It is idiom. I memorize it."

"...."

Gazing at the mob of unselected examinees closing in around them, their eyes burning, the old man sighed and gave up.

"Alright, then. The sect will not like it, but I will let this happen under some conditions," he declared loudly. Cheers broke out immediately, and the mob's march nearly evolved into a stampede.

"Calm down! There is very little time left for today's original deadline. Be silent if you fancy your chances!"

The effect was quick. Once the seething crowd settled, Lao Jun announced his rules.

"Due to the shortage of time, I can only allow you all to contest for ten slots. So ten of the selected participants are going to be available as challengers.

"They will declare what they are good at, or any of their specialties. Anyone from the crowd gets a bid to prove that they excel the challenger in that criteria.

"If three such bidders fail to prove so, the challenger retains his slot. On the other hand, one person gets only bid. So make sure not to waste it."

Turning towards the ashen-faced smaller group, Lao Jun said, "Whoever among you wishes to volunteer as a challenger, step up!"

Han Xuhan did not expect anyone to volunteer, but to his surprise, seven disciples did. They looked nervous, but they still faced the larger crowd with puffed-out chests and determined eyes.

Lao Jun stroked his beard, seeming satisfied by their bravery. "Good. Now I just need to select three more cowards."

With a smile on his face that could only be called malicious, Lao Jun began pointing at the most nervous-looking disciples from that group.

"You, you, and you—"

"Senior Jun, please wait," said a voice from an unexpected direction. Everyone turned to look as the flap of the tent was pushed aside by a slender hand, and a rather tall young woman stepped out.

Wearing a red robe that swayed under the wind, hair tied with a long red ribbon that trailed behind her like the tail of a phoenix, and a cold smile on her reddened lips that seemed to carry a hint of bloodthirstiness, she surveyed the still crowd and came to stand beside the volunteers.

"I wish to be the eleventh challenger, Senior Jun. Is that okay?"

Although she was speaking to the old man, her eyes fell on Han Xuhan, and something about the way she volunteered herself made Xuhan's skin crawl.

"...Eleventh?" Lao Jun, as well as everyone else, felt like they had misheard.

Was this girl really putting her slot on the line voluntarily? Why?

"That's right. It won't be under your rules, though, since I am the one proposing it. I will be much fairer to my unfortunate brothers and sisters here," she said, pointing at the mob.

"My slot will be far easier to contest for. Anyone can challenge me on any field involving cultivation, for as many times as you wish until the deadline passes. It's entirely up to your choice!

"But... for each challenge, you must pay a fee, which will be doubled for the next challenger if I emerge victorious. That is all I ask for."

To the two hundred participants behind Xuhan, her offer was an unimaginable bargain! Excited whispers broke out among them instantly.

They could challenge her on criteria of their own choice! And they had multiple chances as long as they could fork out money.

In their hearts, she became a lifeline for every loser in the final leg of the test!

However, in Han Xuhan's heart, the imprint this young lady left was of a bloody vulture.

He didn't know where her confidence came from. But he was certain, very certain, that she didn't have any fear of losing her slot.

Rather, she was anticipating a big profit here. She wouldn't be rescuing anybody by sacrificing her slot. She'd be fleecing them of their last penny.

He had a feeling that today, he was going to witness a flash of how brutal this world of cultivation could truly be!