A Good-for-Nothing

126. An Interview (2)

Translator: Dragon Rider

The woman, coldly eyeing He Zheng, sneeringly curled her lips. “Are you saying that for a pathetic slim chance of your survival, you’d risk letting the demon victimize more innocent people?”

He Zheng furrowed his brow. “Am I to take it that you believe I should cut my throat immediately when a demon possesses me, regardless of the circumstances?

Well, this might not be a proper example, but say that the director general of SMB and directors of the Counter-demon Committee are all possessed by demons, are all of them supposed to commit suicide? If that’s the case, SMB will instantly fall apart, all because they unhesitatingly ended their lives. And those demons will still be there.”

There was no sign of fear on He Zheng’s face. He looked the woman in the eyes and continued, “Suffering heavier casualties or shedding more blood is not the right way to win the war against demons.”

Tan Lubai was somewhat surprised to hear He Zheng make these remarks. Zhen Daoyuan kept silent as well.

Zhen Daoyuan had originally intended to steer the conversation away from this topic, but on second thought, he kept from doing that.

The woman’s face went quite sulky. “You’re distorting reason with lame arguments and perverted logic. Who do you think is the examiner here, you or me? Furthermore, it’s impossible for anything like that to happen in SMB. Your assumption is ungrounded.”

He Zheng instantly dissolved into chuckle. He lowered his head in an effort to make himself seem more sincere. “Yes, you’re the examiner. I was just trying to make my point. Besides, that was merely an example. I didn’t mean any disrespect.

My aspiration to join SMB and participate in the Special Talents Training Program (STTP) will never change. I believe everybody that has entered their name is ready to sacrifice their life for the cause.”

His tone softened. He Zheng thought of a lot of people, including Li Zong, his maternal grandfather, and his mother who had died an early death. “But nobody was born with a destiny of sacrificing their life some day. They have a right to live. Members of action groups must do their best to survive and never give up hope, whatever the circumstances, because this is the only way to keep the blood of the groups running. Otherwise…”

He Zheng shook his head. “Why are the two action groups short-handed? Because their teammates with whom they spent a lot time ironing out kinks died. If everybody thinks this way, you’ll be in need of fresh blood forever.

We should act according to the actual circumstances and change when the circumstances change. It’s inadvisable to precipitously end our lives when there’s still a chance to save the situation.”

He Zheng finished speaking. Zhao Yidi didn’t utter a word, as if speechless with anger.

“Yidi, maybe you should sit down.” Tan Lubai made an effort to smooth things over. She flicked He Zheng a glance and said, “This kid is one of the few who dare to speak truth.”

He Zheng cast Tan Lubai a somewhat grateful look in the knowledge that she was doing this to help him. Tan Lubai unnoticeably gave an inclination of her head.

Zhen Daoyuan had a calm expression on his face all along, but there was now a hint of approval in his eyes. He said, “All right. Since you’re a disciple of the Qingwei Sect, draw a Fu you’re best at.”

The Elementary Lightning Fu had been engraved in He Zheng’s mind some time ago. He took cinnabar, yellow Fu paper and a writing brush from his pocket, infused his Qi into the writing brush and quickly drew an Elementary Lightning Fu in one breath.

It was not bad. He Zheng had practiced Elementary Lightning Fu numerous times recently. Though not all attempts had been successful, seven out of ten of his Fu were up to standard. This Elementary Lightning Fu that he had just drawn should be acceptable, even in Zu Zhichong’s eyes.

Of course, the three examiners in front of him were all powerful exorcists, and their criteria were no doubt much stricter than his. Zhen Daoyuan flicked a fleeting glance at it. “The success rate of conjuring lightning with this Fu is above seventy percent. A passing competency.”

He Zheng had never thought that his proficiency in Fu-craft would be rated “passing”. Afterwards, when it came to his knowledge that Zhen Daoyuan didn’t know how to draw a Fu but had great discernment in appraisal of Fu, he would know that “passing competency” was an accurate and fair judgement.

But the interview was finally over, and He Zheng decided not to dwell on whether he’d passed it or not.

When He Zheng walked out of the interview room, the staff member, for some unknown reason, had a fairly weird look on his face. He informed He Zheng, “Your family is waiting for you outside, He Zheng. You should go there right now.”

He Zheng was surprised for a while, wondering who it was. ‘Is it grandfather?’

Without giving it any more thought, He Zheng walked out and found that it was even more uproarious outside than previously. Li Zong was standing in the distance, and Chen Qianlin was next to him, as if talking to Li Zong about something. Hu Jiu, infatuated with Li Zong, was gazing at him but didn’t dare get close.

He Zheng knitted his eyebrows. People all around fell into discussion with each other in undertones. “Wow, you see him? That’s Supt. Li.”

“He’s so handsome, even more handsome than his picture on the poster! And he’s so young, too. The sight of him makes me feel so sorry for myself!”

“Comparison can be so hurtful… But what business could Supt. Li possibly have in this place? It’s said that that Chen Qianlin guy is the best among us. Did he come here to find out how Chen Qianlin did in the interview, by any chance?”

He Zheng’s face went even sulkier as he heard these words.

He angrily strode towards the two of them. Eyes of the fox boy noticeably lit up when they fell on He Zheng. “He Zheng, you…” Before he could finish his sentence, He Zheng stormed past him.

As He Zheng approached them, he heard Chen Qianlin say in a polite tone, “Supt. Li, I’d like to stand you a meal if you’re available tonight. After all, you saved my life in that year, and I haven’t got a chance to officially express my gratitude to you for it yet.”

“He’s not available.” He Zheng crisply interposed himself between the two of them, shot Li Zong an indignant glance and huffed, “Why did you come here?”

Chen Qianlin furrowed his brow. He thought that Li Zong would be angry, but unexpectedly, Li Zong, with a relaxed face, replied in a very natural tone, “You told me to come here and wait, so I came when I found the time.”