The Professor's expression was rigid.

But before he could scream, Huai Shi was already on his feet. The Axe Blade emerged in his right hand, sweeping down and severing the Professor's right arm.

Immediately after, he raised both the knife and the axe, slashing down at the utterly defenseless enemy before him.

Iron light howled and burst forth like a tide, engulfing the Professor.

The speed was unprecedentedly fast.

After the Drummer, skilled in unarmed combat, mastered the basics, Huai Shi realized that his own weapon strikes had also undergone a qualitative Metamorphosis. However, for some reason, the swords that were once as effortless to wield as his own limbs now felt awkward in his hands. It was as if something was wrong, as if he had never used them properly.

Something is slightly off.

Yet even if something was slightly off, it was still far superior to his previous wild and aimless slashing. In the blink of an eye, a series of chaotic slashes almost completely shattered the Professor.

But then, the Brilliant Light burst forth from his hands, and the Spear of Compassion howled as it was released.

Pierced through!

BANG!

A mist of blood exploded.

The Professor's mangled body was impaled on the spear, deeply nailed into the wall, causing the cramped Border space to verge on collapse and shake violently.

"Beautiful..."

In the burning Mountain Ghost's Source of fire, the Professor, already dead, struggled to lift his solitary eye, gazing at Huai Shi's face. "Can the departure of one life in exchange for another quench your rage?"

"Not dead yet?"

Huai Shi was startled, then realized this bastard must be some kind of Border Variant or a member of some large collective. What had come here was probably something like a fragment of his spirit or a Doppelgänger.

"I sincerely hope that one day I can listen to your performance again." As if afraid his sincerity was insufficient, the Professor earnestly bid farewell, "So, let us meet again in Hell, Mr. Huai Shi. If you change your mind, I will be eagerly awaiting your arrival..."

His body quickly shattered. Amidst the intense pain of the burning Source Substance, he gave Huai Shi a pained, farewell smile.

It, along with the entire room, silently dissipated into blue smoke.

Silently, Huai Shi returned to his original spot, holding a business card and a strange certificate in his hand.

The certificate's black cover seemed to be wrapped in steel, heavy to the touch.

Upon opening it, a line of gold-embossed characters appeared. After inputting Source Substance, they quickly transformed into the most familiar Dongxia text, and a Phantom of a Scepter slowly rose.

[Professional Certification]

Professional Level.

Assessment Grade: Excellent.

Effective immediately, congratulations to Mr. Huai Shi for passing the test and becoming the one hundred and ninety-ninth Disastrous Musician. May you continue to expound this art from Hell in your future performances.

—Courtesy of the All Hells United Music Association.

Attachment: "The lad plays not badly, although still far behind me, he shows a spark of talent." — Vice-Chairman Paganini.

The goddamn All Hells United Music Association!

Insane!

The goddamn Paganini!

You were a troublemaker in life, so of course you ended up in Hell after death!

Huai Shi's expression twitched. He nearly threw it away in frustration, but then he thought, having this stupid thing is better than nothing. So he reluctantly stuffed it into his pocket.

Besides, a compliment on my playing from Paganini... Think of the prestige if word got out! It's a bit weird, but it's still a compliment, right?

He lifted his head, only to see a group of confused old men.

It was as if they had been in a dream, completely unaware of Huai Shi's recent conversation with the Professor. They were still immersed in Huai Shi's unbelievable performance.

Seeing that they were about to rush up and continue pestering him, Huai Shi had to take advantage of their dazed state to quickly bid his farewells and beat a hasty retreat.

This day is too damn surreal!

To think that just by taking an exam, I'd end up with dual certifications from both the Current Circumstances and Hell... It's simply bizarre.

In any case, having fulfilled a wish, Huai Shi felt a long-lost sense of exhilaration.

He carefully placed the cello back into its case, thinking about where to find a suitable Luthier for repairs. Carrying the cello case on his shoulder, Huai Shi pushed the door and left.

Then he saw the empty, spotless hallway, and Yuan Zhao standing dumbfounded at the door.

"Hm? Little Brag, what are you doing here?"

Huai Shi, without any courtesy, reached out and roughly tousled Yuan Zhao's hair, turning Teacher TONY's painstaking styling into a mess.

But Yuan Zhao just stared blankly, not responding, as if he were looking at a ghost.

"What's wrong?"

Huai Shi cocked his head, puzzled. After receiving no response for a while, he shrugged helplessly. "Then you continue spacing out. I won't bother you."

He hoisted the cello case and walked out of the examination hall.

In the corner of the resting room, he saw an unexpected figure—Fu Yi, sound asleep against a chair.

"Hey, hey, hey, wake up."

Huai Shi walked over, bent down, and scrutinized the sleeping face of the teenage girl. After hesitating for a long time, he couldn't help but reach out and gently poke her cheek. "Fu Yi? Fu Yi?"

At Huai Shi's voice, Fu Yi seemed to finally wake up, opening her eyes wearily, feeling a bit dizzy. "Huai Shi? Are you done with your exam? What about that kind lady? Did she leave?"

"Kind lady? She probably left, I guess?" Huai Shi looked around but didn't see anyone.

"How did the exam go?"

"Pretty good." Huai Shi became smug, grinning from ear to ear. "The instructor was shocked. I was super awesome!"

"Looks like the results were not bad, huh."

Fu Yi smacked her lips, finally a bit more alert, and looked up. "Got any water? I'm so sleepy…"

"Honey yuzu tea, here."

"Thank you."

Fu Yi gulped down half the bottle in one go, finally snapping out of her grogginess and becoming lively again. "Then how about we celebrate with a meal? There's a restaurant nearby with good reviews. In the afternoon, we could find an internet café to game, and I'll carry you to a higher rank! It'll be a double win!"

"Sure." Huai Shi broke into a smile. "I happened to take a day off today."

"It's settled then!"

"Speaking of which, what are you doing in Jinling?"

"Came to take an exam and then to ask you out for a meal. Plus, using my dad's ID to buy the ticket gives me a discount..."

"If your dad finds out, won't he drag me off to the Special Affairs Department again!"

"So annoying! Maybe we shouldn't eat then."

"Eat, eat, eat... I'll eat, I'll eat..."

Huai Shi followed behind her, watching her skipping and jumping around. For some reason, he couldn't help but laugh.

Even though it's so different from what I expected, isn't my life gradually filling with precious value?

The fear and insecurity about the Future that had lurked in his heart for so long finally dissipated, replaced by a peace that brought him great comfort.

Whether as a Sublimator or an ordinary person, now that the exam was over, he had finally shed a heavy burden from the past.

Next, I'll have a meal with my friend, then head to an internet café to game. In the evening, we'll chat and stroll around town, sharing this joy with her, right up until Director Fu calls from Xinhai, fuming and berating me for my 'wild ambitions.'

This moment in life is the everyday I've longed for.

Regardless of the Future.

* * *

On the other hand, the returning operation team from the Social Security Bureau got back into their vehicle and were startled when they did a headcount.

"Where is Yuan Zhao?"

Mo San looked at the other bewildered team members. "Did any of you see Yuan Zhao?"

"...We didn't see him."

All of them shook their heads in unison, and then their expressions began to twitch.

So, where had Yuan Zhao gone?

Yuan Zhao himself didn't know where he was either.

After listening to Huai Shi's performance, he wandered the streets, lost and listless. By the time he came to his senses, he no longer knew where he was.

His soul seemed to have left him, and his heart felt utterly empty.

When he felt his phone vibrate, he took it out and, before he could answer the call, saw his cousin's photo on the screen.

A strong bitterness surged through his heart. He didn't know why, but a profound sadness, a sense of having lost something important, welled up within him, causing his nose to redden involuntarily.

Why on earth! he lamented. With such a pretty, White-named face, why even become a Sublimator? Wouldn't it be better to just honestly play his instrument and be a Cowherd!

Why did he have to come and compete with me for my cousin?

"Young man, hey, young man, you've been standing here a long time. Don't get in the way of my business, will you?"

Next to him, the key maker looked up from his work and earnestly asked, "Do you need a key made?"

Yuan Zhao stood there stupefied, as if struck by lightning.

"I... I don't deserve..."

Once again, Yuan Zhao burst into unwilling tears.

It wasn't just about losing at the starting line, he realized with sudden despair. Even if their starting lines were the same, he still couldn't catch up to Huai Shi's speed.

They were a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman, a pair made in heaven. What right did a monster like him have to object?

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