Chapter 381: Heart Test

Hearing his words, everyone’s eyes turned to the incense sticks standing side by side on the platform, each of them an arm’s width thick.

’So that’s what they were...’ Zhou Mei thought in realisation while looking at the grey incense sticks, each tall enough to reach an average man’s waist.

"Your test will begin the moment I light one of them up." Yu Xong said while taking a few steps in their direction, "Each of them can sustain itself for an hour. In short, you have a total of five hours for this test.

Within that timeframe, if you’re able to come out of the illusion array, then you’ve successfully cleared the Heart Test.

However, if you fail to do so, then we’ll have to guide you out of the sect."

The moment Yu Xong finished those words, the atmosphere turned heavy. The momentary delight that had spread among the candidates after Yu Xong’s arrival immediately dampened as tension and anxiety crept into their hearts.

Seeing this change, Yu Xong nodded and muttered in a voice that was audible to all, "Looks like everyone understands."

He clapped his hands the next moment and said, "Let’s start then."

With that said, he poured his Qi at a particular symbol on the incense stick, and the next instant a flame engulfed its tip before disappearing altogether.

Flicker!

The very next second, pink smoke started coming out of the tip as it started to slowly settle on the ground, creeping its way towards all the candidates.

’Pink smoke?’ Yi Chen thought curiously, with a frown evident on his face.

It was at that instant that he saw Yu Xong’s expression change to one of intense concentration as the air around him turned denser, making it appear as if it was a sheet of water and not air.

The very next second, this layer of air expanded explosively, enveloping the entire Cloud Hall.

Satisfied with the domain he had created, Yu Xong thought to himself while nodding, ’That should be enough to prevent the smoke from escaping.’

Meanwhile, the incense generated smoke much faster than the candidates had anticipated, soon making them lose sight of their legs as they became completely immersed in it.

"What’s going on?"

"Didn’t the Instructor say that the test had started?"

"Are we already inside the illusion? What is it that we have to do?"

.

.

.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that every single candidate was experiencing the same confusion. However, they soon started feeling a sense of lightheadedness as a relaxing feeling began to spread through their bodies.

"This feeling..."

Yi Chen was immediately reminded of the time he passively sucked in a few sniffs from a man’s cigarette.

The very next moment, beneath the pink smoke, red lights glowed in unison.

"The symbols..." Yi Chen muttered, realising that his earlier guess was right. Those symbols were indeed runes, and at that moment, each one of them shone with great intensity and rose up in the sky.

The very next moment, a transparent wall made of runes shot up from the edges of each mat, revolving around the candidates rapidly.

"This..."

Yi Chen’s brows furrowed the moment he saw the red rune symbols rising up in the air before the symbols started revolving around him rapidly.

However, before he could think of anything, his consciousness drifted away, plunging his vision into darkness.

’...This smell...What is this smell?’ Yi Chen thought to himself as a familiar scent blasted his nose the very next moment.

"Congratulations, Rakim!"

A voice he hadn’t heard in ages echoed in his mind, making him force open his eyes.

"...Mom...Dad?"

He muttered with a blank expression while staring at his parents who were sitting right next to him at the dining table.

"What’s with that blank look, brat? Be cheerful, for you deserve it, hahaha!" his father laughed with a voice filled with pride. "In just three years, you managed to secure a well-paying job there in Beijing. It’s not something just anyone can do, so show some pride in yourself."

"...job?" Yi Chen muttered while glancing down at the table that was filled with all his favourite dishes.

However, it wasn’t the dishes that attracted his attention, but his hand that was holding onto a fork.

’...I’m wearing a suit?’ he inwardly muttered while tracing his entire arm with his gaze as the creases on his forehead intensified.

Meanwhile, his mother also chuckled cheerfully upon hearing his father’s words and continued, "You’re right, honey. I just can’t wait to introduce him to Mrs Janet and Mrs Podder next door. Just thinking of their jealous faces fills me with glee!"

"Hm?" It was at that moment she caught sight of Yi Chen, who seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, and asked, "What’s wrong with you, Rakim? It was you who excitedly begged me to prepare all your favourite dishes when you were on your way here from Beijing... Hurry up and eat. What are you waiting for? Otherwise, it will all end up cold!"

"Y-Yes." Yi Chen instantly nodded, under his mother’s urging gaze.

Though his mind was utterly confused, he subconsciously tightened his grip on the fork before piercing the chilli potato on his plate.

Crunch! Crunch!

"So tasty~"

He muttered while biting into the hot and crunchy piece of honey chilli potato that was specially prepared by his mother.

"Look at you being happy with just the starters." A warm smile formed on his mother’s face when she saw his reaction. "Quickly finish it up, as I’ve prepared many other dishes of your liking as well."

"Yes, Mom!" Yi Chen exclaimed loudly with a gluttonous expression as he started devouring the remaining chilli potatoes on the plate.

’It’s been so long since I tried Mom’s cooking. Her cooking is still the best!... Compared to the food I was forced to have on campus, this is like heaven!’

Yi Chen thought to himself with a relishing expression while enjoying the hearty meal that had been specially prepared for him.

Cough! Cough!

"Hey, just because your mom said to eat fast doesn’t mean you’ll choke yourself to death. Here, take some water."

His father snorted with amusement evident on his face as he passed a glass of water to him.

"Y-Yes, Father." Yi Chen nodded with an embarrassed expression as he gulped down the water.

Meanwhile, seeing that the starters were almost finished, Yi Chen’s mother went to the kitchen to bring in the main dish, a bright smile evident on her face as she did that.

"Here’s the dish you’ve been waiting to try for a long time, your favourite chicken curry with naan."

Just hearing the name, Yi Chen’s eyes brightened up. When his eyes fell on the enticing dish on the table, he couldn’t help but exclaim, "Mom, you’re the best!"

"I know. However, I’ll show my worst side to you if you end up wasting even a tiny portion." She glared at him with a playful smile.

"Haha, rest assured, Mom, your son can waste anything but your food!" Yi Chen let out a chuckle before busying himself with eating as his parents joined him as well.

"Rakim, I was wondering..." his father’s words drew his attention a few moments later.

"Yes, father?" Yi Chen asked while chewing.

"You’ve just gotten a job there, so it will be difficult, but after a year or a year and a half at most, try requesting them to shift you to the branch office in our country. That way things will become more convenient for us." His father suggested the next moment.

"Shift here?" Yi Chen thought it over for a second and nodded. "Though I doubt they’ll readily agree, but if I keep on asking, then they might shift me here after working for a year, as from what I’ve heard, there are plenty of branches that are facing a shortage of staff."

"Haha, that’s great then." His father let out a laugh with a satisfied expression evident on his face as he added in a playful tone, "Once you’re here, we’ll start looking for a suitable bride for you, so you better not half-ass it."

"Bride?" Yi Chen couldn’t help but frown the moment he heard that.

"What are you making that expression for? By that time, you’ll already be 23 years old. If you’re not going to marry by that age, then when will you even marry?" his father said in an obvious tone.

"Yes, your father’s right, Rakim. It will be difficult for you to find a suitable wife if you delay it for too long as women these days are extremely choosy..." his mother added from the side with a concerned expression.

However, Yi Chen didn’t hear her at all, for his mind was completely occupied with the idea of marriage.

’Marriage...me? A wife?’

All of a sudden, his eyes widened in realisation as he exclaimed out loud, "No! I can’t get married!"

"You can’t get married?"

A confused expression immediately formed on his parents’ faces. They clearly weren’t expecting this reaction, and the next second they simultaneously asked, "Why?"

"I-I...because I’m already married!"

CRACK!

A cracking sound resounded deep in Yi Chen’s mind as his vision turned dark the very next second.

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