WBICDPH Chapter 58

Chapter 58 – Year-End Assessment

“Come here, the smartest little Qiuqiu in the world! Show Auntie Xiaohua what you can do—give me your paw!”

“Who’s Auntie Xiaohua? Call me Sister. Sister!”

Hua Nanzhi had no idea why she was wasting her time sitting here, watching Lin Jin put on a dog’s paw-shaking performance for her—and even arguing with a puppy over whether she should be called “auntie” or “sister.”

If Lin Jin hadn’t made a batch of delicious pastries to lure her over to “appreciate” their puppy’s basic skills showcase, she absolutely wouldn’t have come!

She let out a heavy sigh. While nibbling on pastries, she watched the puppy on the table perform a string of dull tricks—shake paw, sit, lie down, spin in circles—each second dragging by like a year.

“Good, good! Excellent performance! Amazing!”

When the “show” finally ended, Hua Nanzhi hurried to clap enthusiastically.

Lin Jin straightened his shoulders proudly, as if he himself had received the praise.

These past few days, he’d been stuck in the courtyard recovering from his injuries. With nothing better to do, he’d spent his time teaching Qiuqiu tricks.

The puppy wasn’t exactly dumb—but whatever cleverness he had was entirely devoted to food.

For example, to teach him to shake paws, Lin Jin had sacrificed half a roast chicken. But after that, when he tried using roast chicken again as a reward, the puppy refused to cooperate.

Qiuqiu’s rule was simple: learning skills was fine, but the reward had to be generous—and it couldn’t be the same thing twice.

So to keep him motivated, Lin Jin had to cook something different every day. “Sit” was rewarded with spicy stir-fried pork, “lie down” earned braised pork belly, and “spin” came with chicken stewed with mushrooms.

It turned out intelligence wasn’t the primary productive force—bribery was.

Money can make ghosts turn millstones; meat can make dogs spin in circles!

After the showcase, Lin Jin proudly presented his newly made fried meatballs for His Highness Qiuqiu to sample.

“Sigh. I really envy you,” Hua Nanzhi said suddenly after a long silence, still chewing on a pastry. “You don’t have to worry about anything every day. Just raise dogs, cook, and water the flowers. So carefree.”

Lin Jin blinked at her slumped expression. “What’s wrong with you?”

Was this really the same Miss Hua who competed with him day and night?

“My ‘carefree’ life came from being stabbed through, remember? And besides, weren’t you always complaining that I secretly worked hard behind your back? Now I can’t work hard even if I want to. Aren’t you happy?”

“How is that the same?” Hua Nanzhi stood up, hands on her hips. “What I want is to stand at the same starting line as you and beat you fair and square. Now you’re forced to take it easy. If I’m the only one working hard, what’s the fun? If I surpass you, it feels like taking advantage. If I can’t, that’s embarrassing. Either way, it’s unsatisfying.”

She popped the last half of her pastry into her mouth and brushed off her hands.

“Alright, performance’s over, right? Then I’m leaving. I don’t have time to waste with you. The year-end assessment is in a few days—I need to practice harder!”

“Okay, go ahead—wait, what?”

Lin Jin caught the key phrase.

“Year-end assessment? What’s that??”

Hua Nanzhi raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know? After one year of training, new inner sect disciples have to accept a fifth-tier mission from the Mission Hall as their year-end assessment. It tests what we’ve learned. It’s important—if you fail, you get demoted to the outer sect.”

“Wait.” Lin Jin did know this system existed—after all, in the original novel, the male lead had advanced significantly because of this assessment. But—

“Why hasn’t anyone told me?”

Hua Nanzhi looked him up and down, then arched a brow. “You seriously don’t know? Since your injuries aren’t fully healed, your two masters felt sorry for you and applied for an exemption. People have been talking about it these past couple of days—you should probably pay attention.”

“Talking? Why?”

“Are you dense?” She crossed her arms. “You’re already a special case—two elders’ only direct disciple. That flashy status alone makes plenty of people jealous. Now you’ve been exempted from the year-end assessment. Those who know understand it’s because you’re still injured. Those who don’t? They’ll think the elders are playing favorites or giving you special treatment. Whatever. When dogs bark at humans, you just let it pass.”

“….”

Hua Nanzhi’s casual reassurance only made Lin Jin frown.

She was right. His identity already drew attention. Now being exempted would only add fuel to the gossip.

He didn’t mind personally—but the rumors wouldn’t just target him. His two masters would inevitably be criticized for favoritism.

In that case…

“No!”

Inside the Council Hall, after hearing Lin Jin’s request, Mo Yuzi and Liu Xun spoke in rare unison.

“Your injuries aren’t even fully healed and you’re thinking about this? The year-end assessment requires you to complete a fifth-tier mission alone! Do you value your life or not?”

Liu Xun frowned, fanning herself.

“I’m healed! Completely healed! Masters, don’t worry. I’m bursting with energy—I could run around the entire mountain a hundred times!”

Lin Jin flexed dramatically, showing off his biceps. Aside from Jiang Lou snorting with laughter, no one seemed impressed.

“Enough,” Mo Yuzi said gently. “Skipping one assessment doesn’t matter. Everyone’s seen your ability. Even without the formal process, none of the elders object.”

But Lin Jin insisted.

“The elders may not object—but the sect isn’t just elders. Being allowed to study under both Nanqian and Dongli was already a special exception made by the Sect Leader. If I’m exempted again, some junior brothers and sisters will inevitably feel resentment.”

Liu Xun snapped, “Which brats have been gossiping in front of you? Nonsense! You don’t need to care. If anyone brings it up again, I’ll handle them.”

“Suppressing gossip is the worst strategy; guiding it is better. Punishing those who talk may quiet things temporarily, but it’ll only breed more resentment. Unless I can convince them through my actions. Since I carry more titles than others, I should shoulder more responsibility—not rely on those titles for more special treatment. I want to participate in the year-end assessment. I ask both the masters and the elders for permission.”

He bowed deeply.

The elders exchanged uncertain glances.

Then a cheerful voice rang out from outside the hall.

“Well said!”

Zhe Yu and San Zongyu walked in one after the other, Han Ao and Hua Nanzhi following behind.

“Liu Xun, look at how thoughtfully your disciple’s thinking. Your temper’s just too fiery. If the boy wants to take the assessment, let him. Why fuss so much?”

Zhe Yu lounged onto the main seat without ceremony.

“You say that because he’s not your disciple,” Liu Xun shot back. “He’s not fully recovered. Sending him on a fifth-tier mission alone is unreasonable.”

“That’s why I had Junior Brother Yu bring these two along. Aren’t they close with the kid? They’re taking the assessment too. Kid, pick whichever partner you like and accept a mission together.”

Liu Xun crossed her arms. “Two people doing one fifth-tier mission? He wants fairness. Isn’t that still special treatment?”

“Who said fifth-tier?” Zhe Yu mused. “Two people, half-step Golden Core cultivation… Seventh-tier should work. Two people on one seventh-tier mission—that’s roughly equal to one person on a fifth-tier, maybe even harder. No one will complain.”

Liu Xun fell silent.

“So,” Zhe Yu smiled at Lin Jin, “which friend will you choose?”

Lin Jin swallowed and looked between Han Ao and Hua Nanzhi.

He hadn’t expected this turn.

In the original storyline, Han Ao would use this assessment to officially break into the Golden Core stage, absorb the boss’s power, briefly awaken the sword spirit of the divine weapon Po Jie, comprehend sword intent for the first time, and obtain numerous treasures.

It was a crucial stepping stone in the male lead’s rise. Lin Jin couldn’t interfere with that.

That left only…

He turned to Hua Nanzhi and winked at her.

She stared at him.

He pressed his lips together, hoping she understood the sincerity in his eyes.

After a moment, she rolled her eyes—and winked back.

Agreement.

“Reporting to the Sect Leader, Masters, and elders—this disciple is willing to partner with Hua Nanzhi!”

Zhe Yu smiled, ready to finalize it, but Liu Xun interjected.

“Wait! Even with two people, a seventh-tier mission still feels risky! They were targeted by demonic cultivators last time. We need to be cautious.”

She turned to San Zongyu. “Senior Brother Yu, lend us your prized disciple! Yun Kong has been idle lately. Let him accompany them.”

San Zongyu considered. “It’s possible, but with Yun Kong’s cultivation, a seventh-tier mission…”

“He won’t join the mission itself. He’ll supervise. If there’s mortal danger, he intervenes to protect them—but he won’t interfere otherwise.”

Zhe Yu nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

“Then it’s settled!” Liu Xun declared, turning to Lin Jin. “Brat, I’m agreeing to this for your sake. If you come back covered in blood again like last time, I won’t go easy on you!”

Mo Yuzi’s elderly heart thumped anxiously, but he agreed sternly, “That’s right! Safety first. Don’t overdo it.”

Though their tone was harsh, Lin Jin smiled.

He bowed deeply to his two masters.

“Yes, Masters!”