Early the next morning, before dawn broke, Li Ze, under the guidance of Shen Yunwang, stepped into a secluded hall deep within the academy—one long shunned by the common crowd.
The hall was named "Wen Tian Pavilion" (Asking Heaven Pavilion).
Rumors abounded that anyone who set foot in this place was either wealthy or powerful—or was on the verge of being drawn into the empire's political machinery. Others claimed it was the "blade-testing ground" of Tianqi Academy—a place where willpower was tested, loyalty examined, and tools selected.
Standing before the high stone steps, Li Ze was greeted by a breeze carrying the blended scent of sandalwood and ink. Shen Yunwang said little, simply flicking his sleeve:
"Go up."
"Alone?" Li Ze asked, slightly surprised.
"This is your path—only you can walk it." Shen gave a faint smile.
"Remember—what you've said and done outside has already reached their ears. This meeting is not to accept you, but to assess you."
Li Ze nodded slightly and ascended the stairs. His back was straight and solitary, carrying the stubbornness of a newborn calf unafraid of tigers.
---
Inside Wen Tian Pavilion, candlelight flickered, casting shifting shadows.
At the center of the main hall stood a screen dividing the inner and outer spaces. Behind it, murmurs could be heard. Li Ze knelt on the floor before it, cold sweat trickling silently down his forehead. He could see no one, but every instinct told him several piercing gazes were dissecting him—as though even his marrow had nowhere to hide.
"Li Ze," a voice finally called out, hoarse and low like a bell echoing through time.
"Yesterday, you rescued a lowborn girl. Was it truly out of sympathy?"
"Yes," Li Ze answered without hesitation.
"You knew her debt stemmed from private dealings, and in saving her you offended the local authorities. Are you aware you've violated protocol?"
"If rules can't protect the innocent, then they're not rules—they're shackles." Li Ze replied calmly.
The hall fell into a brief silence.
"If this act of yours were repeated in the imperial court, could you bear the charge of 'disrupting the system'?"
Staring into the candlelight, Li Ze's voice grew clearer:
"If the system is already rotten, then I'm willing to be the first drop of ink to fall into clear water."
Someone behind the screen let out a chuckle.
"Bold. Sharp." This voice was gentler than the last.
"But do you understand? Those who reveal their sharpness too early often meet a bad end."
"I understand. But if I don't even dare to show my edge, then my journey to this world is meaningless."
"Journey to this world?" another voice sneered.
"You truly are different."
Silence again.
Then—
"Very well," a third voice spoke, calm and commanding.
"Shen Yunwang was not mistaken. The Qingyun Society wants neither lapdogs nor martyrs. We want men—with soul and blood."
"From today, you will be a Provisional External Candidate of Qingyun Society."
Li Ze raised his head, heart shaken:
"Candidate?"
**"To enter the core of Qingyun Society, you must first accomplish three tasks:
Uncover a hidden case.
Save someone deemed beyond salvation.
Sever a bond of emotion."**
"If you succeed, you'll become a formal internal member. If not—this world will swallow you whole."
"Your first task," came the command from behind the screen,
"The Ministry of Relief has lost grain; several people have died. The governor is furious. The people are in uproar. Within three days, uncover the truth and submit your own secret memorial to the 'Dark Hall' in the academy's North Wing. No help from others. No anonymous tip-offs. This is yours to investigate and bear alone."
Li Ze's fist clenched in his sleeve, thoughts racing. He knew—this wasn't just a mission. It was a test. Of his courage, wit, and worth.
"Understood."
"You may leave," said the voice coldly.
"Let's hope you don't die too soon."
Li Ze stood, bowed deeply, and left the Wen Tian Pavilion with sweat pouring from his brow.
---
Outside the hall, Shen Yunwang stood with hands behind his back.
"Well?" he asked.
"They want me to investigate the grain theft case—alone, within three days," Li Ze replied solemnly.
Shen smiled faintly:
"Good. They're not holding back. But that also means… they've truly 'seen' you."
As Li Ze walked slowly down the steps, he asked:
"Can you help me?"
Shen gave a calm smile:
"I can't. If you truly wish to enter the game, you must not borrow strength. Otherwise, you'll always be an extension of me on this board."
Li Ze gave a bitter smile, already sketching plans in his mind.
"Lord Shen, may I ask you something?"
"Speak."
"How did you pass your trial?"
Shen's eyes shifted slightly. He turned toward the rising sun and said quietly:
**"I did three things:
Killed an innocent man.
Saved a man who deserved to die.
Let go of the person I loved most."**
Li Ze said nothing.
He had never imagined the academy's "trial" could be so blood-stained.
This step was no longer about "joining a society"—
…it was about entering the game.