Chapter 31: THE EXAMINATION (5)

Li Yan ignored the comments because none of them knew what they were talking about.

When he reached the platform, Elder Shen held the examination paper in one hand and studied him for a moment.

"You answered these questions yourself?"

"Yes."

"You did not obtain the examination material beforehand?"

"No."

Elder Shen’s gaze remained fixed on him. "Then explain how you managed to answer almost every question correctly before anyone else."

Li Yan was beginning to feel that they were going in circles.

"I studied."

A few examinees laughed quietly from their seats.

Elder Shen did not find the answer amusing.

"That is all you have to say?"

Li Yan looked at him. "What else should I say? I studied because I wanted to pass the examination."

The elder’s expression became colder, but before he could question Li Yan again, the young man who had been seated beside him stood from his desk.

"Elder."

The young man bowed respectfully before speaking. "I was seated beside him throughout the examination. I did not see him use notes, communicate with anyone, or receive anything from outside."

Elder Shen looked at him. "You are certain?"

"Yes, Elder."

The young man lowered his head afterward and said nothing else. He had no intention of adding details that could implicate him.

Elder Shen returned his attention to Li Yan.

"If you did not cheat, then why did he speak for you?"

Li Yan glanced at the young man before answering honestly. "I don’t know. Maybe he could not stand the injustice."

The young man immediately looked back at his own desk, apparently hoping the matter would end there.

Elder Shen examined the paper once more. There was no evidence of outside assistance, and the invigilator had not actually witnessed Li Yan cheating. His suspicion remained, but suspicion alone was not enough to disqualify an examinee.

"Set this examination paper aside," Elder Shen instructed the invigilator. "I will review it personally after the examination."

The invigilator accepted the paper with both hands. "Yes, Elder."

Li Yan returned to his seat.

The whispers around him resumed almost immediately, but he ignored them and looked toward the clock. He had already submitted his examination, so there was nothing left for him to do except wait.

Xiaoxiao’s voice sounded quietly in his mind.

"You wanted to remain unnoticed, yet you somehow became the center of attraction."

Li Yan rested his cheek against his hand. "I didn’t do anything wrong."

"I know. Unfortunately, doing everything correctly has made you suspicious."

Li Yan sighed inwardly. "Then I’ll just have to endure it."

He glanced toward the platform, where Elder Shen was still examining his paper.

His plan had been simple: hide his innate ability, pass the examinations with excellent results, and enter the Nine Jade Sect without attracting unnecessary attention.

He was beginning to suspect that the last part would be much harder than he had expected.

By the time the four-hour examination came to an end, it was already one in the afternoon.

The three thousand examinees gradually left the hall, some discussing the questions with their companions while others hurried away to rest. Li Yan, however, was asked to remain behind.

At first, he did not think much of it.

Elder Shen had said he wanted to review his paper personally, so Li Yan assumed it would only take a little while. He sat quietly and waited as the elder went through his answers.

One hour passed.

Then another.

By the time two hours had gone by, Li Yan’s patience had nearly run out.

He glanced toward the examination paper still sitting on Elder Shen’s desk and wondered whether the concept of studying for an examination was really so difficult for them to comprehend. Perhaps they simply did not want to believe that someone like him could have answered those questions correctly.

The thought made his irritation deepen.

Hu Biyan had spent countless nights forcing him to study until he could barely keep his eyes open. Even yesterday, after they had reached the inn, Li Yan had continued reviewing the material until Hu Biyan finally made him sleep.

He had studied every subject that could appear.

He had gone through the questions carefully.

He had checked his answers twice before submitting.

And now, after all that effort, they had decided he must have cheated simply because his result did not match what they expected from him.

Li Yan’s fingers tightened around his sleeve.

He could tolerate being questioned.

He could tolerate having his paper reviewed.

What he could not tolerate was being accused without evidence.

When Elder Shen finally raised his head, Li Yan immediately noticed the stern expression on his face. The elder had apparently reached his conclusion.

"Li Yan," Elder Shen said, placing the examination paper on the table. "After reviewing your answers, I have determined that you cheated."

Li Yan stared at him.

His anger, which had been simmering for the past two hours, finally reached its limit.

"Where is the proof?"

The disciples standing nearby exchanged glances.

Elder Shen’s brows furrowed. "Your examination result is highly suspicious."

"That is not enough proof."

Li Yan stood from his chair and looked directly at the elder. He had remained respectful because Elder Shen was an elder of the Nine Jade Sect, but respect did not mean he would quietly accept an accusation that had no evidence behind it.

"You accused me of cheating. Then show me what I used to cheat. Show me the notes I supposedly had, the person who gave me the answers, or the evidence that I received the examination questions beforehand."

Elder Shen’s expression hardened.

"Your answers are too accurate for someone with your qualifications."

Li Yan’s anger only grew.

"So because my answers are correct, I cheated?"

"That is not what I said."

"Then what are you saying?"

Li Yan stepped closer to the platform.

"You have spent two hours examining my paper, yet you still cannot show me a single piece of evidence. Instead, you keep telling me that my result is impossible."