Chapter 52: FALSE ASSUMPTIONS

The conversation behind Li Yan continued as the two disciples discussed what they had heard about him, and the rumors became more ridiculous with every sentence until even Gu Jun began to wonder where people had found the imagination to create such stories.

One claimed that Li Yan had somehow cheated during the written examination and manipulated the results to secure first place, while another insisted that the elders had overlooked the matter due to Hu Bai’s reputation and allowed him to enter Purple Mountain despite being nothing more than a commoner.

"Apparently, he had someone helping him with the written examination from the beginning, and that is how he managed to score so highly."

"I heard something even better. He used Hu Bai’s name to secure the number-one residence on Purple Mountain, and the sect elders simply turned a blind eye."

Li Yan listened to the nonsense without turning around, and the more exaggerated the rumors became, the more amusing he found them.

By the time they reached the registration office, the story had somehow transformed from him allegedly cheating on the examination into him supposedly having enough influence to manipulate the sect’s arrangements, and Li Yan could not help finding the entire situation funny.

The registration office was considerably busier than the surrounding areas, with new outer disciples filling the waiting area as they registered for their chosen departments.

The moment Li Yan and Gu Jun entered, several people looked toward them, and the whispers that had followed them from outside continued inside the building.

Even the disciple responsible for registration gave Li Yan a strange look when he approached the counter, but Li Yan had no intention of wasting his time explaining himself to people who had already decided what they wanted to believe.

If they genuinely thought he had cheated, they could report him to the appropriate authorities and let the sect investigate the matter.

He was not going to waste his spit defending himself against rumors.

Li Yan placed his hand on the counter.

"I need two registration forms, one for pill formation and the other for apothecary."

The disciple behind the counter looked at him for a moment before glancing toward the registration records in front of him.

"You want to register for two departments?"

Li Yan nodded. The disciple reached for the forms but stopped halfway and gave Li Yan another strange look.

"Do you have attributes for both departments?"

Li Yan shook his head. He did have the required attributes, but the disciple did not need to know that yet.

"Then you can only register for one department."

Li Yan did not argue with him.

Instead, he reached into his storage space and brought out his medal along with the token Elder Mo had personally given him during the entrance examination.

He placed both items on the counter.

The disciple glanced at the medal first before picking it up and examining it carefully, but his expression soon became uncertain when he recognized the markings engraved upon it.

Gu Jun had already completed his registration and was waiting nearby, and when he noticed the unusual expression on the disciple’s face, he looked over with mild curiosity.

Li Yan remained calm. "I have the right to register for these two departments, so let us not waste any more time."

The disciple’s eyes widened when he recognized the significance of the medal, but instead of accepting Li Yan’s request, he looked at the item again with growing suspicion.

"Ah, do you think I was born yesterday?! This is obviously forged."

The accusation immediately attracted the attention of everyone waiting inside the registration office, and several disciples who had been speaking among themselves turned toward the counter when they heard the disciple’s voice.

Li Yan looked at the man behind the counter before glancing at the medal resting on the table.

"Are you certain?"

The disciple picked up the medal again and examined the markings more carefully.

"Of course I am certain. Do you think the sect’s registration office is somewhere where you can bring a random piece of metal and claim that an elder gave it to you?"

His voice had become loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, and the surrounding disciples began gathering closer to see what had happened.

Gu Jun walked over after hearing the commotion.

"What happened?"

Li Yan glanced at him. "He thinks my medal is forged."

Gu Jun looked at the disciple behind the counter, then at the medal, before his expression became strange.

"You are accusing him of forging an elder’s medal?"

The registration disciple immediately became defensive.

"I am doing my job. Anyone can claim that an elder personally gave them something."

Li Yan remained calm as the surrounding disciples continued watching.

He could already hear the whispers spreading through the room.

"That is Li Yan, isn’t it?"

"The one who ranked first?"

"Didn’t they say he cheated?"

"So the rumors are true?"

Li Yan ignored them. The registration disciple pushed the medal back toward him.

"If this really came from Elder Mo, then have him confirm it himself. Otherwise, I cannot accept this as proof of anything."

Li Yan looked at the man for several seconds before reaching for the token Elder Mo had also given him.

He placed it beside the medal. "This is also from Elder Mo."

The disciple stared at the second item before his expression became even more suspicious.

"You brought two forged items?"

A few people in the crowd laughed.

Gu Jun’s expression darkened. "Watch your mouth."

The disciple straightened his back.

"I am not insulting anyone. I am simply refusing to accept suspicious items as proof of authority."

Gu Jun stepped closer to the counter.

"You have already called the medal forged without checking with the person who supposedly issued it. What exactly do you call that?"

The registration disciple opened his mouth, but before he could respond, another voice came from behind the crowd.

"Perhaps he is simply following the rules."

A young man stepped forward, and several disciples immediately recognized him as one of the outer disciples who had been discussing Li Yan earlier.

He looked at Li Yan with an amused expression.

"After all, someone who supposedly cheated his way into first place would naturally have a forged medal as well."

The surrounding disciples immediately began whispering again.

Li Yan looked at the young man.

He did not recognize him. There was no reason to waste time remembering him.

"You seem very interested in my affairs."

The young man smiled. "Everyone is curious about the person who suddenly appeared at the top of the rankings."

Gu Jun’s eyes narrowed. "You were not there when the examination results were announced?"

"I was."

"Then you should know the elders announced his ranking themselves."

The young man’s smile faded slightly.

"That does not explain how a commoner managed to score three thousand points."