Start By Parsing The Sun

Chapter 203: [202] The Methods of a Big Shot

After a small interlude, the assessment officially began.

Xing Peng saw that the door to the lounge opened, and Director Cheng entered first, followed by the ten members of the first group who entered one after another, and then the door closed.

Immediately, a buzzing discussion erupted in the hall.

The group of young people waiting for the assessment all had nervous expressions on their faces.

After all, they were about to face a real big shot. Who could remain calm and composed?

Others had concerned expressions on their faces.

Just now, Director Cheng personally took action and captured the avenger in a spectacular performance, making these wealthy individuals value the position of "Inspector" even more.

Following such an outstanding director, how could He Chou not achieve success and make a name for himself?

This was definitely a clear path!

Thirty seconds later.

"Creak~"

The door to the lounge opened.

The ten assessors walked out one after another.

Their expressions looked very strange, with everyone wearing a bewildered look, as if they had just woken up from a dream.

Immediately, a commotion erupted in the hall.

Xing Peng was a little surprised, "Why did the assessment finish so quickly?"

Fan Ancheng whispered, "You have already condensed the Source Sensation Seal and practiced the Nine Elements Martial Arts. Can you tell what they have experienced?"

According to the rumors from Dongyuan, as long as their own children participated in the assessment, regardless of success or failure, they had to donate at least fifty gold coins. This was not a small amount of money, and this wealthy individual couldn't help but be concerned.

The face of a big shot was worth so much money. If they had a conversation with Director Cheng, the donation amount had to be even higher. This was an unwritten rule.

Xing Peng shook his head, "Director Cheng is such a remarkable person. How could I instinctively tell?"

Fan Ancheng didn't ask any further, "That's true."

Fang Qinghuai, the owner of Dongyuan, timely shouted, "Please let the second group in."

The second group of assessors quickly entered the lounge.

The door closed again.

Another thirty seconds passed.

The second group finally came out.

They still had a bewildered look on their faces.

This made the onlookers even more confused.

Then, it was the turn of the third group that Xing Peng was in.

With a nervous and uneasy mood, he lined up and entered the lounge.

What he saw was not the scene he expected in the lounge, but a rather long corridor with pots of colorful flowers on both sides.

Standing next to it was a maid who gestured to everyone with a "please" motion, "Everyone, as long as you pass through this corridor, you will reach the assessment location."

The group of people walked forward quickly.

After walking a few steps, Xing Peng suddenly noticed something strange.

The corridor seemed to be getting longer.

It had looked only about ten meters before.

Now it seemed to be over a hundred meters, and the pots of green plants placed at the exit had become small green dots the size of a palm.

Not only that.

Even the competitors who were just within reach had become quite far away. The closest assessor was more than ten meters away.

Xing Peng suddenly had a tingling sensation on his scalp, and his heart was filled with intense fear.

Could it be that something strange was happening?

How could Director Cheng's assessment have something strange?

For some reason, he completely forgot that this was just an assessment and unconsciously ignored the thought that "all of this might be a well-designed part of the plan."

Out of the instinct to stick together as humans, Xing Peng stared at the figure in front of him and anxiously shouted, "Hey, friend in front, wait for me!"

After shouting, he hurriedly ran over.

The figure in front was a tall and thin young man. When he heard the voice from behind, he turned around to look.

Xing Peng ran while shouting, "Something is very wrong here, we'd better..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Because Xing Peng saw a terrifying scene.

He saw a pot of flowers near the skinny young man suddenly expand rapidly, going from half a meter tall to over three meters tall in an instant.

The beautiful flowers hanging on the plant turned into ferocious giant mouths, filled with sharp teeth.

Xing Peng stopped in horror, and two words popped into his mind - eerie!

Oh my god!

Why are there so many eerie things here!

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several vines quickly shot out and tightly wrapped around the skinny young man's body, forcefully pulling him towards the giant mouth.

The skinny young man struggled desperately and shouted for help, "Please help me!"

In that moment, Xing Peng was torn between saving him and not.

If he saved him, perhaps he could rescue the other person, but this plant was so eerie that there was a greater chance of both of them being trapped.

If he didn't save him, wouldn't he be watching a living person being eaten alive?

In the end, Xing Peng chose to follow his heart.

I won't stand by and watch someone die!

With caution, he tried to save the person!

Xing Peng decisively drew a long knife and rushed forward, swinging it heavily to cut off one vine.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Two more vines whipped towards him like whips.

Xing Peng was prepared and quickly took two steps back, wielding his knife to cut the vines. With his left hand, he followed through with a slashing motion, breaking another vine.

His knife skills were good, and when combined with his martial arts, his combat power might not be too strong, but he was agile and adaptable.

Due to multiple vines being cut off, the speed at which the eerie plant dragged its prey slowed down significantly.

The skinny young man desperately reached out a hand and pleaded, "Pull me out!"

Xing Peng cut off another vine with his knife, seized an opportunity, and took a step forward, reaching out his left hand to grab the other person, intending to pull him out.

However...

Just before his fingertips touched the skinny young man, he felt a "thump" in his heart.

Something's not right!

The eerie plant instantly subdued its prey, but I easily repelled the vines with a few slashes, and I even had the chance to reach out and pull the person.

And the skinny young man, who was in a state of extreme panic, could accurately seize the opportunity?

Isn't that too coincidental?!

"Bang!"

Xing Peng forcefully pushed off the ground, and his whole body flew backwards in an instant.

This was the "Flying Magpie" technique!

In the next moment...

A large number of vines, more than twenty of them, swept over with great force.

Unfortunately, they missed their target.

Because Xing Peng had escaped a step ahead.

He was suspended in mid-air, watching this scene, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

It's really a trap!

Fortunately, I reacted quickly, otherwise I might have become the prey as well.

The skinny young man still reached out his hand, desperately pleading, "Please save me, I don't want to be slowly devoured by the eerie thing, please!"

This person's plea seemed to anger the eerie plant.

"Crack! Crack!"

With a few muffled sounds, the skinny young man's limbs were broken.

"Ah~ it hurts~"

The skinny young man wailed in pain.

Xing Peng couldn't bear to look.

A giant flower approached its prey and viciously bit off a piece of flesh.

"Ah~"

The screams grew louder.

The thin and tall young man cried bitterly, "I don't want to die, please save me!"

Xing Peng sighed inwardly, his right arm swelled up, and he forcefully threw the long knife.

Banshan Style!

"Wu~"

The long knife, accompanied by a light whistle, swept across a curve and severed the thin and tall young man's throat.

"Heh! Heh!"

Large amounts of blood foam gushed out of the thin and tall young man's mouth, and the light in his eyes quickly dissipated.

Xing Peng stood solemnly, and said softly, "I'm very sorry, my abilities are limited, I can't save you, I can only end your suffering as soon as possible."

After a second.

A indifferent voice suddenly sounded out of thin air.

"Assessment over!"

Then.

The scene suddenly froze.

Xing Peng was dumbfounded.

As if a certain shackle had been released, he finally realized the many inconsistencies.

I clearly knew this was an assessment, why did I completely forget about it after entering the rest room?

I clearly didn't carry any weapons, but when I dealt with the strangeness just now, I suddenly pulled out a long knife, and I didn't find it strange at all?

Thinking of this.

Xing Peng turned his head to look at the long knife, only to find that the long knife had disappeared without a trace.

He stood there dumbfounded for a while, recalling the entire process of the assessment, and sincerely exclaimed, "Too amazing!"

As soon as I entered the door, I unknowingly fell into an illusion and ignored all the inconsistencies. This method is truly awe-inspiring!

After a while.

Xing Peng felt his vision blur, and everything changed.

The corridor disappeared.

The green plants disappeared as well.

A luxuriously decorated rest room appeared before his eyes.

But Director Cheng was not there.

There was only a beautiful maid, smiling and looking at everyone.

The other nine assessors all had a bewildered look on their faces, and their eyes revealed a hint of confusion, obviously not completely free from the influence of the illusion.

The maid confirmed that everyone had woken up, and said in a pleasant voice, "Everyone, the assessment is over, please leave the rest room."

Xing Peng took a deep breath and was the first to leave the rest room.

Fan Ancheng immediately greeted him and pulled Xing Peng to a corner, asking nervously, "How did the assessment go?"

Xing Peng composed himself and whispered, "Just now..."

He briefly recounted the process of the assessment.

After listening, Fan Ancheng excitedly said, "You must have passed the assessment!"

Xing Peng also thought so and nodded lightly, "There shouldn't be a problem."

Fan Ancheng's face was full of admiration, "First, the assessment tests character by saving someone, then sets traps in battle to test martial skills and perception.

"Just a single illusion can comprehensively assess various qualities. Director Cheng's mental methods are truly extraordinary!"

Xing Peng agreed deeply, "The methods of important figures are indeed extraordinary!"

Fan Ancheng glanced at Xing Peng and felt like he had struck gold.

After thinking for a moment, he smiled and said, "Xiao Xing, when you marry Xiao Qian, our Fan family will definitely provide a generous dowry."

Xing Peng didn't know how to respond.

I haven't seen Xiao Qian for at least two years, isn't it too sudden to talk about this now?

Fan Ancheng gritted his teeth and decisively offered a sky-high price, "At least a dowry worth six hundred gold coins, including a high-end residence!"

Originally, this wealthy man's bottom line was three hundred gold coins, but now that he knew the content of the assessment, he immediately doubled the price.

To be able to pass such a difficult assessment, personally overseen by Director Cheng, a person with excellent character and abilities, it would be a pity to miss out!

Xing Peng felt his breathing quicken, but he didn't refuse.

So much money, only a fool would refuse.

Besides, Xiaoxian looks pretty!

Five minutes later.

The assessment is over.

Director Cheng did not appear again.

But no one has any objections.

Everyone in the banquet hall, one by one, may be considered a prominent figure in the eyes of ordinary people, but in front of Director Cheng, they are nothing.

For a big shot to show up once is already a great honor.

After a while.

Fang Qinghuai, the master of Dongyuan, shouted loudly, "Everyone, Director Cheng has selected fourteen outstanding young people and instructed me to announce the results to everyone."

The banquet hall immediately quieted down.

Although Xing Peng had already guessed that he would be selected with a 99% certainty, his heart still raced.

Fang Qinghuai took out a piece of paper and read out the first name, "Xing Peng..."

Xing Peng's heart was about to burst with joy.

I got selected!

Director Cheng has chosen me!

Fan Ancheng suddenly burst into laughter.

The prospective son-in-law he found is ranked first on the list, indicating that his performance was the most outstanding!

This time, I made the right bet!

Fan Ancheng patted the shoulder of his prospective son-in-law and spoke affectionately, "Xiao Xing, you're not young anymore, why not marry my daughter Xiaoxian at the end of the month? I promise a dowry of no less than 800 gold coins."

The price of the dowry has increased again!

Xing Peng was a little surprised and blushed, "At the end of the month? Isn't that too soon?"

Fan Ancheng shook his head repeatedly, "Not too soon! Not at all!"

This wealthy merchant was afraid of wasting time and couldn't wait to hold the wedding tomorrow. He still thought it was too slow!

Xing Peng is a principled person. Since he agreed to the conditions beforehand, he had no intention of going back on his word.

After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Let me discuss it with my parents. They shouldn't object."

Fan Ancheng, in an eager manner, said, "Alright! Then I'll go home with you later and meet our future in-laws."

Xing Peng felt a little uncomfortable with this enthusiasm, but he didn't object, "Okay."

Soon after.

The banquet entered the second phase - fundraising.

Fang Qinghuai stood in front of the crowd and spoke confidently, "Everyone, Director Cheng has noticed the difficulties faced by many ordinary people and has decided to establish a charity committee..."

He talked for a while and ended with a sentence, "We welcome everyone's generous donations to contribute to helping the underprivileged!"

Fan Ancheng was the first to raise his hand, "I will donate 500 gold coins!"

The attention of the people around instantly gathered.

Although it was a large sum of money, Fan Ancheng was extremely happy.

Originally, his budget was 300 gold coins, but Xing Peng's performance was so outstanding that he decided to increase the amount.

The first place in the selection would definitely have a bright future and was worth this price.

*

Half an hour later.

In the garden office.

Cheng Han learned the result of the donation - 21,400 gold coins.

A little more than expected.

With such a large sum of money raised, many things could be done, and it could greatly appease the underprivileged.

Cheng Han looked at Fang Tingyuan and ordered, "Spread the amount of the donation as soon as possible and promote the kindness of the donors."

Fang Tingyuan respectfully replied, "Understood, I will do it immediately."

Cheng Han grinned.

His plan always progressed step by step.

This time, the fundraising was also a way to pressure the Ministry of Council.

If the Grand Chancellor does nothing, how would the Xuan Pavilion view it?

(End of this chapter)