The Third of the Departed

"Dou Zhi Li, third stage!"

Seeing the bright red words appear on the stele, the Clan Examiner's eyes filled with disdain. He deliberately raised his voice as he announced the result, drawing whispers from the crowd below. Every exchange carried contempt and scorn.

"A waste is still a waste. After all these years, she hasn't improved at all."

"She's the Clan Leader's daughter, too. If it were me, I'd have killed myself long ago."

"I don't know why the Clan Leader still keeps her in the Clan. It's a complete waste of resources to raise a crippled person."

"Heh, not one crippled person. Two."

Listening to the undisguised ridicule and mockery from below, Hun Ying stood before the stele without expression, scarlet eyes devoid of even the slightest emotion. She turned and stepped off the Testing Platform. The examiner had no desire to spare another glance for the Clan's waste, shifting his gaze to the next test-taker. The disdain already on his face grew even deeper as he raised his head and sneered.

"Next test-taker, Hun Yan."

Words fell, and the people who had just been looking down on Hun Ying wore even more contemptuous expressions. Then, a delicate-looking man slowly stepped out from the crowd. The examiner's face was full of disgust when he saw him, and he called out viciously.

"Get up here, finish the test, and get lost! Don't waste everyone's time!"

Hun Yan remained silent in the face of the examiner's vicious words. Or rather, he had no right to retort. When he reached the Testing Platform, he looked troubled as he stared at its elevated surface. He grabbed onto its edge and struggled to climb up.

Without question, this sight drew roaring laughter from everyone else.

"Hahahaha! This guy can't even get onto the Testing