Nail It

"Gu Shen had to be one of the most resilient people there was."

"Every day, he ran fifteen kilometers with weights and had never once complained of being tired."

"Knocked down a hundred times in the Boxing Ring, he got back up a hundred times."

"Cut down by a Wooden Sword, knocked over by setbacks—no matter what happened, he always had the courage to try again. But... not everything gave you another chance."

The thirteenth day.

Through the soundproof glass, Zhong Wei looked toward the Training Field, where the young man under Nan Jin's guidance gripped a Wooden Sword with both hands and repeatedly slashed at a dummy.

His eyes were filled with regret. "He can persevere through things that ninety-nine percent of people cannot. That is an extraordinary kind of determination. However... the Adjudication Court's assessment has no category for determination. Those people only look at potential."

After pondering for a long time.

Zhong Wei let out a soft sigh.

"Gu Shen does not seem to possess the potential to become an S-rank."

The lightness of that sentence belied the weighty verdict it passed on a person's fate.

If one only looked at the final outcome, the results of many things were really just one or two simple words.

Yes, or no.

And all the sweat, tears, and blood shed by countless people became insignificant before those two simple words: no.

Fate was something so light, yet so heavy.

"..."

Through the glass window, Luo Er silently watched the sweat-drenched youth without saying anything.

The young man slashed at the wooden practice dummy again and again without tiring. Nan Jin continuously tapped his shoulders, wrists, and lower abdomen with her scabbard, correcting the way he held his sword. The pain made him bare his teeth, but that was all he did. He spoke not a word of complaint, nor would he ever give up.

He always readjusted quickly. He always gritted his teeth and held on until the end.

The harder Gu Shen worked beyond the glass.

The more Luo Er's heart ached.

She and Zhong Wei had both been among their teacher's earliest and most favored disciples, and they had spent the longest time in the Adjudication Court.

Over the years, they had seen far too many newcomers. Some had dazzled like shooting stars, while others had bloomed only briefly like epiphyllums. But without question... everyone discovered and specially recruited into the Adjudication Court was an exceptionally gifted genius.

Yet no matter how she looked at him, Gu Shen was not the "genius" the Adjudication Court sought. He was more like a cactus growing in a barren desert—plain to the extreme, with no distinguishing trait besides toughness no matter how thoroughly one searched him.

Because it was tough, it could stubbornly survive even without rain.

But what was the point of surviving? A cactus would never be beautiful. No matter how one looked at it, it was not beautiful.

"I know Senior Sister's Profiling has never been wrong."

"But Gu Shen... has not shown even the slightest talent for the Natural Affinity." Zhong Wei was somewhat puzzled. "I used many methods to guide him, but he displayed no Fire Control Power whatsoever. He cannot sense drifting elements, nor can he control tangible flames. This is far too unreasonable."

Glancing at the Training Field, Zhong Wei murmured, "Obviously, he is not Assault Type either. And his comprehension time in Mental Affinity has been so mediocre... Why does Teacher think he is an S?"

At first, they had come to Da Teng full of anticipation, eager to see the brilliance of an S-rank newcomer.

But after all these days, most of that anticipation had fallen flat. The only thing Gu Shen had to show for himself was his tenacious determination.

Dripping water could pierce stone. Having perseverance was something remarkable.

But Gu Shen had only fifteen days in total.

No amount of effort could change the fundamental problem.

The final assessment two days later...

They could already imagine the outcome.

"Do not forget. Our exploration of transcendent power is merely the tip of the iceberg. The classification chart is still being updated, and new Transcendent Abilities emerge every year." Senior Apprentice Sister Luo finally spoke. "Do you remember? Three years ago, a special awakened appeared in Central Continent who could not be classified into any of the three affinities."

"You mean... the Trait Affinity?"

Zhong Wei seemed to realize something, then lowered his voice. "That... would explain it. But the probability is far too low, isn't it?"

"Is that so? Then how does it compare with the probability of an S-rank?"

Senior Apprentice Sister Luo smiled. "A miracle is a miracle precisely because the odds are so low that people often do not dare believe in it."

"All right. Gu Shen's potential will be judged by the Assessment Team. That is not something we should worry about... What matters is that Gu Shen has not given up. He is still persevering. How can we lose faith in him?"

Senior Apprentice Sister Luo looked at Zhong Wei and said solemnly, word by word, "If we had not met Teacher, you and I would both have been people abandoned by fate. Now it is Gu Shen's turn. We cannot let him lose hope in this world. At the very least, we must let his efforts receive the reward they deserve."

Laughter drifted in from beyond the glass.

It was Gu Shen.

Senior Apprentice Sister Luo narrowed her eyes and looked carefully.

Gu Shen sat sprawled on the ground without a shred of decorum, bracing himself against the green turf with both hands and laughing heartily. Before him stood a crooked wooden dummy split open from the shoulder. Whether it had taken a thousand strikes or ten thousand to split it no longer mattered.

The not-so-tall crooked dummy had been cleaved open from shoulder to abdomen. The worn, battered Wooden Sword was embedded in the gap, making it look like a roly-poly toy, swaying back and forth as though it were doubled over laughing along with Gu Shen.

Off to the side.

Nan Jin held her scabbard in her arms. Her sunglasses concealed her face, which remained cold and expressionless, but the corners of her lips unconsciously curved upward.

She quietly extended a hand and pointed at Gu Shen for her Senior Brother and Senior Sister behind the glass.

Dripping water pierced stone only with time.

But a hole in the stone began with the first crack.

This was the first time in thirteen days that Gu Shen had completed the extra strength training Nan Jin had assigned him... For a newcomer, especially one without an Assault Type Transcendent Ability, achieving this was far from easy.

He had found the knack of slashing and understood the significance of seeking out weaknesses.

This was no longer a task that could be completed through sheer perseverance alone.

Though... this level was still nowhere near enough in the official assessment, Gu Shen's achievement could still be considered a small "miracle."

Luo Er and Zhong Wei left the soundproof room.

"Whew... Senior Sister, Senior Brother..."

Gu Shen collapsed onto the ground, his clothes soaked through with sweat. Smiling, he raised a hand and pointed at the swaying wooden dummy. "I... I did it... Not bad, right?"

Nan Jin, standing nearby with her sword in hand, immediately poured cold water on his excitement. "You only chopped down a wooden dummy. What is there to be happy about?"

"You think everyone is a Monster Strength Woman with Double A in Strength and Speed like you?" Gu Shen lay flat on the ground with his limbs spread out, saying irritably, "If I were as fierce as you, would I still be here chopping wooden dummies? I would have gone to the airport to wait for that so-called Assessment Team long ago... Once they landed, I'd chop down every one who came. If a pair came, I'd chop down both... I'd chop them down with such force that the wind howled, chop their lousy S-rank to hell."

"If you really could chop down everyone on the Assessment Team, then S-rank truly would be worthless." Senior Apprentice Sister Luo smiled. "The Assessment Team will arrive in Da Teng tonight. So, how about it? Do you want to put that into action?"

Zhong Wei smiled. "There are many important people in this Assessment Team. The important figure responsible for issuing the Amnesty Decree is very interested in you. So..."

"A councilor is coming to assess me personally?"

Gu Shen was startled and immediately backed down. "I was just talking... It was a joke, just a joke."

"Look how scared you are." Nan Jin laughed. "How could a councilor have time to assess you personally? Relax. Important people like that are very busy."

"It is that important figure's assistant who has come to Da Teng City. He is traveling with the Assessment Team and said he wanted to see your performance personally. Zhong Wei and I need to go meet this councilor's assistant and, while we are at it, keep the Assessment Team steady."

Senior Apprentice Sister Luo said seriously, "The special training can more or less end here... For the next two days, relax properly. Nan Jin, take Gu Shen somewhere far away. Do not let him meet the Assessment Team in advance."

Nan Jin nodded.

Gu Shen, meanwhile, listened in confusion.

"Senior Brother and Senior Sister are leaving?"

"Yes... There are some old acquaintances in the Assessment Team. I'll go say hello and see whether my connections are worth anything." Luo Er remembered something. "Gu Shen, I have some good news for you. What Teacher has been busy with lately... is about to come to an end. If nothing unexpected happens, he can return to Da Teng before the assessment and see you one last time."

Gu Shen scratched his head.

See him one last time... Why did that sound so strange?

"Anyway, eat well and sleep well these next few days. As for the assessment... do not overthink it." Before Senior Brother Zhong Wei left, he thoughtfully reminded him, "There is still some money on the card the Adjudication Court gave you. You can spend it all."

Hey, hey, hey.

The more he heard, the more ominous it sounded.

It seemed no one had much faith in him for this assessment.

But...

Maybe that was only natural...

Gu Shen looked at the wooden dummy that had taken a slash and now swayed as though laughing at him, then silently shut his mouth.

He thought that Senior Brother and Senior Sister were transcendent beings capable of flying through the skies and roaming the earth, yet they were rated only A. After struggling for so long, he could only chop down a wooden dummy. Why should anyone think highly of him? Why should he be rated S...

How was everyone else so impressive, but when it came to him, he fell short?

Gu Shen lowered his eyes and silently clenched his fingers.

Something brewed and rose within him.

Watching Senior Apprentice Sister Luo and Senior Brother Zhong walk away, he suddenly shouted, "Senior Brother! Senior Sister!"

The two of them froze.

Then they turned back and looked at him in confusion.

The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Shen regretted it. The flame that had been brewing inside him went out pathetically, arriving quickly and vanishing even faster. He had wanted to say that he would definitely pass the assessment, that he would definitely become the S-rank everyone expected him to be, but when the words reached his lips, they became—

"It's actually nothing..."

Gu Shen's voice grew softer and softer beyond his control. "It rained outside today... Be careful on the way. Say hello to that councilor's assistant for me... And... as for the assessment, I will definitely give it everything I have."

After all, he had accepted their Amnesty Decree.

He had to let them inspect the goods... Whether the boss was satisfied was one matter; whether he worked hard was another.

So he did not say he would definitely succeed, nor did he say he would definitely nail it. He only said that he would definitely give it everything he had.

"..."

After coming to a stop, Senior Apprentice Sister Luo turned back and stared at the solitary youth.

After a long silence.

"Do not say things like 'I will definitely give it everything I have'... Those are the words of someone who has already accepted defeat in advance."

She said solemnly, word by word, "We all think you can do it, which is why we have stayed with you until now. If you also think you can do it, then say, 'I will definitely nail it.'"

After saying that, she did not look at the youth again and left with Zhong Wei.

Just as they were about to leave the Training Field.

A voice rang out.

"Senior Brother! Senior Sister!"

"The assessment in two days... I will definitely nail it!"

Senior Apprentice Sister Luo waved without turning back and left the Training Field.