The One Who Caused the Trouble Should at Least Help
"That can't be... Please give us leniency, Elder. We're only late by three minutes after all."
Soon, Chang Miao, the Guan sisters, alongside the other teams, arrived. They were disappointed they did not make it. But, after realised how close they were, Guan Ru Yi pleaded to the Elder.
"Rules are rules!" said the Elder. "Even if you're only late by one second, I won't allow it!"
Guan Ru Yi's gritted her teeth in anger as the Elder won't even listen to what she said. She did her best to hold it in and continue to plead with her big puppy eyes. "Elder... Please..."
Chang Miao and Guan Ru Na were a distance away from the looking on. Their faces were darkened to the utmost disappointment. They would not even bother to plead seeing how stubborn the Elder was.
"Fei Bao Xing, I'm disappointed. How can you be three minutes late?" Chang Miao said as she directed her anger to Fei Bao Xing.
"It's useless..." he replied. "Even if I was one hour early, our points would still not be taken. The first thing he said I was three minutes early, then the moment he learned I'm in your team, he changed it to late three minutes."
"This..."
"This is only an assumption, but did you somehow make the Elder upset?"
"Could this be... he found out..." said Guan Ru Na looking worried.
"That Elder... Giving us 180 points penalty is one thing," said Chang Miao referring to the time they met Kong Ling Jue. "But, if he deliberately makes us fail, it is most likely he has found us out..."
Guan Ru Na sighed, "Then, is this our end..."
"Wait, so the one who tried to make us fail is a different Elder?" asked Fei Bao Xing.
"Well... Yes. I guess we didn't tell you clearly back then." said Chang Miao.
Fei Bao Xing, "Hmmm..."
At the moment, the stubborn Guan Ru Yi would not give up. Yet, it was not only her, but the other teams also pleaded as they cannot just let their work amount to nothing.
"Elder, give us some more time as well. We guarantee you, we will pass if you just give us one more day.'" Baldy cried.
"That's right, Elder, you're not going to let all of us failed, are you?"
"If it's not because our keys were stolen, we would already submit the keys in time."
"I'll do anything, Elder. Please give us one more chance!"
"Uggghh..." The Elder grimaced. He remembered when a message from the owl messenger came. He was surprised to know that Chang Miao, one of the top recruit, was given a penalty of up to 180 points. However, it was not over, his superior, Elder Kong Ling Jue gave the order to not let her team pass no matter what.
Then, Team Chang Miao defy the odds and really brought back 180 points. As he could not disobey the order of his superior, the Elder lied to make them fail.
However, it created another whole problem, the number of recruits that pass the test was too low. This time it was only 9 people. Aside from the first team, the other two was a problem.
Deng Huan passed the test, but he was alone as his teammates could not be here anymore. It was such a waste of points, 30 points for him alone. Well, this case was one thing...
However, who would expected team Wi Ke Ling to do the same as well. Wi Ke Ling and his teammates were not favoured at all. The Elder would make them fail at the final evaluation anyway. But, with the low number of remaining recruits, he has no other choice but to grant them discipleship.
Then again, if it was not because of Team Chang Miao stealing all 180 points, these points could go to other teams.
"I can't... I'm sorry, but all of you fail!"
In the end, the Elder obeyed his superior more than he wanted the best for Silver Hands Owl.
If he made an exception and granted them more time or leniency, Team Chang Miao was the better one among all of them. There's no doubt that this team will definitely succeed.
As he could not allow it to happen, then the other teams will have to be the sacrifice.
"Then, what would happen to us?" said Baldy.
"As the rule says, it means failure, and you will no longer be granted a discipleship."
The faces of the recruits became pale. Who did not know that failure is only a nice word to put it. In Silver Hands Owl, failure means death. As one already aware of the location of this secret organisation, to keep it a secret, they will shut your mouth by killing you.
Of course, they can leave now if they want, or even resist. But, whether to escape or to fight, the Silver Hands Owl will never fail to capture and kill you.
"Elder, Can you just let me just say one thing?" Fei Bao Xing suddenly said.
"As I said before, you're three minutes late! Just like the rule..."
"No, no. It's not about that. Elder only follows what the rules said, it is the right thing to do after all. There's nothing wrong with it."
"Then... What is it?"
"It's nothing big. I just want to know more about the rules," said Fei Bao Xing. "If we can clarify the rules or if it changes. Perhaps, then there will be a way out..."
"..." The Elder was deep in thought. He clearly understood, Fei Bao Xing meant that he wants to speak with the authority. Usually, he would dismiss this kind of request as Elder Kong Ling Jue could not be bothered.
But, this time was a bit special, since the number of recruits who passed the test was too low because he had to follow his superior's order. Thus, rather than taking matters into his own hands, why not just push the problem to his superior instead. It was Elder Kong Ling Jue's selfishness that created this situation. The one who caused the trouble should at least help.
The Elder nodded, "Perhaps there may be some hopes for you guys after all. Wait here, let me get Elder Kong. If it's Kong Ling Jue, he perhaps would hear your requests."
"Good thinking, Fei Bao Xing!" Guan Ru Yi uses joy as a cover to hug him.
However, Fei Bao Xing was too surprised to even notice Guan Ru Yi, "Ehh... Elder who? Kong Ling Jue?!"
***
"So Team Chang Miao almost passed... and resulted in the low number of recruits. I see, Good job on informing me." Kong Ling Jue said.
"Yes, what should I do?"
"There's a lot of ways, we could confiscate their keys and ask them to do it again with Team Chang Miao still had to earn 180 points. Or even better, we can have the last chance test where everyone on the team has to fight our disciples, and we can just assign Team Chang Miao to the strongest..."
"Then, shall I make the necessary preparations?"
Kong Ling Jue said, "No, I'll just handle it myself. It's my fault for not able to consider this situation anyway."
"Then..." The Elder said fidgeting.
"Yes, don't worry." King Ling Jue smiled, "If I handle it myself, the other Elders won't be able to find fault with you. You should be able to get the Unwavering Iron Pill just like you wanted."
"Hehe, Thank you, I will definitely pay you back in the future." The Elder smiled back. If on the next annual meeting, he was granted the Unwavering Iron Pill, his reputation will surely rise. His future will be bright and will be on track for a higher position in the future.
Thus, the two Elder made their way to the failed recruits. As soon as they arrived, they were surrounded right away.
"Oh... Elder Kong, please save us!" Baldy said.
"We will do anything, Elder... Just please give us more time!"
"Don't worry..." Kong Ling Jue said. "I will find some ways for all of you."
"As expected of Elder Kong. Such a big hearted-man!" Baldy praised.
"I respect Elder Kong more than I respect my parents." his friend said.
"Hey, Little Ling Jue!"
"Wait! Who just said that?!" Kong Ling Jue shouted.
"Fei Bao Xing, are you crazy? How dare you called Elder Kong without any sign of respect?" Baldy said.
"You have truly gone mad!" The other Elder said. "Fei Bao Xing, you must be seeking death!"
"So what? I call him whatever I want." Fei Bao Xing said. "Little Ling Jue, take care of your junior. He dared make my team fail!"
"Such arrogance!" the Elder yelled. "Be prepared to die!"
But before even the Elder could move to kill Fei Bao Xing, Kong Ling Jue's aura was gushing out really fast stopping out everyone in their tracks.
"Let me handle this!" said Kong Ling Jue in a menacing aura.
[My gosh! Kong Ling Jue is super angry. Fei Bao Xing is totally dead meat!]
Kong Ling Jue clenched his fist so tight and launched it towards his target.
* Brukkk... *
A man falls down after being hit by Kong Ling Jue, but it was not Fei Bao Xing.
The man down on the ground was the Elder, Kong Ling Jue's own friend.
Everyone, "Ehhhh!!!"
Kong Ling Jue was sweating really hard, [It's Feng Ao Xiu!!! What the hell is Feng Ao Xiu doing here?! Sh*t, he's angry, I'm scared!]