125 Assessment

Inside the room, time passed, and eventually, Song Qingzhu’s tears subsided. She looked up to see Lin Qi still reading.

"Jerome of Michigan State University posits that business is the process of predicting consumer or client needs and guiding the flow of goods and services to satisfy them from producer to consumer..." Song Qingzhu nearly choked. She had never met a man so utterly oblivious to romance.

"Can’t you just talk to me for a while?" she asked softly.

"Let me finish this chapter." Lin Qi flipped the page, read, and committed the information to memory. After finishing the chapter, he folded the corner of the page, placed the book on the table, and poured a glass of water for her. Only then did he ask, "Weren't you in Haitong City? How did you end up back here as an instructor?"

"It’s because of you," she said, casting a resentful glance at him. "When Lu Wanfang was hunting you, he mistook me for your accomplice." Lin Qi remained silent for a long time before lowering his head. "I'm sorry." He never wanted to drag anyone into his mess, yet Song Qingzhu had suffered for it.

"It’s fine," she said with a smile. "It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. If I teach here for a year, I’ll be eligible for the assessment to be promoted to a Silver Member."

"That’s good then," Lin Qi nodded. Song Qingzhu studied his face and sighed, "You aren't as handsome as you used to be." Lin Qi laughed. "I think it’s for the best. At least I’m not constantly attracting attention wherever I go."

"You’re such a show-off," she waved a hand dismissively.

"It’s just the truth," he shrugged. They chatted for a long while, which gave Lin Qi a deeper understanding of the Tianji training facility.

Although Song Qingzhu had been there for five years, she didn't know the exact location of the site. However, she confirmed that it was a cradle of talent, frequented by business moguls and martial arts masters who were otherwise unreachable.

The following days confirmed her claims. Figures like Jack Ma and Wang Jianlin would occasionally show up to give lectures, and top-tier martial arts masters—such as Huo Yuanyuan, head of the Mizong Fist, and Zhou Ruofeng, head of the Taiji school—would sometimes stop by to demonstrate their skills.

To others, these people were like gods, but Lin Qi took it in stride. While he didn't put much weight on it, to the other trainees, these figures were divine existences. They were only guest lecturers, with Teacher Wang and Song Qingzhu remaining the primary instructors, but this only served to highlight what an extraordinary organization Tianji truly was.

Lin Qi was no novice; the Lin family had once been one of the most prestigious clans in the capital. Even so, he had to admit that they paled in comparison to Tianji. He grew increasingly curious about the organization and wondered who the mastermind behind it really was. Yet, the more powerful Tianji proved to be, the more excited he became; he felt he was getting closer to taking down Lu Wanfang.

Given his skill level, Song Qingzhu couldn't teach him much, so he spent his martial arts classes reading business texts in the corner. Knowing his capabilities, she left him be. While other trainees were dissatisfied, they dared not speak out of respect for Song Qingzhu. In truth, Lin Qi was not a "loner"; he believed in the power of the collective. He knew he couldn't topple Lu Wanfang alone—the more help he had, the better. But Tianji’s first assessment had a mortality rate of over ninety percent, making it pointless to form deep attachments to these people.

Seasons changed, and a year passed in the blink of an eye. As graduation approached, Ji Dongqiang and the others were ecstatic. Having been confined for five years, they were desperate to get out and show their worth.

One day, Song Qingzhu led them to a clearing outside the bunker. It was a vast expanse of sand, surrounded by an endless desert.

She drew a long blade and carved a circle roughly a hundred square meters around them. While the group wondered what she was doing, she sheathed the sword and stood outside the circle. "This is your first assessment. It is a no-holds-barred fight to the death. Only five of you will walk out of this desert alive."

The crowd was stunned. They had thought five years of training meant they would be allowed to leave; they never expected such a brutal, inhumane test. Even Lin Qi was taken aback; he had never heard of such an assessment. Everyone stood frozen, staring at one another in disbelief. After five years together, they had developed bonds. How could they bring themselves to kill one another?

Song Qingzhu spoke coldly, "You have one hour. If there aren't only five survivors after the hour is up, everyone will die." As she spoke, she flicked her wrist, and several silver needles glinted in her palm.

At those words, the eyes of the trainees turned bloodshot. To survive, they had no choice but to strike without hesitation. No one dared to hesitate any longer; they lunged at the person nearest to them like madmen.