Chapter 154: Chapter 154: A Sensation in the Ghost City, Mobilizing the Entire City to Help Her Cheat on the Exam!
Even though this was the first time he had seen it.
You didn’t need to be a genius to figure it out!
This Golden Red Fish Talisman was definitely more prestigious than the Silver and Copper Fish Talismans!
It could only belong to the old City Lord!
After all, the old City Lord was a celebrated figure with an immense reputation among the people of the Ghost City. Back when he was still around, the rebel organization known as the Embers didn’t even exist. Under his absolute rule, no anomaly with ulterior motives dared to cause trouble.
Though he rarely made public appearances, each time he did, he led the Ghost City to new heights of glory. The anomalies lived and worked in peace, and for a time, Fengdu Ghost City’s fame shook the world, making it a paradise, a holy land in the eyes of all anomalies who longed for peace.
It was just a shame.
For some unknown reason, the old City Lord left the Ghost City, handing it over to his subordinate to succeed him—the current City Lord.
He had seen the Fish Talisman in the current City Lord’s hand. Perhaps out of a desire not to offend the old City Lord, he had chosen not to forge an identical talisman, instead lowering his own status and wielding a Silver Fish Talisman.
In other words!
The young lady standing before him actually possessed the old City Lord’s Fish Talisman!
The old City Lord was immensely powerful. The only way she could have obtained this Golden Red Fish Talisman was if he had given it to her willingly. This meant...
’Is she perhaps his successor?’
’Or is she here to inspect the state of the Ghost City on his behalf, as if the old City Lord himself had come?’
To see the talisman was to see the man himself!
The ghastly proctor broke out in a cold sweat, his breathing turning ragged. His attitude just now had been so foul. If he were reported, he would definitely be fired, and the Iron Fish Talisman he had obtained through a stroke of dumb luck would be confiscated.
What was this equivalent to?
A local official daring to provoke an imperial envoy?
It was only because this was the Ghost City. Anywhere else, he would have been beheaded long ago!
But looking at this young lady, it seemed she didn’t know the significance of the Fish Talisman. That meant there was still a chance to make amends.
"Ma’am..."
The ghastly proctor’s voice trembled.
He tried his best to remain calm, but he couldn’t stop the frantic THUMP-THUMP-THUMP of his heart. For a small fry like him to face someone of the City Lord’s stature was just too much to ask.
"I am so terribly sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight just now, and my tone was a bit off!"
"Your... your Fish Talisman can stay on; it’s not against the rules. And your backpack, if it has any valuables inside, it’s fine to take it in with you."
The icy, interrogating look he had just a moment ago was gone.
In its place was a respectful smile.
But the smile looked a bit stiff, the muscles on his face seemingly unaccustomed to the expression, as if he were smiling this way for the first time.
Yun Zhenyue felt goosebumps rise at the sight.
A question mark seemed to pop up over her head. She couldn’t figure out what this proctor was up to.
"I should still put it in the locker," Yun Zhenyue said, shaking her head. "Thank you for your kindness."
"No, no, no, please don’t be so formal with me. I’m just a lowly proctor. As long as you... you are satisfied, that’s all that matters!"
The ghastly proctor insisted.
At this point, he pulled a ghastly cigarette from his pocket. "Do you smoke ghastly cigarettes, Ma’am? They’re good for the brain. Smoking one makes your thinking more active and your problem-solving clearer."
"Or are you thirsty? Shall I go get you a cup of tea?"
"..."
Yun Zhenyue was baffled.
The confusion in her eyes only grew.
’What is going on?’
’Who’s the proctor and who’s the student here?!’
"No, thank you."
"Alright, alright, then please head inside~"
After hearing Yun Zhenyue’s polite refusal, the ghastly proctor, fearing he might blow his cover, made an excuse and had her enter the examination hall first. He then hurried off to report to his superior.
...
A short while later,
The ghastly proctor reported the matter to his superior, the head of the examination center.
"What did you say?!?"
"—The old City Lord’s Fish Talisman?"
The sharp-featured head proctor, who wore gold-rimmed glasses, had a look of utter shock.
The exam papers clutched in his hand rustled loudly.
His knuckles turned white from gripping them too tightly.
"Why would she come to our examination center? And to take the exam?"
"Could it be that the old City Lord sent her to inspect for any violations in the examination center?"
"Or perhaps, with the old City Lord gone for so long, his suddenly sending someone over means he wants her to be his successor?"
The head proctor was sweating bullets.
He paced back and forth in the room.
Even the Copper Fish Talisman hanging from his waist swayed restlessly.
"No, this matter must be reported to the higher-ups!"
"You go and keep this esteemed person stable for now. And remember, keep your mouth shut. Don’t let anyone else find out."
"Yes, sir."
The ghastly proctor said with a deep breath.
...
Soon, after being reported up through the chain of command, the news of Yun Zhenyue taking an exam while carrying the Golden Red Fish Talisman reached the ears of all the high-ranking officials in Fengdu Ghost City.
In an instant!
The entire city was shaken!
All the high-ranking officials in the Ghost City who possessed Silver Fish Talismans had complicated feelings.
They had all been followers of the old City Lord.
If the old City Lord himself had returned, they would, of course, welcome him with open arms.
But this was just a little girl.
A human, no less!
Could it be that the old City Lord intended for her to take on this great responsibility?
At the foot of Luofeng Mountain, inside the City Lord’s manor.
Dozens of high-ranking Evil Stars held their breath, their gazes fixed on the current City Lord.
This gray-haired City Lord stared into the distance, his aura exuding a dignity one could not face directly.
He had once been the old City Lord’s most trusted subordinate.
From beginning to end, he had never harbored any ambition to become the City Lord.
He had intended to spend the rest of his life assisting the old City Lord.
But the old City Lord had made an excuse and skipped town!
If the old City Lord hadn’t said that the path was already paved and all he had to do was follow the established order, he never would have agreed to become the City Lord.
He had worried himself sick over the Ghost City!
But his abilities were limited, and he was ultimately unable to replicate its former glory.
Upon hearing this news, of everyone present, the one who was most excited and happiest...
...was him!
"Mr. Gu..."
The current City Lord sighed.
If it had been any other anomaly, they might have thought this was some clever move by the old City Lord to steal his position.
But...
As a mid-level Evil Star, the current City Lord couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from turning up.
His eyes even seemed to light up with a CLICK!
It was the look of a man who was finally free!
’I’ve done my best for your Ghost City. You left me holding the bag, and you really put me through the wringer.’
’Ever since I became City Lord, I haven’t had a single peaceful night’s sleep. What with the anxiety and the constipation, these old bones of mine have been nearly worn to dust by those Embers.’
’Now things are perfect. I’ll hand the position of City Lord over to your successor. It’s perfectly legitimate and entirely reasonable!’
’Don’t you blame me. This seat is meant for her!’
Seeing this, the assembled group of Ghost City officials felt their lips twitch.
Who would have thought that after being City Lord for so long, not only was he not afraid of someone stealing his position, he was actually looking for a legitimate excuse to run away.
As expected!
The old City Lord and his successor were cut from the same cloth!
"Relay my orders! Everyone is to cooperate with that young lady named Yun Zhenyue!"
"It must be! Absolutely! Without the slightest margin for error!"
"We must ensure she takes first place in this exam!"
"Ahem~ That way I’ll have a good reason to give her the position..."
Upon hearing the current City Lord’s decisive words, dark lines formed on the foreheads of the assembled Ghost City officials.
Never mind how absurd it was that passing an exam could make you the City Lord!
Their City Lord, who had always been upright and honorable, was now taking the lead in breaking the rules?
Wasn’t this just ordering everyone to help her cheat?
Using the entire power of Fengdu Ghost City!
To help a little human girl cheat on an exam.
To be so shameless just for the sake of running away... that was so him!
