Chapter Fifty-Three: A Lifetime Without Leisure
Kyoto.
Headquarters of All Access.
Liang Fan, the head of the contestant review committee, cradled a thick stack of documents and knocked on the office door.
“Come in.”
Lu Jin’s voice sounded from within.
Liang Fan took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
“Master Lu, here is the list of all applicants for this year’s Luo Tian Grand Ceremony. I’ve organized everything—please take a look.”
“Just leave it there.”
Inside the office, Lu Jin—dressed in a sharp suit with a tie, his hair peppered with white, and sporting a small goatee—sat before the computer, his gaze fixed intently on the screen, brows tightly knit.
He was well over a hundred years old, yet his hands danced across the keyboard with astonishing speed, enough to make any young person feel inadequate.
Liang Fan couldn’t help but feel a touch of envy.
Extraordinary individuals truly were formidable.
Lu Jin continued typing rapidly, speaking to Liang Fan in a gentle tone,
“Liang, take a seat. The files you’ve sorted—once I finish this… Damn it, useless Stone Man, how can you miss your ult from that angle? Don’t you have long arms? If you have time, get yourself a prosthetic. If you’re short on money, I’ll lend you some.”
Liang Fan was momentarily stunned by Lu Jin’s sudden outburst, thinking he’d made some mistake to anger the old master so much.
But on closer listening, it seemed that wasn’t the case. Liang Fan noticed Lu Jin’s face had grown dark—almost as if he could wring water from it.
And it wasn’t just his face.
The computer screen was dark as well.
Curious, Liang Fan leaned over.
With just a glance, he nearly burst out laughing, barely holding himself back for propriety’s sake.
Yasuo, record: 0–10.
Team kills: 8 to 12.
Equipment bar: Doran’s Ring, Corrupting Potion, Death Note, and a Ruby Crystal.
Impressive…
Defying all odds.
And despite the state of the game, none of the teammates had gone AFK—what a resilient mindset.
Because of a team wipe, Lu Jin was now furiously typing, simultaneously facing off against four teammates with the keyboard, one against four.
“Even playing Stone Man you can miss your ult—just get a prosthetic if you’re useless. I’ll lend you the money if you need it.”
“S13AD, always spamming question marks. Look at your pathetic CS. Even if I last-hit with my feet, I’d have more in ten minutes.”
“Support, what’s with flashing your badge over there? Don’t think you’re off the hook. Playing RZ Cat, and I haven’t seen you roam once. Those who know you’re support, those who don’t would think the AD bought an extra 250 gold trinket out of base.”
“And you, Poppy—jungling without ganking, what are you doing, tiling the jungle? Staring at the frog all day—what, unfinished business between you and it?”
With his extraordinary hand speed, Lu Jin darted in and out of the fray under the fire of four teammates, seven times in, seven times out.
His teammates, under the barrage of his rapid-fire insults, could barely lift their heads.
As expected,
The match ended at ten minutes.
But the crystal didn’t explode until fifteen.
Though he lost the game, Lu Jin was not at all dispirited when he put down the mouse. In fact, he looked rather pleased.
He rubbed his wrist, face full of disdain.
“Ridiculous. I, Lu Jin, have lived a flawless life—how could you bunch of idiots ever get the better of me?”
He tugged at his tie, shifting his gaze from the computer to Liang Fan.
Liang Fan felt immense pressure under that stare.
“Um… Liang, when you came in just now, I was working, right?”
“Yes… yes!”
Liang Fan was momentarily dazed, then nodded frantically.
He dared not say a word wrong, lest he provoke this old man from the infamous district—and if he did, he couldn’t outfight him, and as for trading insults…
Best not to even try.
He’d witnessed it all firsthand.
“Good.”
Seeing Liang Fan so quick-witted, Lu Jin withdrew his gaze with satisfaction and turned to the files on the desk.
“How many participants this time?”
Discussing official business, Liang Fan became serious. “Including the quotas from Longhu Mountain, as of the registration deadline, there are 134 applicants.”
“But among them, some are rather special cases—I don’t feel qualified to judge.”
“Master Lu has the final say.”
“Special cases?”
Lu Jin’s interest was piqued.
Liang Fan responded cleverly, “I’ve sorted out all the special files—there are four in total, placed on top.”
“Well done.”
Lu Jin was quite pleased with Liang Fan’s method, and praised him,
“You flatter me, Master Lu.”
Embarrassed by the compliment, Liang Fan responded modestly.
[Wang Youliang, 27 years old, former member of the All Nature, claims to have left…]
Lu Jin picked up the top file, glanced over it, and mused,
“A prodigal’s return is good, but the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is the highest ritual of the Celestial Masters’ Mansion, the grandest contest in the world of extraordinaries. Letting him in is inappropriate.”
He spoke half the sentence, left the rest, but Liang Fan understood his meaning.
“I understand.”
[Xu Ling, extraordinary criminal, fugitive on the All Access wanted list…]
Lu Jin frowned, “Such unreliable types should not be considered for the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony.”
“And when you call Xu Ling for a follow-up, send someone to check her address…”
“Yes, Master Lu.”
The first two files were beyond doubt—absolutely not candidates for the ceremony. But as Lu Jin looked at the third file, he paused.
[Ye Yan, 23 years old, former top cadre of Under Heaven Society, now a newcomer in All Access North China District, internship period, sponsor ‘Xu Si’…]
Staring at the file, Lu Jin was silent for a long time before looking up and asking, “Is this Ye Yan the one I’ve heard about?”
“Uh…”
Liang Fan hesitated. “If the information is correct, it should be.”
Lu Jin was troubled, “Someone who once defeated Ding Shimian is coming to the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony to bully children? Has he no shame?”
Indeed.
Liang Fan nodded in agreement.
He may not be extraordinary himself, but as a member of the archives department, he was familiar with many happenings in the extraordinary circle, including Ye Yan’s various exploits.
“Master Lu, what do you think?”
“No. The Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is meant to be a festival for the younger generation. What’s he doing here? Bullying the young—this breaks the rules.”
Lu Jin waved his hand, giving his verdict.
But Liang Fan hesitated, “But Master Lu, the rule you set was that anyone under thirty could participate. Judging by Ye Yan’s age, he doesn’t break the rule. If we refuse him entry, what reason can we give?”
Reason?
Lu Jin was taken aback.
He pondered for a moment; the rule he’d set was indeed under thirty.
With that in mind, Ye Yan’s participation technically posed no issue.
Lu Jin was silent for a while.
He had acted too hastily.