Chapter 74: Can I Take The Exam?

Nan Gongxian kept quiet.

He hadn’t joined in the evaluation of Lin Jin’s mishap but had only heard about it. And now it seemed like there was more than meets the eye. According to the current situation, this couldn’t be called a mishap at all.

He shot a contemptuous glance at Wang Ji.

To think that this man had the audacity to call it a mishap. What on earth was he doing?

Tan Lin came over, frowning, evidently wanting to re-appraise the shadow wolf herself. The shadow wolf let out a low growl, but Lin Jin patted it on the head, and immediately, it calmed down.

Tan Lin was startled by this but she didn’t show it on her face.

She used a seal to conduct the appraisal. At first, she had been holding onto a thread of hope that Lin Jin was just fooling the crowd. But after the evaluation, her expression turned sour. She started chewing her bottom lip without saying anything.

What else could she say?

As an inspector dispatched by headquarters, she had just verified Lin Jin making a mistake and held him responsible. But in just a brief moment, reality had given her a hard slap across the face.

Her investigation result was completely untrue.

This obviously couldn’t be considered an appraisal mishap.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to announce it.

She wanted to just let it be bygones and allow it to slowly disappear into nothingness. Yet, she didn’t expect Lin Jin to disallow her this privilege as he asked, “Appraiser Tan Lin, may I ask if this claim of it being a mishap is still valid?”

It naturally annoyed her to be questioned so blatantly, but Tan Lin could only answer, “Now that I’ve seen it, it’s invalid.”

Wang Ji was panicking.

It was invalid?

If it was invalid, what excuse should they use to ban Lin Jin?

He immediately blurted out, “Appraiser Tan, I think we still need further investigation…”

“I said it’s invalid!” Tan Lin announced through gritted teeth. Despite her hatred for Lin Jin, her honor wouldn’t allow her to make false accusations and spout nonsense.

“But…” Wang Ji was still trying to stop this trainwreck from happening.

“No buts. We’ve made a mistake and that’s that. Why can’t we just admit that there was an error?”

Since Tan Lin had put it that way, Wang Ji couldn’t say anything else. He could only glare at Lin Jin while trying to come up with another ploy.

Lin Jin continued to ask, “Since it’s invalid, may I ask if I can enter and take the exam?”

In fact, the exams had already begun with half the time gone. This time, Tan Lin didn’t give him trouble and said, “We have made a mistake in assuming it was an appraisal mishap. You may take the exams.”

“Great, thanks!” Lin Jin exclaimed. Shooting a wink at his three apprentices, with a fling of his sleeve, Lin Jin entered the exam hall.

“I knew Master Lin could do it!” Zhao Ying and Lu Xiaoyun were jumping joyously while Han Dong pumped up his fists in the air excitedly.

Realization finally set into the onlookers around them.

“So that so-called appraisal mishap was something like this!”

As word spread on, soon, everyone present knew what had happened.

“To think the Beast Appraisal Association could even make such a grave mistake. Isn’t that just destroying someone’s career?”

Some of them felt it was unfair for Lin Jin.

Tan Lin looked grim.

No doubt she had acted too rashly. When Wang Ji brought that young man and his pet beast over for her to examine, she hadn’t performed the appraisal thoroughly because she was prejudiced against Lin Jin. Hence, after hearing the young man’s story and taking a brief look at his pet beast, she had created her own false conclusion.

She never knew this error in judgment would lead to her embarrass herself in public.

Wang Ji was good at reading expressions. A quick thought came to his mind and he whispered, “This Lin Jin doesn’t know his place. Even if the verification was a mistake, he shouldn’t have asked in front of everyone. Couldn’t he have asked in private? He’s setting such a bad example by causing this ruckus. This man is too selfish. Even if he is a capable appraiser, his character isn’t worth mentioning.”

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Tan Lin said nothing.

But she agreed with him.

She had personally suffered from his sexual harassment that night. Someone like him who was indecent in private can’t possibly be a good person at heart.

Even if he was extraordinarily skillful, he wouldn’t be fit to become a beast appraiser.

“Also, half the time has passed now. Even if he takes the exam, he might not be able to finish ten evaluation reports in time.” This was Wang Ji mumbling to himself.

He knew the exam contents.

Every candidate would get a ‘practice beast’. These ‘practice beasts’ were unique tools equipped with a beast simulation amulet. An invigilator would then activate the amulets and the amulet can turn the practice beasts into a preset pet beast. Candidates were required to evaluate all ten simulated pet beasts and come up with evaluation reports for them.

The marking scheme will be based on the number of beasts completed, completion level, and accuracy of the evaluation reports.

Needless to say, an average candidate might not be able to finish appraising all ten pet beasts, what more to say of Lin Jin who only had half of the time left.

Hence, the possibility of Lin Jin passing was low.

Meanwhile, Dong He was glaring daggers at Han Dong, but the latter seemed unfazed, remaining resolute.

Last night, Han Dong had approached Dong He to state that he would stop helping Dong He spy on Lin Jin, nor would he give Dong He anymore updates.

To Dong He, this was ‘treason’.

“The nerve of this Han Dong. How dare you betray me? Just you wait. When Lin Jin is done for, you’ll be the next to get kicked out of the association.”

Just then, two elderly men came out from the Beast Appraisal Association.

The man dressed fully in black was Elder Mo of Maple City’s Beast Appraisal Association, while the other man wore a three-ring beast pattern sleeve band, signifying his status as a Rank 3 beast appraiser.

This Rank 3 beast appraiser was one of the most prominent figures of Jade Dragon City’s Beast Appraisal Headquarters.

“Father!” Upon seeing the old man, Tan Lin’s face lit up, and she hurried over to greet him.

This man was the Rank 3 beast appraiser invited here by the City Lord Manor, Tan Xun. He was also Tan Lin’s father.

“Lin’er, why are you here too?” With a hand behind his back, Tan Xun seemed poised and graceful. His presence immediately attracted everyone’s attention. Wang Ji hurried over to bow in salutations while Nan Gongxian, who had been aloof earlier, approached the man with a smile.

Both of them were merely Rank 2 beast appraisers, so before the presence of a higher-ranked figure, they wouldn’t dare to be disrespectful. Moreover, Tan Xun held an influential position in headquarters and many certified beast appraisers were his disciples.

“Elder Tan!”

Both men competed to greet Tan Xun first.

Tan Xun merely nodded. His main purpose here at this branch association was to help them enhance the seal isolating the monster in the Earth Fire Spirit Stream. For some reason, several days earlier, the seal had loosened up. Elder Mo had reported the situation, hence, headquarters decided to send them here.

Secondly, Tan Xun was coincidentally invited over by the City Lord Manor to appraise some mutant eggs, so he decided to come over personally. However, to his surprise, Chief Wang Ji of Maple City’s Beast Appraisal Association had completed almost all the appraisals for these mutant eggs. He had read through the evaluation reports. Although it couldn’t be considered perfect, for a Rank 2 beast appraiser, this was remarkable enough.

Hence, Tan Xun had a good impression of Wang Ji.

“Elder Tan, you must be exhausted. I’ve prepared a room for you so please get some rest there,” said Wang Ji who was skilled at flattery.

Tan Xun nodded with a smile. It was indeed tiring after having to enhance the seal for several days.

Then, taking a closer look at Tan Lin, his eye suddenly lit up as if he noticed something.

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“Lin’er, give me your hand,” Tan Xun said out of nowhere. Despite her confusion, Tan Lin extended her hand over.

Tan Xun took her pulse, and briefly after, his expression seemed delighted.

“Lin’er, has the bestial soul curse in your body been broken?”

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