215: Chapter 214 Finding Fault

When the signal for the end of the semi-finals sounded, Lin Fan had already packed up his workstation.

The Thunder-Patterned Mouse crouched in its Psionic Cage, its deep blue eyes watching him leave as the newly grown silver-white fuzz on its tail swayed gently.

Lin Fan walked out of the examination hall, with Ye Qing following behind.

There were many more people in the corridor than usual; some were discussing the exam questions, some were comparing answers, and others were making phone calls.

Lin Fan lowered his head and walked toward the staircase, not wanting to linger.

"Number 073."

The voice came from behind, but everyone in the corridor heard it.

Lin Fan stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around immediately.

Examiner Qin Yuan stepped out from the crowd, walked up to Lin Fan, and stood still, his gaze sweeping over Lin Fan's face.

"There was a problem with your operation just now," Examiner Qin Yuan said with an air of righteous indignation.

The corridor fell silent.

Everyone's peripheral vision shifted toward them.

Ye Qing frowned and took half a step forward, but Lin Fan raised his hand to stop her.

"What problem?" Lin Fan asked.

A look of smugness appeared on Examiner Qin Yuan's face.

"Correcting a malformed node requires the implantation of external spiritual energy guidance. The Psionic Converter you used wasn't calibrated, so the output frequency of the lightning spiritual energy was unstable. Completing an evolution under those conditions is extremely risky. If it had failed, the Thunder Mouse would have died on the spot. Just because you won the gamble doesn't mean your operation was flawless."

Lin Fan looked at him without saying a word.

Examiner Qin Yuan continued.

"The Breeder competition tests standardization, not recklessness. Although your operation was successful, it shouldn't be encouraged. In the semi-finals' scoring criteria, operational standardization accounts for thirty percent. You shouldn't have received full marks for that portion."

The whispering in the corridor grew louder.

"He seems to have a point."

"Point my ass! Breeding and evolution are gambles to begin with. Isn't he just nitpicking?"

"Isn't that guy Examiner Qin Yuan from the Qin Family? No wonder. I heard he can't stand anyone being better than him."

"Is this the extent of the Qin Family's character?"

Examiner Qin Yuan heard the discussions around him and merely gave them a sidelong glance.

All the questioning voices vanished instantly.

Was this the power of the Qin Family?

Lin Fan looked up, meeting Examiner Qin Yuan's gaze provocatively.

"Your suturing—the spacing of the last three stitches was nearly twice as dense as the ones before. The Wind Feather Sparrow's wing twitched after the suturing was completed, which means the tip of your needle pricked the nerve endings at the edge of the wing membrane. That isn't a standardized operation. You only sped up because you wanted to finish before me."

Lin Fan paused.

"Your own wife is pregnant with someone else's child, yet you're still busy handing out condoms to others. How interesting."

Examiner Qin Yuan's face turned from green to purple, then from purple to white.

"Say that again."

Examiner Qin Yuan's voice wasn't loud; it was squeezed out from the back of his throat.

Lin Fan didn't save him any face.

"Your suturing was substandard and you hit a nerve; that's a fact. Instead of reflecting on yourself, you come here to question my operation. This is what we call 'impotent rage.' Do you understand?"

Examiner Qin Yuan took a step forward.

"Who do you think you are?"

Examiner Qin Yuan gritted his teeth, enunciating every word. "You dare challenge me on Longjiang territory?"

Lin Fan looked at Examiner Qin Yuan's face, which bore a sixty percent resemblance to his own.

He suddenly felt that this person was quite pitiful—not pitying him personally, but pitying the Qin Family.

Such a massive Family, yet they raised something like this.

"On Longjiang territory, you're the one who calls the shots?" Lin Fan asked.

Examiner Qin Yuan took another step forward.

Lin Fan didn't back down and took a step forward as well.

The two stood face-to-face, the distance between their noses less than half a meter.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

"Was I wrong?"

Lin Fan's voice wasn't loud, but every ear in the corridor was perked up.

"Your own ability is lacking and your operations aren't standardized. You're just flying into a rage because I called you out. You're not here to question me; you're just pure jealous!"

Examiner Qin Yuan's fists clenched so hard they cracked.

"How presumptuous! Who do you think you are? I gave you face, didn't I?"

"The face you give... I wouldn't dare take it. It's too thick!"

Lin Fan tilted his head. "Did that Wind Feather Sparrow you sutured give you face? When it twitched, did you not feel it?"

Someone in the corridor couldn't help but let out a snicker, then quickly covered their mouth.

Examiner Qin Yuan's gaze snapped toward them; the person shrank back, but the laughter had already escaped.

Examiner Qin Yuan's face turned beet red, the flush spreading from his neck up to his forehead.

"Do you believe I'll..." He raised his hand, his finger almost poking Lin Fan's nose.

Lin Fan didn't dodge. He glanced down at the finger, then looked up into Examiner Qin Yuan's eyes.

"Want to hit me?"

He paused. "You can try. But after you do, how long do you think the video of the Young Master of the Qin Family hitting someone at a national competition will stay online? Guess if the Qin Family can afford to lose that kind of face?"

Just as the tension reached its breaking point, two people in examination staff uniforms hurried through the crowd and shouted sternly, "Disputes and troublemaking are prohibited in the competition corridors!"

The two staff members quickly stood between Lin Fan and Examiner Qin Yuan, scanning them with serious expressions.

Examiner Qin Yuan's eyes swept over the whispering candidates around them. He recalled his father's repeated warnings before the competition—"Do not cause trouble, preserve the Qin Family's face"—and the fire in his heart was instantly suppressed by apprehension.

He glared death at Lin Fan, his chest heaving violently. Only after a long while did he squeeze a harsh remark through his teeth.

"Lin Fan, don't get ahead of yourself. In the finals, I'll show you what true standardization and strength look like."

With those words, he fiercely flicked his sleeves. Without another glance at Lin Fan, he turned, pushed through the crowd, and quickly left the corridor.

The Examination Team gave a few brief instructions before dispersing, and the discussions around them gradually resumed.

Lin Fan's expression remained calm. He reached out to pat Ye Qing's arm and walked straight toward the staircase.

Ye Qing quickly caught up with Lin Fan, her voice lowered but still carrying the tension from moments ago.

"You were too bold just now. Weren't you afraid he'd actually snap and attack? The Qin Family's influence in Longjiang is deep-rooted. If things really escalated, we would have been the ones at a disadvantage."

Lin Fan didn't stop walking, a faint, mocking smile curling his lips.

"He wouldn't dare. Which of these Five Great Families doesn't value their reputation? If he attacked in front of so many people, the only one losing face would be himself. He wouldn't have the guts even if I lent him some."

Ye Qing shook her head helplessly, but a sense of conviction welled up in her heart.

Anyone else being publicly harassed and pressured by Examiner Qin Yuan's power would have lost their composure long ago.

Yet Lin Fan not only refused to yield an inch but also accurately struck the opponent's weak spot, forcing the arrogant Young Master of the Qin Family into a dilemma with just a few words.

"In the upcoming finals, he'll definitely double down on targeting you."

Ye Qing couldn't help but warn him.

Lin Fan stopped in his tracks.

"Let him. On the field of competition, one relies on true skill, not Family background. If he wants to win, he has to let his strength do the talking."

Ye Qing patted Lin Fan's shoulder.

"You're not afraid of power, you're awesome, you're noble, you're amazing..."