Please, graduates, slay the demon!

"I will fulfill your last wish and stay away from your family after I get ashore. Once it's done, please go in peace and don't bother me anymore."

At the entrance of room 302, Shuotian Building, City No. 7.

Chen Yang looked down at the cursed tattoo on his wrist, took a deep breath, covered it with his shirt sleeve, and checked his clothes in the small mirror in his hand.

"Candidate number 999, Chen Yang."

Chen Yang took a deep breath, smiled, and pushed open the door to enter.

Three interviewers, two women and one man, sat in the spacious conference room.

Chen Yang found a stool, sat down, straightened his back, and said:

"Good morning, interviewers. My name is Chen Yang, and I come from the elite class of the No. 1 Experimental High School, a key municipal high school in District 7. In my class, I serve as the sports committee member and enjoy helping my classmates. My scores in martial arts and overseas science in the college entrance examination are..."

"Stop, stop, stop talking nonsense."

The male interviewer pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, interrupting Chen Yang's prepared self-introduction.

He opened the resume in his hand and said:

"Your grades are excellent, but you applied to City Nine University, and your future ambition is to conduct scientific research outside the Earth's sphere. You need to know that just two layers outside City Nine is the outer sphere, where there's always the possibility of being swept away by dense fog, which poses no guarantee of your personal safety. I'd like to ask, what are your reasons for applying to this university...?"

The male interviewer paused, then added:

"Just a heads-up, stop saying those high-sounding things."

Chen Yang took a deep breath and replied:

"Because I want to get away from my family of origin. For the prestigious inner-circle universities, I can only excel in the written exams, but in terms of background and financial resources, I might not be able to pass the interviews. But the outer-circle universities are for the poor, and I am 100% confident that I will pass."

As soon as he finished speaking, a female interviewer wearing a fishtail skirt pushed a document about Chen Yang's family information in front of the male interviewer.

After frowning and glancing at it a few times, the male interviewer gave it a perfect score in the talent stability category.

The female interviewer in the fishtail skirt glanced through Chen Yang's resume and continued:

"I saw that you participated in every overseas mock training program during your three years of high school."

Chen Yang nodded, continuing in his official tone:

"Yes. I can stop my heartbeat and breathing for three minutes, and I'm very good at using my surroundings in combat. I can hide my presence and scent to maneuver around the enemy and strike them dead when they're off guard. In my first year, I ranked eleventh, in the second year, I ranked in the top five, and this year I ranked first, having defeated twenty students in my grade."

The interviewer, dressed in a fishtail skirt, nodded, looking at the resume in her hand with satisfaction.

It records Chen Yang's experience of using the fog and trees as cover to successfully defeat a small team during a jungle battle against a foggy backdrop.

He's really good at hiding, a master of guerrilla warfare, and perfectly suited to surviving abroad.

"You mentioned in your statement that you have extensive combat experience. If you could clearly kill your opponent with a single blow, why did you choose to maneuver within the simulation pod to find the best opportunity?"

Chen Yang replied:

"Because this is how I can showcase my strengths. No matter what opponent I face, I can calmly assess the situation and find the safest way to win. Doing so will also allow the interviewers to see my talent in guerrilla warfare and field combat."

The interviewer, dressed in a fishtail skirt, looked at the handsome young man in front of her and smiled with satisfaction.

She then gave full marks to the section on "Can you deal with extraterrestrial beings?" in the test questions she was holding.

"Although University No. 9 is an outer-circle university, it is still a key national university, so the things you just revealed cannot determine your ability to pass the interview."

Finally, the female examiner, dressed in a suit and tie with her hair in a high ponytail, spoke.

"In the section for personal strengths, you wrote that you got a perfect score on the investigative ability assessment all year. Can I interpret this as an extraordinary talent of yours?"

Chen Yang took a deep breath and stared intently at the interviewer with the high ponytail in front of him.

He knew that his martial arts training and academic achievements would be more than enough to get him into a public university in an outer region.

The interviewer's question was testing whether he had any unusual qualities.

Legend has it that those who demonstrate exceptional talent during the interview process are hired on the spot.

If the interviewer asks this question, it means he has already impressed the interviewee by 90%.

Chen Yang stretched his arms and rubbed the curse marks under his suit sleeves, knowing full well that things could get complicated if he waited too long.

He was most happy to be accepted on the spot, but if he had to wait for a notification, he was worried that someone with connections might snatch him away.

So he stared straight at the examiner with the high ponytail and nodded.

The examiner shook his arm and said:

"There are two rows of cars parked in the exam passage downstairs. What is the last two digits of the license plate of the second car from the left in the first row? On the way here from your home, you pass through a breakfast street. What is the name of the fifth shop on the left side of that street? How many steps did you climb to get here? What is the content of page 5 of this month's National Daily Military News?"

"4869, the 'Youtiao Etiquette Record,' 399 steps. The fifth edition records the weather outside the circle, troop casualties, and the political situation..."

Chen Yang answered without hesitation. After giving a brief summary, he recited the contents of this month's daily newspaper word for word, down to the number of casualties, the daily temperature difference between morning, noon and evening, and the names of the publisher's editors and chief editors.

He possesses exceptional dynamic observation skills and a remarkable memory for environmental information, which is the main reason why Chen Yang was able to win the championship in this year's overseas simulation competition.

The examiner with the high ponytail glanced at the two accompanying examiners beside her. The two of them walked to the window together, looked at the parked cars below, and then started typing on the keyboard to look up information.

Three minutes later, the two nodded to the examiner at the same time.

The examiner fell silent. This time, she picked up Chen Yang's resume and read it carefully from beginning to end.

She then took out a stack of brand-new resumes from the drawer and read them. After comparing them for a while, she pulled out a few of them and threw them into the trash can.

"Enter his information. Candidate number 999, Chen Yang, can be admitted on the spot."

Finally, upon hearing this, Chen Yang breathed a long sigh of relief.

The two accompanying examiners began typing rapidly on their keyboards, while the chief examiner took a sip of tea and smiled at Chen Yang.

"You are excellent. If you decide to apply to City Nine University and stay at City Nine to conduct research on the Great Demons of the Outer Circle, we will waive your tuition for four years of university, provide excellent experimental resources, and offer scholarships exceeding 30%... In addition, research outside the circle is confidential work, and we will conceal your identity, which perfectly meets your desire to get away from your family of origin."

"I do," Chen Yang replied.

"Alright, let's sign the contract."

"OK."

Chen Yang took the thick A4 paper with both hands. After opening the pen, he felt as if the contract in his hand was radiating golden light.

But just as he was about to sign his name, a sudden voice rang out in the meeting room:

"Wait a minute, Chen Yang cannot be admitted."

"Huh?" Chen Yang was taken aback.

The examiner was also taken aback: "Let's take another look. Is there any missing information, or is there a lack of approval authority?"

The interviewer, dressed in a fishtail skirt, frantically typed on her keyboard, then stared wide-eyed at the screen, confirming the information several times before blankly looking at Chen Yang:

"Chen, are you a recent graduate?"

"what?"

Chen Yang was taken aback again, and subconsciously replied:

"Of course, I graduated this year and I never repeated a year."

The interviewer in the fishtail skirt was stunned and pushed her laptop in front of the male interviewer so that he could also look at it.

Then, the male interviewer frowned slightly and spoke with some displeasure.

"Chen, think about it again. Have you really never worked at City 7 or paid social security or housing provident fund contributions?"

Chen Yang gasped, and after recalling everything from beginning to end, he nodded solemnly:

"I am certain, absolutely certain. I am fully aware that the majors and work at City Nine University involve top national secrets, and they only want to recruit recent graduates for intensive training, then conceal their identities to become behind-the-scenes members. Therefore, from the time I started school until now, I have never participated in any formal work, nor have I ever signed a tripartite agreement."

The top 100 martial arts universities in the country are actually a different kind of work.

The Martial Arts University aims to cultivate the most outstanding talents of their sects through martial arts, while the Literature program is designed for research on powerful demons. Both require extremely high ideological awareness and a strong sense of confidentiality, so only recent graduates with a blank slate can be selected.

"Hiss...that's strange."

The male interviewer clicked his tongue:

"Our system backend search shows that you already have work experience and have paid social security... You have worked for one month, and your start date is exactly... exactly one month ago today."

How is that possible!

Chen Yang blurted out subconsciously:

"Teacher, could you please tell me which company it is? I really have never worked before."

The male interviewer turned the computer to the side, pointed to one of the columns, and said:

"Pangu Road Boxing Dojo"

Chen Yang was stunned.

If his job postings featured a company he'd never seen before, he would definitely make a huge scene.

defamation!

Framed!

It must be someone with connections who tampered with my information, trying to squeeze someone else into my university spot!

However, the Pangu Road Boxing Gym.

The dojo is right downstairs from his house.

The head of the dojo was his grandfather's former colleague.

When Chen Yang left the interview building, the sun was blazing outside, making him feel somewhat irritable.

He turned on his phone, saw more than a dozen missed calls, and then called back.

"You little brat, why are you only answering the phone now?"

Chen Yang swallowed hard and asked calmly:

"Mom, I went to a university interview today, and the interviewer said..."

"Eighty thousand, eighty thousand... Oh dear, I won again..." The voice on the other end of the phone was extremely noisy, a mix of shouts and curses from playing mahjong. "Are you trying to say you didn't get into university?"

His mother's voice was sometimes loud and sometimes soft, and Chen Yang had a hard time hearing it.

"The outside world is too tough. I knew you couldn't make it, so I had your grandfather find you a connection. You can work at your Grandpa Wang's martial arts dojo from now on. Your martial arts skills are pretty good, aren't they? You can give it a try..."

Chen Yang's tone was icy:

"Mom, I passed the exam, but the interviewer said they didn't hire me because I'm not a recent graduate..."

"Bang!"

A sound of slamming a table came from the other end of the phone:

"Reading those useless things is pointless. What you need to do is start working as soon as possible, earn money to help your brother buy a house, and stop thinking about those unrealistic things."

Before he could finish speaking, the phone was snatched away.

A strong, elderly voice rang out:

"Hey, Chen Yang, this is Grandpa. Oh, don't feel pressured. Although Grandpa pulled some strings, treated people to meals, and begged everyone to get you this job, it's for you. Grandpa is willing to do it, and it's a good job. It's easy, and the people here know you well."

When the call came in, Chen Yang clutched his chest, took a few deep breaths, and calmed down.

I definitely can't go to university, but I must leave this home.

If he resubmits his application, based on his grades, he might barely get into a junior college.

As Chen Yang was thinking, the old man's voice came from the other end of the phone again:

"Yang, is that file folder you kept in your bedroom very important? Your brother needed some scratch paper for his homework, so I took some out, and I just realized it was your file. Is it very important?"

Yes, it's quite important.

Chen Yang hung up the phone.

He coldly watched the bustling traffic on the street.

Anyone who has been to school knows that for any entrance exam, the school or institution will give the student a personal file.

The records contain all of the student's life information. If any part of the records is found to have been opened, it will be considered as suspected tampering and the student will not be hired by any organization.

It's over, it's over.

Chen Yang felt a dull pain in his wrist. He rolled up his sleeve and saw that the black curse lines had penetrated deep into his flesh, corroding his body little by little.

Just then, a loud slap rang out, and a mimeographed poster landed on his face.

Then, more than a dozen green military trucks carrying banners passed by on the road.

The words "Recruiting Survey Corps" on the banner were particularly eye-catching.

Then, the loudspeakers on the military green trucks blared throughout the street:

"The Survey Legion is recruiting. Anyone over 18 years of age, regardless of their background, is welcome to join the Survey Legion as long as they are willing to explore the outside world."

Chen Yang looked down at the poster in his hand.

Several large characters were written on it:

"Graduates, please slay the demon. Contact number..."

P.S.: New author, new book, please vote!