usenovelonline Chapter 501 - 2: Bonus Points
Chapter 501 - 2: Bonus Points
May 10, 2018
At the city gates, the two Holy Sect Envoys, who were waiting to receive City Lord Golden Jade, finally saw two tardy figures approaching in the afternoon.
Of course, Wang Jiu also noticed the two Holy Sect Envoys and immediately put on a smile.
Shen Ziyu’s mask couldn’t hide from the Celestial Divine Sword’s sharp eyes. For this esteemed client who brought Jiulinglu Company enormous revenue during the Cyan Cloud competition, Wang Jiu graciously offered a ceremonial warm smile.
"Mr. Shen, long time no see."
With just one sentence, Shen Ziyu sighed, taking off his mask.
"This mask is a new product just passed by the Celestial Craft Institute last month. It confuses the five senses, fakes True Essence fluctuations, and even subtly corrects some habitual actions. How did you see through me?"
"I’ve marked strategic clients of our company with Sword Intent. As long as I see the mark on you, I can immediately recognize your identity."
"Sword Intent mark?" Shen Ziyu was a bit curious, sweeping around with his Primordial Spirit, yet couldn’t detect any marks on himself.
"The mark is hidden, utilizing the Seventeen-Layer Folding Technique. A regular scan wouldn’t detect it." Wang Jiu explained, "Since this mark is tied to our company’s future pricing strategy for key clients, generally, we wouldn’t let clients know. However, considering your familial relationship with a member of our management, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to let you know the truth."
Knowing the conversation had veered off track, Shen Ziyu still couldn’t help but ask: "What pricing strategy?"
"After analyzing sales data, we’ll set higher prices for those who have a strong purchasing ability and don’t care about cost-performance ratios, to increase company profits... In terms of trendy language, it’s what was once called ’big data price discrimination.’"
"How do you have the nerve to say such a thing as ’big data price discrimination’ right in front of me!?"
"Because there’s no need to hide it. Even if you know our pricing strategy, I believe you’ll still continue to consume."
"Do you think I’m an idiot? Why would I blindly spend more money?"
Wang Jiu explained, "Because your niece, Qingming, is a member of the management team and receives a high dividend. Every bit of profit you contribute includes a share for Qingming."
"...I could just give her the money directly."
"That would be giving her a free handout, which would severely damage her self-esteem. It might also instill an incorrect notion in a young girl, who’s in the phase of forming her worldview, that she can trade personal dignity for money, possibly leading to issues like falling into prostitution..."
Just as Wang Jiu’s explanation reached this point, a voice interrupted on the spot, full of shame and anger.
"Have you said enough? You’re the one falling into prostitution!"
Shen Qingming, flustered and furious, squeezed past Wang Jiu and looked at Shen Ziyu with a slightly complex expression.
"Uncle, long time... no see."
Shen Ziyu shook his head, putting the mask back on: "During work hours, it’s better not to mix personal relationships. Once the business is done, I’ll treat you to dessert tonight."
Shen Qingming nodded and stepped aside, allowing the true protagonist to step forward.
"Are you two the receptionists? It doesn’t feel like the Holy Sect is showing much sincerity." Zhao Chenlu critically examined the two envoys wearing blue and white masks and said, "According to my reception requirements, there should at least be a senior envoy as the receptionist."
Shen Ziyu said, "I am a senior envoy. In the past three years, I’ve completed more than five missions as an Immortal Envoy, which fully meets the standard for ’senior’."
"Only five missions’ worth of experience? The Holy Sect really knows how to play on the edge, but I’ll be magnanimous and won’t fuss about it for now. Is the welcome banquet prepared?"
"Of course, everything is prepared according to your requirements. Here’s the banquet menu, please take a look."
"Hmm, not bad, you didn’t try to cut any corners... Did the Sect Leader face some new tough problem and need my help again this time?"
Shen Ziyu said, "I am not sure about that."
"Not sure? And you have the nerve to call yourself senior? A truly senior envoy would surely know the nature of your Sect Leader."
Upon hearing this, the Blue Mask Envoy finally couldn’t hold back any longer.
"Watch your words; this isn’t your Golden Jade City!"
Zhao Chenlu laughed, "What, you in Heaven-Reaching City don’t allow the truth to be spoken? Your Sect Leader’s penny-pinching and meticulous nature is evident to anyone who isn’t blind. Only someone like you, freshly entered into the Holy Sect, would be blissfully ignorant."
"Don’t spread nonsense here!"
Zhao Chenlu shrugged and explained to Wang Jiu, "That’s why I have requirements for the receptionist’s qualifications. They should be someone with many years of experience in the Saint Sect and at least a somewhat enriched mind to interact properly. Dealing with such newcomers is as hard as trying to communicate with a female beast in heat."
Hearing this metaphor, Wang Jiu felt a bit of discord, while the blue-faced envoy became furious, "Zhao, you’re too impudent!"
"So what if I’m impudent? Do you want to duel with me, Zhang Qing? Have your Chain Treasure artifacts been refined yet?"
With these words, the blue-faced envoy froze on the spot.
Zhao Chenlu said, "Playing dumb won’t work. You’re naturally dumb, so pretending just makes you more like yourself. Genius Young Master Zhang Qing of the Hundred Treasures Sect, did I incorrectly identify your identity?"
The blue-faced envoy was silent for a while, then reluctantly took off his mask, his figure swelling a bit, revealing a resolute face.
"Do you also have some form of Sword Intent mark?"
Before Zhao Chenlu could speak, Shen Ziyu sighed, "Junior brother, don’t bother guessing. She doesn’t need any Sword Intent mark; simple reasoning is enough. Mr. Wang Jiu previously deduced my identity, and among the Holy Sect envoys, my experience is relatively shallow. I have to barely qualify as experienced by bending the rules, so those around me would naturally have even less experience and have joined more recently. In recent years, the Saint Sect has limited the intake of newcomers. In the past three years, there have been only five people. It’s not hard to deduce your identity by cross-referencing this with your choice of words and sentence structure."
Zhang Qing was dumbfounded, "Is that even possible?"
"For most people, no. But City Lord Golden Jade would surely be capable." Shen Ziyu’s expression slightly darkened, "After all, he’s someone who aims to replace the Saint Sect."
Zhao Chenlu openly admitted, "Indeed, every one of you in the Saint Sect is a rival, and I always remember the information about my opponents clearly. I have a comprehensive understanding of everyone the Saint Sect has recruited in the past 300 years, even those on the reserve lists."
"No wonder you’ve been repeatedly reminding me to say as little as possible in front of her..."
"Yes, with enough words, she can roughly identify your identity and even discern your personality weaknesses just from your usage of language. Even the most sophisticated Magical Treasures can’t hide that. Therefore, whenever she visits the Saint Sect, she’s quickly ushered to see the Sect Leader after just a simple greeting."
"Wow, you’re well-informed. You do seem like a seasoned envoy."
Shen Ziyu said, "With a task that senior brothers want to avoid, I obviously need to conduct thorough research. Otherwise, it could be as bad as Senior Sister Lin, who’s plagued by stomach issues."
Zhang Qing curiously asked, "Is Senior Sister Lin’s stomach problem because of Zhao Chenlu?"
"Ah, both Senior Sister Zhao and Senior Brother Li are victims too. Basically, anyone who’s received City Lord Zhao once ends up with a 90% chance of stomach issues afterward."
Zhang Qing paused, touched, "So that’s why you gave me stomach medicine before coming?"
Shen Ziyu said, "Though we’re just temporary partners, it would be my failure as a senior brother if my adorable junior were plagued by stomach issues."
"A-Adorable..." Zhang Qing quickly put his mask back on to hide his real expression.
But that brief lapse was enough for an observant person to notice.
Wang Jiu straightforwardly asked his question.
"Was that just now a sign of being in heat?"
"Undoubtedly, in heat," Zhao Chenlu immediately confirmed.
Zhang Qing was furious, "Nonsense!"
"Nonsense? Are you, this waste who managed to barely get into the Saint Sect with base score bonus, going to deny your sexual orientation?"
"You!?"
Zhao Chenlu sneered, "Shen Ziyu already explained it to you. I’m thoroughly familiar with the Saint Sect’s information, even with new entrants. Your case, being almost exceptionally admitted, I know well. The Saint Sect has strict trials for recruiting newcomers. To pass, you need at least 50 out of 100, followed by cross-examination by Elder-level cultivators. For instance, Shen Ziyu scored 75 upon entry, the best we’ve recruited in thirty years, approved unanimously by two elders, while you scored only 47, which might be legendary in your Sect, but nearly trash by our standards. Your last-minute pass owed to the base score bonus."
"What is a base score bonus?" Wang Jiu asked.
"Simply put, it’s extra points for being homosexual," Zhao Chenlu said, "Recently, within the Saint Sect, there’s been an unfounded trend to accommodate minorities, mainly involving homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgender individuals. Some insincere individuals exploit this for improper extra points."
Wang Jiu wondered, "Pretend to be gay to cheat extra points? Doesn’t the Saint Sect have a way to discern this?"
"Of course, which is why pretending won’t work... Nowadays, people are serious about it," Zhao Chenlu explained, "In the two years before the entry trials, they undergo a mental transformation, primarily involving extensive reading of homosexual-themed art, deep hypnosis before sleep, and gradually replacing maids with handsome young men. In the long accumulation, quantity changes into quality, thoroughly becoming genuine homosexuals to earn extra points in the Saint Sect trials."
Even Shen Ziyu, also part of the Saint Sect, was left speechless.
"Junior brother, was this necessary?"
"What else could I do? For someone like me, with average talent, hoping to join the Saint Sect and defy fate, this is the only way! For you with family lineage, getting 75 points easily, but 47 for me, is already exhausting my resources and risking my life to the extreme! Now, if just tweaking my sexual orientation can get me up to 5 extra points, why wouldn’t I?"