Global University Entrance Exam CH.7

 Three Violations

Yu Hao’s one comment immediately silenced the room, leaving everyone feeling deeply uneasy. The kitchen’s soundproofing wasn’t great, so faint rustling noises trickled out. Soon, there was a loud thud—like something large and icy-cold being placed onto the counter.

The hunter continued sharpening his knife, the scraping sounds sending shivers down everyone’s spine. Shortly after, the unmistakable crack of bones being chopped filled the air. The rhythm was steady, one strike after another.

“Who’s counting?!” Tattooed Guy finally snapped, his nerves fraying. “Shut up, will you?”

Realizing how thin the walls were, everyone started whispering, gesturing, or just remaining completely silent, afraid that the wrong word might draw unwanted attention.

The clock on the cabinet ticked along at an agonizingly slow pace. What felt like a century passed before the kitchen door finally creaked open. The smell wafting out was even more bizarre now—an odd combination of the earlier scents mixed with the faint metallic tang of frozen blood.

The hunter emerged holding a dark cloth, casually wiping his hands. “Almost ready! You know, frozen meat has an incredible texture—it’s slightly crunchy, with a delightful icy edge,” he said, clearly relishing the description. After a moment of savoring his own words, he added, “You’re going to love it, trust me.”

Hiding in the crowd, Yu Wen whispered under his breath, “What a freak.”

No sooner had he finished the thought than his brother’s stomach growled loudly.

Yu Wen: “...”

The hunter grinned, his oversized pupils gleaming. “Ah ha! I heard that! I’m so glad someone here is looking forward to the feast as much as I am. Now, the food’s a bit heavy, so I’ll need a helpful guest to lend me a hand.”

His eerie eyes scanned the room. Nearly everyone instinctively pulled back. Only Yu Hao remained still. In fact, it looked as though Yu Hao was about to stand up.

Yu Wen frantically pressed him down.

“No, no, I see you’re all a bit shy,” the hunter said, smiling. “Don’t worry, I’ll pick someone myself. Food is precious, and I need someone careful and steady—wouldn’t want to break any dishes, now would we?”

His lumbering frame moved awkwardly as he waddled further into the room.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes flicking nervously toward one corner. Over there, the bald man who’d been acting deranged earlier was still hunched in the shadows. He seemed completely oblivious to the hunter’s presence, continuing his nonsensical mumbling and slight rocking.

Luckily, the hunter’s attention stayed focused on the larger group—at least until he happened to pass the bald man. As soon as he did, someone in the crowd audibly gasped in panic.

“Hm?” The hunter halted, tilting his head.

“Crap,” Yu Wen whispered, horrified.

The way the hunter’s neck twisted was unnatural—far beyond human flexibility, like an owl turning its head all the way around. With his face now level with his shoulder, the hunter finally noticed the bald man cowering at his feet.

“Oh, another guest!” he exclaimed. “How could I have missed you? Let me have a look.”

The hunter, his large thighs making it hard to crouch, awkwardly bent down. The bald man’s clouded eyes barely registered the pale face looming in front of him.

Unhappy about being ignored, the hunter grabbed the man’s chin and lightly slapped his face. “Wake up, dear guest!”

A couple of slaps did nothing. Then came a sharp, loud smack.

Everyone: “...”

The bald man startled, his dull eyes finally focusing. He stared wordlessly at the hunter, who was now grinning.

A moment later, a wet patch formed at the hunter’s feet.

Hunter: “...”

The pale-faced man’s expression twitched before splitting into another wide smile. “I think this guest will do nicely. Here, hold this tray for me, won’t you?”

The bald man slumped helplessly to the floor, not moving a muscle.

“Up!” the hunter commanded, yanking him upright like a doll.

Shaking uncontrollably, the bald man struggled to stay on his feet.

“Stand straight!” the hunter barked.

Terrified, the man wobbled but managed to steady himself. The hunter chuckled again. “Ah, now that’s a good guest. Follow me.”

The bald man glanced nervously at the rest of the group, as if silently pleading for help. Before anyone could signal back, the hunter added, “I’d prefer that the rest of you stay exactly where you are. Any movement will upset me, and that would be bad news for our helpful guest here.”

The group, about to give him hand signals, quickly froze. The bald man, trembling, dared not look back again and stumbled along behind the hunter.

In the kitchen, the hunter’s method of food preparation was anything but delicate. Pieces of meat were scattered everywhere, splattered across the counter. On the long table lay thirteen empty porcelain plates, while the glass basin in the center was heaped with chopped meat.

The meat was frozen solid, its origins impossible to discern at first glance. The rest had been stuffed back into the sack, which was now tightly sealed.

The bald man, shaking like a leaf, couldn’t take his eyes off the butcher’s cleaver.

“What are you staring at, dear guest?” the hunter softly asked.

The man’s legs almost gave out. He quickly averted his gaze.

“Ah, that’s better,” the hunter said, handing him two plates. “These might be a bit heavy, and you’re shaking quite a lot. Please be very careful. If you drop them… well, that would be quite unfortunate, wouldn’t it?”

The bald man, completely paralyzed with fear, could only nod.

When they returned to the dining room, the hunter turned to everyone and said, “Remember, be very careful when helping out. If anyone damages the tableware, they’ll face punishment. And well… you wouldn’t want to go hungry and end up as someone else’s meal, would you?”

As the hunter said this, everyone instinctively glanced at the task wall, where the rules for the challenge were posted. After the challenge description, a single line stood out: “Candidates must not damage the tableware.”

What they had thought would be a simple survival game had suddenly turned into a deadly trap.

With the bald man’s assistance, the hunter set out all thirteen plates in a circle around the long table. In the middle, he placed the glass basin brimming with frozen meat.

As the bald man put down the last plate, he exhaled deeply, his legs giving way. He slumped into a chair, trembling.

“Stop!”

The sharp cry startled him. Confused, he looked at the crowd, only to see Old Yu furiously gesturing toward the task wall.

The bald man nervously turned his head to see what Old Yu was pointing at.

Previously, when the question had been updated, the bald man had just returned from the confinement room and had been slumped in the corner, rambling incoherently, completely unaware of the changes.
When he finally caught sight of the phrase, “Only 12 people can be invited; one person is destined to die,” his face turned deathly pale.
What if his chosen seat was the one marked for death?
The bald man struggled to stand, but a pair of large hands pressed heavily on his shoulders.
The hunter leaned close to his ear and said, “You’ve already chosen your seat. You can’t change it, and standing up won’t help. Just give up.”
“Just give up,” he said—and the bald man collapsed back into his chair, fainting on the spot.

The hunter clicked his tongue in regret. “Oh dear… why did he faint so soon? We haven’t even started eating yet, and there’s still wine.”
One had already gone down before the meal even began.
His eerie eyes swept over the others.

“I need another helper to fetch the wine glasses,” he muttered as he ambled awkwardly towards the group. “Let’s see… I like children. I’ll pick a child…”
As his large pupils rolled around, his gaze landed on Yu Wen.
Yu Wen froze completely.
His eyes locked onto the hunter’s pale face, and his hands, hanging at his sides, curled into tight fists.

Suddenly, the hunter smiled and raised a hand.
But just as his hand stretched out, someone stepped forward.
“Fine. You’ll do.”
Before the hunter could react, the person he was pointing at shifted from Yu Wen to Yu Hao.
Yu Hao gazed back at him, unperturbed.
The hunter’s hand stopped in midair, his expression stiffening. “Oh.”
The hunter’s face twisted slightly, as if suppressing anger.
Yu Hao remarked, “Changed your mind?”
The hunter retracted his hand, forcing a smile. “Of course not. A good host keeps their word.”
He hesitated for a moment longer, then gestured, “Come along, dear guest.”
Though his words said “come along,” his tone said, “Why don’t you just drop dead already?”

The hunter turned back towards the kitchen.
Yu Hao followed without a second thought.
Yu Wen, panic-stricken, grabbed at him. “Wait! Where are you going?”
“To get the glasses,” Yu Hao replied.
“But if you drop one, you’re dead!” Yu Wen hissed.
“Do I look paralyzed or disabled? How would I drop one?” Yu Hao shot back.
“…You say that, but—” Yu Wen stammered.
Somehow, he felt his brother was capable of just about anything.
“Why are you volunteering for this?” Yu Wen pressed.
Yu Hao inclined his head toward the challenge board. “Did you read the instructions?”
“Of course I did.”
Yu Hao, unimpressed, added, “Then let me teach you something.”
“What?”
“The more something is emphasized, the more suspicious it is.”
With that, Yu Hao shrugged off Yu Wen’s hand and walked toward the kitchen.
Yu Wen stood frozen, then turned to his father. “What’s he getting at?! Why do I feel so uneasy?”
Old Yu looked even more rattled.

Yu Hao stepped into the kitchen.
The hunter was fishing keys from his belt. A brass ring held seven keys, from which he selected three to unlock the right-side door of a wooden cabinet. Slowly, he retrieved thirteen wine glasses and lined them up neatly on the counter.
Yu Hao casually picked one up for a closer look.
At first glance, it seemed to be an ordinary glass.
The hunter’s face darkened. “Put that down! Did I tell you to touch it? What kind of guest are you, with no sense of propriety?”
Yu Hao gave a slight chuckle and placed the glass back on the counter.
As he passed the doorway, he glanced at the clock in the living room and said coldly, “At your speed, you’re supposed to manage two meals a day?”
The hunter scowled at him, muttered a few curses under his breath, then forced a grin. “No matter. A gracious host tolerates an impolite guest. I know you’re just hungry.”
Yu Hao sneered.
The hunter was visibly irritated, but said nothing more and turned to prepare his wine.
While the hunter fussed with the glasses, Yu Hao leaned against the cabinet door, scanning its contents.
Aside from the porcelain plates and the wine glasses he had set out, the cabinet held a few silver sauce boats, a bundle of knives and forks, and a set of silver spoons.
“Enough!” the hunter snapped. “Peeking into someone’s belongings is quite rude.”
Yu Hao ignored him.
“Help me bring out the knives and spoons as well,” the hunter added, annoyed.
Yu Hao shot him a look, then handed him the requested utensils.

The hunter carefully reattached the keys to his belt, then retrieved two round trays. He carefully arranged the glasses onto them, one by one.
“I noticed something,” Yu Hao said.
The hunter paused, his pale face turning wary. “What?”
“You’re particularly cautious with those glasses.”
The hunter hesitated before answering, “You’re mistaken. Dining is a sacred act. I treat all my tableware with great reverence.”
Yu Hao nodded casually. “I was just making that up.”
The hunter: “…”

Back in the living room, Yu Wen was pacing anxiously, certain that Yu Hao would somehow manage to break every dish in the kitchen.
Then, a bellow of frustration echoed from the kitchen: “Get out!”
Yu Hao emerged, expressionless and empty-handed.
“What happened?” Yu Wen asked, stunned.

The crowd stared in disbelief.
"Where’s the glass?" Yu Wen gestured. "Weren’t you supposed to bring the glasses? Why’d you get kicked out?"
Yu Huo didn’t rejoin the group. Instead, he stood by the table with his hands in his pockets and replied to Yu Wen, “He changed his mind. He’s bringing them himself.”
The crowd was uneasy, sensing that upsetting Hunter Alpha wasn’t a good idea.
After all, he was the question.
What if he could just declare someone dead on a whim?

While everyone exchanged anxious glances, Hunter Alpha emerged, carrying a large tray laden with six wine glasses and a set of knives and forks.
He waved Yu Huo aside and began carefully arranging the items.
For some reason, Yu Huo just stood there, watching, as though setting the table were a spectacle worth observing.

Yu Wen was on the verge of losing it. He mouthed exaggeratedly, “Brother! Come back over here! What are you doing?”
But Yu Huo acted as though he hadn’t noticed, simply gazing lazily at Hunter Alpha.

“Get lost!” Hunter Alpha snapped at Yu Huo.
Then, without missing a beat, he turned back to the group with a smile. “Why are you all just standing there? Come sit down. We’re about to eat.”
He seemed hungry himself. He paused, reached into the glass basin, and grabbed a chunk of raw meat.
The crowd watched as he opened his mouth wide and bit into the meat, chewing it up bone and all. Just as he had described earlier, the sound was a chilling crunch.
Two of the older women sank to the floor in shock.
The room’s tension grew heavier.

Hunter Alpha finished chewing, licked his lips, and said softly, “Ah, how rude of me.”
He gestured toward Yu Huo, adding, “It’s this unruly guest’s fault. When I get angry, my stomach tends to growl.”
His eyes darted back to the basin. He counted the meat. “Oh dear, I accidentally ate a portion. Now there’s only 11 left.”

Everyone froze, their eyes fixed on him.
He picked up the last wine glass, smiling. “Looks like someone else will have to… meet their end.”
The group turned pale.
A tense silence hung in the air until a cold voice broke it:
“Isn’t that against the rules?”

It was none other than Yu Huo.
Hunter Alpha flinched, starting to turn toward the speaker. But his movements were so stiff and awkward that he ended up contorted in an odd pose.
“You again!” he snarled, his face darkening.
Just as he was about to erupt in anger, Yu Huo abruptly lifted a long leg and delivered a solid kick.

In an instant, the room spun.
With a sharp “crack,” Hunter Alpha’s pale face hit the floor, and the wine glass fell from his hand, shattering on impact.

The group froze, holding their positions like statues, stunned.
Then, a sudden, nerve-wracking sound pierced the silence—the eerie, middle-of-the-night crow of a rooster.
Four hours of inactivity were shattered by the challenge board’s abrupt update.
Violation Warning:
Breaking examination rules. Proctors notified.
Proctors: 001, 154, 922.

Yu Wen stared at the board, dumbstruck. After a long pause, he suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the proctors.

Deep in the forest, inside the small manor, 922 burst into the office, waving a notice.
“Boss…”
Qin Jiu frowned and instinctively glanced at the clock.
“Don’t bother,” said 154 with a blank expression. “It’s been just one hour since we sent him back.”
Qin Jiu let out a short laugh, his mood unclear. “What now? Did he try to jump ahead on the test?”
154 shook his head. “No, it’s worse than that. He killed the question.”
“Killed the question?” Qin Jiu’s smile disappeared.
“You heard me right. The question itself is dead.”
Qin Jiu: “…”
922, who had followed him in, looked bewildered. “Wait… the question can die? How did that happen?”