Departure

After arriving at the Martial Academy, Gu Yang set down his long saber and headed straight for the Training Ground where the formation was gathered.

A month flew by, and today was once again the day of the Martial Academy's Minor Competition.

For him now, placing among the top hundred in the Minor Competition was as easy as plucking something from his pocket. Naturally, he could not pass up such an effortless chance to obtain Military Rations Pills.

During this period of cultivation, he had already finished the Military Rations Pills he had won in the last Minor Competition. In order not to affect his cultivation, he had later bought another bottle from the small Pharmacy, and by last night, he had already taken half of it.

Points were precious; whatever could be saved should be saved. Although participating in the Minor Competition again with his current strength was indeed a bit like using a sledgehammer to kill a mosquito, it was all to save points. There was nothing shameful about it.

Yet unexpectedly, the moment he entered the Training Ground, before he could even greet Li Zhiwu and several other acquaintances, Qin Hu called him over with a somewhat dark expression.

"You're leaving the city tonight. Why are you here instead of preparing what you'll need for your training expedition?"

"Uh..." Gu Yang froze for a moment, then replied with complete sincerity, "Master Qin, I came to participate in the Minor Competition. Isn't today the day of the Minor Competition?"

"It is the day of the Minor Competition, but who told you to participate?" Qin Hu said irritably. "Forget the Minor Competition—don't you know that Trial Disciples can't even take part in the Grand Competition?"

"Ah!" Gu Yang was dumbfounded.

"Whether it's the monthly Minor Competition or the Year-End Grand Competition, they are tests prepared for ordinary disciples. You're already a Trial Disciple, so what are you joining in for? Go on, go on. Hurry back and prepare what you need to leave the city. Don't waste time here."

Qin Hu waved his hand, intending to dismiss him, but Gu Yang grew anxious.

His points were running low, which was why he had wanted to participate in the Minor Competition to obtain Military Rations Pills. Now that he had suddenly heard such terrible news, how could he calmly accept it?

Seeing Qin Hu about to turn and leave, Gu Yang hurriedly called out, "Master Qin, I really can't participate in the Minor Competition anymore? Could you make an exception just this once?"

"No!" With a cold snort, Qin Hu decisively refused. "Every rule of the Martial Academy was set by Canglong Island. The Three Hundred Cities under its jurisdiction all follow the same rules. No one can break them, so stop dreaming."

With that, Qin Hu turned and left.

But after taking just a few steps, he turned back again.

Just as Gu Yang thought matters had taken a turn for the better, he heard Qin Hu speak once more. "You don't need to bring Qi and Blood Powder for training outside the city. One bottle of Military Rations Pills is enough. You must prepare Insect Repellent Powder, Detoxification Pills, Hemostatic Powder, and wound medicine—that is, Gold Jade Ointment. The leather armor is all standard issue, so just choose one that fits. Remember, don't panic when you encounter danger. Handle everything calmly."

The spirit he had just mustered immediately wilted again. Gu Yang drooped his head and replied softly, "Yes, Master Qin. I'll remember."

Seeing Gu Yang's dejected appearance, Qin Hu could not help smiling. He raised a large hand and patted Gu Yang on the shoulder. "Alright, broaden your horizons a little. It's only a bottle of Military Rations Pills. Go on, do your best, and don't let Dean Hong or me down!"

Turning around, Qin Hu did not look back this time. He walked straight to the front of the formation and roared, "Gather up, you little brats! Depart!"

A short while later, the formation left.

Only Gu Yang remained in the Training Ground, rubbing his shoulder as he muttered under his breath, "That was really heavy-handed..."

After leaving the Training Ground, Gu Yang returned to the small Pharmacy.

"Elder Fang." Upon entering, he greeted the old man with a smile, then went by himself to the medicine shelves to select pills.

He had visited often during this time and had become familiar with the old man.

The proof of that familiarity was that the old man no longer put away the storybook in his hands whenever he saw him.

"Insect Repellent Powder costs one point per packet. I heard the academy's pharmacists specially make it, and it works much better than what's sold outside, but one tael of silver is still too expensive. Two packets will do. I need to bring at least two Detoxification Pills, just in case. One box of wound medicine should be enough; I'll try my best not to get injured, and I also have the Vitality Surge talent. Add one bottle of Military Rations Pills, and that should be just right."

Complaining inwardly as he planned, Gu Yang racked his brains and finally made the most of his remaining thirty-two points.

Aside from the fifteen points needed to exchange for leather armor, he traded all his remaining points for various pills, ointments, and medicinal powders.

"Seventeen points." Elder Fang merely swept his gaze over the items before returning his attention to the storybook in his hands.

Gu Yang paid directly, then packed the bottles and jars into the single-shoulder cloth bag Gu Mother had sewn for him. He turned and left for the Weaponry next door.

Just as Qin Hu had said, the leather armor was all standard-issue brown sleeveless battle armor.

Gu Yang casually tried on several pieces, chose the one that fit best, and put it on. Then he paid and left, returning once more to that secluded Training Ground.

Setting down his cloth bag and picking up his long saber, Gu Yang continued practicing his saber techniques in leather armor.

The daylight hours slipped away quickly. Before long, the sun tilted westward, and Gu Yang stopped swinging his saber. Rising to his feet, he headed toward Hong Tao's Cultivation Room.

Along the way, he saw two disciples traveling in the same direction, both carrying weapons and wearing leather armor.

The three exchanged glances, but none spoke. They merely continued onward in silence.

At a fork in the road, Gu Yang continued toward the Cultivation Room. The other two turned back to look at him in surprise, then took the other path.

Gu Yang became thoughtful, but his steps did not slow as he made his way to the outside of the Cultivation Room.

At that moment, Hong Tao also heard the footsteps outside and emerged from the Cultivation Room. "Come with me."

With those words, he strode toward the iron gate not far away.

"This is your first time leaving the city, so I'll take you over to meet Master Liao, who's leading the team. Next time, you can go by yourself."

"Thank you, Dean Hong." Gu Yang followed behind Hong Tao and replied softly.

Very soon, the two arrived near the iron gate.

From a distance, Gu Yang saw seven disciples waiting there. Sure enough, just as he had expected, the two disciples he had seen earlier were among them.

"Dean Hong."

After the respectful greetings, the seven all looked toward Gu Yang, their eyes filled with curiosity and appraising scrutiny.

Clearly, everyone was intensely curious about this newcomer.

Gu Yang looked at his nose, and his nose looked at his heart. He simply stood beside Hong Tao without saying a word, turning a blind eye to their gazes.

Their gazes came swiftly and went swiftly. After examining him for only a few moments, they withdrew their eyes and split into several small groups, quietly discussing matters concerning their journey outside the city.

Time slowly passed, and the number of disciples before the iron gate grew from eight to thirteen.

At that moment, a middle-aged man dressed in black fitted clothes, his face cold and stern, approached from afar.

The newcomer first exchanged a few quiet words with Hong Tao, raised his eyes to glance at Gu Yang, then turned to the disciples and shouted, "Check your supplies. Depart now. Reach Mount Mang before the hour of the Pig!"

"Yes!" the disciples answered in unison.

The next moment, the group set out, swiftly leaving Tianshu Ward and exiting through the west city gate.

Walking at the rear of the crowd, Gu Yang's heart surged like stormy waves.

After nearly two months, he had once again come outside the city. But this time, his purpose was completely different...