Wilderness Training, Qin Yuan's Admonition

"Did you hear? At the end of this school year, we're starting our mage wilderness training!"

"Same every year, they say it's out in the wild."

"No way, I heard the wild is really dangerous, demonic beasts show up all the time."

"Heh, if you don't go, it'll affect your future academy applications."

"..."

The news of wilderness training spread quickly.

Most students were still quite curious, since their knowledge of demonic beasts basically came from teachers' lectures and pictures or videos on the internet.

Almost none of them had ever seen a demonic beast with their own eyes.

Wilderness training started with the Elite Class first, because after a full year of cultivation, the Elite Class students had basically mastered the Seven Star Seeds.

Only students who had grasped Beginner Magic would the school dare to send on training; otherwise, encountering a demonic beast would leave them completely helpless.

A few days later.

The buses responsible for picking up the Elite Class and taking them to wilderness training arrived—five in total, each able to hold over twenty people.

The Elite Class plus a few homeroom teachers numbered just over a hundred, split into five groups of about twenty each.

The destination for this wilderness training was an important small stronghold built in a valley outside the city, named 'Snow Peak Mountain Post Station'.

On the bus.

"Snow Peak Mountain Post Station is the edge of the safe zone around Bocheng. Beyond the station is an area where demonic beasts frequently appear. Until you have enough ability to deal with demonic beasts, you are forbidden from stepping outside the station!"

Xue Musheng warned sternly.

Tang Yue, as the Magic Practice Class teacher, also spoke up at the right moment: "I know some of you have already mastered Elementary Level One magic and think you have enough ability to handle demonic beasts."

"But I still want to tell you seriously: the combat power of a single One-eyed Demonic Wolf is comparable to a well-trained team of Beginner Mages."

"The Elementary Level One magic you pride yourselves on is not fatal to a Servant-level Demonic Beast."

With Tang Yue's solemn warning, some of the more restless and active students immediately reined in their thoughts.

Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers—young mages who, after mastering Elementary Level One magic, let their pride get the better of them and died in the mouths of demonic beasts were far from few.

Demonic beasts were far more terrifying than imagined.

Seeing that everyone seemed to have taken her words to heart, Tang Yue nodded in satisfaction and sat back down.

Beside her was Qin Yuan, propping his cheek on his hand in a lazy posture.

Seeing Qin Yuan's completely unconcerned expression, Tang Yue's irritation flared up, and she reached over to pinch his ear. "Did you hear what I said?"

"Sister Tang Yue, I get it."

Qin Yuan smiled.

"Don't be so flippant. I know your Ice element has definitely reached Elementary Level Two, and with a Spirit Seed, you can indeed threaten a Servant-level Demonic Beast."

"But a demonic beast's reflexes are no joke. With a little caution, they can dodge Beginner Magic."

Tang Yue warned again.

She placed great importance on Qin Yuan's safety and couldn't afford even a single mistake on his part.

"Relax, I value my life too much."

"I still need to keep this little life of mine to spend the rest of it with you."

Qin Yuan grinned.

Hearing this, a faint blush flashed across Tang Yue's face, and she shot Qin Yuan a fierce glare. "All you do is run your mouth."

"Heh." Qin Yuan let out a light laugh, then shifted the topic, asking knowingly: "Sister Tang Yue, how's the investigation into the Black Vatican going?"

Tang Yue glanced at Qin Yuan, a hint of shame in her expression. "Not much progress."

She had been in Bocheng this long, and aside from the few clues she'd found in the Judgment Association back then, there were no other leads.

"Sister Tang Yue, have you ever considered that your identity might already be known to the Black Vatican?" Qin Yuan said meaningfully.

"..."

Tang Yue fell silent, lost in thought.

What Qin Yuan said wasn't without reason—her identity might have already been discovered by the Black Vatican in Bocheng.

"Sister Tang Yue, I have to say something you won't like hearing."

"Your strength as an Intermediate Level mage, in the eyes of the Black Vatican hiding in Bocheng, is no different from an ordinary person."

"The Black Vatican in Bocheng runs deep."

Qin Yuan said seriously.

After careful consideration, he had decided to give Tang Yue a bit of 'information'.

Because Qin Yuan wasn't sure whether the Black Vatican might take 'other' actions due to his appearance—and if they did, and Tang Yue caught on...

The most dangerous one in the end will be Sister Tang Yue.

After over a year of getting along, he still had a decent impression of her, so he genuinely didn't want anything to happen to Tang Yue.

"Little Yuan, do you know something?!"

As Qin Yuan expected, Tang Yue got a bit agitated after he revealed a hint of 'information'.

"I do."

"Then tell me..."

"But I won't."

"Why?"

Tang Yue asked.

Qin Yuan glanced at Tang Yue and said flatly, "Because no matter what countermeasures you take, the outcome won't change."

What was coming would come eventually.

As he'd said before, rather than interfering with the 'Bocheng Rehearsal', it was better to let it happen. That way, he could still rely on his 'God's Perspective' to reduce many 'regrets'.

"Little Yuan, you should trust the Judgment Association!"

"I do trust them..." Qin Yuan nodded slightly, then shifted his tone, "But I trust even more that you can't outplay the Black Vatican."

Tang Yue: "..."

Her proud background was so worthless in Qin Yuan's eyes—it really stung.

"Sister Tang Yue."

Qin Yuan couldn't help reaching out, gently stroking Tang Yue's face, and said softly, "Don't ask anymore. Just treat this trip to Bocheng as a 'vacation'... I really don't want to see your head rolling on the ground."

Tang Yue: ???

Is this the tone you use with me?

Head rolling on the ground... are you cursing me to die?

And here I was treating you, this stinky little brother, so well, and this is how you repay me?

Tang Yue grumbled inwardly, quite furious.

Still, she wanted to know more about the Black Vatican.

"Little Yuan~ Tell big sister, okay?" Tang Yue's voice turned soft and sweet, almost seductive.

But.

"No."

Qin Yuan moved his right hand down, pinching Tang Yue's chin between his thumb and forefinger, and said in a firmer tone, "Be good!"

Tang Yue: "..."

You're the younger one, and you dare talk to your older sister like this? Are you rebelling?

Still, Qin Yuan's 'little adult' act was indeed a bit intimidating.

This was the first time she'd seen Qin Yuan 'angry'.

"Mmm..."

Tang Yue answered reluctantly, but in her mind, she was already plotting how to pry Qin Yuan's mouth open.

Qin Yuan naturally knew what Tang Yue was thinking, but he didn't call her out.

Because it was safer for Tang Yue to focus her attention on him than to dig into the Black Vatican.

"Take your paws off, no respect for seniority." Tang Yue glared at Qin Yuan and said.

"Heh, it's fine."

"Sister Tang Yue will be mine sooner or later anyway."

Qin Yuan withdrew his hand and smiled.

"...Little pervert."

Tang Yue shot Qin Yuan a displeased look, then stopped paying attention and turned her head away.

Clearly, she was still angry.

But Qin Yuan wouldn't budge an inch—after all, sometimes knowing less meant being a little safer.