"Have you heard? Once this school year ends, we'll begin wilderness training!"
"It happens every year. I heard we're going out into the wild."
"No way. I heard the wilderness is dangerous, and demonic beasts appear there all the time."
"Hehe, if we don't go, it'll affect our future academy application."
"..."
News of the wilderness training spread quickly.
Most of the students were quite curious. After all, their knowledge of demonic beasts had basically come from their teachers' explanations and pictures and videos on the internet.
Hardly any of them had seen a demonic beast with their own eyes.
The wilderness training would begin with the Elite Class. After a full year of cultivation, the Elite Class students had basically gained control of the seven star seeds.
Only students who had mastered Beginner Magic were allowed by the school to undergo training. Otherwise, if they encountered a demonic beast, they would have no ability to fight back.
A few days later.
The buses responsible for taking the Elite Class to their wilderness training arrived. There were five in total, each capable of carrying more than twenty people.
The Elite Class, along with several subject teachers, numbered just over a hundred people. They were divided into five groups, with around twenty people in each.
The destination for this wilderness training was an important small settlement built in a valley outside the city, called Snow Peak Mountain Post Station.
On the bus.
"Snow Peak Mountain Post Station lies at the edge of the safe zone around Bocheng. Beyond the post station is an area where demonic beasts frequently appear. Until you possess sufficient ability to deal with demonic beasts, you are forbidden from stepping outside the post station!"
Xue Musheng warned them sternly.
As the Magic Practice Class teacher, Tang Yue also spoke up at the right moment. "I know some of you have already mastered Elementary Level One magic and believe you have enough ability to deal with demonic beasts."
"However, I must solemnly tell you that a One-eyed Demonic Wolf has combat strength comparable to a well-trained squad of Beginner Mages."
"The Elementary Level One magic you are so proud of is not fatal to Servant-level Demonic Beasts."
Following Tang Yue's serious warning, several of the more restless and lively students immediately reined themselves in.
Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. There were quite a few young mages who, after mastering Elementary Level One magic, had become carried away by pride and died in the jaws of demonic beasts.
Demonic beasts were far more terrifying than they imagined.
Seeing that everyone appeared to have taken her words to heart, Tang Yue nodded in satisfaction and sat down.
Beside her sat Qin Yuan, propping up his cheek with one hand in a lazy posture.
Seeing Qin Yuan's utterly unconcerned expression, Tang Yue immediately grew annoyed and reached out to pinch his ear. "Did you hear what I said?"
"Sister Tang Yue, I understand."
Qin Yuan smiled.
"Stop grinning like that. I know your Ice Element has definitely reached Elementary Level Two, and with a Spirit Seed, you can indeed threaten Servant-level Demonic Beasts."
"But a demonic beast's reaction speed is no joke. If they are even slightly on guard, they can evade Beginner Magic."
Tang Yue warned him again.
She placed great importance on Qin Yuan's safety and could not tolerate him making even the slightest mistake.
"Don't worry. I value my life."
"I still have to keep this little life of mine and spend the rest of it with you all."
Qin Yuan grinned.
A faint blush flashed across Tang Yue's face. She shot Qin Yuan a fierce glare. "You're all talk."
"Hehe." Qin Yuan gave a faint laugh, then changed the subject and knowingly asked, "Sister Tang Yue, how is the investigation into the Black Vatican going?"
Tang Yue glanced at Qin Yuan and said somewhat ashamedly, "There hasn't been much progress."
She had been in Bocheng for so long. Aside from a few traces she had discovered within the Judgment Association at the beginning, she had found no other clues.
"Sister Tang Yue, have you ever considered that the Black Vatican already knows your identity?" Qin Yuan said meaningfully.
"..."
Tang Yue fell silent as she thought about it.
Qin Yuan's words were not without reason. Perhaps the Black Vatican in Bocheng already knew who she was.
"Sister Tang Yue, I have to say something you won't like hearing."
"To the Black Vatican hiding in Bocheng, the strength of an Intermediate Level Mage like you is no different from that of an ordinary person."
"The Black Vatican in Bocheng runs deep."
Qin Yuan spoke seriously.
After careful consideration, he had decided to tell Tang Yue a little "information."
Because Qin Yuan was not certain whether the Black Vatican would take "other" measures because of his appearance. If they did, and Tang Yue discovered it...
The one who would ultimately be in danger would definitely be Tang Yue.
After more than a year together, he had formed a favorable impression of Tang Yue. He truly did not want anything to happen to her.
"Little Yuan, do you know something?!"
Just as Qin Yuan expected, after he revealed a little "information," Tang Yue became somewhat agitated.
"I do."
"Then tell me..."
"But I won't."
"Why?"
Tang Yue asked.
Qin Yuan looked at Tang Yue and said lightly, "Because no matter what measures you take, the outcome will not change."
What was meant to come would come eventually.
As he had said before, rather than interfere with the Bocheng Rehearsal, it was better to let it happen. That way, he could use God's Perspective to reduce many "regrets."
"Little Yuan, you should trust the Judgment Association!"
"I do..." Qin Yuan nodded slightly, then changed the subject. "But I trust even more that you can't outplay the Black Vatican."
Tang Yue: "..."
The backing she had always been proud of was so insignificant in Qin Yuan's eyes. It truly did not feel good.
"Sister Tang Yue."
Qin Yuan could not help reaching out and gently stroking Tang Yue's cheek. In a soft voice, he said, "Stop asking. Just treat this trip to Bocheng as a 'vacation'... I truly do not want to see your head rolling across the ground."
Tang Yue: ???
Was that really the tone he was using to speak to her?
Her head rolling across the ground... Was he cursing her to die?
She had treated this stinky little brother so well, yet this was how he repaid her?
Tang Yue grumbled inwardly, thoroughly irritated.
Still, she wanted to know about the Black Vatican.
"Little Yuan~ Tell your older sister, okay?" Tang Yue's voice was soft and alluring, as though she were tempting him.
But.
"No."
Qin Yuan moved his right hand lower, pinching Tang Yue's chin between his thumb and forefinger. His tone became slightly firmer. "Be good!"
Tang Yue: "..."
He was her little brother, yet he dared speak to his older sister like that. Was he trying to rebel?
Still, Qin Yuan's little-adult demeanor really was somewhat intimidating.
It was the first time she had seen Qin Yuan look "angry."
"Mm..."
Tang Yue reluctantly agreed, though she was actually thinking about how to pry Qin Yuan's mouth open.
Qin Yuan naturally knew what Tang Yue was thinking, but he did not expose her.
Because having Tang Yue focus her attention on him was safer than having her dig deeper into the Black Vatican.
"Take your paw away. Have some respect for your elders." Tang Yue glared at Qin Yuan.
"Hehe, it's fine."
"Anyway, Sister Tang Yue will be mine sooner or later."
Qin Yuan withdrew his hand and smiled.
"...You little pervert."
Tang Yue shot Qin Yuan an annoyed look, then stopped paying attention to him and turned her head away.
She was clearly still angry.
However, Qin Yuan would not give an inch. After all, sometimes knowing less meant being safer.
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