Wang Tie's smile froze on his face, and Li Ming was stunned too.
"Leaving? Where?" Wang Tie grabbed Lin Feng by the arm. "You just got promoted to sergeant major. You could walk all over the Seventh Defense Line and nobody would dare say a thing. You're leaving now?"
"Transfer orders." Lin Feng handed him the paper.
Wang Tie took it, and he and Li Ming leaned in to read it together.
"The Sixth Defense Line." Wang Tie read it aloud, then sucked in a sharp breath. "That place is a lot more dangerous than here. D-Rank Rifts break out all the time, and even several Martial Masters have died there."
Li Ming's face flushed red with anxiety. "Brother Lin, you're only a Martial Artist. Going there would be asking for death! Can't you talk to Deputy Battalion Commander Zhao and tell him you're not going?"
"Asking for death?" Lin Feng smiled and took the transfer orders back from Wang Tie. "To me, that place is paradise."
More Exotic Beasts meant more Martial Path Points and faster leveling.
Wang Tie looked at Lin Feng's utterly unconcerned expression and fell silent.
He knew that someone like Lin Feng couldn't be held back.
The Seventh Defense Line was a pond too shallow for him.
"Fine." Wang Tie sighed and clapped Lin Feng firmly on the shoulder. "Be careful over there. Don't go barging around just because you can fight. The waters at the Sixth Defense Line run deep."
He paused, then pulled a crumpled cloth bundle from his shirt and pressed it into Lin Feng's hand.
"There are a few Magic Cores I've saved up in here, and two bottles of medicine for treating wounds. Take them. Things cost more at the Sixth Defense Line than here. Don't end up unable to afford medicine."
Lin Feng squeezed the bundle and didn't refuse it.
"Thanks."
"Save your thanks." Wang Tie rolled his eyes. "Once you become a Martial Master, just remember to come back and give your brothers a hand."
Li Ming also pulled the money he'd just been given from his pocket and tried to push it into Lin Feng's hand. "Brother Lin, you can have my share too."
Lin Feng pushed it back.
"Keep your money. Focus on your training, and don't let anyone bully you."
With that, he turned and went back to the barracks to pack.
There wasn't much to pack anyway: the same luggage he'd brought when he arrived, a Mountain Splitter, and that D-Rank Magic Core.
Early the next morning, Lin Feng slung the wooden case holding his blade over his back and said goodbye to Wang Tie and Li Ming at the entrance to the base camp.
Chen Lie had come too, his one arm crossed over his chest, his expression as impassive as ever.
"The commander at the Sixth Defense Line is Li Zhenguo. He's an old soldier with a short temper, but he's a good man. Once you get there, don't cause trouble, but don't be afraid of trouble either."
Chen Lie paused, then pulled a small metal tag from his pocket and tossed it to Lin Feng.
"This is my military ID. If you run into trouble you can't handle, take it to Li Zhenguo. He'll do me a favor."
Lin Feng caught the tag. The character "烈" was engraved on it, and the metal felt warm in his hand.
"Thanks, instructor."
"Get lost."
Lin Feng nodded and strode away.
Wang Tie shouted after him at the top of his lungs, "Lin Feng! Come back for a drink when you get the chance!"
Lin Feng didn't look back. He only waved over his shoulder.
The Sixth Defense Line.
It was nearly twice the size of the Seventh Defense Line. Its walls were taller, and its weapons were better equipped.
As soon as Lin Feng reached the entrance, two guards stopped him.
After checking his transfer orders and ID, one of the guards became noticeably more respectful.
"You must be Sergeant Major Lin Feng. We've already been notified. Please come with me."
The guard led Lin Feng through the base and up to a standalone office building.
"Officer Zhang from reception is waiting inside."
Lin Feng pushed open the door. A young man wearing glasses immediately stood up, his face breaking into a beaming smile.
"Sergeant Major Lin! I've heard so much about you. Please, have a seat!"
Officer Zhang bustled about pouring tea and water, more than eager to please.
"My name is Zhang Qian. I handle reception for newly transferred officers. I've heard all about you. A Martial Artist killing a D-Rank Mutant single-handedly—that's a first in the entire Northern Territory! All the brothers at the Sixth Defense Line have been looking forward to your arrival!"
Lin Feng took a sip of water and cut off the flattery.
"Tell me about the Rifts near the Sixth Defense Line."
Zhang Qian was taken aback. He hadn't expected the young sergeant major to be so direct—not even bothering with small talk.
He quickly pulled a map from the filing cabinet and spread it across the table.
"There are twenty-three Rifts within our jurisdiction. Twelve are directly controlled by the military, nine are privately operated, and two are undeveloped wild Rifts."
He pointed to several spots on the map.
"Unlike the Seventh Defense Line, the Rifts here are generally one rank higher. The lowest-ranked military-controlled Rifts are E-Rank. Four are D-Rank, and two are C-Rank. The C-Rank Rifts are guarded personally by Commander Li Zhenguo."
"As for the privately operated Rifts, aside from one C-Rank Rift, the rest are E- and D-Rank. They're controlled by several large Martial Artist organizations and the Provincial Martial Arts Association."
Zhang Qian talked until his mouth went dry. When he looked up, Lin Feng was staring intently at a spot on the map.
"Sergeant Major Lin, here's the dormitory we've arranged for you. It's a private residence with a courtyard, and it has the best surroundings here—"
"Where's the nearest Rift?" Lin Feng interrupted him and looked up.
"Huh?" Zhang Qian was taken aback again. "The nearest one is fifteen kilometers west of the base camp. It's an E-Rank Rift."
"Okay, got it."
Lin Feng stood up, folded the map, tucked it into his pocket, and headed straight for the door.
"Wait, Sergeant Major Lin, you haven't seen your dormitory yet. Your luggage—"
"No need."
Lin Feng's voice drifted in from outside without him looking back.
Zhang Qian stood rooted to the spot, dormitory key raised in his hand.
He was leaving just like that?
A newly appointed officer who wasn't going to visit his direct superior, greet his colleagues, or even look at his dormitory—but was heading straight for a Rift?
What kind of approach was that?
Watching Lin Feng's figure disappear through the doorway, Zhang Qian suddenly smacked his forehead.
Oh no!
He'd forgotten to tell Lin Feng that it was a privately operated Rift, and he'd have to pay to enter!
And the price was higher than usual!
Zhang Qian chased him to the entrance, but Lin Feng had already vanished around a corner in the base.
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