Aristotle once said that people in this world fell into three categories: "the living," "the dead," and "those who went to sea." He was probably mocking those who went to sea, whose lives and deaths were uncertain, forever caught between life and death.
On Puji Island, especially in the Northern District, people often changed that saying into three categories: "the living, the dead, and those who entered the forest."
Though the wording differed, the meaning was the same.
Once you entered the Silent Forest, life and death were up to fate, fortune and disaster up to heaven. You could die at any moment, or you could keep on living.
A week ago, if someone had mentioned those words to Zheng Qing, he probably would have laughed them off. If he was in a good mood, he might even have chatted a little about amusing rumors and anecdotes he had heard about the Silent Forest. He absolutely would not have given it any further thought.
After all, as freshmen who had only been at school for half a year, their only connection to the Silent Forest for at least the next two years would be the brief annual winter and spring hunts, as well as spring outings. The areas they could enter would be strictly restricted, and during that time the school would arrange ample defensive forces to guard them, ensuring these young people did not suffer in the forest.
But now, if anyone muttered words like "the living, the dead, and those who entered the forest" in Zheng Qing's ear, the young scholarship student would certainly not spare them a glare or some resentment. If they were unlucky, they might even receive a good punching.
The reason for this change was naturally the contract Zheng Qing and Colmar had signed