Early the next morning, before dawn, Jiang Lan was woken by noises from the room next door.
His eyes shifted, then he rolled over and sat up, quickly dressed, and left his room.
In the living room, Shen Qingqiu wore a black combat uniform, a long saber on his back and his hair tied in a high ponytail. He was bending down to put on his combat boots.
Hearing the noise, he looked up and saw Jiang Lan standing in the doorway. Somewhat surprised, he asked:
"Don't you have the day off? Why are you up so early?"
Jiang Lan made no attempt to hide his intentions and said outright:
"Auntie, take me with you when you head out of the city today?"
"You've only just started school..."
"Come on," Jiang Lan said. "I don't have classes today anyway. The accelerated class only meets three days a week. Sitting around at home won't do me any good. I might as well go out. Maybe I can even help."
Shen Qingqiu looked Jiang Lan up and down, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
Of course, he knew how strong Jiang Lan was now. Even in the wilderness, Jiang Lan might not encounter anything dangerous.
But as his aunt, he still couldn't help worrying.
Seeing Shen Qingqiu hesitate, Jiang Lan pressed his advantage:
"Besides, I need a lot of blood essence now... I've already used up almost everything the academy gave me yesterday. Please, Auntie..."
How could Shen Qingqiu resist that?
He was completely defenseless against Jiang Lan's pleading.
After a moment of silence, he finally nodded.
"All right, but you have to follow orders."
"Roger." Jiang Lan stood at attention and saluted Shen Qingqiu.
The gesture nearly made Shen Qingqiu laugh.
He rolled his eyes.
"Go get changed."
"Yes, sir!"
Jiang Lan hurried back to his room, changed into his combat uniform, shouldered his backpack, and checked the things he needed to bring.
Then he picked up his phone and sent Lin Yu a message to report his plans.
Although there were no classes, Lin Yu had told him that he needed to notify the academy before leaving the city.
Jiang Lan had no objection.
It was only a couple of words, after all. Hardly any trouble.
Once he had packed and quickly washed up, Jiang Lan went downstairs with Shen Qingqiu.
As usual, Shen Qingqiu drove.
Twenty minutes later, the off-road vehicle stopped outside the compound.
The two entered the Salvage Team's hall, one after the other.
By then, most of the other team members had arrived.
Everyone greeted Shen Qingqiu as he came in.
Then someone noticed Jiang Lan following behind him.
"Jiang Lan, buddy, didn't you go off to the martial academy? What brings you back here?"
Jiang Lan said with a grin:
"Obviously, I couldn't bear to part with you, Brother Zhao."
Zhao Gang shuddered.
"Buddy, I'm a married man... That's not happening."
"Haha..."
Jiang Lan chuckled.
He was joking, and naturally, everyone could tell.
Zhao Gang's reply was only meant to liven things up.
For a moment, they all laughed together.
On the other side of the hall, however, someone looked much less pleased.
Li Hu's expression had soured the moment Jiang Lan walked in. After a single glance, he turned away to speak to the subordinate beside him.
Jiang Lan noticed, of course, but he only glanced at Li Hu and paid him no mind.
Even when his Indestructible Diamond Body had been at the third level, Li Hu hadn't been a match for him.
Now, beating Li Hu would be no different from a father spanking his son.
If the man dared cause trouble, Jiang Lan wouldn't mind teaching him a painful lesson.
Once everyone had arrived, Shen Qingqiu stood in the center of the hall.
"We're going to the Northern Suburbs Ruins today. Same rules as always: the three squads will split up and regroup in two hours."
As he spoke, his gaze swept over the group before settling on Jiang Lan.
"Jiang Lan will head out with the first squad again today."
No one objected. They all nodded in acknowledgment.
Ever since Jiang Lan had awakened his special talent and beaten Li Hu into the ground, no one on the team had dared underestimate him.
After Shen Qingqiu finished giving instructions, everyone filed into the vehicles.
The off-road vehicles left the base city and sped along the abandoned highway.
Forty minutes later, the convoy stopped on the outskirts of a cluster of ruined buildings.
The Northern Suburbs Ruins covered a much larger area than either the Eastern Suburbs or the Southern Suburbs. Crumbling walls and wreckage filled their view.
There were also more ferocious beasts here than in the other areas.
Everyone got out. Shen Qingqiu briefly assigned their search areas, and the three squads went their separate ways.
After the first squad had walked some distance into the ruins, Jiang Lan suddenly spoke:
"Captain, I'd like to go solo."
Shen Qingqiu stopped and looked back at him.
"Solo?"
"Tier-one ferocious beasts pose no threat to me. I'll be more efficient on my own," Jiang Lan said. "Don't worry. I won't go far."
Shen Qingqiu hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.
He knew how strong Jiang Lan was now. Tier-one ferocious beasts couldn't hurt him at all. Rather than keep him trailing behind the squad and wasting his time, it would be better to let him go out on his own.
"Don't go too far. Contact us immediately if anything happens."
"Don't worry, Auntie."
With permission granted, Jiang Lan said no more. He turned down a side path and left the squad.
Only once the others were out of sight did Jiang Lan loosen his wrists and tighten his grip on his saber.
He had just one goal today.
Kill ferocious beasts and get blood essence.
The more, the better.
With all five senses on full alert, Jiang Lan strode through the ruins.
He hadn't gone far when a low growl came from ahead.
"Roooar-"
Jiang Lan looked toward the sound and saw three Ironback Wolves lying amid the ruins. At the sound of his footsteps, all three beasts raised their heads, their scarlet eyes locking onto him.
Well, well. What a great start!
Three in one go. That was a pleasant surprise.
In the past, he would have had to think twice before taking on three Ironback Wolves.
But now, never mind three-even ten wouldn't be enough to challenge him.
Glancing at the saber in his hand, Jiang Lan simply set it on the ground beside him and strode toward the three Ironback Wolves.
"Awooo!"
The three Ironback Wolves sprang up almost simultaneously and lunged at Jiang Lan.
Without dodging or retreating, Jiang Lan kicked the leading Ironback Wolf in the head.
Thump!
Crack!
The Ironback Wolf's head snapped sideways, a sharp crack coming from its neck. Its body tumbled four or five meters away, twitched twice on the ground, then went still.
By then, the remaining two Ironback Wolves had reached Jiang Lan. Their sharp claws struck him simultaneously from the left and right.
Thud! Thud!
Two dull impacts sounded. Jiang Lan's expression didn't change.
He couldn't say he felt absolutely nothing, but it was barely a tickle.
A phrase suddenly flashed through his mind.
Is it in yet?
Holding back his laughter, Jiang Lan seized the two Ironback Wolves by their heads, one in each hand.
"Stronghand Skull Crusher!"
Bang!
The two Ironback Wolves' heads smashed together, leaving deep dents in their skulls. Blood flowed from their mouths and noses, and they died on the spot.
All three Ironback Wolves were dead.
The entire process hadn't even taken ten seconds.
Now that was how a real man fought.
Awesome!