Jiang Lan gave the long saber a few test swings. Its blade gleamed coldly, and its weight felt just right.
The light armor was not heavy either. It fit him perfectly without restricting his movements at all.
"How is it? Does it feel comfortable?" Zhao Gang asked from beside him.
"It's great." Jiang Lan nodded. "Thanks, Brother Zhao."
"Don't mention it. Don't be late for tomorrow's muster."
"Got it." Jiang Lan put his equipment away and slung his backpack over his shoulders.
Zhao Gang gave Jiang Lan a few more reminders before turning to leave.
Jiang Lan stood at the armory entrance, looking at the saber in his hand.
He would be leaving the city tomorrow. He had to seize this opportunity.
That afternoon, Shen Qingqiu took Jiang Lan home.
Sitting on the sofa, Shen Qingqiu looked at Jiang Lan, seeming to have something to say but hesitating.
Although he said nothing, Jiang Lan knew what he wanted to say.
He was simply worried that Jiang Lan's pride had been hurt.
After all, being called dead weight in front of so many people was hard to swallow for a young man who was not even twenty.
Young people always cared about saving face.
But Jiang Lan did not think it was a big deal.
Once he grew stronger tomorrow, all of today's snide remarks would mean jack shit.
"Uncle, don't worry about me. I'm fine."
Seeing Jiang Lan like this, Shen Qingqiu said nothing more and nodded.
"I'll go make you dinner."
"Let me do it today," Jiang Lan said. "My injuries have mostly healed. You should rest, Uncle."
Shen Qingqiu frowned and pressed Jiang Lan back onto the sofa.
"Stay put."
Jiang Lan: "..."
After a moment of silence, he turned on the television.
He flipped through a few channels at random. They were all broadcasting news.
Upgrades to Base City's defenses, frequent Ferocious Beast activity, and enrollment at the Warrior Academy.
After watching for a while, Jiang Lan grew bored and checked his equipment again.
There were no problems with either the armor or the saber.
When he left the city tomorrow, he had to get his hands on some blood essence.
At dinner, the table was covered with a generous spread of dishes.
Fish with pickled mustard greens, kung pao chicken, garlic broccoli, and pork rib soup with corn.
Looking at the food, Jiang Lan's appetite surged.
His uncle was the very model of a devoted spouse and parent.
He wondered what lucky bastard would get to marry Shen Qingqiu.
A strange feeling stirred in Jiang Lan's heart, but he quickly suppressed it.
He picked up his chopsticks, tasted a piece of pork rib, and praised him:
"Uncle, your cooking has really improved lately."
Shen Qingqiu glanced at Jiang Lan.
"Less flattery, more eating."
Jiang Lan smiled and dug into his meal.
The two ate quietly.
A moment later, Shen Qingqiu suddenly spoke:
"Don't try to be a hero outside the city tomorrow. You don't need to pay Li Hu any attention either. Just stay close to me."
Jiang Lan kept his head down, shoveling rice into his mouth.
If he remembered correctly, Shen Qingqiu had already told him this several times.
Still, his uncle only meant well.
"Don't worry, Uncle," he said, his voice somewhat muffled.
After dinner, Shen Qingqiu stood up and said:
"All right, go back to your room and rest. We have to get up early tomorrow."
"Okay."
Jiang Lan did not push himself either and returned to his room.
Since he was here, he might as well settle in. A Dayun truck had already run him over and killed him in his previous life. With a second chance at life, he was not going to dwell on pointless worries.
After watching short videos for a while and learning a little more about Base City, Jiang Lan rolled over and fell into a deep sleep.
Before dawn the next day, Jiang Lan was already fully dressed and equipped.
He wore his combat uniform, carried his backpack, and held his saber in his hand.
Shen Qingqiu was dressed the same way, his combat uniform making him look even more valiant and sharp.
"Let's go."
The two left home and drove to the City Guard compound.
Everyone had already assembled inside.
Three off-road vehicles were parked in the courtyard.
Shen Qingqiu got out and walked to the front of the group.
"First squad, with me. Second squad, with Li Hu. Third squad, with Old Zhang."
"Move out."
Everyone climbed into the vehicles. Jiang Lan took the front passenger seat, while Shen Qingqiu drove.
Zhao Gang, Li Ming, Wang Fang, and Chen Feng sat in the back.
The engines gave a low roar, and the convoy set off toward Base City's east gate.
Half an hour later, a towering city gate appeared before Jiang Lan.
The city wall soared at least fifty meters high. The gate was made of refined iron and looked immensely thick and solid, with a smaller gate on either side.
At the sight of the convoy, the side gates slowly opened.
The landscape beyond the city gates came into Jiang Lan's view.
Desolate and dilapidated, it was nothing but ruins as far as the eye could see.
In the distance, he occasionally spotted Ferocious Beasts roaming the wilderness.
The sky was a sheet of gray, blocking out the sunlight.
Shen Qingqiu kept driving, his gaze focused.
The off-road vehicles followed an abandoned highway.
Abandoned vehicles littered the road. Most were twisted and mangled, with doors and tires scattered everywhere.
Occasionally, unidentified skeletal remains lay across the highway.
As Jiang Lan looked out the window, his heart grew heavy.
Having memories of it was one thing. Seeing it for himself was another.
What had once been towering buildings were now nothing but shattered walls, and weeds overran the streets.
Who knew how many people had died untimely deaths when spiritual energy returned to the world?
The convoy continued onward for about half an hour.
The Ferocious Beasts they encountered along the way all retreated at the sight of the convoy, so there were no direct confrontations.
Half an hour later, the vehicles stopped at the edge of a stretch of ruins.
They had reached the Eastern Suburbs Ruins.
Shen Qingqiu was the first to get out.
The others in the vehicle checked their gear and followed him out.
The other two squads also climbed out of their vehicles.
Brisk and decisive, Shen Qingqiu gestured and said:
"The three squads will split up to search. First squad, follow me east. Second squad, follow Li Hu west. Third squad, follow Old Zhang north. Return here in two hours."
"Yes!"
Everyone answered in unison.
Shen Qingqiu led the way, taking the first squad into the ruins.
Collapsed buildings were everywhere, their reinforced concrete exposed.
Here and there, they could still see billboards, wrecked cars, and other debris.
Jiang Lan followed at the rear, surveying his surroundings.
According to the original owner's memories, this place had still been part of Base City twenty years ago. Then a beast tide had struck, forcing Base City to retreat and abandon the area.
Shen Qingqiu led the squad forward cautiously.
Zhao Gang walked half a step behind Shen Qingqiu, saber in hand, watching their surroundings warily.
Li Ming and Wang Fang covered either flank.
Chen Feng stayed beside Jiang Lan.
The group searched the ruins for supplies of some value.
The Salvage Team's main targets were actually Ferocious Beasts. Picking up electronic components, metal materials, and similar items was only a secondary task.
After they had searched for a little over ten minutes, Shen Qingqiu suddenly stopped and raised a hand, signaling everyone to halt.
"Rooaar!"
A faint, low growl came from ahead.
Everyone immediately went on alert and exchanged glances.
Jiang Lan's expression sharpened too.
A Ferocious Beast!