Chapter 120 The Big Bun (First Update)
Upon the Teli Tribe this, Wu Youren's spirits lifted. "If you're talking about this, I'm no longer sleepy!"
Unfortunately, after saying that, he stopped talking, leaving everyone scratching their heads in frustration.
He patiently listened for another half hour, but there was really nothing worth mentioning in the speeches from each side.
However, some information was also gained. For example, the Liang is considering opening its Ability User system to the Barbarian Tribe.
From a national perspective, this is a major issue, but Wu Youren's reaction was: What does this have to do with me!
He hadn't even figured out the hostage situation, so how could he possibly have the mind to ponder the internal affairs of Liang?
Taking advantage of the early hour, he quietly left in the rain.
Unbeknownst to him, shortly after he left, a voice echoed along the ridge, "Whose Ability User was that just now?"
Then a panicked voice rang out, "Greetings, Pharmacist, not from the Mohe family."
"Bring him here," the voice said calmly. "I want to see him alive or dead!"
The Knight who were talking exchanged bewildered glances: capturing the person was easy enough, but—where was he?
But no one objected, not even daring to voice their doubts; the one who spoke was a genuine Ability User.
However, finding someone at this point basically depends on sheer luck.
Several Knight gave the order, and groups of warriors scattered and began searching everywhere.
Few people held out hope or were willing to search seriously; they were content with just going through the motions.
The order came from Ability User on this side, but if they actually find the other party, they'll find that the other party is also a Ability User.
In this situation, what's the point of talking about "life and death not being a concern"?
As Wu Youren descended the mountain, he felt a slight pang of unease for no apparent reason, sensing some danger behind him.
Instead of speeding up, he further restrained his inner energy, letting the rain pelt his body, and moved more cautiously.
He even heard martial artists searching the mountain behind him, and various lights being turned on.
There were flashlights, inert gas bulbs that shone brightly, and even military searchlights.
However, it had little effect; the heavy rain significantly reduced the amount of light.
This actually made it easier for Wu Youren to see the path, and he tiptoed down the mountain.
It wasn't until he was more than a kilometer away from the foot of the mountain that he began to gradually increase his speed and release his internal energy to the surface of his body.
Steam began to rise from his clothes, but he was getting further and further away from the mountains.
Two hours later, when he quietly climbed over the Red Pine's courtyard wall again, his clothes were already half dry.
Back in the hut, he glanced through the package and, finding nothing amiss, buried it in the vegetable garden.
When he woke up the next day, it was already bright outside, but the continuous autumn rain was still falling.
The fifteen days agreed upon with Chief Instructor Hong Yan arrived in the blink of an eye, but Hong Da did not contact him proactively.
Wu Youren was happy to have this opportunity and focused on studying the system data on the awakening of Ability User.
As for Lei Lixing, there has been no response to date.
Liu Jingming visited twice but didn't mention the matter, so Wu Youren naturally kept quiet and wouldn't ask about it.
Liu Jingming came to urge them to order honey, as they had been out of stock for more than two months.
However, Wu Youren told him that he was currently resting and didn't have time to go out.
He also advised the other party not to focus so much on this, as it wasn't a legitimate business and it was time to stop.
However, Liu Jingming helplessly stated that he is barely able to make ends meet right now, and that's all he's relying on.
"I also want to kill monsters and make money like you, but... you can't compare people."
That's the downside of having social obligations.
Wu Youren knew he was telling the truth. Although this guy was a bit stronger than him before, this place wasn't Jin Garden.
There are many places where money is needed, and cultivating oneself is even more expensive.
In the end, he could only vaguely say: scarcity marketing is not bad, it can also increase profits.
On the twentieth day, he felt he had almost digested the information and wondered if he should go out and buy another batch of mixed sugar.
Just then, the female Knight arrived again and asked him how the search was going.
After she retrieved the small box, she took Wu Youren to see Instructor Hong.
During their conversation on the way, Wu Youren learned that Hong Da had arranged for him not to be disturbed in the near future, so that he could focus on his studies.
The female Knight even asked with great curiosity: What exactly are you studying? Is it something related to Ability User?
This shows that even she wasn't entirely sure.
Wu Youren's reply was, "You should ask Hong Da about that. But Ability User —do I look like one?"
The two arrived at the Clear Marsh Lake, where Chief Instructor Hong was sitting in a pavilion, leisurely watching the lake, with a pot of red tea beside him.
Clear Marsh Lake is the largest lake in Red Pine, covering an area of 50,000 to 60,000 square meters. The lake water is shallow and clear, and it used to be a swamp.
Beside the pavilion, a male Knight stood guard to prevent others from disturbing the Great Knight Hong.
Upon seeing the two approach, Hong Yan waved her hand, "Sit down, let me tell you about the upcoming mission."
This time, the mission she assigned was surprisingly unrelated to the strange events in Suotu Town, but rather to Bellflower Mountain Town.
This town is on the edge of the capital region and is under the jurisdiction of Tianjing, but it is really too remote.
The town is quite large, but not very populated. The Bellflower Mountain occupies a large area, surrounded by several hills.
Strange occurrences were frequently reported there in the past. Later investigations confirmed that a small, yet-to-be-formed, Weird Domain had emerged.
This Weird Domain has not expanded outwards; it is extremely dangerous, having claimed the lives of many Knight and even severely injured Great Knight.
However, the monsters produced there are plentiful, much better than those in Suotu Town this time, and the output is very stable.
The Weird Domain is small and doesn't expand, but with so many Ability User in Great Liang, there must be some relatively stable sources of ghostly creatures.
Therefore, the Liang regarded that area as a fixed resource and did not rush to eradicate it, but instead adopted a method of periodic harvesting.
Normally, the military guards the area to prevent martial artists from entering without permission and to keep watch against the spread of the Weird Domain.
During this period, the eerie atmosphere in Suotu Town intensified, and the Weird Domain of Bellflower Mountain also became somewhat unstable.
The government now wants to investigate what happened inside and has summoned forces from all sides to go there.
Red Pine needs to deal with Suotu Town, so it's not necessary to send troops there.
However, the Martial Academy was thinking, what if there's something good happening? If they didn't go, they'd miss out!
Ultimately, the resources of that Weird Domain in the Bellflower Mountain have always been highly sought after.
Although the dangers are great, the bigger the waves, the more valuable the fish—who doesn't understand this principle?
Moreover, the Weird Domain Realm has been established for a long time, and everyone knows most of what's inside, so the risk is relatively reduced.
Red Pine wanted to send a Great Knight to lead the team, and Chief Instructor Hong accepted the mission.
She gave a brief explanation, then looked at the young man from Jin, "Are you interested?"
"No problem," Wu Youren replied without hesitation.
After a moment's hesitation, he added, "Is there any need for a mechanism there?"
"There will be many other teams too, and traps..." Hong Yan hesitated, worried that traps might hurt others.
But after thinking for a moment, she asked again, "Are you planning to prepare materials?"
"Yes," Wu Youren nodded, "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."
"Okay, I understand," Hong Da nodded slightly. "You can make a list, and I'll have someone prepare it."
It wasn't that she insisted on taking on everything; rather, the two had previously agreed that she would cover the costs.
Besides, how much are these things even worth? If the young man in front of us were to buy them, some of the supplies might not be readily available.
Then both parties agreed that once the supplies were ready, Wu Youren would have two days to make some preliminary preparations for the organization before setting off.
However, after receiving the order, Instructor Hong was a little surprised and specifically contacted the other party using his wristwatch.
What do you need so much mixed sugar for?
"It replenishes energy and also helps with combustion," Wu Youren answered confidently, "It has a very high energy density."
Instructor Hong ended the communication, muttering to himself, "Energy density—that's how the people of Jin described it?"
Two days later, Liu Jingming waited anxiously for the news, and finally received the call, "Come and collect the honey!"
The next morning, the female Knight picked up Wu Youren in an SUV.
Then she picked up the male Knight from that day, and finally Hong Da.
The Great Knight didn't ride a motorcycle this time because it was too far, and the journey would take more than ten hours.
Interestingly, besides the four of them, there was also Knight Luo Xi.
It's unclear how he managed to get through, but the female Knight explained that there were plenty of supplies.
The car Luo Xi cobbled together didn't look very good, but it was quite practical.
Five people in two cars drove until late at night before finally arriving at Bellflower Mountain Town.
Strictly speaking, it's only a little over 200 kilometers in total, but many of the roads were built decades ago and are very difficult to travel.
After resting in the town for the night, the two vehicles arrived near the Weird Domain at noon the next day.
There's a military camp here, quite large, covering tens of thousands of square meters, with hundreds of rooms, row upon row.
The female Knight, Manna, registered with the sentry and was only allowed to pass after her verification was approved.
The military assigned them two adjacent rooms, one for the man and one for the woman.
That afternoon, the five of them relaxed and rested, and chatted with martial artists from other factions.
This military camp is somewhat similar to a supply point, where martial artists can come out and rest after staying in the Weird Domain for a long time.
Some people enter the Weird Domain in the morning and come out at night; there are all sorts of situations.
Upon hearing that this Weird Domain covered an area of over two thousand square kilometers, Wu Youren couldn't help but exclaim, "That's quite a large area!"
Bar?"
"The area around Suotu Town already covers tens of thousands of square kilometers," Luo Xi said seriously. "This place is small, but fortunately it's not spreading."
Not far away, a middle-aged Knight was lying on a recliner and spoke lazily upon hearing this.
" The Weird Race doesn't need hunting territories; the dangers here far exceed your imagination."
Wu Youren understood the concept of hunting territory; in plain terms, it was how many square kilometers it would take to support a tiger.
If we consider this perspective, two thousand square kilometers is indeed not a large area; it could at most support a hundred or so Knight- level beasts.
However, the formation of the Weird Race has nothing to do with this concept.
Anyone who thinks they can be careless just because the area is small is making a huge mistake.
Luo Xi, however, was unconvinced. "I only said it was small, not weak!"
Chapter 121 The New Army (Second Update)
Luo Xi wasn't impulsive, but the military camp was currently a gathering place for major forces from Tianjing.
If he doesn't react when others speak to him in a lecturing tone, even Chief Instructor Hong Yan might harbor resentment!
The middle-aged Knight glanced at him upon hearing this, but said nothing more—there were too many hidden talents in this military camp these days.
As evening approached, people began to return one after another.
As time went on, more and more people returned, eventually numbering four or five hundred.
These are all people who have fought in the Weird Domain. Some have made a round trip in a single day, while others have fought for more than a day or two.
Of these, those with minor injuries and serious injuries accounted for approximately 30%.
The wounded were given medical treatment, while those with minor injuries or no injuries were given plenty of food and drink to rest and recuperate.
In this situation, the five members of Red Pine were basically invisible.
Even Hong Yan had no intention of displaying his cultivation level; wouldn't it have been better to just quietly listen to others chatting?
It's a bit of a shame that the teams mainly communicated internally, with not much interaction between each other.
Some people even hid inside their houses and didn't come out, it's unclear whether they were resting or communicating with the outside world.
Under these circumstances, the five members of the Red Pine Martial Academy basically didn't hear anything useful.
They weren't in a hurry, which is only natural.
Whatever gains or information these teams obtain, they will prioritize utilizing it within their own ranks.
Several hundred people were gathered in a military camp of tens of thousands of square meters, which was not a low density.
What happens when these people are all martial artists, and they are also affected by negative emotions such as poor results, injuries, and poor teamwork?
Small-scale verbal abuse, shoving, and even standoffs occur from time to time.
Fortunately, this was a military camp, and soldiers were there to maintain order.
In minor disputes, the soldiers would just sit back and watch, since they had nothing better to do anyway.
When conflicts escalate to the point where they are about to come to blows, they will speak up to stop them.
Under normal circumstances, martial artists are willing to give the military some face, even if their families have powerful backers.
The five members of the Red Pine Group sat idly at the doorway of the room, watching this scene unfold.
"How boring," said the male Knight following Instructor Hong; his name was Namuzha. "Can't you say something useful?"
"None of them are stupid," Manna replied casually. "We still have to find out for ourselves— Hong Da, should I make an interview?"
After listening in for a while, everyone did gain some insights; many of the teams' backgrounds were connected to Red Pine.
"There's no need," Hong Yan shook her head calmly. "It's better to rely on yourself than to ask others for help."
Which Great Knight doesn't have a bit of arrogance? Chief Instructor Hong's arrogance is well-known throughout Red Pine.
Just then, two more teams started arguing. The reason was that one team was being mocked by the other team when they were reviewing their mistakes.
Neither side was willing to back down; the argument escalated into pushing and shoving, and some even placed their hands on their weapons.
As is customary for soldiers to mediate, a Great Knight from the side being mocked stepped forward and said, "Get out of here and mind your own business!"
"Who is this?" Namuzha asked Manna softly.
"I don't know. I'm not familiar with the New Army," Manna shook her head slightly, then glanced at Hong Da.
Hong Yan remained seated, watching the spectacle without making a sound.
Among those mocking the others, there was no Great Knight, only four Knight, one of whom was slightly wounded.
A burly Knight sneered, "Naive is naive, don't blame people for laughing at you!"
The Great Knight, who hadn't initially joined the argument, couldn't stand it anymore and retorted with a dark face, "Kid, do you really want to die?"
The burly man stiffened his neck and replied defiantly, "Under the Marquis's command, none are afraid of death. Come and touch me!"
"I could crush you with a flick of my wrist!" the Great Knight sneered. "A washed-up marquis, who are you trying to scare?"
"No need for you, sir," a Knight stepped forward from the New Army, "A duel?"
"Fine, let's fight to the death!" the burly man laughed angrily. "Outside?"
The other party dared to insult the Marquis; this was something he absolutely could not tolerate—especially in front of so many people!
"A fight to the death?" the Great Knight sneered. "If you dare to harm him, I will kill you!"
In Liang, there is no prohibition against the strong bullying the weak; it is normal for the many to bully the few, as they believe that the strong rule.
The Great Knight didn't make a move immediately, most likely because he was concerned about the large number of onlookers.
But seeking revenge for one's subordinates is a perfectly logical course of action.
However, the burly man remained defiant, sneering as he asked, "Do you dare say that in front of Coach Xia'erzi?"
Upon hearing this, Hong Yan finally straightened his expression slightly, looked at Manna, and raised his chin slightly.
Manna had followed her for many years and knew Hong Da's habits very well.
She stood up and spoke in a deep voice, "Is this Instructor Xia'erzi from the Marquis Tanyong's Residence's residence?"
Upon hearing her speak, the crowd parted to allow for a brief exchange between the two sides, who were clearly enjoying the spectacle.
The burly man spotted five people sitting idly not far away.
The military camp was brightly lit, but it was still not as bright as daytime, and he couldn't see the five people's faces clearly.
However, upon hearing this, he nodded slightly, "The instructor is currently—still in the Weird Domain."
"Let's disperse," a lazy, smoky voice rang out, Hong Da finally spoke, "Save your energy for dealing with the Weird Race!"
Upon hearing this, the New Army's Great Knight objected, "Who are you? You're not that old, but you've got quite the nerve!"
"I'm Xia'erzi's friend," Instructor Hong replied lazily. "What, want to spar with me?"
The Great Knight paused for a moment before asking, "Didn't you hear them insulting the New Army?"
He had to hold back a little, because Xia'erzi was known as the Marquis Tanyong's Residence, second only to the Marquis!
There are rumors that even at his peak, the Marquis might not have been able to defeat him decisively.
Originally, Marquis Tanyong wanted to appoint him as the chief instructor, but just then, the Liang issued an order that no chief instructor position could be established below the rank of duke!
Therefore, the Marquis's residence had only one instructor; the other instructors were assistant instructors.
Among the Great Knight of Liang, Xia'erzi was definitely a top-tier figure, capable of holding his own against two or three Great Knight.
This New Army Great Knight also knew that he was probably no match for that person.
But dealing with Xia'erzi's men was no problem for him whatsoever; killing a Knight or two was no big deal.
Even if the other side came looking for him, he wouldn't be afraid. "If your men insult the New Army, I'll kill them, so what?"
But when Xia'erzi's friend intervened, things changed.
Not just any Great Knight is worthy of being his friend!
Moreover, judging from the other party's appearance, they clearly have considerable power behind them. How could he possibly force his way in?
However, he still had to maintain the reputation of the New Army!
"If there's anything wrong, correct it; if not, strive to improve," Hong Yan replied leisurely. "I overheard the conversation; it wasn't intentional insult."
"As a martial artist, you must learn to move forward amidst criticism— New Army won't go far if you can't handle criticism."
However, the Great Knight replied curtly, "The affairs of the New Army are none of the business of outsiders. What do you mean by that?"
"You don't even recognize me? Heh," the husky voice scoffed, then immediately muted its microphone.
"She's Red Pine's Chief Instructor Hong," some people still recognized her.
" Hong Yan ----" The Great Knight finally realized that this person was quite famous in the Great Knight ' circle.
He wasn't entirely sure about their exact combat strength, only that they were definitely not bad. What he did know was that Instructor Hong had a fiery temper.
It's not surprising that the other party is in a good mood; they're just helping to mediate, it's not Red Pine's own business.
Oh, and behind this person stands an entire mid-level Martial Academy.
Moreover, they were clearly not intimidated by him, otherwise they wouldn't have been so lazy as to not even bother to mention their names—just that attitude alone showed their confidence.
The New Army wouldn't be afraid of a small, mid-level Martial Academy, but New Army, it couldn't afford to make enemies on all sides, could it?
The Great Knight hesitated for a moment, then finally waved his hand, "Never mind, Instructor Hong truly lives up to his Martial Academy background; he values teaching very much."
o
This is just making excuses for themselves, but the reason is plausible: aren't Martial Academy instructors supposed to teach martial arts practitioners?
Hong Yan disliked scheming and backstabbing, but since the other party had given her face, she felt she should reciprocate in some way.
"Yes, I hope the New Army will do better and better, and that Liang will gain another pillar of strength!"
With this, the dispute, which even the military could not mediate, has come to an end.
The New Army's Great Knight actually took the initiative to approach Red Pine and his group of five, saying, "Senior Hong, I've long admired your name."
"No, I'm not necessarily older than you," Hong Yan sat up straight. She didn't like socializing, but some socializing was unavoidable.
This man introduced himself Jeff, who also came from a noble family and had previously served in the Imperial Guard.
"I've heard of him," Luo Xi spoke up, "One of the Eight Tigers of the New Army."
" The New Army is just starting out," Jeff said, surprisingly down-to-earth with these guys, "And we hope the Hong Da will give us their full support!"
"I'd also like to see how far the New Army can go," Hong Yan said calmly. "I wouldn't presume to claim full strength, I can only say I'll do my best."
She had absolutely no interest in the power struggles between the old and new factions in the court.
Jeff could sense her aloofness, but he didn't care; as long as she wasn't repulsed, that was fine.
As the New Army was newly formed, he also shouldered the task of making friends and winning over various parties.
His previous attitude towards the Marquis Tanyong's Residence's residence was actually based on other considerations.
After exchanging a few words, he suddenly glanced at Wu Youren and said, "This is... Knight Apprentice? No, there's something else about him."
o
"Just an ordinary trainee," Instructor Hong replied casually. "He's only been with Red Pine for half a year, and he's quite good at mechanical devices."
She personally assigned tasks to the young men of Jin, so she hardly needed to worry about anything, and nothing would happen within the Red Pine area.
However, when it comes to matters involving external factors, things become more complicated, especially the conflict between the old and the new.
"Is that so?" Jeff smiled and glanced at her, then released his senses to carefully perceive the boy's condition.
This is a bit offensive. They're clearly students of Red Pine, so why are they being scrutinized like this by outsiders?
However, from the instructor's perspective, this is perfectly normal—to unleash the trainees' potential, one must carefully perceive their abilities.
After a long silence, Jeff laughed, a strange glint in his eyes. "Interesting, Hong Da, I'll take this student."