Wang Zhan looked up, staring at the Martial Arts Academy mentor standing before him. His height exceeded two meters, and his body was shaped like a huge ball. An enigmatic smile played on his lips, and he held a black-clad fellow in his hand.
"Teacher Sun." Lv Qing greeted him. Noticing the puzzlement on Wang Zhan's face, she introduced, "This is Teacher Sun Jian. He doesn't usually teach classes at the Academy, but spends most of his time in the Military Camp or wilderness areas, responsible for the logistics of student expeditions in the wilderness."
"To put it simply, I'm the one who ends up cleaning up after you greenhorns." Sun Jian cracked a grin, his eyes almost disappearing into slits as he nonchalantly threw the captive he was holding to the side.
Then Wang Zhan saw the captive draw an afterimage in mid-air and smash heavily into the cave wall.
For a moment, the entire cave shook twice, threatening to collapse.
Wang Zhan winced slightly.
Good heavens, just that one throw and the man might be near death, Wang Zhan thought.
"Don't worry, he won't die from this." Sun Jian noticed Wang Zhan's gaze and said with a smile, "That guy is a level 9 Martial Artist, just one step away from becoming a Warrior. At most, he's only broken a dozen or so bones; it's nothing serious."
"So this is the comrade that the black-clothed man spoke of?" Wang Zhan looked at the similarly black-clad captive, who was struggling for breath on the side, a flicker of sympathy in his eyes.
This Teacher Sun is clearly not someone to be trifled with, Wang Zhan thought. A level 9 Martial Artist, yet he handles him as easily as a little chick.
Sun Jian turned to Lv Qing, "When I received your distress signal earlier, I was busy, so I couldn't come to your rescue immediately."
"Are you Wang Zhan? Recently, during the mentors' meetings, that Duan Kun guy keeps yammering about you. It feels like I'm developing calluses in my ears." Sun Jian patted Wang Zhan's shoulder, laughing, "But it seems he wasn't bragging. You've done well."
Wang Zhan could sense something amiss.
Given what Teacher Sun said, he must have witnessed my fight with the man in black, Wang Zhan realized.
"When did Teacher Sun arrive?"
"When you guys were confronted." Sun Jian revealed a casual grin. "Opportunities for real combat are hard to come by. At critical times, I certainly could step in and rescue you guys, so don't resent me for being a mere spectator."
Wang Zhan shook his head repeatedly. He was thankful for this, so why would he have any complaints?
In the meantime, Lv Qing and Tian Shishi had already treated their wounds and began to bandage Wang Zhan's.
As for Sun Jian, he went over to interrogate the captive, who was half-dead from his punishment.
Not too long after, once Wang Zhan was bandaged up, he saw Sun Jian emotionlessly finish off the captive.
"Teacher Sun, who were those guys?" Wang Zhan asked curiously.
"Just a bunch of scum, you'll find out later." Sun Jian shook his head, unwilling to explain further.
Sun Jian's arrival signaled the end of this expedition in the wilderness.
However, just as they were preparing to leave, Sun Jian suddenly pointed at a pile of beast cores in a corner of the cave.
The pile consisted of hundreds of cores, all level 1 beast cores left behind by Wang Zhan.
"You are not planning to take all of these with you? My, you are rather generous."
"Isn't it just because the bag can't fit anymore?" Wang Zhan opened his bag to show that it was already filled with Grade-2 beast cores and numerous high-quality level 1 beast cores.
"HISS, did you kill all of these?" Sun Jian exclaimed, "Impressive! When I was your age, I was far from your current level."
As they talked, Sun Jian's gaze remained fixated on the pile of beast cores in the corner.
Noticing this, Wang Zhan tentatively said, "Take as many as you want, Teacher."
Initially, Wang Zhan had planned to come back with a larger backpack to deal with these beast cores, but if Teacher Sun wanted them, he didn't mind.
Sun Jian's eyes lit up. "You're generous, boy. I'll remember this favor."
Sun Jian quickly walked to the corner, then using the Space Bracelet on his hand, he stored away all the level 1 beast cores.
Noticing Wang Zhan's envious look, Sun Jian laughed and said, "Your Communication Watch is pretty much the same as your personal terminal. When you become a Martial General, you'll be eligible to apply for a Communication Watch with a storage function. The Black Market also sells them, but the prices are astronomically high. Besides, if someone without sufficient power possesses such a device, it's as if they're asking for trouble."
"Alright, let's head back." With a wave of his big hand, Sun Jian led the team of Wang Zhan and two others toward Base City.
「...」
Since Wang Zhan and his companions were wounded, they didn't walk very fast. It was only the next morning when they finally saw, in the distance, the massive city walls enveloped by the light screen.
With Sun Jian leading them, they didn't even need to go through a check to enter the city. In fact, Wang Zhan saw the soldiers guarding the gate salute Sun Jian as they passed.
"Teacher seems to have a high reputation in the Military Camp," Wang Zhan commented curiously.
The Martial Arts Academy and the Military Camp were two relatively independent entities. Even though both were affiliated with the military, they mainly had a cooperative relationship.
As a teacher at the Academy, there was no reason for Sun Jian to be saluted by the soldiers at the Military Camp.
"They are just showing me respect." Sun Jian beamed amiably, his tone devoid of the arrogance typical of a superior.
Along the way, Sun Jian was seen greeting many passing soldiers, whether they were Martial Artists or ordinary people, always wearing a welcoming smile.
Before long, Sun Jian led the team of Wang Zhan and two others to the Military Supplies Center at the camp.
With a wave of his hand, the table at the center was soon filled with level 1 beast cores, the same ones he had collected from the cave.
"Sir Sun." The person in charge of the center greeted him, then asked, "Same old rules?"
"No, this time keep twenty percent as Grade-1 Essence Pills, and the rest as usual."
The person in charge nodded and quickly retrieved the corresponding number of Grade-1 Essence Pills from the warehouse.
"One beast core can be exchanged for two bottles of Essence Pills. Twenty percent is thirty-eight bottles; here are forty bottles." The person in charge placed a full box of Essence Pills on the table.
Sun Jian patted Wang Zhan's shoulder and said, "This is for you. Although your strength doesn't require the use of Grade-1 Essence Pills, you can exchange them for quite a number of academic credits back at the Academy."
After leaving the Military Supplies Center, Wang Zhan asked, "Teacher Sun, what is the old rule?"
Sun Jian chuckled and explained, "The soldiers here are unlike your talented students at the Martial Arts Academy. This is the forefront of the battle against beasts, but the resources available to soldiers can't keep up. So, when I get the chance, I give the beast cores and other resources I've gathered to the troops in exchange for supplies, which are then distributed to frontline soldiers."
"No wonder you, with your great capabilities, Teacher Sun, still have a need for level 1 beast cores," Wang Zhan sighed in relief, his doubts finally answered.
At the same time, Wang Zhan realized why Sun Jian, a teacher at the Martial Arts Academy, was so popular in the Military Camp.
"Actually, these resources can be exchanged for personal military merit, which can be used to obtain better resources than what academic credits from the Martial Arts Academy can get you," Lv Qing explained. "Due to Teacher Sun's actions, the high-levels at the Academy are often dissatisfied. But because the resources also go towards resisting the beasts, they don't make a big deal out of it."
Wang Zhan was taken aback, not expecting this.
Sun Jian then pointed at Lv Qing. "You little girl, is your Old Man bad-mouthing me behind my back again?"
Lv Qing immediately looked away, choosing not to answer.
"Alright, all of you go back to the Academy now." Sun Jian waved his hand dismissively, leaving by himself after the team of Wang Zhan and two others had departed.
Lv Qing and Tian Shishi exchanged contact information with Wang Zhan before they left together.
However, just as Wang Zhan was about to return to the Martial Arts Academy, he bumped into a group of martial artists after taking only a few steps.
"Martial Artists from a Martial Arts School?" Wang Zhan raised an eyebrow, curiously looking at the group.
After the College Entrance Examination, many students whose talent didn't meet university standards, yet were unwilling to give up on the Martial Arts Path, would choose to enter a Martial Arts School.
What puzzled Wang Zhan was that martial artists from Martial Arts Schools, after completing their training, mostly took on security-related jobs. Very few of them ventured into the wilderness area.
As Wang Zhan was observing them, the group of Martial Arts School martial artists was also sizing him up.
Suddenly, a somewhat familiar voice called out.
"Wang Zhan?" The voice was full of surprise.
Wang Zhan looked in the direction of the voice and quickly spotted a cute girl standing among the group of Martial Arts School martial artists.
"Yao Yao?"
Yao Yao nodded excitedly and ran over to Wang Zhan.
"Wang Zhan, I've become a martial artist too, a level 1 Martial Artist!"
"Really? That's amazing!" Wang Zhan was astonished.
Yao Yao's talent wasn't particularly good initially; otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen the path of a Martial Arts School.
But in just a few months, she managed to become a martial artist? Could it be the result of accumulated effort?
Regardless, Wang Zhan felt genuinely happy for Yao Yao.
Just then, the leading martial artist from the Martial Arts School said, "Yao Yao, stop dawdling."
Yao Yao's face fell slightly. She glanced at Wang Zhan reluctantly and said, "I have to go now. We'll keep in touch later."
"You're going to the wilderness?" Wang Zhan asked, frowning.
"A teacher is leading us; I'm just going there to gain some experience," Yao Yao explained.
However, Wang Zhan didn't notice that Yao Yao avoided his gaze as she spoke.
After exchanging contact information, Yao Yao left with the group of Martial Arts School martial artists.
Wang Zhan didn't think too much of it and left as well.
「...」
Among the Martial Arts School group, Yao Yao looked somewhat pale.
"What is your relationship with that boy?" the lead martial artist asked coldly.
"Senior Brother Qian Gui, he was my high school classmate."
"From now on, there's no need to contact him unless necessary!" Qian Gui said coldly. "After you took the Gene Liquid and became a martial artist, your life no longer belongs to yourself, but to the Martial Arts School!"
Yao Yao's eyes reddened. She gritted her teeth and nodded. "I... I know."
Qian Gui nodded and softened his tone slightly.
"Yao Yao, you are the only one among this batch who took the Gene Liquid and survived. You are the only one who can test the efficacy of the Gene Liquid. You need to understand your responsibility."
Yao Yao remained silent, but in her mind, she could only see Wang Zhan's figure.
I am already catching up to you, she thought to herself.