15: Departure to the wild hunting area

With a clear understanding, Lu Yuan no longer hesitated and got up to leave the library.

He found Homeroom Teacher Qian's office.

The door was ajar, and Homeroom Teacher Qian was grading homework.

"Report."

Homeroom Teacher Qian looked up, saw it was Lu Yuan, and put down the pen in her hand.

"Student Lu Yuan? Is something wrong?"

She paid a bit more attention to this student who had recently shown outstanding performance.

"Teacher Qian, I'd like to ask for a few days off." Lu Yuan directly stated his purpose.

Homeroom Teacher Qian frowned slightly, "Ask for leave? The diagnostic test is coming up soon, and asking for leave at this time..."

"Someone in my family is sick and needs me to go back and take care of them." Lu Yuan had prepared his excuse, "It will probably take three or four days."

The universal sick leave formula.

Homeroom Teacher Qian didn't ask further; every family has its own difficulties. "Alright, I'll approve it. But Lu Yuan, this diagnostic test is crucial for class placement and very important for you. Make sure you use your time wisely and don't fall behind in your cultivation."

"Thank you, Teacher, I understand." Lu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Done!

Leaving school, Lu Yuan headed straight for the "Hunter's Market" in Jiangcheng's west district.

This is where Card Masters resupply and trade their spoils, a place of mixed crowds, but also the most comprehensive selection of goods.

The air was filled with a faint scent of blood and herbs.

Various shops lined both sides of the street.

"Potent Recovery card! Quickly replenish Source Power!"

"Fully handcrafted enchanted leather armor! Made from second-tier monster hide, amazing defense!"

"blank card! Discounts for bulk purchases!"

Cries of vendors rose and fell.

Lu Yuan, with a clear goal, walked into an equipment shop called 'Wilderness Walker'.

He had found it online; it had a high rating of 4.8, and reviews all said the boss was a good person, so he figured they wouldn't take advantage of customers.

The shop wasn't large; its walls were covered with various backpacks, tents, and ropes, while the counter displayed compasses, water filters, first-aid kits, and other wilderness survival gear.

A bearded man was wiping a dagger, its blade glinting coldly.

"Boss, I want to buy some things," Lu Yuan said.

The big man looked him over, a student's appearance, still a bit childish.

"What do you want?" His voice was rough.

"A durable backpack, a large capacity. A basic first-aid kit, with hemostatics, disinfectants, and bandages. High-energy compressed biscuits and jerky, enough for three days. A military canteen with a filter. And ten blank cards." Lu Yuan spoke quickly, clearly having done his homework.

As for why he wasn't buying cards but loose items?

Nothing, cards are expensive!

"Student?" The big man put down the dagger.

"Yes." Lu Yuan didn't deny it.

"Going to the Wild Mountain Beast Hunting Zone?"

"Something like that."

The big man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, "Kid, you've got guts. First time going, take it easy."

He deftly took down the items Lu Yuan requested from the shelves.

A military green canvas backpack, looking very sturdy.

A palm-sized metal first-aid box.

Several packs of vacuum-sealed food.

A dark green canteen with an activated carbon filter.

Finally, he pulled out a stack of brand-new blank cards from under the counter, counted ten, and handed them to Lu Yuan.

The cards had no patterns on their surface, only faint Source Power fluctuations.

Ten blank cards meant the tragic defeat of ten gamblers.

"Backpack 800, first-aid kit 500, food 300, canteen filter 400, blank cards 100 each, ten for 1000. Total 3000 star coins."

Lu Yuan's eyelid twitched a bit, feeling a pang of heartache.

The goods were good, but the price was indeed high.

After paying, "Thanks, boss."

"Kid, let me tell you something." The bearded man took the money, "In the Beast Hunting Zone, don't trust anyone but the cards in your own hand."

"Oh, and remember to give a 5-star review!"

Lu Yuan nodded, put on his new backpack, and turned to leave.

3000 star coins were gone again.

Adding the money he spent on cards before, the large sum sponsored by Zhao She was almost entirely spent.

He had to make some money quickly.

Hunting monsters, acquiring cards and materials, was currently the fastest way.

Stepping out of the Hunter's Market, dusk was falling.

Lu Yuan didn't linger; he hailed a taxi to the West Suburb Bus Station, located on the city's outskirts.

This place had long-distance buses specifically for various Beast Hunting Zone areas.

Unlike the clean and tidy bus stops within the city, this place seemed somewhat dilapidated and chaotic.

Most of the people waiting for the bus on the platform exuded a tough aura, covered in dust from travel, some even with bandages, chatting and smoking.

Lu Yuan found a corner and waited quietly.

He could feel several scrutinizing gazes on him, probably because he was young and a new face.

Thinking of teasing him.

Lu Yuan ignored them, lowering his head to check the items in his backpack.

The three beast taming cards were placed in the most accessible outer pocket, ready for immediate use.

The Raging Waves Sea Soul, as his Origin Card, was connected to his mind and could be summoned with a thought.

A half-worn armored bus slowly pulled into the station; its body was covered in scratches, and in some places, scorched marks from energy burns could even be seen.

The door opened, and a stern-faced driver, smoking a cigarette, poked his head out.

"Towards the Wild Mountain Beast Hunting Zone, fifteen star coins per person, get off at the 'Outpost'."

Lu Yuan followed the crowd onto the bus.

The interior of the bus was dimly lit, filled with a foul smell of sweat mixed with tobacco.

Most of the seats were broken, and the passengers were silent, creating a heavy atmosphere.

Lu Yuan found a window seat, and as the vehicle started, the scenery outside began to change.

Tall buildings gradually disappeared, replaced by low-rise factories and sparse farmland.

Monitoring cameras and patrol posts along the roads became increasingly dense.

Occasionally, soldiers in Alliance military uniforms could be seen, heavily armed and alert.

This was already the edge of the safe zone.

The bus traveled for another half an hour or so before slowing down.

Ahead, a towering metal wall appeared, covered with electric fences and energy barrier emitters. At regular intervals, there was a watchtower, with searchlights sweeping back and forth.

Below the wall was a huge gate checkpoint.

All vehicles and personnel needed to undergo strict inspections to pass.

Lu Yuan's bus waited in line.

He saw that people in the cars ahead were all required to show their student card and undergo Source Power testing.

When it was their turn, several soldiers in black combat uniforms, with cold auras, boarded the bus for inspection.

The leader's gaze swept over Lu Yuan, lingering for a moment.

"So young? A student?"

"Yes." Lu Yuan took out his student card.

The soldier took it, scanned it with a handheld terminal, and returned it to him after confirming its authenticity.

"First time leaving the city?"

"Yes."

"Going to the Beast Hunting Zone?"

"Yes."

The soldier didn't ask any more questions, merely giving a routine reminder.

"It's dangerous out there, be careful."

"Thank you."

After the inspection, the bus slowly passed through the gate.

Once through the gate, the world seemed to change instantly.

Without the protection of the high wall, a completely different scene met his eyes.

The road became rugged, and instead of neatly planned buildings, there were dense and chaotic primeval forests and wilderness.

The air was filled with the smell of damp earth and decaying plants, and in the distance, the howls of unknown creatures could faintly be heard.

The sky had completely darkened, with only the swaying headlights of the bus tearing through the darkness ahead.

The sense of oppression grew heavier.

After traveling for another twenty minutes, the bus stopped at a makeshift stop.

This was less of a stop and more of a cleared patch of ground, with only a dilapidated shack made from a shipping container nearby, bearing a sign that read "Outpost Supply Point," from which a faint light emanated.

"We've reached the Outpost, those getting off, hurry!" the driver shouted.

Lu Yuan and a few other passengers got off.

The bus didn't stop, spewing a cloud of black smoke as it continued further into the wilderness.

Standing in the empty wilderness, the night wind blew, carrying a chill and a wild scent.

It was pitch black all around, with only the faint light from the broken shack providing minimal illumination.

This was the world beyond the safe zone.

This was the Beast Hunting Zone.