37: Chapter 37 Entering the Wasteland

Instructor Qin Feng stood at the very front of the formation. His voice wasn't loud, but it immediately suppressed the last remnants of whispering on the parade ground.

Lu Cheng also wanted to be quiet, but Ma Dachun was just too conspicuous.

This guy was standing nearby with dark, bruised circles under his eyes and a face as pale as paper. He looked like he had "been thoroughly screwed by life."

Lu Cheng lowered his voice.

"What on earth did you do last night?"

Ma Dachun held onto his knees, his voice drifting.

"I... completed an exploration of my limits."

"Speak plainly."

"I drank another one."

"..."

Lu Cheng turned his head to look at him for two seconds, truly impressed.

"You really aren't afraid of death."

Ma Dachun looked tragic and heroic.

"Wealth and glory are sought in danger."

"Did you get any?"

"I gained three points of Blood Qi, plus half my life."

Up front, Instructor Qin Feng had already started talking about business.

"Starting today, the Elite Class's first Wasteland Zone field training officially begins."

"The location for this training is the edge of the Wasteland Zone designated C-17 outside Rong City. The duration is three days."

"Teams of four will operate independently, make their own decisions, and bear their own consequences."

On the parade ground, everyone straightened up significantly.

Instructor Qin Feng's gaze swept over the crowd, his tone devoid of any joking intent.

"You are to complete four tasks this time."

"Collection, Reconnaissance, Survival, and Recovery."

"Collection refers to obtaining specified exotic plant materials, exotic beast materials, and usable resources."

"Reconnaissance refers to scouting area routes, recording fierce beast activity, and marking dangerous spots."

"Survival refers to setting up camp, resupplying, night watches, injury treatment, and maintaining operational capability."

"Recovery refers to finding the task supply boxes that the school has dropped in the Wasteland Zone and safely bringing them back to the designated recovery point."

"Final rankings will be based on comprehensive points, and rewards will be awarded!"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an immediate commotion below...

Instructor Qin Feng continued:

"In theory, the training area only allows for Tier 1 fierce beasts."

"In theory."

He specifically emphasized those three words.

The atmosphere on the parade ground instantly tightened slightly.

"The military received feedback from perimeter patrols last night that there have been signs of instability at the edge of C-17 recently."

"It is currently unconfirmed whether there is any cross-border activity."

"Therefore, I will remind you: do not treat this training like a field trip."

"If you really encounter something wrong, send a signal immediately. Do not try to be a hero."

After speaking, he waved his hand.

Several soldiers behind him pushed up a few black boxes.

"Each team will be issued a basic first aid kit, signal flares, a simple locator, and one day's worth of standard compressed rations."

"Choose your own weapons; the logistics department is open for ten minutes."

"Gather at the school gate in ten minutes to depart."

"Dismissed!"

As his voice fell, the parade ground immediately erupted into chaos, and many students turned and ran towards the logistics department.

Lu Cheng and the other three didn't move; they all had their own weapons and didn't need to join the crowd at the logistics department.

Lu Cheng looked at Xia Xi, Su Wan, and Ma Dachun, who looked like he might ascend to heaven on the spot at any moment.

"Let's set the division of labor first."

Xia Xi nodded immediately, her eyes bright.

"I'll listen to whatever you say."

Su Wan stood to the side with a cool expression, only slightly lifting her eyes to look at Lu Cheng.

"Mm, let's first consider the priority of different tasks."

Ma Dachun held his knees, speaking in a breathy voice.

"I request... prioritizing the team survival task..."

Lu Cheng chuckled.

"You mean yourself, right?"

"The team's weak link is often the strategic resource that most needs protection." Ma Dachun said solemnly.

"For high-IQ talent like me, staying alive is more important than anything."

Xia Xi couldn't help it and let out a laugh.

Lu Cheng couldn't be bothered to banter with him and spoke directly.

"Let's use the division from the combat class."

"Two people in the front row, responsible for detection and close-quarters combat."

"One ranged, responsible for suppression, finishing blows, and rear security."

"One responsible for logistics, carrying the load, traps, and miscellaneous tasks."

"Xia Xi and I will take the front."

Although Xia Xi hadn't beaten Su Wan, that was because Su Wan could move and was small in stature. When facing those kinds of fierce beasts, the damage from Xia Xi's big hammer hitting directly was completely incomparable to Su Wan.

Upon hearing this, Xia Xi immediately stood a little closer, like a kitten that had been petted.

"Okay."

Lu Cheng looked at Su Wan again.

"Your skills are also inclined towards control and interference. You are responsible for ranged suppression and our rear security."

Su Wan nodded. She had just learned a ranged martial skill [Ice Blossom Thorn] last night, and she was the only one in the team with ranged attack methods.

"That works."

Finally, the three of them turned their gazes to Ma Dachun.

Ma Dachun was silent for two seconds, then accepted his fate.

"Fine then... I'll be responsible for carrying the load, traps, miscellaneous tasks, and providing emotional value when necessary."

Lu Cheng patted his shoulder.

"Your positioning of yourself is becoming clearer and clearer."

The group went over the strategy briefly. Lu Cheng would focus on melee breakthroughs and route judgment. Xia Xi was fast with strong burst damage, suitable for front-line detection. Su Wan would hold the line in the rear, using ice-type abilities to slow and interfere when necessary. Ma Dachun would be responsible for carrying ropes, simple animal traps, spare water bags, and the tool kit, while also keeping an eye out to ensure the team wasn't flanked.

After discussing, the four of them walked directly towards the school gate.

On the way, Xia Xi kept following right beside Lu Cheng, occasionally turning her head to look at him.

"Lu Cheng, are you hungry?"

"Not hungry."

"Oh."

...

"Then are you thirsty?"

"I'm okay."

"Oh."

...

"Did you sleep well yesterday?"

"Pretty good."

"Then are you nervous today?"

"I wasn't nervous before, but with you asking me constantly, I'm starting to get nervous."

Xia Xi said "Oh" and was quiet for three seconds.

Then she whispered:

"If you're nervous, you can hold my hand; I don't mind."

Lu Cheng:

"...?"

Beside them, Su Wan's footsteps paused slightly. She didn't speak, just pulled her sword bag up a bit higher on her back.

Several military-green transport trucks were already parked at the school gate. The bodies were heavy, the tires were still stained with mud from previous trips out of the city, and armed soldiers stood by the doors. The atmosphere was completely different from that of the school.

The students lined up to board the vehicles, and Lu Cheng's group of four boarded the same one.

The seats inside the vehicle were the type where you sit facing each other on both sides. The metal floor was slightly cool, and the air smelled of a mixture of engine oil, rust, and disinfectant.

Once the door closed, the engine roared to life. The city streetscape quickly receded outside the window.

High-rises, shops, advertising screens, and the morning rush hour traffic were left behind bit by bit. Further out, the buildings began to get shorter, the isolation walls along the road grew higher, and eventually, even the signs of human habitation became sparse.

Xia Xi sat opposite Lu Cheng, her knees pressed tightly together. It looked like she wanted to speak but was afraid of disturbing him. After holding back for a while, she couldn't resist.

"Lu Cheng."

"Hm?"

"Are you really not hungry? I brought energy bars."

"You eat them yourself."

"I also brought beef jerky."

"Did you come for field training or for a spring outing?"

"Both are fine." Xia Xi said very seriously, "As long as I'm with you."

Lu Cheng gave a dry cough and pretended not to hear.

Beside them, Ma Dachun leaned his head against the vehicle wall, his eyes unfocused.

"The sour stench of love... making my already weak body even worse..."

An hour or so later, the convoy drove past the last defensive line of the outer city. Lu Cheng looked out through the window, and his field of vision suddenly opened up.

The Wasteland Zone was a completely different color from the city. The grayish-yellow land spread out all the way, as if it had been burned by fire many times. The surface was covered everywhere with cracked, dry fissures and weathered rock layers.

Low shrubs grew in clumps here and there, their leaves black and hard, with saw-toothed edges. Further away, one could see a few crooked, withered trees, their bark peeling off, and their branches twisted as if they had been wrung by something.

When the wind blew, dust rolled up, carrying a scent of earth and a faint smell of decay. The sky was very bright. But this place looked uncomfortable. It was as if the boundary of urban civilization had been abruptly cut off, and what remained outside was all unreasonable wildness and danger.