67: Chapter 67 Volunteering!

The soldier glanced at Lu Cheng, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

As soon as the students entered the base, people immediately came forward to receive them, checking injuries, distributing recovery potions, and recounting the number of people.

Lu Cheng had just caught his breath when he heard a few stationed soldiers whispering nearby.

"The situation in the Southern District is worse than estimated..."

"Something happened in the North too. The news just came back that the Ancient Ruins in the North have also erupted."

"Damn it... both sides blowing up at once?"

"If we can't hold the line this time, something really bad might happen."

"Headquarters is already mobilizing personnel. Let the students withdraw to the city first; we can't keep them here anymore."

Lu Cheng stood where he was, his fingers slowly clenching tight.

The North has erupted too... two Ancient Ruins active at the same time...

This is no longer just a normal training accident.

The Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Bad Luck in his mind was still issuing frantic warnings... danger... and the alarm was getting louder and louder.

He subconsciously looked up, gazing at the pitch-black night outside the base.

Occasional explosions came from that direction, and flashes of fire flickered, indicating that the fighting was still ongoing outside.

He thought back to how the uncle looked before he left.

Lu Cheng felt a tightness in his chest; he couldn't say why, he just felt uncomfortable.

What... exactly could he do?

He followed the crowd toward the military tents, his mind in a chaotic mess.

Along the way, he had already found many excuses for himself... he was still too weak.

No matter how well he could fight in the Body Refining Realm, he was still just a student... it wasn't his place to shoulder something of this magnitude.

If the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up, but the more Lu Cheng thought about it, the more annoyed he felt.

He remembered how Commander Ji Yunlan stood in front of him with slightly trembling hands, and he remembered the helplessness in Instructor Qin Feng.

He thought of the names in the news, the black-and-white photos, and that sentence in every post-disaster broadcast: "The list of casualties is currently being compiled."

Not all the soldiers who went to block the ferocious beasts were in the Meridian Opening Realm...

Many grassroots soldiers were only in the Body Refining or Source Gathering Realm...

Were they really that much stronger than him?

Not necessarily.

Lu Cheng licked his dry lips, the fire in his chest burning brighter and brighter.

"Damn it..."

He cursed under his breath.

"It's frustrating."

Ma Dachun, who was drinking water next to him, turned his head to look at him: "What did you say?"

"Nothing."

Lu Cheng exhaled and looked toward the largest military tent in front.

The highest-ranking person in charge of this assembly point was none other than Instructor Qin Feng.

Lu Cheng changed his direction and walked straight over there.

When Lu Cheng lifted the tent flap, Instructor Qin Feng was standing in front of a makeshift tactical table.

Several temporary maps were spread out on the table, with magazines, a communicator, and a marker pen pinning down the corners.

The light in the tent was stark white, and the air was filled with the smell of medicine, sweat, and machine oil. Outside, hurried footsteps and military commands could be heard from time to time; the entire temporary base was on high alert.

Instructor Qin Feng looked up at him, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Why aren't you resting? What are you doing coming here?"

Lu Cheng stood up straight and got straight to the point.

"Instructor Qin, I want to go to the front line."

As soon as these words were spoken, the tent went silent for half a second.

Instructor Qin Feng's pen stopped. His gaze landed on Lu Cheng's face, staring for a few seconds, his voice dropping low.

"Do you know what you are saying?"

"I do."

Lu Cheng nodded, his tone steady.

"The front line is short on people, and I can fight. I can't just sit in the back right now; I can't stand it."

Instructor Qin Feng stared at him with no expression on his face.

But Lu Cheng could tell that this No. 3 High School chief instructor was in a very bad mood, extremely bad.

The battle outside was tight, the students had just withdrawn, and the front line kept asking for people. At a time like this, anyone coming to tell him "I want to go to the battlefield" was like adding fuel to the fire.

Just as Instructor Qin Feng was about to speak, a flurry of chaotic footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent.

The next second, the tent flap was pushed open.

One, two, three...

Whoosh, about twenty figures squeezed in.

Lu Cheng turned his head and looked, his eyelids twitching.

Lin Tianjian, Chen Wu, the No. 1 of Yangrong Girls High School, Huo Ronger, Su Wan, Xia Xi, and even Ma Dachun were mixed in the crowd.

Lu Cheng scanned the group; a rough count showed nearly twenty people.

It could be said... the strongest of the entire new generation in Rong City were all here!

Instructor Qin Feng looked at this group of students who had suddenly burst in, his temples throbbing.

"What are you doing?"

Lin Tianjian stepped forward, his voice calm.

"Volunteering to support the front line."

Chen Wu followed immediately.

"Count me in."

Huo Ronger slammed the butt of her gun against the ground, making a dull thud.

"Huo Ronger from Yangrong Girls High School, requesting to fight."

Xia Xi also looked up, her eyes bright.

"I'm going too."

Su Wan didn't say much, just looked at Instructor Qin Feng and said softly: "We all want to go."

The people behind also spoke up one after another.

"Instructor, let us go!"

"We can fight!"

"There's nothing left to do in the rear; the front line needs people more!"

"We can't just let the soldiers take all the pressure while we watch!"

The tent suddenly became noisy.

The young people's voices crowded together, and the whole tent became restless.

Instructor Qin Feng looked at this group of hot-blooded boys and girls, his chest heaving, and he took a deep breath.

He raised his hand to press his brow and finally cursed out loud.

"You guys..."

"Isn't this just messing around?!"

The whole tent went quiet.

Many people subconsciously stood up straight.

But soon, someone continued.

"Instructor Qin!"

It was Chen Wu who spoke, his voice carrying an uncontrollable anger.

"This is what we all think!"

"Rong City is not just the soldiers' Rong City; it is also our Rong City. We have an obligation and a responsibility to fight side-by-side with you on the front line!"

With these words, several people in the tent nodded in agreement.

Huo Ronger stepped forward directly, her red hair particularly striking under the lights.

"According to the Military District's records! Currently, there are only a hundred or so soldiers in the Meridian Opening Realm in the Military District, and the rest are full of warriors in the Body Refining and Source Gathering Realms!"

"They are fighting on the front line right now; what reason do we have to enjoy peace in the back with a clear conscience!"

Lin Tianjian also spoke slowly: "We are indeed young, but we are not trash."

Immediately after, the people around began to express their thoughts...

"Instructor, we aren't going there to die; we are going there to help!"

"As long as we can share even a little bit of the pressure, it's worth it!"

"We killed our way back from the Wasteland Zone; who among us hasn't seen blood?"

"If the soldiers on the front line can go, why can't we?"

Instructor Qin Feng fell silent.

He didn't scold them immediately, nor did he refuse immediately.

He just stood in front of the tactical table, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop, his gaze sweeping across these young faces.

The tent quieted down.

Only the sound of the wind, footsteps, and the occasional explosion from afar remained.

Instructor Qin Feng knew very well.

In the short term, all the soldiers who could be deployed had already been sent out.

Those who should have gone had already gone.

The manpower that could be squeezed out of the base was already pitifully small.

And these twenty people in front of him...

Were almost the strongest of the new generation in Rong City.

No. 3 High School, No. 1 High School, No. 2 High School, Yangrong Girls High School—the top students from several schools were almost all here.

Everyone had impressive strength.

If they had rushed over at the very beginning, they could indeed have reduced a lot of pressure.

At the very least, someone could clear out the monsters that leaked out from the pollution war zone on the periphery...

In this way, the main force on the front line could be less distracted.

Instructor Qin Feng was silent for a full ten seconds.

The people in the tent stared at him, even their breathing softening.

A moment later, he finally spoke.

"I am now assigning an emergency mission."

"Support the Abandoned City pollution war zone."

Everyone's eyes lit up at the same time.

Instructor Qin Feng raised his hand and pressed it on the map, his fingertips pointing to several marked points on the periphery of the Abandoned City.

"Your mission is... to sweep up the monsters that have leaked out from the center of the war zone."

"Twenty points per monster."

"There is no upper limit to the points earned for this mission!"

As the words fell, many people in the tent gasped.

Twenty points each.

No upper limit... how many rewards could this get them!

Instructor Qin Feng didn't let them be excited for too long, immediately adding another sentence, his tone extremely heavy.

"Also, if you encounter danger, you must evacuate in time."

"Everything is centered on your own safety."

"I don't need you to play the hero, and I certainly don't need you to charge into the center of the pollution with a hot head."

"There are no accompanying observers with you this time. Your range of activity must be limited to the periphery and semi-periphery. Do you understand?!"

"Understood!"

Nearly twenty people responded in unison, the sound making the tent hum.

Instructor Qin Feng then slowly raised his eyes and looked at Lu Cheng.

His gaze lingered for a few seconds, and then he spoke calmly.

"Lu Cheng."

Lu Cheng stood straight immediately.

"Yes!"

"You will be the captain of the entire team this time."

Many people in the tent shifted their expressions, subconsciously looking at Lin Tianjian.

After all, in terms of fame and past achievements, Lin Tianjian had always been the top representative among the students in Rong City.

But Lin Tianjian just stood there, his expression calm, without the slightest intention of objecting.

Seeing that Lin Tianjian had no objections, everyone finally cast their gaze toward Lu Cheng.

Instructor Qin Feng continued: "How many people go..."

He paused, his voice dropping a bit.

"I hope just as many return."

Once this sentence fell, the atmosphere in the tent became noticeably heavy.

The hot-bloodedness from just a moment ago was still there, but everyone felt a bit more weight in their hearts.

If they really went to the front line, people would die...

Lu Cheng looked at Instructor Qin Feng, nodded, and gave a very firm answer.

"Understood."

"I will do my best to bring everyone back."

Instructor Qin Feng didn't say anything more, just waved his hand.

"Ten minutes preparation time. Replenish potions, weapons, and communicators, then assemble outside."

"Yes!"

Everyone dispersed immediately, and the tent became chaotic again.

Some went to collect potions, some went to change weapons, and some went to replenish energy bars and ammunition.

Xia Xi also wanted to follow to collect things, but after walking two steps, she was called out by Instructor Qin Feng.

"Ms. Xia."

Xia Xi stopped and turned to look at him.

Instructor Qin Feng stood at the tent entrance, his expression somewhat complicated.

"You cannot go on this mission."

Xia Xi was stunned for a moment, then her brow furrowed.

"Why? Just because I am the mayor's daughter?"

Xia Xi did not like this kind of discriminatory behavior.

Instructor Qin Feng shook his head, his tone a bit difficult.

"No... but that could be considered part of it."

"Mr. Chen and Commander Zhao are already supporting the front line. They need your safety to be guaranteed..."

Xia Xi interrupted him directly: "No, I must go!"

She spoke quickly, her eyes full of unwillingness. Lu Cheng was going, so how could she have any reason not to go?!

Instructor Qin Feng was silent for two seconds, his voice pressing lower.

"Ms. Xia, I am begging you for this matter."

"If Commander Zhao and Mr. Xia see you appearing on the battlefield, then our front line will instantly lose two Hua Hai Realm warriors."

"For the front line, it would undoubtedly be a disaster."

As this was said, Xia Xi froze.

She opened her mouth, but didn't say anything more.

She knew very well that what Instructor Qin Feng said was the truth.

If she really appeared on the front line, Secretary Chen and Commander Zhao would absolutely not be indifferent.

At that time, they would be distracted, or even forcibly withdraw to protect her, and the pressure on the front line would only increase.

Many times, status is something that will hold a person back tightly.

Xia Xi bit her lip, her eyes slightly red.

Finally, she nodded: "I understand..."

Instructor Qin Feng exhaled gently: "Thank you for understanding."

Xia Xi didn't look at him again and turned to walk toward the supply area.

Over there, the student team had already assembled one after another.

Lu Cheng was organizing his equipment, a military dagger tucked at his waist, a supply pack on his back, and the communicator he had just received in his hand.

Xia Xi walked up to him, stopped for two seconds, took out a small red glass bottle from her pocket, and stuffed it directly into his hand.

Lu Cheng looked down.

The liquid in the bottle was bright red, with a faint burning sensation.

"What is this?"

"Red Lotus Recovery Agent."

Xia Xi looked at him, her voice much softer than usual.

"I originally wanted to use it on you last time, but it wasn't needed later."

"This is for you... if you encounter danger, take it."

Lu Cheng looked up at her.

He had actually heard all of her conversation with Instructor Qin Feng just now.

Xia Xi felt a bit uncomfortable being looked at by him, turned her head away, and whispered: "I just... just think you are more likely to encounter some unexpected situations."

"The front line is so chaotic; who knows if you will charge too deep if your head gets hot."

As she spoke, her voice became even smaller.

The future Lu Cheng was very strong.

Strong enough that many could only look up to him.

But the future was the future, and now was now.

She didn't want those uncertain things to fall on Lu Cheng.

She wanted him to live well and return safely.

Lu Cheng looked at the small red bottle in his hand, then at Xia Xi's clearly unhappy face.

The next second, he raised his hand and rubbed her head.

Xia Xi froze completely.

Her ears turned red instantly.

The few people around who saw this scene had interesting expressions.

Lin Tianjian's hand gripping his sword paused, and he silently looked away.

Lu Cheng didn't care about the surrounding gazes; he just looked at Xia Xi and smiled.

"You just wait here for us to come back..."