Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Beast Tide
Ti flies, and another week has passed in the blink of an eye.
Although we now have a Federal System, each region still retains its traditions.
So as the Lunar New Year approaches, the Federal Martial Arts Academy has already issued a notice that students who have completed their coursework can return ho.
Wang Zhan is also preparing to go back; he hasn’t seen his mom for over four months, and although he doesn’t say it, he is sowhat missing her.
While Wang Zhan is packing his luggage, his mother Yang Cui happens to call.
"You little brat, when are you coming back?"
In the video, Yang Cui is still in her usual housewife attire, wearing an apron.
"I’m heading back today; I should be ho by the afternoon," Wang Zhan responds with a smile, "Mom, since I haven’t seen you for so long, you’re going to make
so good food, right?"
"Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you," Yang Cui rolls her eyes at Wang Zhan and says, "I just tried calling your sister but couldn’t reach her. Since you’re at school, help
find out what she’s up to and ask when she’ll be back."
"Sure, got it."
After hanging up the phone, Wang Zhan doesn’t delay and directly tries to call Wang Qi to arrange to return together.
However, after dialing, no one answers for quite a while, and the light screen displays ’no answer’.
"Hmm? Aren’t the senior students supposed to be resting in school, preparing for the graduation exams and such?" Wang Zhan frowns slightly.
According to the Martial Arts Academy tradition, the whole senior year has students doing school tasks and practice in the first sester, and in the second sester, they start preparing for graduation.
Graduating from the academy isn’t just a simple exam; it’s a challenging task assigned by the school for students to complete.
Generally, the graduation tasks are difficult, ti-consuming, and test a variety of aspects.
Depending on the completion of the tasks, the school arranges students to different destinations, such as Federal Administrative Institutions, battlefields, or the City Defense Army, etc.
In a way, the academy’s graduation exam almost decides a Martial Artist’s future.
So senior students start preparing in the first sester of their senior year.
A while ago, Wang Zhan was in contact with Wang Qi, and she ntioned she was already preparing for her graduation tasks.
After repeatedly trying to call her with no response, and ssages sent seem to disappear into the void.
Left with no choice, Wang Zhan contacts two of Wang Qi’s teammates.
Getting hold of Yue Xinyue’s contact, this ti the video call connects quickly.
"Little Wang Zhan, what brings you to your sister?" Yue Xinyue cheerfully waves, looking like she’s in a good mood.
"Sister Xinyue, I can’t seem to get in touch with my sister. Isn’t your graduation exam supposed to be a team effort? Isn’t she with you?" Wang Zhan asks.
Yue Xinyue is visibly taken aback by what Wang Zhan says.
"Your sister didn’t tell you? She reported to the military a few days ago."
"Military? What military?" Wang Zhan swears he hasn’t heard a word about it.
"She really didn’t tell you," Yue Xinyue says, slightly surprised, "Last year, after the Federal Martial Arts Tournant, your sister received several invitations. She accepted the Military System’s invitation and has started her internship as a reserve officer."
"Reserve officer? Confird since last year?" Wang Zhan almost cannot believe it.
How could such a big event be kept secret from him and Mom!
Yue Xinyue nods, "Yes, the military offered great terms. It’s not just about cultivation resources; they arranged for her to train in various places, starting with the City Defense Army, to the sweep-through troops, and eventually directly to the battlefield."
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhan falls silent.
For martial artists, the Military System indeed offers good opportunities, but it’s equally the most dangerous place.
The City Defense Army, like the Chu State City’s Military Camp, faced the forefront of danger during the beast tide fifteen years ago, sacrificing to give ordinary people a hope of survival with their blood and flesh.
The dangers involved can be imagined.
Besides, troops responsible for sweeping through constantly face danger.
This ti, the Martial Arts Academy’s sweep-through operation only covered up to 100 kiloters outside the base city, yet over a hundred people perished.
In the deeper regions of the wilderness, beasts are far from simple like those in the outskirts.
And the sweep-through troops’ tasks involve clearing these deeper wilderness regions, striking at the beasts’ active forces, reducing their numbers, and preventing the formation of a beast tide.
These are just things Wang Zhan knows.
As for the battlefield and elite troops, Wang Zhan has neither seen nor heard stories about them.
But Wang Zhan’s ntor, Duan Kun, retired from the battlefield due to injuries.
Because of the known dangers of the ’battlefield’, Wang Zhan has so guesses about its risks.
After hanging up the phone, Wang Zhan sits on the bed in silence for a long ti.
"Sis, your actions are just too selfish," Wang Zhan says with a bitter voice, "You could hide this from
and Mom, but what if sothing happens to you..."
Shaking his head, Wang Zhan dares not to think further.
Since Wang Qi has already left, no amount of his thinking will change anything.
"Never mind, I’ll deal with it when I get back."
Wang Zhan quickly left the dormitory with his backpack.
...
In the afternoon, Wang Zhan finally returned to his ho in the alley.
"Hey, Xiao Zhan is back?"
"Yes, Uncle Yang, hello."
"The Chu State Top Scholar is back, everyone co out and see!" Uncle Yang is evidently a busybody.
Under Wang Zhan’s awkward gaze, Uncle Yang shouted out dozens of neighbors.
Nowadays, Wang Zhan is no longer the mischievous little kid he once was; the neighbors all know about Wang Zhan’s situation.
So, once they saw him return, even the neighbors who normally wouldn’t interact with him pulled him to chat and praised him a bit.
Clearly at his doorstep, yet Wang Zhan couldn’t move, surrounded by a crowd.
It was only after Yang Cui stepped out and yelled a few bold words that the neighbors dispersed.
As soon as he walked through the door, Wang Zhan couldn’t help but say, "Mom, you’re still the best."
"Hmph, these old folks are just like that. A few years back, so of them even brought their kids over, saying they wanted you to teach their children when you ca back! Why weren’t they this enthusiastic before?"
Yang Cui huffed in dissatisfaction, but Wang Zhan knew well enough that his mom was secretly pleased.
Among the neighbors, her two children were the most promising.
In the evening, after having dinner made by Yang Cui, Wang Zhan brought up Wang Qi’s situation.
"Sis is nearing graduation. She still has a lot to deal with at school, so she probably won’t be able to co back this year," Wang Zhan said, with a calm and composed expression.
Though internally cursing Wang Qi for being selfish, Wang Zhan instinctively chose to conceal it when facing Yang Cui.
After all, it’s just different perspectives; everyone thinks about their family.
Upon hearing Wang Zhan’s words, Yang Cui seed a bit disappointed but didn’t say much.
"That girl hasn’t been ho much these years. I’m used to it, let her be."
Watching his mother’s sowhat lonely back, Wang Zhan sighed deeply, feeling helpless.
...
Late at night, Yang Cui had already gone to sleep.
Wang Zhan was chatting with his high school classmates in a group chat.
Whether they had conflicts with Wang Zhan in the past or were on good terms, now everyone in the group spoke cautiously.
Wang Zhan naturally understood the reason but felt helpless because of it.
In just a few months, he had completely distanced himself from his forr classmates.
"By the way, where is Deng Chaofan? We’ve been chatting for hours, and this guy hasn’t said a word," Wang Zhan asked in the group.
Deng Chaofan was considered among those with better talent, and his attitude was quite good.
Wang Zhan thought this guy surely wouldn’t be so cautious around him.
"No idea."
"Chaofan was quite active until half a month ago, and then he stopped talking much."
"Didn’t he go to Chang’an Martial Arts Academy? By the timing, they should be on holiday now, right?"
The classmates in the group continued discussing.
Unexpectedly, after a while, Deng Chaofan, who hadn’t shown up for half a month, suddenly spoke up.
He first posted a photo, which showed dozens of beast corpses.
The originally lively atmosphere in the group instantly went silent.
Most of the high school classmates didn’t have exceptional martial arts aptitude; where had they ever seen beasts, let alone so many beast corpses?
Wang Zhan slightly frowned, enlarged the photo, examined it carefully, and found most of these beasts were just low-level, about second or third-class.
Moreover, most of the wounds on the beasts seed to be caused by bullets.
"Such a huge quantity, could it be..."
Wang Zhan suddenly widened his eyes, feelings of unease rising in his heart.
Then, he saw Deng Chaofan’s response in the group.
"Beast Tide in Chang’an City."
"What’s going on? Such a big event, why isn’t there any news online?" Wang Zhan quickly asked.
Deng Chaofan seed to be monitoring his phone, replying quickly.
"Initially, the beast tide wasn’t large; it only suddenly intensified yesterday. Probably the news was suppressed, as such matters can only cause panic."
Then Wang Zhan received another private ssage from Deng Chaofan.
"This isn’t sothing to discuss in the group. They probably haven’t seen these yet." The screen showed Deng Chaofan’s blood-stained face, with a bitter smile all over.
Wang Zhan slightly frowned: "What level of Martial Artist are you?"
"Level 1 Martial Artist, but I’m almost at the limit, soon I’ll breakthrough to level 2." Deng Chaofan’s brows showed fatigue, yet his tone carried pride: "Brother Zhan, my speed shouldn’t be slower than yours, right?"
"You used to call
Boss Wang." Wang Zhan scoffed dismissively: "I’m already level 6, where do you get the confidence to compare with ? Did the College Entrance Examination not make you see reality?"
"Level 6? Are you even human?"
Wang Zhan shook his head: "Let’s not talk about this. How is the beast tide situation over there, can you hold on?"
"Should be manageable."
"Have the inter-city passages been closed?" Wang Zhan continued to ask.
"They haven’t, plenty of external Martial Artists have co to help these days." Deng Chaofan replied casually, suddenly realized sothing.
"Brother Zhan, you wouldn’t..."
Wang Zhan smiled and nodded.
"I definitely can’t miss this."
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