Getting Stronger By Fighting

Chapter 83: Deep into the Wilderness Zone_1


Seeing the serious expression on Huang Pufeng's face, Wang Zhan hurriedly ushered them into the dormitory.

"What's the matter? It's rare to see you like this," Wang Zhan quickly asked.

Huang Pufeng said, "I have a friend named Du Ming, whom I've grown up with. Some time ago, he accepted a mission from the Martial Arts Association to go to the wilderness outside Chu State City to look for a medicinal ingredient called Flame Flower. Now, he has gone missing."

"Flame Flower?" Wang Zhan was taken aback, instinctively looking at Song Dongming.

After spending so much time together, Wang Zhan had long discovered that Song Dongming seemed to know something about everything.

"Flame Flower, it's the main ingredient for the Body Refining Medicine Fire Bath," Song Dongming explained. "The medicinal bath is a type of cultivation needed after reaching a high realm in body refining and is generally started after becoming a Warrior."

Wang Zhan understood and said to Huang Pufeng, "Go on."

"Du Ming and I are very close. Even though we haven't seen each other in years, we've always stayed in touch. He's different from me. His martial arts Talent is quite average, so he's an independent Martial Artist who obtains resources for cultivation through missions from the Martial Arts Association."

Huang Pufeng said worriedly, "When he came to Chu State City and we met, he told me he would send me a message every day while carrying out his mission. If I didn't hear from him for more than three days, he asked me to deliver the news of his death to his family in Yanjing City."

At this, Huang Pufeng let out a long sigh.

"Today is the sixth day."

Hearing this, Wang Zhan shook his head slightly. Six days without a message... this Du Ming had most likely perished in the wilderness.

"So, you came to me because...?" Wang Zhan prompted.

Huang Pufeng looked up at Wang Zhan, his expression hesitant.

Song Dongming, seeing this from the side, scolded, "Still embarrassed at a time like this? Where's your usual arrogance?"

Seeing Huang Pufeng still silent, Song Dongming said helplessly, "The Flame Flower grows in Flame Valley. That place is far beyond the outskirts of the Chu State City wilderness area. Although it's not considered deep wilderness, it's far more dangerous than the periphery!"

With Song Dongming breaking the ice, Huang Pufeng quickly added, "I want to go to Flame Valley to find Du Ming. That kid still owes me twenty thousand yuan! This matter needs some closure!"

Wang Zhan looked deeply at Huang Pufeng.

All three of them knew very well that if someone died in the wilderness, the chances of finding a body were almost zero, let alone any trace.

"Not even a single bone left" was an all-too-common fate in the wilderness.

"Huang Fu, were you very close to this Du Ming?" Wang Zhan asked.

The implication was clear: undertaking such a risky search for a body, likely with no reward, was far more than just a thankless task.

Huang Pufeng nodded firmly.

"Like brothers."

Wang Zhan asked again, "What will you do if you find Du Ming? And what if you can't?"

"If he's still alive, I'll risk my life to bring him back. If I find his body, I'll bring his body back. If I can't find him... I'll have people in Yanjing take care of his family," Huang Pufeng answered without a moment's hesitation.

Evidently, even before asking Wang Zhan for help, he had thoroughly prepared for every possible outcome.

Hearing this, Wang Zhan paused for a moment before patting Huang Pufeng's shoulder.

"I'm in. Du Ming is fortunate to have a friend like you."

"Thanks." Huang Pufeng nodded gratefully, then said, "I'll go prepare now. Can we leave this afternoon?"

"No problem. Just say the word," Wang Zhan replied.

"Alright, I'll be quick."

With that, Huang Pufeng quickly left, evidently to make preparations for their departure.

Song Dongming, who was standing by, suddenly remarked, "That's just how Huang Fu is. Very genuine, but often not very rational."

Wang Zhan chuckled lightly.

"There are too many rational people in the world. I actually prefer someone like Huang Fu."

Song Dongming paused, then shook his head and chuckled as well.

"You're right."

In the afternoon, Huang Pufeng found Wang Zhan and Song Dongming.

"Let's go." Huang Pufeng was clearly impatient to leave.

Wang Zhan looked at Huang Pufeng, who seemed to be empty-handed, and asked curiously, "We're going deep into the wilderness this time. Didn't you go to prepare supplies? Where are they?"

"Right here." Huang Pufeng shook his wrist.

Only then did Wang Zhan realize this guy was wearing a Storage Bangle!

A Storage Bangle wasn't just something officially obtainable only by a Martial General or higher; anyone lacking sufficient strength who dared to wear one out in public would likely incite considerable envy.

"So this is the backing of a great Family, huh? You're only a level 5 Martial Artist, yet you're this extravagant?" Wang Zhan exclaimed, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"I'm level 6 now. I broke through shortly after returning from Chang'an City," Huang Pufeng said. "Everything's ready. I've also prepared soldier-level suits for the three of us, so you don't need to bring yours."

Huang Pufeng added, sounding a bit regretful, "I originally intended to get General-level suits, but those are considered strategic resources. Our current mission is secret and can't be revealed to others, so I couldn't ask my Family. This was already my Limit."

"Soldier-level is enough. It's not like the depths of the wilderness are teeming with soldier-level beasts. As long as we're careful and avoid them, we shouldn't face too much danger," Song Dongming said, patting Huang Pufeng's shoulder reassuringly.

With the minor details settled, the three prepared to set off.

Huang Pufeng, Song Dongming, and Wang Zhan were all prized talents heavily invested in by the Martial Arts Academy. Therefore, leaving school during the regular academic term required them to report to the academy.

After managing to get approval using the excuse of training by hunting beasts in the wilderness, the three left the academy. Familiar with the route, they entered the City Defense Army's Military Camp in Chu State City.

After passing through checkpoints smoothly and traveling at full speed, they arrived at Wang Zhan's base by evening—the cave in the jungles.

"Our strength is more than enough. Why don't we continue traveling through the night? Even in the Valley Plain, there are few beasts that can threaten us," Huang Pufeng suggested, reluctant to stop.

But Song Dongming shook his head, saying, "For safety's sake, let's not travel at night. There's no need to rush this. Huang Fu, you're too impatient. That kind of mentality is a huge taboo in the wilderness."

Hearing this, Huang Pufeng nodded slightly.

He knew he was feeling restless, but merely acknowledging the problem didn't mean he could control it.

After resting in the cave for a night, the three of them resumed their journey. They quickly passed through the narrow Valley and reached the Valley Plain area.

The previous cleanup operation had been an anomaly, after all. Now, the outskirts of the wilderness had returned to their usual state of order.

The edge of the Valley Plain had once again become the territory of the Demonic Dogs of the Plains.

However, Wang Zhan and his two companions were now on a completely different level than before. Huang Pufeng was a level 6 Martial Artist, Song Dongming was at the peak of level 6, and Wang Zhan had reached level 9.

The most powerful known among the Demonic Dogs of the Plains was merely a level 6 beast.

Therefore, even upon entering the Valley Plain area, the three of them showed no intentions of slowing their pace.

By noon the next day, they had ventured about one hundred kilometers into the plain. This was a full 150 kilometers from the Base City, well beyond the outer boundary of the wilderness.

This was the first time Wang Zhan and his companions had ventured this deep.

They could distinctly feel that although this area was still part of the Valley Plain, the terrain had undergone a drastic transformation.

If the outer regions of the plain were a vast grassland, the place they now trod had turned into swamp land.

Everywhere, trees emitted a decaying smell. Underfoot lay mud and readily visible, grim beast bones. A dangerous atmosphere began to permeate the air.

Upon reaching this area, all three instinctively slowed their pace.

"It's already past noon. How about we start looking for a place to spend the night?" Song Dongming proposed. "Flame Valley is still about a hundred kilometers from here. You've seen the conditions around here; if we continue to rush at full speed, something unexpected might happen."

"Let's go a little further Forward," Huang Pufeng said, unwilling to stop.

Wang Zhan and Song Dongming exchanged a glance, each seeing the helplessness in the other's eyes.

With his friend's life hanging in the balance, Huang Pufeng's composure was indeed somewhat off.

"Alright, let's go about another 30 kilometers. That should take us to the edge of this swamp land," Wang Zhan said.

Before setting out, the three of them had carefully studied the map and had a general understanding of their current location.

Wang Zhan's suggestion was accepted. The three of them quickened their pace, planning to reassess after leaving the swamp area.

However, they had been traveling for less than an hour when Wang Zhan suddenly lost his footing. Immediately afterward, an enormous creature burst out from the swamp land right beneath his feet, its cavernous mouth wide open, ready to swallow him whole.

"Swamp alligator!" Song Dongming shouted, though his tone held little worry.

The area they were in was swamp alligator territory. This mutated crocodile was named in the simplest way because it lacked any special Talents.

Aside from their tough hides and thick flesh, adult swamp alligators were only around level 7 in strength, posing no pressure at all for Wang Zhan.

Wang Zhan hovered in mid-air, looking down at the swamp alligator's cavernous mouth, his soldier-level dagger already in hand.

As he descended, his toes lightly tapped the swamp alligator's upper jaw. Then, with a slight exertion of force, he pressed the massive creature down under his foot.

Immediately afterward, the dagger pierced directly through the swamp alligator's brow.

But before Wang Zhan could speak, Song Dongming said, "This alligator is a good six or seven meters long. Cut off its tail for dinner. Be quick about it; the other swamp alligators seem to be approaching."

Song Dongming had keenly sensed that the previously calm swamp land around them was starting to stir with movement.

Wang Zhan nodded. After cutting off the alligator's tail, the three of them sped up and quickly left the area.

After more than another hour of travel, the ground beneath their feet was finally no longer muddy.

However, before the three of them could even breathe a sigh of relief, Wang Zhan instinctively extended his mental energy to scan the surroundings. His brow furrowed immediately.

"Be careful! It seems there's a big guy nearby!"

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