Back at the Martial Arts Dojo, the six of them sparred again with the two Blood Transport Martial Artists, or rather, were subjected to one-sided beatings.
Just like yesterday, Zhou Leng was repeatedly defeated but kept fighting, ultimately being the last to fall and making another trip to the hospital.
On the third day, walking out of the hospital for the third time, his five teammates looked at Zhou Leng speechlessly.
Feng Wenhao pretended to be cautious, saying, "Zhou Leng, to be honest, there's no need for us to turn ourselves into this for Young Master Xue's medical fees."
Everyone froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Cui Mingcong laughed wildly and said, "Right, right, I was wondering what was off about Zhou Leng, turns out he's here for the medical fees."
Zhou Leng let out a soft snort, not daring to move his mouth to avoid aggravating the wound.
After laughing, Cui Mingcong held his stomach wound and exclaimed lightly, while the others also laughed, clutching their wounds, each looking uglier than crying.
The two Blood Transport Martial Artists shook their heads with a smile.
"Get some sleep quickly, tomorrow we'll decide who stays."
Awakening from sleep, Zhou Leng looked in the mirror at the wounds on his face.
Still bruised and swollen, but healing extremely well.
"Such recovery speed is multiple times faster than before, Replenishing Essence Pills can't explain it..."
Zhou Leng turned his head to look outside the window, starting to miss Huang a little.
Arriving at the Martial Arts Dojo, Xue Chengsong hadn't yet arrived, and several people chatted casually.
"Good news!" Xue Chengsong's voice accompanied the sound of the door opening.
Xue Chengsong joyfully said, "The latest battle report was released last night, Martial Arts Brigade's Brigadier General Chen Shouhu single-handedly charged into the Demon army, slaying three Peak of Innate Demon Generals, including one that blasphemed the Demon Scripture and a Ring Snake Bishop. Afterwards, other members of the Martial Arts Brigade pierced through the Demon army, leaving them with no survivors."
"Huh? Is Chen Shouhu really that fierce?"
"The Blue Star's top ten Innate; you think it's a joke? Since the early hours, the Seventh Division army was deployed, cooperating with Demon Spirit Masters to detect and sweep remaining Demons. Wolf Valley was swept early, today we can continue hunting Demon Wolves."
Feng Wenhao hesitated and said, "Are you sure? Wouldn't it be too dangerous now?"
"With soldiers everywhere, it's actually the safest now. I bought a signal gun on the way. If we encounter Demons this time, fire the signal gun and just hold out, it'll definitely be fine."
"Makes sense."
"Let's go!"
The Martial Arts study team set off again.
One day, two days, three days...
The six of them and two escorts lived as if in Wolf Valley.
The team went from struggling at the beginning to being well-adapted in the later stage.
Until one day, Zhou Leng, backed by everyone, challenged a Demon Wolf on his own.
Unfortunately, the Demon Wolf was too agile and strong, and Zhou Leng couldn't defeat it after exhausting his True Qi.
July passed, and August arrived.
The six of Zhou Leng walked along the road of the Pioneer Base.
The six were battered and bruised, but their eyes were sharp, hiding claws within.
Behind their sharp gaze, there was a tinge of reluctance.
After a while, Xue Chengsong said, "I originally planned to resupply and hunt for a few more days after returning, but unfortunately, I've received a supplementary enrollment notice from the West Sea Martial Arts University and need to prepare for the supplementary exam."
"It's okay, just got used to the wild life of wolf hunting, suddenly returning home feels a bit uncomfortable," Feng Wenhao said.
Xue Chengsong said, "No feast lasts forever."
Everyone fell silent again.
"Haven't you received the notice yet? Check again," Feng Wenhao looked at Zhou Leng.
"Such matters, checking won't change anything," said Zhou Leng.
Xue Chengsong's eyes flashed hesitation, he opened his mouth but then silently closed it again.
Cui Mingcong reached out his big hand, patted Zhou Leng's shoulder, and said with a smile, "Your martial arts exam score is so high, plus you have the achievement of hunting the Ice Crystal Demon Lion, West Sea Martial Arts University will definitely allow your supplementary enrollment. If Xue Chengsong managed it, why can't you?"
Xue Chengsong rolled his eyes at Cui Mingcong.
Feng Wenhao said, "Such slots are made in batches, probably you'll be notified in a couple of days. Look, my score should qualify for the Great Martial Arts Hall, but I haven't been notified till now."
Cui Mingcong and the three other top students glanced at each other without speaking.
All three had gotten into the Martial Arts Academy and had received notifications; they just had to wait at home for acceptance letters.
Martial Arts Academy batch, supplementary enrolment batch, Affiliated Martial Arts Hall batch, supplementary for Affiliated Martial Arts Hall batch, non-Martial Arts Academy early batch... batches were continuously postponed.
Zhou Leng said, "Let's go, submit the War Merit Token, then head back."
Xue Chengsong glanced at Zhou Leng and said, "How about having a meal together?"
Zhou Leng said, "Let's wait until after enrollment."
"Alright! If anyone doesn't show up then, don't blame us for forcefully coming to fetch them," Xue Chengsong said.
"Okay," everyone agreed in unison.
Submitting the War Merit Token, the team boarded the bus heading to Rucheng.
The six sat on the bus, gazing out the window, with dazed expressions.
After many consecutive days of battle, being on high alert day and night had become a habit.
Suddenly returning to a safe place and relaxing felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Just like disembarking a ship after half a month, feeling the ground shaking.
Soon enough, a cacophony of snores began.
Others on the bus, upon seeing these six weather-beaten kids, showed kind smiles.
Returning to Rucheng, it was dark, and Zhou Leng chatted with Li Linhan deep into the night, talking about the experiences of these days, then went home, made a pot of mixed grain, and went to sleep.
Shuizhou Exploration Base, Martial Arts Brigade.
"Brigadier General, how should we handle this report?"
A military officer said, handing the demonized tablet to Chen Shouhu.
Chen Shouhu took it and read slowly.
It contained the conversation between Tong Tianxia and Zhou Leng's team, and the process of hunting the Ice Crystal Demon Lion, including the video of the lion's corpse and the base's autopsy video, as well as the report from the lieutenant who dispersed the cold air.
All six members of the team were questioned about the events.
Chen Shouhu read it three times in a row and casually handed the tablet back.
"This small-scale demon disaster may be related to Tong Tianxia, one of the five leaders of the Demon Worship Sect. It will be investigated by the Seventh Division Martial Arts Brigade. To prevent information leaks, delete some online records, leaving only physical files, and temporarily seal them. Without my or higher military authority, do not access."
"Yes, sir!"
"What do you think, how did a kid in the Qi Nourishing Period avoid the cold air of the Ice Crystal Demon Lion?" Chen Shouhu asked.
"The investigation team suspects that this child has a special Odd Body or treasure."
"Hmm... has he been admitted to West Sea Martial Arts University yet?"
"I just checked, not yet. I suspect..."
"Mark him. If he's not admitted to Martial Arts University or a Martial Arts Hall, contact him for the Martial Arts Brigade."
"Huh? What about his uncle's matter..."
"What's it got to do with that fool Ma Xingkong? He's dead, ruining many people. Does he still want to ruin the future talents of our Martial Arts Brigade?"
"What if he gets admitted?"
"Then observe for a while. If he's ordinary, leave it. If he stands out, recruit him to the Martial Arts Brigade."
"The affiliated Martial Arts Hall he signed up for is the very Ruda Affiliated Martial Arts Hall." The subordinate glanced at the brigadier general.
"Hmph." Chen Shouhu snorted lightly.
The officers in the room fell into contemplation, as this Brigadier General Fenghu cursed Ma Xingkong while trying to recruit Ma Xingkong's nephew.
The status of the Martial Arts Brigade is far higher than imagined.
Many graduates of the Top Ten Martial Arts strain their efforts to get in but cannot.
If comparing the status of the Martial Arts Brigade with Martial Arts Universities, it slightly lags behind Yunhua and Jinjing but leads other martial arts universities by a large margin.
At Principal Lu's home.
"Yu, what's up?" Principal Lu answered the phone with a smile.
"That meal is off."
"Hmm? What happened? Zhou Leng wasn't signed up?"
"His physical test score was too low, rejected."
"Nonsense. He was injured at the time, so his stamina was naturally poor, but he's long since recovered!"
"Old Lu, getting anxious won't help. Today I pressed Vice Principal Jiang, arguing for reason, and he got so agitated he showed me the call records for the past few days. Those annotations... sigh, all people featured in the news, really no way."
"I understand. I've also received many calls this year. Sigh... I thought my and your old face could say something, but who knew..."
"He should be able to attend the Rucheng Martial Arts University Affiliated Martial Arts Hall; that's actually not bad."
"Yes, he can attend the Affiliated Martial Arts Hall, but he was originally supposed to get into Rucheng Martial Arts University. I managed to persuade him to West Sea Martial Arts University, and now neither can be achieved, only the Affiliated Martial Arts Hall."
"This..." Director Yu didn't know what to say.
"West Sea Martial Arts University, you really are something. Anyway, I'm retiring in a few years, so targeting us at Eighth Middle School, on the award ceremony day, I can only say what should be said."
Director Yu took a deep breath and said, "Old Lu, you can't make mistakes! Curse privately if you must, but don't say a word publicly! It concerns the reputation of West Sea Martial Arts University. If something really happens, the education bureau won't sit by. You've always been quick-tempered, so many people are watching you!"
"Such a good martial arts talent, his father sacrificed in West Sea Demon City, his uncle just wouldn't go along with the flow, why can't he get into the Top Ten Martial Arts! Do you think I'm blind?"
"Stop, stop, stop, don't say any more, or I'll hang up." Director Yu finally panicked.
"This matter isn't over!"
Principal Lu hung up the phone, closed his eyes, picturing the child named Ma Xingkong at the desk.
Back then, Ma Xingkong was almost a replica of Zhang Xinglie, also admitted to Yunhua Martial Arts University.
Cheerful, enthusiastic, upright, determined, always with a clear smile on his face.
Ma Xingkong was more stubborn than Zhang Xinglie.
More stubborn than anyone.
After sitting for a long time, Principal Lu rubbed his eyes and called Zhang Xinglie's homeroom teacher.
"Contact Zhang Xinglie and say this year's school award ceremony is different from previous years. This year, many alumni will be invited. We hope he can return from Yunhua of Xiong City to deliver a speech to inspire his juniors."
"Okay."
After a while, Zhang Xinglie's homeroom teacher called back.
"Principal Lu, Zhang Xinglie says he really doesn't have time. He's currently in intensive training at Yunhua Martial Arts University's Genius Training Camp. The award ceremony coincides with the start of the school year, and he needs to prepare for the entrance test and monthly test. Plus, you know, all the major forces will focus on recruiting Yunhua and Jinjing students at the start of school, and those banquet folks are highly influential. He can't afford to miss those connections for the sake of Eighth Middle School."
"I'll call him."
After Principal Lu finished speaking, he dialed Zhang Xinglie's number.
"Xinglie, it's Principal Lu. I implore you to do me a favor, also to help Zhou Leng..."
In the morning, Zhou Leng slowly opened his eyes.
He looked at the time on the demonized watch, four o'clock.
Zhou Leng sat up, gazing at the gray window.
He was mentally refreshed, his body slightly swollen, with energy and physical strength fully restored.
Zhou Leng felt powerless all over.
He projected the phone screen from his watch, silently scrolling through the phone.
Once more attempting, it was still the same as before; he couldn't post replies in most places, not even in games, and could only communicate on a few apps like Martial Faith.
Zhou Leng took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
He continued deep breathing, scrolling through the phone.
Until the five o'clock alarm went off.