Translator: CinderTL
Jiang Ye carried a backpack with two daggers sheathed in its side pockets. Drawing a blade from behind was undoubtedly the most convenient way to respond to danger.
However, given Jiang Ye's current strength, he could kill a person even with his bare hands.
[Eight Trigrams Thunderclap Fist: Small Success (9%)]
After a night of cultivation, his Eight Trigrams Thunderclap Fist had improved significantly. Jiang Ye now felt his qi flowing with unparalleled smoothness. Each punch seemed capable of delivering the force of three oxen.
This boost in power filled Jiang Ye with confidence for the upcoming mission.
At 5:50 AM, Jiang Ye arrived at Ancheng Third High School. He found a cold, aloof girl with snow-white legs and a tall, slender young man already waiting at the entrance.
"Class Monitor, Brother Wang," Jiang Ye greeted, surprised to see them arrive so early.
"You're here?" Zhao Qingli glanced at him and said calmly, "Let's get going. We need to complete the mission before noon."
"Alright," Jiang Ye nodded.
Time was a precious commodity. He had come to understand this truth all too well.
"Here," Wang Zi'ang said, tossing Jiang Ye a stab-resistant vest.
"Thank you, Brother Wang," Jiang Ye replied, taking the vest. He removed his jacket and put on the stab-resistant vest.
It was a long-sleeved, camouflage-patterned jacket-style vest, its inner lining composed of multiple layers of high-strength compressed fibers with a sponge-like cushioning layer. Metal arm guards protected his forearms.
"Wearing this will significantly enhance my defense," Jiang Ye nodded to himself.
His physical strength was already considerable. With the vest, even a direct knife thrust might not penetrate his defenses.
Suddenly, Zhao Qingli tossed him a dark object. "Catch."
"What's this?" Jiang Ye asked, catching it. The weight in his hand surprised him.
He looked down and his eyes widened. "A handgun?"
"It's a custom-made handgun specifically designed to harm Shadow Clan members and other supernatural entities. It's also effective against members of the Hidden God Organization," Zhao Qingli explained with a smile. "Use it if you're in danger."
Jiang Ye was astonished. "Using firearms... isn't that cheating?"
He knew the school's missions were meant for training and personal growth.
Hot weapons were generally prohibited.
Otherwise, the wealthy could simply drive armored vehicles across the battlefield, wreaking havoc with impunity.
Zhao Qingli said calmly, "If we encounter danger, abandoning the mission is better than losing our lives."
Just then, Wang Zi'ang asked, "Class Monitor, where's my pistol?"
"Why do you need a pistol?" Zhao Qingli frowned, her delicate brows furrowing. "Are you that afraid of dying?"
Wang Zi'ang fell silent.
Fine, fine! Jiang Ye's life matters, but mine doesn't, right?!
Wang Zi'ang's lips twitched.
Seeing this, Jiang Ye shook his head. "Brother Wang, with your strength, why would you need a pistol to protect yourself?"
"That's true." Wang Zi'ang nodded.
If anyone else had shown such favoritism, Wang Zi'ang would have been furious.
But Jiang Ye was just too handsome and spoke so sweetly.
The sliver of resentment in Wang Zi'ang's heart vanished instantly.
Realizing her mistake, Zhao Qingli cleared her throat. "I only have one pistol, and Jiang Ye is on his first mission."
"Alright, I know you're a sucker for looks. Let's get going," Wang Zi'ang snorted.
"Let's move out."
Jiang Ye and the others walked toward a pink SUV parked by the roadside.
"A Land Rover?" Jiang Ye murmured in surprise, recognizing the brand of the luxury vehicle—a car worth over ten million yuan.
Zhao Qingli opened the car door and said, "Get in quickly."
The class monitor is truly wealthy, Jiang Ye thought to himself as he settled into the lavish interior.
In West Mountain Province, most cities were built around mountains, and poor transportation was one of the reasons for their backwardness. Ancheng was particularly isolated, nestled in a remote valley surrounded by mountains.
As the car drove out of the city, another few dozen kilometers would bring them to a vast, untouched primitive forest, rarely visited by humans. The Longyun Mountains lay at the edge of this forest.
The SUV stopped about a kilometer from the mountain range's entrance.
Jiang Ye and the others got out of the car.
"Let's go," Zhao Qingli said with a cold, arrogant expression, striding ahead.
Wang Zi'ang brought up the rear.
The two tacitly sandwiched Jiang Ye in the middle.
In case of danger, being in the middle was often the safest position.
The mountain path was rough and undulating, causing Zhao Qingli to frown slightly. Her usually prized E-Rank physique felt more like a hindrance in this situation.
Unable to see the ground beneath her feet while walking briskly, she had to constantly watch her step to avoid tripping.
"Looks like Class Monitor Zhao hasn't done much mountain climbing," Wang Zi'ang teased.
"Want a beating?" Zhao Qingli glared fiercely at him.
Jiang Ye suggested, "Class monitor, why don't we take a break?" He could see that carrying those two "mountain peaks" made navigating the mountain path particularly difficult for her.
To his surprise, Zhao Qingli shot him another glare, her face flushed. "I'm not tired!" she snapped, quickening her pace slightly.
Just then, Jiang Ye suddenly announced, "Someone's coming!"
The three of them froze in their tracks.
Almost instinctively, they ducked into the nearby bushes.
"Where?" Wang Zi'ang peered out, puzzled. "I don't see anyone."
Zhao Qingli was equally confused; she hadn't noticed anyone either.
"On the opposite mountain path," Jiang Ye explained. "Three people."
[Wind-Listening Ear: Hearing enhanced by 200%, clearer the further away!]
[Cheat Ear: Freely adjustable hearing range. Adjustment range: 0%-1000%.]
With these two powerful enhancements, Jiang Ye's hearing far surpassed that of ordinary people.
As expected, within seconds, Zhao Qingli and Wang Zi'ang also noticed the three figures Jiang Ye had mentioned.
Three silhouettes slowly approached along another mountain path, all appearing quite young.
"Ancheng No. 1 High School students?" Wang Zi'ang recognized them first. "Lin Yushu?"
The leader of the trio, with his disproportionately large head and pockmarked face, was strikingly ugly.
It was none other than Lin Yushu, the top student in Ancheng No. 1 High School, with an astonishing score of 849!
Jiang Ye frowned. "Why are others here? Did they also accept this mission?"
Wang Zi'ang explained, "For four-star missions and above, up to three schools can accept them simultaneously."
"Our team alone couldn't handle a mysterious organization like the Hidden God Organization."
Jiang Ye nodded in understanding.
So, a team from another school might also be coming?
"How will the hundred thousand yuan be split?" Jiang Ye asked quietly, considering the increased number of participants.
Wang Zi'ang reassured him, "Don't worry, the hundred thousand yuan is being provided by our school. It has nothing to do with them. We just need to complete the mission."
"I see," Jiang Ye said, relieved.
Just then, another figure appeared on a different mountain path.
Though alone, the figure exuded an overwhelming aura of power.
He moved across the rugged terrain as if walking on flat ground.
"Who's that?" Wang Zi'ang's expression turned serious. "From the Hidden God Organization?"
"No," Zhao Qingli replied, shaking her head. Her gaze remained fixed on the figure, her expression icy. "He's a student from Qingyang High School."
"Qingyang High School?"
Jiang Ye and Wang Zi'ang were both astonished.
Qingyang City was a major urban center adjacent to Ancheng.
Its status in West Mountain Province ranked among the top five!
Qingyang High School was a provincial key high school, far surpassing Ancheng No. 1 High School in prestige.
A student from Qingyang High School was participating in this mission?
Jiang Ye opened his interface and focused on the newcomer. A moment later, his expression shifted to surprise.
(End of the Chapter)
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