48 Chapter 47: Academy Mission (2/2)
”You sure about this?”
”It's not as if we're limited to just one mission per year. I just want to complete this for my obligatory mission for the year and not have to worry about it. Maybe later in the year, if I become strong enough, I'll just take another mission and fight rogue martial artists. That's not against the rules, and is probably encouraged.”
Zhu Jiao made a face. ”But you're wasting quite a bit of time…time you can spend cultivating, you know? And when you're outside, you'll be exposing yourself to danger. Remember, Qi Fu Ren is still out there somewhere.”
The teachers had failed to catch him after he escaped, after all. I nodded.
”I'll take my chances, and then quickly return. Then I don't have to worry about leaving the academy and running into him for the rest of the year.”
”Oh, there is that…but you'll only earn a gold for that, you know?”
”That's fine.” I scratched at the side of my head and chuckled. ”I'm not that interested in money, anyway.”
”It's not the matter of being interested or not!” Zhu Jiao reprimanded me. ”We all need the gold to purchase more resources! Otherwise we'll be left behind!”
”Don't worry,” I assured him. ”I'll figure it out.”
Zhu Jiao looked unconvinced, but he relented. Shaking his head, he sighed.
”Okay then. Good luck.”
I waved at him, and then submitted an acceptance application online for one of the herbs-gathering mission. I received a mail informing me that my acceptance had been registered and I could begin right away.
Rising from my desk, I left the classroom and headed toward the gate.
*
It was night by the time I returned. Relying on my past experience living in Sen Lin Forest for two months, I was able to avoid the deadly predators that slunk through the woods and reach the Blue Star Herbs without incident. Having also learned the best places where such herbs would grow, I stumbled upon a gold mine.
Harvesting a little bit more than the required amount, I planned to keep some for myself so that I could use them for alchemy experiments or something. I didn't want to rely on doping, but Blue Star Herbs were also good for healing. They were also good for counteracting poison, but apparently my body had adapted to venom through the consumption of the Hellfire Badger almost a year ago, and me learning Heaven and Earth Formula.
”Where do I submit this?”
Hefting the heavy haversack that was chocked full of Blue Star Herbs, I glanced around the academy grounds. By now, evening had fallen and the campus was wreathed in a dull shadow. There were very little students around and even less activity.
If I recall correctly, I should be submitting loot, evidence or requested items to the main office in the central building…
Remembering that little detail from the webpage, I began heading in the direction of the aptly named central building that was located right smack in the middle of the academy. It was pretty easy to find, being the most visible building because of its sheer size.
However, before I could make it halfway there, a flurry of activity caught my attention. Several shapes flew over the academy walls and landed halfway in the courtyard. Turning around, I saw several seniors sprinting. There were about four of them, and one of them was carrying a young man whose face had turned black.
That's…
I frowned when I noticed the strange pallor. Having read a lot of stuff in Wu Ling Library and also through my experience in Sen Lin Forest, I recognized the symptoms of poisoning. Worse, the darkness was spreading rapidly across whatever skin was visible.
”Isn't that Senior Zhong Du? What happened to him?!”
”Whoa…he's severely hurt!”
The few students who had lingered in the academy recognized the unconscious young man. They drew closer in concern or curiosity.
”Out of the way!” one of Zhong Du's comrades bellowed. ”He has been poisoned from someone from the Xie Du Sect! He suffered a hit from that bastard's poison martial arts! If we don't get him to the infirmary quickly, he'll die!”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the other students hastily stepped back and allowed the train to charge through.
”I hope Teacher Yi Liao will be able to heal him…”
”Come on, Teacher Yi is the best healer in Wu Ling Academy. There's no way she won't be able to heal Senior Zhong Du. As long as you're not dead, she'll restore you to one piece, no matter how seriously injured you are.”
”Still…Senior Zhong Du is fairly lucky. Every year, many Wu Ling Academy students are slain by these demonic martial artists. To be able to return alive…he really is blessed.”
”Ugh…don't remind me. In another month, I also have to complete a mission. I hope it will go smoothly.”
The students were shaking their heads and muttering bitterly to each other as they watched the ensemble rush toward the infirmary with Zhong Du in tow.
I felt a vein twitch in my temple. What was wrong with these idiots? If you were that scared of death, then just take the damned One Star missions and collect herbs? Why bother with chasing criminals and demonic martial artists?!
Apparently, my mindset differed because I came from a different timeline, but I understood later that those students who picked the herb-picking missions were considered cowards. They were viewed as lazy dudes who took the easy way out, who were too scared to fight against real, live opponents, and always chose to play it safe. They were mocked as errand students, and were looked down upon, particularly by the seniors.
Since I already had a One Star Constitution to begin with, and was unable to receive artificial qi, my reputation was already rock-bottom. In the days to come, I would hear whispers like, ”as expected of the One Star Constitution trash, of course he would pick the easiest missions.”
”Can you blame him? With no talent, and being unable to absorb artificial qi…this is his only way of completing the mission.”
”How lame…why hasn't he dropped out yet?”
”So thick-skinned. If I were him, I would have applied to drop into the normal stream, or leave the academy altogether.”
I ignored them and went back to the classroom.
”You all right?” Zhu Jiao asked, raising his head when I stepped inside. I smiled and waved at him, as optimistic as ever.
”Yeah.”
”Fei Wu!”
I turned to see Tang Qi Hong rushing forward, her pretty face scrunched in anger and shock. I involuntarily took a step back.
”Is it true that you took a One Star mission to collect herbs?”
”Yeah?”
Tang Qi Hong groaned and clutched her face.
”Why? I mean…if you're so desperate enough to fulfil the requirements, you could have approached me! We're allowed to form teams to take academy missions together, and we will share all the credit and rewards!”
Oh, right. Teacher Jiao did mention that yesterday, but I didn't pay much attention because it never occurred to me that I should try that out.
”Sorry. There was a bunch of herbs I wanted to collect anyway, so…”
Tang Qi Hong sighed. ”I see. But next time, let me know. I'll put you in my team.” She raised her head and glanced at Lian Rou. ”You've no problem, right, Lian Rou?”
”Of course not.” she waved back from her seat. ”Bring along Zhu Jiao, Tong Xue and Ban Zhang while you're at it.”
”Sure!”
”…I appreciate it,” Zhu Jiao said with a smile. ”But I've already arranged to go on another mission in a few months' time.”
”I'll be going with my fellow disciples from the Black Tortoise Sect. Sorry.” Ban Zhang looked a little guilty.
”Heh, then it's just the four of us!” Tong Xue grinned. He winked at Lian Rou, who giggled and shyly looked down with a slightly flushed face.
”Uh, okay. Let me know.”
Tang Qi Hong sighed. ”Don't be an idiot. We still have nine months before the deadline. Use that time to prepare yourself and grow stronger. Don't rush it, okay?”
”Yeah. Thank you.”
I bowed my head gratefully and watched as Tang Qi Hong returned to her seat beside Lian Rou. She was such a great girl. Maybe one day I would ask her out.
But first, I needed to be a man worthy of her partner, because as I was right now, I would only bring her shame and embarrassment.