<h4>Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Combat Training Fourth Squad</h4>


    Su City University, sophomore year, Combat Training ss Four, was the new ss the school had assigned Shao Zifeng to. He got to the ssroom early, determined to study hard.


    His arrival piqued the curiosity of some students, but since they were unfamiliar with him, the new ssmates couldn''t bring themselves to approach him. A few girls, however, asionally sneaked a nce at him, then quickly turned away to giggle with other girls.


    Shao Zifeng turned his head to look out the window, boredly spinning his pen in his hand, recalling the information he had researchedst night about the choices of pets avable, which gave him a headache.


    Due to the special circumstances in Da Xia, many species had vanished from this ancientnd due to early destructive hunting practices. However, with the country''s vigorous efforts in protection, some groups had managed to flourish.


    The outbreak of the "Unknown Recovery Event" 20 years ago saw Da Xia, after resolving internal strife, designate most of the wildlife habitats as reserves. Among these, the "Wolong Nature Reserve" was home to the panda beast n, led by the "Iron-eating Giant Panda." Only those who had rendered great service and honor to Da Xia could apply for a contract with one, either for themselves or their descendants, and the contract could not be forced.


    Apart from these reserves that required honor and status for application, there were also some reserves open to the public. Due to the rapid reproduction of the groups within these reserves, anyone willing to spend some money could get a chance to enter and contract a pet beast.


    Last night, Shao Zifeng had looked up several reserves that could be applied for with money. However, the mutant creatures within those reserves didn''t quite appeal to him. For example, the macaque group of the "Wulongkou Nature Reserve" had been notorious for their mischievous behavior even before the world changed, known for stealing, robbing, and harming people. After the "Unknown Recovery," their behavior became even worse.


    Initially, some Combat Training Masters had taken a gamble and trained the macaques to evolve, but they found that the evolved forms, the rogue monkey and bully monkey, had even less tolerable temperaments.


    As a result, despite the macaques'' initial strength, very few parents chose them as petpanions for their children. Moreover, none of the macaque groups across the nation''s "Macaque Natural Reserves" had produced any particrly powerful beings.


    Unfortunately, apart from the "macaque group," most of the publicly essible reserves without preconditions housed mutant creatures with lowbat desire and very gentle personalities.


    Reserves with goodbat will, significant training potential, and no preconditions did exist. However, Shao Zifeng couldn''t afford to visit those as they were the kind that left one struggling to even afford dirt upon returning, if they returned at all.


    "Plop."


    Feeling somewhat frustrated, Shao Zifeng identally dropped his pen. As he picked it up and snapped back to reality, the conversation of the students in front of him caught his attention.


    Two boys sat in front of Shao Zifeng, whispering to each other. Since their backs were to him, he couldn''t see their faces. If not for the slight enhancement from the "Bonding reaction" he experienced yesterday, he wouldn''t have heard what they were saying.


    "Hey, did you hear? It seems the school is nning to send us out for wilderness training soon."


    "Really? The wilderness is so dangerous. Besides, none of the seniors before us had participated in it, right?"


    @@novelbin@@


    "It''s true. My sister is a junior in our Combat Training Department. She set off early this morning. Anyway, even though the natural resources around Su City are scarce, it''s still better than staying in the city and contracting some cats or dogs, right? If you''re scared of danger, why be a Combat Training Master!"


    "Who''s scared! I...I just have never been out of the city before, and I''m a bit excited. Hey, did your sister contact you? Did she encounter any mutant creatures?"


    "My sister said they came across a weasel..."


    "Quiet down." Before the student finished speaking, a burly bald man walked into the ssroom. He was over two meters tall, with bushy brows and big eyes. His arms'' muscles looked thicker than Shao Zifeng''s waist, wearing a tank top that strained against his muscles, like it was going to burst, and military trousers withbat boots. Just standing there with his arms crossed, he exuded an invisible pressure.


    "Listen up, brats. Today, I have two announcements. First, let''s wee our new ssmate, Shao Zifeng." The burly man red around, his powerful voice booming.


    The ssroom fell into a silence; no one spoke. He scanned the room and, seeing no response, his face darkened. Raising one eyebrow, he shouted, "p!"


    The students of Combat Training ss Four jumped and soon reacted. The room filled with enthusiastic apuse, to the point where they might break their hands.


    "Good! Stop now!" The burly man nodded in satisfaction, smiling broadly at Shao Zifeng.


    "Now that we''ve weed him, there''s no need for self-introductions. Get to know each other in time." Although the man looked intimidating, Shao Zifeng felt he had a straightforward personality. But why were his ssmates behaving like quail?


    "Now, for the second announcement. At 3 a.m. tomorrow morning, gather at the school gate. I''ll take you on an adventure. Officially, it''s voluntary, but in my ss, who dares note... hehe." The burly man cast a malevolent nce around, grinning mischievously—indeed, his look seemed quite bad.


    Whispers immediately filled the ssroom. Some seemed discontent but dared not challenge the burly man''s authority. A few girls even started to sob quietly, heads down on their desks.


    The scene in front of him made Shao Zifeng pull at the corners of his mouth. What was happening? This burly man seemed pretty straightforward; why were they crying?


    "Alright, that''s it for today. Go and pack your clothes and a small amount of food, no more than three kilograms." The burly man looked satisfied with his precious students. Feeling aplished, he gave Shao Zifeng another grin before turning to leave.


    As the students of Combat Training ss Four left the ssroom in small groups, Shao Zifeng was left staring nkly at the empty room. Who am I? Where am I? What was I here for?


    He had just decided to attend ss properly, and now they were sent off already? Was it really this hard to study properly?


    "Yawn~"


    Qiuqiu, sleepy-eyed, poked its little head out of Shao Zifeng''s pocket, looking at him curiously and then at the empty ssroom.


    "Squeak!"


    Why did all the two-legged creatures disappear!


    Shao Zifeng cuddled Qiuqiu, feeling a bit of anticipation for the wilderness trip the next day.


    "Qiuqiu, tomorrow we can finally leave the city. Are you excited?"


    "Squeak~?"


    Qiuqiu looked puzzled. Since it became aware, Shao Zifeng was all it saw. It had no idea what leaving the city meant, but sensing Shao Zifeng''s happiness, it grinned, mirroring his joy.


    "Squeak squeak~"