Lu Wan and Mu Xin worked to defeat the beasts day by day. Ye Jiao was only responsible for gathering the core, which she did leisurely. The beasts at rank 1 didn't pose any challenge to the two of them, so they barely faced any danger.
"This is getting boring," Lu Wan commented.
At night, he and Mu Xin would take turn guarding their camp. Even though they called it a camp, it was actually just them sleeping outside. The two of them didn't return back to the camp as they knew that the students were tasked to live outside on their own. Naturally, that included sleeping outside.
"There's still 2 more weeks before the training ends," Mu Xin said. "They're going to stop it before it gets too cold."
"It's autumn, so it's not cold at all."
"At the end of autumn season, the temperature would drop drastically. Don't tell me that you don't know something so simple like this?" Mu Xin retorted in a relaxed manner.
"Uh…"
Lu Wan chose to shut his mouth. He never paid any attention to things other than poison and herbs, so his knowledge in overall was lacking. Even though he could safely face ordinary people, against someone who strives to perfection like Mu Xin was practically impossible. With a few sentences, Mu Xin would make Lu Wan unable to retort at all.
"With this amount, is it not possible to win?" Ye Jiao asked.
"Not possible. Wei Cheng won't be that confident if he's not sure that he'll win," Lu Wan yawned. "With the greater sense of Eon Energy Master rank 2 and a powerful lineup, they won't even have trouble facing a pack of wolves."
"Don't underestimate our own lineup," Mu Xin berated.
Lu Wan shook his head as he walked on. He mumbled silently. "I don't have any intention to win in this round. I just make that bet for appearance."
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing."
Their master had instructed them to not show their real strength when they were in the forest because it wouldn't do them any good. Those teachers have to report to the Imperial Family and neither one of them have the luxury to show their real prowess. They knew very well what fate awaited them if they were not careful.
That bet was just to put up with his appearance as a rowdy and insolent young master of Lu Family. It would be better for him to have this façade on because it would be easier to do things when they knew how much he loved to break rule.
Ye Jiao followed after the two of them before she stopped her movements. She could sense someone or something powerful coming at their direction. Her eyes trailed to the other side of the forest.
"Xiao'er?" Mu Xin asked.
"There's someone over there," Lu Wan replied on Ye Jiao's behalf as he also sensed something. The girl's senses were far sharper compared to him, so he knew that she would surely detect things faster than him.
"There are four people," Ye Jiao pointed to the bush.
"Prepare for a fight," Lu Wan frowned and summoned his sword. His eyes were vigilant as he didn't know whether the other students would be willing to create trouble for him or not.
Mu Xin also summoned her sword. "I don't think students are allowed to fight for one another for the cores."
"It's prohibited?"
"During the training, we're not allowed to take others. But if you're talking about the real hunt, then we're allowed."
"That's more interesting," Lu Wan smirked.
The three of them stopped talking as they saw the bush moved. Slowly, four people appeared within their sight and Lu Wan frowned.
"What in the world are you doing here, Wei Cheng?"
"I can ask exactly the same thing to you, Lu Wan!"
From hundreds of students who participated in the training that month, he just had to stumble into the person he didn't want to see the most. Lu Wan's mood turned sour as he glared to the other party, showing his hostility.
On the other hand, Ye Jiao was inspecting their party. She instantly recognized Wei Yin because she had met with that girl not long ago. However, she didn't know who the other two people were at Wei Cheng's party.
One of them was a young man, slightly younger than the rest of them. He has dark red hair with fiery red pupils. Cladded in purple robe with golden embroidery, Ye Jiao could guess that he must come from the Imperial Family. Except people with high status, no one was allowed to wear purple robes.
As for the other one, he looked like the man's servant because he was standing behind to protect him.
"It seems that fate wants us to fight against one another very much," Lu Wan swung his sword. "Do you want to have a bout?"
"Do you think I'm a coward like you?" Wei Cheng retorted as he summoned his sword and readied his stance.
"You two, stop," the young man in purple robe spoke up.
"Why should I…"
"Lu Wan, do not disobey the imperial family," Mu Xin reminded from behind. She knew how this young man behaved after two weeks staying in the forest together. There was no doubt that Lu Wan would dare to clash with the imperial family if he was irked.
"Tch," Lu Wan returned back his sword. "No wonder you're so confident with the bet. You're teaming up with His Highness Prince Chen Zi Quan."
Wei Cheng smiled. "There's no rule regarding the team for practice. It just shows that I'm much more influential compared to a troublemaker like you."
"You should behave in front of His Highness!"
"Behave?" Lu Wan showed a trace of mock. "Do you think we're in the city right now? There's no need to bother with formalities because we're all just students of the same school."