Perhaps aware that this meal might be their last, everyone ate very slowly.
Chu Tian's father wanted to speak several times but only opened his mouth and remained silent for a while before eating some food.
"I'm full," Chu Tian put down his chopsticks.
The atmosphere in the room became heavy. Chu Tian casually cleaned up his dishes as if nothing had happened.
His father watched Chu Tian's retreating figure, his mouth open but unable to speak.
After a long time, he finally said to Chu Tian's slowly ascending figure, "Take care, you must survive."
Chu Tian paused for a moment and raised his right hand, clenching it into a fist.
"Don't worry."
The next day, Chu Tian returned to the school once again.
The change in his mindset made him feel like the school was so unfamiliar. The familiar sights that he had grown tired of in the past now seemed to have a different taste.
It's really true, "Parting is such sweet sorrow," Chu Tian thought to himself, and he walked into the office of his homeroom teacher.
Lin Ran was having a conversation with two burly mercenaries. As soon as she saw Chu Tian appear at the office door, she pointed here, and the two men turned to him with scrutinizing eyes.
A man walked up to him, eyeing Chu Tian up and down. "You're the student from this school who signed up for the mercenary test?"
Chu Tian nodded calmly. "That's me. Can we go now?"
"Sure, the paperwork is all done," another man said, a tall and imposing figure. Compared to him, Chu Tian's 1.8 meters made him seem a bit thin.
"To be honest, I'm a bit surprised that an ordinary person like you is joining the mercenaries," the man who had spoken first said, looking rather friendly. He glanced at Chu Tian and took the lead.
"Who told you I'm an ordinary person?" Chu Tian thought to himself, "Can't ordinary people join the mercenaries?"
"You can, who told you otherwise? But not many ordinary people voluntarily join the mercenaries because those who do tend to survive less often," the man shrugged, leading Chu Tian to a jeep.
The engine roared to life, and when the big man turned on the car's lights, Chu Tian realized that the interior was more spacious than he had imagined. Several people, all looking older than him, had lifeless expressions.
Chu Tian didn't feel like conversing with these people, so he closed his eyes and pretended to nap as they set off.
After several hours of bumps, the jeep finally came to a stop.
"We're here; this is the testing ground for the Third Base's mercenaries."
Everyone in the car got out and looked at the shrubbery in front of them with surprise on their faces.
"Follow this way!" The leading mercenary called them over to the right side of the road.
...
"First, we'll test your height and weight, followed by strength, explosive power, and endurance." The mercenaries led the group into a facility with a dazzling array of testing equipment.
"Of course, if any of you have talents, feel free to demonstrate them."
Chu Tian noticed that besides his group, several others had arrived here, and there were even two large buses parked in the distance.
Ignoring those people, Chu Tian proceeded with his testing.
As for whether to show off his talents, Chu Tian thought for a moment. Since he wasn't at school, he had no reservations and should give it his all!
The physical tests were soon completed, and Chu Tian obtained his basic data: height 182cm, weight 60kg...
It looked pretty good to Chu Tian. Then he heard the instructor's voice: "After the physical tests, you will face the final test."
The instructor paused and continued, "Did you see the thicket of bushes over there when you arrived? We have captured some ferocious beasts in there, and your task is to survive their attacks within a day. Additionally, apart from not allowing you to escape, we won't interfere in any other way."
As soon as the instructor finished speaking, the crowd erupted.
"Are you kidding me? You want us ordinary people to face ferocious beasts?" Some people shouted in despair. "I'm not here to die!"
"Anyway, it's too difficult for us ordinary people to confront evolved ferocious beasts like this, isn't it?"
Facing numerous protests, the instructor didn't even bat an eye. "This is just the most basic test. If you can't even handle this, you might as well go back home and drink milk."
Obviously, the instructor's words offended many people present, but they were evolved warriors. These ordinary people could only talk, and even the idea of running away didn't cross their minds, as they knew what punishment awaited them if they did.
"Once you're ready, go inside," the instructor said as he approached an iron gate, which he opened. He then turned to the crowd and said, "Entering might not necessarily lead to death, but not entering will definitely result in death. The choice is yours."
The instructor watched the crowd with a cold smile, while some mercenaries standing beside him maintained order with a fierce demeanor.
A girl in a red dress was the first to pass through the iron gate and enter the thicket, followed by a group that seemed like her lackeys.
Chu Tian followed the crowd into the thicket.
In this environment, Chu Tian felt surprisingly relaxed because he had been under strict supervision for too long.
As for the ordinary people who were forced in, they scattered as soon as they entered the thicket. Some climbed tall trees, found tree trunks to crouch behind, and tried to preserve their lives by hiding.
A bunch of cowards.
Chu Tian glanced at them and then walked deeper into the thicket alone.
Some people followed him because they had Chu Tian to lead the way.
[Notification - Detected Talent: Epidermal Hardening, Would you like to replicate it?]
A lizard that had burrowed out of the ground blocked Chu Tian's path, and at the same time, the system provided basic information about the creature in front of him.
An E-rank Iron Hammer Lizard. Chu Tian pondered, and this creature's talent didn't seem suitable for him. Besides, with the Steel talent, what was Epidermal Hardening?
But the lizard's shell appeared quite valuable.
Chu Tian thought about the black market he often frequented, where people would buy the skin of such creatures in the long run. If he could peel off the skin of this creature, it would definitely earn him a small profit.
The Iron Hammer Lizard swung its tail, which had a flesh lump resembling an iron hammer at the end, hence the name.
If he got hit by that "hammer," he probably wouldn't be able to handle it with his current physique. So Chu Tian chose to use the talent.