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Chapter 20 - The Nangong Family Hunting Team
The next day, the wind was calm, and the sun bathed the earth in golden light.
Yang Xie woke up early and tidied up after breakfast.
"Grandma, I'm heading to the training camp. I'll be gone for a few days, so don't worry and stay at the Nangong family's house."
He deliberately avoided mentioning his trip to the wilderness, fearing that his grandmother would be worried.
Grandma Yang gazed at her grandson, who had now become a warrior. She knew that she shouldn't hold him back and could only do her best to support him.
"Don't worry about me, Xiaoxie. As long as Xiaoya is here, I'll be fine. You focus on your training and stay safe."
"Xiaoxie, Aunt Yang is like family to us. We'll take good care of her," Yaya's mother, Su Lin, reassured him with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Auntie. That really puts my mind at ease. I was afraid that Grandma might try to go back to our old home alone if she saw I wasn't here."
Yang Xie sighed in relief, knowing how stubborn his grandmother could be at times.
Su Lin chuckled. "Hahaha, don't worry, we won't let her go back alone. Aunt Yang, just stay here and relax."
Now that he had assurance from Yaya's mother, Yang Xie felt truly at ease.
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At the Nangong Courtyard
An armored vehicle had arrived, accompanied by five heavily armed men.
Yang Xie stepped out of Nangong Ya's car and studied the group before him. They were well-equipped, some carrying guns and others wielding blades. Each of them wore military-grade protective vests.
"Is this the Nangong family's hunting team?" Yang Xie thought.
They certainly looked like professional field hunters.
"Are you Yang Xie?" A lean young man stepped forward, extending a hand. "I'm Nangong Qing, the captain of this team."
"Yes, that's me. Nice to meet you, Captain Nangong. Please take care of me on this journey."
Yang Xie shook his hand firmly. From what he had heard, Nangong Qing was already a Martial Warrior. Despite his slightly unreliable appearance, Yang Xie knew better than to judge a warrior by looks alone.
"No need to be so formal," Nangong Qing replied with a grin. "You were assigned to us by the clan leader. We'll make sure to keep you safe."
Then he gestured toward his team. "Let me introduce my squad."
"This is Nangong Gou, our scout. His martial soul is the Spirit-Nosed Hound, giving him an extraordinary sense of smell."
Yang Xie looked at the man, noting his particularly large nose.
"Hello, Brother Gou, I'm Yang Xie."
"Just call me Dog Brother," Nangong Gou replied nonchalantly.
"Huh, unique preference."
"Alright then, Dog Brother."
"This here is Nangong Xiuqin, our sniper. Her martial soul is the Sky-Eye Eagle, and she's a sharpshooter."
A tall, elegant woman carrying a long sniper rifle smiled at him.
"Oh, we've got a handsome one here! Hello, handsome. I'm Nangong Xiuqin."
Yang Xie chuckled. "Nice to meet you, Sister Xiuqin."
"And this is Nangong Wei, our swordsman. His martial soul is a sword, making him a formidable close-combat fighter."
"Hello, Brother Wei!"
Nangong Wei, a towering man with a broadsword strapped to his back, simply nodded and replied in a calm voice, "Hello."
"He's not much of a talker," Nangong Qing muttered with a shrug.
Finally, he introduced the last member. "This is Nangong Lan, our healer."
Nangong Lan had short, slightly messy hair that gave her a heroic look. However, she seemed a little shy.
"Hello, I'm Nangong Lan. If you ever get injured, come to me, and I'll heal you." She quickly lowered her head after speaking.
"Thank you, Sister Lan!"
Yang Xie glanced at the team and felt a surge of admiration. The Nangong family was truly powerful, with five skilled warriors in a single hunting team.
After a moment, he addressed them formally.
"Nice to meet you all. Let me introduce myself properly—I'm Yang Xie, a senior in high school. I've only recently become a warrior, and this will be my first time venturing into the wild. If I make any mistakes, please correct me."
Nangong Qing chuckled. "The clan leader already told us about you. No need to be so polite. For now, you're part of our team, and we look out for each other."
Yang Xie wasn't sure if their friendliness stemmed from Nangong Batian's influence or if they were simply this welcoming. Either way, he appreciated the team's camaraderie.
Then Nangong Qing turned to Nangong Ya.
"Xiaoya, I won't introduce you to the team formally since we're already familiar with each other. Just follow our instructions."
"Brother Qing, no need for that," Nangong Ya replied with a grin.
Yang Xie was puzzled.
"Wait, Yaya, you're coming too? Didn't your father forbid you from going yesterday? You haven't even become a warrior yet!"
"Who said that?" She smirked. "I awakened my martial soul this morning! I'm already a warrior now."
"And my dad gave his permission. With Brother Qing and the others around, I'll be fine."
Yang Xie was speechless.
"So I'm the only newbie here, huh?"
"Alright, then," he sighed. "If we find any good meat out there, I'll make sure to grill it up for you. You can eat all you want, Yaya."
At the mention of food, Nangong Ya's eyes lit up.
With everything settled, Nangong Qing clapped his hands.
"Alright, everyone, get in the car. Let's move!"
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On the Road
The armored vehicle sped through the streets, taking them to the city's outskirts. After two hours, they finally reached the city gates, where a group of heavily armed inspectors stopped them.
"State your identity and purpose," one of them asked in a strict, professional tone.
"Hunting team, heading out to collect supplies. Here's my certification," Nangong Qing replied, showing his personal warrior terminal with an official hunting team permit from the Warriors Association.
The inspector examined it before nodding. "Alright, you're clear to go. Be careful—there have been reports of increased beast activity lately."
"Of course," Nangong Qing replied smoothly.
Nangong Xiuqin turned to Nangong Ya and Yang Xie, giving them a reassuring smile.
"Nothing unusual. These beasts always get more restless around the college entrance exam season."
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The Wilderness
After another fifteen minutes of driving, the vehicle came to a stop at a secluded roadside.
"We're here," Nangong Qing announced.
Yang Xie, still feeling drowsy from the ride, rubbed his eyes as he stepped out. The sight before him was breathtaking.
Towering trees, too large for a single person to embrace, stretched high into the sky. Their dense canopy made the wilderness feel vast and endless. The forest was alive with the sounds of hidden creatures, their calls echoing through the ancient land.
For eighteen years, Yang Xie had never seen a place like this.
"The wilderness… It feels like a completely different world."
A world untouched by human civilization.
A world of raw, untamed power.
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