Getting Stronger By Fighting

Lin Han glanced at Wang Zhan, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

He hadn't expected this youngster to be quite so capable; in just a few minutes, he had already discovered the secrets of this place.

However, he didn't explain immediately, instead smiling as he said, "Student Wang Zhan, I could have told you directly, but that might have influenced your judgment. So, I think it's best if you go out and experience it for yourself later. That way, you can get a proper feel for it.

"By the way, if I may ask, are you prepared to take on your mission?"

Wang Zhan smiled. "It's alright. The difficulty of this mission…"

"Ahem, Student Wang Zhan, these are things you should keep to yourself. Don't speak of them lightly to others, not even to me," Lin Han interrupted Wang Zhan with a somewhat profound tone, then lightened the atmosphere. "Student Wang Zhan just needs to tell me whether he's made sufficient preparations or not."

Wang Zhan looked at him thoughtfully, his expression turning serious as he slowly said, "I have made no preparations. However, I am always on the path to being prepared."

Damn!

Wang Zhan himself couldn't understand how he'd suddenly managed to say something so impressive.

Lin Hao, however, was stunned for a moment before bursting into hearty laughter.

The two exchanged a look, each with their own profound understanding.

And just like that, the topic was naturally dropped.

「...」

By nightfall, after Wang Zhan had truly experienced the surrounding atmosphere, he finally reached a preliminary judgment.

This city... it's too peaceful…

This was his second impression of the city, one also shaped by his personal experiences.

He had already walked nearly twenty streets, and his vast mental energy had swept over this tranquil city—or at least nearly half of it—more than once.

Yet, the more he observed, the deeper his frown became.

The city was so peaceful it didn't resemble a Human Race frontline at all; in fact, it seemed even more carefree than the cities of the Earth Federation.

But this wasn't because those people had enough confidence due to their strength; rather, they seemed… to have little concept of beasts. They looked no different from the people of the Federation, yet they were like flowers in a greenhouse.

These people possessed even less vigilance than Federation Warriors with ordinary talent, like Deng Chaofan.

Thus, in front of Lin Hao, Wang Zhan finally voiced the doubt he had been harboring.

"Why do I get the feeling that the people here… hmm… don't seem to care at all about the arrival of the beasts?"

Lin Hao smiled and finally, before Wang Zhan, revealed a corner of the Federation's fig leaf… ahem, the truth hidden behind it. "Actually, haven't you noticed? These people may look like they belong to the Human Race, but isn't their physical structure very different from ours?"

Wang Zhan had an epiphany, his heart racing. "Are you saying they aren't human?"

Lin Hao shook his head. "No, they are also human, but not the humans we are familiar with. In other words, they are not 'us.' I don't know the reason, but their strength itself is merely a gift from Heaven and Earth. That is to say, they are similar to beasts…"

"Huh? You mean…" Wang Zhan was stunned, not quite understanding.

Not human… And a gift from Heaven and Earth? What did all this mean?

The more he thought, the more muddled he became. Is this the truth? Is it just a drop in the ocean, or the tip of the iceberg?

After careful recollection, he seemed to have noticed a few clues. Yet, lacking any basis for judgment, he couldn't explore further.

A smile with an unreadable meaning touched Lin Han's lips, seemingly somewhat mocking, as he said, "Haven't you noticed? Is the place you're standing on a solid, real world? And since they are like the beasts, then, given a certain precondition, why would the beasts attack them?"

In other words, it's similar to a Small World… just that one is large and one is small? And, given a certain precondition, the beasts won't attack these people?

Wang Zhan mulled this over carefully. He had a premonition that this "certain precondition" was likely the most crucial clue to the entire truth.

"Since it is a world, then all worlds are different, and each will naturally have some peculiarities. We… can tentatively regard these people as such a peculiarity here.

"They have consciousness, they think, and they look no different from the Human Race. Their living habits are also no different. However, one point can prove they are different from us: reproductive isolation exists between our two kinds…"

Reproductive isolation…

Hearing this, Wang Zhan understood a little more. Once reproductive isolation exists, it means they are fundamentally two completely different species, with no connection whatsoever.

Apart from their appearance. But…

"Is it really just because of this reason? Then what is that 'certain precondition'…" Wang Zhan wanted to ask more.

But Lin Hao waved his hand, cutting Wang Zhan off. "These are not things we should be thinking about; they are still too distant from us. I'm telling you this only so you're aware. Once you're on the battlefield, don't just assume someone is trustworthy because they look like they belong to the Human Race.

"In fact, you probably understand that when it truly comes to it, you can't trust anyone but yourself. As for the internal affairs of the Federation, there's even less need to elaborate…"

There was no flicker of emotion in Lin Hao's eyes, as if it had nothing to do with him at all.

Wang Zhan remained silent, a bitter smile on his face.

Yes, the internal situation of the Federation had already reached a state that was self-evident to everyone, requiring no further words. Just as the Original Organization has been constantly stirring up storms, why has no one stepped forward to eliminate them? Where there's a cause, there's an effect. The appearance of the Original Organization represents the internal rifts within the Human Race. In other words, danger is omnipresent.

Finally, one sentence from Lin Hao allowed Wang Zhan to thoroughly understand his current predicament.

"You are standing on the Star War Battlefield! As a warrior of the Federation, you have the right to know the truth of all this, though you will need to slowly unearth it yourself… Remember my words: do not easily trust anyone.

"Only orders received from the Federation are those we must carry out. Orders here are not necessarily so… That's all. If you need help with anything else, let me know. I'll be going now, I still have some things to attend to…"

After Lin Hao had relayed all the basic precautions and matters to Wang Zhan, he departed decisively.

This scene made Wang Zhan raise an eyebrow, his mind racing with some unknown thought.

…Interesting. This Senior Lin Hao, is he really a fourth-year student from Yanjing Martial Arts Academy?

If he were a student, why didn't he share a common animosity towards Wang Zhan and seek revenge for his junior schoolmates? Instead, he was so enthusiastic. One mustn't forget, Wang Zhan's initial interactions with Yanjing Martial Arts Academy were by no means amicable…

「...」

However, since it had been explicitly stated that these people were not human. Hmm, although it felt very strange, Wang Zhan naturally still had to investigate for himself.

"Hello, do you have a map here?"

For the next two or three days, Wang Zhan was occupied with his preliminary preparations. For instance, acquiring a map was a top priority among all of Wang Zhan's plans.

According to Lin Hao, while human electronic technology was useful here, its utility was greatly diminished. This was not only because there were no electronic facilities installed, but more importantly, because of the environmental issues here. Thus, most usable electronic devices were portable and could only be used temporarily; one could not become too reliant on them. Of course, since Wang Zhan was currently still within the city, he hadn't yet experienced the latter.

Although Wang Zhan also wanted to venture out of the city to experience it, after learning the rules here, he promptly chose to abandon the idea and stay put for the moment.

"Leaving the city is permitted, but once you leave, you may not return. Violators will be killed without mercy."

Wang Zhan didn't know if this was an order from the Human Race or from others. He always felt that those old fossils lurking behind the Federation were scheming something that couldn't bear the light of day. Of course, the only effect this had on him was the understanding that he should keep his mouth shut and not cause trouble if he wanted to live.

But the whole point of me coming here is to stir up trouble!

At this moment, a middle-aged man standing before Wang Zhan hurriedly and respectfully fawned, "I wonder what kind of map the guest requires? I have maps of the nearby Qianyuan City, Qianye City, Qianxun City… and so on, for dozens of cities. I wonder if any of these would be suitable for you?"

But when Wang Zhan caught a glimpse of the map, his face immediately darkened. The map was indeed a map, and the cities were indeed cities, but why… apart from these locations, was there nothing else at all? It was even more sloppily drawn than if he himself had casually scribbled with a pen.

"Why are these areas all blank?"

The shopkeeper's expression instantly changed, and he said fiercely, "What does the guest mean by this? Are you thinking of not paying after looking? I tell you, don't even dream of it!"

Wang Zhan was first taken aback, then his expression hardened. He said in a deep voice, "You…"

I'm just asking a question. What on earth are you talking about?

Seeing this display, how could the shopkeeper not be scared half to death on the spot? He immediately dropped to his knees, wailing with tears and snot, "Oh, great Lord Heaven above! Are you trying to rob me of my money? You looked at my map and aren't paying, just thinking of getting it for free, aren't you! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking! My life is so bitter! I have old parents and young children to support, and someone is wronging me and trying to rob my money! How are we supposed to live these days…"

…Wang Zhan was speechless.

Before the shopkeeper could finish his wails, Wang Zhan immediately offered a bank card with a beaming smile and said gently, "Shopkeeper, here, swipe as you please. However, these maps are truly useless to me. Do you have any maps concerning the lairs of those beasts? Even if it's just a simple sketch with a rough area, I can accept that."

Inside, however, he was roaring: Damn it, they're even running a crooked shop! With this kind of behavior, who would believe they aren't human?

Instantly, the shopkeeper's bones weren't soft anymore, his waist didn't ache, and the snot and tears stopped flowing. He scrambled up with a beaming smile, acting very chummy as he said, "Aiya, how could this be acceptable, how could this be! The guest is so generous! One look and it's clear you're a dragon among men, a phoenix among women!"

But when he actually put the bank card into the card reader, even after seeing the uncountable zeros on it, his face still instantly fell. He slammed the bank card onto the table and said in a dark voice, "Damn it, are you toying with me?! Don't you know Federation currency isn't accepted here?"

Wang Zhan genuinely… didn't know about this. He just stared at the shopkeeper blankly, as if to say,

Isn't Federation currency money?