Novel Full Chapter 51: Underground Hall, Cultivation Technique Reward
Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Underground Hall, Cultivation Technique Reward
They descended dozens of steps, arriving underground.
"Captain Zhou!"
"Sister Zhou."
"Commander Zhang, everyone."
A team was waiting in the underground tunnel.
Zhou Bing greeted them and took the opportunity to introduce Tang Wen and Tangtang.
"We’ve heard! For Young Brother Tang to kill an Awakened at such a young age... your future is boundless!"
"I was just lucky. It was all thanks to Sister Bing and the other captains wearing him down first."
Killing an Awakened, defeating six men in a row, and thwarting the Black Mountain Camp!
The stories of Tang Wen’s deeds had already spread throughout the Guard ranks.
Everyone now knew he was a new recruit this year. Rumor had it that during the selection, the three great Commanders had argued over him, and in the end, Commander Zhao was the one who pulled him into the first team.
Behind Commander Zhang stood a group of Red Armored Soldiers. They sized up Tang Wen, their eyes holding curiosity, but more than that, defiance.
A kid from the Outer City had outshone them, the elites among elites!
Of course, they weren’t convinced.
Noticing the untamed arrogance in their eyes, Tang Wen just smiled, followed Zhou Bing, and walked deeper into the tunnel.
The tunnel was wide, about three to four meters high, and a faint current of air prevented it from feeling stuffy.
Tang Wen was a little curious.
Zhou Bing shook her head. "I only know that there are a few air vents disguised as water wells."
However, when he held out his hand, a light breeze brushed past his fingertips.
This level of ventilation seemed beyond what just a few air vents could achieve.
After turning a corner, Tang Wen asked again, "Those people from before, why were they wearing red armor? I don’t think I’ve ever seen red armor in the Guard Battalion."
"They are the Forbidden Guard, not standard Guards."
Tang Wen nodded thoughtfully.
Zhou Bing led the way, her long spear holding a kerosene lamp aloft. After the fourth turn, the space ahead suddenly opened up.
An Underground Plaza, brilliantly lit.
Even Tangtang, who lacked any Night Vision Ability, could see the walls a hundred meters away at a glance.
"This is...?" Tangtang’s eyes widened, and she stared without blinking.
The plaza was circular.
A ring of fireplaces was carved into the surrounding walls, each sealed with transparent glass.
From within the fireplaces, numerous chimneys extended upward.
This both prevented thick smoke and kept the fires from consuming the underground air supply.
’Building the fireplaces is one thing, but to have such heat-resistant glass? And piping air down from above would be quite difficult, wouldn’t it? The level of civilization in this world is truly a mystery.’
"What an ingenious design."
A rare smile appeared on Zhou Bing’s face. "I was just as stunned the first time I saw it."
Tangtang was aghast. "How many pounds of maize could you trade for the amount of coal burned here in one day?"
The other two fell silent for a moment.
Then, Zhou Bing said, "Our camp has its own coal mine. Besides, it’s not like they burn this much every day."
A woman who looked like a Maid approached them. "You must be Captain Zhou, Tang Wen, and Tangtang, correct? This way, please."
She led the three of them to another exit from the plaza. Just around a corner, a row of underground stone houses appeared before them.
"Door 001. There are two rooms inside." The Maid handed over two keys.
She then told the three where to eat, where to bathe, where the latrines were, and so on.
Only when they had no more questions did she turn and leave.
Door 001 was close to the plaza.
They opened the door and went inside. The room was simple, partitioned by a central wall with a bed on each side.
Fortunately, the beds were large enough that two people could sleep on one without issue.
Just as Tang Wen was hesitating, wondering if he should just put his bundle on the floor, there was a knock on the door.
It was the same Maid from before, accompanied by two Red Armored Guards. They carried in two wooden cabinets, three chairs, and a table.
After they got everything settled, put away their clothes, and made the beds, Tangtang managed to find a place in the room to hide her family’s silver.
The three of them left the room and went to the canteen.
Many people were seated at the dozens of square tables.
Most of them were Forbidden Guards in their red armor.
"Tang Wen! Over here!" the big fellow, Zhang Lin, waved at them like an old friend.
’Tang Wen?’
Every diner in the room turned their head in unison.
’Two women and one man. Everyone recognizes Zhou Bing. She looks even more beautiful. Hmm, so this handsome young man is Tang Wen? So young? He’s the one who killed an Awakened head-on?’
Looks of doubt inevitably appeared in everyone’s eyes.
"I knew you and Captain Zhou would end up here! Hello, and... hmm, you’re the girl who sells meat sandwiches, right?"
The three of them sat at an empty table next to Zhang Lin, who started chatting naturally.
"I’m Tang Wen’s older sister, Tangtang."
A Maid brought over several basins of food.
Looking at the serving bowls, which were the size of washbasins, Tangtang was surprised and relieved. ’They feed you until you’re full here! We can save a lot of grain!’
Stewed meat with potatoes, radish with spare ribs, a full basin of maize, and three clean wooden bowls.
Seeing that every table had such large portions, Tang Wen asked a question that had been on his mind for a while: "Does the Inner City have livestock farms?"
"We do. They’re in a mountain hollow, even farther out of the city than the maize fields. All the cut weeds and maize husks are used to raise pigs and sheep. However, these pigs and sheep are usually only supplied to the Guard Battalion, the Hunting Battalion, and here."
The one who answered was An Lei.
Tang Wen smiled at her.
Zhang Lin was amazed. After knowing her for many years, this was the first time he had ever heard An Lei say so much at once.
"Eat some ribs." Zhou Bing glanced at her, then picked up a spare rib and placed it in Tang Wen’s bowl.
"Mm, okay."
By the time the meal was over, the group had grown much more familiar with each other.
After eating, they walked back to the stone houses together.
With no one else around in the corridor, Zhang Lin lowered his voice and said, "Brother Tang, you’d better be careful. Those Forbidden Guards know you killed an Awakened. They’re not happy about it and are looking for a chance to challenge you."
"Oh? Is that so?" Tang Wen’s eyes flashed. ’Looks like more free sparring partners are on their way.’
From Zhang Lin’s nonstop chatter, he learned a great deal of information.
For instance, the one who supervised their training in the Underground Plaza was a certain General Xia.
He was a veteran of the highest order, reportedly senior even to General Zhou’s own predecessors.
The people from the Hunting Battalion who came down here were all rising stars in the camp. They were prospects favored by the Commanders, expected to at least become Martial Artists, and possibly even high-level Martial Artists.
Tang Wen also managed to learn a thing or two about the origins of the Forbidden Guard.
They were said to be the children of Guards, personally trained by Elder General Xia from a young age.
The Forbidden Guard’s success rate was even higher than the Hunting Battalion’s. They trained in secret and were responsible for guarding the Queen, the General’s Mansion, and certain places forbidden to ordinary people.
’Forbidden Guard. The name really wasn’t a misnomer.’
The red armor they wore was forged with a rare metal alloy.
It was lighter and stronger, its only drawbacks being the ostentatious color and low production volume, which limited its use to the Forbidden Guard.
In the afternoon, Tang Wen and Zhou Bing caught up on sleep in the bedroom.
Tangtang went to the plaza and joined several other boys and girls, all around thirteen or fourteen years old, to learn Martial Arts from a middle-aged female instructor.
These youths were the children and relatives of the Commanders.
While the Commanders risked their lives on the outside, the camp had to take good care of their families.
Tangtang was a beginner in Martial Arts, but the instructor discovered that her Constitution was actually the best of the group.
Her strength and flexibility were both excellent; she was a natural-born martial artist.
Upon learning she was Tang Wen’s sister, the instructor’s face showed a look of sudden understanding.
’The younger brother is a genius. It only makes sense that his older sister is also suited for Martial Arts.’
"Nngh!"
Back in the room, Tang Wen stretched and sat up.
Just then, Zhou Bing returned from outside and handed Tang Wen a piece of paper. "Take a look at this."
He took it. A few lines of nouns were written on it: "Tiger Claw Technique, Forest Piercing Leg Technique, Shadowless Divine Fist..."
After reading the first line, Tang Wen looked up in surprise. "Is this a list of Cultivation Techniques?"
"Mm-hm. It’s the reward for our competition. You can choose any six, but it’s best not to pick that many."
"I understand. Biting off more than you can chew," Tang Wen said as he lowered his head and continued reading.