20: Chapter 20 Everyone's Harvest

At the same time. Inside the base, the last rays of sunset were about to disappear. Instructor Lei, Teacher Sun, and several teaching assistants were chatting in the open space next to the warehouse and exchange point, waiting for the students to return.

"How many teams do you think had a harvest today?" Teacher Sun asked.

"No more than ten teams," said a young teaching assistant, "and at most, it'll be little things like Black Iron Low-Grade Giant-Legged Rabbits or rodents."

"I bet on five teams," another instructor laughed, "It'll be good if these young masters and misses don't cry from fear when they see magical beasts."

Instructor Lei, chewing on a grass stem, narrowed his eyes: "It'll be good if half the teams can bring something back. I estimate at most they'll bring back one or two Black Iron Low-Grade prey. Black Iron Mid-grade? That would require exceptional team coordination or a few outstanding members. Actually, on the first day, if they can draw blood and not come back empty-handed, that's a success."

As they were talking, the first team appeared in the distance.

Five people, dejected, empty-handed.

"See," the young teaching assistant shook his head.

The second team, five people, one with a bandaged arm, pale-faced, only carrying a battered Bone-eating Rat (Low-Grade), of very low value.

The third team, the eight-member team led by Wang Xuan, performed quite well, hunting one Black Iron Mid-grade Blood Wolf and two Black Iron Low-Grade Giant-Legged Rabbits. However, everyone was injured, and the most severely injured one was even carried back.

Instructor Lei nodded: "Wang Xuan's team is not bad. That captain knows how to command, and their strength is balanced."

More and more teams returned, the situation much the same.

40% were empty-handed, 40% brought back one low-grade prey, and over 10% brought back two low-grade or one mid-grade (often injured). Like Wang Xuan's team, harvesting three was rare.

The sun set, and almost all teams returned, except for Qin Ce.

"Only Qin Ce is left." A clerical instructor frowned, "He didn't get into trouble, did he?"

Instructor Lei stood up and looked into the depths of the wilderness: "Wait another ten minutes. If he doesn't return after ten minutes, I'll take people to look for him."

In front of the exchange point, students started exchanging supplies.

"Giant-Legged Rabbit carcass, 70% integrity, 15 points," the supply clerk said expressionlessly.

"Only 15?" The student got anxious, "Doesn't the price list say Black Iron Low-Grade magical beast carcass is 30 points?"

"That's the price for over 90% integrity," the supply clerk said coldly, "Your rabbit was cut into a mess by Wind Blade, and the fur is severely damaged. I can only give you 15."

The student was speechless and had to accept it.

The exchanges that followed didn't go smoothly.

"Rodent, 60% integrity, 10 points."

"Blood Wolf, 80% integrity, but the internal organs are damaged, so I'll count it as 40 points."

"Sigh, fine! Huh? Wait? A can of meat costs 10 points? I only earned 15 in one day, I can't even afford two cans?"

Hearing this, the students looked at the pitiful points they had earned through hard work and even injury, then looked back at the exchange list posted on the wall behind the supply clerk, and were instantly stunned.

[Black bread (500g): 5 points]

[Drinking water (1L): 3 points]

[Basic wound medicine (small portion): 20 points]

[Single tent (night): 15 points]

[Hot shower (time): 10 points]

[Condiments (salt, 100g): 2 points]

[Instructor suite (night, with kitchen and bathroom): 200 points]...

The prices were ridiculously high! With their few points, many people couldn't even afford basic food and water! Let alone wound medicine, showers, or good housing!

Some teams that had gained nothing or very little turned pale, having to lower their heads and borrow points from familiar or fellow hometown teams to buy food, flushing red with shame.

"This is too exploitative!" Someone couldn't help complaining.

The supply clerk rolled his eyes: "Think it's expensive? If you have the ability, hunt more yourself! Does the base operation not cost money? Is the instructor's protection free? Take it or leave it!"

Everyone fell silent, having to grit their teeth and use their limited points to exchange for the most necessary food, calculating how to work harder tomorrow.

Wang Xuan's team had a pretty good harvest, hunting one Blood Wolf and two Giant-Legged Rabbits, plus some scattered crystal cores, totaling seventy-seven points.

Eight people splitting them, each had nine points, barely enough to buy food and water for a day and a half, but many of them had injuries?

Other than the basic healing provided by the base, it was just pain relief and hemostasis. There was no such thing as recovery.

Wang Xuan looked at the exchange list, her brows tightly locked.

"Squad leader, Qin Ce doesn't seem to have returned yet?" Zhou Min approached and whispered, with worry on her face, "He didn't get into trouble, did he? Alone..."

Wang Xuan looked at the base gate. The sunset was about to completely disappear below the horizon, and the sky darkened rapidly. "Wait a little longer."

She also felt some unease.

Although Qin Ce was strong, being alone was too risky.

Other students also noticed Qin Ce's absence.

"Where is that maniac Qin Ce? Still hasn't returned?"

"Yeah, what about that one who acted alone?"

"Could he really have gotten into trouble? Daring to run into the depths alone?"

"Hard to say. Although he can fight well, that's fighting people. Fierce beasts are different."

"Probably knew he couldn't do it, found a place to hide, and is waiting to sneak back later?"

"I think it's doubtful. Maybe he encountered a pack of Blood Wolves or Shadow Bats..."

"Serves him right, letting him show off!"

...

Instructor Lei checked his watch, looked at the sky, and said to Sun Zhengping: "Teacher Sun, that 'different' student of yours seems to have encountered trouble. I'll go right now..."

Before he finished speaking, a teaching assistant who had been observing the wilderness with binoculars suddenly went "Huh," his voice filled with disbelief: "Instructor! Look over there! That is... what is coming over?"

Instructor Lei, Sun Zhengping, and others immediately picked up their binoculars and looked in the direction the teaching assistant pointed.

I saw in the last rays of daylight, a figure was dragging... a huge "trailer" made of shrub branches, walking towards the base unhurriedly.

In the trailer, it was piled full of various monster carcasses, stacked high, to the point that the person in front of the trailer was almost invisible.

"That is... Qin Ce?" Instructor Lei put down his binoculars, rubbed his eyes, thinking he had seen it wrong.

"It seems... to be him." Sun Zhengping also put down his binoculars, his eyes behind the lenses widening slightly, flashing a trace of astonishment.

...