16: Chapter 16 Temporary Squad

The person who had been called out to was a middle-aged man walking at the very front of the group.

His name was Wang Dongxin. Before the Assessment arrived, he was an outdoor enthusiast with relatively rich wilderness survival experience, so he was currently the temporary leader of this small team.

Of the other two, the woman was named Ye Qing, an office worker. It was a mystery why she would venture into a secret realm for exploration.

The other was named Li Haoxing, a college student who hadn't graduated yet. He had a pretty good personality and got along well with everyone.

After being called, Wang Dongxin led them over to greet several other teams in line, engaging in polite small talk.

Because they were young, Ye Qing and Li Haoxing weren't very comfortable with this kind of scene, but they both nodded and said a few words.

Only Gu Changming, who followed at the very back, kept his head down and didn't speak much.

His joining this team was also a move of necessity.

He remembered that in his previous life, he had seen news pushed by the government stating that a very powerful magical beast had appeared in this secret realm, causing a huge commotion. Nearly half of the adventurers here were killed by that beast, leading to the secret realm being sealed off for a period of time.

He had come specifically for that magical beast, intending to use the whistle of contract to make it his pet.

However, after being here for a few days, he hadn't heard even a whisper of news.

Had he remembered incorrectly?

Or was the information from his previous life actually a false or suppressed report?

Back to the team—the reason he had joined this particular group...

...was also because the government still maintained a certain level of control, stationing troops outside various secret realms to ensure no accidents occurred.

Furthermore, for the safety of those exploring the secret realms, they strictly mandated that no one could enter alone; entry was only permitted in the form of a team, and each team had to have no fewer than four people.

Consequently, in order to enter, Gu Changming had no choice but to find a random team to join.

...

After Wang Dongxin finished exchanging pleasantries with those people and the guarding soldiers began to urge them along, he waved his hand, signaling Gu Changming and the others to follow. The group moved in the direction opposite to the secret realm's exit.

Gu Changming still had his head down, wondering if his memory had failed him.

But just then, Wang Dongxin's voice drifted back from the front.

"Xiao Ming."

"Hmm?" Gu Changming looked up.

Wang Dongxin turned his head, offering the well-meaning advice of someone with more life experience.

"The world is different now than it used to be. It doesn't hurt to make more connections. At a critical moment, someone might just give you a hand."

Gu Changming knew the man was commenting on his attitude just now, but to avoid complications and extra trouble, he simply nodded and agreed.

"I understand."

Seeing Gu Changming's tone, Wang Dongxin knew he hadn't taken it to heart and didn't think much of it.

He opened his mouth to say more but felt that doing so would be too preachy and pedantic. So, he simply shut his mouth.

Gu Changming indeed hadn't taken it to heart. Sometimes you should thank your lucky stars if people don't step on you, let alone expect them to lend a hand.

One must know that in the later stages of the Assessment, there were even parts that forced humans to kill each other.

Therefore, compared to others, he trusted only himself.

...

The team followed the flow of people to an area on the outskirts of the secret realm entrance.

This place was crudely enclosed by simple fences and ropes, forming a spontaneously created gathering point. Inside, tents and stalls were crowded together haphazardly, looking quite lively.

Upon reaching this spot, Wang Dongxin stopped and turned to look at the other three.

Li Haoxing knew what he meant and immediately responded, "Brother Wang, I'll go have a couple of drinks with you."

Ye Qing shook her head and pointed toward the tent area, saying, "I'm a bit tired, I'm going back to rest."

Wang Dongxin nodded. It really wasn't suitable for a girl to go drinking with them; that area was crowded and chaotic, and some drunks were prone to causing trouble after having too much.

Then, his gaze fell upon Gu Changming.

"Come have a drink with us," Li Haoxing invited proactively, patting Gu Changming on the shoulder.

Gu Changming shook his head and declined, "No thanks."

As he spoke, he lifted the backpack in his hand. "I'm going over to the stall area to sell some things."

Hearing this, the three of them exchanged looks. Finally, Wang Dongxin spoke.

"Alright, then be careful on your own."

Gu Changming nodded, then walked toward the stall area with his backpack on his shoulders.

After he left, the three didn't disperse immediately but exchanged another look.

"Xiao Gu is still quite distant. He's been with us for a few days, yet he still has this personality," Wang Dongxin said with a chuckle as he watched Gu Changming's receding back.

The three of them had originally been a team. Because their previous teammate had accidentally died, they had invited Gu Changming to join. So in terms of their relationship, the three of them were closer.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be gathered here now "whispering" about Gu Changming behind his back.

"Yeah," Li Haoxing agreed with a nod. "After entering the secret realm, he doesn't look for magical beasts to hunt; he just squats on the ground looking for herbs or materials... I wonder how many points that backpack full of stuff can even sell for."

Ye Qing glanced at the two of them and said, "Isn't it good to be steady? It's better than being reckless and dying."

Li Haoxing didn't intend to dwell on the topic. After a few laughs, he pulled Wang Dongxin toward the area where alcohol was sold.

Ye Qing had originally planned to return to her tent, but after walking a few steps, she realized her backpack was a bit heavy. After a moment's thought, she headed toward the stall area.

...

In the stall area.

Gu Changming strolled around carrying his heavy backpack, his gaze constantly sweeping over the crowd while his ears remained pricked.

The items displayed on these stalls were various medicinal herbs and special materials obtained from the secret realm.

Currently, most of these materials were useless in the early stages, but once logistical classes like Blacksmith and Apothecary appeared, these materials would come in handy.

Gu Changming's purpose for coming here wasn't to buy or sell these items; it was mainly to gather the information he wanted.

Teams entering and exiting the secret realm would all come here to buy or sell things, so information was naturally more fluid here.

Nearly a week had passed since he arrived, yet he hadn't heard a single piece of news about that powerful and strange magical beast inside the secret realm.

If this continued, the second Assessment would soon arrive.

Gu Changming carried his backpack, his gaze casually scanning the market before finally stopping in front of an inconspicuous stall.

"Are you buying items?" Gu Changming stepped forward and asked.

The vendor was a middle-aged man in his forties. Seeing the heavy backpack in Gu Changming's hand, he immediately nodded.

"Yes, of course I am."

Most of these vendors were people unwilling to risk entering the secret realm, but in order not to miss out on the opportunities within, they set up stalls outside.

Of course, it was still the early stage, and most people didn't have a clear understanding of the value of these materials, so prices were not fixed.

The stall owner took the backpack, unzipped it, and gave it a cursory look. Then he looked at Gu Changming and said:

"Two points." He held up two fingers, his eyes flickering. "Selling?"

After hearing that, Gu Changming nodded. "Sure."

His primary purpose in coming here was to gather information; selling materials was just incidental. A difference of one or two points didn't matter much to him.

However, just as he nodded, a fair hand suddenly reached out from the side and pressed down gently on the backpack.

"Three points," a crisp voice rang out. "Otherwise, we'll go somewhere else."