Simply Trading 39 First Trial 1

"Huh? What do you mean?"

The soldier laughed, and waved a hand to take in the rest of the camp. "Most of the ones who are assigned to entrap and capture you lot are from the other camps, but that doesn't mean that they don't have any of their spies here.

"If you end up leaving without a weapon, doesn't that make you the perfect prey? After all, which would you think is safer? Hunting a sheep or a wolf? So long as you don't have any teeth, you are likely to become prey to every predator around!"

Qin Feng frowned as soon as he heard that. It was true. Nothing would be easier than to send a few spies into an adjacent campsite. Especially since they would all be from the Third Army as well. So their uniforms and identification papers would all be in order, if anyone checked.

Still, that didn't explain why this other Heaven Sword School disciple was so eager to help him out. Qin Feng wasn't so ignorant that he believed that the man was merely trying to help out someone from his alma mater. In fact, he was rather certain that there was some sort of scheme involved here.

The only question was, what was this fellow after? Did he want Qin Feng to pass or to fail this particular assessment? That was what mattered most, to the younger man at the moment, after all.

But the older fellow was already going on, with his comments on what he knew of Qin Feng's abilities:

"Your Flowing Wind Steps should be enough to keep you out of trouble, so long as you spot the other fellow first. And if you can move fast enough. I should warn you that some of the scouts in our Third Army are very good at camouflage, so you might think you are merely looking at a bush, instead of a man covered in leaves.

"You will need to be alert, when you head into the Forest later."

Qin Feng nodded his appreciation for the advice. He had expected the soldiers to be at least good enough to fool most of the participants in this little trial, so he was not too surprised to hear that. But he did have questions of his own, so he didn't wish to offend this fellow. After all, he had taken the initiative to speak to him first.

But the soldier wasn't quite done yet, it seemed:

"And you should get your hands on a weapon - an obvious weapon! What they told you about the hazards and the wild beasts in the Southern Forest wasn't just for show. You will need to have some means to defend yourself when you are in there."

He paused then, and jerked his clean-shaven chin towards the tent where the other participants in the Trial were seated, supposedly listening to the lecture.

"Those fellows in there with you will be doing their best to stop you from fulfilling your mission too. So that they will have less competition for the rest of the Trials, no doubt. The mere fact that you are unarmed is enough to give all of them ideas, you see."

"Ah."

The soldier's words made more sense now, and Qin Feng cursed in his heart when he realized it. The participants were all after a limited number of spots, weren't they? And he was clearly one of the more vulnerable-looking ones who were after the post of courier. Which meant that he was bound to be targeted.

Well, too bad they only saw what was on the surface, wasn't it?

Still, the soldier-boy in front of him was kind enough to warn him about the dangers involved. And that was certainly something that Qin Feng could appreciate.

Not to mention the fact that he might have to rely on the fellow for more information regarding the army and their movements later on, once he was accepted as a courier-messenger. So he was quick to bow his thanks to the older fellow. This was a perfect opportunity to set up ties with the military, wasn't it?

"You have my thanks. It seems I shall have to be more careful later, when I enter the forest. This one is Qin Feng, by the way. Feng, as in the wind. May I know this senior's great name?"

The soldier laughed as he waved aside the younger man's bow. "Oh, no need to be so polite. I left the Heaven Sword School about eight years ago, and joined the army here ever since. So you might say that I am merely looking out for a junior from the same School. I am Lei Kongwei, and I am merely a company sergeant in the Third Army," he replied with a grin.

"If you have any questions about the test, just go ahead and ask me. Although I shall have to warn you first that there are some things that I am not allowed to talk about."

Qin Feng laughed along with him, as he bowed his thanks. "In that case, I shan't be polite.

"What can you tell me about the beasts there - the predators that usually roam about the Southern Forest? Won't they make things more dangerous for all of us who are involved. I mean, there have been tales of soldiers and adventurers who had gotten injured because they were attacked, weren't there? By the wild animals hereabouts?"

Lei Kongwei chuckled as he shook his head. "You have been listening to too many tavern tales. We don't usually see that much action here. Especially not in the middle of winter. Most of the Beasts are asleep for the season, remember?

"There has only been two episodes where the predators have ventured this far North of the River, and hurt our people. But our elite had hunted down those responsible already! Their furs now line our General's armchair in camp!"

Then he seemed to sober up a bit, and pointed at Qin Feng's weaponless belt. "Well, it is good that you have heard about that. Maybe that will change your mind about bringing along a weapon?" he asked, as he brought up the reason why he had dragged Qin Feng out of the briefing in the first place.

"Perhaps I could find you a short sword, like what our scouts use?"

* * *

Chapter end

Report