Chapter 27: Hou Xinjie Eliminated

After securing their first victory, the group continued their hunt throughout the Weiyang Palace. This scene was playing out everywhere; fierce skirmishes were erupting across the palace grounds, and as time wore on, the number of eliminated freshmen continued to climb.

However, Tian Su and his companions, moving through the depths of the Weiyang Palace, were completely unaware of the situation outside. Similarly, the instructors waiting beyond the palace walls had no clear idea of how the assessment was unfolding.

Military academy instructors constantly wove through the palace, tasked with escorting the eliminated students out and shielding other freshmen who had sparked conflicts that could prove troublesome. Many of these students were scions of influential families from surrounding cities, and the military academy could ill afford to offend them.

"Tian Su, we have eliminated about fifteen people so far, and there were a few times we nearly faced elimination ourselves. I suspect there are still many left, and those who remain are only getting stronger. Our chances don't look good," Wang Xian said, his tone heavy. With their group of four, he feared it would be difficult for all of them to pass the final assessment.

Tian Su nodded. As a returning student, he knew the cruelty of the Huali Military Academy all too well; Wang Xian was right—the closer they got to the end, the harder it would become.

"Why don't we just find a place to hide?" Hou Xinjie whispered. After several rounds of combat, he was utterly exhausted and had no desire to keep fighting; the risks were simply too high.

Ma Yuan shook his head instantly upon hearing this. That was not his intention at all; he was desperate to pass this assessment and catch the eye of the academy instructors, which was his only path to success.

Tian Su and Wang Xian fell into deep thought. They were no longer eager to take risks, as human nature is inherently self-serving.

"If that is how you all feel, then you go find a place to hide. I, for one, do not intend to spend the freshman assessment like that," Ma Yuan suddenly declared.

Everyone turned to look at him, especially Wang Xian, who had never expected such courage or resolve from the usually reticent Ma Yuan.

"No," Tian Su said. "If you act alone, you are highly likely to be eliminated. That is not the purpose for which our team was formed."

He paused, then proposed, "Since you have these concerns, let’s stick to our previous plan: if we encounter others and can take them out, we will. If we are outmatched, we retreat. What do you think?"

The others found this acceptable, and they quickly reached a consensus to continue pressing forward.

Before long, they encountered another group. This team consisted of five, outnumbering them by one, and they did not spot each other from afar—they ran straight into one another.

Both sides scrambled behind nearby obstacles, seeking cover to avoid immediate elimination.

"Brothers on the other side! We’re this far into the assessment now; I don't think we need to resort to violence, do you?" one of them shouted.

"Ha! Who knows if you’re actually looking for a truce? If we come out or retreat and you decide to fire, wouldn't we be wiped out?" Wang Xian yelled back. After everything he had experienced, he didn't trust a word of their hollow talk.

"Look, friend, while there are plenty of bad actors, this assessment isn't a real battlefield. Our goal is to pass and get into Huali Military Academy. My suggestion is for everyone to just peacefully withdraw. If we meet in the academy later, we can still be friends," the voice on the other side persisted, sounding as if they truly wished to avoid a fight.

Tian Su, Wang Xian, and Ma Yuan fell silent, exchanging glances.

"Fine," Tian Su said after a moment’s thought. "Let's both put our specialized firearms on the ground where everyone can see them. That way, we can all be at ease." It was better than this stalemate, which benefited no one.

The other side hesitated, then replied, "Alright. We'll put ours down first. Watch closely."

Sure enough, five firearms appeared on the ground. Tian Su checked them; they were indeed specialized weapons. He nodded to his team, and they placed their own weapons down as well.

Only then did both sides step out. It was only now that Tian Su’s group could properly see their counterparts—they were all young men.

"Heh, I recognize you. You’re Tian Su, right? A returning student from last year. What a coincidence," one of them said with a grin.

Tian Su’s eyes shifted as he spotted a jade pendant on the man’s person. "Are you from the Li family of Yuanzhou City?"

"Ha, what a coincidence indeed," Tian Su said with a mocking edge. "Not long ago, we ran into one of your Li family members. Unfortunately for him, we were the ones to eliminate him."

The man’s expression turned icy. He knew exactly who from the Li family had enrolled, and hearing that one of his kin had been eliminated left him furious.

"Don't lose your temper," a companion whispered beside him. The man listened, and though his face remained cold, he restrained his rage.

"Haha, brothers, as I said before, we are all here to pass the assessment, so there is no need to be at each other's throats. In fact, I have a better idea: let’s join forces. That way, our chances of passing will increase significantly," the leader of the five said. His voice was cold, revealing a deep sense of calculation.

"Who are you? And why should we trust a word you say?" Tian Su asked, clearly identifying him as the leader.

"Forgive my lack of introduction. I am Zhao Ling, from Yuanzhou City," he said, his words brief and forceful.

"Zhao?" Tian Su felt a jolt. He knew there was only one family named Zhao in Yuanzhou City—the most powerful military family in the region, with members holding significant positions in both the military and the government.

Tian Su was stunned. He had never expected to encounter someone from the Zhao family here.

"Tian Su, who is he?" Wang Xian asked, noticing the change in Tian Su’s expression.

As Tian Su turned to explain Zhao Ling’s identity, Zhao Ling’s eyes shifted. His team moved in perfect unison, lunging for the weapons on the ground and firing at Tian Su’s group in an instant.

It happened in a heartbeat. By the time Tian Su and his team reacted, it was almost too late. Tian Su and Wang Xian managed to dive, grabbing their guns and scrambling for cover.

Hou Xinjie was not so lucky. In the split second he reached for his weapon, he was struck by a bullet, leaving a mark on his gear, though he managed to roll into cover.

Having gained the upper hand, Zhao Ling’s group did not press the attack. After forcing Tian Su, Wang Xian, Ma Yuan, and Hou Xinjie back, they began to retreat. Clearly, they had never intended to eliminate them all—they had only wanted to thin the field.