Chapter 6: HCF Boot Camp

"I truly wish all of you the best of luck from now on," Tang Ruolan said in an impressively pleasant manner.

"She really did a 180, huh Biao," Hunter said with a smirk.

Feng Biao internally agreed. However, he chose not to make that obvious. After all Tang Ruolan had not had a change of heart in the 2 days of nearly non-stop travel it had taken to get to their destination.

While the bus had sped quite fast down roads Feng Biao could only assume had been cleared well in advance of debris, Tang Ruolan had simply been sitting in her seat waiting like the rest of the group.

'It's only because of Song Zhilan,' Feng Biao thought.

Song Zhilan, the name of the girl that had caused Tang Ruolan to kneel.

Most people related to someone with a Primordial Divinity demanded to be treated like royalty. Song Zhilan went out of her way to not be treated as one, yet those who knew what her status meant would not oblige.

If Song Zhilan was a princess she would be one whose attitude caused those with wicked intentions to stay their hand. At least while she was around. All the while greeting peasants as if they shared her status.

Slowly the Marked began to trickle out of the bus. What greeted them was the HCF boot camp, an expansive compound made of an obsidian-looking material, located at the outskirts of Chengdu.

It was gated and patrolled by soldiers with the CCF logo emblazoned on their backs, evidently, HCF members were not sent to do such actions.

Tang Ruolan had now exited the bus and stood in front of the legal adults assembled in front of her, "Now I welcome you all to the HCF boot camp. We wish for you to grow into the greatest versions of yourselves possible."

Clapping her hands Tang Ruolan continued speaking, "With that said I'd like you all to form into two lines. Those who know their Divinity and those who do not."

From here Feng Biao looked towards Hunter and they both nodded.

"Good luck Biao," Hunter said as he left towards the right where a line was forming for those who were aware of who their Divinity was.

"Thanks, Hunter," Feng Biao said as he went towards the left line.

As the gate opened Tang Ruolan directed those on the right side of the line to follow her, while those on the left were greeted by a new face.

"My name is Zhang Fang. I'll lead you to the testing area. Follow me in an orderly line," was all the man who had now taken Tang Ruolan's place said before departing.

Feng Biao stepped forward in unison with those in front of him studying Zhang Fang.

'A serious person.'

That was the impression Feng Biao got from Zhang Fang. His face said it all, this was not a man who smiled very often.

He wore a suit much like Tang Ruolan and before he had turned around Feng Biao had caught sight of a pin with the HCF logo. It was of the sun with an upside-down triangle of red stars inside it; 3 were on the top, 2 in the middle, and 1 on the bottom.

Thinking back Feng Biao realized Tang Ruolan had the same pin, he just hadn't paid much attention. Staring at her chest wasn't an idea he had entertained.

When they arrived at their destination inside the gated compound the now HCF recruits in-training entered a large gymnasium. Entering inside Feng Biao felt his feet greeted with a floor of solid steel.

What caught Feng Biao's eye was an elderly woman sitting at a desk watching those who entered with intensity. She wore clothing similar to Song Zhilin's and Feng Biao guessed she must be the one who could reveal their Divinities.

"Stand at that wall and wait for your name to be called. When it's called you'll approach the desk and Lady Dongmei will check your Mark. After your Mark is checked return to the wall," Zhang Fang ordered sternly.

Feng Biao did as he was told and stood at the wall watching at the other side of the gymnasium where bright lights and flashes indicated people were training using Divine Abilities. He then spotted Hunter, who was now being confronted by a group of 3 boys.

Too far to hear their conversation Feng Biao could only rely on his eyes to tell him it wasn't a friendly one. Feng Biao could not see Song Zhilan in the gymnasium, but he did see Tang Ruolan acting like she did not see Hunter's predicament.

As more names were called from the wall Feng Biao could see the situation with Hunter getting worse, and it was clear the smallest boy of the group was provoking Hunter the most. Feng Biao sighed, at some level he felt Hunter had asked for this to happen.

On the bus Feng Biao had tried to keep their conversations away from that of Partial Divinities and True Divinities to avoid attracting more unwanted attention to Hunter. Instead he had kept it to things like the full name of Song Zhilan and where Hunter had grown up.

Unfortunately, a combination of his boasting from earlier and his slight towards Tang Ruolan both being overheard had resulted in the current situation.

Still despite Hunter's somewhat arrogant nature Feng Biao he was a good person overall. Hunter could have chosen to not share any information with Feng Biao on the bus, but he had instead tried to help Feng Biao when he had confessed how little he knew.

The smallest boy had now gotten Tang Ruolan's attention, purposefully. After clearly shouting something towards Tang Ruolan she nodded her head and departed from the gymnasium.

From there the boys and Hunter moved away from one another. There was still clear tension between all of them, something was bubbling.

"Feng Biao," Zhang Fang said loudly.

Feng Biao took his eyes off Hunter's situation and walked forward, it was now time to worry about himself. As he approached the elderly woman he heard her speak to Zhang Fang.

"Fang, could we take a break for a second? That Divine Ability has always taken a lot out of me," the elderly woman said in between breaths to Zhang Fang.

"Certainly, Lady Dongmei. I'm ashamed having to ask someone like you who has already gone into retirement back so often. Take as much time as you need."

"Feng Biao, wait for Lady Dongmei to recover before we continue," Zhang Fang said glancing at Feng Biao.

"Yes, sir." Feng Biao said now listening to a conversation unfolding between the two.

"Oh, Fang don't feel ashamed I enjoy the opportunity to see the next generation. Also, I can't stand the idea of you all wasting Mythological Shards when I'm still able to help," Dongmei pouted.

"The entirety of the HCF is indebted to your long years of service Lady Dongmei," Zhang Fang said with genuine respect in his voice.

"That's always nice to hear, now Fang I think I'm ready to help this child now," Dongmei said while holding out her right hand towards Feng Biao's own.

"Place your right hand under my own, and I'll be able to help you access your Contract."

Feng Biao did as he was told. Placing his hand under a hand with two stars and a symbol of what he thought looked like a plus sign, except the top had a loop on it and the sides of it were unequal in measure.

Soon, the same strange movement that had accompanied Tang Ruolan's Divine Ability occurred within Dongmei's own Mark. Then a bright flash of light occurred within Feng Biao's mind, and he could now see a golden parchment hovering inside his own mind.

Just thinking about it seemed to bring it to the forefront of his own sight allowing him to read it clearly. He wasn't alone, Dongmei could also see Feng Biao's Contract as a result of her Divine Ability. At the top, she and Feng Biao both spotted the name of his Divinity.

"Lady Dongmei, who is his Divinity?" Zhang Fang asked holding a clipboard.