March of The Unwilling

By the time Lin Shu arrived at the arena, it was already crowded with dozens of students. At the front stood Lu Heng—the vice dean—his expression grim. Several instructors stood behind him, silent and watchful.

As more students trickled in and the arena grew packed, Lu Heng finally stepped forward. His voice boomed through the arena, amplified by Qi to reach every ear.

"The institute has declared a state of emergency."

A hush fell over the crowd.

"The cause of this is none other than the greedy bastards of the Jiang Clan. They're trying to take over our mine—and, as always, they've resorted to their filthy poison tactics."

He paused, letting the murmurs of outrage ripple before continuing.

"The empire will not interfere. It never does when powers beneath it clash. In fact, they welcome it. One less thorn in their side. Besides… they're too busy with whatever's going on in the Far Lands."

Lu Heng's voice sharpened.

"The Jiang Clan didn't declare war. No—they acted like cowards. They used poisons to throw the Sawtooth Worms into a frenzy. Creatures that were already a problem have now become monsters. According to our specialists, the worms are no longer just hoarding the Azure Crystals—they're attacking the miners and guards directly."

He paced slightly as he spoke.

"The Jiang Clan can pull this off because they're stationed in a city closer to the mine. They can send reinforcements faster than we can. If we delay, they'll take control of the entire operation before we can even respond."

He stopped walking.

"That is why you're all here. A second wave of students will be sent to defend the Azure Crystal Mine. This is not voluntary."

The silence deepened.

"This is a draft. You will be selected based on your last mission's performance—difficulty included. Now, listen closely."

He raised a scroll and began reading names.

Lin Shu barely heard him.

"Wait… Jiang Clan? His eyes narrowed, thoughts racing. That name… the skeleton I found… Jiang Jian. That was it."

His stomach twisted.

"This is bad. I don't want to fight any poison users—not yet. I've got that Venombane Pill, but it's a one-time use. If I get poisoned more than once… I'm finished. And it's likely I will. If I'm not selected, I'll escape when the chance comes. But if I am chosen…"

He gritted his teeth.

"How will I run? If I slip away then, I'll be marked as a deserter. And if I run into someone from the Jiang Clan while escaping... I could be captured before I even make it out."

There was no perfect answer. Only uncertainty and danger. He would have to wait and test his luck.

"Student number 257—Lin Shu."

The name hit him like a hammer.

With a silent sigh, Lin Shu stepped forward and joined the others who had already been called. His face was unreadable, but inside, his thoughts were cold and sharp.

I need a way out. Fast.

Lin Shu stood among the chosen, cursing under his breath, his expression dark. Before his thoughts could spiral further, he felt a pat on the back.

He turned—Xu Jin stood there with his usual carefree smile.

"Long time no see, Lin Shu," he said.

Lin Shu returned the smile, though faintly. "I take it you got picked too?"

Xu Jin scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Yeah… I might've done a little too well on my last mission. It's that barbaric demon Xie Lang's fault. I heard he was selected a few days ago to join the mine's guard force, thanks to his tournament ranking."

"I see you two are still the same," Lin Shu replied dryly.

Xu Jin laughed. "You bet. That guy keeps dragging me into missions and pestering me with invitations. I swear, he can't do anything without me."

"Sure thing," Lin Shu replied with a small chuckle.

"No, I'm serious!" Xu Jin insisted, pointing at himself proudly. "I've saved his ass more times than I can count. You can ask him—but don't expect the truth. He'll lie through his teeth."

Lin Shu shook his head with an amused exhale, but the levity faded quickly as Xu Jin leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

"Listen, just a piece of advice—don't go into direct combat with any Jiang Clan members. Unless you've got a good ranged battle skill or can ambush them properly, stay the hell away. Fighting them head-on is a death wish. Especially if a real battle breaks out… and judging from the vice dean's face, that's more than likely. I even heard he's coming with us."

"I see," Lin Shu replied, his tone thoughtful. "Are there any notable figures from the Jiang Clan I should watch out for?"

Xu Jin sighed. "Unfortunately, I don't have much information on them. But I do know someone who does—problem is, he's already stationed at the mine. We'll have to meet him there if we want intel."

"Then we should start preparing now," Lin Shu said firmly. "Buy poison-curing pills, antidotes—anything we can get our hands on."

"Agreed," Xu Jin nodded. "Best to do it before the prices skyrocket or everything gets bought out."

With the looming threat of poison and war, the two departed the arena, their minds already racing through lists of supplies and strategies—each step pulling them closer to the inevitable chaos waiting at the Azure Crystal Mine.

Lin Shu counted the coins in his storage with a furrowed brow.

"47,102 gold coins…" he muttered. That's enough for a few good purchases, but not if I want to secure both the Thunderforge Physique and a Crimson Flow Pill.

He rubbed his chin, deep in thought. I need pills to accelerate my cultivation, but without a Crimson Flow Pill to cleanse the impurities, I'd just build up waste inside my body. It'd be pointless… His gaze drifted toward a blacksmith's stall. And then there's core-forged weapons. An Ascendant-tier weapon goes for over five thousand gold coins. Core-forged? That's probably tens of thousands. I can't afford that now—not if I want to buy all the Thunderforge Physique materials.

He sighed.

Still, he wasn't without options. As he wandered the market with Xu Jin, Lin Shu sold off some unneeded goods—among them, a spatial pouch he had taken from the girl back in Solmire. It was in good condition, and fetched him another 750 gold coins. He'd made sure it bore no clan marks or family emblems. If anyone connected the dots, they might accuse him of killing her. Which I didn't exactly do, he reminded himself while a smile formed on his face. But I did break her legs and feed her to the Shadow Dwellers.

Once they'd gathered antidotes, detoxifying pills, wound ointments, and a few general provisions, the two made their way toward the institute gates. There, nearly fifty other students had already gathered, alongside several instructors—and Lu Heng himself, the vice dean, his early-stage Rank 2 presence impossible to ignore.

Lin Shu glanced at Xu Jin. "Hey, does Lu Heng have any relation to Dean Lu Zhenhai? They have the same first name."

Xu Jin blinked, then scratched his cheek. "Hmm, I don't think so. 'Lu' is a common enough surname, and while they both work at the institute, I've never heard them mention any family ties. Besides, their personalities are pretty different. Dean Zhenhai's more controlled—Lu Heng's... well, he has a reputation for being blunt and harsh."

"i see." Lin Shu said, still watching the vice dean from afar. Doesn't mean I'll let my guard down around him.

Lin Shu's eyes scanned the group, narrowing as he noticed a few familiar faces—Ren Hao, Zeng Shiyang, and most unsettling of all, Han Yi. His brow furrowed. "Of all people, why is she here?" he thought. "Shouldn't the dean be protective of his disciple? Why would he send her into a situation that could very well turn into a war?"

He wasn't happy about the idea of her being so close. She was one of the main reasons he had planned to desert. If she was here, that could only mean she was looking for him. "I can't have her discovering who I am, especially in a place like this," Lin Shu thought, tension creeping up his spine.

He shifted uncomfortably as he considered his options. "Well, I'll just refrain from using Lightning Steps. It's the only lightning technique I had when I sold the Infernoheart Salamander King's egg. They don't know about Thunderbolt Arc though—since I got it when I came back here over a month ago, so I'll be fine using that." He exhaled sharply. "Still, I'll be losing one of my main advantages, which is speed."

As the group gathered and waited for departure, Lin Shu's mind drifted again. "I should start thinking about which sect or institute I should join. Maybe even a demonic organization... I can't waste my chance to become a rogue." He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "I'm young. I still have time to join institutes and sects, but joining a sect without an institute backing you is harder. Being affiliated with an institute guarantees recognition, while being a rogue cultivator means going through much harder tests to prove yourself."

Lost in his thoughts, Lin Shu didn't notice that the group had already fully formed. No student dared to run away.

"Alright," the voice of Lu Heng, the vice dean, broke through the chatter. "We will now depart towards the east, to the Azure Crystals Mine. The journey will take us a total of three days. We will show those Jiang bastards just how sharp our fangs."

With those words, the group began their march, leaving the institute and the town of Greenwood Hollow behind. Some students were excited for the challenge ahead, others nervous, but all were united in their purpose victory and survival. Some were enraged by the actions of the Jiang clan, vowing to deliver justice. Others only wanted to protect what was theirs from the enemy's claws.

Lin Shu stayed silent, eyes forward, but the gnawing feeling of danger continued to linger. He had no idea what this mission would bring, but he knew one thing: he had to survive.