The dense forest was sparsely dotted with sunlight filtering through the canopy! The ground of the old woods exhaled the scent of decaying leaves and roots, a thick, matted layer of rot mixed with uneven stones, making the footing treacherous for man or beast alike.

Biluo, topped with a large, dark magician's hat, followed closely behind Qian Jin, planting her feet with effort. She frequently stole glances with curious eyes at Qian Jin, whose broad back moved ahead of her.

They had been in the Sunset Mountain Range for seven days now, and Biluo still could not fathom why Qian Jin, who was leading the way, would suddenly halt mid-stride only to choose a completely different direction, often ignoring the markers on the map. It certainly didn't feel like they were heading toward their mission objective.

"Damn it, seven days! How can this kid remain so hyper-alert, even while sleeping? And he's truly not following the prescribed route, just as Number One said! Good thing we're tailing him instead of setting traps ahead of him."

Number One chuckled softly, looking at the stout man referred to as Number Two. Over these few days, he had learned that this man, who had defected from the Canyu Bloodline family, was named Nasida. As for a surname, those who betray the Jiaoyu family forfeit the right to bear the clan's 'Zangyu' name, so he was known only by his given name. "Fatty, you're right. This kid's senses are sharper than the wolves in this forest." Number Three, the thin man, glared resentfully at Qian Jin in the distance. "In seven days, if a pack of fierce beasts lies ahead on his path, he stops and immediately reroutes before he's even within sight, without needing to see them. And I don't know why, but he doesn't seem to be heading toward the areas designated by the Academy for the trial mission."

Number One, whose frame was slightly lean and whose features seemed chiseled like a blade, frowned slightly and nodded in agreement. What Short, a master of stealth from the Phantom family, had said was precisely what he had been contemplating these past few days.

He was merely a Class Two warrior student—why could he instantly pivot his route before even spotting a formidable beast pack? What kind of technique did he possess? Number One was even more puzzled: if this was an official Academy trial, why was Qian Jin’s path diverging from all the locations where the mission targets were likely to appear? Instead, he was heading toward...

The Valley of the Four Seasons! Yes, that was it! Number One reopened the map and saw that Qian Jin had been winding through the forest for seven days. Although he frequently shifted his immediate course, his ultimate bearing had never changed. Based on the distance covered, his destination truly appeared to be the Valley of the Four Seasons? What was he going there for? To court death? Surely, he wasn't actually aiming for the Valley of the Four Seasons?

The Valley of the Four Seasons! Qian Jin looked up at the colossal mountain range that even the thick foliage could not obscure. Taking advantage of this trial was the perfect opportunity to scout around the periphery of the Valley of the Four Seasons first. After all, textbook knowledge could never replace what was witnessed firsthand.

Qian Jin took a steadying breath. Seeing the Valley of the Four Seasons now brought a shock far greater than any text described. Looking into the distance, the connecting mountain slopes were a blanket of white.

"Winter! The Valley of the Four Seasons is currently in the grip of winter." Qian Jin stared toward the distant valley with a hint of conjecture. "I wonder if winter in the Valley of the Four Seasons has just arrived, or if it's about to end, or perhaps only halfway through?"

No matter where, winter resources were invariably scarcer than those of the bountiful autumn, summer, or spring. In seasons of scarcity, the beasts and magical beasts became far more aggressive and powerful than usual.

Even Demon Quelling Warriors dreaded choosing to enter the Valley of the Four Seasons during winter, risking confrontations with beasts driven mad by hunger.

"To determine how far along the winter in the Valley is, I'll need to approach it closely and observe and analyze before drawing any solid conclusions."

Qian Jin gently stroked his chin and sighed with a touch of helplessness. If possible, no one enjoyed entering the Valley of the Four Seasons during its winter, and no one willingly drew near while it was still in that state. No one could guarantee that the ferocious magical beasts and animals that never left the valley wouldn't suddenly decide to take a stroll, whether in a good or bad mood.

"You..." Biluo's astonished gaze popped out from under her large magic hat, her timid voice laced with fresh apprehension and fear. "Y-you're going to the Valley of the Four Seasons?"

Seeing Biluo's worried expression and slightly trembling body, Qian Jin scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I plan to take a look. But don't worry, little one. There won't be any danger. If I sense any threat, I'll drag you away to escape immediately."

"Escape?" Biluo stared blankly at Qian Jin, finding it hard to believe that a word like 'escape' would ever come from a warrior's mouth.

Qian Jin smiled at Biluo's reaction. "What's wrong with escaping? Even the Warrior's Code states: when facing an insurmountable foe, the foolish charge to their death, while the wise choose to retreat, build their strength, and then defeat their enemy."

Biluo nodded numbly, her oversized hat swaying back and forth. Doubt still lingered in her eyes, and her voice retained a hint of timidity. "How do you know you can sense danger for certain?"

Over the few days they had spent together, Biluo had become slightly more talkative, but the timidity that seemed rooted to her bones refused to disappear.

"How could I not sense it?" Qian Jin felt a bit helpless at her persistent fear. Seven days together, yet why did she still seem so timid? What kind of trauma had she endured to make her this way?

Qian Jin paused in thought, then looked at the perplexed Biluo with a smile. "Haven't you noticed? In this Sunset Mountain Range, which should have plenty of beasts, besides the occasional rabbit we catch for an extra meal, we haven't encountered a single aggressive animal?" Biluo began to recall diligently, murmuring to herself, "That's true. Do you suddenly change direction just to avoid beasts on the path ahead? How do you do that?"

Seeing that he had somewhat persuaded her, Qian Jin shrugged with a smile. How should he answer that question? Should he tell her that not long ago, he spent sixteen hours every night fighting in the wilderness near the school, slaying countless beasts and assassins, thereby developing a sensitivity to danger far keener than that of a Demon Quelling Warrior?

"Let's go."

Qian Jin grasped Biluo’s small hand, instantly feeling her entire body tense up. Her small strength fought desperately to pull her hand away.

"Honestly, I don't usually grab girls' hands," Qian Jin admitted with a degree of embarrassment, looking at Biluo. "But ever since we left the Academy, I've had this persistent feeling like some danger is watching us, yet I can't pinpoint the source. If I don't hold onto you, I’m afraid you won't be able to dodge if danger strikes."

Biluo cautiously peered at Qian Jin from beneath her magic hat, trying to discern if his words were genuine.

"That despicable brat," the stout Nasida muttered secretly, stomping on the decaying leaves on the ground. "After this mission, I'm making Lucas pay me extra! No matter what this kid is doing, his posture suggests he’s ready for combat at any moment. Who trained him? Does the Auckland Magic and Warrior Academy have such outstanding instructors?"

The thin Number Three, Short, shook his head with a wry smile. This was clearly not a skill taught by any academy style; it felt more like an instinct honed through countless battles on the field—a rhythm perfectly suited to him.

However... Short couldn't believe it. A first-year warrior student, barely sixteen, sent to the front lines to slay hundreds or thousands of demons? How young would he have to be to start fighting? How incredibly lucky must he be to survive the Demon-Human battlefield unscathed?

This defied common sense! Short could only conclude that the Auckland Magic and Warrior Academy did indeed have an exceptional teacher who had been secretly guiding Qian Jin since he first enrolled.

"They're moving again," Number One narrowed his eyes, which glinted with icy light. "It's almost certain now: these two are headed for the Sunset Mountain Range. Let's take a gamble this time! Short, find a way to overtake them without being noticed, and set up an ambush near the Valley of the Four Seasons."

Short glanced at the bow held by the stout Nasida, then nodded slightly while crouching low. "Count on me. I assume you don't think he's only a Class Seven warrior, right?"

Nasida and Number One nodded softly. While it was surprising enough for a young man under sixteen, lacking any bloodline power, to possess the abilities of a Class Seven warrior, they couldn't shake the feeling that the youth was concealing something even greater—perhaps even the strength of a Class Nine warrior!

A Class Nine warrior? Nasida shook his head violently, trying to dislodge the absurd thought, but it clung stubbornly. If they hadn't felt this intuition, they would have attacked the target on the very first day they entered the Sunset Mountain Range. Three Class Nine warriors, even ganging up on one, shouldn't fail. But if it were truly a Class Nine warrior, in their death throes, no one could guarantee they'd escape without injury. A swift, decisive kill would be best.

The stout Nasida watched the slender Short closely. For this master of stealth to avoid alerting the targets, he had to take a massive detour while keeping low and moving silently. This took nearly two hours. By then, Qian Jin was already very close to the Valley of the Four Seasons.

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