The process of leaving the city was simple—just register at the city guard management office, and then you could leave. This was because Chucheng needed people to leave the city to find new resources or scout for intelligence. Moreover, these people, while leaving, would inevitably kill or feed the zombies and beasts along the way, which would make Chucheng safer.
However, just as Chu Xun arrived at the city guard office, ready to complete the formalities, an unexpected trouble suddenly descended upon him.
A sarcastic and disdainful laugh came from behind Chu Xun: "Yo, isn't that the useless one from the Chu family?"
"Why him?" Looking at the guy surrounded by four or five people in the distance, wearing a white scholar's robe and with an eagle-hook nose that made people dislike him at first glance, Chu Xun furrowed his brows slightly.
This guy was called Chu Jie, the younger brother of Chu Qing. At fifteen, he had successfully awakened his superpower, a material-type power called "Rock Armor," making him a rising star in the Chu family. He had always idolized Chu Qing and followed his every lead. In the past, he had even bullied Chu Xun, and had helped Chu Qing extort him. Their enmity ran deep.
"What's the matter? Are you mute?" Seeing that Chu Xun didn't grovel like before and even frowned, showing displeasure, Chu Jie's mood immediately soured. He snorted coldly and quickly walked up to Chu Xun, grabbing his collar and coldly said, "I heard that Qing died by your hands. Although I don't know how you did it, let me tell you, you're as good as dead this time!"
"Let go!" As Chu Xun's collar was grabbed, his eyes instantly turned cold, and his right fist slowly clenched, ready to strike and teach Chu Jie a lesson.
Although he might not be able to defeat Chu Jie, who had the "Rock Armor" ability, with his current strength, he certainly wasn't the kind of coward who would suffer in silence when others bullied him. Even if he couldn't win, he would at least throw a few punches first!
"Quiet down, no fighting on the walls!" Seeing Chu Xun and Chu Jie about to get into a dispute, the city guard officer's gaze instantly turned cold, and he drew out his laser pistol, pointing it at Chu Jie, "Let go immediately, or I'll shoot!"
As the only entrance and exit of Chucheng, the South City Gate and the South City Wall were strictly controlled military zones. No disturbances or disputes were allowed here. Once a disturbance occurred, the city guard officers had the right to act first and report later.
Since the city guard was directly under the city management, even Chu Jie didn't dare to act recklessly. He immediately let go of Chu Xun's collar and coldly said, "You'd better never come down from the city wall, or I'll make you regret it!"
"We're leaving!" After saying that, Chu Jie gave Chu Xun another furious glance, then turned and walked down the city wall with his followers.
He had initially come to relax and look at the scenery outside the city wall, but unexpectedly, Chu Xun had ruined his mood. A glint of malice flashed in his eyes, and he loudly said to a strong follower beside him, "Jie San, you keep an eye on this waste. As soon as he leaves the city wall, inform me. This time, I'm definitely going to teach this waste a lesson."
He gave Chu Xun another fierce look and gritted his teeth, "I'll make sure to teach this waste a lesson before my brother gets back. Hmph!"
Then, Chu Jie left with his other followers, leaving only the follower named Jie San still watching Chu Xun closely.
He didn't dare let his guard down. If Chu Xun slipped past him, he would probably not live long. Thinking of the cruel punishment Chu Jie would mete out to a servant who made a mistake, Jie San couldn't help but shiver.
"It looks like this matter won't end peacefully..." Chu Jie's voice was loud, and naturally, Chu Xun heard it. Or rather, Chu Jie probably wanted him to hear it. Looking at Jie San standing not far away, a cold light flickered in Chu Jie's eyes. He took a deep breath and walked up to the city guard officer, saying, "Officer, I want to leave the city."
"You want to leave the city?" The city guard officer, who clearly knew Chu Xun, frowned when he heard the request and said, "Don't you have no awakened abilities? With your strength, even a low-level zombie could take your life. Are you looking for death?"
Although the officer's tone was cold and his expression stern, Chu Xun sensed a hint of concern. His heart warmed slightly, and he shook his head, saying, "I have already successfully awakened my abilities, but the scholar exam is approaching, and I've just awakened. My powers are still too weak, so I want to hone my abilities in combat, so I can perform well in the scholar exam."
"Already awakened?" Hearing Chu Xun's words, the officer's eyes brightened slightly, then he shook his head again and said, "Even if you've awakened your abilities, it's still not enough. At your current level of awakening, while you can handle a regular zombie, it would still be dangerous if you encounter a few. What's more, ordinary zombies are just the weakest enemies. Outside the city, there are countless terrifying creatures that feed on humans. Do you know that you might never come back from this trip?"
"I know the dangers of going out, but I won't go too far from the city. I'll only hunt near the main road. Every three months, a merchant convoy clears the main road, so even if there are enemies nearby, they won't be too strong," Chu Xun shook his head, his eyes fixed on the officer. "Please let me out. If I don't do well in the scholar exam, I won't get more resources. I don't want to be a waste!"
"No wonder you're Chu Zhan's son. You're just as stubborn as your father." Looking at Chu Xun's serious expression, the officer's eyes revealed a hint of nostalgia. Then he sighed, "Alright, I'll let you out of the city. I hope you make it back alive."
With that, the officer took a knife from his waist and handed it to Chu Xun, saying, "This secondary alloy dagger is for you. With it for protection, your chances of survival will be higher."
"Thank you, Officer!" Chu Xun knew that life and death were on the line, so he didn't hesitate, accepting the dagger and sincerely thanking the officer.
Unlike the ordinary alloy battle knife he brought from home, the secondary alloy dagger was much harder and sharper, capable of cutting through metal and even hair. Its value was equivalent to five or six energy crystals. With this dagger, Chu Xun's safety would be much higher.
"Don't thank me. If it wasn't for your father fighting to the death, I'd probably be dead in the zombie tide too," the officer shook his head. He and Chu Zhan had been comrades, which was why he treated Chu Xun with such care. But that was all he could do. He didn't have the resources to help Chu Xun any further.
There were many matters in the city guard, and the officer couldn't waste too much time on Chu Xun. After handing over the dagger, he used a crane to lower Chu Xun from the city wall.
"Ah, without the protection of the city walls, I really feel a bit nervous." Standing at the foot of the city wall, Chu Xun couldn't help but feel a slight tinge of anxiety.
Outside the city was truly a death trap. Not to mention someone like him who had just awakened his abilities, even second, third, or even fourth-tier experts could fall. To say he wasn't afraid or nervous would be a lie.
But thinking about his mission and the terrifying punishment of annihilation, Chu Xun knew that despite his fear, he had no choice but to take a risk. He took a deep breath, strapped the 30 cm long, pitch-black secondary alloy dagger that gleamed with a cold metallic shine to his waist, then gripped his battle knife tightly and walked toward the southern main road.
"Damn, this guy actually left the city. Is he looking for death?" Seeing Chu Xun leave the city using the crane and walking in the distance, Jie San was stunned. It wasn't until Chu Xun disappeared from view that he snapped back to reality and suddenly started laughing. "Looks like this guy got scared by the young master. He'd rather die outside the city than return. This is good. I'm sure the young master will be satisfied with this outcome."
With that, Jie San quickly ran down the city wall to inform Chu Jie.