Chapter 119: The Catastrophe at Cloud Ridge

Hunter status grants the right to carry firearms and weapons, access semi-open secret realms for exploration, and enjoy numerous privileges. However, enjoying these rights comes with the burden of responsibility. The Hunter Guild reserves the right to summon its members.

Summoning orders are divided into three levels, with Level 1 being the highest. Generally, the guild does not force assignments upon hunters. But the issuance of a Level 1 order means that every hunter who receives it must reach the designated location as quickly as possible and submit to the guild’s command. Failure to comply or resisting orders results in the revocation of hunter status at best, and criminal prosecution at worst.

These regulations are all written in the Hunter’s Handbook. Gao Wu had read it long ago; with his current mental strength, he could even recite the entire manual from memory.

"Something must have happened at Yunling," Song Mingyue said. Her eyes were sharp, and the slight intoxication from earlier had long since dissipated.

Gao Wu nodded; he thought the same. Yesterday, Song Chunqiu had warned them not to go to Yunling, and Shen Ning had previously hinted that the issues there would be resolved soon. The guild’s sudden issuance of a Level 1 summoning order indicated that a major crisis had erupted at Yunling, necessitating the emergency mobilization of hunters from all over to provide support.

Gao Wu couldn't help but sigh. He had always felt that things in Yunling wouldn't go smoothly. The reason was simple: Song Chunqiu had personally intervened, yet after a month of preparation, nothing had been resolved cleanly. Wan Canglong was a Martial Master, far stronger than the likes of Lü Hongsheng or Huang Hai. Having operated in Yunling for many years, he possessed a complex web of connections. Dealing with such a powerful Martial Master, especially with Demon Gods stirring the pot, was bound to be difficult. But to trigger an emergency Level 1 order from the Dongjiang Hunter Guild? One could only imagine the scale of the disaster.

"The world is just a makeshift stage," Gao Wu sighed. He was eager to kill Wan Canglong, but not in this passive, forced manner. It left a bad taste in his mouth.

"The world has always been a makeshift stage," Song Mingyue replied sternly. "Precision machinery malfunctions, and the sun, moon, and stars experience instability. How could humans, with their limited energy and abilities, ever be without problems? The delusion that the world should operate with perfect efficiency and order is pure ignorance. That a massive social organization can maintain a relatively stable state is already a miracle of human civilization. If not for the appearance of the Otherworlds, humanity might have destroyed its own civilization long ago."

"You're right," Gao Wu said, bracing himself. "Since this opportunity has arisen, let's go to Yunling and see. Perhaps I can even take my revenge personally. That would be a pleasure."

Unlike Song Mingyue, who tended to look at the darker side of things, Gao Wu preferred to see the positive. Song Mingyue had intended to persuade him not to report. For a young hunter like him, refusing the summons would at most result in the loss of his status—no other penalty would be imposed. Compared to the risk of death, a minor punishment was nothing. With her connections, she could have him re-certified in two years. In truth, Gao Wu had many paths for his future; he didn't need to be a hunter.

Seeing how determined Gao Wu was, Song Mingyue thought for a moment and said, "I'll go with you."

"You're not even a hunter, why join the fray?" Gao Wu refused, shaking his head. His Azure Dragon Divine Qi Mantra had reached the realm of mastery, and he could project his Yin Spirit. As long as he didn't run into a Martial Master and get pulverized, he wouldn't die. Although Song Mingyue’s mental energy had leveled up, she was still at the Martial Master level, and her other skills were far behind. On a chaotic battlefield, ten Song Mingyues wouldn't have his survival capability.

"Good friends help each other, don't they?" Song Mingyue looked at Gao Wu, her beautiful phoenix eyes unusually bright and earnest.

"Good brother!" Gao Wu saw her resolve and felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Little Song was loyal! He didn't try to stop her again, instead giving her a firm hug to express his gratitude.

For his hunter assessment, Gao Wu had bought a full set of combat gear, which he now pulled out. This Dragon-Scale combat suit was breathable, stab-proof, and waterproof. The combat boots were also specially made to withstand the explosive force of a Martial Warrior. To his surprise, Song Mingyue had also prepared a full set of gear, even more sophisticated than his—a black combat suit, bulletproof tactical vest, tactical belt equipped with various potions, solid Golden Ginseng energy blocks, firearms, longbows, and crossbows.

"Dragon-Scale Type III combat suit, with passive optical camouflage; it can actively block scents, absorb body heat, and shield against infrared radiation," Song Mingyue explained simply. "This Winter Snake potion can lower the heart rate, keeping one in a near-hibernation state for two days while severely injured. There are also Tiger, Flying Squirrel, and other relevant potions." She pointed to the bow and crossbow. "The bow has great power, but the arrows are inconvenient to carry. Firearms are more suitable for secret realms."

For logistics, Song Mingyue had chosen two Thunderhawk pistols. While not as good as Gao Wu’s Golden Thunderhawk, they were still high-quality pieces. For combat, she even brought a seven-kilogram heavy sword. The Frost Moon Sword consumed too much mental energy to be used as a standard weapon. Gao Wu, however, kept it simple: he only brought his Destiny Sword, the Golden Thunderhawk, and the Scarlet Eye. Everything else was packed into his military rucksack, which contained enough supplies to meet their energy needs for ten days.

Once prepared, they headed to the Tianhe Building. At midnight, the entrance was brightly lit, and the road in front was packed with vehicles. Dongjiang had nearly ten thousand registered hunters; even if only a tenth were summoned, that was over a thousand people. The driver could only drop them off far away, and they walked several hundred meters to reach the building.

The lobby was filled with heavily armed hunters. Although Gao Wu and Song Mingyue were also equipped, they looked far too young and stood out in the crowd. Song Mingyue hid her face behind sunglasses, but Gao Wu was clearly visible.

Soon, someone recognized him. "It’s Gao Wu! The Qilin Cup champion!"

"Heh, he’s got guts!"

"This isn't a child's fighting ring. He doesn't know what he's getting into!"

"Getting a hunter status just to play with guns—he’ll regret this soon enough..."

Most of the hunters were martial artists. They were a rough crowd, hardened by life-and-death struggles, and their talk was inevitably laced with sarcasm. In truth, they were envious of Gao Wu’s youthful success and fame across the North Province. On the other hand, as veteran hunters, they looked down on such a green youth.

Gao Wu scanned the crowd. He wasn't angry; instead, he flashed a grin that looked rather sunny. It wasn't that he was particularly magnanimous; he had confirmed through his Yin Spirit that no one present had the aura of a Demon God, and he could gauge their true strength. Among the hundreds in the lobby, the strongest was merely an intermediate Martial Warrior who had opened two acupuncture points. If he used his Yin Spirit to control his sword, none of them could withstand a single strike.

His strength allowed him to look down on them, rendering their snide remarks meaningless. It was like a large, vicious dog—one might be tense around it, but if a tiny poodle acted arrogant, you could just kick it aside. You wouldn't get angry at the poodle. The hunters were just being mouthy; they knew how formidable Gao Wu was. An eighteen-year-old Martial Warrior had more potential than everyone in the room combined. While they might gripe, none were foolish enough to actually provoke him.

"Silence!" A loud shout echoed from within. Gao Wu couldn't see the speaker due to the crowd, but he recognized the voice—the same middle-aged woman he had met twice before, full of vigor. The lobby quieted down for a moment before erupting into noise again.

"Silence." Shen Ning’s cold, sharp voice cut through. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was like a blade sweeping across, silencing the chaos instantly. The powerful mental field of a Martial Master covered everyone in the lobby. Regardless of how slick the hunters were, they instinctively stood straight, not daring to be careless.

"All hunters, line up to register and collect your gear and supplies according to the list," Shen Ning said in a deep voice. "The motorcade will depart in half an hour. This mission is top-secret. From this moment on, no one is allowed to use wireless communication. All forms of communication must be approved. Note that we are in a Level 1 state of emergency; military law is now in effect. I will say this once: violators will be dealt with under military law. Military law is merciless—obey orders at all costs."

Her words were filled with killing intent. Although the hunters knew a summons meant something major, most had never faced this before, and their expressions shifted. In the vast lobby, hundreds of hunters stood in dead silence. A group of soldiers in uniform emerged from the passage to begin organizing the groups.

As Gao Wu and Song Mingyue reached the front of the line, they saw Shang Zhenglin assisting with the registration. He looked at Gao Wu with a complex expression. "Chairman Shen is waiting for you," he sighed, gesturing to the passage behind him. "Follow this to the innermost office."

"Uncle San," Gao Wu said with a smile, "help me get four hundred rounds of 13mm high-explosive armor-piercing ammunition, some military rations, disinfectant, and painkillers..." What he needed most was ammunition. Shang Zhenglin nodded. "I will handle it."

Gao Wu nodded to Shang Zhenglin and the woman, then led Song Mingyue through the counter into the corridor. The surrounding hunters watched, but no one dared to speak. No one was stupid enough to shout about "backdoor deals" at a time like this; doing so might lead to an on-the-spot execution under military law.

Gao Wu knocked on the door at the end of the hall. "Come in," Shen Ning’s voice sounded. Pushing the door open, Gao Wu’s first sight was Shen An sitting on the sofa, his burly frame taking up a large portion of the room. Shen Ning sat at the main desk. Gao Wu hadn't expected Shen An to be here; he realized then that Shang Zhenglin’s mention of "Chairman Shen" had referred to Shen An.

"Uncle Shen, you're here too!" Gao Wu greeted him before turning to Shen Ning. "Hello, Chairman." In Anjing, Shen An had treated him with great care, so Gao Wu felt closer to him. Shen Ning’s cold, stern demeanor was more like Song Mingyue’s, and he found it hard to get close to her.

Shen Ning nodded slightly, about to speak, but her expression turned cold upon seeing Song Mingyue. "Mingyue, why are you here?"

"Auntie, Gao Wu has been summoned; I am accompanying him," Song Mingyue replied calmly.

Shen Ning felt a sense of helplessness. What logic was this? What did Gao Wu’s summons have to do with her? "The situation at Yunling is extremely dangerous," she said. "You will only be a burden and cause trouble."

"Don't worry," Shen An said with a smile, patting the four-foot-long blade resting beside him. "Since Gao Wu has responded to the summons, I will ensure his safety. I am a Martial Arts Master, after all; protecting him won't be a problem."

Gao Wu hesitated. He also felt Song Mingyue shouldn't go. Seeing Shen An there made him regret letting her follow. While Shen An was a Martial Arts Master, his presence only meant the situation at Yunling was dire enough to require a Vice Chairman to personally take the field.

Song Mingyue was resolute. "I want to be with Gao Wu."

"This is nonsense," Shen Ning said, genuinely angry. She could indulge Mingyue in other things, but Yunling was too dangerous. As a mere Martial Warrior, Mingyue would surely die if something went wrong.

Gao Wu tried to intervene, but Song Mingyue interrupted. "He came to get you personally, which proves how dangerous it is. I only feel at ease if I'm with you."

Shen An wanted to say something, but he stopped. He, too, felt Song Mingyue was being stubborn, though he didn't want to overstep his bounds as an elder. Just as Shen Ning was about to speak, she felt a sudden sensation and turned to see the four-foot Skywing Blade on the sofa unsheathe itself by half an inch. A cold, icy light and the sound of the blade singing poured out from the scabbard. Even with her cultivation, she felt a chill. She looked at Shen An, whose chubby face wore a wry smile. "This child... what powerful mental energy!"

As a Martial Arts Master, Shen An could already manifest his martial path into a form using mental energy. The Skywing Blade had been his weapon for twenty years, sharing a deep resonance with his spirit. Yet, it had been forcibly unsheathed by Song Mingyue. By the time he reacted, it was already done—a rather embarrassing moment for a master.

Furthermore, the fact that Song Mingyue could break his mental seal proved the strength of her mental power. Shen Ning was also astonished. She knew Mingyue had advanced to Martial Warrior, but not that she was a Mentalist! An eighteen-year-old Mentalist—in terms of value, she was unmatched in the North Province. Even though Gao Wu had won the Qilin Cup, he was still far behind a Mentalist. She felt a tinge of anger—why hadn't Mingyue told them about this earlier? She could have made much better arrangements.

Song Mingyue didn't need to look at her aunt’s face to know what she was thinking. She hadn't mentioned being a Mentalist precisely because she knew they would interfere and make arrangements for her. She detested such control. She had her own plans and didn't need others managing her life. "I don't need anyone’s care. I can protect myself," she said quietly.

Shen An shook his head at Shen Ning, signaling her to stop. Given Song Mingyue’s resolve, forcing her would only make things worse. "Very well," he said. "The situation is urgent; having an extra powerful Mentalist will increase our odds." He checked his watch. "We still have time; go get some rest. We depart at four."

The situation was indeed urgent, but the secret realm was still violently oscillating; no one could enter yet. That was precisely why Shen An could afford to wait for Gao Wu to come to him.

It was summer, and by four in the morning, the sky was already bright. Gao Wu and Song Mingyue rested in an adjacent room. At 3:30, Shen An woke them up. They ate, washed, and prepared themselves. Shang Zhenglin had been reliable, ensuring all their supplies were packed.

The three took an elevator to the roof, where a green military heavy-duty helicopter awaited. "Specially prepared for you," Shen An chuckled.

"What would have happened if I hadn't come?" Gao Wu asked curiously. He had realized early on that Shen An had come specifically for him.

Shen An’s tone remained gentle. "You are only eighteen; we would have understood if you hadn't come. However, the matter is of great importance. If you hadn't come, I would have had to go and personally invite you."

With over a hundred thousand people lost in the secret realm, not to mention the threat to Yunling—a city of millions—the stakes were immense.

"Defending against foreign beasts and protecting our country is my unshirkable responsibility," Gao Wu said sternly.

"Good." Shen An felt comforted. In these relatively comfortable times, few youths possessed such awareness.

The heavy helicopter was noisy and uncomfortable, but its cabin was spacious. After an hour of flight, it landed on a wide hillside. Stepping out, Gao Wu saw a vast expanse of tents covering half the slope, filled with people. The sun had risen in the east, illuminating the world. Standing on the slope, Gao Wu could see a town in the distance—a sprawl of low, flat buildings that looked chaotic due to a lack of urban planning. In the center, a five-story building stood out among the low dwellings.

"Dacang Town..." Gao Wu recognized it immediately; it was where he had stayed during his hunter trial. But the town looked too quiet. No signs of life, no cooking smoke—it was eerie for a town of over a hundred thousand people. From this distance, he could see that many houses had collapsed and were badly damaged.

Gao Wu channeled his Yin Spirit and looked. Above the town, layers of murky smoke hovered, and the town itself twisted and transformed like a reflection in water. He was shocked. The space was distorted—this was clearly the state of a secret realm, but it looked like undulating bubbles, extremely unstable.

"General Song, Master An, Chairman Bai, and Deputy Minister Zhang are all here. I will take you to meet them."

Arriving at the largest tent, Gao Wu saw armed guards standing watch. Shen An had to present his identification before they could enter. Outside, Gao Wu had already seen Song Chunqiu and An Ziru, both in black military uniforms. Inside, he saw Zhang Yunyi standing to one side. Clad in the black uniform of the Ministry of Supervision and wearing silver-rimmed glasses, he looked like a quiet clerk taking notes, lacking the aura of a Martial Arts Master or the authority of a Deputy Minister.

Standing on the other side was a handsome man who stood out starkly. He wore a purple mandarin-collared Tang suit, his regal, aggressive demeanor contrasting sharply with the formal attire of the others. Gao Wu guessed this was Bai Yan, the other Vice Chairman of the Hunter Guild and Bai Yushuang’s father.

Song Chunqiu was pointing at a map, speaking, while everyone listened with serious expressions. Zhang Yunyi noticed Gao Wu and nodded politely. Bai Yan’s gaze swept over Gao Wu but lingered on Song Mingyue, seemingly curious about the newcomer. Song Chunqiu also noted Gao Wu and nodded. "You've come at the right time!"

He had received word from Shen An that Gao Wu was coming, and he held the boy in higher regard for it. Before everyone present, Gao Wu didn't try to pull rank; he simply gave a formal military salute. "Sir, Gao Wu reporting for duty."

Song Chunqiu gestured to Gao Wu. "Gao Wu, a youth from Dongjiang. Despite his young age, he does not fear death and serves his country. It is truly admirable!"

The people in the tent were all high-ranking elites; they understood the implication. If a child were willing to risk his life, they could not afford to be slack in the slightest. The atmosphere tightened, and even the arrogant Bai Yan’s expression deepened.