Now that the academy was already aware, Cynthia had no reason to cover for Keli anymore.
She stated that there were still two of them present at the post, and that they had taken in an injured person.
The instructor on the other end responded flatly with just "Understood," and then nothing followed.
Cynthia grew a little anxious and asked, "Our patrol shift is almost over. Can we withdraw now?"
The situation right now was truly critical, shifting by the day. Ghost only knew what would happen next.
The reply from the other end was that it would be better if they held out until a relief rotation arrived before pulling back.
Cynthia could not accept that answer at all. Even though the other party was an instructor, she couldn't help arguing her case.
The three of them still on the mountain were all students, and one was injured to boot.
Setting aside whether Keli's choice to assist the military was right or wrong, the key issue was that they were on a patrol mission without even a single knight.
The instructor answered bluntly, "There is Guizu activity outside the mountain too. Returning safely won't be easy for you either!"
More importantly, the instructor added, "As long as you are willing to keep patrolling, the academy will increase the mission rewards!"
If the injured student could hold out, he would receive two silver dollars a day; the two uninjured students would get ten silver dollars a day each!
Red Pine's logic was simple: Afraid of the danger? Just throw money at it!
Anyone in Liang who could practice martial arts didn't come from a destitute family, but everyone wanted to advance further, and most martial artists were tight on funds.
This lavish offer was hard for Cynthia to resist. Her finances weren't strained, and she had just obtained crystals, but who would turn down more money?
Besides, even if they tried to leave now, there was no guarantee they would make it back to Red Pine safely.
At Wu Youren's prompting, Cynthia asked, "Then what is the point of us holding this post?"
The academy instructor didn't mince words—with the Guizu threat at hand, he had no patience for evasive answers.
He stated frankly, "Your post is one of the few places that hasn't fallen into panic and can still hold out!"
Roughly translated: most of the martial artists had lost all order, organization, and morale, but you guys are steady!
In military terms, their unit designation and gear were still intact!
In truth, their unit was pitifully small, complete with a wounded man, and their gear was barely better than nothing. But their organization remained whole!
Wu Youren understood, even if he felt the whole thing sounded rather absurd.
"Cynthia, make sure you stress that our post has no capacity to mount rescue missions outside, and we can't be sure how long we can hold out."
Yet the instructor replied, "We know all of that, and we don't expect you to accomplish anything grand."
"As long as an outpost remains there, it provides an extra option when needed, and that is enough."
His words were utterly blunt. "Don't put too much pressure on yourselves. You aren't as important as you think!"
Cynthia looked helplessly at the two beside her. "We're... just a backup plan!"
"A high-priced backup plan isn't bad," Naimu'er said philosophically. What bothered him was, "Why do I only get two silver dollars, though?"
"You get paid for doing nothing," Cynthia said, rolling her eyes at him. "Why don't you leave right now?"
"I'm not crazy," Naimu'er replied with a decisive shake of his head.
The three of them appeared to bicker cheerfully, but only they knew the true pressure weighing on their hearts.
The conversation with Red Pine showed that their current situation was relatively stable. Put another way, however, this place had become an isolated island.
If they wanted to head back to Red Pine now, as long as they were careful enough, their chances of success wouldn't be low.
Yet the academy was truly willing to spend lavishly, and while being on the front lines was dangerous, it also brought opportunities.
Just like their recent windfall—hadn't that come from ambushing a knight?
War profits had always been the quickest route to sudden wealth, and the people of Liang had never lacked a spirit of adventure in their bones.
Wu Youren didn't fear taking risks either; he simply hated the feeling of having no control over his own fate.
None of the three stated it aloud, but they all understood that the meager reward from the academy was merely a baseline guarantee.
If they truly wanted a greater harvest, they would have to rely on their luck going forward.
Wu Youren secretly surmised that when the academy offered such terms, they had probably anticipated that the students would harbor this exact mindset.
While he was pondering this, Naimu'er spoke up, "Should we send a broadcast over the intercom to let others know they can rest here?"
Cynthia couldn't hold back. "Could you please use your head? A single knight with malicious intent could kill the three of us in an instant!"
"We have traps," Naimu'er argued casually. "Fortune favors the bold... right, Little Wu?"
"I am a peaceful person," Wu Youren paused, then stated calmly. "A stable life suits me fine."
Naimu'er chuckled dismissively. "You want stability? Will the Guizu agree to that?"
*It's mostly your Liang that won't agree...* Wu Youren nodded slightly. "Fair point, but I still think taking the initiative to broadcast our position calls for caution."
"So little courage," Naimu'er sighed and shook his head. "Little Wu, you're still a bit too soft."
Wu Youren disliked arguing with people, but at this moment, he couldn't help adding, "Let's wait until Instructor Keli returns before discussing it."
There was nothing wrong with letting greed cloud one's judgment, but everyone needed to keep their priorities straight.
Unfortunately, Instructor Keli remained missing, and they couldn't reach him even by nightfall.
Martial artists continued to pull back from the mountains in a steady stream, though their numbers showed a downward trend.
By daybreak the next morning, fewer martial artists were retreating, and the mountain trail grew increasingly quiet.
Around midday, the instructor from Red Pine contacted Cynthia again. After confirming they were still holding out, he cut the communication.
By afternoon, the number of fleeing martial artists had dwindled even further, and the three barely spoke.
An eerie atmosphere spread silently.
Come evening, Naimu'er took the initiative to suggest, "I think we should light a campfire. There aren't many people left anyway."
The other two gave no reaction, which was taken as tacit agreement.
In the second half of the night, Wu Youren took over the watch from Cynthia. She suddenly asked, "Do you think... we're the only ones left?"
"There are still people ahead," the Jin youth replied calmly. "Instructor Keli and the military should still be stabilizing the situation."
The martial artists retreating over the past few days had been completely disorganized.
Even if there were academy instructors and soldiers scattered among them, they had likely lost contact with the main force and were forced to fall back.
Since no organized military force had been routed and retreated down the mountain, fighting was bound to be continuing on the front lines, or they were fortifying their camp at the same time.
Anyone with a shred of military common sense knew the massive impact an outpost turned into a solid bridgehead could have on the course of battle.
Cynthia did not dispute his reasoning, but she still sighed. "Still, most of the area between here and there has gone empty!"
The academy's ten silver dollars were truly not easy to earn!
"It's too late to withdraw now," Wu Youren shared his thoughts, a rare occurrence for him. "I sense a great threat coming from the rear as well."
"What if we carefully break out?" Cynthia had to consider the option seriously.
The Red Pine instructor hadn't forbidden them from withdrawing; they would just have to bear the risks themselves.
"For now, I don't see the necessity," Wu Youren replied slowly. "You two can withdraw first."
He understood her current mindset. In fact, since yesterday afternoon, he had sensed the subtle shift in both of them.
A lone skiff tossed upon raging waves... anyone placed in such a situation would feel uneasy.
He, however, was different. For the past eight years, this was how he had lived his life.
No one understood better than him the dread and anxiety of treading on thin ice.
Still, once one got used to it, it was manageable. Facing the Guizu threat directly brought both danger and opportunity.
Unlike the other two, what he sought was far more than material windfalls.
In the past, when he had no access to Guizu incidents, he went out of his way to seek them out in order to figure out how experience points worked. Now was the perfect opportunity.
A voice suddenly chimed in. It was Naimu'er. "I think Little Wu makes sense."
He had taken the first watch, yet he was awake now, which showed the sheer pressure he felt.
Cynthia responded without hesitation, "I'm not leaving. You can go alone."
Hearing that, Naimu'er felt thoroughly indignant. "My arm is just injured. You trust him more than me?"
"Yes," Cynthia nodded, answering casually. "He's stronger than you."
"Heh," Naimu'er let out a cold, angry scoff and said no more.
When dawn broke, Red Pine contacted Cynthia again. This time, however, she promptly asked about the current battle situation.
If there was no hope ahead, they would risk pulling back.
The academy's answer was: fighting on the front lines was still underway, but communication was difficult, and the exact situation was unclear.
If the three of them wished to withdraw, the academy certainly could not spare any forces to escort them, and they would have to fend for themselves.
In closing, the instructor did not forget to warn them that the Guizu crisis outside the mountain was severe as well, and they should weigh the risks themselves.
Naimu'er cursed in fury, "What 'unclear situation'? They're deliberately cutting off information to force us to stay here!"
The other two also knew his words were true, but... what alternative did they have?
By the afternoon, another martial artist appeared, sprinting wildly along the mountain trail.
It was a knight carrying another person on his shoulders, holding a greatsword in one hand and carrying nothing else.
The knight was covered in blood. As he dashed forward, he shouted desperately for help over his intercom, looking thoroughly wretched.
"Is anyone there? I am Aslan of the Camille family! Help me, and you will be richly rewarded!"
The wrist-comms of all three students received the message, but none of them stood up. They simply watched him in silence.
In the end, Cynthia's heart softened slightly. "Actually, escaping alone gives a much higher chance of survival. This guy... Aren't you going to save him?"
Seeing her speak to him, Naimu'er snorted. "The academy didn't come to save us, and I'm injured!"
Then he glanced at Wu Youren. "Didn't you say the Guizu are the great enemy of humanity?"
He had always harbored a slight grudge against this junior schoolmate. The boy seemed quiet and devoid of personality, yet Cynthia praised him so highly.
Now Cynthia was asking him, an injured man, to go rescue someone. Wasn't that blatantly playing favorites?
Chapter 60