Chapter 61. Little Karami, who is being ostracized.
The Dongting Lake Plain also belongs to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and is located in the northern part of Hubei Province.
Dongting Lake is not a famous scenic spot. This huge lake, which covers an area of nearly 40,000 square kilometers, is the third most dangerous lake in the Great Xia Dynasty, which is often mentioned in books.
This enormous lake is surrounded by various different ecosystems, and countless demons inhabit it!
Among them, the infamous Lizard Head Giant Demon tribe, which has occupied Jinlin City as its lair, uses Dongting Lake as its base.
After arriving in Kangning City, the closest city to Jinlin City, the seventeen students from Mingzhu Academy and Didu Academy had to continue on foot. Along the way, Jingjing, a top student with a photographic memory, began to introduce the surrounding area of Jinlin City, mentioning demon lairs, clans, and tribes.
Mo Fan was aware of these things, but he didn't ask about them.
However, her explanation did not last long before Liao Mingxuan interrupted her.
After all, they're not here to repeat the same lectures.
Moreover, they had already traveled about fifty kilometers away from Anjie. There were still Dharma Masters patrolling and keeping watch in this area, so they did not encounter any ignorant demons. But it was hard to say what would happen if they went deeper into the mountains and forests!
"We'll just follow this abandoned railway."
Holding the map, Song Xia glanced at Mo Fan, then pointed to the moss-covered railway tracks at her feet.
The railway tracks were completely rusted, covered in brown stains, and stretched straight into the distant green fields and forests. The part that disappeared into the forest was completely hidden by thorns and tall grass. If you didn't look carefully, you would never know that this was once a railway.
Previously, the railway belonged to Anjie. With the destruction of Jinlin City, the area extended by this railway naturally became a land of demons, so it is normal that it has been abandoned like this.
In short, the railway tracks are a natural automatic wayfinding marker; following them will always lead you to Jinlin City!
"Okay, that's settled then," Mo Fan nodded and said.
"Since the school requires us to cooperate to complete this training mission, we seventeen people can't just be a disorganized mess. There needs to be someone in the team to take charge so that everyone can act in an orderly and organized manner." Lu Zhenghe habitually straightened his back and spoke in what he thought was a very authoritative tone.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Liao Mingxuan burst into laughter, his laughter full of sarcasm: "Lu Zhenghe, you don't even have any wolves left now. You're not still dreaming of being a boss like before, are you? Stop daydreaming. You don't have the capital anymore."
"You…" Lu Zhenghe's face turned red. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. The anger in his heart was churning in his chest, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, he could only grit his teeth and forcefully swallow the anger that was about to burst forth.
"Hey, letting you come along for training is already a huge favor. Besides, given your current condition, we'll probably have to protect you when danger comes. Don't even think about commanding such an important matter. Don't meddle here." Xu Dalong said without any mercy.
They were often angered by Lu Zhenghe's arrogant demeanor. Back then, Lu Zhenghe always acted domineeringly, relying on his Ghost Pattern Wolf.
Lu Zhenghe is now like a tiger with its teeth pulled, a little Karami who has lost his support. Naturally, they won't let him live comfortably.
Although Lu Zhenghe felt a surge of resentment in his heart, as if it were about to erupt like a volcano at any moment, he still forced himself to suppress it.
"Alright..." At this moment, Jingjing's clear voice rang out. She stopped the argument and then looked around before saying, "I think we can let Mo Fan lead the team. Everyone has witnessed Mo Fan's strength. He has a lot of combat experience and adaptability. With him leading the team, we can better complete this training mission."
Upon hearing Jingjing's suggestion, everyone looked at each other and nodded slightly, naturally having no objections.
Actually, in terms of personnel configuration on the Imperial Capital Academy side, it could have been Mu Ningxue who led the team.
But for some reason, neither Jingjing nor Zhao Mingyue liked Mu Ningxue. Perhaps this was the unspeakable incompatibility between women.
This subtle feeling lingered in their hearts, making them subconsciously reluctant to let Mu Ningxue stand in the command position.
After deciding on the plan, the group followed the abandoned railway tracks.
Lu Zhenghe, who had been rebuked, followed behind with a gloomy face, not saying a word. He was like a silent machine.
However, his gaze, fixed intently on Liao Mingxuan and Xu Dalong, was like two poisoned swords, filled with immense resentment.
Those gazes were so intense, they seemed to want to pierce two bloody holes in them.
Moreover, when he looked at Mo Fan, the hatred in his eyes was like a surging black tide.
When he looked at Mu Ningxue, his gaze was even more complex, with resentment mixed with a hint of unspeakable emotion.
The reason he harbored such feelings towards Mu Ningxue was perhaps a case of love turning into hate.
In the past, he had pursued her so passionately, like a devout believer, regarding her as the most shining star in his heart.
Whenever she needed protection, he would always stand up for her without hesitation, doing everything in his power to safeguard her dignity and safety.
But now, when he is down on his luck, she just stands quietly to the side, without saying a word, without speaking up for him, and without showing him the slightest sympathy.
This stark contrast was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the flame of love in his heart and leaving only ashes of resentment.
However, Lu Zhenghe overlooked one thing.
From beginning to end, Mu Ningxue never asked him for anything. Everything she did was entirely of her own volition.
Mo Fan did notice Lu Zhenghe's hatred when he occasionally looked back.
In truth, it all stems from myself.
But when it comes to feeling guilty, he felt absolutely nothing.
Fifteen years ago, the railway was abandoned and was basically destined to lie dormant in the weeds. It is rare that it has been visited today, not by a train, but by a group of experienced students from a prestigious university.
The railway tracks in the open fields are relatively easy to travel on, as long as there are no demons using them as beds. However, once the tracks enter the mountains, or even pass through some extremely dense tunnels, it becomes terrifying.
"I've looked at the map. This tunnel is two kilometers long. Judging from the frequency of the demons we've encountered before, there's a high chance that demons live in this tunnel. I suggest that we cross this mountain directly and avoid dealing with unknown species and numbers of creatures in the dark cave," Song Xia suggested to Mo Fan.