Chapter 67

In this era, the title "adult" is not something that can be used casually. In Black Flame City, and even throughout the entire Andaman Alliance, there is not a single person who can be honored with this title. Even the chairman of the Andaman Alliance Parliament, the owner of Andaman City, the head of the Andaman family, who is known as the richest and most powerful in the alliance and has turned his family name into the name of the alliance, is only referred to as "Sir" rather than "adult." In the countries and forces of the Blackson Human Corridor, there are many that can be honored with the title "adult," which carries a noble and imperial aura. However, among the countries and forces that border or are adjacent to the Andaman Alliance, only the Sun God Dynasty and the Norman Empire can be honored with the title "adult." Both of these countries are nations of a hundred cities and are major forces within the Blackson Human Corridor. The strength of either of these countries is more than twenty times that of the entire Andaman Alliance.

Zhang Tie, in his heart, did not have the courage to get involved in such a high-level confrontation. He only sent a warning to the city's rulers out of his hatred for the Red Turban Bandits and his sense of duty as an ordinary person who had enjoyed eight years of free education in Black Flame City. As for what would happen after the letter was sent, whether it would cause a huge stir or be thrown into the trash as a joke, Zhang Tie felt that it was no longer his concern. He had done what he could. Furthermore, no matter who ended up ruling the city, maintaining the basic order and the lives of ordinary people was in the interest of the city's ruler. The Red Turban Bandits were tools in the hands of a powerful figure, not the rulers of the city, and that was enough!

Ordinary people should not worry about such big matters; they should only worry about their own affairs!

For Zhang Tie, what he felt he should worry about most now was the survival trial that would begin the next day. Apart from that, he felt that there was nothing major for him in this world.

The night passed quickly...

Early the next morning, Zhang Tie got up. However, when he got up, he found that his parents had risen even earlier. His mother's eyes were slightly red and swollen, and she had already prepared a hearty breakfast for Zhang Tie. His father was repeatedly organizing and checking all his equipment and luggage.

"Eat more, you need the energy to travel!"

Zhang Tie finished washing up in silence, then ate breakfast in silence, and finally, in silence, let his mother and father help him put on his gear. He first put on a leather armor that provided some protection, then fastened his belt, and packed his luggage. He slung a folding entrenching tool on his backpack, put on a helmet, and hung a long sword given by his father on one side of his waist, a water bottle and a spearhead without a shaft on the other side, and a dagger given by his brother on his waist.

Zhang Tie stood and shook a bit, finding that everything was ready. Although he was carrying more than twenty kilograms of gear, it did not affect his movement at all. He forced a smile, "Dad, Mom, I'm ready. I'm leaving. Don't worry, I'll be fine!"

"Guoguo, wait a moment..." Just as Zhang Tie was about to turn around, his mother called him again. With tears in her eyes, she helped Zhang Tie adjust his belt and luggage, and tugged at his sleeve, "You can go now. Remember to come back early, and don't be too proud..."

"I remember, Mom!" Zhang Tie felt his nose getting stuffy. If he didn't leave soon, he would probably lose face in front of his parents. He took a deep breath, hugged his mother tightly, then hugged his father, and turned to open the door, walking out of the home that had given him warmth for fifteen years.

The moment he closed the door, he heard his mother's sobs that she could no longer hold back...

The sky was still dark outside, with a few stars still hanging in the sky. Zhang Tie wiped his eyes and walked briskly towards the school. When he was about to walk 100 meters, he felt something and turned around. In the faint morning light, he saw his parents holding hands, standing on the street, staring at him. Zhang Tie waved to his parents, and tears could not be held back, streaming down his face.

...

At dawn that day, throughout Black Flame City, such scenes could be seen everywhere—young boys, with their luggage and weapons, leaving their homes. Their parents, with tears in their eyes, leaned against the door, some sending them off for a long distance, then watching as the young men, about to come of age, left home for the first time, stepping out of the protection of the tall city walls, using their young bodies to face the storms and challenges of the era.

Every year, in Black Flame City, some young men who left home on this day never returned. For some, this departure meant a permanent farewell.

On the way, Zhang Tie met many young men, like himself, carrying luggage and weapons, rushing to their respective schools.

When Zhang Tie arrived at the school, it was neither too early nor too late. Most of the students were already there, resting on the school playground. The assembly and departure time was set for 7:30 AM, so by 7:00 AM, many students were already prepared on the playground. Apart from the relatively uniform style of the backpacks, the equipment of each student was varied and bizarre. The students gathered in small groups according to their class training areas, and the noisy chatter on the playground somewhat alleviated Zhang Tie's sadness.

As soon as he arrived at the school, Zhang Tie saw Baghdad and Shawen. These two guys had arrived even earlier. Looking at the large axe on Baghdad's shoulder, Zhang Tie looked at the long sword on his own waist and was speechless for a while.

On the playground, Baghdad's appearance was absolutely eye-catching. He was bare-chested, with black skin and muscles bulging, wearing only a steel half-shoulder armor that barely covered his right shoulder and heart. On that shoulder armor, he carried a shiny axe that weighed at least thirty pounds, posing there. In comparison, Shawen's appearance was much more refined, similar to Zhang Tie's, with a backpack, leather armor, belt, water bottle, and a sword. However, for some reason, Zhang Tie felt that Shawen's equipment was a bit off. The items were not only old but also severely damaged. For example, the scabbard of Shawen's short sword was cracked, exposing part of the blade, and the leather armor was clearly too small for Shawen, as if he had been forced into it. Additionally, the aluminum water bottle had patches, which Zhang Tie had never seen before. Although he knew that Shawen's family was not well-off, this appearance was too exaggerated. Zhang Tie cursed Shawen's father in his heart dozens of times.

Shawen, standing next to Baghdad, looked embarrassed, fidgeting and picking at his nails, while Baghdad was angrily scolding.

"Your father is too much! How could he give you such shabby equipment? Not to mention anything else, the money you've earned from working for the family over the years is enough to buy a new set. Look at your sword, is that even a sword? I checked it just now, and the rust is very severe. It looks shiny now, but that's only because it was forcibly polished on a whetstone. The blade and the body have been worn down, making it as thin as a piece of iron. It's too much! We'll definitely go to your house and teach that bastard a lesson when we get back..."

"Forget it, I have a few younger brothers. Dad probably can't afford much. I'm already happy to have these..." Shawen weakly defended himself, looking somewhat dejected and sad.

Seeing Shawen's sad face, Zhang Tie walked over with a grim expression, said nothing, and pulled out the sword from Shawen's waist. At this moment, even Zhang Tie was enraged. Just as Baghdad said, this thing was not even a sword but a piece of iron. It was light and flimsy, with the edge full of small chips, and the body was severely rusted, pitted and uneven. It was clear that it had been polished on a whetstone over the past two days, giving it a bit of shine, but because the rust layer was thick, the entire blade had become much thinner, losing all its texture. This thing could barely kill a chicken, let alone fight dangerous creatures outside the city.

Without a word, Zhang Tie unhooked his own sword and hung it on Shawen's waist. "Take it, use mine!"

"No, no, mine is fine!" Shawen hurriedly protested, trying to switch the swords.

Zhang Tie said nothing, just swung Shawen's sword on the ground. With a crisp sound, Shawen's sword broke into two pieces. Seeing the broken blade, Shawen's face turned pale, and he bit his lip tightly, his eyes filled with even more sadness.

Zhang Tie patted Shawen's shoulder and his own waist. "Don't worry, use mine. I still have a good dagger and a spearhead. When we get there, I'll find a stick to attach it to, and I'll have a spear. A spear and a dagger, we seven brothers together can handle this trial!"

Shawen finally nodded, then suddenly widened his eyes, looking at something behind Zhang Tie. Zhang Tie also heard the commotion behind him and turned around to see the fat Balley, panting, carrying a huge backpack, walking over like a turtle. It was Balley's huge backpack and gear that caused the commotion. Compared to Shawen's shabby equipment, the things Balley was wearing were the epitome of a nouveau riche...