Chapter 36: The Thirty-sixth—The Trainer as a Tool (1/2)

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Chapter 36 Trainer, the Handy Man (12)

When Li Hongshen walked out of the camp and saw the man before him, he knew this was the trainer arranged by the school—one could also call him a handy man.

Because the teachers’ ranks were too high to descend upon the Endless Wilds, it was still necessary to provide appropriate training and guidance. After all, not every student required the teachers’ direct attention.

Some students would spend their entire high school years immersed in the Endless Wilds, never returning to the main world, thus unable to receive the teachers’ tailored education.

Therefore, the high school would deliberately cultivate some vassals. These vassals usually resided within the school’s small world, learning specialized knowledge, martial arts, and so forth.

Once the new lords entered the Endless Wilds, the school would assign each of them one such vassal—called a trainer but in truth a handy man. These vassals would assist, remind, and pledge loyalty to their assigned lords.

The school only provided each newcomer with one trainer. If the trainer, for any reason, was lost or betrayed the lord due to diminished strength, the school would not provide a replacement.

One could see the differences between high schools just by comparing their trainers. For instance, in Peng City No. 1 High School, all the vassals assigned had roughly second-tier strength. Furthermore, they were not only formidable in martial prowess, but also possessed expertise in other fields such as pharmacy, agriculture, and more.

They could serve as the pillars of any tribe. As long as their participation was managed wisely and the tribe migrated to areas rich in energy within a certain period, the trainers’ strength would not suffer significant loss.

For many new lords, trainers were their main support in the early days. These trainers were not just vassals, but also half a teacher to the new lords.

Not everyone was as self-reliant as Li Hongshen. Most needed at least half a year to organize the camp, maintain the tribe, and let it adapt to the Endless Wilds.

After the trainer arrived, they would spend several more months training the vassals, then, under the trainer’s guidance, enter the hunting grounds to hunt fierce beasts. Once the new lords had enough first-tier warriors, they would rarely allow the trainer to act again.

If, by chance, the trainer was overused and, due to the insufficient energy at the wilds’ edge, failed to recover, it could easily result in the trainer’s strength being damaged, or worse, losing a rank or even dying outright.

Students who lost their trainers had to either compress their time in the Endless Wilds, accept their teachers’ guidance in the main world, or contract with an external training institution to borrow a trainer.

But such trainers always started at third-tier, and the price was exorbitant, because any third-tier entering the wilds’ edge would inevitably suffer a loss of strength.

It was not that the training institutions lacked first or second-tier trainers, but they simply refused to sign contracts for them. Their aim was to earn compensation for the inevitable loss of strength.

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If a trainer was damaged, compensation had to be paid proportionally, and the institutions would be only too happy if the students exhausted their trainers in the Endless Wilds, so their parents would have to pay a hefty sum in source points.

The man before Li Hongshen stood nearly one meter ninety, with thick brows and large eyes, strikingly handsome and elegant. His shoulder-length hair was tied into a single strand by a jade hair ring.

Clad in iron armor and wielding a red-tasseled steel spear, he looked every bit as imposing as Li Hongshen himself.

This was the trainer chosen based on Li Hongshen’s application. He had requested expertise in the Yang Family Spear, knowledge of military training and discipline, the ability to lead troops, skill in agriculture, and proficiency in governance.

“Greetings! I am Zhao Yun.”

“Oh!”

At their first meeting, this trainer gave Li Hongshen a great surprise.

“What’s the matter, my lord? Have we met before?”

“Ah, no, not at all. It’s just that seeing you reminds me of an old acquaintance—also named Zhao Yun, a master of the spear and just as handsome as you.”

“Oh, then it must be fate. Perhaps, my lord, you might introduce me someday.”

“Well, that might be difficult. That Zhao Yun has long since passed. Let’s not dwell on that. I’ll take you to the altar first, then show you around the camp, and finally assign you your duties. Your arrival brings me great relief.”

“My lord flatters me. Judging by your patrol squad, your domain must already be filled with elite troops. My joining is but the icing on the cake. I shall serve under you, my lord, and hope you will guide me well.”

“Too kind, too kind. We must help each other. There are still many shortcomings in this camp and I’ll need you to help spot and correct them. I know you’re a versatile talent—don’t hold back your abilities. Once you’re in position, unleash your full potential.”

Through their brief conversation, Li Hongshen learned that Zhao Yun came from the school’s primary small world, which maintained a steady second-tier energy level and raised many battle pets.

From birth, they lived in that small world, studied, trained, and only after a series of selections and eliminations could they compete for the opportunity to serve a new lord, leave that world, and see the wider lands.

Because the school could maintain such conditions, Zhao Yun still lived in a traditional style. Diligent and hardworking, he was already at the peak of second-tier strength in his early twenties.

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He was well-versed in the Yang Family Spear, skilled in swordplay, adept in military training and leadership, and held unique insights into both agriculture and governance—a rare all-rounder who met all of Li Hongshen’s requirements, thus assigned to him as his trainer.

Li Hongshen led Zhao Yun from the entrance of Phoenix Perch Valley into the heart of the camp. Along the way, people greeted them, some casting curious glances at Zhao Yun behind Li Hongshen.

Zhao Yun responded with a gentle smile, taking in the buildings and the terraced fields climbing the valley slopes.

“My lord, your development here is truly impressive. The people are healthy and vibrant, and the fields on both sides are fertile beyond expectation. I can hardly offer any further suggestions.”

“You’re too kind. There is still much room for improvement, and I am preparing for a major campaign. Your arrival is perfectly timed and saves me much trouble.

Here we are—this is my altar. After the ceremony, there will be a surprise waiting for you.”

“Oh? Then I await it with anticipation.”

Zhao Yun stepped up to the altar, unsheathed a short sword from his waist, and cut his palm, pressing it to the altar. Instantly, a tri-colored light enveloped him.

When the light faded, just as with the others, Zhao Yun’s body underwent a dramatic transformation—his height forcibly increased to two meters ten. His armor strained and burst apart, falling to the ground. Fortunately, his trousers survived the ordeal, though now several inches too short.

“Well…”

Regaining his senses, Zhao Yun turned to examine his changed form, casting a helpless smile at Li Hongshen, who was trying hard not to laugh.

(The second update will be a bit late—still writing.)

(End of this chapter.)