The hunter market remained lively long after the sun disappeared beneath the horizon.
Lantern light flickered across rows of stalls while hunters moved between them, bargaining over weapons, armor, and supplies. The air carried a mix of metal, oil, and unfamiliar monster materials that gave the entire place a rough, practical atmosphere.
For Lin Yi, it was the first time he had seen this side of the city so closely.
Most ordinary citizens rarely visited the hunter markets. These places were designed for people whose lives revolved around venturing outside the walls.
Wang Hao, on the other hand, looked completely fascinated.
"Seeing it in person is something else," he muttered, pausing by a rack of short swords. "The books don't really capture the smell of the place."
Lin Yi glanced around calmly.
The equipment here ranged from cheap beginner gear to more expensive items meant for experienced hunters. Most of the weapons were simple iron or steel, but occasionally he noticed something unusual: blades with a faint elemental glow, armor engraved with runic patterns, or bottles containing mysterious liquids.
Every item represented survival in the wilderness.
"Keep your head up," Lin Yi said quietly. "We'll get better prices if we don't look like tourists."
Wang Hao straightened his posture immediately.
"Right. Professionalism. Got it."
They spent several minutes browsing different stalls.
Wang Hao picked up a pair of light leather gloves designed to improve grip when climbing or running. He also bought a small pouch containing basic bandages and a few cheap recovery herbs.
"Basic essentials," he noted, checking the seals on the herbs.
Lin Yi nodded approvingly.
"Smart move."
Then Wang Hao noticed Lin Yi's empty hands.
"You're not picking up a weapon?"
Lin Yi shrugged.
"I haven't seen anything that fits yet."
In truth, he didn't intend to buy a weapon. The froststeel dagger in his system inventory was already far better than anything sold in these stalls. Revealing it here would only attract unnecessary attention from the vendors.
Instead, he picked up a simple canvas backpack and several small survival tools: a rope, a folding knife, and a water flask.
Even if he possessed the system, basic preparation never hurt.
Meanwhile, a few steps away, Su Qinghan stood quietly at another stall.
The stall owner was demonstrating a set of weapon maintenance stones while she inspected the edge of a slender sword. The blade had a faint icy tint that matched the nature of her Frostblade class. She listened carefully as the vendor explained how to maintain the weapon's elemental surge.
Lin Yi noticed her occasionally glancing in their direction. It was subtle, but he caught it.
Wang Hao leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. "Don't look now, but Su Qinghan is definitely keeping tabs on us."
Lin Yi chuckled. "She's probably just making sure we aren't about to buy something stupid."
"I don't know," Wang Hao countered. "She's acknowledged us more today than she has the entire last year."
Before Lin Yi could reply, Su Qinghan finished her purchase and walked toward them. Wang Hao shifted, trying to look busy with his new gloves.
She stopped in front of them and spoke calmly.
"The temperature drops significantly outside the walls before dawn. If you haven't bought cold-weather layers yet, you should."
Lin Yi blinked. "The departure is that early?"
Su Qinghan nodded. "05:00 at the Eastern Gate."
Wang Hao sighed. "Of course."
Su Qinghan gave a small, formal nod and turned to leave, her silhouette quickly merging with the crowd of hunters.
They finished their shopping shortly afterward and returned home.
...
The night passed quietly.
Lin Yi spent some time organizing his supplies before finally lying down to rest. But sleep came slowly. He stared at the ceiling of his small dorm while thoughts drifted through his mind.
Three months ago he had been an ordinary student on Blue Star. And in three days he would step into a monster-infested wilderness. Life had a strange way of changing directions.
Eventually, his eyes closed. Then, a faint mechanical sound echoed inside his mind.
Ding.
A new message appeared within the system interface.
[Host preparing for first hunt.]
[Preparation reward detected.]
Lin Yi frowned slightly as he read the notification. Preparation reward? The panel displayed the original item.
[Reward: Basic Hunter Boots (Common)]
Before he could react, the system activated automatically.
[Reward amplification triggered]
[Enhancement ×100]
A ripple of energy passed through the system inventory. Moments later, the result appeared.
[Item obtained: Windstep Hunter Boots]
Lin Yi sat up instantly. He opened the inventory and examined the new equipment.
-------
[Windstep Hunter Boot]
[Quality: Rare]
[Effect: Enhances movement speed and reduces fatigue during extended travel.]
-----
Lin Yi whistled quietly. The system had once again transformed a basic item into something far superior. A small smile formed on his face. At this rate, even simple rewards would turn into valuable equipment.
The wilderness suddenly seemed far less intimidating.
...
Three days passed by quickly, and morning arrived sooner than expected.
Before the first light of dawn touched the city skyline, Lin Yi was already awake. He washed his face, packed his supplies, and stepped outside. The streets were nearly empty. Cold morning air drifted through the city as he walked toward the eastern district.
By the time he reached the outer checkpoint near the eastern gate, a group of newly awakened hunters had already gathered there.
Wang Hao waved energetically when he saw him. "Over here!"
Lin Yi navigated through the crowd. "Ready to go?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Wang Hao admitted, though he was checking his gear for the tenth time.
Several Bureau officers stood near the massive steel gates while experienced hunters checked equipment and organized the teams. Beyond those gates lay the wilderness. For the first time since arriving in this world, Lin Yi would finally see it.
As the eastern horizon slowly brightened with the first hint of sunrise, the enormous gates of Jianghe began to open with a deep metallic rumble.
The real test was about to begin.