Chapter 15: Consuming Rampaging Groundhog Meat, Potion Preparation Class

After leaving the trial space, it was without question that Zhang Ran, relying on his formidable physique and adept combat skills, secured first place. Shortly after Zhang Ran, the trainee whose physical attributes narrowly surpassed his by 0.05 points completed the task second, casting a provocative glance at Zhang Ran before striding back to his squad.

As time passed, more trainees successively completed their assignments and exited the trial space. Ten minutes later, forty-nine of the original fifty-two had emerged, while the remaining three, unfortunately, became prey to the mutant rats.

“All right, take your tools and dissect the bodies of the berserk field rats. Collect any valuable resources,” an instructor commanded in an indifferent tone, his demeanor unshaken by the deaths of the three trainees.

Upon hearing the order, each trainee picked up their dissection tools and backpacks, re-entering the trial space. Berserk field rats were among the most basic mutant creatures in the wild, with minimal practical value. Recalling what he’d learned in previous lessons, Zhang Ran severed the rats’ claws and sliced open their muscular thighs.

The flesh of these rats was largely laced with toxins and radiation; only a narrow strip deep within their sturdy thighs was barely edible. Along with their claws, this meat was one of the few useful resources one could harvest from these creatures.

After processing the corpses, Zhang Ran packed ten claws and the strips of rat meat into his satchel, then turned and left the trial space. From his studies in mutant biology, Zhang Ran estimated that this haul was worth about five Black Hawk coins.

The Black Hawk coin was the currency issued by the Black Hawk Corporation, rulers of the region. For an ordinary man lacking special skills, a day’s labor in the wastelands typically earned five to ten coins, while a common loaf of black bread cost around two coins.

“Good. Your next task is to eat the berserk field rat thigh meat you collected,” the instructor stated, gazing at the trainees who had just finished processing the creatures.

Most faces contorted in bitter reluctance, but not a single student dared defy the order. Instead, they obediently retrieved the blood-red, foul-smelling chunks of meat from their bags and, however unwillingly, forced them into their mouths.

The moment the meat touched his tongue, a nauseating mix of gamy and sour flavors flooded Zhang Ran’s mouth, tinged with the stench of decay. Even pinching his nose did little to stave off the urge to retch; it was so revolting he nearly teared up. Though Zhang Ran had undergone survival training before arriving here—having eaten leaves, raw meat, even leather—nothing compared to the horror of this rat’s thigh. All his previous experiences paled before this.

Chewing the tough, rubbery flesh, Zhang Ran forced himself to take deep breaths, battling the urge to vomit. At last, he managed to swallow the chunk, gasping for air as though he’d narrowly escaped death.

If Zhang Ran struggled so, the other trainees fared even worse. Many couldn’t endure more than a few seconds before spewing the meat back out, some even vomiting up their midday meal.

Yet, after enduring so long in the training camp, they all understood the consequences of failing an instructor’s command: harsher punishments awaited. So, again and again, the trainees picked up the foul meat from the floor, gritting their teeth as they forced it down.

Half an hour passed in this torment. Repeated attempts dulled the trainees’ aversion, and eventually, everyone managed to choke down the rat meat. At this, the squad leader ordered them to fall in, and before long, Instructor Daren from yesterday’s survival lesson entered.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Daren began, his tone cold and stern. “You wonder why, when you could easily bring loads of rations with you, the camp insists you eat berserk field rat meat. I wondered the same when I was a trainee. But after I began my missions in the wasteland, there were times I ran out of food and nearly starved. It was the flesh of mutant beasts that saved my life.”

“Berserk rat meat is vile, but it’s packed with energy and can quickly restore your strength. Better to vomit here, in the safety of the base, than to collapse or starve out in the wild.”

He swept his eyes over the pained, resentful faces before him, his explanation carrying both warning and care.

With the berserk field rats dealt with, today’s combat training ended, and the next lesson was Herb Processing and Potion Preparation.

This course did not cover advanced gene-enhancing serums—such knowledge was rare even within the Black Hawk Corporation. Instead, trainees learned to identify and process common wilderness herbs, using them to make wound salves, simple stimulants, poisons, and repellents.

After sipping some saltwater to settle their churning stomachs, the children were led back into the classroom where cultural lessons were usually held. Compared to three months prior, nearly half the original cohort had perished, leaving the room eerily spacious. On every desk lay several types of herbs and mortar-and-pestle tools.

“Blue-root grass, bloodstop blossom, scorpion shell… Is this for wound salve preparation?” Zhang Ran wondered. Instantly, the chip in his mind began cross-referencing with its database, identifying each herb, its uses, and preparation methods. With this feedback, Zhang Ran nodded, piecing together the lesson’s subject.

As expected, once all five squads had assembled, a female instructor stepped to the podium and wrote “Wound Salves” in large characters on the board.

“In the wilderness, wound salves are among the most essential medicines,” she explained coolly. “Though evolvers heal faster than normal folk, these salves can still speed recovery and get you back into a fight. You’ll usually carry some with you, but once they’re gone, you’ll need to make your own.”

“Today, we’ll learn to prepare a common topical wound salve. The main ingredients are blue-root grass, bloodstop blossom, and scorpion shell. The sap of bloodstop blossom staunches bleeding, ground scorpion shell encourages scabbing, and the root of blue-root grass increases tissue vitality to promote healing. First, process these materials as I demonstrate, and then I’ll explain the precise preparation method.”

With a calm demeanor, the instructor outlined the properties and handling of each herb before assigning the task to her students.