# 97
Chapter 97: Into the Mountains
Soon, all the recruits had assembled at the foot of Mount Jinnan.
Instructor Hong stood with his hands behind his back, swept his gaze over them, and said slowly:
“Next, we begin extreme training!
See the mountain range behind me? In a moment each of you will be given a thirty-five-kilogram load. Your task is to cross this entire range before dawn tomorrow!”
“Report!” Zheng Zhong shouted.
“Speak!”
“Is it just a normal loaded march?”
“Not that simple…” Instructor Hong smiled faintly and waved. The last coach’s doors burst open and a swarm of drones shot into the air.
“Your loads have built-in trackers. Once the exercise starts these drones will enter the mountains and hunt you. If you’re hit by their paintballs, you’re out…
And failure means a very, very—very cruel punishment!”
Instructor Hong’s mouth twitched upward as if picturing something amusing. He repeated “cruel” three times; the recruits’ scalps prickled.
“Three rules,” he said, raising three fingers.
“One: you may swap loads. If someone can’t keep running, he can hand part of his weight to another and take it back later. But you must not dump your load—if you do, you’re instantly out!
“Two: no attacking or even touching the drones. No covering yourselves with gear to block paintballs, no hiding in dead corners and staying motionless. All you can do is… run!
“Three: you may team up, but you must not attack or forcibly interfere with anyone else.”
He finished and barked, “Understood?!”
“Understood!”
“Collect your loads—move out!”
The recruits lined up to shoulder their packs; each was also issued a tactical knife.
“This knife is for cutting terrain, not each other—remember!” Instructor Han Li warned while handing them out.
When he reached Cao Yuan, Han Li quietly set the knife aside and pulled out… a spoon.
“Instructor, this…” Cao Yuan was dumbstruck.
“You can’t use blades. We can’t find anything else right now—make do.” Han Li patted his shoulder.
Cao Yuan: …
They get knives to hack weeds; I get a spoon… to dig my own grave?
“Hey, fatty!” Instructor Hong suddenly called, stopping Baili Pangpang as he waddled toward the trees.
“Hmm?”
“Hand over your [Unfettered Space] and all those necklaces, bracelets, and beads. I’ll hold them.” He stretched out his hand.
Baili Pangpang’s burly frame quivered; he clutched his chest. “Instructor… these are priceless!”
“I’m not keeping them—temporary custody! If you start tossing forbidden relics around, what training would be left?”
“…Fine.”
Baili Pangpang, near tears, produced a small white pouch from his pocket and surrendered it along with every dangling trinket on his person.
“Good, go.” Instructor Hong stowed the items solemnly and waved him off.
When the last recruit vanished into the forest, Hong strolled into a newly pitched tactical tent and yawned.
“It’s only a loaded march—why make it so complicated?” Han Li asked, sitting beside him.
“Heh, this isn’t a simple march.” Hong grinned. “You really think they can run out of these mountains?”
“Hmm?”
“We’ve sealed the whole range with a forbidden relic—the original terrain’s been completely altered.”
“You mean…”
Hong watched the direction the recruits had gone, a sly smile spreading:
“The entire range is now an inescapable maze. However they run, they can’t get out. They’ll be hunted endlessly until every last drop of stamina is gone—far more effective than a normal march.”
Han Li pondered. “You want despair, yet allow load-sharing—testing mindset while draining bodies and building trust?”
“Sharp as ever, Instructor Han.” Hong gave a thumbs-up.
“But will drones and paintballs really pressure them that much?”
Hong’s smile turned mysterious. “You’ll see. The punishment for failure… is far worse than you imagine.”
…
Mount Jinnan.
Lin Qiye and Cao Yuan jogged through the trees under their loads. The forest was ancient, tall and dense; dappled sunlight carpeted the ground like primal jungle.
“W-wait for me!” Baili Pangpang huffed, his round shape snagging on every branch.
“This thing’s so heavy… carry some for me?” He looked up hopefully.
“No.” Lin Qiye refused flatly.
“Scram.” Cao Yuan answered coldly, then turned to Lin Qiye with puppy eyes: “Qiye, let me take some of yours?”
“…Not needed.”
Baili Pangpang: …
Bzzzz—!!
A dense drone hum rose behind them; Lin Qiye’s face changed.
“Drones are in—speed up or we’re caught.”
Cao Yuan glanced around; recruits who’d entered together were already scattering—bunched targets were easier to hit.
“Huff… you two go on… I can’t outrun drones with this!” Baili Pangpang wailed as the buzz grew louder.
“You’d rather be shot and punished?”
“Punishment can’t be that bad… right?” he muttered uncertainly.