# 101
Chapter 101 – The Outcasts
“Well, well, if it isn’t the thorn-head Shen Qingzhu. You got eliminated too?”
“…Yes.”
“Still dare to blow up a drone—who gave you the guts?”
“Sorry, I got cocky.”
“In that case, your punishment time is doubled. Let me think where to start… Right, did you hear what Li Liang just said?”
“I heard.”
“Was he telling the truth?”
“…Yes.”
“So why wrap yourself up as ruthless, lawless, and arrogant?”
“Because people only bully the soft and fear the hard. The weak will always be picked on.”
“I’m curious about your past, but given the situation we’ll skip it for now… Tell me why you want to be strong.”
“I don’t want to be looked down on.”
“That’s it?”
“Mm.”
“Hiding your true self, prickly outside but soft inside, and caring so much about others’ opinions… Virgo?”
“…Yes.”
“Then let’s talk love-life. How many love letters have you written so far?”
“One hundred and fourteen.”
“That many? Details.”
“When I was four, I fell for the big sister next door, then…”
Lin Qiye and the other two sprinted through the hills, ears pricked for Shen Qingzhu’s public execution.
“Man, Trouble-Shen is totally finished this time,” Baili Pangpang puffed, wheezing between laughs.
Lin Qiye watched the darkening sky. “It’s been almost five hours since we entered Jinan Mountain. Most have been eliminated.”
Cao Yuan glanced at Baili Pangpang. “Weren’t you done the moment we started? How are you still going?”
“I’d rather faint running than face that punishment.” Baili Pangpang’s face went chalk-white at the thought.
“Now I really want to know your secret.”
“…Scram!”
More recruits were dragged downhill, and the drone count soared—from two or three tailing them to over a dozen at once.
Mercifully, the instructors always left a gap, letting them break through instead of surrounding them.
The drones would chase, squeeze every ounce of stamina, then vanish for a brief rest—cycle after cycle, pushing them along the razor edge of collapse.
Now Lin Qiye understood why it was called “limit training.”
The deeper into Jinan Mountain, the slower they ran. Baili Pangpang staggered behind, complexion growing paler.
“If you can’t, sit and rest,” Lin Qiye said, noticing.
“No… gotta run…”
Baili Pangpang’s eyes were glazed, clothes soaked. He lurched forward with fanatic resolve.
“Damn… why haven’t I blacked out yet…”
Cao Yuan pondered. “Want to head-butt a tree?”
“…I’m scared of pain.”
Baili Pangpang waved. “You guys go. I’m almost done… When I faint, don’t bother saving me.”
“Actually, we weren’t planning to…”
Baili Pangpang twitched, coughed. “That hurts, man… ugh…” He clutched his chest and rolled his eyes, collapsing.
Cao Yuan checked him. “Just fainted from exhaustion.”
“Then let’s go.” Lin Qiye turned and pressed into the forest.
Truthfully, Lin Qiye was near his limit too—five hours of loaded cross-country, breaks or not, was too much for his physique; stars burst across his vision.
“Want a rest?” Cao Yuan asked.
Lin Qiye inhaled, shook his head. “I can hold on.”
“Why push so hard?”
“Only by breaking limits can you grow strong. Only strong survive. Only survivors can… go back someday.”
“Back where?”
Lin Qiye only shook his head.
“If you think washing my sins later requires this boot-licking, it’s unnecessary,” Lin Qiye said suddenly.
“Hmm?”
“If it’s a transaction, just pay the price.”
“A transaction… is that how you see it?”
“What else?”
“…Do you have any friends?”
“I’ve been an outcast since childhood.”
“Same here.” Cao Yuan shrugged. “But that means we two outcasts could be friends, right?”
“The last guy who wanted to be my friend, I beheaded. The one before that I fed to a monster—his grave grass should be half a meter by now.” Lin Qiye’s face was flat.
“…Being your friend is high-risk?”
“Yep.”
“We’re alike.” Cao Yuan smiled. “I hacked apart a dozen buddies and slaughtered my whole village; not even a dog survived.”
“…Don’t lump us together—you’re way ahead.”
“You’re special. Even without the Golden Cicada Grandmaster’s prophecy, you are.” Cao Yuan met his eyes. “I truly hope us outcasts can be friends.”
Lin Qiye pointed at the motionless Baili Pangpang. “What about him?”
“Him?” Cao Yuan chuckled. “Isn’t he, in his own way, an outcast too?”
“True—abnormally dumb and abnormally rich.”
“Spot-on.”
Soon two instructors arrived with a stretcher.
“This little fatty lasted till he ran himself unconscious—impressive.”
“Pity, I was hoping for some Baili-family gossip. Rumor says those young heirs live wild lives.”
“Forget it, haul him down.”
“Hup—he’s heavy!”
They lugged the stretcher downhill. On it, “unconscious” Baili Pangpang cracked open an eye and smirked.
Down the mountain.
“Seven hours in—how many left?” Instructor Hong entered the tactical tent.
Instructors scanning the screens counted. “Sixteen. Most are trained fighters or special-ops. Surprisingly, Lin Qiye and Cao Yuan are still in—didn’t expect that.”
“They’re good at combat, but stamina isn’t their forte. My guess: they’re almost done.”
Instructor Hong gazed at the darkened Jinan Mountain and spoke slowly.