Zhang Yong was carrying twenty-five kilograms on his back. If he hadn't raised his skills before, and if his hundred-thousand-year-old Spinal bones weren't tough enough, his back would have broken from the weight.
And so they continued.
When they arrived in front of the academy gate, the teacher was standing there watching them return from their first lap. The teacher said:
"Drink some water, then continue."
There was a bucket of warm, slightly salty water. Under the teacher's orders, they were allowed to drink only one cup each, then return to running.
There wasn't a single drop of sweat on Zhang Yong's face, unlike the others who showed some signs of fatigue.
As time passed, the sun shone brighter in the sky, bringing intense heat that scorched their faces. But thanks to the water break, they had enough strength to endure it.
Amidst this scorching heat, they had already run four laps.
Every time they returned to the gate, the teacher was waiting for them with the same bucket of warm, salty water.
When they began the fifth lap, Oscar and Ning Rongrong's speed dropped. Their vision was blurry and their legs were trembling rapidly. Zhang Yong helped them stand and let them lean on his shoulders.
"Not yet. Don't fall."
Zhang Yong was carrying the heaviest weight among them, yet he still helped them, leaving a deep impression on them.
With Zhang Yong's help, the weight on their shoulders lessened a little, and they continued running at the same speed as the rest.
And so they reached the eighth lap. Zhang Yong's vision was blurry, sweat covering his eyes, and he was carrying Ning Rongrong and Oscar, one in each arm. Yet his body held on. He followed the sound of the others' footsteps, hearing the groans of exhaustion from everyone nearby. After losing his sight, he could hear sounds clearly.
The eighth lap took a full two hours in the heat.
Sweat poured from all their bodies, yet they kept running.
Zhang Yong heard Ma Hongjun's voice from behind:
"I'm dying, I'm dying."
Everyone stopped one by one and began gasping for five minutes before Ma Hongjun said:
"We've already missed lunch. How about we slow down? If I keep running, I might die."
Then Dai Mubai said:
"Slow down? Didn't you notice that the warm water the teacher gives us hasn't changed temperature at all? Even though we get slower after each lap, that means the teacher knows our physical limits well. There might be extra punishment if we slow down. In the end, this training is good for us. Hey, Fatty, give me your weights."
Ma Hongjun's tone was shocked as he said:
"Can you handle it, Boss Dai?"
"Remember, Fatty, a man should never say he can't."
Dai Mubai took Ma Hongjun's stones and placed them in his own basket.
Tang San walked over to Zhu Zhuqing and said:
"Let me help you."
When Tang San raised his hand to take the stones from Zhu Zhuqing's basket, she immediately dodged and said:
"I can still keep going. You and Zhang Yong will run two more laps than us. You need to conserve your strength."
Quietly, Zhang Yong let go of Ning Rongrong and Oscar, wiped the sweat from his face, and put their stones into his basket. The weight reached thirty-five kilograms. Zhang Yong was aware of his limits, but he wouldn't abandon his comrades because of that.
Zhang Yong laughed as he stood beside Ma Hongjun:
"See, Fatty? Men have to be impressive. Get up now and keep going. Don't worry about lunch—when we get back, I'll cook for you myself."
Hearing that, Ma Hongjun got up from the ground, drool dripping from his mouth, and continued running.
Then they reached the academy gate and drank the water the teacher provided.
When they began the ninth lap, Zhang Yong's steps were heavy, then suddenly became a little lighter.
Tang San had taken five kilograms of stones from Zhang Yong, but he didn't speak—not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't. His mind was occupied:
'I can hear my stats increasing.'
This training was very beneficial for Zhang Yong. Soon, Soto City came into view.
At this rate, everyone finished the ninth lap. Dai Mubai shouted:
"Come on, persevere, everyone! Only one lap left!"
Although everyone was tired and exhausted, they pushed themselves to their limits.
And the final lap began.
After one kilometer, Oscar and Ning Rongrong took their stones back from Zhang Yong.
After two kilometers, Zhu Zhuqing transferred her stones to Xiao Wu.
After three kilometers, Ning Rongrong collapsed on the ground unconscious.
The group's condition was deteriorating.
Without any choice, Zhang Yong said:
"Tang San, give me your rocks and carry Ning Rongrong."
Immediately, without argument, Tang San gave his rocks to Zhang Yong and carried Ning Rongrong on his back, while Zhang Yong took Rongrong's stones.
One kilometer on the return trip, Oscar collapsed unconscious, so Zhang Yong carried him along with his stones, and Zhu Zhuqing took back her own stones.
After another two kilometers, Yuan Ling fell to the ground, so Zhang Yong carried her stones. Zhu Zhuqing also collapsed unconscious, so Dai Mubai barely managed to carry her, and Zhang Yong took her stones.
Five hundred meters from the finish, Zhang Yong was carrying the stones of five people alone, with Oscar on his back. Zhang Yong had already lost all sense of time around him.
Dai Mubai carried Zhu Zhuqing.
Tang San carried Ning Rongrong.
Zhang Yong carried Oscar.
Oscar and Ning Rongrong both woke up and each tried to get down from the back of the person carrying them.
Everyone was already completely spent.
From a distance, the teacher's stern face could be seen. At least they had made it to the end.
When they stood before the teacher, all seven collapsed at once. The only ones still standing were Zhang Yong and Tang San. The others' task was over, but for the two of them, there were still two laps left.
Zhang Yong looked at Tang San and smiled with difficulty, gasping:
"Seems... it's... just us now."
The two were panting, when they heard a voice:
"Wait... I'll go with you."
It was Xiao Wu's voice, but she was still trying to stand, only to stumble and fall back to the ground. Then another voice came—Dai Mubai's:
"I'll go with you too."
Dai Mubai approached and was about to fall, but Tang San supported him before they both collapsed unconscious in the end.
Zhang Yong laughed:
"Hehehe, you still know how to take it easy. Alright, I'll go alone then."
This time, Zhang Yong put the basket back on his back, pulled his long hair back, and started running. This time, his takeoff was a little faster than before. He ran a bit until he was fifteen meters past the gate, before stumbling himself.
And fell to the ground from exhaustion.
"Seems I've reached my limit... How pathetic of me."
With those words, Zhang Yong collapsed unconscious like the rest
When Zhang Yong woke up, he was in the dormitory and felt warmth surrounding his body from every direction. At first, he thought that this was due to the influence of the Small Tree of Life.
When he looked at his body, he was completely naked, and what was worse was that he was in a hot water barrel
I feel the nutrients and plant scents coming from the water
"Is this an herbal bath? Its properties seem to be refreshing and treating fatigue."
His fighting spirit was from the plant branch and thus it brought him some knowledge about it. Determining the properties of plants is easy, but that knowledge was not enough to know the plant by its effect, so it was one-way information.
He looked around the room and Tang San was in the same position as him, but still asleep, Zhang Yong thought that his fighting spirit had accelerated his treatment and absorption of the medicinal benefits in the water.
Zhang Yong stood in the middle of the tub and then got out
"Let me take a look at my status"
(Status
Name: Chang Yong (Heigai Naoto)
Age: 12 years
Level 42 (250000/7213)
Strength: 158
Endurance capacity: 155
Agility: 217
Intelligence: 23
Spiritual energy: 42
Status points: 16
Emotion points: 1146576
Ability
Skills. the shop. The store. Missions
Gambling
)
"Huh, my stats increased just a little bit and I gained a little emotion points, I have to ask the teacher to give us punishments like this."
He quickly changed into his usual clothes, then he spotted a piece of paper next to Tang San's bed, he came closer and took a look and it was written on it
"Go eat when you wake up."
Zhang Yong quietly placed the paper next to Tang San and walked out of the dorm
He walked slowly towards the dining hall, from afar he could see its lights
When he entered, the place was empty, but the tables were full
There were nine portions. He sat in front of one of the places and found another piece of paper written on it
"When you finish, wash the dishes and get rid of the water from the barrel. Don't go to sleep, but cultivate We will meet tomorrow for class."
The paper had the same font as the paper in Tang San's room
When he looked at the food in front of him, the food was rich,
It consisted of a fragrant piece of meat, five steam buns, soup, and a plate of vegetables and fruits
All of it was immediately eaten by Zhang Yong, he was already feeling extremely hungry, who would refuse food while it was in front of him?
Then he heard the sound of a door opening, the one who entered was Dai Mubai
Dai Mubai looked up and saw Zhang Yong, "Oh Xiao Yong, you are here."
Zhang Yong smiled lightly, "Boss Bai, it seems like we lost consciousness when we wanted to run."
Dai Mubai laughed lightly as he sat next to Zhang Yong, "True, it was a difficult training, and it looks like we will have to endure it for the coming days."
Zhang Yong looked towards his plate and sneered, "Yes, and it is good training, not only will it help build our bodies, but especially for Beast Spirit Masters like you, it will be a great increase."
Dai Mubai looked lost in thought and asked, "Xiao Yong, I heard from Oscar that you helped him in his matter with Ning Rongrong."
Zhang Yong was a little surprised. It's not like he didn't expect this outcome, but he really wondered what Mubai was going to say. "Yes, but it's not like I did anything. I dropped a piece of advice or two. What's the matter, Big Brother? Is there something you want to ask? I'm not an expert, but I'll do my best."
Dai Mubai smiled lightly, "It's…about Ninth Sister, but I don't know what to do?"
"I see." Zhang Yong's expression changed slightly, "But I thought you were an expert with women. I didn't expect this question. I'll tell you something, Big Brother. With all due respect, but you made a big mistake."
Dai Mubai's eyes widened for a moment, "What do you mean?"
Zhang Yong sighed for a moment, "Listen to my question and try to answer it. When a man walks through a flower field and finds a flower he likes, what will he do?"
Dai Mubai crossed his arms for a moment before answering, "He will pick it, of course, but what does this have to do with my situation?"
Zhang Yong smiled slightly, "It has a lot to do with it. He picked the flower, but it will die after some time. The person who likes the flower will pick it, but the person who loves the flower will take care of it. But you, brother, burned it, but fortunately for you, the root is still there. The point is that you overthink it, you think about it from your side and not from the side of the other person you care about. For you, you like her, but because of her situation, you bring her end. How would you feel if you were in Zhou zhuqing's place, if you saw her with two men at the same time? "
Dai Mubai's expression changed to a mixed one, "Of course I'll be angry."
When he said that, Dai Mubai felt a sudden moment of realization
Seeing his expression, Zhang Yong smiled gently and patted Dai Mubai's shoulder, "You seem to be starting to understand, think about what I told you, I'm leaving to rest."
Zhang Yong got up and went back to his room. He emptied the barrel as the paper requested, and Tang San was still asleep.
He climbed onto his bed and sat cross-legged, closed his eyes and began cultivating