The path through the thorny bushes grew narrower and narrower, leaving countless white scratches on the military training uniforms of the Tianxingjian Class.
The trees overhead blotted out the sun and sky. Beneath their feet was muddy yellow soil, and on both sides were piercing thorns. The road conditions were absolutely terrible.
"Hold on a second," Rong Yu's voice suddenly rang out. "Class Monitor, I think we've strayed off the path."
Duan Fei wiped the sweat from his forehead. "We didn't stray. I changed the route on the fly. Going this way will save us at least another twenty minutes. If everyone just pushes through for another half hour, we'll make it out. We'll definitely leave the other classes in the dust!"
Sheng Ciyuan loudly echoed his enthusiasm, "Just half an hour more, let's go, guys!"
Rong Yu was speechless.
When they first t, she thought Sheng Ciyuan was a refined and proper person. Now, she increasingly felt that this guy was a bit of a goofball.
She looked up, scanned their surroundings, and suddenly pointed above a large tree. "Do you see that sign? It says the area ahead is a danger zone. No entry!"
Duan Fei glanced over and scoffed. "That sign is completely rusted, and half the words have peeled off. Who knows how many years it's been there? It ans nothing!"
"What do you an it ans nothing?" Yu Kexin argued. "If there's a sign, it ans the path ahead is dangerous. You're the class monitor, you shouldn't be leading everyone down a dangerous trail, right?"
Xue Yun nodded. "There might be mudslides or landslides ahead. Class Monitor, let's change our route."
"You girls are just too timid," Duan Fei sneered. "Anyone who wants to take first place, follow this way!"
He strode forward.
A group of highly competitive boys imdiately sward after him.
Sheng Ciyuan was eager to join them, but before moving, he glanced at Rong Yu. Seeing her shake her head, he had no choice but to suppress his impulse and stand by her side.
The group instantly split into two factions.
Song Huai stood in the middle, hesitating for quite a while before finally walking toward Rong Yu. "I'll go with you."
Duan Fei looked back over his shoulder. "I get it for the girls, they're naturally timid. But Sheng Ciyuan and Song Huai, those two cowards are really an embarrassnt to n..."
As his group walked deeper into the area, it surprisingly opened up, making the trek much easier.
anwhile, at the observation post, a group of instructors frowned.
The head instructor spoke up, "This is the Tianxingjian Class, Huaqing University's most elite group. It's a good thing that these kids have spirit and dare to push boundaries, but they are too reckless. Their desire to win is far too strong."
Instructor Yan's mouth imdiately turned downward in a scowl. "They even dare to enter the danger zone. Have all the rules they morized been eaten by dogs? I'm going in after them!"
Just then, a cold, crisp voice rang out. "Why don't I go?"
The instructors turned around and saw a young man in a military uniform. He appeared to be in his early twenties, very tall, with sharp eyes, chiseled features, and an exceptionally striking appearance.
The head instructor imdiately stood up to greet him. "You must be the military martial arts instructor sent from above?"
"That's ." The man shook hands with everyone. "My na is Sheng Qingyan. I'll be serving as the military martial arts coach for a one-day session. I arrived half a day early, and since I have nothing else going on, let go et the students of the freshman camp."
From joining the army in April until now, in less than half a year, he had earned several rits and been promoted, requiring him to return to Beijing to process his files.
Since he was back, he naturally had to find sothing else to do.
Thus, he applied to beco the military martial arts coach for Huaqing University.
Originally, he was assigned to Jingcheng University.
Relying on his youth, he shalessly pestered his superiors for ages until they finally agreed to the switch.
Back on Rong Yu's side, they had chosen the other path.
Although the road was rugged, it wasn't dangerous. The group kept hiking upward. Once they crossed the mountain ridge and headed down, they would have successfully traversed the forest and completed their mission.
Yu Kexin's body felt weak all over. "This is too exhausting. Weighted cross-country trekking is way too tiring. I hope I never have to do this a second ti."
Xue Yun held out her hand. "Give your water bottle. I'll lighten your load."
"Let carry the water bottles for you guys," Sheng Ciyuan offered, reaching out. "Hang them all around my neck, I can handle it."
Song Huai spoke up, "I can help carry one too."
As they were talking, they suddenly noticed Rong Yu standing frozen in place, completely motionless.
Sheng Ciyuan quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
The tips of Rong Yu's ears twitched.
She heard the sound of rushing water. The continuous roar of the current was slowly amplifying, drawing closer and closer. She spun around, her pupils shrinking sharply. Up in the valley, a murky yellow line was rapidly expanding, rolling down the mountain at breakneck speed.
"It's a flash flood!" Xue Yun gasped. "A torrent ford by the sudden accumulation of water on the slopes after heavy sumr rainstorms."
Yu Kexin's face paled for a mont, but then she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness we're in the safe zone and won't be affected by it. That's terrifying..."
Rong Yu's voice was heavy. "But the path the class monitor chose is right in the flash flood danger zone."
She had already unbuckled her heavy backpack and pulled out a rope, tying a professional climbing knot in under ten seconds. She looked up. "Xue Yun, you lead everyone and stay put here. Do not leave the high ground of the ridge under any circumstances."
Sheng Ciyuan was stunned. "What are you going to do?"
"The class monitor and the others are in mortal danger," Rong Yu said calmly. "It's going to take ti for the instructors to get here. I'm going over first to see if I can help."
"Rong Yu, you're crazy!" Sheng Ciyuan grabbed her wrist. "You can't go, it's too dangerous! There's no need to put yourself in that kind of peril!"
Song Huai added, "I don't agree with you going either. You won't be able to do anything even if you go."
Rong Yu smiled and said, "If I really can't do anything, I'll just co back. Don't worry."
Tying the climbing rope around herself, she began making her way down.
The flash flood had already washed over the low-lying areas, completely subrging the path they had originally co from.
Yu Kexin couldn't quite hold back her tears.
Sheng Ciyuan wanted to chase after her, but Xue Yun pulled him back. Her voice was calm. "The past few days of military training have already proven that the person with the best physical stamina in our class is undoubtedly Rong Yu. She can go, but you can't, because you have no way to protect yourself."
Sheng Ciyuan's eyes turned red.
Song Huai watched Rong Yu's fading silhouette, his lips pressed into a tight, straight line.
He had always been a selfish person.
Yet, in this mont, he suddenly wanted to follow her.
But he also knew clearly that he was inferior to Rong Yu in every way; chasing after her would only make him a burden.
Rong Yu stepped over the slippery rocks as she headed downstream.
By now, the roaring sound of the flash flood was gradually fading. Although the muddy water had leveled out sowhat, the current was still incredibly swift. The rocks, washed over by the floodwaters, lay exposed, their surfaces coated in a layer of slick, sticky mud.
Suddenly, a faint cry for help carried over, mixed in with the sound of the rushing water.
"Help!"
She quickened her pace and turned a corner. Not far away, in the center of the torrent, she saw a large group of boys clustered around a boulder. As the water level rose, their safe haven grew increasingly cramped. More than a dozen boys on the outer edge were already standing in the floodwaters, the water reaching their waists. Every single one of them wore an expression of absolute despair.
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