Chapter 112: Military Might on the Training Ground (3)

He had once regarded this woman with utter disdain, but it seemed he had been mistaken—she was not without her capabilities. Defeated fair and square, he had no room for protest. With a firm, muscular build, he stood tall and declared in a clear voice, "Ge Jingyun."

Gu Yun turned her gaze to the cold, stern-faced man beside Ge Jingyun, whose expression was as dark as if the world owed him a fortune. After a long silence, he responded icily, "Leng Xiao."

Leng Xiao? His name suited him perfectly.

The three of them stood atop the mountain, locking eyes. Yet their silent standoff didn't last long before a flood of soldiers surged up the slope. When they saw Gu Yun leaning casually against the boulder, their eyes widened in disbelief. Moments later, they could only lower their heads in bitter defeat—they had lost… to a woman.

Gu Yun narrowed her eyes. Five hundred men arrived at nearly the same pace—despite being fresh recruits, their strict training showed in their endurance and stamina. Promising seedlings indeed. A hint of satisfaction flickered in her heart.

Straightening her posture, Gu Yun shouted, "Fall in!"

Whether squatting or standing, every soldier immediately snapped to attention and formed ranks.

Standing atop the rock, Gu Yun looked down upon the reluctant yet subdued recruits and smiled with a composed air, "Does anyone still feel unconvinced?"

To be bested by a woman was a bitter pill, but a loss was a loss.

"Speak up!" Gu Yun barked, her voice sharp with impatience.

With clenched jaws and stubborn pride, the troops roared in unison, "No!"

Gu Yun nodded with approval, her expression hardening. She declared in a commanding tone, "Since no one dares challenge the outcome, I hereby announce that for the next half-month under my command, three military rules will be in place: First, obey orders. Second, obey orders without question. Third, in all circumstances, obey orders. Understood?"

Clad in black, with jet-dark hair and a resolute aura, her words rang with unwavering authority. At the mountain's peak, her commanding presence was no less formidable than any man's.

Ge Jingyun and Leng Xiao exchanged glances, both visibly shaken by the overwhelming force of her presence.

"Yes, ma'am!" came the thunderous reply, whether out of awe or indignation, shaking birds from the trees as the soldiers roared like a storm.

Excellent. Gu Yun smiled faintly to herself. The day had only just begun—there was still a long road ahead.

By noon, the sun hung high overhead. Even with the forest's shade, the heat scorched with unrelenting fervor. Descending the mountain, the young soldiers wore their defeat and frustration plainly upon their faces.

"Form ranks!"

They had lost to a superior opponent—nothing more needed to be said. Every man understood now that, for the coming fifteen days, they would be under this woman's command.

Staring into her cold, unreadable face, now composed once more, Gu Yun paid them no heed. Her voice rang out, loud and clear: "After this warm-up, you should have a clearer understanding of your abilities and positions. For the next fifteen days, I will be your instructor. My name is Qing Mo. From now on, you may address me as 'Captain' or 'Instructor.'"

"Ge Jingyun, Leng Xiao—step forward!"

A flicker of suspicion passed through their eyes. What was she planning? Still, without hesitation, they stepped forward, taking their places at the front of the formation.

Once they were before her, Gu Yun announced, "From this moment, the unit will be split into two teams. Based on your outstanding performance in the earlier trial, I appoint you both as team leaders—"

Before she could finish, a cold, deep voice cut her off: "I refuse."

Gu Yun raised an eyebrow slightly but ignored his interruption. She continued resolutely, "The team leader must be the finest among the ranks—an elite. He must accept challenges from within and lead his men to surpass the other team. Only the most capable may wear the mantle of leadership."

Her sharp eyes swept to Leng Xiao. With a tone laced with disdain, she asked, "Leng Xiao, is it that you don't want the role—or that you don't dare to take it?"

Leng Xiao remained silent, returning her gaze without a flicker of emotion. Gu Yun's face remained stern, though inwardly she was pleased. At last, she had found someone calm and composed, who wouldn't be easily provoked. But such a man was also more difficult to control.

He was no more than twenty, yet his cold, still gaze created an invisible barrier around him, warning others to keep their distance. Yet from those icy depths, Gu Yun discerned a steely force hidden beneath the surface.

Her lips curved faintly as she turned away, her voice indifferent, "A soldier who doesn't aspire to be a general is no true soldier. If you lack ambition, then go home—marry, raise children, and live a quiet life. But if you lack courage, leave now. I've no place for cowards. Whether you accept or not is your own choice."

Still, Leng Xiao said nothing. Gu Yun didn't press him. The forest was silent, five hundred soldiers holding their breath. The stillness dragged on until unrest began to stir—only then did that deep, emotionless voice ring out again: "I accept."

Gu Yun's eyes gleamed, but she didn't look back. Instead, she issued her next order: "Using this column as the divider: those on the left form Team One under Ge Jingyun; those on the right form Team Two under Leng Xiao. Both teams—squat down, hands clasped tightly behind your backs."

The men looked puzzled but obeyed. The forest clearing was soon filled with towering figures squatting in place—an oddly comical sight.

"Maintain the squat. Advance by jumping. Destination: the woods where you formed ranks this morning."

For a moment, the troops were stunned. Then anger surged within them. What was this? Squatting, hands bound behind, jumping forward? What kind of posture was that?

Frozen in place, no one moved. Gu Yun's brows knit tightly. "Execute the order!"

A young officer near her suddenly stepped forward, tall and radiating fury. He shouted, "We may have lost, but we are warriors who've shed blood on the battlefield! You can't humiliate us like this!"

"Humiliation?" Facing these ignorant, obstinate fools, Gu Yun's temper flared. "This is training! A soldier's duty is absolute obedience. If you can't even follow this, you're not worthy of the title. Don't call yourself a warrior. If you're not soldiers—then get out of my sight!"

"Frog-hop—advance!"

They had no choice. As soldiers, they obeyed.

Teeth clenched, hands straining with tension, the soldiers cursed Gu Yun inwardly as they hurled themselves forward in bitter defiance. In that moment, the forest saw five hundred Su soldiers transformed into a battalion of leaping "frogs," awkwardly hopping across the ground, each one more absurd than the last.

Behind them, arms folded and expression serene, Gu Yun watched like a queen surveying her subjects.

Swearing at me, are you? Just wait—I'll have you too tired to even speak.

From the foot of the mountain to the morning's assembly point was at least three kilometers. If running, it would've been nothing to these strapping young men—but frog-hopping was a different matter entirely. The exertion was no less than a twenty-kilometer armed march.

Not even a kilometer in, the once-defiant warriors were already breathless and dazed. Ge Jingyun, once proud of his stamina, now felt his body overheating, throat burning, and mind ringing. His legs were so numb they barely felt like his own.

If he felt this way, the others fared no better. What had started as a neat formation was now in disarray, soldiers straggling behind in scattered groups.

Sweat stung his eyes as Leng Xiao wiped it away with his sleeve. His aching legs gave way, and he dropped to one knee.

"This little challenge already has you down? And you call yourselves soldiers?"

"Up. Continue."

Behind them came the woman's cool, disdainful voice—sharp as a whip, lashing every soul. Though they were on the brink of collapse, none of the men dared yield.

They would rather die of exhaustion than concede defeat.

After two grueling hours, all five hundred soldiers finally frog-jumped their way back to the woods. Without exception, they collapsed in a heap, strewn across the clearing, faces pale, drenched in sweat, each one gasping desperately for breath...