Chapter 114: The Devil Drillmaster (1)

At the hour of the Rabbit, when dawn had only just begun to lighten the skies, the dense foliage of the forest shrouded the morning rays, casting the woods into deeper gloom. A column of five hundred men jogged toward the clearing, yet their pace and spirits were a far cry from the vigor they displayed the morning before.

As they entered the forest, even under the dim light, their eyes instantly landed on the figure they had spent the entire night cursing.

Gu Yun stood frost-faced, not for any particular reason but the sheer inconvenience of an era without watches—keeping time was an exasperating ordeal. These rotten brats had dawdled again, keeping her waiting for fifteen minutes. Of course, she would never admit to arriving early.

The moment the troops came to a halt, the soldiers noted Gu Yun's darkened expression and were inwardly alarmed—surely she wasn't about to unleash another torturous scheme?

"Ge Jingyun, Leng Xiao," came her icy voice, low and cold.

"Present," the two stepped forward.

Gu Yun's expression was grim as she commanded, "Starting today, the first order of each morning's training is this—you will lead your squads on a run from here, around the back mountain, and return. You have no more than a quarter of an hour. Anyone who fails to make it back in time will go without lunch."

The crowd secretly sighed in relief—just a run? Compared to yesterday, this was merciful.

But just as they began to feel secretly pleased, Gu Yun pointed toward a nearby mound that loomed like a small hill and enunciated each word with deliberate clarity: "Over there are sandbags. Each of you will take four—two tied at the waist, two at the legs. Once fastened, you will depart immediately."

She had stumbled across a heap of sand near the training grounds yesterday—perfect for resistance training.

"Yes, ma'am."

Upon reaching the mound, they realized the sandbags were enormous. Fastened to their bodies, they were barely able to move—let alone run back within fifteen minutes. She really was a devil incarnate!

With sandbags strapped tightly, the group staggered toward the rear mountain, spurred on by the threat of missing lunch. Watching their comical silhouettes, Gu Yun chuckled softly—her mood, at last, lifted like clouds parting after rain.

Leaning against a tree trunk, she awaited Su Ren's delivery. Summer sunlight rose early; before long, golden rays pierced the leaves, casting dappled light through the forest. As Gu Yun grew slightly impatient, a towering figure approached, flanked by over a dozen soldiers bearing seven or eight massive wooden crates.

Gu Yun frowned. Han Shu? Why him?

Upon reaching her, Han Shu declared in a loud voice, "Here are the items you requested."

He had come today out of curiosity—ever since yesterday's sword incident, he couldn't stop wondering. How could she remain unaffected by such a chilling blade?

Opening one crate, they found it brimming with weapons. Gu Yun's frown deepened. "These are supposed to be daggers?"

Han Shu glanced inside and scowled as well. "What else would they be?"

"Too large. I don't want them. Take them away," Gu Yun replied coolly.

Daggers? These were nearly fifty centimeters long—short blades at best. On the battlefield, such weapons were already considered cumbersome, ill-suited for close combat, and rarely used. Yet after scouring the entire armory, they had managed to find only a few hundred, and she dismissed them outright.

"You're being unreasonable!" Han Shu bellowed.

Gu Yun shut the crate lid without a word.

"You—!" Han Shu clenched his jaw.

Without so much as turning her head, Gu Yun scoffed, "What, yesterday's beating wasn't enough? Want to try again? Sorry, I'm busy."

Han Shu's fists crackled with tension, while the soldiers behind him held their breath. Furious and speechless, he watched as Gu Yun calmly inspected the other crates containing hemp rope.

"I'll keep the ropes. Take the daggers," she instructed the frozen soldier nearby.

The soldier stood rooted, awaiting Han Shu's command. After a long pause, Han Shu's massive hands opened and closed, again and again, until at last he waved the soldier away. The man exhaled in relief and swiftly removed the crates of daggers from the woods.

This woman was utterly maddening!

Han Shu was about to storm off when he noticed several disheveled ranks of soldiers trudging toward them. His expression darkened.

"What's wrong with these men? Why are they so slow?" he snapped.

Even raw recruits should show better form—when had the Su family army become so lax?

Gu Yun cast him a sidelong glance, retorting with a sneer, "You try running ten li with thirty pounds of sand strapped to you and see how fast you move."

Startled, Han Shu squinted, and sure enough, each soldier bore heavy sandbags at the waist and legs.

He glared at Gu Yun. "What kind of ridiculous training method is this?!"

Could the man not lower his voice? It rattled her eardrums.

Rubbing her ear lazily, Gu Yun chuckled, "If you disapprove, you're free to leave. No one's forcing you to stay. But if you're curious, you're welcome to observe—maybe you'll finally learn what real soldier training looks like. Just don't waste my time with nonsense."

Her brazen arrogance ignited Han Shu's fury.

"Fine!" he snapped, slapping his thigh. "Let's see how a woman like you trains troops!"

By now, the vanguard had returned. Upon seeing the tall, imposing Han Shu, their eyes lit up with reverence.

"Commander Han!" they greeted with awe.

Han Shu was the most formidable vanguard under General Su Ling's command. They had only glimpsed him from afar during selection, and up close, he was even more magnificent.

As more soldiers returned, their previously drained expressions were instantly replaced with vigor upon seeing Han Shu—they stood straighter, chests puffed out.

Gu Yun arched a brow, watching coldly. These rotten brats! Where was this reverence when facing her? Clearly, they hadn't suffered enough.

With a stern gaze, Han Shu barked, "Form ranks! No talking during training!"

"Yes, sir!"

The five hundred soldiers immediately fell into orderly formation.

Han Shu raised his chin triumphantly, expecting Gu Yun to lose face. But instead, she smiled serenely and stepped forward.

"You may remove your sandbags," she announced.

The soldiers suddenly remembered who their true tormentor was—this devil of a woman. Wordlessly, they detached their weights and stared straight ahead.

Hands clasped behind her back, Gu Yun spoke in a gentle yet commanding tone, "Today's training consists of three parts: impact resistance, hand-to-hand combat, and climbing drills."

As expected, all eyes turned to her in confusion and doubt.

Maintaining her easy smile, Gu Yun continued, "I am a democratic person. Before training begins, you are free to ask questions. Once it starts, I expect no hesitation. If you wish to speak, raise your hand. Only when I call on you may you speak."

She surveyed them calmly. Under her steady gaze, no one dared raise a hand—until finally, an older, broad-shouldered man summoned the courage.

"You," Gu Yun nodded.

Drawing a deep breath, he spoke loudly, "Since this is military training, why do you not teach us battlefield combat or troop formations? Why focus on these exercises we've never even heard of?"

They did not fear hardship—but they didn't want to waste time on pointless drills, especially when they might face humiliation in half a month's time.

This question echoed the thoughts of every soldier present—and matched Han Shu's own doubts.

Gu Yun replied steadily, "First, every endeavor should be purposeful. This half-month training is preparation for a night assault—combat and formation strategy are not irrelevant, but they are not the focus of this session. Second, every component of my training is designed to enhance your individual combat ability, ensuring that each of you can quickly adapt to the demands of night warfare and become elite among elites."

She understood their thoughts—hence the invitation to question. She wanted them to not just obey, but believe.