Chapter 31: Did Tang San and Xiao Wu Stop Caring About Me? Must Be My Imagination!

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The next day.

Morning was spent cultivating.

In the afternoon, the long-distance running began.

"Today, you'll be running laps in this field. You don't stop until I say so."

Yu Xiaogang declared, "Slack off or fail to meet the standard, and you skip dinner tonight.

Start now."

Ning Rongrong seriously doubted whether this kind of long-distance running served any real purpose, but after Xu Yunhan told her how poor Shrek Academy was, she understood.

Shrek Academy was just a backwater institution—no simulated cultivation grounds like other advanced Spirit Master academies, no specialized training facilities, no high-quality nutritional ingredients, no medicinal herbs to aid cultivation…

In short, they were too poor. They had to come up with unconventional methods just to keep things interesting. Otherwise, they'd have nothing to do.

Yu Xiaogang believed long-distance running could strengthen the body—even if only temporarily—but more importantly, it trained willpower and fostered teamwork.

Among the eight of them, conflicts had arisen due to romantic entanglements, and Yu Xiaogang was doing his best to mediate.

But Xu Yunhan had no intention of letting him succeed.

"I don't want to run anymore. This is pointless."

Ning Rongrong, with the weakest physique, was exhausted after just over ten laps.

Xu Yunhan happened to catch up from behind and looked at her sternly. "Rongrong, you ran away from home to train and grow, didn't you? If you can't even endure this little hardship, how will you improve? How will you make others see you in a new light?"

"You—" Ning Rongrong, struck right in her weak spot, couldn't retort. She just felt wronged.

Xu Yunhan continued, "Even though I don't think much of Yu Xiaogang's training methods—they're useless for me—they do work for you. At the very least, they temper your willpower.

"If you don't push yourself, how can you expect others to acknowledge you? That's just a pipe dream.

"If you keep this up, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will definitely fall to ruin under your leadership."

His words were harsh, and Ning Rongrong couldn't refute them. Each sentence stabbed at her heart, making her want to cry. "Yunhan, do you know how annoying you can be sometimes?"

Xu Yunhan shrugged. "The truth hurts! If I didn't consider you a friend, I wouldn't bother wasting my breath. Don't let me look down on you."

With that, he ran off.

Ning Rongrong stood there, lost in self-reflection.

Before long, Oscar caught up to her. "Rongrong, are you tired? If you are, take a break. You're a girl—the Master probably won't be too hard on you."

"What does being a girl have to do with it?" Ning Rongrong snapped at Oscar, venting her frustration. "I'm Ning Rongrong!"

Then, gritting her teeth, she forced herself to keep running. Though her pace was slow, she was making progress.

Oscar, caught in the line of fire, could only smile awkwardly before running past her.

"Rongrong, you can do it."

Zhu Zhuqing came up beside her, offering encouragement.

Though the three girls got along well as roommates, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were closer.

"I can still keep going."

Ning Rongrong forced the words out between clenched teeth.

They weren't allowed to use spirit power for the run—it was purely a test of physical endurance and willpower.

"Alright. If any of us can't go on later, we'll help each other keep moving," Zhu Zhuqing said.

Ning Rongrong gave a weak smile. "My stamina is nowhere near yours. I'll just do my best."

Just then, Xiao Wu ran up. "Can't keep up? Need help?"

Ning Rongrong sighed enviously. "I'm the one struggling. Xiao Wu, you and Zhuqing have such good stamina. We're all girls, but I'm so much weaker—it's embarrassing."

Xiao Wu grinned. "It's no big deal. It's mostly because of our different martial souls. But if you keep training, you'll improve."

Ning Rongrong nodded. "Don't worry about me. If I really can't go on, I'll call for help, okay?"

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing agreed immediately.

Living and eating together, their friendship was growing quickly.

Among the eight, Ning Rongrong had the worst stamina, followed by Ma Hongjun and Oscar, then Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu, as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form, had natural physical advantages.

Zhu Zhuqing had endured rigorous training, forcing her to build endurance, and her willpower was solid.

Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Xu Yunhan benefited mostly from their martial souls enhancing their stamina.

Of course, as fellow transmigrators, Xu Yunhan's physique surpassed Tang San's, and his mental strength was no weaker.

Time passed slowly.

Ning Rongrong had reached her limit—she truly couldn't run anymore.

Zhu Zhuqing supported her, and the two walked slowly together.

Soon, Xiao Wu joined them, and the three leaned on each other as they pressed forward.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar, equally exhausted, slung their arms over each other's shoulders and jogged at a snail's pace.

Yu Xiaogang watched with satisfaction. This was exactly the effect he wanted—strengthening their willpower and teamwork.

However, Dai Mubai and Tang San were still competing with Xu Yunhan.

Dai Mubai was doing it for Zhu Zhuqing's attention, while Tang San wanted to prove he was stronger than Xu Yunhan—that he was the most outstanding one!

Their competitive spirits were fierce!

More time passed.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar collapsed from exhaustion.

With Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's help, Ning Rongrong was still going.

Now, she felt grateful for Xu Yunhan's harsh encouragement and for her friends' support.

She even began to question whether competing with Zhu Zhuqing over Xu Yunhan was right, wondering if she should back off.

The three girls lasted a while longer before finally giving out, sitting back-to-back on the ground, gasping for air, lips dry, clothes and hair soaked with sweat.

Only Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Xu Yunhan were still running.

"Three freaks!" Ma Hongjun cursed, having caught his breath a little.

Oscar wholeheartedly agreed—especially with Xu Yunhan, who looked completely unbothered, barely sweating, as if this were nothing. The guy wasn't human!

Dai Mubai was drenched, his face pale, while Tang San was holding up slightly better—but neither could compare to Xu Yunhan.

"He really is a monster."

Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but marvel at Xu Yunhan's talent. It was too well-rounded.

A Three-Eyed White Tiger with an obviously high-tier martial soul!

Innate full spirit power!

A cultivation speed far surpassing geniuses like Tang San!

Effortlessly absorbing spirit rings beyond his level—with the rings even coming to him willingly!

Skilled in crafting spirit tools and pills!

A freakish physique with immense physical strength!

And seemingly powerful mental strength to boot!

With all these advantages combined, how could anyone not be amazed?

Still, his own disciple, Tang San, had twin martial souls—limitless potential! Yu Xiaogang had high hopes for Tang San's future.

Even if Xu Yunhan's talent and cultivation were unmatched now, Yu Xiaogang believed he would, at best, become just another powerful Titled Douluo.

But with two martial souls, Tang San—even as a Titled Douluo—would undoubtedly surpass Xu Yunhan in combat power!

Yu Xiaogang was utterly confident in this.

Unnoticed, dusk arrived.

Dai Mubai and Tang San seemed to have formed an alliance, supporting each other as they stubbornly refused to stop before Xu Yunhan did.

Xu Yunhan was inwardly delighted—he was toying with them effortlessly.

Finally, Yu Xiaogang called it. "Time's up. Stop.

You've all performed well today. Keep it up.

Go rest, wash up, then head to the dining hall."

Hearing this, Xu Yunhan stopped.

Tang San and Dai Mubai finally let out a breath of relief, collapsing where they stood.

Xu Yunhan walked over to Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu. "Can you three make it back on your own?"

Ning Rongrong was too embarrassed to admit her legs were too sore to move.

Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu were in slightly better shape but could barely walk.

"Rongrong can't walk," Zhu Zhuqing said. "Xiao Wu and I can manage, but we won't be able to support her."

Xiao Wu shot Xu Yunhan a glance, inexplicably annoyed. "Well, Yunhan, you should carry Rongrong back. It's getting dark—we can't stay here forever.

Zhuqing and I will help each other back."

Since Xu Yunhan had already kissed her and carried Zhu Zhuqing, what was one more with Ning Rongrong?

Xu Yunhan looked at Ning Rongrong, whose face was slightly red. She neither agreed nor refused.

Since Xiao Wu had suggested it, Zhu Zhuqing had no objections. "Yunhan, just help her."

Xu Yunhan nodded. "Then I'll take Rongrong back first."

With that, he scooped her up.

Suddenly, Ning Rongrong's legs didn't hurt as much. Her body grew warm, her heart raced, and her cheeks burned as her thoughts ran wild.

So this was how Zhu Zhuqing felt yesterday when Xu Yunhan carried her… It's nice!

"Quit staring." Ma Hongjun nudged Oscar, who was watching Xu Yunhan and Ning Rongrong. "Even if you had the chance, do you have the strength to carry her back right now?"

Oscar was too exhausted to even summon his recovery sausages. He could only watch helplessly as Xu Yunhan carried Ning Rongrong away.

How he wished he were in Xu Yunhan's place!

"Boss was just helping. Zhu Zhuqing is the one he's really with," Oscar muttered stubbornly.

Xiao Wu suddenly called out to Tang San, "Little San, Zhuqing and I are heading back first."

Tang San was stunned. Xiao Wu hadn't even come over to check on him—she was just leaving.

In the past, she would've rushed to his side, fussing over him before helping him back.

Something felt different about Xiao Wu, but he couldn't pinpoint what.

Maybe it was just his imagination. Tang San didn't want to dwell on it. "Yeah, go ahead."

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