Chapter 216: The Two Trouble‑Makers

You ask Ye Qingran, is she tired?

Of course she is! After all, a mortal flesh, who can run such a long distance at high speed without fatigue?

Yet that fatigue and pain have already been etched into her bones and blood, becoming part of her body.

She has endured too much suffering. Compared with true anguish, what does the fatigue and pain of running amount to?

Moreover, isn't the essence of life suffering itself?

When you understand the noble meaning of suffering, you'll find that sweet relief after hardship is a truly happy thing.

Seventy laps…

Eighty laps…

Ninety laps…

……

When they had only three laps left, Ye Qingran had already run ninety laps.

From the shock at the start to the numbness now.

Their bodies were already at the limit. Yet each time they saw that figure flash past them like the wind, they could draw some encouragement.

This woman without a Spiritual Root can run a hundred laps; why can't they manage a mere fifty?

"My god, Sister Qingran accelerated!"

Xia Zhimeng widened her eyes, watching that arrow‑like figure, her inner shock beyond words.

The consumption of ninety laps is enough to make a man the end of a strong crossbow. Yet Ye Qingran went the opposite way, growing bolder with each setback!

Ling Shaoyang's eyes also glittered, as if holding a bright day.

His master, such a young woman, yet possesses a perseverance that commands admiration!

When that wind‑like figure crossed the finish line before Qin Feng, everyone stood in solemn respect.

She did it!

The tasks that seemed impossible to them, she mentioned lightly and then achieved step by step.

Perhaps influenced by Ye Qingran, the new recruits who had not yet finished the course, desperate enough to quit, adjusted their mindset, supported by belief, gritted their teeth, and one by one reached the finish.

After Ye Qingran finished, she did not leave the track; she walked three more laps along it before returning to her seat, where Han Xing had prepared a cool tea for her. She drank a cup, fanned herself, gasped, her face flushed red, thin sweat trickling down her cheeks.

"Whew, haven't run in so long, much slower than before…"

Zhuang Xian and a few others covered their mouths and snickered, the miss was humblebragging!

This…

Upon hearing this, everyone twitched the corners of their mouths.

Is this still slow?

Then what would she be like when she speeds up?

I can't even imagine!

By the time the last person finished gathering, Ye Qingran had already bathed, changed, and returned fresh to the training ground.

"Are you the weak ones?"

When that group of new recruits, panting heavily, drenched, stood in line to face Ye Qingran's soul‑questioning, the earlier vigor and angry shame were gone.

"Yes!"

They can't even match a weak woman without a Spiritual Root; if not weak, what are they?

Yet this weak woman is far from weak, isn't she?

"The Jiuzhou Corps does not need the weak. If you want to stay, you must become the strong. Can you do it?"

"Can!"

With the earlier intimidation, Ye Qingran established authority in their hearts.

"Ji Feng, do you have any dissent?" Ye Qingran fixed her gaze on Ji Feng.

Ji Feng was startled; he stared at Ye Qingran, saw her pale complexion, a faint smile at the corner of her lips, shook his head, "No."

"If you have any dissent, speak up now, don't keep it inside. As for me, aside from other abilities, my skill at dealing with dissent is top‑notch."

The crowd: "……"

"From today on, Qin Feng is your squad leader."

Ji Feng frowned, glanced sideways at Qin Feng, clearly a bit resentful. Yet he took first place in today's run, making him a worthy leader.

"The leader's position belongs to the capable. Those who disagree get one challenge per month." Ye Qingran announced loudly, then asked Qin Feng, "Confident you can keep this position in your grasp forever?"

Qin Feng lifted his head, met Ye Qingran's gaze, his eyes as firm as iron, "Yes!"

"Very good."

Ji Feng retorted defiantly, "This position is mine, Ji Feng will claim it inevitably; in a month I'll seize it with my own skill!"

"Then I'll watch and wait!"

……

What they saw today left a deep impression in Xia Zhimeng and Ling Shaoyang's hearts, and planted a seed in their youthful minds…

In Ting Yu Xuan

Fu Qianchen and Mo Xiaohu crouched on the ground, watching Xiao Bai, still asleep, completely hairless, its pink flesh exposed, big eyes staring at small eyes, not knowing what to do.

"Uh… Xiao Hu, your medicine's potency seems a bit too strong…"

Mo Xiaohu grinned, looking worse than crying, "I didn't expect this either!"

"Mother loves the fur on Xiao Bai the most. We stripped all its fur; if Mother finds out, will she beat us?"

"What do you think?" Do we even need to ask?

Undoubtedly, they caused trouble again!

Fu Qianchen knitted his brows, which looked just like the National Master's, and was very worried.

He will definitely get a beating.

"You don't have an antidote? The kind that makes hair grow quickly?"

Mo Xiaohu pressed his lips, shook his head, "No. Even the fastest would take half a month." Mother is coming back any moment; there's definitely no time!

Fu Qianchen suggested, "Why don't we hide Xiao Bai?"

Mo Xiaohu gave him a sideways glance, "Hide it? Are you teasing me? Mother pulls its fur every day; when she returns and finds Xiao Bai gone, she'll definitely question us."

"Then we'll just say it went missing!"

Mo Xiaohu narrowed his eyes, "You dare lie to Mother?"

Fu Qianchen spread his hands, "There's no other way! Don't you have a better idea?"

Mo Xiaohu's shoulders slumped.

"Ah, if I had known, I wouldn't have used Xiao Bai for the experiment!" Mo Xiaohu turned his face to look at Xiao Huihui on his shoulder, "Xiao Huihui, let's use you for the experiment next time!"

Xiao Huihui looked at Xiao Bai's miserable state, trembling, spread its wings, and pointed at the nearby Xiao Yin, saying, "Little master, you should look for Xiao Yin instead! It has more fur!"

Xiao Yin raised its wolf head, bared its fangs, and let out a warning growl, frightening Xiao Huihui, who darted into the little master's arms, trembling.

Xiao Yin is so scary!

……

When Ye Qingran returned from the East Suburb manor, the two children stood guard at the Ting Yu Xuan gate like door gods. However, they were far cuter than the fierce door gods; one might even say they were guardian cherubs.

So cute, soft and glutinous.

Ye Qingran's heart melted.

"Why aren't you playing inside? What are you doing standing here?"

"Mother, you're back? We've been waiting for you here!"

"How come you're so well-behaved today?"

"Mother, thirsty? Have some tea!" Mo Xiaohu produced a cup of tea from behind his back as if performing a trick; the tea was cold, obviously poured a while ago.

"Mother, hungry? Have some snacks!" Fu Qianchen brought out a plate of colorful snacks from behind his back.

Both children smiled especially endearingly.

"So well-behaved?"

Ye Qingran looked this way and that, gradually narrowing her eyes: "Out with it, what mischief have you gotten into now?"

Um…

"Mother, you truly have discerning eyes like a torch!"