Chapter 407: Pride and Prejudice

Stop, stop stop stop!

What the hell are you practicing, like a bunch of sick chickens!

Get over here and assemble, hurry, move fast!

Bai Yuan's noisy voice was like a string threaded through a nose ring.

He led the exhausted, listless trainees over to his side.

Long-term hunger caused malnutrition, making everyone, including Lu Yang, lose a lot of weight.

Though not as bad as skin and bone, they all looked like skinny monkeys; with unkempt, dirty faces, they gave off a sour stench.

Thrown onto the street, they'd be perfect cosplay beggars, needing no alteration at all.

A veteran once said the essence of disguise lies in nonchalance and relaxation; now they are so relaxed they have no edge, so relaxed they can't even walk with vigor.

Bai Yuan walked back and forth with his hands behind his back in front of the ranks; each person looked exhausted and listless.

But when he came up to Lu Yang, he paused, puzzled, because this kid's complexion was obviously much better than the others.

Two packs of instant noodles, one pack of cigarettes, could that last this long?

Or has this kid figured out wilderness survival on his own, mastered the tricks, and found a food source?

People are shaped by their environment; survival of the fittest—if he couldn't find food, this kid would probably have collapsed and quit long ago.

Bai Yuan originally thought Lu Yang, lacking wilderness survival experience and ostracized by the group, would last at most three days on the island, but he didn't expect the guy to slowly adapt on his own.

On the contrary, he's somewhat like how he used to be—like a small grass in a rock crevice; the harsher the environment, the harder it struggles to grow.

Bai Yuan stopped thinking, returned to the front of the ranks, and said: "It's been so many days; I know the training is exhausting, poor food and sleep make you irritable and emotional—that's normal."

When he said the three words "it's normal," Bai Yuan looked at Number Ten.

Seeing Tu Hongwei's face like he'd eaten shit, he curled his lips in a satisfied revenge smile.

Finding fault isn't impossible, but you need the skill; if you lack ability, it's just making a fool of yourself.

Bai Yuan generously said: "I understand everyone's hardship these past days, so I decide to give everyone a day off tomorrow, no training—what do you think?"

Deathly silence.

Bai Yuan even flamboyantly scratched his head like a fly, then put his hand to his ear as if "receiving a signal."

He struck a pose he thought was cool and suave, like a concert interaction, hoping to get a rousing cheer.

But everyone just stared at him blankly, as if feeling nothing at all.

This wasn't hostility; it was numbness from exhaustion, the brain's emotional processing completely shut down.

In his past life, as a seasoned beast-of-burden worker, Lu Yang called this state "work vibe."

Two-shift rotation, nonstop shifts, daily meetings, plus long night shifts and lack of sleep—basically that feeling.

Clearly still alive, but feeling somewhat dead.

Seeing Bai Yuan's embarrassed face, Lao Mao almost laughed, but still smoothed things over: "Are your ears deaf or your soul lost? Don't you want a day off?"

Want.........

A drawn-out moan squeezed out weakly from between his teeth.

Such a lazy, listless reply also counts as a soft resistance to the instructors' "brutal and inhumane" treatment.

"Dismissal, training ends here for today!"

Bai Yuan couldn't keep a straight face and directly announced dismissal.

From this moment until the morning after tomorrow, they will be free.

But on this sea-encircled deserted island, they can't go anywhere, and there's hardly any entertainment.

All they can do is stay put and sleep as much as possible to reduce energy consumption.

"What does your group say?"

"What else can we say? Sleep, to rest our spirits."

"And the second group?"

"Pretty much the same—at most we'll try fishing, see if we can catch some seafood."

"Forget it—no hooks, no line, no bait; fish are scarce near the island, we've tried many times and caught nothing."

"Graduate student, what about your group?"

"'Graduate student' is Xu Ce's nickname."

Among these eleven people, Xu Ce has the highest education and military rank.

Plus he's steady and wise, so everyone wants to see how he'll arrange things next.

Xu Ce licked his dry lips and said weakly: "Let's go to the beach to pick up shells; I tried fishing before, it doesn't work; we should stay in one place as much as possible to reduce energy consumption."

"Besides, I always feel this isn't that simple?"

"What do you mean?" Jiang Dahai asked curiously.

"Do you really think the instructors would be that kind and give us a day off? Or put another way, can you trust their character and what they say?"

Xu Ce's words made everyone ponder, raising their guard a bit.

Those who made it through the layers of selection aren't stupid.

Here, there's never been any free lunch.

If there is, it only means the instructors are out to get them.

After all, these people talk like they're farting; especially Bai Yuan, who's full of hot air.

"No matter what, everyone should still raise their guard and look out for each other."

"Mm, good."

"By the way, have you found the little thief who stole your berries?"

"Nothing."

When saying this, someone unconsciously glanced toward Lu Yang twice.

Because the actual situation at the time wasn't clear, and Lu Yang also couldn't fit into this circle, some people still thought it was this outsider who did it.

The division of resources on the island has always had clear boundaries; everyone silently observes 'order,' controlling the speed of resource consumption.

However, not long after Lu Yang appeared, this balance was broken.

Although this kid's marksmanship is very impressive, what does it matter? Anyone who's made it this far has some special talent, some ability.

So, everyone's current stance toward Lu Yang is: not worthy of sharing a meal, not close, not hostile; they always keep a certain distance and sense of unfamiliarity.

It's like someone who sneaked in through the back door at work, but is still a down-to-earth, capable intern; they remain polite and indifferent, treating him as if he doesn't exist.

"You've misunderstood, it has nothing to do with him." Tu Hongwei proactively explained: "That previous incident was just a misunderstanding."

"I know, I know, I realize you're broad-minded and don't want to quibble."

"......"

Once prejudice forms, it's hard to eliminate.

Tu Hongwei clearly knows it wasn't Lu Yang who did it, but he can't explain it clearly for him.

After all, he won against him in the second round, which made him feel somewhat guilty, regretting his impulsive actions.

I don't know why, but since coming here, he's been in an awkward state, regretting this, regretting that, constantly anxious about gains and losses, which has subjected his mind and body to double torment.

Xu Ce glanced at him, also blaming him for indiscriminately framing an innocent person; now that it's come to this, how will it end?

Tu Hongwei clenched his fists angrily: "Damn it, if I catch that little thief, I'll knock all his teeth out and make him swallow them!"

Jiang Dahai's sturdy body shuddered; he dared not speak: "......."