Chapter 58: Hunter

Over the next two days, for the twenty members of the Black Tortoise Guard Team, it was the darkest, longest, and most unforgettable forty-eight hours of their lives.

Each day, a piercing alarm would sound off at irregular times in the early morning, making them suffer greatly.

However, the effect was also significant.

Everyone went from being flustered and disheveled at the start to, by the third day, being able to dress, arm themselves, and rush downstairs to assemble within one minute.

Although they still looked disheveled, compared to the previous chaotic three minutes, it was already a world of difference.

But this also had a reason.

Because anyone who was even a second late would face 'extra rations'—not only would they be deprived of breakfast, but they'd have to run with a load to the point of exhaustion.

The daytime training content was even more varied, each item aimed at pushing them to their limits.

The distance of the loaded cross-country run grew longer each day, and the stones in their backpacks grew heavier each day.

Shooting training was relatively normal, after all, sharpshooters are made by feeding them bullets.

Besides that, close-quarters combat content was added.

Gui Ying and Wu Ya would take turns going down to the field, tormenting them one by one.

Although they wouldn't deal lethal blows, each punch and kick precisely struck the body's most painful nerve points, a feeling more torturous than directly breaking bones.

In just three days, everyone had slimmed down noticeably.

Lin Yue watched all of this, and his opinion of Gui Ying and Wu Ya rose a few notches.

Truly the king among soldier kings.

On the evening of the third day, when everyone dragged their legs as if filled with lead, finished the final training, and collapsed onto the muddy training ground,

Gui Ying and Crow House, for the first time, did not call them 'trash' again.

"Three days, it's over."

Gui Ying glanced at the stopwatch, his tone still icy,

"Your performance…… barely passes."

"According to the agreement, starting tomorrow, we will be your official instructors for the next month."

The next day, evening.

During the day, the Black Tortoise Guard Team conducted normal training, but after dinner everyone was summoned.

At this moment, the vast training field of Xuanwu City had completely changed.

A scene of uneven broken walls and ruins, narrow and deep alleyways, appeared before everyone.

"Starting tonight, we will conduct the second phase of training—practical combat."

Wu Ya stood on the high wall at the labyrinth entrance, looking at everyone with a squinting smile.

"You will be split into two teams, entering from the labyrinth's two different entrances simultaneously. Your only goal is to reach the bell tower at the labyrinth's center before dawn."

He paused, grinned, and revealed a mouthful of stark white teeth.

"Along the way, I and Gui Ying will be the 'hunters.' We will use every means to 'hunt down' you."

Saying this, he reached to his waist and pulled out a dagger.

It was an unopened training dagger, but under the moonlight its blade bore a layer of eerie dark red sheen.

"This is coated with a special pigment. Once your neck, heart, or other vital spots are marked with this color, it means you are 'dead.' A 'dead person' must immediately lie down where they are or withdraw from training. Understood?"

"Understood!"

"Good."

Gui Ying nodded, his gaze falling on Han Ya and another sturdy young man.

"Han Ya, you lead the first team. Zhang Jian, you lead the second team."

Zhang Jian, aside from Han Ya, was the most outstanding performer in these three days of training.

Before the apocalypse, he had been a physical education teacher, with physical fitness, willpower, and teamwork abilities far surpassing ordinary people, so Lin Yue promoted him exceptionally to vice-captain.

"Friendly reminder: we won't hold back when we strike. Breaking a few bones is routine. If you're afraid of death, you can quit now."

Everyone's expression involuntarily grew a bit more solemn.

"How so? Are you scared?"

Wu Ya's mocking voice rang out.

"Report, instructor! Not afraid!"

"Good."

Gui Ying nodded,

"Han Ya, you lead the first team. Zhang Jian, you lead the second team. Each take your people to the entrance; ten minutes later, the 'hunt' begins."

South entrance of the labyrinth.

"Captain…… we…… we really have to go in?"

A young team member's voice trembled uncontrollably as he gripped his rifle, his palms slick with cold sweat,

"Those two instructors…… are basically not human……"

These three days of training have already let them deeply experience the terror of Gui Ying and Wu Ya.

Han Ya didn't answer, merely crouched on the ground, quickly sketching something with the tip of her dagger in the dirt.

She knew full well that, with this group of new recruits, trying to directly oppose those two monsters was like throwing eggs at stones.

To win, they had to find another way.

"Liu Fei,"

She asked without raising her head,

You have the best memory—once we're in, it's up to you.

Don't worry, Captain!

Liu Fei gave a heavy nod.

Li Hu, in our squad you're the best shot, so I'm putting you on watch.

The rest of you, form three‑person teams and advance in a triangular formation, alternating cover.

On the other side, the north entrance.

Zhang Jian was rallying his troops, meanwhile laying out the steadiest tactic he could devise.

Listen up! Our watchword is 'steady'—five to a team, back to back, step by step forward. No matter how slow we go, we must not give those two maniacs any chance to ambush.

Yet he had no idea that, less than fifty meters away on a walltop, two ghost‑like silhouettes were silently crawling in the shadows.

Heh, they split into two teams—interesting.

Wu Ya's lips curled with mockery; through his night‑vision goggles, both entrances were clear as day.

Where should we start?

You take the left, I'll take the right.

Gui Ying's voice remained terse.

Swift and decisive.

All right.

Wu Ya licked his lips, a flash of blood‑thirsty excitement in his eyes.

Before his words faded, he slipped silently down from the wall, making no sound.

……

The hunt begins.

Zhang Jian's squad moved back‑to‑back, carefully edging around a narrow corner.

Suddenly, a teammate at the rear felt a chill on his neck—before he could react, he saw a mocking face appear before him like a ghost.

It was Wu Ya!

You're 'dead'.

Wu Ya's hoarse voice whispered in his ear.

His pupils snapped shut; he tried to cry out, but Wu Ya clapped a hand over his mouth, silencing him.

Don't forget the training rules!

On his neck, a vivid red mark glared in the dark.

Old Five? What's wrong?

The teammate ahead sensed something wrong; as he turned, he saw Wu Ya's silhouette.

Before anyone could react, they felt a chill on their necks.

Under Wu Ya's ambush, the five of them lasted less than ten seconds before all were taken out.

When Zhang Jian heard the noise and rushed over with the rest of the team, bewildered, all that remained were five bodies lying on the ground.

He just couldn't believe that a five‑man squad had simply… disappeared.

What's the situation?

Zhang Jian called out to the five on the ground.

Team....

Someone was about to speak, but Old Five clapped a hand over their mouth, then held his hand to his lips and made a zip‑the‑mouth sign at Zhang Jian.

Zhang Jian instantly realized that a 'corpse' couldn't speak.