Not explaining why they were exposed under the sun for the whole afternoon, no words to pacify their torment, not a hint of feeling apologetic about it, Gu Yun lightly raised her hand pointing at the strange things at the side of the training field said, "Later, divide yourselves into groups of fifty. In front of you there' s a deep pit, thorny net, single-log bridge and high obstacle wall. You must jump into the deep pit, come out then pass through under the thorny net, crawl forward, cross the single-log bridge. Those who fall off the bridge have to go back to the beginning. As for the high wall, I don't need to say much, just climb over and behind the high wall are ten bows and ten arrows. Your target is not the bull's eye but a feather hanging in front of it. Those who can shoot the feather will be able to stay." A clear refreshing and resounding voice was heard clearly by everyone. They had been looking at those things because the whole afternoon, they have not done anything extraordinary. The soldiers were expressionless, however, on the high platform were few curious elderly men.
The military drill ground was two to three hundred feet* long, at the most front a pit was excavated more than ten feet deep. After the pit, using thistles as a net, it was pulled open just one-foot** from the ground. Underneath the net was a quagmire that one had to creep and crawl, coming out from it would definitely get a nasty appearance afterward. After the net, ahead were ten trunks with the circumference of only the mouth of a bowl lying horizontally across on the ground. At the end of the trunks was a wall twenty feet high or even more standing upright.
(*) – Ten feet are equal to 3.3 meters
(**) – One foot is equal to one-third of a meter
This girl made so many strange things, what use does it have? Suddenly, the three people found the training exercise funny and very interesting. Now, they were watching it avidly.
The Su military soldiers' were not without martial arts skills so there was no need to even mention of the elite's martial arts skills, the soldiers all looked very calm. Gu Yun slightly smiled and said, "I know you are the elite of the elites and I have no doubt that you can pass these obstacles but you have to remember there are only ten arrows."
The audience understood what she meant. Only the fastest ten people in each group of fifty were eligible to shoot, therefore the rest would be eliminated.
Confirming they knew what she meant by their looks. Gu Yun said to Han Shu beside her, "Let's begin."
"Rank and file!" Han Shu loudly commanded, the soldiers immediately very orderly arranged every fifty people in one horizontal line formations. The three thousand men lined up very fast and neatly in sixty rows. Gu Yun was secretly amazed, General Su's troop's deployment drill was awesome. On a battlefield of large-scale against the enemy, their formation was so precise and quick, making it difficult for the enemies to find a weak point to attack!
Gu Yun was still admiring when the troops had already gone to the starting point of the obstacles. "Begin." With Han Shu's command, the first row of soldiers like an arrow shot forward. Everyone understood that if they could not reach the first ten, it meant they had failed.
Fifty people, almost at the same time, jumped into the deep pit. However, when coming out there was an obvious difference in before and after. In the three-meter-long, three meters wide and three-meter deep pit all at once jumped in fifty people. Each man was almost pasted against each other, there was no space for them to run-up. It was basically jumping on the spot, coming out was really not easy. Sure enough, this pit had already pulled apart, making the mouth wider by their pulling and tussing.
Crawling under the thistles on the mud was not difficult for them. It would only covered them all over with mud and caused hindrance when climbing the high-end. After running across the single-log bridge, the estimated six meters high wall stopped many men but those with qinggong(1) still flipped over.
(1) Martial arts skill which has the ability to move swiftly and lightly at superhuman speed or perform gravity-defying moves.
When all the ten arrows have been claimed by their owners, Su Ren's Deputy General, Yu Shi Jun, who stood by the wall shouts, "Men behind withdraw!"
All those who were not able to quickly climb the wall naturally were defeated but that did not mean the men lucky enough to get the arrows could pass easily.
The target was two hundred feet away and the white feathers were being blown by the night wind swinging back and forth. The night was only lighted by the fire torches and in the midst of the swinging blaze, there were some who could not even see the floating feathers clearly, let alone shoot it! Gu Yun did not give them time to aim but as soon as the arrow was picked up, it must be shot in less than half a quarter of an hour. Running in front of the rest, the owners of the arrows were already breathless and the swinging of the floating feathers was even more difficult, it is a test of one's eyesight!
The first round's result, "In all, no one passed ." Yu Shi Jun glanced at the feather which fluttered in front of the archery target and in his heart, he secretly criticized Gu Yun's craftiness. Under such test, how many people could complete the task! In the first round, everyone was annihilated. Moments ago the soldiers were still full of confidence but were finally starting to feel anxious.
"Begin."
The second row of men rushed out. The first man to climb out from the pit seemed familiar, Gu Yun squinted slightly, that was – Lou Yan! In the rainforest, he made a deep impression on her. Seeing that his bones were well-balanced and the force of his muscles was explosive, to get over the high wall was not a problem. It's just that did not know whether he would be able to shoot the floating feather.
Luo Yan passed through the obstacles all the way with nimble and agile movements, the execution was all neat as Gu Yun expected. He was the first to get the long arrow. Luo Yan took only one look at the distant feather and pulled the bow-string without a hint of hesitation. He released the arrow and the pure white feather was nailed onto the archery target!
Good archery! Good eyesight! Gu Yun was secretly delighted, this guy was a molded talent!
This group performed very well. There were four men who were able to shot the feathers.
The next few groups were all not bad, Leng Xiao and Ge Jing Yun were also separately selected. It's just that among the recruits that Gu Yun trained before, it was only the two of them who were selected. Seeing that the race was already halfway through but most of the selected men were basically from Crouching Tiger Camp. Liu Xing sighed in a low moan, "Oh no!The Crouching Tiger Camp is too fierce and we among the batch of new recruits had few opportunities to practice archery."
The same batch of young recruit secretly sighed with him, "Yeah and not everyone is like Leng Xiao or Ge Jing Yun!"
"No." Liu Xing muffled in a low groan, "Boss was originally the one training us and after selection, there are unexpectedly only a few of our own people, what a shame! We cannot let the Crouching Tiger Battalion look down upon us!" They had fought so hard to break into this three thousand soldiers selection, they were really not resigned to just lose like that!
"That's right!" In their row, there were three or four recruits who had spent time at the hands of Gu Yun. They were also not resigned to it but had no strategy left to try on (idiom), "What do we do now, we are really not as strong as them!"
Liu Xing's eyes glints with a touch of cunningness, lowly laughed twice. Taking advantage that the front was still in the competition, he bowed his head to the few people around him and whispered a few words in their ears. After the recruits around him had heard, they looked at each other for a while before finally pointing at Liu Xing and said, "Okay! Let's do it! You go!"
Liu Xing pause for a moment then immediately used strength to nod his head hard! Soon it was their group's turn.
"Begin." Han Shu gave the command and fifty people like a swarm of bees rushed into the deep pit.
Yet like a miracle, a young figure was falling in and almost at the same time immediately jumped out from the pit. It's like his body was flying as light as a swallow.
After him, again another man also effortlessly got out of the pit, everybody was dumbfounded. Looked inside the pit only to find two people had used their body for support, allowing them to be stepped on so they could leap out easy. Those soldiers who previously had already lost in the pit were angered, "How could they do this?"
The soldiers' hearts were displeased but Gu Yun who was on a high platform just lightly raised her eyebrow and smiled as she saw it all. Su Ling all along just watched with his cold eyes. Both masters did not say stop so naturally, the competition continues.
Although Liu Xing and the other two young recruits had a good start against the competitor, the Crouching Tiger Battalion's skill was after all still higher than them. Reached at the high wall, already had four or five people flipped over. Liu Xing and the two young recruits tried but they could only jump up to half of the wall.
Seeing another two-person also jumped over. The two young recruits glanced at each other, clenched their teeth and one of them firmed his ma bu(martial arts – horse stance) and the other person stepped on his shoulder, simultaneously facing Liu Xing, they cried out, "Liu Xing, step on!" "Mmm." Tightened his fist, Liu Xing borrowed the two human shoulders and finally made it onto the high wall. He jumped down from the high place, joyfully rushed over and held the last long arrow. At the same time, Yu Shi Jun said to the people behind, "Withdraw."
Many men glared at Liu Xing feeling aggrieved. A burly soldier following closely behind him had also flipped over the wall but did not get the arrow. He was unable to stand it and growled, "They cheated. That's unfair!"
Someone had initiated, those already standing below the high platform who could not climb over began to clamor, "Right! It is unfair!" The scene instantaneously appeared somewhat chaotic, Yu Shi Jun awkwardly looked at Gu Yun. In his mind, Liu Xing truly acted with trickery. Gu Yun did not pay any attention to their clamoring but with a clear and resonant voice said, "Archery." She gave out the order, the few people holding the arrows dare not hesitate and continued to shoot.
Long arrows were all shot on the archery target but nailed with feathers there's only three. One of it was shot by Liu Xing.
It was a foregone conclusion. Everyone thought Gu Yun would not bother with that aggrieved burly person but apparently not. Gu Yun suddenly looked at him and calmly asked, "Where is it unfair?"
The burly man believed that he was not wrong, firmly looked back at Gu Yun loudly said, "They all rushed to help one person, of course, he can pass the obstacles but he was not relying on his own ability to pass and to a person with a stronger ability this is not fair!"
Those men who equally lagged behind nodded to express their dissatisfaction.
Gu Yun was not angry and said indifferently, "Just now I had said very clearly, as long as the men got through these obstacles, the fastest ten will be qualified for the archery. Have I ever said that you can't do it as a team? Why didn't you ask you, team, to work together? They did not choose others but the teammates have volunteered willingly to be his stepping stone."
The burly man looked at Liu Xing who nailed the feather with one shot and then looked at the several young recruits standing by the wall who did not jump over the wall but was full of smiles on their faces. The burly man was silent and did not answer Gu Yun's question, his expression also slowly calmed down.
He did not speak but Gu Yun did not intend to give up this opportunity to let them understand what team collaboration was. She pointed at the fluttering feather that was still embedded in the arrow tip and explained, "Understand this, because the last obstacle is a competition of strength of vision, competes in precision and competition in stability. They selected the ten in the team with higher probability out of the fifty. After they had identified the ones that had the higher chance to win then they helped to make it happen! I want men that have brain besides courage, one that can comprehend, to see truly what to accept or reject and not just some boorish fellow!"
A bright clear voice echoes on the wide large drilling ground, every word was very clear, not because of how loud Gu Yun shouted but because nobody dared to retort.
The people clamoring for unfairness quietly bowed their heads and became silent. Su Ling could not help but smiled. These husky fellows were with him for many years and had left so many opponents trembled in fear but today in front of her, they were left speechless.
Gu Yun did not even look at them again and to Han Shu instructed, "Continue."
Han Shu regained his composure, and immediately shouted, "Begin." Another row rushed into the deep pit. The test was carried out in an orderly manner, sixty groups had spent two shichen(one shichen=two hours) to finally finished.
Looking at the remaining reduced pitifully few hundreds of people, Han Shu gave a long sigh then walked to the front of Gu Yun and lowly said, "Finished, only three hundred twenty men got through."
Gu Yun nodded lightly as if she did not seem to feel that the remaining people were too few. She smiled and said, "Others dismiss. Those that had stayed, assemble. I have something to say."
"Yes." Han Shu accepted the order and went away. This whole night, Su Ling has not even said a word. It was all that little girl at the helm commanding and directing everything. The striking majestic Vanguard and Deputy General were also driven by her. Although Su Yan saw her performance tonight and had developed some favorable impression of her his heart was still not really satisfied, "When did the General Manor change ownership?"
Compared with his irritability, Su Qing generously praised, "This girl is interesting. Can't say for sure, she might even really be the one we are looking for."
"I don't think so, her skill is only with her lips and what's the use?" Her body was so weak. What was the use of being wise?
"I actually thought this little girl is not bad, better than a brute force. Compared to one that only has the strength and built but does not have a brain, so much harder to bring about great talent." After Su Quan spoke, his expression was as if one man he was looking at was a resemblance to his description. Su Yan glared and ferociously roared, "I say Lao San (seniority among siblings – San means third), you are saying who has that brute force but does not have the brain!"
Su Quan just laughed off without answering. Su Yan was choked with resentment but he could not vent his rage if he did that it would mean that he was a person of 'brute force without a brain'.
Gu Yun had a head full of black lines (kind of feels like OMG!). These men were not aware of how loud they were, already middle-aged still fighting like little children. She caught a glimpse of Su Ling only to find him with a calm face smiling at her and looked like he was very accustomed to it. Gu Yun immediately decided to completely ignore these three old men at once, or else she did not know if she could still help and not do something to them.
She turned to the three hundred twenty men that had completely lined up. Gu Yun showed a glorious bright smile and said, "Congratulations, you had just got through the small screening test. Tonight's actual selection can begin."
What? What?
That was just a little test!
The soldiers gave a stunned look at Gu Yun and at this moment, for those knowing that smile on her face would make men have an absolutely terrified feeling. Some men remembered the lifetime's unforgettable five miles frog jumps and some men's memory went back in the jungle with those large and plump worms. Even more, some men were unable to make head or tail of the announcement, they were still unaware what was between life and death.
All eyes were staring eyes at her, she saw many of them had that familiar frightened eyes. Gu Yun was in a particularly good mood and the words that came out were unusually relaxed and lively, "Everyone doesn't need to panic, tonight's test is extremely simple." It was okay that she did not say but once the words 'extremely simple' came out, the men that had once worked with her who got betrayed and suffered torment, they all started to have cold sweats dripped down their foreheads. The more relaxed and simple she has said, it would generally be more miserable than death.
"Han Shu." Gu Yun slightly waved a hand signal towards him. Han Shu was standing close by. He lifts to show what was under a huge piece of black linen. Beneath the linen was a pile, like a small hill. It is a hill of sandbags.
"Everyone take ten sandbags, tie four on the legs and six around your waist." Han Shu shouted so loud that even people in the open areas on the drilling ground could hear it clearly.
More than three hundred soldiers kept the doubt in their hearts and quickly trotted towards the small hill. Tied the sandbags on their bodies and done it orderly without delay. Han Shu saw only less than thirty sandbags left on the ground. In his heart, he had unstated criticism hidden. It was no wonder the test before was so tricky as it turned out from the very beginning she did not intend to let many people pass through.
After waiting for them to line up, Gu Yun then said, "Ten miles away from the camp on the top of Jade Spring Mountain, there is a soldier holding red ribbons. You have to run there and take a ribbon back. There is no time limit but the last ten people who come back are considered volunteers to return back to camp."
Based on previous experiences, Gu Yun would not set such a simple task. The soldiers were motionless just waiting for her to say more but after a while, there were no further instructions, finally, they only to wait for Gu Yun to elegantly raised her hand. She gave the cue, "Set off."
Just like this? The soldiers had doubts in their hearts. They had been practicing for long-time, tying up the sandbags to run twenty miles was obviously not a severe training. However, she spent that big vigor preparing sandbags just to eliminate ten individuals? How the others think of her they have no idea, but for Leng Xiao, Ge Jing Yun and Liu Xing even in death they would not believe she would be so good. They knew that they were damned if they just listened to Gu Yun and believed the expectation is just as she spoke.
But even if not believing wholeheartedly, the rest of the soldiers had already accepted the order and started out towards the Jade Spring Mountain. The three men could only do their best to push forward. Soon, the huge drilling ground was left only with the soldiers carrying the fire torch and the few people on the high platform.
The cool autumn night air was blowing stronger especially in the empty drilling ground, the wind was more aggressive. Gu Yun was standing on the platform, her clothing was swaying and her slender body looked as if it could be blown away at any time. Su Ling got up and walked in front of her to block the oncoming night wind. Normally, he did not know how to take care of women and even more so did not know how to show a good will to a woman. It should have been a warm and tender scene but Su Ling's words poisoned the atmosphere, "How long do you still have to torment yourself around?"
Fortunately, Gu Yun never paid attention to this kind of matter. She replied honestly, "Not so yet." Feeling the night wind, she looked at the three old men on the side and kindly said, "Several elders, if you are tired, please go back and rest."
Unfortunately, the old men did not appreciate it. Su Yan in a rude voice and tone replied, "Little girl just mind yourself. We are not tired!"
She has self-invited a scorn, Gu Yun shrugged her shoulders. She sat down on the chair, shut her eyes to rest and did not speak again. Su Ling's expression was not very good but did not urge her further. On the high platform, a few people sat in a daze for what they have witnessed. She dared not follow Su Ling! Su Yan suddenly got up, raised Su Ren by the collar and pulled him to the back of the high platform in a corner. Su Ren did not struggle and quietly let himself be pulled, with a wry smile, "Uncle Yan, what do you want to do?"
He released the hold on Su Ren's collar and lowered his voice, "You go and bring Bing Lian here."
Su Ren's eyes swept past a touch of radiance in his eyes but his mouth pretended to ask blankly, "What for?"
"I told you to go, just go!"
Su Ren took a step back and embarrassingly smiled, "How can I hold it!" Bing Lian was extremely cold and not everyone could touch it.
"Stinky brat, stop acting pitifully with me, use the wooden box put in properly and bring here!" Su Yan impatiently lowly scolded, "Quickly, go!"
"OK, I'll go." He turned around and the helpless expression from just ago was swept away. At the corners of Su Ren's lips emerged a sly smile that was unusually dazzling justifying his actions, "Elder brother, I am just trying to help you."
Su Yan was very self-pleased. He was just about to walk back when suddenly from behind him a low laughing voice said, "Where did you send him?"
With that voice, Su Yan knew who was behind him and did not conceal his plan. Su Yan generously answered, "I want to test that girl to see if she is Bing Lian's selected hostess."
Even if Su Quan did not smile, he still had that celebratory face that was full of doubts, "Why are you so impatient?"
"You also saw it, Ling accommodated her in every possible way and extremely liked her! I am just afraid that Bing Lian choosing her as the owner was a news deliberately put out by Ling. The reason we came here was to confirm who is Ling's fated person! The more we drag, the more troublesome it will be!" Su family's men mostly were one-track minded and once they had made sure it was that woman, they would not change their mind. If this little girl was not destined to be the fate of Su Ling then they could do some planning as soon as possible!
Su Quan turned his head to looked at Su Ling on the high platform who had been indulging Qing Mo for the whole night. He nodded with a sigh and had practically agreed with Su Yan's method. For thousands of years, Bing Lian had not chosen a wrong person and this time also, it must not be wrong!
Sitting down on the same high platform, two persons' eyes unconsciously looked at Gu Yun. Gu Yun sensed that she was in their line of sight but did not open her eyes. She faintly sensed that the reason the three Su family's elders came was that of her. But she was just but a 'foreign land gift' so why were they so bothered and troubled over her. She was suspicious but decided to hold back one's troops without moving(idiom), quietly observe and act accordingly.
Before long, a neat sound of footsteps was heard coming from far and near. Gu Yun opened her eyes and saw more than three hundred men with great strength running back. They almost arrived at the same time.
After a run of ten miles weight-distance, most people were only sweating like rain and hurried to breathe but did not look tired. The overall quality was not bad. Gu Yun was secretly satisfied and walked up to the front of the high platform with a clear resonant voice, "Rank and file."
The troops were not very scattered in the first place so they lined up very quickly and the last ten people removed their sandbags and were pulled out of the next race.
Gu Yun did not waste time to say more, pointing at the muddy pit in front and said, "In order, jump into the mud pit below and come out."
Jump into the mud pit? What is this test? Gloomy was certain but the soldier's duty was to obey orders. No matter what dissatisfaction they had in their hearts, they must jump. So without hesitation, a group of big, tall men one after another jumped into the mud.
They had just worked out in a sweat and all of a sudden dived into the cold mud. This will instantaneously shrink the pores of their skin and a lot of people shivered. All the sandbags were mud-soaked and their weight was two times heavier than before. After soaking in the mud, every time the night wind blew, their body would tremble. Not to say the mud was still pasted on the body, that sticky feeling made one uncomfortable.
Waited for this group of elite in a sorry figure to line up and stand properly again, Gu Yun's clear voice unemotionally commanded, "Your next task is still to get the red ribbon back but the difference is, this time twenty people will be eliminated. Set off."
Still running?! One can already hear a low grumble in the crowd but Su Ling standing behind her was supportive of her decisions. Even if their fists were clenched until it is broken, they would not dare disobey! With their hearts full of displeasure and grievance, the speed of this group of men walked unusually fast.
Gu Yun chuckled, it was only the second round and they were already like that. There were still more to suffer behind them! This side had just gone away and another side, Su Ren also came back to the high platform holding a wooden box. He was almost throwing it down on the seat that he had sat just now and said, "Uncle Yan, that stuff is here. Awful! It's too cold! "He was rubbing his red frozen hands and withdrew behind the back of Su Yan. Later, he estimated that his elder brother would be angry.
Su Yan opened the wooden box and an extremely cold air instantaneously overflowed. The silver-white sword blade was blooming and shining smoothly under the moon. Su Yan with a rarely seen good face said with a smile to Gu Yun, "Little girl, pick up the sword."
Gu Yun stood still and replied indifferently, "Why?" What are they doing bringing Bing Lian here? Gu Yun looked to her side towards Su Ling but he unexpectedly did not look back at her.
Su Yan frowned and impatiently said, "You were just asked to pick it up then you just pick it up, why to talk so much!"
For no reason they asked her to pick up Bing Lian, it was strange. Su Ling's expression after seeing the sword became weird. All this did not help Gu Yun but to be more suspicious. She was still thinking about how she should act when Su Ling's tall figure blocked in front of her. Just from listening to his icy-cold voice, one would know his expression was absolutely fascinating, "I had already said, do not find trouble with her again. Uncle Yan thought I was joking?"
Ling's expression obviously had a guilty conscience, it was visible that his guess just now was right! Su Yan asked back, "When did I find her trouble? It was merely to just let her pick up a sword, what are you nervous about?"
Su Ling was suddenly speechless and turned to Su Ren, "Ren, send Bing Lian back to Yi Tian Yuan."
Su Ren immediately shook his head, "One person have another command, who should I listen to! You find someone else to send it, I don't want to touch it again."
Su Ren's voice had just ended, Su Yu at once exclaimed, "Don't look at me, I also cannot!" Even if there was millennium wood blocking Bing Lian's part of the chill, it was still cold to death. It was not that he had not suffered losses before from taking it!
Seeing the atmosphere was becoming awkward, Su Qing stroked his long beard and harmoniously smiled, "Little girl, do you think the sword is beautiful?"
Gu Yun walked next to the wooden box, took a quick look at Bing Lian and its beautiful body, she replied with a smile, "It is very beautiful."
"You pick it up and it is yours."
It was already mine! Gu Yun's lips was all along lightly raised but unfortunately it did not really looked like a smile. Her cold voice with a touch of provocation replied, "Threatening, does not work and changed to promise of gain, what a pity it was not attractive to me. You might as well say the truth, perhaps I will consider to pick it up." Bing Lian was so peculiar, there must be a story behind it. She even time travelled, had experienced and came across the inexplicable things. No matter how bizarre the hidden secrets behind Bing Lian, she will accept it.
"Being a girl why do you have so many suspicions! I called you to take it, also will do no harm to you!" Although Bing Lian was chilly but touching just a bit would not injure her. Ling's face was all tensed and this little girl was evasive. Su Yan again affirmed to himself that she was not Bing Lian's selected hostess.
Gu Yun lightly raised her hand and slowly stretched to Bing Lian. Three people were holding their breaths, waiting to see her pick up Bing Lian. Gu Yun's hands was almost touching Bing Lian when she suddenly stopped, "Say or don't say is up to you, take or don't take is up to me!" At the same time as she talk Gu Yun's slender finger's direction turned, held down the wooden cover then snapped and closed the wooden box.
"Rotten girl!" She hang their hearts in the air and still did not give them a straightforward answer, this girl's temperament was outrageous! Su Yan was so annoyed that he almost wanted to go forward and break her neck.
Su Ling's heart was also feeling distressed, she was already angry. If she knew that the old men had done so much to verify if she was indeed fit to be the Su family's eldest daughter-in-law, she would definitely be very furious.
"Su Ren, take Bing Lian away!" Su Ling said with gnashing teeth. Su Ren heard it with tingling scalp. Was this not to just verify that Qing Mo would be the Su family's eldest daughter-in-law? Why was it so troublesome! His hands were numb with cold but he could not say no! Su Ren unwillingly walked to the side of the wooden box and was just about to pick up the wooden box when suddenly the whole wooden box fiercely shook. Almost at the same time from the woods around the drilling ground, several chilly silver lights shot directly towards Gu Yun.
"Watch out!" Su Ling was the first to discover the strange happening. He hugged Gu Yun's waist, lifted up and leaped backward. They only heard three dull sound:
THUD…THUD…THUD..
THUD…. THUD …..THUD….
Three thuds until it faded away. At the place where Gu Yun had stood were three crescent-shaped marks of a concealed weapon. The weapons were embedded straight into the back of the chair, a clear skilled technique. There's a dew outside the blade and the exposed side of the blade was violently shaking. The humming noise of the concealed weapon showed how much strength it possessed. If it injected into the body, the consequences cannot be imagined.
This alerted the few people on the platform and they all looked around. This was such a spacious place and was not easy to find for it is so hidden. But also in front of them were hidden weapons quietly placed, which displayed then that the martial arts skills of this person must be very advanced.
The distant treetops shook lightly and a small crowd of dark black shadows lightly leaped under the treetops. Their speed was fast and steps very lithe. Best estimate, there were about more than twenty people and their faces were all covered with the hooded face guards. Their whole body were generally hidden as if in darkness. When they moved forward, they did not even make a sound. Such a ghost-like flashing figures and only within a moment, they already flushed themselves to the central training ground. Gu Yun marveled at their martial arts skill and style. They were like Ninja assassins.
Su Ling took Gu Yun behind him to protect her and the Chixue sword in his hands was already exuding the faint red glow. Gu Yun could feel his whole body muscles tensed and just by looking at these men in black hoods she knew the battle tonight would be difficult.
The men in black clothing stood firm on the training ground. Under the black hoods that covered their faces, one can only see the pairs of cold and gloomy eyes. Their stares were straight and directed at Gu Yun and they did not hide the purpose of their actions.
Just as the sharp night air suddenly stopped, the windless night atmosphere became more tense. Under the platform, two sides stood confronting each other. Nobody moved to break the elusive balance in between. Han Shu growled, "Who are you? Dare to run into the General's Office!"
One of the men in black suddenly stepped forward and made a hand signal pointing at Gu Yun. With the hand signal, the twenty black clad men quickly divided into threes and surrounded the high platform's front, left and right. The soldiers holding the torches drew their weapons and were about to line up but a touch of silver flew across at the first movement of the several soldiers and they instantly fell. The weapon was a crescent sharp knife and it nailed through their necks into the ground!
Su Ling's eagle eyes darkened. The black clad men were highly trained therefore the ordinary soldiers holding the torches could only be killed to death. Since there was no fire and the lighting was dark in this kind of environment, to deal with them was even more difficult.
Su Ling called, "Stand back!"
The soldiers who were preparing the next attack heard the command and stopped immediately then trotted back ten feet away. Several soldiers pulled down the body of the fallen and quietly took him to the camp five miles away.
The black clad men knew the gridlock and refused to compromise. The leading man raised his right hand but Su Ling didn't wait for him and ranged under his command. He got a hold of the Chixue sword and with one leap from the platform, put Gu Yun behind Su Ren and said,
"No matter what, Ren, Yu, protect her."
"Leader."
Han Shu saw Su Ling and also followed close behind him into the fray. Because they launched the initiative to attack, the black clad people failed to successfully surround them.
The two men's martial arts were superior, especially Su Ling in particular. Red blood was dripping in every stroke of his sword. The men in black resisted with all their might and saw that the situation must be reversed. Another hand signal was gestured and more than ten men in black attacked Su Ling and Han Shu while several men leapt towards the platform!
Su Ren and Su Yu, got on the left and the right to protect Gu Yun, but then there was a sudden pain in their shoulders. In the next moment, they were unable to move. Standing behind them was Su Yan!
Su Yan's big hands were on the shoulders of the two men as he whispered, "You two stay!"
Su Yan at that time actually hit their acupuncture points? Su Yu growled,
" Uncle Yan! You let us go!" These men in black were menaces. Qing Mo's injury just got better and at the end how can they take that risk!
Compared with Su Yu's anxiousness, Su Ren was obviously much calmer. The black people were ominously fierce but with Qing Mo and Su Yan's power was not also easy to deal with!
As for Gu Yun, she looked lightly at the side to welcome Su Yan's provocative eyes. The two people sat on the chair steadily, one on the left and another on the right side not looking away from each other. Gu Yun snorted. So they wanted to compel her to begin right? Since there was no activity for a long time and she estimated that the sword was bored of it! Su Ling, can't blame her. She was just "being, forced to free it!"
Under the platform, the men in black wrestled for their lives as Su Ling and Han Shu do their best to minimize the enemies' techniques. The three old men standing, sat back down and made it clear, they had no intentions of helping. Su Yu tried his luck and wanted to break through the acupuncture points several times, but it's basically useless. Seeing Gu Yun surrounded by men in black closing in, Su Ren can only eagerly shout,
"Qing Mo, watch out!"
The swift and fierce black pupil has swept towards the wooden box of the cold sword. Gu Yun gave it a thought but her appearance didn't give any hints as to what she was thinking. Then she narrowed her eyes, spread open her palm and whispered, "Bing Lian!"
It was a chilly like chant in a whisper. The summoning voice was not high. At the same time, a dazzling white light simultaneously flew out of the tightly closed wooden box. The moment the silver-white sword blade slipped out of its sheath, it sent out a dragon roar. The people who heard the sound were spellbound. The people had not even got back their composure when the sword already fell straight into her palm that was spread open.
"It' her.. it is she ..she is – -"
Su Yan was so surprised and he had forgotten to say anything else. The Bing Lian sword together with the Chixue sword have protected the Su family for a millennium. According to the family history record, the two swords can move along with the master's mind. What a pity they saw two Su guardian daughters-in-law but were unable to achieve the sword's ability to move along with the heart. The Bing Lian just guarded and protected them all the time but unexpectedly this feeble slender little girl had this ability.
The Bing Lian sword unsheathed and the air around was frozen for a moment. The overbearing cold air was encroaching upon the human hearts and lungs. But under this atmosphere, there were three people who were very excited. It's no wonder the race emblem recently often changed. The Bing Lian sword was excited to demonstrate their prowess together and they were seeing it for the first time.
This strange cold air, the clad men in black also all felt it. She stood sideways with a hand grasping the weapon as the swift and aggressive momentum was pressing. Although silent and motionless, it was also both in an attack and defensive mode. This time, the men clad in black did not know where to start.
If her body was healthy, Gu Yun liked attacking than defending; but today her old wound had not recovered and did not dare to act rashly. Gu Yun did not dare to slightly let up even when the sword shook in her hand. The men in black's every action and every movement did not escape her sharp eyes. In here, she cannot refuse but to be in a deadlock. The men in black under the platform were already losing their fight against Su Ling and Han Shu. If the black-clad men did not prepare to kill soon, this would give Su Ling enough time to kill his opponents and save Gu Yun. When that happens, they will most likely not have any chance in completing their task. The clad men in black exchanged looks and decided to rally together to attack thus the platform instantaneously became murderous.
The enemy did not make their first move. To feel the opposite party's intentions, Gu Yun fiercely jerked to the right. The longsword brushed up against two of the men in black. The cold silver sharp blade suddenly came towards them and they both dodged but the fierce had already pierced a chest. The burst of cold wind afterward made the wound bleed out profusely.
The other black people were in for a surprise for the fast moves of the good Ling Li'*s sword! *(ancient ice sword ) Gu Yun suddenly exposed the hand with the sword and the men in black were scared for a moment. At the same time, they became more cautious.
The high-profile men in black all of a sudden rushed again to surround Gu Yun. She struggled to deal with them as her chest started to hurt. The most outrageous result could be that the wound would tear again. There was a little leak and she could feel the warm blood. Under each of the heart's contraction, the pain caused her to break out in a cold sweat. Even so, Gu Yun dared not show a trace of pain on her face, because these men seemed to be trained killers. Once they saw that she had a chest injury, they would focus on her chest and she would lose!
As soon as Su Yan patted his thigh, he kindly noted, "Played well!" The Bing Lian judgment was good! Su Yan looked ecstatic. Gu Yun actually wanted to shout a curse word. Did he think they were watching the monkey play! Her chest would have a tearing pain if she was to move ruthlessly even more.
"That little girl is good, very good!" Su elders were all smiles until their eyes were narrowed to a squint. Her swordsmanship style was very special and it did not have the gaudy movement. The style was elegant. Each sword punctured were all quick and ruthless. The build-up coordinate was also extremely tacit in sync with the Ling Li sword. It was very good!
Su Quan and Su Yan's judgment and mind all fell on Gu Yun. They have not paid even a slight attention to what was happening under the platform. After seeing Gu Yun's situation, Su Ling's complexion began to change. He blocked all the men in black and killed them violently with his sword! He didn't simply kill but got angry!
Su Qing noticed Su Ling's behavior and stopped to ask in a low voice, "Why is Ling like this?"
Su Yu no matter what, even if he cannot move, he kept resisting. Even if the effort became strenuous, he fought to attend to Gu Yun. He knew it will be gradually hard for Gu Yun to defend so he coolly replied, "Her chest has just suffered a knife stab, now the wound definitely will split you look at it yourself."
What is it? Ruthlessly patting Su Quan, Su Yan "Cursed the guy, why didn't you say that!" "He just said she is in bad health, turns out to be injured. "Have you ever find out?" Su Ren declined to comment. Su Yan quickly unlocked Su Ren and Su Yu's acupuncture points and the tall figures immediately joined the fray. The outcome of the fight was decided soon.
The pain was killing me! Gu Yun held down her chest. The under wrap felt soaked and bouts of blackness overcame her. If it was not for the Ling sword that was supporting her, she would have already fallen. Gu Yun closed her eyes, hoping that throbbing heart pain would be over.
Not taking into account the original cold night wind that blew on the body, her four limbs were ice-cold. Gu Yun's body cannot help but shiver and in the next moment, she had fallen in a warm embrace.
"Mo Er! How are you?" Panic breathing sprayed on her face. Her ears were already familiar with that growl. It is him–Su Ling. Gu Yun did not answer him, but her beautiful facial features virtually wrinkled. The chest expressed out blood stains which made Su Ling scared and anxious, "I'll take you back!" The hand gathered around her waist and was about to hold Gu Yun when she suddenly tightly tugged at his sleeve. With effort, she said softly, "It hurts." She would survive from the pain since it was nothing compared to the last time. Ignoring this, she knew those soldiers would quickly come back and tonight's test cannot be stopped!
What? Su Ling thought of her pain and did not dare to make any sudden movement. Su Qing patted Su Ling on the shoulder and said, "Ling, let her go, let patriarch take her pulse."
Su Ling gave them a guarded stare. They were the men who sat on the sidelines and aggravated her injury! The little girl's face was as white as a sheet and she had irregular breaths. Su Yan began to worry. His body was like being pierced by thorns, Su Ling said, "Go ahead, let's do what can be done for her now, let's get it done."
Su Qing went to Gu Yun's side. Su Ling thought and gently lifted her wrist and passed it to the front of Su Qing.
Taking Gu Yun's slim wrist, Su Qing's face slightly changed. This child was actually injured in the heart! Then she was in great pain. Earlier, she must have gone all out and never took the fight softly.
Su Qing did not talk for a long time. Su Ling couldn't help but ask,
"How is she?"
Taking his hand back, Su Qing replied in a low voice, "She did not injure her heart, just the flesh is suffering."
Flesh wound does not hurt? Gu Yun finally got through the first wave of pain with difficulty and opened her eyes to hear this irritating comment. The grasped in her hand was crazy. Su Qing suddenly held her wrist. Her left hand was lifted and her palm was instantly connected to his palm. There was a transfer of warmth from that hand to hers. She hated that hand and wanted to withdraw. But the strange thing was, no matter how hard she wanted to move her hands, she couldn't seem to break away from his hold. But this time, a tepid warm current poured into her slowly from that palm. Gu Yun was quickly dazed and felt some wave of particles moving like a heat burning. She was staring at the body on her side. A thin old person. He had fluid tranquility and his breath was rather harmoniously peaceful. What was going on here?
Gu Yun felt a thin current flowing. It flowed along her arm into her chest. She could feel the still throbbing heart being surrounded by a wave of heat and then the pain was no longer so unbearable.
Su Ling's worried heart was relinquished. To protect the heart's arteries, not every person had the ability to accomplish it and for some people, the power was not sufficiently profound. When this power was released to save a person, someone would also lose in return. The old patriarch was willing to part this power to help someone. Su Ling was naturally thankful to see it happened.
"General, how to dispose of these people?" Under the high platform, Han Shu had the men in black tied and was waiting for directions on how to deal with them.
"Shut them inside a dark room." Su Ling said. Behind him was Su Ren, he said, "These people you find out who their master is!"
"Yes." These people's martial art tricks were unusual. Qing Mo was their target. Su Ren's heart had been faint with the direction. Su Ren took the troops holding the men in black to leave. Su Qing also slowly withdrew his hand.
He withdrew his open hand and that warmth had dissipated. Her chest wound was still in pain, but just as Su Qing had said, only the flesh was in pain, not the heart. The feeling of throbbing pain in the heart was reduced by many. This too was really mysterious! Was it the so-called—internal strength? Her heart was full of questions. Gu Yun quietly observed the side of the old man. He smiled back at her and he did not shy away from her eyes. Her keen observation on him did not seem to work, instead, he just smiled faintly, not unusual.
Su Quan's smiling face came up and kindly asked, "Girl, feeling better and does it hurt?" Gu Yun was stunned and instinctively took a step back.
"Su Yu. You still are frozen in here! Come and look for a physician!" Su Yan's big voice roared that it startled Gu Yun
"Oh." Su Yu's embarrassed face went down from the high platform and then looked back at the crowd tending Gu Yun. Elder brother's hand was steadily holding around her waist and Su Yu's heart had a trace of sourness. She would eventually become his sister-in-law and could also be a big sister. Focusing on the task at hand, Su Yu sped up his steps.
Just moments ago he was yelling at Su Yu, the next moment he grasps the hands of Gu Yun, now incomparably temperate and with flattering and smiling voice, he said, "Not comfortable? Why did you not say earlier? Where else are you uncomfortable, tell Yan Su!"
"Stop!" Gu Yun felt a chill from the soles of her feet shoot straight up. It was originally a pain in the heart and now her head began to hurt too! Can you imagine a mountain of an old man coming to you inquiring about your well-being in every possible way and maintain your cool? The key point was, just moments ago, they saw you in danger but did nothing. Gu Yun pulled back her hand with a face of dislike and said, "You'd better stay away from a distance!"
Puzzled, Su Yan asked. "Why?"
"I get goose bumps." She had always been respectful, but in the face of this strange group of strange old men, her cultivation was really being challenged. Su Yan looked embarrassed to stand there and he dared not roar at Gu Yun and only stared at Su Ling.
Since Su Yan felt regretful for his earlier actions and Su Ling had ignored his glare, Gu Yun's face looked better. She then said, "I need to drill what Han Shu needs to do."
"I will send you back to dress the wounds."
"I..-"
Gu Yun would also like to say something, but after looking at Su Ling, that serious look on his face suggested it was wiser to just shut up.
Looking up and glancing at the dark sky, Gu Yun said to Han Shu, "When the soldiers come back later, let them jump into the pit again and continue to run. This time eliminate thirty, then next round eliminate forty until I return."
"Why?" She wanted to choose and he had to do nothing but just to let the soldiers continue to run? What's the point? Just to eliminate people?
Breathing slightly in a low voice, she said, "You need to let me explain it to you?"
Su Yan said impatiently, "Girl that can be done but your wound is your first priority!"
"Do as she says!"
"Yes." Su Ling ordered that Han Shu, even if the heart was unwilling or dared not say anything, just only receive the order. Gu Yun was about to turn around when she suddenly felt her waist tightened and her feet dangling, she was picked up and carried by Su Ling. Gu Yun uneasily whispered, "Put me down, I can walk by myself."
"No." Su Ling would not listen to her and continued the long walk back to General Manor.
Three old men glanced at each other, ran to see what was "abandoned" in the wooden box of Ling Li. After looking, three people raise their faces with the gratifying smile.
"You put me down!" Being hugged in this way by someone made her uncomfortable.
"If you dare moved again I'll tamper with your acupuncture points!" In the past, he did not know this woman he was carrying can twist around like a mudfish.
"You dare!" her mouth can only say but Gu Yun has been smart enough to stop twisting from side to side. Su Ling was a boorish fellow and there was no guarantee that he's not really going to tamper her acupuncture points.
That's it! She suddenly turned to become a "law-abiding person". This person actually rarely settles down, but quickly stopped moving. This put Su Ling in a good mood and his lips and eyebrows were also infected with a faint smile,
"The dare has gone, Mo Er?"
Mo Er? Gu Yun's strong heart at this moment twisted into a ball and the chill of cold air made her hair stand up in every pore. Then she said solemnly, "Su Ling, there's some matter that we must discuss well."
Easily persuaded, Su Ling replied,
"Say it."
"Don't call me Mo Er, I don't like it." The correct term was disgusted! Su Ling had better not disgust her when he calls and she cannot end like a fine compromise. Her heart cannot bear this kind of stimulation.
Su Ling was silent for a moment and asked, "What do you want me to call you? "
Gu Yun! But she could not tell him, Thinking for a bit, Gu Yun finally said, "Qing Mo."
Su Ling frowned, "I have to call your name with the surname?" Actually, he felt awkward calling her Mo, but he wanted to call her differently than the others so he called her Mo Er. He couldn't call her "darling girl" and he was reluctant to call her like others who called her Qing Mo.
A name with a surname, now what was wrong with that? Gu Yun did not understand why Su Ling had such an opinion. Anyway, if this really was absolutely unacceptable to him, she hesitated for a moment, Gu Yun finally said, "Call me – Yun!"
Yun? Su Ling looked at her quizzically, Gu Yun freely explained, "This was the name my eldest sisters called me when I was little."
Though alone with Qing, she was called by that name and while for Qing, that was indeed her name. If people heard it, it can be explained that it was when she was young.
So that's how it was. "Yun..." assembled and parted with the wind, not depended on indistinctly meaning? Yun this character, she heard countless people say it before but it never gave her any special feeling. However, tonight hearing the deep voice in her ear slowly read out the word, her heart was as if it was a piece of fluff gently gliding like hemp. It was very strange.
She slightly looked up, Su Ling's face of fortitude was on the horizon. He didn't look like Prime Minister Lou Xi Yan, that looks scholarly and seductive, but he looked tense all day and that face always looked very serious. Especially those dark eagle eyes, and every time she was with him, she had a feeling of being caught in a deep pool.
Su Ling was aware of Gu Yun looking at him. He slightly bowed his head to see Gu Yun's straight bright eyes staring back at him. Su Ling's heart knotted, she was looking at him? Those black eyes were suddenly embarrassed, Gu Yun slightly turned and pretended nothing happened.
Su Ling looked at the expression of the cramped woman in his arms. His lips unconsciously delivered a smile and there no slowing down in his stride as the strength in his hands tightened around her.
The two remained silent all the way. Soon, they reached Yi Tian Yuan and already waiting was the physician. He greeted quickly, "Xia Guan, General Su."
Su Ling passed the physician and brought Gu Yun into the chamber. He put her on the bed and pulled up the thin quilt cover for her. He returned back to the physician and said, "Her wound might have reopened. Quickly give her diagnosis and treatment."
The physician quickly replied, "Yes."
This young girl at present, although had no identity or grade, her sister was the Emperor's mistress and another was the Prime Minister's wife. Looking at the Su General's nervous appearance, she most likely will be the mistress of the General's Office. He absolutely can't afford to offend the girl.
Su Ling went out of the House to see Su Yu. He was about to leave and he whispered, "Yu, you go to the Ministry of Torture and let Dan Yulan deploy more staff to look after Ao Jie." Five days after the execution of Ao, it was too much of a coincidence!
"The better." Su Yu muffled a cry as if it were to escape Su Ling and trotted away. Sitting down on a stone bench, thinking of Su Yu's back as he fled, Su Ling, wondered why he's in a hurry to leave.
It was peaceful for a while until Su Yan's tall figure came out from Su Yi Tian Yuan. Su Ling did not give him a glimpse.
Knowing he was wrong, Yan Hu sat down opposite Su Ling and said, "I did not know she had injuries on her body. You have given her so much authority and you were doting on her, certainly, I should have not hindered." Su Ling stood far off and didn't want to take part of his nonsense.
A little self-aware and apologetic, Su Han Yu said, "Ling, Bing Lian did not make a bad judgment. You also selected very well."
Yan could not make out Su Ling's expression in the dark night but could only hear his voice in a deep chill saying, "I don't want her to know about Bing Lian's matters."
Su Yan indifferently laughed, "OK, I will not say, will not say." The girl Bing Lian selected is good, looks beautiful, and is rare. " The sword itself was satisfied and really happy. Su Yan's mouth perfunctory answered but Su Ling did not take this matter to heart.
The morning light was passing through the dense foliage, crumbling down on the green grass. The wind was blowing gently, the plants in the courtyard were blooming, but Su Ling was on a bleak and did not appreciate the beautiful mood around him. Just when his patience was almost exhausted, the door finally opened.
Su Ling looked up anxiously and asked, "How is she?"
The physician wiped his forehead from thin sweats, replied, "Su General, rest assured, Qing girl's injuries were not serious, but she just needs little rest. If the wound was not torn, she is just fine." Su Ling nodded. When he was about to go in, the physician suddenly said somewhat hesitantly, "Qing girl said, please don't go in."
And why? Su Ling glared at him but the doctor quickly shook his head and said, "Xia Guan doesn't know, I am leaving to boil her medicine," and he did not wait for Su Ling to speak again and quickly left.
Su Ling stared at the closed-door and did not understand what Yun was hiding. He grabbed the door handles but just stood there for a long period without opening the door.
Gu Yun didn't make him wait too long as the door once again opened. By the door, stood a body in a black dress, long hair tied with vigorously. The black dress against her skin looked paler and that pair of sharp eyes were full of wit. He acknowledged that such a valiant was beautiful but she was dressed up for something. What should he do?
"Where are you going?" Looking at her dressed, Su Ling already had a bad premonition about this. Sure enough, Gu Yun's face calmly replied,
"To the training field. "
Su Ling, through gritted teeth, said, "The competition is so far." Once again he deeply felt that giving her that training was a very bad decision. He was very certain now that in the future all of her time will be spent on training.
"Won't do." This time, Gu Yun insisted, "This day is not better than the night with Bing Lian!" He didn't think she let the soldiers run the whole night just to make them have fun, did he?
Su Ling took a deep breath and patiently said, "Whatever you want, you can tell Han. Let him go do the regulations and monitor on the line. He can choose the people too… "
Gu Yun shook her head, "He can't."
"Why?"
Raising a rather provocative smile, Gu Yun replied, "He does not know what kind of soldier I really want."
Su Ling's brows were becoming more and more tightly knit, Gu Yun chuckled and asked, "You thought the reason I let them run the whole night was an inexplicable excuse, right?"
It was very strange. He had asked her how to choose men and she just laughed and didn't answer. This got his curiosity up last night. In addition, shooting the feather had little meaning and the other exercises were really nothing special. What does she want to do?
Out the door, she was standing side by side with him and made a gesture. Gu Yun in a good mood said, "Let's go and have a good look."
She seldom had this playful look and was really cute but if she didn't ask to go to the training field, he would be happier.
Su Ling's ice cold face stared at her and Gu Yun reluctantly said, "Don't worry, your old man is pretty powerful. I feel fine this morning." She never knew the so-called "ancient" skills turned out to have so much power in it. She had always base things on practicality and aggressive efforts. Focusing on martial skills like this, she really didn't know how to come into that 'state of being'. On another day, she will find the white-bearded old man.
Her face was still not very good under the sun, but her brows really looked better than a few days ago. Su Ling was compelling her to rest because his wish was to not exhaust her. On the other hand, her refusal made her feel she was being disobedient. Su Ling sighed to compromise, "Well, let's try. If you feel uncomfortable, we will take a break immediately."
Gu Yun laughed heartily and replied, "You're worried about your soldiers." She really knew how to keep people in suspense. Su Ling shook his head and thought it was funny but just let it go.
When the two people were back on the training field, the sun had been completely out. Under the bright sunshine, inside the huge puddle was a group of clay packed soldiers. No one was moving and the group had wooden expressions plastered on them.
Folding her hands over her chest, Gu Yun asked with a faint smile, "What is going on?"
Han Shu took one look at her eyes and in a bad tone replied, "According to your orders, mud pond!" She thought they had been running all night and were about to die.
Regretting? Why did it become like this like this? Gu Yun gave a clear smile and said. "Get them out of the pond."
Just hearing her voice they already went numb. All the youths looked to her, with faces covered with mud and Gu Yun almost couldn't recognize who they were.
Gu Yun smiled and looked at them. The quagmire people had forgotten their manners, like a wicked tiger's eye stubbornly staring at Gu Yun, wishing one could scratch her several nips. They climbed the quagmire after standing there overnight and she … she actually crisply slept and refreshed.
The discontent was really big. They were not able to even crawl a moment ago and now they have to climb out of the quagmire. The morning sun shone on them. You could still see a faint white steam which showed how cold the water was.
Gu Yun seemed to enjoy their full hatred look. She looked casual and smiled, "Loosen the sandbags and line up over there." The eyes that were staring at Gu Yun also moved.
No matter how dissatisfied their hearts were, they would only obey. While the sandbags were taken out, there was no sense of relief. Their clothing and hair were still dripping with mud, their clothes were wet and dry, their bodies were now hot and cold as the mud and clothes were pasted to their skin. They were sticky, wet, and cold, but they had no strength to even refuse. Now the only thing left to support them was perhaps their own willpower.
They trotted to the training field and lined up at the opposite side. Gu Yun went straight and said, "Out of one hundred people last night, your endurance and your physical strength was very good. Now you are able to rest a burning joss stick time (2 hours), for one last test, I hope you can get through."
Tortured throughout the night. It was already expected Gu Yun would not let them off easy, so when she said that there was the next test, there's no sense of surprise. They just wanted to rest now. As soon as they heard Gu Yun's voice, many officers and men just sat on the ground or simply lied down as if their hands and feet were not their own.
Gu Yun smiled and said nothing. Let them sit, lie down, lie down.
"Yu Shijun."
Yu Shijun replied, "Yes."
"The things. Did you get them ready?"
"Very well…"
"Give it to them."
"Yes."
After a while, everyone heard footsteps running and they were handed out a crossbow. Many people were forced to sit straight and began to study the hand weapons. There were more people who were not too tired compared to those that wouldn't move.
Gu Yun always silently watched the group of soldiers collapsed. She watched Yu Shijun command when they moved into the middle training field target.
Su Ling curiously asked, "What is this?"
Gu Yun mysteriously smiled, "You will know later."
In the middle of a distance, there were ten small tables and on each table were eight targets drawn. The ten tables were placed on the training field scattered in different places. As a whole, there were a total of eighty targets.
Everything was ready. Gu Yun shouted, "Line up."
Even if their whole body was dead tired like they would break into many pieces, even if they wanted to sleep forever, they were soldiers and as a soldier, there was absolutely no reason for disobedience. Their 'doubled speed' was slower than usual but this group of elite still managed to neatly line up. Gu Yun did not blame them and her cold voice said,
"Place all the crossbows on your side, without my order you are not allowed to touch it."
Most crossbows were on the ground by their side and only a few soldiers put down the crossbows in hand. Gu Yun, while they were all standing, went on,
"The next test is to test your crossbow proficiency, your orientation ability, and physical coordination. You see now above each table, there are ten crossbow arrows, numbered one to ten on the tail. You'll be shooting sequentially. Each table around has eight targets, respectively due East, South, West, and North, Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, Northwest of eight directions. I will casually call out any of the ten directions and your archery targets must follow my directions. After I finished giving the cue, all the arrows must be launched out."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes"
Whether or not they really understood, Gu Yun said the second plan, "First group of ten, who's first?"
" I." Ge Jingyun first came out.
"I." Lou Yan Nham was next.
"I."
" I. "
Soon there were enough people. General Su never lacked warriors and that she always knew. Her eyes swept across Leng Xiao and Liu Xing, both of them did not volunteer in the first group. Leng Xiao was a cautious and calculating man, and Liu Xing was a small smart boy. She guessed Leng will volunteer in the second group while Liu will wait until the last group's race.
Ten people picked up a crossbow and walked over next to the table where the short arrows were. Gu Yun squinted at the sun rising and said, "All face due East." Ten people then turned immediately to the direction where the sun rises.
"Ready." Gu Yun gave the order and they also picked up the first of the ten short arrows then loaded them on the crossbow.
"West." Her voice dropped. The ten men pointed towards the West to shoot an arrow and all got it right the first time.
"The Northwest." Gu Yun was almost attached to say the second track but this time the shooters' arrows were neither fast or slow and deviations began to appear.
"South, Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, West, and South, the Northwest and Northeast."
Gu Yun's shouting had been fast and her pauses were only enough time for the marksman to load and shoot. If the direction was wrong, there would not be enough time to respond and the next direction would have already come out. Su Ling seemed to somehow understand now the intentions of Gu Yun why she let them run throughout the night because now was their most tired moment. The soldiers needed to be able to identify their direction within a short amount of time. Not only did that require willpower but also their brain and the need to be absolutely flexible. To select a crossbow, rather than long arrows as competition tool, putting short arrows to crossbow spent more strength than long arrows.
The shout out of ten directions was finished but some arrows had not even been used on the table. Launching was completed and each group had a soldier, holding down one by one in the order view. To identify the ten arrows' owner in the back was a little confusing if the arrow was not numbered, it was really not clear.
Quickly –the results were announced.
"Seven, five."
"Nine, eight."
"All in."
"Six, three pairs."
"All right."
"In the seven-five."
"Eight, eight."
"All right."
"Eight, a pair."
"A pair?" That direction was only from the very beginning right? Gu said, "All middle and right column, to the right side of the collection.
"Yes."
A total of three people from that first group, Ge Jingyun, and Lanham and there was a tall man. Gu Yun's attention was not on her previous cadets, but her eyes fell onto the soldier on the right. He was not tall and his head was always slightly lowered. He had very dark skin and this person did not seem to be the least bit out-of-place as a whole. Gu Yun stared at him for a long time but he did not raise his head.
Gu Yun called and asked, "First on the right, what's your name?"
Hearing the sound of Gu Yun, he just slowly lifted his head. Gu Yun finally saw his appearance. He was around thirty years old. His features were ordinary and if you have to say some special words, his eyes were very bland. Yes, light. In this group of elite division, she had seen too much. Tempered or bold, strong or proud of the look, clear aloof eye. That look, a look like he had no desire. This was the first time she had ever seen it. But she believed this was only an appearance, because if he so desired nothing then they would not have this opportunity to meet.
As Gu Yun continued to explore his eyes, the man again slightly lowered his head and replied, "Shi Hu**." (** meaning stone tiger)
"You also pass." The word got out, not only the man was stunned, others began whispering with each other. For a long time, the man replied in a low voice,
"Yes!"
"The rest of the group may return to camp."
Gu Yun said to the six still standing straight in the same position motionless. Her heart already started to become disgruntled. In a calm voice with no trace of anger, "What do you have to say?"
An evening tossing about had arrived with great difficulty to this step. Everybody did not want to be eliminated. Standing in the middle, a soldier took the lead, "I simply have not proofread the crossbow with the good accurate heart, therefore only then can shoot, if ..."
"All person's weapon are the same, why can others do fine, why do other's crossbow have the accurate heart?" Gu Yun's ice-cold voice interrupted his speech. Her cold gaze swept around the soldiers who were on the training ground and were already utterly exhausted but still participated in the test. She said without the slightest of pity, "being a soldier, the weapon is your life. Attaining the weapon that moment ago was supposed to be inspected but what at that time were you all doing? If you are not good at weapon control, what can you control?"
"Who else has something to say?" A question that was the presence of seven feet tall, no one dared to say, the five who was eliminated just quietly left the competition venues, there was only one man standing there. His eyes were staring straight into Shi Hu and said indignantly, "I will not leave without saying what I wanted to say. Why can Shi Hu stay behind?"
Gu Yun was not angry this time, turning her head to Shi Hu, "Then Shi Hu, you tell him, why do you get to stay? "
Shi Hu looked up, facing Gu Yun with a faint smile in the eyes, under the heavy heart, Qing Mo was not only mean during training but those eyes were also very toxic. After a sigh, the Stone Tiger whispered, "'I did not check my weapons, so I do not know if there is a problem, but after the first shot of the arrow, there is a deviation. I found the problem. During the second arrow shooting, I made the adjustment. I aimed at the bulls-eye as the target and calculated how much deviation between the place of the arrow and the bulls-eye were. Then after the deviation was taken into account, I finally got the arrows in the right positions."
Shi Hu stated things lightly and Gu Yun also didn't embarrass him. In a cold voice with some provocation, "Who has the ability to load marksman in such a short period of time and calculated the deviation angle and can accurately hit the position, I let him stay. "
"Is there a problem?"
Following silence.
"Answer me." She knew they were tough but she will soon let them know what surrendering is!
"No!"
The matter that was dared to be said what said no matter how the always resounding neat replies were what Gu Yun wanted now.
"Continue."
Gu Yun's face began to flush because of the sun and she needed to use a lot of strength to speak loudly. Su Ling said in a low voice, "You take a break and let Yu Shijun shout the directions."
Every time she talked, it pulled into the wound, Gu Yun had indeed started to have discomfort and tried to be brave. She nodded and replied, "That's good."
Su Ling waved at Yu Shijun. He stepped forward and in a clear resonant voice cried, "The next group who will take the challenge, please leave ranks!"
Just as expected, Leng Xiao was the first to step forward and soon the next set was ready.
"Preparation!" Yu Shijun in front shout out the cue.
Gu Yun watched the competition under her instructions. Su Ling, suddenly got up and beckoned toward the back of Han Shu. Su Ling asked in a whisper, "Who is Stone Tiger?"
Han Shu paused for a long time then only vaguely said, "He was riding and shooting at the camp as a junior captain three years ago with Northern Qi in the battle. He took five hundred men to raid behind enemy lines. It seemed because he had secretly altered the planned raids by a hundred sticks, it failed. He was transferred to the kitchen. When Qing Mo called for the selection of 30,000 stationed soldiers for the battalion and that anyone can take part, he took the opportunity to join if he can make it to this one." Who is in the kitchen for three years with such skill?
Standing in the middle was Shi Hu but seemed like he did not exist. The man seemed to be very deeply hidden. His eyebrow squinted in thought for a moment before Su Ling said, "Find out what happened that year."
"Yes."
Gu Yun's head turned to Su Ling and smiled, "Why are you so interested in him?"
Su Ling did not deny, "I am very interested. If it had not been for you, I would not have known there to be such a figure hidden in the kitchen." No wonder she said Han Shu does not know who she wants to have. Ten people for reference, she noted that Shi Hu's accurate calculations from the outset or that the moment she sent down the crossbows she had been observing them.
Gu Yun eyebrows raise a little, "You're not going to rob me, are you?"
Looking at how her face displayed unhappiness, Su Ling laughed.
Gu Yun gave him a surprised look. When did he start to laugh like that?
The more than two hundred people and their competition ended too soon. Yu Shijun ran to the two people to report,
Gu Yun whispered, "And why are there still so many?"
He did not think she had been talking to the General, calculating the number of men left, hearing Gu Yun's comment, Yu Shijun gawked in surprise. There were only one hundred thirty-eight people out of the three thousand people left, this was still too much?
Gu Yun looked over at the sluggish Shijun and took over the stone faces of the one hundred and something people left. She then stood firm in front of them. The group of iron men quickly became anxious, after all, she had to make a decision. They started from yesterday noon and have not eaten nor drunk, let alone rested, now what does she want?
Facing nervous and sad faces, Gu Yun laughed, "You don't have to strain yourself because the testing for today is over."
The end? Although it was disappointing in their hearts, they let out a long sigh.
"However," Gu Yun said one word, everyone's heart once again hung on their mouth! Gu Yun did not keep them in suspense and kindly explained, "I just need a hundred people. Because you are all excellent, it makes it so hard to choose. So everyone can follow my training but after each training, it is a test. Each one will start with one hundred points and the twenty people with the worst performance, ten points will be deducted. This will be done until we determine who will be left. Do you understand?"
Each time the training would be a test? The real ordeal had just began.
"Understand!" Perhaps it was a roar out of anger, perhaps mourning after the day, all in all, it was a very loud.
Gu Yun nodded with satisfaction, "Disband."
Running throughout the night, their limbs were heavy like lead, foot blisters that were showered with mud and were wet repeatedly. All of them were like wearing a tight armor with sweat streaming down, making a mud road mark. All throughout the day, they were tensed until they blacked out, now relaxed but one just really wanted to lay like the dead on the floor motionless. Towing an exhausted body like an old woman, step by step, moving back gradually.
Gu Yun turned back just in time to see Han's weird smile on his face.
"Laughing?"
Han's smile on his face under the mask, solemnly said, "Do you know what your new training recruits called you behind your back last time?"
Gu Yun didn't care to look at him. Han Shu being mysterious declared,
"Witch coach."
Gu Yun scoffed at the guys. She thought that crowd can come up with something new, so much for the original.
"But this time they're not going to call you that."
Gu Yun with a look of interest stood next to Yu Shijun and asked curiously, "Why?"
"Because there is one more appropriate."
"What is it?"
Han Shu glanced at Gu Yun and laughed, "The leader of the witches!"
"The leader of the witches? "Han Shu, you die!"
Gu Yun grabbed a bundle of short arrows throwing them towards Han Shu. Han was scurrying ahead.
Su Ling laughed and clung to catch up with Gu Yun. Loud curses, wild screams, waves of laughter continued but standing on the training field outside was the face with a solemn look.