As the crowd watched in stunned silence, Robin parted her legs naturally, her stance poised as if she were a willow branch swaying in the breeze.
Angelina recognized the posture Robin had adopted; she remembered Zhong Shenxiu teaching Robin this move: Tai Chi! It emphasized stillness countering movement, and slowness conquering speed!
She herself had secretly learned a couple of moves back then, but being unfamiliar with them, she couldn't apply them in actual combat!
However, because the others were unaware, they were utterly perplexed, especially the observing instructors, who were completely baffled.
"What is she doing? Celebrating? But it doesn't look like it."
"What a strange custom."
"Could there be some hidden significance?"
Ignoring what the others were thinking, let’s focus on the instructor who had been sent flying.
The more he thought about it, the angrier and more frustrated he became. He, a distinguished elite soldier, had been so easily defeated, unable to best even a child. Had he actually regressed?
They say that those involved are often blind to the truth, and this saying proved accurate. He still hadn't truly grasped how terrifying Robin was!
He struggled to stand and glanced at Robin, momentarily stunned, unsure what this little girl was up to.
But at this moment, he couldn't afford to dwell on it. Having been tossed aside several times in succession, he felt compelled to regain some dignity. With that thought, he amplified his Dou Qi once more, resolving to get serious this time!
Moments ago, he had held back for fear of injuring Robin; now, he intended a genuine contest!
With a sharp whoosh, he burst forward toward Robin again with explosive force.
Robin's motionless hands finally moved. She drew an arc in the empty air and subtly shifted her body back by a small half-step. As the instructor charged in, she employed a technique of yielding to meet force with applied leverage.
Boom! The sound was even louder this time!
This time, the instructor didn't fly out again; instead, he plunged headfirst into the mud!
Silence. For that single instant, everyone held their breath! Now they finally understood the purpose of Robin’s strange posture—it had been a profoundly potent technique!
The shock among the students was even greater. This was the first time they had witnessed slowness overcoming speed, and it left them with some measure of insight.
"Number Four!" The other instructors, worried about the man’s condition, started to rush forward.
But Robin was gracious enough; with a gentle pull, she extracted the man from the mud. Though his face was the color of dirt, he was alive, evidenced by his trembling lips.
Clearly, the impact had left him concussed! The instructors who had rushed up were relieved to see their comrade alive, but their sense of shock had not diminished in the slightest. As bystanders, they clearly recognized Robin’s formidable strength. She was absolutely superior to their captain—in fact, what did their captain even amount to?
Robin simply watched them without speaking, projecting an inexplicable pressure onto them!
Strong, truly too strong—how could she be this powerful?
These men dared not treat Robin like a child anymore. They desperately hoped Robin would still view them as children, and that she would completely disregard the things they had just said!
"Well, who's next?" Zhong Shenxiu grinned mischievously at them.
The three remaining instructors visibly flinched, their expressions shifting dramatically. Though they said nothing, their eyes conveyed their answer clearly.
Zhong Shenxiu didn't want to press them too hard, merely asking aloud, "So, can we leave now?"
"Please, be our guests!" one of them hastily replied. They were eager for Zhong Shenxiu and his group to depart immediately!
And so, Zhong Shenxiu and his party swaggered away.
Only after they could no longer see Zhong Shenxiu and the others did the tension ease from the instructors' hearts.
"Number Four, are you alright?" one instructor asked with concern.
"I'll manage!" The instructor who had been struck felt less dizzy after a short rest!
"It's truly terrifying. Now I finally understand why the 'Hut-Bound Magic and Martial Arts Academy' hired those two children as teachers!"
The others didn't reply, but their expressions clearly indicated: We understand too!
Wayne and the others had been following Zhong Shenxiu in quiet procession, unsure of their destination or their objective. They didn't even know the identities of the two new faces Zhong Shenxiu had brought back.
Based on their route, they weren't heading into the depths of the "Damp Forest" but traveling along its edge. Because they remained on the outer perimeter, they encountered many students from other classes who stared at them with unusual expressions.
Some instructors approached to inquire, but Zhong Shenxiu's group completely ignored them.
After walking for about an hour or so, they finally stopped. They had left the military zone and arrived at a wide, deserted area.
Everyone looked at Zhong Shenxiu with confusion, unable to fathom why they had been brought to this place.
"Girl, take a few people to prepare food. Boy," Zhong Shenxiu commanded Angelina and Reese, "... and the rest of you, set up shelters. You will be spending the next few days here!"
Although the students didn't yet know Angelina and Reese, they dared not disobey Zhong Shenxiu's order, so they complied and set about their tasks diligently.
Whether due to fatigue or the deliciousness of the meal, the students ate heartily. However, no matter how much they consumed, they couldn't match Robin’s appetite, which made the girls intensely envious because Robin ate so much yet never gained weight!
The night passed silently. The next morning, they were awakened not for training, but for labor.
Zhong Shenxiu divided them into groups and assigned tasks: each group was responsible for collecting a specific item, and failure to complete the task meant no food.
Angelina and Reese acted as foremen, permitted to discipline anyone caught slacking. Those who refused discipline would face personal management from Zhong Shenxiu and Robin!
Having witnessed Zhong Shenxiu’s capacity for torment, these students dared not slack off, swallowing their complaints in silence!
It was noteworthy that whether intentionally or not, Zhong Shenxiu assigned tasks with a distinct pattern: he assigned the boys delicate work requiring patience, while the girls were tasked with physically demanding labor requiring endurance!
Zhong Shenxiu, meanwhile, enjoyed a relaxed schedule, spending his time either reading or studying new inventions!
A week passed quickly. Thanks to Zhong Shenxiu’s presence, even amidst the hardship and exhaustion, the students managed to persevere. The girls, in particular, completed their quotas daily with tears in their eyes; at times, even Angelina couldn't bear to watch! After this week of labor, the students had noticeably matured; the haughty air of social superiority had vanished, replaced by a sense of approachability! Moreover, through their shared experiences over the week, their bonds grew stronger, and they deeply appreciated the importance of unity!
"You have all performed very well this week," Zhong Shenxiu remarked, offering rare praise.
The students were deeply moved. Normally, at home, they were accustomed to having everything done for them, never realizing how arduous labor could be. Now, they finally understood the difficulties faced by their servants and were certain their attitudes upon returning home would undergo a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree transformation!
"Now pack your things, we're moving!" Zhong Shenxiu said once their emotions had settled.
Excitement immediately flashed across their faces; they thought, Finally, we can go back!
However, once they set off, their joy evaporated, for they discovered the path ahead did not lead back but continued forward, taking them ever farther from the Academy!
Alas, our fate is so bitter! When will this end?
Their expressions resembled those of victims being trafficked—suffering as much as one could bear!
Along the way, everyone remained silent; the atmosphere felt heavy and subdued!
This journey lasted a long time, stretching from morning until dusk without reaching their destination.
The students were so preoccupied wondering what their fate would be that they completely failed to notice how much their physical stamina and willpower had increased!
Of course, achieving such results required more than just the physical labor; the true catalyst for their massive transformation was the food they had eaten. These meals had been specially formulated by Zhong Shenxiu, not only replenishing all necessary vitamins but also enhancing various immunities, improving cognitive function, boosting physical strength, and so forth!
It could be said that Zhong Shenxiu, as their homeroom teacher, treated them quite well; it was certain that when they finally returned, they would exhibit qualitative changes that would astound even their parents!
As they walked, they suddenly spotted wisps of smoke rising in the distance, suggesting someone was preparing a fire for cooking!
After walking a short distance further, they could clearly hear noisy sounds, indicating a substantial number of people were present.
Wayne and the others were instantly alert. During the week they spent there, apart from their own group, they had never seen a single outsider.
They hadn't expected to encounter so many people this time. Who could they be?
These students even began fantasizing that perhaps this was a large mercenary group, given the loud commotion suggesting many people, both male and female!
Wayne and the others desperately wanted to investigate, but fear of Zhong Shenxiu’s intimidating presence stopped them from running ahead!
After traveling for about another fifteen minutes, they could finally see people, but the scene they witnessed made them all pause in surprise—it was a group of people about their own age!
As they moved closer, they were even more astonished: this place was actually the students' military camp belonging to the 'Earthbound Magic and Martial Arts Academy!'
They never imagined they would arrive here!