From the very beginning, Ziye maintained a position near the middle. She kept up a steady pace, and as evening approached, the figures ahead gradually thinned out. By the time she realized it, she was running ahead of the main group, with only two boys keeping pace with her: Bo*. Emaniett and Du Shuangyu.

Bo* and Du Shuangyu had also noticed her.

Others might not have paid attention, but these two were the second and third place finishers in the swimming portion, respectively. Bo*, whose swimming time was 18 hours and 24 minutes, had been utterly convinced he would be the first to arrive. He had not anticipated seeing a girl sound asleep on the beach when he finally reached the shore.

In an instant, all his joy of victory turned to ash, leaving behind only resentment and disbelief. Someone had beaten him—and a girl at that!

If she hadn't looked like a dead fish, he might have suspected she’d arrived via speedboat.

Seeing her again during this run ignited a competitive spark in him. He stayed at the front, partly to prevent her from overtaking him, and partly to gauge her true capabilities.

Du Shuangyu had placed third in the swim.

For someone accustomed to finishing first, this ranking was simply unbearable. He silently cursed the top two finishers while maintaining a grueling pace. Of course, he wouldn't surge ahead right now; the journey ahead was still long, and he dared not exhaust himself prematurely.

Even so, their actions prompted the Major to quicken his steps.

From an initial leisurely stroll, it transitioned to a jog, then a moderate run. The Major's stride grew faster, forcing even the more physically robust boys to begin panting.

It was worth noting that the group was traversing the beach.

The sand offered soft footing, causing feet to sink, demanding significantly more energy than walking on firm ground. However, they couldn't cut into the forest; not only were there no established paths, but there was also the risk of wild beasts lurking—a risk no one dared to take.

Ziye ran with calm composure, simultaneously communicating with Little Sprout telepathically. Little Sprout was perched on her seawater-tangled, bird's-nest-like hair, bouncing rhythmically with each step, a truly comical sight. Just then, a crisp voice called from behind, "Excuse me," "Coming through," as a small, energetic figure rapidly overtook everyone and dashed to the front.

The three of them turned their heads simultaneously to see the whirlwind that was Lingyin.

"Hey, Ziye, there you are!" Lingyin greeted cheerfully. "I wondered why I hadn't seen you."

Ziye was equally happy to see her and laughed, "You're the amazing one, charging up like that without stopping."

Lingyin extended her hand, striking an "Oh yeah!" pose, playfully adding, "I'm nothing special, just have strong bursts of energy." She was currently burdened by someone else’s backpack—it was nearly bigger than her and weighed her down, making her slightly breathless. She turned to look at the two boys beside her with an expression of feigned surprise, "Well, well, Bo*, you’re here too. What a coincidence." Saying this, she unstrapped the backpack and tossed it to him, "Catch."

Bo*. Emaniett caught the pack, the corner of his eye twitching involuntarily. He was quite familiar with Lingyin. After she finished her speech as the new student representative, she had rushed over, shouting, "Hey, Bo*, you're prettier than a woman."

That had been in full view of everyone! Ever since that day, no matter where he went, people would tease him, "Hey, Bo*, you're prettier than a woman."

In truth, Bo*. Emaniett was undeniably handsome. His skin was as delicate and flawless as that of a newborn baby, invoking a desire for him to "turn back and smile, charming a hundred graces." Even in his current disheveled state, his innate elegance could not be masked. He was acutely aware of his delicate appearance and had cultivated an 'ice emperor' demeanor since childhood to downplay his "girlish" aura.

He just hadn't expected to be publicly teased by a girl right at the school gate.

This meant that comment would accompany him through his four years of university, and perhaps beyond.

From that day forward, whenever he saw Lingyin, he felt a desire to strangle her.

Lingyin ignored his discomfort, stating calmly, "This is Sha Xinni's pack; make sure you carry it well."

Seeing Bo* look somewhat miserable, Ziye assumed he, as a seemingly delicate boy, couldn't manage the weight and offered, "I'll carry your pack for you."

Although Bo*'s backpack wasn't large, carrying it for him would certainly lighten his load.

Bo*’s face darkened. Being teased by Lingyin was one thing, but being underestimated by Ziye was utterly intolerable. He clutched the two backpacks and bolted forward.

Lingyin continued her chat with Ziye, "By the way, are you really in the Armor Cultivation track? I think you’re too good for it; it’s such a waste in the A-track."

Ziye shrugged casually, "I think it’s fine."

Lingyin helplessly flicked her ponytail, "Don't you think the Armor Forging Department offers greater scope for development?"

Ziye spread her hands, "Not at the moment."

Lingyin gave her an exasperated glare, then tried hard to run to catch up with Du Shuangyu, who had quietly sprinted ahead while they were talking. Du Shuangyu was deeply aggrieved that Lingyin had greeted only Bo* and completely ignored his presence, even though she knew them both. This reminded him of the freshman orientation ceremony, where Bo*. Emaniett had given the opening address as the new student representative, not him.

Both were recommended students, both top performers, so why was Bo* treated so much better?

The more Du Shuangyu stewed in his resentment, the faster he ran without realizing it. The Major spotted someone surging forward like a madman and immediately increased his pace, maintaining a distance of about two meters between them. The few runners ahead saw the Major pulling away and hastily followed suit.

Behind them rose a chorus of complaints, with many cursing the Major for pushing them to the point of collapse.

Little did they know, the Major was entirely blameless this time.

Night fell.

To the right lay the dense, dark woods, forming an endless black silhouette. To the left was the sea, stretching into an equally black expanse in the distance. If not for the sound of waves crashing against the shore, one might easily mistake the scene for an infinite black void.

Each instructor held a powerful lamp, positioned around the group to illuminate the path ahead.

After the night swim, even the most timid girls no longer cried out in fear, following along silently. Lingyin’s incessant talking, combined with her rapid pace, resulted in one clear consequence: she was struggling to catch her breath.

In the darkness, unaware of the time or the distance left, she gasped for air a few times and told Ziye, "I can't go on. You run ahead."

Ziye instantly sensed trouble. "What are you going to do?"

Lingyin waved dismissively, "I’ll rest for half an hour and catch up to you."

Ziye considered this and didn't object. She could see that Lingyin had excellent explosive power but lacked endurance. Coupled with her impulsive nature, her earlier surge to catch up must have followed a period of rest.

However, it was light just moments ago; now that it was dark, the potential dangers increased. Lingyin quickly fell to the rear. She cut to the chase and told the instructor directly, "I'll rest for thirty minutes before moving on."