To make this run the first, he hadn't carried a single bag for any of the other girls. The ratio of males to females in the group was 2.5 to 1 anyway, so it didn't matter if he didn't.

But even so, he still lost.

He, Du Shuangyu, still finished third!

Beyond the finish line was a wide-open space. It was brightly lit, featuring a watchtower, military equipment, two camouflage tents, and even more tent tools yet to be set up.

Finally, they had reached the military training grounds.

Ziye let out a breath, and an instructor at a makeshift table ten paces away shouted, "Come here to register, collect your tents—eight people per tent, one sleeping bag per person."

Ziye stepped forward. The instructor handed her a tag. "Go get it yourself."

Ziye took the tag, but before she could look at it, she asked, "Is food provided here?"

The instructor stated sternly, "Fend for yourselves, and you shall eat well."

Damn it, they had to forage for food again!

Ziye walked on, examining the tag. It read A01.

Holding the tag, Ziye walked straight to the tent supply area and dragged the tent marked A01 away. The military eight-person tent was incredibly heavy. Since no other girls had arrived yet, she had no choice but to haul it by herself toward the clearing designated for tents.

As for the sleeping bag, she couldn't manage it yet.

Arriving at the spot, she unpacked the contents, retrieved the frame, and began assembling it. Just then, Lingyin successfully burst across the finish line. She didn't stop running after crossing, but instead immediately shouted, "Ziye, I'm here!"

Ziye wiped the sweat from her brow, straightened up, and sighed, "Hurry up and finish this; I need to find water. I'm dying of thirst."

Lingyin’s lips were also somewhat cracked. She licked them, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work. From the moment they were airdropped onto the deserted island, everything had required them to be self-reliant. Even arriving at the training base, even with many instructors and robots around, the only person they could truly count on was themselves. Anyone who slacked off or refused to work would likely meet only one fate: elimination.

More of the boys had arrived earlier. **. Aimanite quickly finished setting up his tent. He came over carrying Sha Xini’s backpack, offering to help the two girls set up their tent on the way.

Lingyin teased him, "Oh, **, what a kind gesture."

**'s expression didn't change. "I’m just returning the bag." With that, he set Sha Xini's backpack down and left, not uttering another word.

Ziye couldn't help but chuckle and sincerely said, "Thank you."

Lingyin wrinkled her nose. "Tch, ignore him. Let's go find something to eat."

Ziye stopped her. "No, let's go get the sleeping bags first. Once everyone arrives, we can divide the labor for cooking. It’s harder when people are scattered."

Lingyin didn't object. "I'll listen to you."

The two collected their sleeping bags and lanterns, and sorted out the items inside the tent. All the other girls had arrived, except for one who was immediately carried to the infirmary. There was a very quiet girl named Shuangzi, who had mostly kept to herself throughout the journey; two girls with very poor stamina, Siyue and Yinlu, who collapsed onto their sleeping bags upon arrival; and finally, Aina and Sha Xini.

The weight of Sha Xini’s backpack was among the heaviest for the girls. As soon as she arrived, she started pulling things out—various folding utensils, various cooking implements. Everyone else couldn't help but twitch their eyes watching. To successfully swim across the ocean while carrying all that—Sha Xini was truly formidable.

Poor **. Aimanite, if he knew what she was carrying, might just spit blood...

Ziye clapped her hands to get everyone's attention and began, "The instructors aren't providing food, so we need to split up to find something. Two people per group. It’s best to pair up with the boys for mutual support."

Sha Xini immediately stood up. "I'll go look for water."

Compared to finding food, finding water was easier; you just needed to be capable of walking.

Ziye nodded. "Lingyin, you go with her?"

Lingyin picked up her lantern and immediately shouted toward the boys' tents across the way, "**, we’re going to find water!" ** had already walked a distance, but upon hearing this, he didn't stop to wait for her; instead, he walked even faster.

Lingyin spotted his retreating figure from afar and dragged Sha Xini along as she ran.

Shuangzi stood up. "I'm going hunting."

Yinlu was utterly exhausted. Hearing this, she mumbled, "Do we even have the ability for that? Maybe we should just chew on some bread and worry about tomorrow later."

Shuangzi didn't speak. She slipped her hand into her backpack and pulled out a pistol, tucking it inside her clothes. The others were startled by this sight and dared not speak carelessly again.

Ziye widened her eyes and looked at Shuangzi a second time. Few people would bring a gun to military training; anyone who did must have some serious skills. Feeling reassured, she asked, "Who will come with me to look for wild greens?"

Aina, who had just dragged her sleeping bag into the tent and emerged, heard her question and said, "I will."

Ziye nodded, then said to Siyue and Yinlu, who were lying on the ground pretending to be dead, "Good, you two go collect a cooking pot and find some firewood to start a flame." With that, she picked up Little Sprout in one hand and her lantern in the other, and walked toward the back of the tents with Aina. Yinlu snorted dismissively—taking a doll along to forage for greens? That was just too much!

Ziye paid no attention to her gaze and headed toward the camp entrance. The perimeter of the camp was lined with an electric fence to prevent beasts from approaching. Passing through the gate in the fence, the sounds of human voices immediately faded, and the surrounding light dimmed, making it feel as if the two girls were the only ones left in the world.

They walked on quietly. Ziye occasionally watched the grass on the ground, looking for anything edible.

Aina suddenly spoke. "Ziye, will you forgive me?"

Ziye turned back in surprise. "What is it?" She remembered Aina was the first person to eat her pork leg meat and had given her a nutrient pack; she didn't know about anything else and felt a bit confused.

Aina lowered her head in shame. "Maybe you don't know me. I’m Aina Kalisaidy, from Design Class Three. When we enrolled, I heard people saying you sucked up to Li Chunyu to become Professor Alpha's student. I didn't know the truth, so I joined them in criticizing you. Now, even if they offered me millions, I wouldn't say those things. Ziye, you are a good person, and very capable. I admire you greatly."

Ziye paused, then said seriously, "Thank you for telling me. What's past is past; finding wild greens is the priority now."

Ziye completely understood her.

It was so easy to be swayed and provoked right after entering a new campus. Because one is unfamiliar with the environment and the people, it's easy to believe whatever others say. It’s the same reason why salespeople love to make house calls during this time.

—Because in a new environment, people are easily influenced by their surroundings and others.

However, Ziye no longer cared about those things.

Less than three days into military training, all the unpleasant events that happened at school had been thrown to the back of her mind. During military training, petty gossip or insults seemed utterly insignificant; the only thing that mattered was cooperating well and getting through the difficulties together.