Miserable Training Camp

"Ah~~~ Soaking in a hot spring after training once in a while really feels wonderful~"

Xiao Ning leaned against the edge, speaking with immense satisfaction.

Then Xiao Ning looked at Xiao Yan, a mischievous grin appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Heh~ Cousin, what did you think of those beauties we saw when your cousin took you to Ningchun Tower last time?"

"Uh..."

Xiao Yan was slightly stunned. The fragrant, alluring scene of those gorgeous women surrounding him surfaced in his mind, and his face reddened slightly as he answered awkwardly.

"They... they were pretty good, I guess."

"Right? Forget it this time since we're in training. After the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, your cousin will take you there again. I'll definitely make sure you enjoy yourself properly~"

Xiao Ning patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and laughed heartily. The other boys looked at Xiao Ning as though he were an idiot, while Xiao Yan was rather speechless toward his cousin.

Did this guy seriously have a screw loose? The people next door could hear every single word.

"Xiao Ning!!! If you dare take Cousin Xiao Yan to that kind of place again, believe it or not, I'll tear your bones apart?!"

Sure enough, the moment Xiao Ning finished speaking, Xiao Mei's terrifying roar came from the other side of the partition. Then Xiao Xun'er's voice followed—not loud, but exceptionally sinister and cold.

"Cousin Xiao Ning, forcing Brother Xiao Yan to do things he doesn't want to do is not good. Would you like Xun'er to give you a reminder?"

Xiao Ning had long been used to Xiao Mei's loud voice, but Xiao Xun'er's exceedingly sinister tone made him shudder.

They were clearly in a hot spring!

"I-I understand! I was joking! Don't take it seriously!"

Xiao Ning hurriedly explained himself, then obediently shut his mouth. As if changing the subject, he asked Xiao Yan again.

"By the way! How are we sleeping tonight?"

"The weather has been quite warm lately. We can just gather some leaves and dry grass, spread them on the ground, and sleep there." Xiao Yan looked up at the star-filled sky and smiled lightly. "But when it gets colder in a while, we'll need to set up tents. We'll deal with that when the time comes."

"Eh, eh, eh?! We have to sleep here too?"

Xiao Mei's startled voice came from the other side of the partition.

"Cousin Xiao Yan! There are lots of mosquitoes and insects in the mountains!"

"I know."

"Then why are you still—"

"Just don't withdraw your Dou Qi while you sleep."

Xiao Yan gave that answer with complete calm.

"..."

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's answer, not only Xiao Mei, but everyone else fell silent as well.

Sure enough, Xiao Yan had brought them here for training. He would not even let them sleep peacefully.

Of course, they could choose to withdraw their Dou Qi while sleeping, but if they did, then no matter how miserable they were the next day, they would have to bear it themselves.

The mosquitoes and insects in the mountains were far more venomous than they had imagined.

"What are you afraid of?! We're members of the Xiao Family! Mere mosquitoes and insects are nothing to fear!"

Xiao Ning clenched his fist and was the first to speak those stirring words. The other boys promptly echoed him.

"That's right!"

"The Xiao Family fears nothing!"

"Isn't it just keeping our Dou Qi up while we sleep? Let's do it!"

Compared with the boys' bold declarations, the girls remained silent.

After finishing their soak in the hot spring, Xiao Mei repeatedly pleaded with Xiao Yan on behalf of the girls. In the end, she still could not change his mind, and they could only miserably spread out a pile of leaves and withered grass before sleeping on the ground with everyone else.

In the tranquil forest, the group spent the first day of their training camp.

Early the next morning, under the sunlight, everyone slowly woke as Xiao Yan clapped his hands and called out to them.

At that moment, both the boys and girls looked at one another in silence, not saying a word.

Aside from Xiao Yan, who looked perfectly normal, every boy had red swollen bites all over his face. Their entire bodies itched so badly that they grimaced in pain.

The boys had originally intended to keep their Dou Qi protecting their bodies all night. However, after a full day of training, even though the hot spring had somewhat eased their exhaustion, they had still unknowingly fallen into unconscious sleep. Naturally, their protective Dou Qi had been withdrawn as well.

That was what had caused their miserable state.

Normally, if the girls saw the boys looking this miserable, it was hard to say how the others would react, but Xiao Mei would definitely have laughed the loudest.

But now, Xiao Mei truly had no energy to mock the boys, because the girls themselves had not fared much better.

Though they had not been bitten by mosquitoes or insects, precisely because they feared being bitten, the girls had spent the entire night carefully ensuring that their protective Dou Qi was not withdrawn. As a result, they had barely slept at all. Every girl, including Xiao Xun'er, had huge dark circles beneath her eyes.

After all, girls cared more about their faces than boys did. Having them end up as miserable-looking as the boys would be unbearable to them. Compared to that, dark circles were a minor issue.

At that moment, Xiao Yan clapped his hands and energetically called to everyone.

"Everyone, go wash your faces~ Tidy up and make breakfast. Once we're done eating, training begins~"

"Yes..."

Compared with their excited responses yesterday, everyone was clearly far more dispirited today. The excitement they had felt upon first arriving at the Back Mountain yesterday had long since vanished.

Only after Xiao Yan urged them repeatedly did everyone finally move sluggishly and begin preparing breakfast.

Breakfast was simple: they boiled water and cooked several pots of white porridge. After everyone ate, they began a new day of training.

"Um... Cousin Xiao Yan..."

During training, Xiao Mei looked weakly toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow slightly and asked.

"What is it?"

"C-can I go home and get something?"

"What do you need?"

"Something to keep insects away..."

"No~"

Before Xiao Mei could finish, Xiao Yan smilingly refused her. Xiao Mei and all the other girls, including Xiao Xun'er, immediately deflated.

Although Xiao Yan was indeed very good to everyone in ordinary times and always thought of them first whenever he had something, when it came time to be strict, he truly showed no leniency at all.

"Bear with it. I said yesterday that we came here for training, so you can't think about cutting corners."

Xiao Yan gently stroked Xiao Mei's little head to comfort her. Xiao Mei nodded lightly, then began training with focus.

Seeing this, Yao Chen was somewhat surprised and spoke in Xiao Yan's heart.

(Kid Yan, I thought you would agree.)

(Why?)

Hearing Yao Chen's question, Xiao Yan instead asked one of his own.

(Don't you usually seem rather indulgent toward these children?)

(When it is time to indulge them, naturally I will.)

Xiao Yan looked at the Xiao Family disciples training nearby. He frowned slightly, his eyes revealing a serious expression.

(But when I should not indulge them, I absolutely cannot. Excessive indulgence is no different from harming them. I don't want my momentary leniency toward them to cause them even greater trouble in the future.)

(I already said yesterday that this is a training camp, not a leisurely outing.)

(Since that is the case, it should naturally be carried out strictly according to training standards. There is no room for even half a bit of whining.)

After listening to Xiao Yan's words, Yao Chen was stunned for a long while.

She had thought that her disciple would help and protect his family without any bottom line.

But now, it seemed that was not the case at all.

He was sincerely considering the future of these brothers and sisters from his clan.

(Kid Yan.)

(Hm?)

(For these children of the Xiao Family to have someone like you leading them is the luckiest thing in their lives.)

Hearing Yao Chen's words, Xiao Yan paused slightly. Then his expression softened, and he chuckled.

(I hope so~)