CHAPTER 225: CHAPTER 225 EFFORTLESSLY 1(1)_1

"But among them are two girls. If anything happens, how can we explain it to the commander?" Deputy Commander Qian voiced his worries. While others might not be concerned, those two girls... if any accident befell them, their own careers would be over too.

"A group of people who have grown up together since childhood—what kind of accident could possibly happen? And with Shangguan Qing and Yu Zifeng there, what is there to worry about? If anyone wants to bully them, they’d have to get past these two," Liu Dabao shouted.

"You can’t talk like that. You know that sometimes the fog on the mountain is thick. What if the children get lost? We should send someone to look for them," Gui Yongjun said with concern. "One of my own children is up there, and a nephew. If anything happened to my nephew, how would I face his family?"

"Yeah, for safety’s sake, let’s go up there ourselves."

"Let’s wait another half hour. If they haven’t come down by eleven, everyone go to rest. The commander entrusted them to my care. I know how to train them. You just need to take care of your own responsibilities and leave the rest to me. Besides, there won’t be any danger."

Liu Dabao glanced at the sky, his brow furrowing as he recalled what he had said when they went up the mountain. Could it be because of my words? That if they didn’t come down by ten, they should stay on the mountain? So all seven brats are still up there? If that’s the case, there’s no need for us to go looking for them.

When Liu Dabao voiced his suspicions, both Gui Yongjun and Deputy Commander Qian patted his shoulder. Such training was too harsh for newcomers on their first day in the military camp, especially since the members of the Yu and Shangguan families hadn’t even eaten. No wonder they couldn’t come down at night.

"Liu Dabao, these children are not like us. They can endure a day or two without food. But they are the treasured children of the Shangguan and Yu families. If any accident happens to them, you can kiss your position as commander goodbye," Gui Yongjun sighed deeply.

"Commander Liu, even for training, they need a full meal to have energy to move. Since the children haven’t come down, they must have seen the time was up and decided to stay on the mountain, don’t you think?"

"At eleven sharp, everyone return to rest! Notify everyone that at three in the morning, everyone from this unit will ascend the mountain for special training," Liu Dabao ordered loudly. "If they haven’t come down by eleven, they’re surely resting on the mountain. Even if we were to search, we’d wait until early morning."

"Liu Dabao, I really don’t know what to say to you. As long as my child is still breathing, you can push him however you want. But you should think of the other children and their families," Gui Yongjun sighed and walked away. The commander placed them in Liu Dabao’s hands. How Liu Dabao wanted to train them was truly beyond their control, but still, he worried.

At eleven in the evening, there was no sound or movement on the small path leading down the mountain. Gazing at the mountain shrouded in the pitch-black night, Liu Dabao gave a few instructions to the guards on duty and then strode toward his quarters.

If that group of brats has indeed decided to stay on the mountain, I’ll see how I deal with them in the morning! A bunch of young masters and princesses who can’t endure hardship—if they can’t stand it, they can just roll back home. My military camp doesn’t need such useless people!

Fuming with anger, Liu Dabao returned to his quarters, while the group of seven on the mountain experienced a tribulation.

The entire mountain was engulfed in fog, and it was pitch-black all around. The group of seven didn’t even have a single flashlight. As the night deepened, the surrounding temperature also gradually dropped, and Shangguan You couldn’t help but shiver. The change in temperature is too extreme!

Visibility was at most one meter. Even the brightly lit military camp below was invisible. A RUSTLE of movement grew ever closer, making Shangguan You’s hairs stand on end. That sound... that RUSTLE... it feels like a whole swarm of something is surging over, coming right for us!

"What’s that sound?" Shangguan Qing asked, puzzled. It’s the beginning of spring, and the weather is still relatively cold. Those creatures shouldn’t be out now. Why am I hearing the sound of a swarm of snakes?

Snakes should be hibernating at this time of year. They couldn’t, they shouldn’t be here!

"Snakes! It’s a swarm of snakes! A big one, and it’s moving toward us!" Shangguan You cried out in alarm, her body trembling slightly as she moved a few steps closer to Shangguan Qing. She was terrified of these soft, spineless creatures.

"This time of year, shouldn’t all the snakes be hibernating?" Yu Zijin exclaimed, also stepping closer to Yu Zifeng. It wasn’t just Shangguan You; she was terrified of such creatures too.

"What on earth is happening? Why would there be such things on the mountain?" Yu Zifeng furrowed his brows as he gazed into the mist. He and Zhang Yuchen had initially wanted to step forward to get a clearer look, but a pair of delicate, slender hands grabbed theirs.

"Don’t move! Don’t speak!" Shangguan You’s voice dropped. "It really is snakes, and they’re coming this way! A huge swarm... and they’re three-headed monster snakes!" She had seen the leading snake with three heads. Her body trembled lightly. I’m so scared. This is the thing I fear most!

Oh heavens, oh earth, why do snakes even exist in this world? If the others weren’t here, I would have hidden in my space by now, not stuck here playing hide-and-seek with these snakes in the fog!

"Don’t be afraid, we’re here," Yu Zifeng said, feeling her small hand trembling. Knowing she was frightened, his other large hand clasped hers, soothing her gently.

"That’s right, we’ll protect you," Zhang Yuchen chimed in, comforting Shangguan You in a soft voice. Men often enjoyed protecting those weaker than themselves; it gave them a sense of fulfillment.

Shangguan You pulled her hand away. Damn it! I just didn’t want you guys to move and attract the snake swarm, getting us surrounded! I might be scared, but I have my own way to escape!

"You, I will protect you. Zifeng, you better protect your sister," Shangguan Qing stated, moving beside Shangguan You and wrapping his arms around her.