CHAPTER 56: TRAINING

The days that followed after Ling Yu left Nie Ziyu in Song’s careful care passed in a blur of discipline, training, and self-imposed exhaustion. She threw herself into her routine with almost obsessive focus, returning to the University as though nothing extraordinary had happened in the palace halls. No one around her could tell what she was thinking, spending so much time in weapon training and exercising.

Although they felt odd about her change, no one dared to give her a second glance when they passed by. Because Ru Feifei would roast whoever dares to give her a hard time or so much as a mocking glance.

But for Ling Yu, every tick of the clock was a reminder.

[Remaining Time: 7 days 12 hours]

The words glowed faintly in her mind, an unshakable reminder from the System that refused to let her forget the disaster looming over the horizon.

[Host should do your final preparation, the time is nearing with each passing second.]

She gritted her teeth mid-squat in the gym, her body slick with sweat, her muscles screaming as she pressed on with her weighted routine. "Yeah, yeah, I know. No need to remind me of the unfortunate things." Her voice dripped with annoyance, but deep inside, she wasn’t as dismissive as she sounded.

Every second mattered. Every improvement, every repetition, every small growth in strength and stamina might be the difference between life and death when the world cracked open.

For the first three days, she followed an almost military schedule: mornings were for cardio and flexibility, running laps around the University’s track field at dawn when it was still cool, practicing explosive sprints and slow endurance runs to push her lungs to their limits.

"Off, Off! I said I quit! You hear me, this rascal!" Ru Feifei was panting with heavy breaths as she sat down on the ground, reaching her limit after running a few laps.

Seeing Ling Yu work so hard, her interest was piqued as she asked if she could also join in. Ling Yu simply nodded her head as she went back to her work. It’s not like the track field was her territory; Ru Feifei doesn’t need to get any permission from her if she wants to run there.

Besides, if she wants to live, she needs to build up some strength too, so that when facing those monsters, she could at least repel one or two of them, to protect herself.

However, it seems that she changed her mind after coming to the track for two days.

"You monster! How could you run so many laps just like drinking water?! Even strong players like Qin Ding can’t win against you in a running competition? What has gotten into you that you need to run like that every day? And to think that you go to work out in the gym right after this?" Ru Feifei was literally cursing after facing such a monstrous training schedule Ling Yu was getting through every day.

Even now, when she was busy ranting, Ling Yu was still running another lap. Her entire body was drenched in sweat; thankfully, the racing suits aren’t see-through.

"Hey! I say, do you even hear me?! Yu’errrr!" Ru Feifei threw a fist on the ground as she screamed Ling Yu’s name. But a certain someone pretended not to hear her scream until she was done with her running.

Finally, Ling Yu stopped as she was in front of Ru Feifei. But after running for so long, Ru Feifei was stunned to see the girl who just casually wiped away the sweat beads forming on her face, not even having so much as difficulty breathing.

"What were you talking about, Feifei? You have been shouting for a while..." Ling Yu asked her as she looked down. As expected, it was getting normal and natural.

Ding!

[One daily task has been completed!]

[EXP 10+]

[EXP 10+]

[EXP 10+]

[Daily Task:

Running: 100/100 Laps

Squats: 0/100 times

Push up: 0/100 times

Chin up: 0/100 times

Weightlifting: 0/100 times

Weapon Training: 0/6 hours

...]

As expected, her overall stats would increase after she gathered enough EXP. She couldn’t waste time lazing around if she wanted to improve herself.

Ru Feifei was stupefied after she heard Ling Yu’s question. With a gloomy face, she stood up and left the track, not waiting for Ling Yu.

Because she knew that even if she waited, Ling Yu wouldn’t leave with her. After this, Ling Yu would straight head for the gym and lock herself up inside, won’t come out until she completes her training.

Ling Yu stared at the slumping shoulders of Ru Feifei when she was leaving the tracks. It’s been days since she had some free time, only to play and have fun. Ling Yu has been holed up in the gym at night, too, so Ru Feifei must’ve felt ignored.

Even so, this can’t be helped right now. They can play and have fun after the disaster quiets down. But before that, she can’t give anyone enough time, there isn’t much time left now... and she needed to grow stronger than before, unlike the pathetic and useless Ling Yu from her past life.

In the Early mornings, she would run a hundred laps before the working schedule of the day started. Then she would go do her part-time jobs till before afternoon. Aside from Xie Jingzhi coming around now and then to annoy her and He Xun’s friends snooping around, there was no other problem in her part-time jobs.

She knew that they were aware that their identities were already exposed. Nevertheless, they still stalked her on their free time, which was a bit annoying.

Regardless, as long as they didn’t interfere with her work, Ling Yu had no reason to confront them. So she just avoided walking up to those fellows.

Ling Yu’s afternoons and evenings were dedicated to strength training in the gym, alternating between free weights and bodyweight exercises, carefully balancing power and agility.