Defeating the Warrior Prince

➳𝕿𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊

The first day is devoted to constant calisthenics exercises, where the youths are held in a push-up position throughout the training.

General Wang then divides the youths into six teams, with five people assigned to each group. The team leader will be the first name announced for the group. "..And last but not least, the sixth group: Yangyue Qin Feng, Hao Ming, Jun Shao Han, Yu Mu Rong, and Bai Xuan Ye."

"HAH?!" Jun Shao Han, the person who started the ruckus earlier exclaims hoarsely, "Me and this fatty?! No way-"

The General defines the core values: integrity, respect, selfless service, and a sense of duty. The students emit a long, deep, audible breath expressing their discontent and tiredness. General Wang stresses the importance of knowing how to march and be a part of a formation.

As he sights the dreadful formation, the General decides to facilitate a plethora of training that models teamwork. The final team to complete the team training will have to run an additional ten laps around the military base.

Truthfully, most of the group's members do not get along with each other. The sixth team is no exception, in particular Jun Shao Han, who took an aggressive action against his victim Hao Ming earlier.

Perhaps General Wang deliberately select each member based on everyone's personality and interrelations.

His keen eyes track the youths, who are obligated to go through an amalgam of obstacle courses in small groups. When asked to climb over a nine foot wall, Yangyue Qin Feng, Yu Mu Rong, and Bai Xuan Ye did so easily. Hao Ming struggled the most in the group, follow by Jun Shao Han.

There may be two powerful members in the sixth team, yet they sabotage their success because of the unspoken stack ranking dynamic. Yangyue Qin Feng's group ends up being the final group to complete the drills.

The quota of training comes to an end for the other teams. Since the military academy provides full board and lodging, the other students are guided towards their residence. The sixth team winds up running ten more laps while the other teams unpack their belongings in the residence hall.

"Hao Ming, this is all your fault," huffs Jun Shao Han through his heavy breath, "If it wasn't because of you, we would have already achieved first place. How did you even make it to this academy?"

His victim Hao Ming whispers, "I.. I'm sorry for dragging all of you down.."

"No-" Before Qin Feng can finish her comment, the Warrior Prince enters the conversation: "There is no question of Hao Ming's abilities if he was chosen out of the ten thousand applicants. He must have worked very hard. If he was chosen, so be it."

"Besides.." Bai Xuan Ye pokes Jun Shao Han's arm.

Jun Shao Han howls in pain, "OW, OW!"

The Warrior Prince grins mischievously, "Didn't you twist your arm and lag behind near the end of the training too?"

Jun Shao Han scoffs, his eyes cast down to the ground. Meanwhile, Hao Ming wipes the tears from his eyes, hinting at his own deep despondency: "Thank you, Brother Bai."

Yangyue Qin Feng stares fixedly at Bai Xuan Ye. A startled expression crosses her visage as she realizes how he is capable of resolving the conflict without taking sides. She directs her attention back to the track again.

By the time the sixth team finishes up, they trail back to the residence hall.

"What is this?! We have to sleep side by side? There is barely any space at all!" Jun Shao Han rolls his eyes as he unpacks his bags.

Qin Feng glances around their residence room, which is a quarter larger than the traditional yurt she used to live in. To the right rest the stone bed with five quilted mattresses; brand new hygiene products lay on top of the bed coverings. The left side of the room includes the mahogany four-panel screen panels with paintings of landscapes and a study table with a book shelf behind it.

When the hot spring bath house opens up for the students, Hao Ming, Jun Shao Han, Yu Mu Rong, and Bai Xuan Ye head out to the hot spring.

Hao Ming asks, "Brother Yangyue, are you not going to wash up?" They all turn around to glance at Yangyue Qin Feng.

Qin Feng glances at Yu Mu Rong first, then at Hao Ming. "I'll be in the hot spring soon. I have to unpack my other belongings."

Jun Shao Han mutters falteringly, "How troublesome.."

"What did you just say?" Mu Rong glares at Jun Shao Han, who whistles and looks out the window. "N-Nothing.." Soon, they all attend the hot spring bath house with the exception of Yangyue Qin Feng.

She keeps time through the incense stick. By the time incense stick burns out, Qin Feng notices that none of her team members have returned yet. She departs the residence to sneak around the bath house to fake her attendance.

From afar, she can listen to the youths' conversations with each other. In particular, one conversation stands out to her. A raspy voice adds while giggling amusedly, "Can you believe they are still together despite all the crap they have been through?"

A couple of men jumps in the conversation, "Oh! Who, who?" The sound of water echoes; it is as if someone rises up from the hot spring. Another guy eavesdrops, "You talking about Minister Guan's daughter? The one with the ginormous melons?"

The raspy voice from earlier comments, "No, no- I'm talking about.. your butt cheeks." Snickers emerge, from which becomes laughter with the heightened volume and pitch.

"Man.. That was lame, Brother Lun."

"Sorry about that. You know I'm more of the introverted, sensitive type."

"..You mean you're a loser."

Suddenly, the sound of a slap is echoed throughout the bathhouse, "Ow, ow! I get it! Sorry, sorry!"

Qin Feng shakes her head, refusing to decimate her intelligence while tuning into such conversation. Gradually, half of the students leave the hot spring. Qin Feng, however, is determined to wait it out.

As the night becomes more chilly, the florescent moon and the vivid stars luminate down. At such a time, all the students have exited the bathhouse. Yangyue Qin Feng doublechecks the hot spring bath house: empty and clouded with steam.

Perfect.