Dreams and Resolve

Huang Xiu in her sleep was completely different from her waking self.

She was utterly oblivious to the strangeness, having forgotten her past life as a male.

She had also forgotten her usual shyness.

She admitted to herself that she was enjoying a pleasure completely different from what she had known as a man, and even felt a vague sense of indulgence.

The bright moonlight spilled into the room through the window, becoming the only source of light in the old dormitory.

In mid-July, the Gobi Desert in the northwest was scorching hot, and the oscillating fan was turned to its highest setting.

A creaking sound echoed incessantly in the dorm.

On the bed furthest inside, Huang Xiu was in a deep sleep.

Her blanket only covered her navel, leaving her long legs and fair arms exposed.

Perhaps due to the erotic dream, a faint flush spread across her face.

Whoosh… The breeze from the fan lifted the long hair on her forehead.

Huang Xiu’s legs unconsciously clamped tightly around the air-conditioned comforter, and she even began to rub them together unknowingly.

Dreams of spring leave no trace; how many petals fall?

The night passed quickly, and early the next morning, just past five.

Miss Xiu slowly opened her eyes.

Just waking up, the dream had not yet faded; it was still vivid.

She instantly recalled the absurd dream from last night, and the incredibly realistic sensation that still made her bones feel weak.

The feeling of calloused palms stroking her smooth body, giving her goosebumps;

The tingling and heat that coursed through her body like electricity when they kissed;

And finally, the moment they reached the peak together…

Slap!

Huang Xiu covered her face with her hands, her fair cheeks peeking through her fingers, flushed a peach red.

“How could I… how could I…”

Fear, shame, utter mortification, dread, and a trace of reluctance that made her extremely uncomfortable…

These emotions intertwined, leaving Huang Xiu choked and unable to speak.

And when she unconsciously rubbed her legs together and felt the damp, sticky sensation of her underwear,

it became the final straw that broke her sanity.

Her eyes reddened, and tears seeped through her fingers, but she quickly forced them back.

“I can’t remember it anymore…” Huang Xiu muttered in despair.

The few pleasures she had experienced as a male had long since become blurry over the three-plus months of stubbornly suppressing her impulses.

The intense female pleasure from last night’s dream had completely obliterated her last memory of that feeling.

Heh. She laughed bitterly at herself, feeling like a heroine in a doujinshi who, after experiencing a more comfortable sensation, could never go back.

Forget it, forget it. Without the tool, forgetting was only a matter of time. I don’t need to be so tangled up about it. It’s only human nature. I was too repressive before; an outburst was bound to happen sooner or later.

Huang Xiu shook her head, reluctantly using all sorts of twisted logic to suppress her negative emotions.

Of course, this was also helped by the fact that as time passed, the dream faded severely, and that pleasure could no longer be recalled.

Just wanting to remember meant that nothing had happened—Huang Xiu was very skilled at the art of self-deception, plugging her ears while stealing bells. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to adjust her emotions so quickly.

Right, the most important thing now was to eliminate the evidence.

Trembling, Huang Xiu reached her hand under the blanket, feeling the wet touch on her fingertips.

She sighed slightly, then felt a bit relieved.

Luckily, it wasn’t much. The blanket wasn’t wet.

Even though she had already adjusted her mindset, she soon couldn’t remember clearly.

But during the day’s military training,

whenever she saw Yun Ning, she still blushed and couldn’t speak.

Why, why did I dream of Yun Ning? But I clearly don’t like him!

Huang Yong stood at attention with perfect posture.

On her left hand was an empty bracelet, on her right a weighted training ring.

Even now, the constant feeling of weakness and fatigue couldn’t suppress her tumultuous inner world.

Did she like Yun Ning?

She asked herself for the second time, but the answer remained unchanged.

No, it was just admiration for an outstanding senior, and pure friendship between friends and fellow disciples.

Huang Yong believed Yun Ning saw her the same way.

Otherwise, even as clumsy as she was in matters of the heart, she would have noticed something strange about him.

Since she didn’t like him, it was fine. She figured it was still because of Chen Molian’s ability.

Huang Yong breathed a slight sigh of relief, but then another thought surfaced.

Maybe she should set up Senior Wen Erya and Yun Ning?

If she could find Senior Yun Ning a girlfriend…

with his personality, she wouldn’t have to worry about their relationship as junior and senior changing from spending too much time together.

But somehow, she felt that if those two actually got together, her senior brother wouldn’t be as close to her anymore.

Huang Yong knew that since she used to be a boy, she would definitely not fall in love with Yun Ning.

But Senior Wen undoubtedly didn’t know that.

So to avoid suspicion, Wen Erya would definitely make Yun Ning keep his distance from her.

The only way to resolve this was for her to reveal that she used to be a boy to Wen Erya.

But honestly, Huang Yong wasn’t willing, and instinctively resisted revealing that information to others.

“Time’s up. Rest for five minutes.” Leng Ganhua’s command came from a distance.

Huang Yong, upon hearing this, immediately relaxed her perfectly straight posture.

Today, wearing the weighted gear, the one hour of standing at attention was even more exhausting than yesterday.

Even she couldn’t hold on much longer.

With her hands on her knees, bending over and panting heavily, Huang Yong subconsciously glanced forward.

In the volunteer examination formation, Wen Erya and Yun Ning stood very close.

The former was leaning slightly, a gentle smile on her face, speaking softly to the latter.

Her long hair fluttered in the breeze, her demeanor very elegant and serene.

It had to be said, Senior Wen Erya indeed had reason to rank above her on the Thousand Charms list.

Forget it, let them develop on their own. Senior, the greatest help I can give you is not to compete with you for a man.

Huang Yong withdrew her gaze and decided not to think too much. For now, training was the most important.

Under high-intensity training, time passed quickly.

As the sunset again connected with the underground mountain range, Leng Ganhua declared the end of Friday’s military training.

This time, Huang Yong still persisted to the end.

Although her ability had the downside of bloodletting, that very flaw had inadvertently increased her willpower.

However, among those who persisted to the end in the university formation, there were a few fewer than yesterday, dropping below ten.

Among them were Zhang Si and Li Shuqi.

But in the combat formation, especially the Special Higher Education Institute, the number who lasted to the end didn’t decrease much compared to yesterday.

This made Huang Yong a bit worried.

This weekend’s ranking… the Special Higher Education Institute wasn’t really going to push them down to third place, was it?

The old dormitory for third place was right on the path she had to take to get to the cafeteria.

Even though she hadn’t gone inside, just from the outside, looking at the old wooden windows without even glass,

she knew how tough the conditions were.

****

Saturday, the last day of the willpower test.

On this day, Guang Hongfang also came to the scene, and with him were the lead teachers from various institutions.

They set up a small stage on one side of the training ground.

The group sat on the stage, watching everyone’s performance live.

In Guang Hongfang’s words:

“With teachers and superiors watching live, to avoid losing face, they will try their best to hold on until the end.”

To this, the trainees only wanted to say: “Bullshit.”

Because it was the last day, the difficulty was much higher than the previous two days.

On one hand, Guang Hongfang increased the weight of the training gear.

No one knew where he got the data.

After adjustment, the weighted training was precisely calibrated to near each person’s physical limit.

Making them even weaker and more exhausted than ordinary people.

On the other hand, it was the damn Gobi weather.

That day,

the scorching sun blazed, not a cloud in the sky, outdoor temperatures nearing 37°C.

Plus, near the Gobi, there was no water source or trees; the ground was covered with stones with very low specific heat capacity.

Even if you cracked an egg on the ground, it would become a fried egg in less than a minute.

In such hot weather, using a body even weaker than an ordinary person to complete tasks far exceeding normal military training,

the difficulty was self-evident.

After one morning, the four formations had lost 60% of their members.

And this was after two days of training, with most people already adapted to the weakness of ability depletion.

If it had been like this on the first day,

Huang Xiu felt she probably wouldn’t have lasted to the end.

By six o’clock, only a few minutes remained until the end of training, but the air was still scorching.

The number of people still persisting in each formation was no more than a handful.

In the Tiandu University formation, Huang Xiu maintained a squatting position, staring blankly into the distance.

After half an hour of squatting, even though she could switch legs, both legs had lost all sensation.

She was now holding on purely by her determination to last until the end.

Her originally fair face was sunburned red, a bit darker than when training first started.

“Professor Yuan, I have to admit, your student’s performance this time has indeed exceeded my expectations.”

On the stage, Guang Hongfang crossed his legs and turned back to say.

“Of course.”

Professor Yuan casually handed his phone to the side, and Huang Xiaoxian, crouching under the chair, took over and continued operating.

He turned to look at the training ground, his gaze falling on Huang Xiu, and said with some emotion, “Xiu has always been a child with great perseverance and determination.”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken her as my disciple.”

The other lead teachers sitting nearby were all stunned by Yuan Fei’s shameless words.

“Isn’t it because of her talent?”

Guang Hongfang smiled and voiced everyone’s thoughts, with no intention of saving Yuan Fei’s face.

“If Huang Xiu were a B-rank, would you still take her?”

“Then of course… not!” Yuan Fei laughed heartily, not feeling embarrassed at all.

And hearing this, Guang Hongfang also laughed along with him. For a moment, the two of them laughed loudly on stage.

After laughing for a while, Guang Hongfang stopped.

He glanced at his watch, noting that time was almost up, and signaled with his mind.

Leng Ganhua to preside over the training.

He turned to the others, “What do you all think of my proposal last night?”

Qiao Yan, the homeroom teacher of Tiandu University’s Class Six, pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke:

“I’ve thought about it a lot, and I still feel it’s a bit excessive.”

“Sending a group of kids at the Mercury rank to fight in the Void Realm is like sending little children to the battlefield.”

He shook his head, disagreeing with Guang Hongfang’s proposal about the final training assessment discussed at last night’s meeting.

“What do you all think?” Guang Hongfang looked at the others.

“I also disagree.” Gao Ziming shook his head, and his colleague Sheng Cailiang followed, “Me too.”

“I agree.” The teacher from the Special Higher Education Institute, Lian Ting, nodded.

“Then, Professor Yuan, what’s your opinion?” Guang Hongfang asked again.

“I don’t care.” Yuan Fei shook his head. “And even if we all disagree, Guang Hong, would you cancel the arrangement?”

“Haha, as expected of Professor Yuan Fei, you see right through me.” Guang Hongfang laughed and clapped.

“I’m just asking. No matter your opinions, I’ve already arranged it. How could I cancel?

“By then, I’ll still ask all you teachers to be attentive and watch over your students from the shadows. After all, with so many people, relying solely on our few observation points won’t be enough.”

Guang Hongfang smiled and revealed his true purpose.

“At the same time, it’s best if you all help share the pressure of the [White Bone Plains] Void Realm.”

What is a clear scheme? This is a clear scheme.

****

When the rankings were announced on Sunday, Huang Mi honestly said it was a bit thrilling.

Because the Special Higher Education Institute had overtaken the Control Bureau to come in third.

And their score difference with Tiandu University had narrowed to within ten points.

One had 362, the other 354, a gap of only eight points—almost negligible.

The nearby Special Higher Education Institute formation was cheering, while the Tiandu University formation was buzzing with uneasy whispers.

“We’re not really going to be overtaken and drop to third, are we?”

“Damn, feels like we’re about to get stabbed in the ass.”

“Bad, the Special Higher Education Institute is coming on strong. Tiandu University’s defeat is certain…”

“Next you’re going to give a victory speech, right? Kid, stop jinxing us here!”

“Hehe, don’t worry, we have an S-rank, and most of the country’s elites are here. Next week is probably a competition round. I don’t know what the Special Higher Education Institute can use to fight us.”

“You’re like an old general with flags stuck all over his stage.” The boy covered his face and complained.

“Don’t worry, with me around, no enemy can stand. Watch me sweep the Special Higher Education Institute.” Guan Shuai interjected with full confidence.

“I won’t beat them until they—mmph—” Before he could finish his tough talk, several hands covered his mouth.

Guan Shuai’s friends were sweating profusely. “Brother Guan, don’t cause trouble. The people next door can hear you!”

Guan Shuai looked displeased, turning to the Special Higher Education Institute formation on the right. Sure enough, many were looking at him unhappily.

“What are you looking at?”

He glared back fiercely, then was pushed down by his friends.

“Hmm, it is a bit dangerous. I need to step it up next time.”

Huang Mi didn’t pay attention to this farce.

She rubbed her chin, starting to think about which poisonous flowers to use in the next competition.

Oleander seems a bit too toxic, but canine distemper is okay. Poinsettia is even more dangerous…

She felt that if these things mutated, accidentally, it might directly turn into a funeral feast.