The first light of dawn spread gently across Qingfeng Camp, painting the sky in soft shades of gold and pale blue. A cool morning breeze swept through the dormitory grounds, carrying with it the quiet stillness of early hours—before the camp awakened to another day of intense training.
Mo Guanguan stood by the window, her gaze drifting downward.
There, below the dormitory building, a lone figure moved steadily along the track.
Zhao Mu.
He ran with a consistent rhythm, his breathing controlled, his posture stable. His figure cut cleanly through the morning light, neither hurried nor sluggish—just unwavering.
Mo Guanguan narrowed her eyes slightly, a flicker of curiosity surfacing within them.
She turned her head toward Shen Moran, who sat at her desk, completely absorbed in her work.
"Mo Mo," she asked casually, though her tone carried a hint of interest, "what kind of person is Zhao Mu?"
Shen Moran paused mid-stroke, her pen hovering over the intricate Spirit Rune Diagram she had been tracing. After a brief moment, she answered without lifting her head.
"He's… hardworking," she said. "And very determined."
Her voice softened slightly as she continued.
"But his Spiritual Energy Talent is only Grade E."
She sighed faintly.
"That's why he pushes himself so hard—to make up for the gap between him and others."
There was a brief pause.
Then she shook her head.
"But in the end, it's probably meaningless effort. No matter how hard a mouse struggles, it can never defeat a cat. That's just reality."
Her words were calm, almost indifferent—but also carried a quiet certainty.
Mo Guanguan didn't respond immediately.
Instead, a strange glint appeared in her eyes, something sharp and thoughtful.
"I don't think so," she said at last.
Shen Moran's pen stopped again.
Mo Guanguan turned back toward the window, her lips curving into a faint smile.
"Talent isn't everything," she continued. "Anyone who dares to chase their dreams with everything they have… deserves respect."
Her tone shifted slightly, gaining a hint of playful arrogance.
"Of course, if he wants to catch up to me, he'll need at least a hundred times more effort."
Before Shen Moran could reply, Mo Guanguan suddenly moved.
She leapt lightly off the bed, her movements smooth and controlled. Her sock-clad feet landed softly on a chair, her body balanced with effortless grace. Her long, well-trained legs carried a strength that was both elegant and powerful.
In one fluid motion, she tied her waist-length black hair into twin ponytails.
Her expression sharpened.
She slipped into her running shoes, adjusted her posture, and flicked her hair behind her shoulders.
"I'm heading out," she said.
Shen Moran looked up, slightly puzzled.
"Where are you going this early?"
Mo Guanguan turned back, a playful sparkle in her eyes.
"To take a closer look at that hardworking young man."
With that, she was gone.
The door closed softly behind her.
Shen Moran frowned slightly, an unfamiliar discomfort stirring in her chest.
She stared at the door for a moment before shaking her head.
"…What does that have to do with me?"
Muttering to herself, she lowered her gaze and resumed tracing the Spirit Rune Diagram, forcing her focus back onto her work.
Outside, Zhao Mu continued his run.
The morning air felt refreshing against his skin, cool and invigorating. A thin sheen of sweat had formed along his forehead and neck, but his breathing remained steady, his body far from exhaustion.
Most trainees were still asleep.
After the grueling training from the previous day, few had the energy—or the discipline—to wake up this early.
But Zhao Mu was different.
To him, every moment mattered.
Every second wasted was a step further away from his goal.
As he ran along the perimeter road of the dormitory area, his footsteps echoed faintly in the quiet surroundings.
Then—
Another sound.
A second set of footsteps.
Light… fast… and approaching quickly.
Zhao Mu's brows lifted slightly.
"Hm?"
Curious, he turned his head.
A flash of fiery red entered his vision.
In the next instant, a figure surged forward and matched his pace.
"Good morning, Trainee Zhao Mu!"
Mo Guanguan's bright eyes locked onto him, her expression filled with confidence and determination.
Zhao Mu blinked in mild surprise before smiling.
"Trainee Mo Guanguan? Good morning."
He glanced at her briefly.
"You also run in the mornings?"
"Mhm!" she nodded, keeping perfect stride beside him. "Back home, I trained every day. Weighted running is just basic practice for me."
Her tone was casual—but beneath it lay a clear sense of pride.
Suddenly, she turned her head, her gaze sharpening.
Flames of competitiveness flickered in her eyes.
"Hey, Zhao Mu."
He looked at her.
"How about a race?"
Zhao Mu paused for a split second.
"I lost to you in yesterday's training," she continued, her voice firm. "And I'm not convinced."
Her lips curled into a confident grin.
"I might not match you in raw strength, you monster… but when it comes to speed, I'm very confident."
Understanding dawned on Zhao Mu.
So that was it.
This proud young lady still couldn't accept her defeat.
A soft chuckle escaped him.
"Alright," he said easily. "You set the rules."
Mo Guanguan's smile widened.
"Then let's make it simple."
She pointed ahead.
"One full lap around the dormitory track—about ten kilometers."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Whoever returns to the dorm entrance first wins."
Zhao Mu nodded without hesitation.
"No objections."
Mo Guanguan's posture lowered slightly.
"Then…"
Her voice dropped.
"Let's begin!"
The moment the words left her lips—
She exploded forward.
Her body dipped low, her movements sharp and predatory. Like a leopard pouncing on its prey, she shot ahead with terrifying acceleration.
In an instant, her speed more than tripled.
Dust scattered behind her as she surged forward, leaving Zhao Mu trailing far behind.
Zhao Mu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That posture…"
He focused carefully.
Her body remained low, her arms hanging close to her sides, her legs stretching forward in powerful strides.
"Footwork."
Realization struck him immediately.
"As expected of a Grade A genius."
He took a slow breath.
Then—
He stopped holding back.
"Light and Agile Steps."
The technique activated instantly.
His body became lighter, as if the air itself lifted him forward. Each step felt effortless, his speed increasing dramatically.
Within seconds—
He began closing the distance.
The gap shrank rapidly.
Then—
He caught up.
The two figures raced side by side, like twin shadows slicing through the morning air.
Mo Guanguan's eyes widened slightly.
Impossible.
Her footwork—derived from the Intermediate Combat Technique Tiger Leopard Capture—was something she had trained in for over ten years.
Even before awakening her Spiritual Energy Talent, she had practiced these movements daily.
It allowed her to maintain high-speed movement over long distances.
Yesterday, she had assumed her loss was due to stamina.
But now—
Reality hit her hard.
Zhao Mu was matching her speed.
No—
He was surpassing it.
In less than twenty seconds, he pulled even with her.
Zhao Mu glanced sideways and gave a small smile.
"I'll go ahead."
Then—
He accelerated.
In the blink of an eye, he overtook her.
It wasn't arrogance.
It wasn't provocation.
It was simply… natural.
The difference in their physical foundations was too great.
Zhao Mu's Walking proficiency had already reached 100.
That represented the peak speed achievable with his current physical condition.
And now, enhanced by Light and Agile Steps, he had broken past that limit.
Mo Guanguan's technique, though refined, was designed for combat—not pure speed.
Against Zhao Mu's optimized movement, it fell short.
Zhao Mu moved ahead effortlessly.
"If I let someone who already has over ten Combat Points surpass me…" he thought calmly, "…then my advantage would be meaningless."
As he ran, he glanced to his side.
Floating beside him was the familiar figure—
The strange clown.
It hovered silently, visible only to him, holding a small display board while bobbing rhythmically with his movement.
The numbers on it shifted.
[Light and Agile Steps – Proficiency: 185]
Zhao Mu's lips curved faintly.
His speed increased again.
As long as the clown remained active, his growth would never stop.
Behind him—
Mo Guanguan stared at his retreating figure.
Her expression darkened.
Then—
Ignited.
A fierce blaze erupted in her eyes.
"Damn it…!"
She clenched her fists tightly.
"This Young Miss has never lost to anyone!"
Her teeth gritted.
Her legs pushed harder.
Her entire body surged forward with renewed intensity.
"Zhao Mu!"
Her voice rang out across the empty track.
"Stop right there!!"
And with that—
She chased after him with everything she had.
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