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Soon under the leadership of the military dog, everyone found twelve hostages amid the small shrubs.

They were each wearing handkerchiefs and standing there, waiting for everyone to arrive.

Guo Dong directly took Gu Xiaoxi to one of them, and Gu Xiaoxi did not hesitate to remove the handkerchief from his arm. Upon checking, it was an exact match with hers. Even the coded names matched up.

Gu Xiaoxi smiled happily, this was the third handkerchief she had acquired.

Three more, and she could complete part of the mission.

Yun Xiao, Zhuang Sheng, and Baili Tao all found their own handkerchiefs.

Only Huang Xin and Guo Dong did not.

After getting the handkerchiefs, one of the ’hostages’ called everyone over and said, "Don’t leave just yet, there’s a minefield one kilometer ahead. You must clear the mines with the military dog. Those who successfully clear the mines can proceed, and those who fail will be directly eliminated."

"So does that mean those who walk behind don’t have to clear mines?" Huang Xin asked.

"Correct! Those who go first and successfully clear mines can get an additional ten points."

Gu Xiaoxi narrowed her eyes, not expecting that there would be additional tasks on the way.

Without any hesitation, she led Xiao Xiao forward.

They overcame all obstacles and successfully cleared the mines without any suspense.

Then Yun Xiao, Zhuang Sheng, Huang Xin, and others also successfully completed the task, each adding ten points in the end.

The happiest was Zhuang Sheng. Having lost ten points earlier, now he had gained them back. This was more exciting to him than finding a pie in the sky.

The path beyond the gorge was all pebbles, without obstacles, and thus easy to walk on.

Everyone marched forward and finally reached a flat swampy plain.

Bald cypress trees rose up from the flat ground, emerald water encircled the green trees and fresh grass. A plain that stretched beyond sight, with only the morning sun hanging high overhead.

Gu Xiaoxi, holding the map, confirmed the direction. She looked at a flock of birds flying over her head and stepping down, her shoes were completely soaked.

Water soaked up to the calves, and Guo Dong couldn’t help but frown.

"Everyone be careful, this place has the most snakes and insects. React quickly, and look out for each other," Gu Xiaoxi instructed.

The water here wasn’t deep, but it was very murky. Walking through it, it felt like goosebumps were forming all over.

"Captain, are there locusts here? Big guy, carry me a bit, this water is so dark. Ah, a snake!" Just as Zhuang Sheng stepped into the water, he jumped right onto Baili Tao’s back, refusing to come down whatever happened.

Not far from him, there was a snake, viciously flicking its tongue at him. But, in the next second, the snake was bitten in half by Xiao Xiao. The sight caused everyone to shiver in fear and regard Xiao Xiao with dread.

Damn! This dog is scarier than the snake.

Baili Tao, having Zhuang Sheng clinging to his neck and hanging on his back, said irritably, "Get off me."

"Please big bro, I’ll give you two packets of beef jerky, carry me for an hour, okay? I beg you, there are so many snakes, there’s another one over there," Zhuang Sheng pleaded incessantly.

Yun Xiao walked forward expressionlessly, using a stick to flick away the small snake that blocked the way.

Everyone continued to advance.

In this exercise area, cameras were installed everywhere, and there were hidden cameras that remote-controlled followed their journey, filming along the way and also ready for emergency rescues.

This type of training was usually to test those with special abilities, or those with inner strength. Ordinary people would definitely not be able to complete the mission.

The previous tasks had already eliminated half of the people. Those who made it this far were definitely highly alert, which could reduce the danger relatively. In addition, there were helicopters in the sky, ready for rescue based on the location signals at any time.

At this moment, the officers watching the cameras couldn’t help but admire Young Master Quan’s insight.

Looking at Yun Xiao, although it was unclear if she had a special ability, her calm composure made it seem like she didn’t have a trace of fear.

No need to mention Gu Xiaoxi, her complexion hadn’t changed from start to finish, she simply moved forward with a cold demeanor.

In contrast, Guo Dong’s face was slightly pale, her legs trembling, her body covered in goosebumps.

She wasn’t afraid of hardship or fatigue, but she was most afraid of insects and soft-boned creatures in the water. It felt to her as though thousands of bugs were biting her feet through the dirty water.

"Ah! Such a huge locust!" Guo Dong screamed, and then fainted, her eyes rolling back.

Gu Xiaoxi, with quick reflexes, caught her and promptly pinched her philtrum.

It took Guo Dong quite a while to come to, looking terrified as she panted rapidly, her face pale. "So many locusts, help!"

"Are you scared, beauty? Big guy, since you’re so strong, why don’t you carry both of us," Zhuang Sheng shamelessly suggested while on Baili Tao’s back.

Baili Tao snorted coldly, "I can, two packets of beef jerky for one hour, then I’ll put you down. I’ll carry her!"

"Hey, you’re still bargaining when it comes to a beauty."

"Wrong, I’m only bargaining with you," Baili Tao said unpleasantly.

Gu Xiaoxi saw Guo Dong’s pale face and rapid breathing, clearly symptoms of being stimulated. This couldn’t go on.

She turned her head and said to Zhuang Sheng with a serious tone, "You, get down. A big man being carried by others, aren’t you ashamed?"

Baili Tao stood with his arms crossed, while Zhuang Sheng clung to him like a monkey, crying out, "Xiao Xi, I’m really scared too. Why don’t you carry me?"

Gu Xiaoxi narrowed her eyes, then suddenly flashed Zhuang Sheng a brilliant smile, "You get down, and I’ll carry you. Baili Tao, Guo Dong is all yours."

"No problem!" Baili Tao said without any complaints.

Zhuang Sheng happily ran to Gu Xiaoxi’s side, but as Baili Tao picked up Guo Dong, Zhuang Sheng lunged at Gu Xiaoxi.

However, even though he clearly saw Gu Xiaoxi right beside him, he lunged into thin air. He plunged into the water and even got a mouthful of it. By the time he climbed out of the water, his face was covered with a leaf!

"Wow, wow, wow! There’s a grasshopper on my face, help me! Gu Xiaoxi, Brother is really scared! Help! Wow, wow, wow..." Yun Xiao, please check for me."

Zhuang Sheng screamed his lungs out, rushing in front of Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao, speechless, reached out and removed the leaf from his face, her tone one of resignation, "Just walk properly, with your shoes on, and trouser legs tucked in tight, bugs won’t get in. Just watch where you’re going."

Zhuang Sheng suddenly found Yun Xiao to be as beautiful and gentle as a Fairy, his heart blooming with joy, "Sister Yun Xiao, you’re the best, way better than Gu Xiaoxi. Let’s be friends from now on!"

Gu Xiaoxi brought a hand to her forehead! How did she end up with such a bizarre teammate?

During the two hours of trekking, they crossed a swamp with water up to their chests before they found a patch of wetland.

They all collapsed onto the shore as if they had seen a warm bed, completely exhausted.

At that time, everyone was gasping for breath.

Gu Xiaoxi put down her backpack, thankfully the handkerchief was not wet.

In the Great Swamp, looking for things was simply unbelievable. They walked for two hours and had seen nothing.

"Everyone eat something first, I’ll look around." Gu Xiaoxi stood up and went with Xiao Xiao toward the dense woods beside them.

Yun Xiao also immediately stood up and followed Gu Xiaoxi, saying, "I’ll go with you."

The rest were too exhausted to move.

Zhuang Sheng immediately called out to Gu Xiaoxi, "Captain, you’re not going to leave us and go off on your own, are you?"

"I’m just going to see if what we’re looking for is around here," Gu Xiaoxi replied irritatedly. Did she seem like someone who would abandon her comrades and run off?

Gu Xiaoxi and Yun Xiao walked deeper into the jungle, and as they walked, the path became wetter until their feet were sinking into the black soil.

"There shouldn’t be any hostages or explosives in such places," Yun Xiao said, since all that surrounded them were trees and damp Earth.

"So disgusting!" Gu Xiaoxi stepped into the mud and frowned deeply. But she felt that the more unlikely the place, the more likely it was.

She walked another kilometer when Xiao Xiao suddenly started barking, followed by Xiao Xiao rushing excitedly ahead.

Gu Xiaoxi and Yun Xiao struggled through the mud, following the military dogs with big strides.

After three kilometers, they found a bag of explosives hanging from a tree in a net.

Gu Xiaoxi and Yun Xiao exchanged a look and a hint of a smile, "Finally found the second set of explosives."

"Quick, write down our names; it’ll be worth the effort we made coming all this way," Yun Xiao exhaled with relief.

Gu Xiaoxi climbed the tree, next to the explosives, and wrote her name in the notebook hanging there. Yun Xiao also wrote down her name. As for the others, Gu Xiaoxi had already sent Xiao Xiao back to call them.

Gu Xiaoxi found a branch to sit on; only then did she have time to take out her water bottle and dry food to have a bite.

Yun Xiao sat next to her, took a bite of beef jerky, and looked out at the dense forest with anticipation, "Do you think we’ll be sent on missions in swamps like this in the future?"

"It’s possible, anywhere is possible. So, we need to adapt to such environments in advance.

If someone wanted to kill you in this kind of place, would you just stand there and let them, all because you found it disgusting?

So, in the face of death, this disgust—or rather, when on a mission, these environmental factors, they can all be overcome," Gu Xiaoxi thought further ahead than others, because she had been through war, and she knew death could be just a moment away.

A second of hesitation could lead to a most regrettable end.

Therefore, training was essential, especially learning not to fear any environment.

Moments later, Baili Tao, Zhuang Sheng, Huang Xin, and Guo Qiwei quickly arrived.

Gu Xiaoxi didn’t see Guo Dong and asked curiously, "Where is she? This is a mission. She doesn’t want to complete it?"

But Huang Xin shook her head, "She gave up."

Guo Dong had joined the military for the sake of the person she loved most, but she couldn’t adapt to this environment, especially since she couldn’t overcome her mental barriers, her fear of the bugs in the dirty water. Fear made it impossible for her to even take a step forward.

So, she chose to give up!

If she relied on others, even if she made it to the end, it would be meaningless.

If she couldn’t do it, she couldn’t do it; without the strength, she felt it was unfair to drag everyone down with her.

All along the way, they had taken turns carrying her, which was already difficult, on top of which, she had made the journey harder for them, adding to their burden.