By the thirtieth push-up, Xiao Yingtao’s thin, delicate arms were nearly giving out.

Bean-sized sweat rolled down her forehead and cheeks in steady streams, her arms trembling visibly, yet the girl still gritted her teeth and persisted.

Fifty meant fifty—Colonel Huo would not permit even half to be skipped.

She had already cost everyone so much time; she could not waste any more!

“No need to rush—take it slow. We can catch up,” Mu Mu’s voice was low and magnetizing, truly reassuring.

By the fortieth push-up, Xiao Yingtao, nearly collapsing, still gritted her teeth as she strained to keep her trembling arms up. Keep going!

“Mu Mu, you and Jiu’er go ahead first. You’re injured, and Jiu’er can look after you,” Xing Zizhou said, watching Xiao Yingtao struggle.

“Once Xiao Yingtao finishes, Shan Yidao and I will bring her along and catch up. We’ll definitely catch up.”

Though each person had to bring back their own name tablet, the team’s overall time still mattered, so the team was still the team—if anyone fell behind, it wouldn’t do.

Xing Zizhou and Shan Yidao with Xiao Yingtao wouldn’t move slowly, but Mu Mu had just been poisoned yesterday, and though he seemed fine now, being poisoned was a serious matter. His stamina today would certainly not be as good as usual.

Mu Mu glanced at Xiao Yingtao once more. She seemed to sense he was watching, and gritting her teeth, trembling arms straining, she hoarsely managed: “I… can do this.”

“Good. Jiu’er and I will go on ahead,” Feng Jiu’er nodded, then looked at Mu Mu. “Your poison has been cleared, but for now you shouldn’t exert true energy.”

So they could only move slowly—using lightness martial arts would damage his body.

They would likely be slower than Xing Zizhou’s group anyway, so going first made sense.

“Understood,” Mu Mu agreed, then looked at the three of them once more: “Not a single one left behind.”

“Absolutely not!” Xing Zizhou and Shan Yidao declared in unison.

“To avoid wasting time, whoever reaches first should grab the name tablet and come back here to wait.”

Mu Mu looked at Xiao Yingtao, and in his usually stern eyes, there emerged a hint of gentleness: “Do your best.”

“Yes!” Xiao Yingtao gritted her teeth, her voice trembling!

Mu Mu looked away and set out with Feng Jiu’er.

Having left later than the other teams to begin with, and now unable to use lightness martial arts due to his condition, they moved even slower.

The situation was indeed unfavorable, but there was nothing to do but try their best.

As they entered the dense forest, the atmosphere seemed to shift subtly.

With so many people around earlier, it hadn’t been noticeable, but now, alone with him, Feng Jiu’er found herself acutely aware of his confession the night before. She felt completely ill at ease.

Yet observing Mu Mu, he seemed entirely unbothered—as if that matter had never occurred to him.

Perhaps, she thought, she was overthinking it.

It was like with any patient: when one is dying and someone saves them, gratitude naturally flows toward that savior, and one wants to repay them somehow. Last night, Mu Mu must have had his head turned by emotion.

This moment, with just the two of them, was perfect to return that family heirloom to him.

Feng Jiu’er instinctively reached toward her satchel, then remembered—that family heirloom had been placed in a cabinet when she left this morning.

She hadn’t brought it out! She’d been worried about losing such a precious thing!

Truly, what a wasted opportunity! Just as she raised her head, suddenly Mu Mu’s low voice came: “Watch out!”