Douluo Continent: The Phoenix God Returns

Chapter 28 Mutual Support

By the time the fifth round trip began, Oscar and Ning Rongrong had slowed down considerably. The scenery in front of them was beginning to blur, their legs felt as heavy as lead, and the bamboo baskets on their backs seemed to carry the weight of mountains.

"Little Oscar, give me your stone," Dai Mubai said to Oscar.

Ye Li also reached out her hand to Ning Rongrong at the same time.

Oscar and Ning Rongrong did not refuse, because they both knew that they were already exhausted and that if they continued like this, they might not be able to make it back and forth.

Ye Li's load increased to 36 kilograms, while Dai Mubai's reached 25 kilograms. The two stones didn't look heavy, but with such a significant physical exertion, the load was still quite heavy.

Ye Li felt fine with the added weight, but Dai Mubai's breathing was noticeably heavier than before. Conversely, Oscar and Ning Rongrong felt a sense of liberation after losing five kilograms of pressure. Their bodies felt light and airy, and they were not only able to keep up but even somewhat at ease.

After three more round trips, the eighth round trip began. Two hours had passed, the sun had moved away from its zenith, and noon had passed.

Everyone struggled to breathe, their lungs felt like they were on fire, and with each step they took, a clear watermark was left on the ground—the sweat flowing from their bodies.

Since their last trip, the group has been replenishing their salt water at the academy gate with two cups, and has also had a short rest period. The master did not urge them, and continued to prepare warm salt water for them after each trip.

"I can't take it anymore, I can't take it anymore." Ma Hongjun stumbled, his hands supporting him on his knees as he gasped for breath.

Everyone stopped one after another. At this moment, no one could speak. They looked at each other and found that the clothes of every one of their companions were soaked with sweat. The most impressive was Zhu Zhuqing. Although she was the youngest among them, she was the most developed of the three girls. Her soaked clothes clung to her body, outlining her amazing curves.

Dai Mubai wouldn't normally be this tired, but he shared Oscar's burden. Although Ye Li was also carrying Ning Rongrong's stones, he was still in good condition as a Soul King. Tang San and Xiao Wu were also in decent condition. Tang San's load hadn't increased, and Xiao Wu had reached level 30, but her load was the same as Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing, who were in their 20s, so she still had some energy left.

Ma Hongjun couldn't help but say, "Since we're going to miss lunch anyway, why don't we slow down? I can't go on anymore; if I keep running, I'm afraid I'll die of exhaustion."

Dai Mubai frowned and said, "Slow? Didn't you notice that the salt water Master prepares for us is always at the same temperature? But our speed keeps decreasing. Obviously, Master has calculated our physical condition. If we run back too slowly, there will probably be additional punishments. Although Master is a bit strict with our training, he does it for our own good. We must persevere. Fatty, give me your weights."

Ma Hongjun looked at Dai Mubai with some surprise, "Boss Dai, are you alright?"

Dai Mubai puffed out his chest. "Fatty, remember, a man can't say no. Give it to me."

When Dai Mubai was about to put the stones behind Ma Hongjun into the bamboo basket on his back.

Tang San stepped forward and took over, saying, "Brother Dai, let me do it. My load hasn't been increased yet."

Ye Li approached Zhu Zhuqing and said, "Give me your stone."

"No, you have far more stones than us, and the distance is the same. How are you going to persist?" Zhu Zhuqing said, taking a step back.

"Don't worry, a mere thirty-six pounds of stones won't crush me," Ye Li said, taking a few stones from Zhu Zhuqing's basket.

The journey resumed, and this time, everyone's speed noticeably decreased. Tang San's steps were particularly heavy, after all, he was carrying a full 25 kilograms of weight. He had only just broken through to the Soul Master level, and even with his excellent stamina, he was panting heavily at this moment.

Although Oscar and Ning Rongrong no longer had the stones, their physical strength had long been exhausted. They were breathing heavily and didn't even have the strength to speak.

Ye Li took the stone out of Oscar's bamboo basket and put it in her own bamboo basket, while Dai Mubai took another stone from Ning Rongrong. At this time, Ye Li was carrying a load of 48 kilograms.

"Xiao Ye, don't push yourself. Can you still hold on?" Dai Mubai asked, panting heavily.

"Don't worry, I can still hold on." Despite Ye Li's words, she was clearly struggling with the 48-kilogram stone.

The ninth round trip was made through mutual support. Although they were still running, they were barely faster than walking. The punishment had lasted for three whole hours. The eight of them were gushing salt water, looking as if they had been pulled out of the water. The master remained standing silently by their side.

Dai Mubai forced himself to stay alert, "Brothers, there's one last run, hang in there!"

Oscar suddenly spoke up: "Xiao Ye, give me back my load. There's only one round trip left, I can manage."

Ye Li was taken aback. He suddenly noticed something in Oscar's eyes. But looking at his trembling legs, he shook his head. "No need, I can manage."

Oscar walked to Ye Li's side, sweat dripping down his face, but his gaze was now resolute. "If you consider me a brother, give it back to me. I can do it."

The tenth round of punishment finally began. This time, everyone was too exhausted to run anymore and could only barely move their feet, taking one step at a time.

Oscar, who had nearly fainted after walking a kilometer, found the stones on his back back in Ye Li's bamboo basket. "Serves you right for being so stubborn. The stones are back in my basket now."

After walking two kilometers, the stone behind Zhu Zhuqing ended up in Xiao Wu's bamboo basket.

After walking three kilometers, Ning Rongrong fainted. Ye Li put his basket on his front and carried Ning Rongrong on his back.

After returning one kilometer, Oscar fainted. Zhu Zhuqing retrieved her stone, and Xiao Wu's load was placed in Ma Hongjun's bamboo basket. Tang San carried Oscar on his back and returned two kilometers, where Zhu Zhuqing fainted again. Dai Mubai struggled to carry her.

"...Ye, Fourth Brother? Put me down...I can manage on my own..." Ning Rongrong slowly woke up on Ye Li's back and murmured weakly.

Ye Li took a breath and said, "I'm alright..."

Oscar also woke up from his coma, struggling to slide off Tang San's back. With Tang San's help, he walked forward and said to Ye Li, "Little... Ye, you're really... amazing..."

Besides carrying Ning Rongrong on her back, Ye Li also carried some of the stones for herself, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Zhu Zhuqing.

The scenery before them was already blurred, and they could vaguely see the end point. At this point, everyone's bodies were only able to continue moving forward by sheer willpower.

Four hundred meters... three hundred meters... two hundred meters... one hundred meters...

The master's stiff face was now visible to everyone. Seeing them supporting each other and moving forward together, even the master couldn't help but be moved.

This last round trip took them a full hour. But they persevered and finally made it back.

Thump, thump...

Apart from Ye Li, the other seven people almost all collapsed and fainted. Ye Li forced herself to return to her dormitory, and only after confirming that no one was around did she go to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to recover.

.........

(End of this chapter)