Douro Continent

Chapter 168 Never Abandon, Never Give Up (Part 2)

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."

As Dai Mubai loaded the stones from Ma Hongjun's back into his own bamboo basket, Tang San also arrived at Zhu Zhuqing's side. Although he didn't quite understand why Dai Mubai wasn't helping Zhu Zhuqing carry the load, his physical condition was similar to Dai Mubai's at the time, and although Zhu Zhuqing didn't say anything, she was clearly also very exhausted.

"Let me help you, Zhu Qing." Tang San reached out to the bamboo basket behind Zhu Zhu Qing.

Zhu Zhuqing twisted her body, letting Tang San's hand pass her. "No need, I can still keep going. You've run two more laps than us, and you're already so exhausted. How will you manage to keep going in the end?"

Tang San stared at Zhu Zhuqing for a moment, and he suddenly realized that she didn't seem so cold after all.

The journey began again. This time, the group slowed down once more. Although Dai Mubai remained silent, it was clear that his steps had become much heavier, and he sweated the most with each step compared to the other two. The fat man had been carrying a 10-kilogram load on him. With his strength already somewhat depleted, increasing the load to 30 kilograms had a significant impact on his stamina.

After the eighth round trip, when the master was providing them with warm salt water, he deliberately glanced at the bamboo baskets behind them, but said nothing.

The ninth round trip continued. Although they weren't carrying any weight, Oscar and Ning Rongrong were nearing their physical limits. Ma Hongjun had recovered somewhat, Xiao Wu was still able to keep going, but Zhu Zhuqing's pace was getting slower and slower. On the other hand, Tang San seemed to have gritted his teeth and pushed past his limits, showing no signs of exhaustion.

With Soto City in sight, the ninth round trip was almost halfway complete. Suddenly, Dai Mubai stumbled and fell forward.

In the past, Dai Mubai could have stood up straight with his strength, but now his physical strength was severely depleted.

Tang San stayed close to Dai Mubai and, seeing that he was about to fall, quickly stepped forward and supported his shoulder.

Dai Mubai's two pupils in his evil eyes had merged into one. Tang San had seen this before when they were in danger, and this should be a sign of the limit.

Dai Mubai couldn't stand on his own; he was leaning on Tang San's shoulder, his chest heaving violently like a bellows, and he looked almost dehydrated.

"Boss Dai, how are you?" Everyone rushed over and asked with concern.

Tang San didn't say anything, but directly took out the largest 15-kilogram stone from Dai Mubai's bamboo basket and put it into his own bamboo basket.

"Xiao San, no need, I can still hold on." Dai Mubai barely straightened his body, his eyes shining with determination as he looked at Tang San. "You could endure the immense pain brought by the Human-Faced Demon Spider Soul Ring, why can't I? I can do it. Brothers, let's keep going, no one can fall behind."

As he spoke, Dai Mubai forcibly took his 15-kilogram stone from Tang San's bamboo basket and put it back into his own basket.

"Boss Dai, give me back what I have." Ma Hongjun suddenly spoke up. At this point, there was still one and a half round trips left before all the punishments were over, and everyone knew that it was impossible for Dai Mubai to complete the task while carrying a 30-kilogram load.

Ning Rongrong suddenly stepped forward, "And mine too. I'm much better now, and I can carry it myself."

Tang San said, "Forget about Rongrong, Fatty, hang in there for a while."

Ma Hongjun put his own weight back on his back, reducing Dai Mubai's weight by 10 kilograms. At Tang San's repeated requests, Ning Rongrong's 5 kilograms of stones were also moved from Dai Mubai's bamboo basket to his, increasing the weight to 25 kilograms.

The journey continued, and every step was incredibly difficult. Despite carrying 15 kilograms less weight, Dai Mubai persevered through sheer willpower.

They made it through the ninth round trip with everyone's support. Although they were still running, they were barely faster than walking. Three full hours had passed since the punishment began.

They drank large gulps of salt water, looking as if they had been pulled out of the water, while the master remained standing silently to the side.

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

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

Tang San paused for a moment, suddenly noticing something in Oscar's eyes. But looking at his trembling legs, Tang San shook his head. "No need, I can manage."

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

Ning Rongrong was already panting heavily, her face pale, but when she saw Oscar take the five-kilogram stone out of Tang San's bamboo basket, she couldn't help but say, "Little... Oscar... you... today... really acted like a... man..."

Oscar was too exhausted to smile anymore, so he could only puff out his chest and put on an air of self-righteousness.

At this point, the Shrek Seven Devils were completely exhausted, but none of them relaxed. Sometimes, the difference between genius and mediocrity lies in the strength of their will. Overcoming one's limit means everything will change.

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.

Is it impossible? No, it's possible, we can all do it. Carrying the stones on their backs, they moved forward step by step toward their final goal.

Oscar, who had nearly fainted after walking a kilometer, had the stones on his back fall back into Tang San's bamboo basket.

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

After walking three kilometers, Ning Rongrong fainted. Tang San gave all his stones to Dai Mubai 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. Ning Rongrong climbed onto Xiao Wu's back, and Tang San carried Oscar on his back.

Two kilometers back, Zhu Zhuqing fainted, and Dai Mubai struggled to pick her up.

With less than 500 meters to go, Tang San already had Zhu Zhuqing's weights and the 15 kilograms of weights he had taken from Dai Mubai in the bamboo basket hanging on his chest, and Oscar on his back.

Dai Mubai carried Zhu Zhuqing on his back.

Xiao Wu carried Ning Rongrong on her back.

Ma Hongjun was carrying a 20-kilogram weight.

They practically shuffled towards the finish line, step by step.

"Put me down..." Ning Rongrong's weak voice sounded behind Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu stumbled and almost fell to the ground, while Ning Rongrong slid off her back. The two helped each other and walked forward step by step.

Oscar also woke up from his coma, struggled to slide off Tang San's back, and walked forward with Tang San's help.

Zhu Zhuqing was still unconscious. Although she didn't say it, she had overexerted herself even more than Oscar and Ning Rongrong. Although Ma Hongjun was fat, he had much better stamina than Zhu Zhuqing. Dai Mubai had also helped him carry the load for a distance, so his condition was naturally much better.

Of course, Ma Hongjun had also reached his limit at this time. He joined Tang San and Oscar, and the three of them supported each other as they walked forward step by step.

If it were a person being punished, someone with the stamina of Ning Rongrong or Oscar would probably have given up long ago.

But the punishment was for seven people, and through mutual support and help, their inner determination had already been ignited.

The scenery before them was blurred, and they could vaguely see the end point. Their bodies were now only able to move forward by sheer willpower.

Tang San carried heavy stones on his back, supporting Ma Hongjun and Oscar with both hands to help them bear part of his weight. Although he couldn't use his soul power, the resilience of the Mysterious Heaven Skill itself had gradually come into play under the strain of his body; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to persevere this long.

Dai Mubai's waist was already bent slightly from the weight, and his evil eyes had turned somewhat red. Every step he took felt like a thousand pounds of weight were pressing down on him.

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...

The seven people collapsed one after another, with Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Ma Hongjun fainting at almost the same time.

(End of this chapter)