Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Yan Liqiang stood on the high platform. After the disqualified candidates left the venue, the entire training field immediately fell silent. It was then that Yan Liqiang lifted the big horn in hand and spoke again.

“Very good. Now all of you understand what it means to act only on command. Laziness and negligence in this archery academy come with a price to pay. This is neither a market that will allow you to bargain nor an ordinary dojo that serves you after you enroll with a sum of money. For the disciples from Pingxi Prefecture, you won’t be required to pay any fees and you will be allowed to stay and study here for free. However, my only requirement for you is to obey every command. The management of this archery academy will be extremely strict, even more so than an army camp. All of you may treat this as getting enlisted in the army. You’ll be staying here from now on and won’t be allowed to leave this place easily, that means you won’t be returning home every year. Therefore, those who expect to lead a relaxing life in this archery academy and learn something before returning home may leave now. If you walk out of this training field on your accord, no one will laugh at you. Such expectations will crush you in the long run. Even if you manage to pass the exam today and join the archery academy, you won’t be able to make it through the harsh training that the archery academy will be putting you through and you will ultimately be expelled in just the matter of a few days. Therefore, you might as well leave now to save your own dignity!”

Yan Liqiang paused after he finished speaking, because there were actually some people standing in the training field who were intimidated by his words after reconsideration. They left the training field on their own accord, and were then escorted out of the archery academy by the people Shi Dafeng and Shen Teng had arranged.

“For those who decided to stay behind, do not rejoice yet as most of you will fail the exam and be eliminated today. There are more than ten thousand people standing here today, but probably only one-fifth of you will make it. For those who fail the exam, do not be discouraged. If you still wish to join the academy, we’ll still be recruiting next year. By then, you can come and try your luck again. For those who manage to join the archery academy, do not rejoice yet either. As I have previously mentioned, you are not here to enjoy your life but to be prepared for hardships. It takes sweat and blood to learn the necessary skills and become the best of the best. If you cannot bear the hardships when you are in the academy, you will still be expelled. Understand?”

“Understood!”

“Louder! Understand?!”

“UNDERSTOOD!” Ten thousand people in the training field shouted in unison.

“Good, I shall explain to you about the recruitment exam now!” A strange smile appeared on Yan Liqiang’s face. “Take a good look at the green-colored bricks under your feet. We’ll be playing a game called ‘We’re All Dummies’ in a moment. When I yell ‘one, two, three, start’ later, all of you will stand on the brick and imagine you are a tree. Apart from blinking and breathing, you are not allowed to move or speak under any circumstances. You are to mimic how a tree roots itself into the ground. Any slight movement will get you disqualified. Understand?”

“Understood!”

The ‘game rules’ Yan Liqiang explained were very simple. Everyone understood as soon as he finished speaking.

“Since everyone is able to understand, then get ready. One, two, three, start…!”

As soon as Yan Liqiang yelled ‘start’, the training field fell into absolute silence. Everyone stood still on the green bricks with their arms by their sides. Yan Liqiang came down from the high platform. Along with Shen Teng and Shi Dafeng, they led two groups of veterans to inspect the training field.

Just a few minutes later, one of the youths on the training field couldn’t help but scratch his leg. Yan Liqiang pointed at him and made two hand gestures. One of the old veterans saw his gestures and immediately walked over to escort the youth away.

As time passed, more people had to leave after being caught for slight movements, and less remained standing in the training field. Even so, many gritted their teeth and persevered. As the sun rose higher into the sky, beads of sweat started to form on the youthful faces. They rolled down their foreheads to their cheeks before dripping onto the ground.

By noon, the temperature began to rise. The youths in the field were famished and thirsty. Just then, a group of servants from the Yan Residence appeared on the training field. Under everyone’s gaze, they started setting up tables around the field and laying the dishes they brought here on the tables.

Moo shu pork, red braised pork meatballs, salt and pepper chicken, pork kidney slices, braised beef briskets with potatoes, salted duck gizzards, salt and pepper pork chops, smoked fish, vinegar cabbage, scrambled eggs with chives, sauteed tofu, shredded chicken, and stinky tofu with capsicums…

One couldn’t deny the fact that the chefs from the Yan Residence were highly skilled. The moment the dishes were served, their aroma filled the air in the training field.

Just the aroma itself alone caused some people to turn their head around. The moment they moved, they were pulled out by the veterans patrolling around the field and were disqualified.

“Is… Is this really alright?” Sitting on the table, Shen Teng couldn’t help but scratch his head and asked when he saw the scrumptious meal laid on the table.

Yan Liqiang sat on the table at the high platform. Under countless gazes, he picked up a piece of pork chop with his chopsticks and took a bite. Grease instantly oozed out in his mouth. “Don’t worry. If they can’t even withstand such a small test, they don’t qualify to be part of the archery academy. Let’s enjoy the meal!”

Shi Changfeng picked up a slice of pork kidney and put it into his mouth. “Oh, the chefs in your residence are indeed skillful!”

“Let’s just eat in peace. There are more events after this!” Shi Dafeng chuckled mischievously and picked up his chopsticks too.

Shen Teng smiled wryly at the thought of Yan Liqiang’s subsequent plans, then began eating too.

The moment they started eating, a few young men stormed out of the training field on their own accord, choosing not to participate in the exam any longer.

“Ah, some people just left on their own…” Shen Teng said.

“Let them go.” Yan Liqiang calmly picked up a piece of beef. “I mentioned earlier that they’re not here to be spoiled in the archery academy. They want to learn some skills here yet cannot even stand the sight of their masters eating while they are starving. We do not tolerate those who cannot bear to see others enjoying while they are suffering!”

The exam Yan Liqiang designed might seem simple, yet it put the stamina, willpower, and patience of these young men to the test. If there were fewer candidates, Yan Liqiang naturally had other ways to test them. Since there were too many of them, this was the cheapest and most effective screening method.

By the time they were done with lunch, the sun was hanging high above their heads like a scorching fireball. The cicadas on the trees at the sides of the training field started chirping in harmony. The vapor coming from the ground turned the training field into a huge steam basket under the sun. The youths on the training field had persevered for over five hours. Their backs were drenched in sweat, their mouths were dry, they were seeing stars before their eyes and were zoning out. Some were even on the verge of collapsing. By now, only less than half of the initial ten thousand people remained…

Then, someone finally collapsed!

However, Yan Liqiang was well-prepared for such a scenario. When he saw the youth collapse, he waved and someone immediately went over to carry the youth into a house at the side of the training field. He was stripped of his clothing, then fed with medicine to replenish his Qi and cool down his body.

It was almost time!

Yan Liqiang cast a glance at Shi Changfeng, then nodded. The latter seemed to understand his intention and led the two groups of veterans away.

A few minutes later, the two groups of veterans reappeared on the edge of the training field, holding a few large bamboo baskets. They entered the crowd, then dumped the content in the bamboo baskets on the ground.

“ARGH, SNAKES!! SNAKES…!!!” The youths standing in the training field immediately jumped up in fright.

“AHHH, RATS!! RATS…!” Someone else shouted.

Big piles of colorful snakes were dumped on the ground and they looked extremely venomous. The moment they were emptied out of the bamboo baskets and were exposed to the sun, they were grilled by the heat from the ground. They immediately writhed in pain and then scattered in all directions, instantly shattering the calm of the training field and caused many to scream in fear while jumping out of the way.

The rats that were poured out of the bamboo baskets also scattered in all directions as soon as they landed on the ground, scurrying all around the training field.

Despite the chaos, many clenched their teeth and remained standing firmly on the spot. Yan Liqiang’s gaze fell on the youths who were still standing in the same spot, motionless like logs and boulders, unaffected by the chaos around them. A small smile finally appeared on his face…