"Take the main road." Without hesitation, Su Tang turned around and left the tempting side path behind.
This time, Wang Xiaoya and Chen Xiaocao didn't hesitate at all and immediately followed closely.
Liu Landi's analysis acted as a reassurance, completely dispelling their panic and wishful thinking.
The four of them started running again, continuing along the wide dirt road that looked distant and long.
At this very moment, those who rushed into the alley were already reaping the bitter fruits of their actions.
Just as Liu Landi had predicted, the woods were dimly lit and the roads were muddy.
The first few steps were alright, but the further you went in, the deeper the black mud became, with the deepest parts even reaching above your ankles.
The sticky black mud seemed to be alive, clinging tightly to their liberation shoes. Each time they pulled their feet out, it took a tremendous amount of effort, several times more tiring than running on flat ground.
"Damn it! We've been tricked! This isn't a shortcut, it's a mud pit!" A male soldier stepped into thin air, and half of his leg sank in. He cursed as he struggled to pull his leg out.
"My shoe! My shoe is stuck! Someone help me out!" A female soldier screamed in despair. Her shoe was swallowed by the mud, and she was standing barefoot in the cold mud, dirty and cold, on the verge of tears.
"Get out of my way! Get out of my way!"
"It's all your fault! Where's that bastard who was just telling us to take the shortcut?"
Cries of pain, curses, and arguments rose and fell in the woods. The group, which had just been united by the idea of "taking a shortcut," was instantly thrown into chaos.
Zhao Yan's face was ashen, like the bottom of a pot.
She relied on her strength to wade through the mud, but Sun Erniu and Zhou Zhihui, who followed behind her, were in a sorry state.
Sun Erniu was tall and big, and she was a big target. She was covered in black mud, looking like a mud monkey that had just been pulled out of a mud pit.
Zhou Zhihui was even thinner and smaller, and almost slipped several times, only to be pulled back by Sun Erniu.
Their once overwhelming advantage has been completely wiped out in this quagmire.
"Sister Yanzi, have we...have we been tricked?" Zhou Zhihui gasped for breath, her voice tinged with regret. She had always prided herself on her intelligence, but this time she had made a huge mistake.
"Shut up!" Zhao Yan shouted irritably. "What's the point of saying all this now! Let's get going! I refuse to believe that those losers can outrun us!"
She was seething with anger, especially when she thought of Su An's calm and collected face; it made her furious. She had to win! She absolutely had to win!
Meanwhile, Qiao Lin's situation was even worse.
Already weak from hunger, struggling in the mud only exhausted her strength. Her stomach felt like it was on fire, making her nauseous and her vision began to blur.
Taking advantage of the chaos, she hid behind a big tree and eagerly pulled out a handful of mulberries, which she regarded as her lifeline, from the pocket of her training uniform.
She didn't care about cleanliness anymore and wolfed down a handful of food.
The fruit had a sweet and sour taste with a strange astringency; the moment it entered her mouth, her tongue even felt a little numb, but for her, who was starving, it was an unparalleled delicacy. The cool juice slid down her throat, bringing a touch of comfort to her empty stomach.
She nervously looked around and found that no one was paying attention to her. Li Yue and Zhang Man were struggling with mud not far ahead, and she felt a surge of relief.
After eating the fruit, she felt a surge of new energy within her, and her steps became lighter.
"Hmph, a bunch of idiots, all they know is brute force," Qiao Lin sneered inwardly. "This is called wisdom. Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Once I get first place, let's see who dares to laugh at me!"
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