Chapter 199: Like a Princess

Ralia City

Lyca looked at her watch before looking at the line of people in front of her. Most of them were still pale, while the others like Ma Ping looked calm. Her eyes darted towards Yan Junqi who stood confident in front of the line. Next to her was the pale Gu Cheng.

"The first one who arrived is Two-three?" she asked as she looked at Yan Junqi. This was really enough to surprise her. She looked at the woman whose face was really serious. "Congratulations. You will still have a tent for tonight. Who were the next two?" Another two people raised their hand from the back of the line. "You will have a tent too. As for the other… you can sleep on your sleeping bag outside of the tent." Lyca smiled. "Now… to the real mission." She didn't miss the change in everyone's expression when she emphasizes the word, 'REAL'. "Two Three… come with me." She gestured for the woman to follow her to one of the tables that were far enough from the people on the line.

Without saying anything, Yan Junqi followed Lyca. Of course, Lyca had noticed the woman's changes. "Is there something wrong?"

"No ma'am."

Lyca nodded. Yan Junqi should be Gu Cheng's lover but she actually arrived first, while her boyfriend arrived more than thirty minutes later. "I was expecting that you would arrive with Fifteen."

"No ma'am." Yan Junqi lowered her head, avoiding Lyca's gaze. "I am already rethinking about our relationship."

"…" Rethinking? What's that supposed to mean? Lyca's gossiping cells started boiling, but she had to stop the urge to ask the woman more questions. After all, this was no longer her business. "Hmmm. I understand. Now… tell me about the first stratagems that you read earlier."

For a few seconds, she turned silent before she answered. "Fool the sky to cross the sea." She uttered before she held her head high and stared straight into Lyca's face. "Fool your enemy. Do one thing while keeping your real goal a secret."

"Give me an example," Lyca said, and without any hesitation, Yan Junqi added.

"Appear nonthreatening to make your enemy think that you are weak. This will make them create a false sense of security. Then you strike and defeat them."

Lyca smiled before she took a sip of her tea— rather the tea that Shen Qui made for her. Speaking of that man… Lyca turned her head towards the tent where Shen Qui was having a video conference with some of his people including Ronan. She shook the thoughts out of her head and turned towards Yan Junqi again. "I change my mind." She said. "I want to know why you are reconsidering your relationship with Gu Cheng?" Isn't it better to ask her now than hear another gossip from 

Her direct question came as a surprise to Yan Junqi. For a few seconds, she just stood there and looked at Lyca. "Because… he keeps on underestimating me." Yan Junqi answered after a few seconds of silence. "The first instance was during the run. I told him that I can do it. But he keeps on making sure that I won't trip like a baby. The second time was today, he gave me his breakfast. The one that other people gave him. He keeps on treating me as if I am not able. I can find my own food. I can find my own water, and I can run faster than him. He might be smarter, but that doesn't mean he should treat me like a princess all the time."

"…" A woman who doesn't want to be treated like a princess. "I understand. You can leave. Don't tell anyone about what I asked you. You can do whatever you want until bedtime. You can also remove your weights." Lyca smiled. She totally underestimated Yan Junqi and thought that the reason why she passed the first test was because of her lover. On the outside, Yan Junqi looked really weak and meek who would have thought she would have that kind of notion?

Ah… her mistake was underestimating Yan Junqi. Lyca immediately decided to pay more attention to the others too. After Lyca talked to Yan Junqi, she immediately started asking questions to the others, and surprisingly, all of them were able to explain the stratagems. They were able to give examples. The thing was, almost all of them were about to faint from too much exhaustion and they were only trying to keep themselves awake because they were afraid that Lyca would punish them if they sleep or even collapse.

After everyone was cleared, Lyca told them that they can do whatever they want. Of course, not one of them left the camp. Not even the people who really wanted to take a bath since last night dared to leave the camp. This wasn't intentional though.

This was because of Lyca's additional weights. The group never thought that running in a steep mountain with an extra twenty kilograms is such a difficult task. Of course, this was the least of Lyca's concern right now.

"So… you are leaving us with them?" Cleo and Rui almost said at the same time when Lyca told them that she and her husband would leave for a few days. "And you wanted us to continue training them like this?"

"I already gave Hogan the complete lists of training for everyone this will include the goal of each training and which people he should look out for," Lyca said sternly. After she finished today's exercises, she received a very important call from Lai Su about the bullet that they wanted to create. Because of this, she immediately decided to leave the camp. Of course, she can only do this because of Hogan and the two other girls. 

"Why can't you take me? I thought I'm your assistant?" Cleo said. "I thought assistants needed to be with their boss all the time."

"Exactly… you are with Xi all the time." Shen Qui uttered. "You will be associated with everything that she does in the future. People will recognize you as her assistant."

Cleo looked at Shen Qui, confused.

"They are not going to use that identity, dummy." Rue calmly elbowed her. If people will recognize Cleo then it would be easy for them to guess who was Lyca or the alias that she would use in this transaction.

"Oh. That's right." Cleo gave a wry smile before she beamed. "Alright then… please trust us. We will produce the best of the best. When you come back… expect a very good development. I will help you straightened out these people's personalities."

"Stop promising things that are so difficult to do," Rue said before rolling her eyes. Then she looked at Lyca. "You sure you don't need my assistance?"

"No. Thank you. I can handle it." There was a different glint in Lyca's eyes as she smiled at the two women. Then without any hesitation, she left the camp with Shen Qui. They needed to pack some stuff for Lyca and Mr. Lai so they can leave for a couple of days.

Their destination? Is obviously, Long City.