Walking Together

"Xie-ge is right." The burly man, a full head taller than most, hung his head low, not daring to utter a word in rebuttal.

"Starting tomorrow, double your training."

"Yes."

In the past, whenever one of their teammates got hit with double training, the others would inevitably crack a few jokes at their expense.

But today, they found nothing to laugh about.

Because they were next.

None of them would escape.

One after another, they stepped up, and one after another, Tu Ran took them down.

Hardly anyone could last more than ten exchanges under her onslaught.

After all, Tu Ran's current level was only a hair's breadth behind Xie Xu's.

Needless to say, everyone present today was ordered to double their training volume.

Each of them wore a sour expression, huddling in the corner, glaring at Tu Ran with deep resentment as she packed up her backpack.

Tu Ran leisurely pulled up her hood, then put on a mask and sunglasses, wrapping her face snugly.

"Later, bros!" Tu Ran grabbed her backpack, slung it over one shoulder, and waved grandly at the people in the corner.

No one responded.

They all wished she'd leave quickly.

The farther, the better.

Ever since she'd started training here, they hadn't known a single good day.

Tu Ran shrugged, unconcerned.

Slinging her backpack, she left through the stairwell.

She opened the mechanism, stepped out of the cramped storage room into the clinic, where Xiao Jiu was sitting at the computer desk.

"You're up," he said, jumping down from the desk and giving her a thorough once-over.

"Mm." Tu Ran nodded, her gaze sweeping over the other people in the clinic.

She noticed the mechanical head was there too.

She was still curious whether he was human or robot.

"Looks like you're not hurt today." Xiao Jiu observed that her gait was normal and her voice strong, and made his judgment.

"Mm, no." Tu Ran smiled.

Xiao Jiu's gaze suddenly shifted to behind her, and Tu Ran also heard footsteps approaching.

"Oh, Xie-ge, you're up too?" Xiao Jiu's surprise abruptly turned into an exclamation. "Xie-ge, what happened to your face?"

Tu Ran turned to look, just as Xie Xu gave her a cold stare.

Tu Ran smiled, embarrassed.

Xiao Jiu immediately understood what had happened. He gave Tu Ran a complicated look, then turned his concerned gaze back to Xie Xu. "Xie-ge, let me bandage it for you."

"No need," Xie Xu said, pulling his cap lower. "I have a meeting in a bit. No time."

"Then go ahead, Xie-ge," Xiao Jiu said.

Xie Xu strode toward the exit, head lowered, zipping up his jacket to cover his face.

Tu Ran followed behind him. "You're heading back to the Administrative Building, right? Then we're going the same way."

Xie Xu ignored her, walking swiftly.

Tu Ran was used to it and simply trailed after him.

It was evening now, and the Black Market was bustling.

The flow of people was even denser than when Tu Ran had arrived.

Shops on both sides had their lights on, and their signs glowed in a riot of colors. Everyone tried to make their storefronts stand out, so the walls were covered in neon lights.

The entire street was brilliantly lit.

Compared to the drab, gray streets of the daytime, the street at this hour was undeniably charming.

The two had been walking one in front of the other, but the crowd gradually pushed them closer until they ended up side by side.

Suddenly, a scantily clad woman blocked their path ahead.

Her features were seductive, and her voice was even more alluring. "Handsome gentlemen, care to come in and have some fun?"

Tu Ran was tall for a woman, and dressed in androgynous clothes, so she'd mistaken her for a man.