At this moment, the few people in front of Qi Xiao and his team were discussing in low voices.
“Tsk, I thought they were so amazing.”
“So they just sprinted at the beginning and ran out of steam.”
“I knew it, how could a little kid outrun us?”
“That Zi Lao Tou from the purple team, though, I didn't expect him to pick up the pace in the latter half and actually finish the ten kilometers first.”
“Hmm, that person is indeed worth paying attention to. I didn't expect that old man to be quite formidable…”
…
Qi Xiao led Lao Liu and Xi Jian in post-run stretches, waiting for the remaining people to finish their warm-up.
“Chief, why did we slow down later?”
Qi Xiao patted Lao Liu’s head, “I was afraid you’d get tired.”
“But I’m not tired, Chief, I don’t feel anything at all!”
“Then later, you run as hard as you can and leave them all behind.”
“Okay, Chief! I promise!”
Qi Xiao smiled. Since there were no rewards for ranking high, why bother trying so hard?
The real competition hadn't even begun, so there was no need to show off.
Being targeted now wouldn't do them any good.
Just like that Zi Lao Tou, some people were already wary of him.
“I can’t do it, I can’t do it. Let me rest for a bit.”
Xi Jian complained repeatedly, sitting on the grass after only a few stretches, unwilling to get up.
“If you don’t stretch after running, your calves will get thicker.”
“Ah?”
“Then I guess I’ll stretch.”
However, Qi Xiao was still noticed, and the reason was the two women beside him.
Xi Jian and Li Huizi were the youngest and most beautiful women present.
Many men’s gazes were fixed on them.
“Look at that kid, his face is so pale, he’s clearly kidney deficient! And he’s still got two sisters with him on the Train.”
“Yeah, especially the one with the ponytail, she’s truly a slender branch bearing bountiful fruit, her figure is simply perfect!”
“No, that kind clearly looks like technology. I like the one with the hime cut, she looks all-natural, she’s simply the girl of my dreams!”
“It’s truly infuriating to compare people; I really don’t know what these women are thinking, why they all like these pretty boys.”
“That pretty boy is really getting a good deal, ugh.”
“If I met her somewhere else, I’d just cast a lust charm immediately!”
“Too bad, in this damned place, no abilities or items can be used, it’s so damn unfair!”
Although they were jealous, since they had all been “degraded” to ordinary people, they only dared to trash talk and grumble from a distance.
If they did something to anger the one above, the consequences were not something they could bear.
…
Finally, the last few people also completed their warm-up.
Yao Yao kept her word; she took one carriage each from the last five boys and the last three girls.
At the same time, Qi Xiao and his team also discovered a pattern.
Yao Yao would at least leave one initial carriage for the Train.
If some people's Train only had one initial carriage, Yao Yao would choose other carriages.
If there was more than one initial carriage, she would prioritize taking the initial carriage.
Therefore, Yao Yao's priority for taking carriages was: initial carriages, then modified special carriages, and finally, ordinary carriages.
There was a higher rule restraining her, forcing her to leave at least one initial carriage for each Train.
Indeed, losing the last initial carriage was no different from losing the entire Train.
Compared to the initial carriage, the Train head seemed more like a mere decoration, its only purpose being to start the Train.
“My beloved Aikin carriage, how can I live without you!”
“You old hag, couldn’t you run faster! You made me lose a carriage, damn it!”
“Good, good, it’s just an ordinary carriage.”
“Brother, wasn’t that carriage your bedroom?”
“Damn it, my dolls are still inside!”
Those whose carriages were taken all complained endlessly.
“If you can’t even warm up properly, you’re not fit to participate in the following competition.”
With that, Yao Yao pointed her small hand, and the sportswear on these eight people disappeared, replaced by their original clothes.
As their competition qualifications were revoked, these people were sent back to their respective Trains.
At this point, there were sixteen boys left and eight girls, including one Gender-Swapped Brother.
Everyone truly realized that they were facing a capricious little devil.
“Still so many people left…”
Yao Yao yawned, looking listless.
Really, she always got sleepy after eating her fill.
Today’s competition events were so boring, it would be better if they ended quickly.
Thinking of this, her eyes lit up.
“Cough cough cough, pay attention, look at me!”
“Since the warm-up is over, we will now begin the official competition!”
“Hmm, our first event is… a 1600-meter relay race!”
“I’ll give you three minutes to form teams. If a team isn’t formed by then, it will be considered a forfeit!”
“Start now!”
With that, Yao Yao sat down in the air again, crossing her legs, looking very comfortable.
Everyone was stunned.
Completely different from the competition they had imagined, it started with a team battle!
There were twenty-four people present, just enough to form six teams.
But the problem was, some people would inevitably have to team up with people from other Trains.
Because their original fellow Train members were not enough for four people.
Qi Xiao, of course, did not have this problem; their four people were just right for one team.
The pure-blooded Red Team.
Qi Xiao was very satisfied with this event.
Because it could make up for Xi Jian’s weakness.
Soon, six teams were formed.
Even if some people were unwilling to team up with others, there was nothing they could do.
Not forming a team would be considered a forfeit, and forfeiting would mean having all carriages taken away.
Even if they lost by teaming up, it was better than forfeiting.
“Very good, come, tell me loudly, what are your team names!”
“Ah? We need team names?”
“What, did I not say so just now? Without a team name, how can you show your unity? How can you demonstrate your drive!”
So, all the teams quickly began to come up with team names.
“Chief, what should our team name be?”
Lao Liu turned to look at Qi Xiao.
“Let’s use your name as the team name,” Qi Xiao patted Lao Liu’s shoulder, “You need to cheer up later.”
The Chief is using my name as the team name!
Lao Liu felt immense joy and pride, raising his hand and saying:
“Sister Yao, Sister Yao, our team name is Team Lao Liu!”
As Lao Liu proudly shouted out the team name, everyone turned to look.
Their eyes carried a hint of disdain.
Lao Liu obviously didn't notice this and was still happy that Qi Xiao used his name for the team name.
Besides Qi Xiao's pure-blooded Red Team, there were also two pure-blooded Yellow Teams.
One was called Team Tianba, and the other was called Team Diba.
Especially Team Tianba, which consisted of the four fastest people wearing yellow sportswear.
In the warm-up session just now, these four people all ranked higher than Qi Xiao and Lao Liu.
Their captain, who was also the Train Conductor of their Yellow Team, even ranked second.
As for the Zi Lao Tou from the first-place team, the “Give Me Back My Dong Dong” team, the Gender-Swapped Brother’s strength was not to be underestimated either.
Despite being delayed for so long, he still ranked second among the girls, only behind Li Huizi.
As for the remaining two teams, they had no particular characteristics.