019 College Students as Special Forces Tourists

Xiang Yuanyuan and Yang Chenguang didn't stay long before each went their separate ways. He returned to his room to sleep—he desperately needed rest. The climb up the mountain that morning had drained him, and the descent had been thrilling but exhausting. If he didn’t rest now, Du Ruo feared his energy and spirit would drop below eight points yet again.

But after just over an hour, Du Ruo got up.

“It seems that mountain running is still a bit too much for me right now. The effects are good, but it’s just too tiring.”

Getting out of bed, he felt even more exhausted than before he slept; his whole body ached, though his mind was clearer. Examining the various scratches on his arms and legs, Du Ruo thought for a moment, then put on a long-sleeved shirt and pants. All his clothes were lightweight and breathable, so while the outfit looked odd for summer, it wasn’t uncomfortably hot.

He ate at a small shop nearby, then headed for the inn’s front desk. Sitting in the lobby, enjoying the air conditioning and scrolling through his phone, he kept an eye on things—as the owner, and with Yang Ling just having taken over, he might be able to help if anything came up.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you all? We haven’t even started climbing and you’re already looking half-dead. I kept telling you to train with me and you never listened. Now look at you!”

Just as Du Ruo was sitting in the lobby, bored, a man pushed open the glass doors. He didn’t enter right away but stepped aside, ushering his companions in as he chattered on.

“Who says I can’t do it? I just get a little carsick, that’s all. It’s only little Huangshan—watch me conquer it tomorrow,” one of the group retorted as three men and two women entered. One of them looked pale but wouldn’t admit defeat; the others seemed sleep-deprived.

“You’re one to talk. If you hadn’t insisted on waiting for sunrise and practicing boxing on Yandang Mountain last night, we’d all be well-rested,” a girl shot back, rolling her eyes at the man who opened the door.

“Hello, are you the Xingyi Qiangzi group?” Yang Ling, seated at the front desk, interrupted the group’s banter, addressing the six newcomers.

“Yes, I’m Xingyi Qiangzi. We reserved rooms yesterday—we chatted online. Can we check in now?” The man—Qiangzi—stepped forward to register, with the rest of his group in tow.

Hearing the name Xingyi Qiangzi, Du Ruo couldn’t help but glance at the man a few more times.

Six people in all, all wearing sun-protection jackets, wide-brimmed hats, small backpacks, and carrying hiking poles. They looked young—college students or recent graduates.

“Xiao Ling, I’ll take them to their rooms,” Du Ruo said as two more guests arrived at the door. He walked over to the front desk, letting Yang Ling greet the newcomers.

“All right, boss. They’re in Villa 888. Please show them the way,” Yang Ling replied, turning to tell the young people to follow Du Ruo.

“You’re the owner here?” Qiangzi asked as they walked. The others seemed too tired to talk; one could barely keep their eyes open, trudging along mechanically. Only Qiangzi, full of energy, chatted eagerly and looked around with curiosity.

“Yeah. Are you all students? You all look a little…” Du Ruo smiled, keeping up the small talk as a good host should.

“It’s nothing—they just haven’t slept well. We’re students, taking advantage of a free week to challenge ourselves: three mountains in five days, together.”

“Lushan, Yandang, and Huangshan?”

“That’s right. We’ve already done the first two. We’ll rest a bit, wash up, then buy tickets this afternoon to climb Huangshan. We’ll hike through the night, catch the sunrise, and come down tomorrow morning. Then we’ll rest here before heading back to school in the afternoon,” Qiangzi explained.

“Tourism commandos?” Du Ruo’s scalp tingled—not out of admiration for their energy or ideas, but out of worry they might not make it back after climbing tonight. It wasn’t a joke; night hikes were risky and required full alertness. With only Qiangzi looking lively and the rest clearly exhausted, Du Ruo genuinely feared for their safety. Any accident would only bring trouble to his inn, but he didn’t know how to persuade them otherwise.

“Exactly, the latest trend—tourism commandos. Didn’t expect you to be in the know, boss. But you look a bit frail—how about training with me?” Qiangzi said, eyeing Du Ruo’s pale face and his long sleeves and pants in the summer heat, convinced the innkeeper must be weak. He puffed out his chest, trying to look strong.

“Martial arts training?”

“Yeah, martial arts! I practice Xingyi Boxing. Why not train with me? I guarantee you’ll be strong in no time. Look at me—several days of climbing and I’m still full of energy.”

“Xingyi Boxing?”

“What’s with that face, boss? Xingyi is awesome! Come on, let me teach you—free of charge. I paid six thousand for my lessons, you know,” Qiangzi boasted, flexing his biceps for emphasis.

Du Ruo could barely keep a straight face. He hadn’t expected a university student to offer to teach him martial arts, let alone Xingyi Boxing. Coughing awkwardly, he changed the subject. “Well, let’s put the boxing aside for now. I’m more concerned your friends won’t make it up the mountain tonight. It’s over ten degrees colder up there at night. Did you bring proper clothing?”

“It’s fine—nothing to worry about! Martial artists aren’t afraid of a bit of cold. My friends will be fine too. No need to worry, boss. They’re just carsick. After a nap, they’ll be raring to go,” Qiangzi said breezily. Then, still not giving up, he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to learn from me? I really won’t charge you.”

“No, no, I’m not fit for strenuous exercise lately. Here’s your room—go on in. If you need anything, just message the front desk,” Du Ruo replied. Judging by their attitude, these students wouldn’t listen to advice. University students these days were independent and stubborn; ordinary persuasion wouldn’t work. Having shown them to their room, he decided not to worry about them any further.

The villa was perfect for groups or large families, with three or four rooms. The regular guest rooms were singles, suitable for couples or small families, and the prices were quite reasonable. Even in the off-season, the inn had a good occupancy rate.