Hei Fengqi training is very grueling.
"Do you see that?" the National Master said with a flick of his hand.
Gu Jiao followed the gesture and saw a horse trainer commanding two foals to charge at the fire bridge on the training ground.
They had to dash through the great flames burning fiercely on both sides.
The bridge was also the unsteady kind.
Startled by the fire, one of the foals stood still amidst the flames, crying piteously.
The National Master said, "What you’re seeing is just the tip of the iceberg. The training intensity for the foals within the first year is quite low and relatively safe."
Gu Jiao muttered, "This is called safe?"
The National Master didn’t respond, but motioned for Gu Jiao to look elsewhere.
That was where the adult members of Hei Fengqi were also crossing the fire bridge.
The blaze was bigger, fiercer; not only were the sides along the path burning, but flames had also erupted at both ends of the bridge.
The Hei Fengqi had to charge into the inferno without hesitation.
Not only did Hei Fengqi have to overcome their fear of the great fire, withstand the scorching heat, but they also had to hold their breath to avoid inhaling toxic gases.
Hei Fengqi took protective measures. As long as they were fast enough, they wouldn’t get burnt.
But this was the principle. In practice, there were often unforeseen incidents.
The National Master spoke again, "The first item in the assessment is to cross the fire bridge."
It took Gu Jiao a while to realize that the assessment he was referring to was the one for the command of Hei Fengqi.
Are you giving me a head start on the questions?
The National Master continued to lead Gu Jiao forward, "In the National Master Hall, there isn’t a single horse that can cross it."
Fear of fire is an animal’s instinct; only those horses specially trained can temporarily overcome their innate fear.
Clearly, the horses of the National Master Hall weren’t required to have such training.
There was a loud bang, as if something had exploded.
Gu Jiao turned towards the sound and saw that it was another group of Hei Fengqi undergoing explosive training.
They had to maintain an unflustered formation under the threat of explosions.
Newly arrived horses, frightened, were scattering in all directions, creating chaos at the scene.
The National Master pointed and said, "These horses have been in training since they were three months old, but look, even they are frightened like this."
Gu Jiao asked oddly, "...The second item in the assessment isn’t blast training, is it?"
The National Master neither confirmed nor denied it.
It seemed that it was.
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