The production team brought the four matched couples to the edge of a giant mud pit.
The pit was huge—roughly square-shaped, over fifty meters wide in both length and breadth. The sludge inside was pitch black and murky, with thick, muddy water. The surrounding banks were smooth and slick, clearly worn from frequent use.
“This is where our soldiers usually train for hand-to-hand combat,” the staff explained. “Today’s challenge is simple: one person from each couple will enter the mud pit. We’ve placed two balls on the far end. Whoever gets across, retrieves both balls, and makes it back to the starting line first, wins.”
He pointed to where everyone was currently standing. “Only two couples will win the special dating prize for tomorrow, so give it your best! You now have five minutes to decide who’s going in.”
The moment the girls saw the mud, they all wrinkled their noses in disgust—including Mu Fu. The water looked filthy. Who knew what had accumulated in there over the years? While nothing dangerous was lurking inside, the thought of mosquito larvae and other squirmy, slimy things sent a chill down her spine.
Just imagining those long, wiggling little creatures made her shudder.
“Wen Shu… I don’t want to go in. I’m scared…”
She clung to his sleeve with both hands, voice trembling slightly, her eyes full of fear and trust. The soft, dependent look she gave him tugged at something deep inside him—triggering not just emotion, but fierce protectiveness.
Wen Shu’s heart began to race—and something else stirred too. His gaze darkened, and for a long moment, he couldn’t speak.
Mu Fu looked up at him, worried. “Can I really not go?”
“You don’t have to,” he finally said, his voice low and hoarse. “I’ll go. Just cheer me on from here.” Even if she hadn’t said a word, Wen Shu had no intention of letting her go in.
Mu Fu beamed. “Then I’ll cheer extra loud for you!”
Wen Shu’s gaze grew even deeper.
The other three couples also decided the guys would go in.
After confirming the list, the staff asked the female guests to step to the far side of the starting point. The male guests got into position. Once everyone was ready, the whistle blew.
There was no time limit. The first man to bring back the balls would win the challenge.
This wasn’t just some random mud game, it would determine the supplies they’d get for tomorrow’s date.
Tomorrow, the production team would take the couples to the outskirts of a dense, undeveloped forest near Jiang City. Each couple would be sent to a different area for a wilderness survival challenge. Besides basic necessities—clothing, skincare, and medication—nothing else would be allowed. Not even food.
Once they arrived, how well they survived over the next three days would depend entirely on their resourcefulness and teamwork.
There was a bigger purpose behind this too. By placing the dates in a military forest zone, the program aimed to spotlight the strength and discipline of Jiang City’s military units. It was a campaign to encourage young, capable individuals to consider enlisting—and to show single women across the country that Jiang City’s soldiers were not only reliable but more than capable of protecting the people they love.
The edge of the forest had already been carefully scouted by professionals. Any animals that posed a real threat to the contestants had been removed. Each couple would be followed by two camerapeople, and additional surveillance cameras would be installed near their chosen campsites.
On top of that, visible cameras had been placed throughout the designated area. As long as they stayed within the safe zone and avoided wandering deep into the woods, their safety would be guaranteed.
The show had also stationed medical staff and survival experts nearby, ready to intervene the moment something went wrong.
And don’t worry—no one would be starving out there. The team had arranged for safe-to-eat animals to be released into the area at set times, lowering the difficulty just enough to make survival challenging but not impossible.
Contestants would need to find their own sources of water and gather what food they could. As for the coveted Deluxe Date Survival Kit, it would include: a machete, a Swiss Army knife, a lighter and matches, a tent, a whistle, compressed biscuits, a small bottle of water, basic first aid, a small metal pot, and two stainless steel lunchboxes.
Those who didn’t win the kit would only be allowed to bring basic clothing, toiletries, and medicine—plus just five survival items of their choice from a limited selection.
The winners, however, would get both the kit and the chance to pick five additional items—just like the others.
So yes—this mud pit challenge was more than just messy fun. It was critical. But none of the contestants had any idea.
Mu Fu knew what was at stake—but she wouldn’t push. Everything now depended on how well the guys performed in the mud pit.
Because they’d be getting down and dirty, the men had changed into their camo training shirts—easier to move in. At the whistle, all four of them sprinted forward. Wen Shu was the fastest, followed closely by Pang Chuan. Bian Jincheng lagged behind.
Midway through the run, Fang Yuhang made a sudden move—he grabbed Pang Chuan from behind, trying to pull him down. Pang Chuan fought back, but the mud was too slippery. In the struggle, both of them lost their balance and crashed into the pit, completely soaked in mud.
Bian Jincheng seized the opportunity and surged forward. Seeing this, Fang Yuhang quickly scrambled back up and gave chase. He wasn’t about to clear the way for someone else to win.
Though he managed to catch up with the two in front, he couldn’t beat their speed. In the end, it was Wen Shu and Bian Jincheng who each got hold of one of the two yellow balls. They clutched them tightly, not daring to let go for even a second.
At that point, Pang Chuan and Fang Yuhang decided to team up—they went after the two ball-holders together, blocking their escape. What followed was a messy, full-on standoff. Every time one side moved, the other adjusted instantly. The tension on the field was building fast.
The female guests on the sidelines were shouting themselves hoarse. It was clear just how intense the competition had become. Everyone desperately wanted their guy to win.
Then came a turning point. Wen Shu and Bian Jincheng locked eyes—a quick glance, a silent agreement. In unison, they suddenly broke in opposite directions, splitting up their pursuers.
Now it was a race—pure speed would decide everything.
Mu Fu’s heart shot into her throat as she watched Pang Chuan gaining on Wen Shu. Her eyes were glued to the two of them, voice hoarse from yelling encouragement.
In the nick of time, just before Pang Chuan could grab him, Wen Shu lunged forward and pulled himself onto the bank.
He’d made it. Getting out of the mud counted as a win.
Bian Jincheng, however, wasn’t as lucky.
Fang Yuhang had already worked out the plan with Pang Chuan—he’d go after Bian Jincheng from the start. That was the deal: if he helped block the ball holders, he’d get first dibs on stealing from Bian Jincheng.
He knew he couldn’t outrun Pang Chuan, let alone Wen Shu—but Bian Jincheng? That was different.
Bian Jincheng was a tech guy. He didn’t train as hard, didn’t have as much stamina. Fang Yuhang’s odds of catching him? Pretty damn high.
As expected, Fang Yuhang managed to wrestle the ball out of Bian Jincheng’s arms. And just like that, the ball challenge came to an end—with Wen Shu and Fang Yuhang declared the winners of their respective teams.
Once the men had washed off all the mud, the production crew called everyone over, including those who hadn’t made it into pairs.
“The challenge is officially over,” one staff member announced. “Congratulations to the two winning teams: Wen Shu’s and Fang Yuhang’s!”
He waited for the applause to settle before continuing. “Now, it’s time to reveal your next destination. Congratulations to the four couples of Military Encounter! You’ve all earned a three-day forest getaway. You’ll each spend the next three days in a different part of the forest near Jiang City. After that, we’ll come pick you up.”
Everyone: “!!!”
No one had expected the production team to choose a forest for the next date location!
Pang Chuan immediately raised a hand. “How much are we allowed to bring?” He might have a rough reputation, but he wasn’t clueless—there was no way the show was going to let them pack freely.
The staff member chuckled. “You’ll be allowed to bring a few pieces of clothing, basic medicine, and personal hygiene items. Tomorrow, before departure, you’ll each be allowed to choose five items from what we provide.”
After that, the staff gave a detailed explanation about safety measures.
The male guests weren’t really worried about themselves—they’d all been through survival training in wild terrain. Three days in the woods? No problem. Especially since they’d only be staying around the outer edge of the forest—it wouldn’t be too extreme.
But the women? That was a different story. They didn’t have that kind of training or experience.
Wen Shu frowned, his gaze drifting to the girl beside him, who was clearly nervous, fear written all over her face. He lowered his head and said softly, “Don’t worry—I’ll protect you.”
Honestly, he hadn’t expected a three-day wilderness survival trip to be part of the show. If this had happened earlier on, he probably would’ve seen it as a great opportunity—for Mu Fu to realize just how tough this whole experience could be and possibly back out.
But now… things were complicated. Wen Shu couldn’t deny it anymore—his feelings for Mu Fu had changed. He didn’t want her to go into that forest. She was delicate, gentle… what if something happened to her out there?
The worry in his chest wouldn’t quiet down. But he also knew there was no backing out. This part of the show wasn’t negotiable. All he could do was stay close and keep her safe.
“I believe in you,” Mu Fu said with a soft smile, nodding sweetly. Her eyes shone with trust—the kind that didn’t ask for proof, just presence.
Something stirred in Wen Shu’s heart. It felt like warmth filling a space he hadn’t realized was empty. His throat moved slightly, lips parting as if he were about to speak… but he said nothing in the end.
Seeing that no one had further questions, the staff returned to the day’s final announcement: the special “date survival pack.”
Now that everyone knew where tomorrow’s trip would be, most had guessed what the big prize was. Sure enough—it was survival gear.
Pang Chuan and Bian Jincheng both gave Wen Shu and Fang Yuhang a playful punch on the arm, a little jealous but still smiling.
As the meeting ended, Bian Jincheng glanced over at Mu Fu, his thoughts drifting. At least with that survival pack, she’d be a little more comfortable out there. That was good. For the first time all day, his shoulders eased just a little.
But the woman beside him, Bai Tingting, didn’t seem to notice. She was still lost in her own nervous thoughts, unsure of what tomorrow would bring.
Axolotl Translations 
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