Smack!
With firm strides, Zheng Sanpao marched to the front of the new recruit formation. His sharp eyes locked onto the first soldier on the left.
“Give a smile!”
“Heh!”
The recruit, who had been grinning the whole ti, suddenly looked embarrassed and dropped his head.
“I said, smile!”
Zheng Sanpao patted him on the shoulder—not unkindly, but with unmistakable authority.
“Step forward!”
Tap! Tap!
The recruit stepped out and moved to the designated area.
Next, Zheng Sanpao stopped in front of Chen Xiwa.
The burly recruit flashed his usual honest, goofy grin.
“Heh heh ha!”
“Do I look funny to you?”
Zheng Sanpao’s expression was completely unreadable.
Chen Xiwa’s smile froze. He instantly sobered up, looking a little awkward.
“Step forward!”
Now visibly nervous, Chen Xiwa quickly complied.
Then ca Zhuang Yan’s turn.
Zheng Sanpao stared him down, his sharp gaze unwavering.
“Step forward!”
Without hesitation, Zhuang Yan strode forward, his body language exuding defiance. He didn’t even glance at Zheng Sanpao—as if the man were so plague to be avoided.
But when Zheng Sanpao reached Lin Yi, sothing unexpected happened.
The other recruits gasped in surprise.
Because, for the first ti, the cold-faced “Demon Sergeant” showed an expression other than indifference.
There was a flicker of doubt, a glint of admiration—and sothing else.
“Lin Yi!”
“Freshman at the Yanjing University, School of Information Science and Technology.”
“This year’s top Liberal Arts student in Xiang Province—the only candidate with a perfect score in the essay section.”
“Tell —why did you co here?”
Boom!
The words detonated like a bombshell, shocking everyone.
The recruits turned, their faces filled with disbelief, eyes landing on the calm, composed young man in their midst.
Even the arrogant Zhuang Yan had to admit—this was soone to respect.
A provincial top scorer, a perfect essay writer, a Yanjing University freshman—any one of these achievents was enough to make him a legend.
But all three?
Unbelievable.
“Sergeant.”
Unlike the others, Lin Yi showed no trace of fear toward Zheng Sanpao.
Instead, he smiled casually.
He understood exactly what was happening here.
Zheng Sanpao wasn’t just asking a question—he was making a statent.
This was a tactical move.
By highlighting Lin Yi’s background, he was creating an example, a benchmark, an irritatingly perfect “target” for the other recruits.
Nothing motivated new soldiers better than rivalry.
For the next three months, Lin Yi’s na would spread throughout the entire recruit battalion.
“Step forward!”
Zheng Sanpao cast him a glance of approval and motioned him out of the line.
With a resigned shake of his head, Lin Yi complied, stepping beside Zhuang Yan and Chen Xiwa.
Chen Xiwa stared at him with pure admiration.
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
The selection continued.
One by one, recruits were separated and assigned to different squads, each scattered across the training ground.
Lin Yi found himself in Squad One, led by Zheng Sanpao.
But this squad wasn’t filled with elite recruits.
Apart from Lin Yi and Zhuang Yan, the others were a ragtag bunch. Undisciplined, clumsy, and lacking motivation—even Chen Xiwa looked out of place.
It was clear—Zheng Sanpao had deliberately chosen the “misfits.”
Instead of picking the best, he had picked the most difficult ones—and he intended to forge them into steel.
That was the unyielding duty of an experienced soldier—to take the burden himself and train the weak into warriors.
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
But Lin Yi was more than happy to be in this squad.
Because his sergeant was Zheng Sanpao.
An eight-year veteran, a reconnaissance specialist.
Under his command, Lin Yi could learn a lot—knowledge that would shape his future military career.
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
“I have a question for you.”
Zheng Sanpao’s sharp gaze swept across the nine recruits.
“If we were on the battlefield… would any of you take a bullet for ?”
A heavy silence fell.
The recruits exchanged uneasy glances.
No one spoke.
Not even Lin Yi.
“But I…”
Zheng Sanpao’s voice was unwavering.
“As long as you wear this uniform, I would take a bullet for you.”
“Any one of you.”
His words rang loud and clear—and each recruit reacted differently.
Zhuang Yan smirked, unimpressed.
But Lin Yi understood.
This wasn’t empty rhetoric.
These were the heartfelt words of a seasoned soldier, a vow made by a man who had spent eight years living by it.
And later—when their training was complete—this belief would beco instinct for all of them.
In the battlefield, it wouldn’t matter who you were.
If you wore the sa uniform, they would take a bullet for you.
No questions asked.
“Do you know why I chose you?”
“Because every single one of you… is a weakling.”
“Sergeant!”
Chen Xiwa suddenly shouted.
“We haven’t even started training yet! How do you know we’re weak?”
Zheng Sanpao tilted his head slightly, eyes glinting with amusent.
“Not bad.”
“At least you rember to report before speaking.”
“Heh heh!”
Chen Xiwa grinned, scratching his head.
“My grandad was in the Eighth Route Army. My dad was a soldier too. Before I left ho, he told —”
Before he could finish, Zheng Sanpao was already in front of him.
“Military family, huh?”
“Aye!”
Chen Xiwa nodded proudly.
“But did I give you permission to speak?”
“Did I?”
Zheng Sanpao’s roar shook the entire field.
Chen Xiwa jumped, startled, his mouth clamping shut.
After a long pause, he whispered, “No… sir.”
Zheng Sanpao turned away as if he were about to continue—then suddenly stopped.
He looked back at Chen Xiwa.
“What’s your na again?”
“Chen Xiwa!”
Chen Xiwa straightened up instantly.
Zheng Sanpao smirked.
“Because of this soldier, Chen Xiwa…”
“All of you will be punished today.”
“Five-kilotre run—prepare!”
“Squad—right turn!”
“Double ti—march!”
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
The mont he gave the order, Zheng Sanpao took off running, setting the pace.
Dressed in his military service uniform, he led the charge without hesitation.
The recruits scrambled after him, their formation stretching like a long, winding dragon across the training ground.
They quickly beca the centre of attention, with other new soldiers watching in awe.
Up on the hillside, a middle-aged officer watched through binoculars, his expression intrigued.
Beside him, a Second Lieutenant in a steel helt reported,
“They’ve already passed six kilotres.”
In the distance, elite soldiers of the Night Tiger Reconnaissance Unit continued their own drills.
Their sharp eyes, however, had already taken notice of the new batch of recruits below.
And Lin Yi knew—this was only the beginning.
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