015, The Torment of Soul and Body_1
Mu Qixuan, as a major talent in the national defense, could write any manuscript with ease, and the one Mo Shangjun got only needed slight modifications to the location, time, and names to become an extremely outstanding speech.
Therefore, the speech that evening passed without issue.
As for the subsequent interactions and singing sessions, they were not within Mo Shangjun's responsibilities. Seated aloofly, emanating coldness and detachment, no one dared to use her for their own ends.
At nine o'clock in the evening, the welcome event came to a close.
The class leaders led their people back, and Mo Shangjun symbolically organized the evacuation of the venue. It was only after the last leader had left that she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"That was hard work."
Lang Yan was waiting for her at the entrance and tossed her a bottle of water as soon as he saw her.
Mo Shangjun caught it with her hand.
The cap was already loosened, and Mo Shangjun twisted it off and took a drink.
"Tomorrow..."
"I'm not very interested in hearing your plans."
Mo Shangjun walked past him, moving forward.
Lang Yan let out a chuckle, followed by a swift movement beside Mo Shangjun, skillfully changing the subject, "I heard you promised the instructor to strive for first place in the next assessment?"
"Hmm."
"I don't want them to take their reputation too seriously."
With his hands in his pockets, Lang Yan walked slowly alongside, voicing his thoughts.
"Faith and ideals that are too illusory don't promote their growth," Mo Shangjun said, shaking the water bottle in her hand nonchalantly.
"Pursuing fame too much will make them..." Hesitating, Lang Yan added, "Well, overly anxious."
Mo Shangjun stopped in her tracks.
Lang Yan promptly halted as well.
Turning to the side, Mo Shangjun slightly raised her eyes, her clear pupils reflecting straightforwardness, "I'm just letting them earn a few honors while they improve."
Lang Yan blinked, a look of consideration flickered in his refined features.
After a moment, Lang Yan revealed a bright smile, "Then, thank you for your hard work."
"No need."
Mo Shangjun shrugged casually.
The two walked into the dormitory building.
It wasn't until they parted ways that Lang Yan, watching Mo Shangjun ascend the stairs, had a thought and suddenly realized he had intended to discuss the next day's meeting with Mo Shangjun. But upon reflection, he let it be.
Forget it, the meeting will be annoying enough; better to cover for her.
*
That night, Mo Shangjun stayed up late to work on an updated training plan.
She didn't go to bed until three in the morning.
Lin Qi was a light sleeper and had been keeping an eye on her. Before going to bed, she specifically checked the time, but when reveille sounded, she got out of bed and was surprised to find that Mo Shangjun had vanished.
After dressing and assembling downstairs, Lin Qi was astonished to discover that Mo Shangjun had already been waiting for them on the training ground.
"A five-kilometer load-bearing run, keep up with my pace, no falling behind."
Without any superfluous words, once everyone had gathered, Mo Shangjun immediately issued the training command.
The old soldiers, who had been through Mo Shangjun's rigorous training, obeyed her words, but the new recruits had only seen Mo Shangjun twice and knew nothing of her methods. Upon hearing "keep up with my pace," their minds were clouded with confusion, completely unaware of the situation.
This was their deputy company commander, a graduate from a prestigious school, who had just joined the unit a few days before them, and moreover, a woman.
They were expected to keep up with her?
Well, it would already be impressive if she could complete five kilometers, right?!
"All present and accounted for, right—turn, jog—forward!"
The orders were concise and clear. Just as the group was acting upon the commands, they saw a figure already dashing ahead of the troop.
Everyone hurried to keep up.
This was Mo Shangjun's first time leading their training.
In fact, not to mention the new recruits, even the old soldiers were unaware of Mo Shangjun's true capabilities.
No matter what she did, it made people feel that she was holding back, and the strength she exhibited was such that no one could even grasp a fraction of her true power.
Like now, for the entire five kilometers, Mo Shangjun maintained a steady pace, running at the front of the pack the whole time, while the majority of the group behind her had slowed down. Yet she didn't even seem short of breath, her pace so steady it was hard to believe.
"What's going on here?"
Towards the back of the group, a new recruit couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Remember this, in this place, offend anyone but never her! I'm not exaggerating—" an old soldier, running beside him, couldn't help but warn, "otherwise, she will definitely make you suffer a horrifying punishment both physically and spiritually!"
"..."
The new recruit immediately fell silent.
The old soldier shook his head and picked up his pace.
Honestly, being punished on the training field was something these scouts could endure, but Mo Shangjun's biting words were truly soul-crushing. Just a phrase or two from her could make you lose all self-respect.
The disdain and contempt that went to the bone, damnit, no one could stand it!
By the time the last person finished the five kilometers, Mo Shangjun had already rested quite a bit, and in the blink of an eye, she had a megaphone in her hand, though no one saw when she took it out.
"Assemble!"
At her command, the soldiers, exhausted to the point of near death, quickly gathered.
"Rookies, you've really opened my eyes." Holding the megaphone, Mo Shangjun's usual tone reached everyone's ears, "On a five-kilometer run, two-thirds of you couldn't keep up!"
"Report!"
Lai Liang shouted loudly.
Mo Shangjun cast an impatient glance at him, "Speak."
"You ran too fast!" Taking a deep breath, Lai Liang protested, "Your speed was faster than the qualifying score!"
"And who set this qualifying score?"
With a lift of her eyelids, Mo Shangjun asked coolly.
"The standard set by the battalion assessment!" Lai Liang didn't lower his tone.
"Oh..." Mo Shangjun's tone dragged on a bit, as if she had a sudden realization, "I'm quite sorry about that, in our place, such a speed would still be considered lagging."
"..."
The entire battalion was suddenly wide-eyed.
The new recruits were utterly confused, was it really possible for a military academy to be that brutal?
The old soldiers internally lamented, here it comes again, the inhumane humiliation...
Only Lin Qi, upon hearing Mo Shangjun's "nonsense," sharply twitched the corner of his mouth, tsk, quite a bluff!
"To think, even I could outrun you, you really should be ashamed." As Mo Shangjun spoke, her expression was a mix of helplessness and sincerity, as though she truly sympathized with their "pathetic" level.
"..."
A collective silence.
The old soldiers felt both depressed and defeated, while the new recruits were filled with shame. The sense of superiority they had as top performers in the new recruits' platoon disappeared without a trace.
"400-meter hurdles, five times." Mo Shangjun said casually, her gaze leisurely falling on Lai Liang, "The qualifying time is..."
"Report, two minutes and ten seconds!" Lai Liang answered loudly.
"Okay, five round trips, I'll give you some leeway, twelve minutes and thirty seconds, and those who don't make it..." Mo Shangjun spoke carelessly, "can skip breakfast."
"Yes!"
A group of people, gritting their teeth, roared their response.
Two minutes and thirty seconds for a single round trip they could all achieve, but after having already run five kilometers with a load, now having to do five consecutive 400-meter hurdles was a true challenge, wasn't it?!
If it were a regular day, perhaps some would have argued, but now, spurred on by Mo Shangjun's words about "shame," they were determined to grit their teeth and push forward, resolved not to give Mo Shangjun another chance to humiliate them!
The results were as expected, with this kind of determination, they did indeed improve. In the end, only a few failed to complete the task within the set time.
These folks seemed to have taken up a challenge with Mo Shangjun, and after the morning exercises, they repeatedly requested that Mo Shangjun "train together in the morning." Once Mo Shangjun arrived, one by one, they all clenched their teeth and followed her closely, their eyes red with effort, to the point that even Mo Shangjun herself felt somewhat speechless.
After all this commotion, Mo Shangjun was only free by noon.
Taking a bit of time to go to the office, Mo Shangjun originally wanted to discuss the training with Lang Yan, but as soon as she entered, she heard the telephone ringing inside.