Recruit enter the camp, A unique Discount

Smack!

Zheng Sanpao strode to the front of the recruit team and stopped in front of a recruit who had been smiling faintly. "Laugh!" he ordered.

The recruit, caught off guard, chuckled nervously.

"Out of the ranks!" Zheng Sanpao barked, pointing to the side of the assembly field.

The recruit quickly complied, standing apart from the others, head lowered in embarrassment.

Zheng Sanpao moved on, stopping in front of Chen Xiwa, who flashed a sincere grin. "Hehe!"

"Am I funny?" Zheng Sanpao asked, his face expressionless.

Chen Xiwa's laughter died in his throat, his face turning sheepish.

"Out of the line!" Zheng Sanpao commanded.

Chen Xiwa stumbled out of formation, his face a mixture of confusion and panic.

Zheng Sanpao then approached Zhuang Yan, his sharp eyes locking onto him. Without waiting for a reaction, he ordered, "Out of the ranks!"

Zhuang Yan, clearly unfazed, stepped out casually, showing no respect for the squad leader's authority. He acted as if being selected was no more bothersome than brushing off a fly.

Finally, Zheng Sanpao stopped in front of Lin Yi, and to everyone's surprise, his expression softened slightly. There was a mix of curiosity and appreciation on his usually stern face.

"Lin Yi!" Zheng Sanpao called out. "Freshman at the School of Information Science and Technology, Yen Ching Restaurant. This year's top liberal arts student in Hunan Province, the only candidate with a perfect essay score. Care to explain why you're here?"

Bang!

Zheng Sanpao's words detonated among the recruits like a bomb. Everyone turned to Lin Yi, their expressions filled with disbelief. The young man who had been so calm this whole time was revealed to be extraordinary.

Admiration rippled through the group, even from Zhuang Yan, who had always carried an air of arrogance. Lin Yi's academic achievements alone were impressive, but being a freshman at Yan University with a perfect essay score? That was a league of its own.

"Squad leader, you're not being very kind," Lin Yi said casually, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Lin Yi understood why Zheng Sanpao singled him out. This was a deliberate move, designed to stoke competition among the recruits. After all, nothing pushed soldiers harder than having an exemplary figure to aspire to—or surpass.

Zheng Sanpao gestured for him to join the others. Lin Yi sighed and reluctantly stepped out of the line, joining Zhuang Yan and Chen Xiwa, who both looked at him with different forms of admiration.

Soon, the recruits were divided into squads across the playground. Lin Yi's group was the first to be assembled, with Zheng Sanpao as their squad leader. Aside from Lin Yi and Zhuang Yan, most of the other recruits appeared less promising—Chen Xiwa included. It was clear that Zheng Sanpao had picked a group of misfits, likely with the intention of forging them into something far better.

Lin Yi, however, was content. Zheng Sanpao's experience as an eight-year scout meant there was much to be learned under his guidance, valuable knowledge that would aid Lin Yi in his future military career.

Zheng Sanpao looked at the squad, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. "I have one question for you. If we went to war, would any of you be willing to take a bullet for me?"

The recruits exchanged uncertain glances, none of them able to answer. Lin Yi was silent as well.

Zheng Sanpao's voice thundered again, "But know this: as long as you're a soldier in this army, I'd take a bullet for any one of you."

The recruits mulled over his words, each with their own thoughts. Zhuang Yan remained dismissive, but Lin Yi recognized that these were no empty words. They came from a place of deep conviction, formed over years of service. Zheng Sanpao wasn't just talking; he meant it. One day, those words would become instinct for all of them, including Zhuang Yan.

Zheng Sanpao continued, "Do you know why you were chosen for this squad? Because every one of you is a bear person."

"Report!" Chen Xiwa interrupted, raising his voice. "Squad leader, how can you say we're bear people? We haven't even started training yet."

"Not bad," Zheng Sanpao said with a slight nod. "You know how to shout a report."

"Hehe!" Chen Xiwa laughed awkwardly, trying to recover from his bold interruption. "My grandfather was a soldier, and my dad too. Before I left, my dad told me to—"

Before he could finish, Zheng Sanpao was standing in front of him again, towering over him. "A military family, huh?" He paused for a moment, then added, "But did I give you permission to speak?"

"No, squad leader," Chen Xiwa stammered, clearly unnerved.

Zheng Sanpao turned to address the rest of the squad. "Because of this soldier, you'll all be punished today. Everyone, five kilometers—now!"

"All right, turn right!" Zheng Sanpao commanded. "Run! Go!"

Without hesitation, Zheng Sanpao led the way, setting off at a brisk pace while the recruits scrambled to follow. A long line of them snaked around the playground, their footsteps pounding in unison.

Zheng Sanpao, Zhuang Yan, and Lin Yi were at the front, their strides steady and powerful. Behind them, the rest of the recruits began to lag, their lack of endurance becoming evident.

On a nearby hillside, a middle-aged man in a training uniform observed the scene through a pair of binoculars, a smile playing on his lips.

"Six thousand meters," commented a second lieutenant, who appeared beside him.

The training ground was busy, filled with officers and soldiers from the Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company, known as the sharpest unit in the 8th Special Regiment. They were responsible for all new recruit training, ensuring that every soldier entering the regiment was pushed to their limits.

This was just the beginning.