Chapter 7: Failure Ending_1

Due to the narrow indoor space, Luo'er decided to abandon the rifle, drew his pistol, and took the lead. Cheng Ziang also chose an 03 rifle. It was clear that such a stock rifle was not suitable for the indoor environment, but he did not opt for a pistol either and obstinately followed behind Luo'er with his rifle.

Though the shadow of being targeted by his own comrade's gun still lingered, Luo'er knew he was the only reliable one at this moment. Therefore, he didn't waver and continued leading the group.

Suddenly, two figures darted out from the corridor, which were two moving human-shaped targets. Luo'er raised his gun to shoot. As he shot down one, the sound of rifle shots came from behind him. The human-shaped target got shot several times and fell down. Due to the indoor gunfire, the great noise caused everyone's eardrums to tingle painfully. Cheng Ziang was no exception; he frowned, clearly disliking the sound of gunfire.

Luo'er let out a sigh of relief. Although Cheng Ziang seemed unreliable, at least he wouldn't accidentally shoot his teammates and remembered the basic rules of shooting. Regardless, even though it was just a test, Luo'er hoped to perform his best. After all, if their team could get decent results in the test, it would considerably lessen the pressure on him in the upcoming months for the final selection. The real challenge for Luo'er was to transform a novice team within this short span of months.

As they turned a corner, two more human-shaped targets emerged. Luo'er decisively opened fire and shot down the targets. Right when he was reloading, two more targets sprung up behind him. Sensing the movements behind him, Luo'er didn't turn his head and yelled: "Behind!"

Cheng Ziang gave him a glance, turned around, clenched his teeth, and shot down the targets. However, they soon saw yellow lights lit up in the corridor, which indicated penalty points. Luo'er glanced at him, then turned to inspect the targets Cheng Ziang had shot down. There were two overlapped targets; the first one was a hostage, and the second one was a terrorist. However, Cheng Ziang's fierce action knocked down both targets.

Luo'er didn't know what to say. He glanced at Cheng Ziang, whose face was taut like someone owed him money.

With a resigned sigh, Luo'er said nothing and got up to proceed. After some tense moments, they eventually reached the room where the hostage was held. They arranged themselves at the door, and Luo'er, fully aware that their success or failure hinged on this moment, reiterated: "Hu Daoke, kick the door. Cheng Ziang and I will rush in, the rest of you cover from outside. Got it?"

After speaking, he scanned everyone. Only Tangmo and Hu Daoke nodded. But he didn't care now. He checked the pistol in his hand and fetched a flash simulation grenade from his pocket, then signaled Hu Daoke to kick the door.

"Bang!"

Hu Daoke kicked the door open forcefully, shattering it altogether. Without wasting time, Luo'er pulled the safety of the simulation grenade and tossed it inside.

"Boom!"

The grenade detonated with a dull noise and a wisp of white smoke billowed out. Luo'er raised his pistol and rushed in, but as soon as he stepped inside, his foot came in contact with a pile of bullet casings left behind by the previous teams. Luo'er stumbled and fell heavily onto his knees, causing him intense pain that made him break into a cold sweat. He refrained from crying out, instead still raised his gun towards the human-shaped target inside.

Just as he was about to fire, Cheng Ziang suddenly rushed in. With his rifle and pistol cast aside, he charged in holding a dagger he had fetched from somewhere. Luo'er was about to pull the trigger when Cheng Ziang stepped in front of his muzzle and lunged at the two targets with his dagger.

"You...." Luo'er, with his teeth gritted from the pain, didn't know what to say.

With two crisp metallic sounds, the two targets were swiftly knocked down by Cheng Ziang. Luo'er, not paying attention to these two targets, continued to scan the room for other targets. In front of the office desk directly facing the door sat a tightly-bound dummy, which appeared to be the hostage, and right beside the hostage stands a human-shaped target holding a pistol pointed right at the hostage. Luo'er knew that this was a terrorist preparing to shoot the hostage. The terrorists who posed a threat to the hostage should be the first to be eliminated, but Luo'er, who had tripped over bullet casings upon entry, failed to notice this target. Meanwhile, Cheng Ziang stepped right in front of him, taking down the two targets Luo'er had been preparing to shoot.

He raised his pistol, ready to knock down this target. However, Cheng Ziang's silhouette once again blocked his muzzle. But before he could knock down the target, red lights began to flash in the room, followed by a shrill alarm. This signaled the team's failed hostage rescue.

The test had a clear requirement for the order of shooting targets in the room. Those posing a direct threat to the hostage must be shot first. Therefore, other targets could be left for up to three seconds, but the target pointing a gun at the hostage had less than a second left, as he had already pressed his gun against the hostage's head. If not shot down immediately, he would have ample time to kill the hostage. The passing standard for the examination was the safety of the hostage.

In the blink of an eye, Luo'er had stormed in and then failed. He couldn't believe the outcome. His team couldn't even meet the basic passing standard, which was unbearable to him. Biting his lower lip and closing his eyes, he felt waves of intense pain shooting up from his knee, sapping his strength. Finally, he let out a howl: "Damn it!!!"

"Luo'er..." Tangmo came to the door to find Luo'er kneeling halfway on the ground. Cheng Ziang was standing bewildered in front of the hostage, and the room was flashing with red lights. Luo'er's outburst startled her.

Raising himself painfully to his feet, Luo'er gave Cheng Ziang a hateful look before turning to glare at Tangmo. He gritted his teeth and stayed silent, then turned away and limped out of the room.

"Luo'er..." Tangmo instinctively tried to help him, but he stubbornly waved her off.

Luo'er gritted his teeth, leaned heavily on his injured leg, and walked out of the room. He didn't get far before he stumbled and fell to the ground, but he immediately struggled to get up, looking quite pathetic.

The rest of them blankly watched Luo'er leave, not understanding why he was taking the result of this test so seriously.

Luo'er stumbled out of the test room, which drained all his energy. He leaned against the wall and sat down, gasping from the pain. Wang Xu appeared out of nowhere, along with a medical staff member.

"Does it hurt?" Wang Xu crouched down and asked with concern. He had seen Luo'er fall on the monitor.

The medical staff member said nothing, quickly unloosened Luo'er's boots, and rolled up his trouser leg to his knee. His knee was already turning black. The medic fetched an ice pack from the medical box and placed it on the affected area. The ice's cooling effect alleviated Luo'er's pain, and his contorted face began to relax.

"It's just one test, don't dwell on it," Wang Xu said, reaching out to pat Luo'er's head in consolation. He remembered this was the first time he could do this since Luo'er started school. He used to depend on him so much when he was younger, but he also started resenting him after falling out with their grandfather.

"Slap!"

Luo'er hung his head low, didn't say anything but decisively swatted Wang Xu's hand away. Clearly, he didn't need Wang Xu's sympathy.

Wang Xu didn't get angry. Faced with such a child harboring obstinacy, he didn't know what to say. He simply withdrew his hand and quietly squatted in front of him.

After a short rest, Luo'er struggled to get up. Paying no heed to the medical staff's advice, he limped towards the direction of the dormitory. Wang Xu stood up, silently watching his retreating figure. Looking at his gradually thinning silhouette was heart-wrenching.

Due to a knee injury, Luo'er took the afternoon off and hidden himself in the dormitory. Tangmo and others wanted to visit him, but they understood Luo'er wouldn't see them. Tangmo lay on the desk, tilting his head to look at Luo'er's lonely seat, his heart filled with unspeakable distress.

"Knock, knock, knock..." came a soft knock at the door.

"Come in!"

Wang Xu pushed open the door and entered the principal's office. Standing before him was an aged but dignified man with white hair. He was dressed formally and although Wang Xu couldn't discern his position, he did not take this man lightly, because this old man was his former superior, the current principal of Haiya Academy, Luo Qishan. He also had another identity, Luo'er's grandfather.

"Ah, it's Wang Xu." Luo Qishan greeted him warmly on seeing Wang Xu.

"This is the transcript of this morning's squad test," Wang Xu said, dropping a folder in front of Luo Qishan and stood upright before him.

As Luo Qishan flipped through the transcript, he casually asked, "I heard that something happened to Luo'er during the test today…"

Wang Xu stared at Luo Qishan. As Luo'er's grandfather, and a former high-ranking military officer, Luo Qishan's attitude towards Luo'er was contradictory. He acted like he cared a lot about his grandson, yet simultaneously indifferent to his feelings. So, he replied, "There was a small accident with Luo'er during the test today."

"Was he hurt?" inquired Luo Qishan without lifting his head.

"He almost got killed!" Wang Xu bluntly said it and noticed Luo Qishan shudder while the hand holding the record trembled slightly.

"What happened?" Luo Qishan tried to ask in his usual tone.

"Misfire!"

"How is he now?" Luo Qishan tried to maintain a calm demeanor but Wang Xu could clearly feel the strain in his voice.

Wang Xu coldly stared at him and then continued, "He's fine, just a close call. But he fell and hurt his leg."

"Oh." Luo Qishan responded indifferently, Wang Xu still noticed his hand slightly trembling.

Wang Xu silently sighed and then boldly asked, "Aren't you going to see him, Principal?"

"There's no need. As long as he's fine," Luo Qishan replied without even lifting his head.

Seeing his efforts failed, Wang Xu didn't know what else he could say, so he added, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Just as he was about to turn around to leave, he suddenly heard Luo Qishan ask, "Does Luo'er... still want to go to the Otherworld?"

"Yes." Wang Xu nodded.

"Sigh!" Luo Qishan shook his head and sighed lightly.

Seeing that Luo Qishan didn't further comment, Wang Xu exited the office. Standing in the hallway, he let out another sigh and began to gain some understanding of Luo'er's feelings.