The Recruits Transform, a Collective!

"Kick!"

The sound of leather shoes echoed down the hallway and into the dormitory.

"Attention!"

A recruit with sharp eyes spotted Zheng Sanpao, now dressed in regular clothes, and shouted in excitement.

Whoosh!

The recruits snapped to their feet in unison. Even Zhuang Yan, momentarily stunned by Zheng Sanpao's cold expression, hurriedly rose from his bed. But it was Lin Yi who caught Zheng Sanpao's attention first. His eyes, filled with appreciation, lingered on Lin Yi. Moments ago, Zheng Sanpao had been standing outside, listening to every word. It felt as if Lin Yi had voiced thoughts that resonated deeply with him. He, too, had once been a recruit just like them.

In his class, no one had stood out like Lin Yi. Now, however, the confusion among the recruits seemed to clear, and their resolve grew stronger. Chen Xiwa and the other recruits were fortunate—they had Lin Yi as their role model.

But as his gaze shifted to the messy bed, Zheng Sanpao's expression darkened. He spoke coldly, "What's going on with this bed?"

"Report!"

Zhuang Yan answered nervously, "I was lying down..."

"You were lying down?" Zheng Sanpao interrupted sharply. "Who told you to lie down? Don't you know the regulations?" His voice was devoid of any warmth.

Zhuang Yan, now indignant, muttered, "Isn't the bed for sleeping?"

"Who told you to sleep now?" Zheng Sanpao's tone grew harsher, his voice rising. "Tired? You're tired? Do you think they aren't tired?" He gestured to the other recruits. Then, in a low voice, he added, "Assemble at the gate. Five kilometers, now."

Chen Xiwa couldn't help but plead, "Squad leader, we're about to eat..."

Zheng Sanpao shot him a cold look. "As far as you're concerned, food isn't a free ride. Gather at the door!"

"Yes, sir!"

Lin Yi didn't even glance at Zhuang Yan as he strode out of the dormitory. The rest of the recruits followed Lin Yi's lead, ignoring Zhuang Yan as they left, starting to resemble soldiers, ready to follow orders.

"It's alright," Chen Xiwa patted Zhuang Yan's shoulder, trying to comfort him.

A few moments later, the recruits stood shivering in the cold wind outside the dormitory building, hungry and exhausted. Zheng Sanpao approached, whistle in hand.

"Chen Xiwa!" he called.

"Here!" Chen Xiwa quickly responded, surprised to be addressed directly.

"Let me ask you, what is the army?" Zheng Sanpao questioned.

Caught off guard, Chen Xiwa hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He shook his head.

Another recruit stepped forward, "Here!"

"Tell me, what is the army?"

"Report, I don't know." The response was the same—none of the recruits had an answer.

Then, Zheng Sanpao's gaze fell on the tall figure in the center. "Lin Yi!"

"Here!" Lin Yi responded confidently. "The army is a disciplined force, forged from steel."

"Well said." Zheng Sanpao nodded. "Look at you—can soldiers like you repel invaders? You're all lazy, doing nothing but eating all day, wasting food. You still want to talk about being tired?"

He looked at the recruits, exasperated. "Five kilometers, now!"

Suddenly, Zhuang Yan shouted, "Report!" stepping out of line. Zheng Sanpao, visibly annoyed, looked at him.

"It's my fault," Zhuang Yan said. "I'll take the punishment alone."

His words only fueled Zheng Sanpao's anger. He addressed the group sternly, "When one person makes a mistake, the entire class is punished."

But Zhuang Yan persisted, "I'll run 45 kilometers alone, for everyone."

Zheng Sanpao jabbed a finger at Zhuang Yan's chest. "What is this? Personal heroism? This is a collective effort!"

Zhuang Yan ignored him, stubbornly insisting, "I don't want to drag my brothers into this."

Lin Yi spoke up loudly, "Squad leader, permission to run?"

Zheng Sanpao, calming slightly, nodded. "Granted."

"Yes!" Lin Yi took off towards the playground, the other recruits following in formation behind him. Soon, the empty playground was alive with the sight of a column of fresh recruits running together.

Zheng Sanpao turned to Zhuang Yan, his tone surprisingly softer but still firm. "Do you know why they're doing this? Because they understand what it means to be comrades-in-arms. Your volunteering disrespects that bond. Now, you can either stay where you are or join them."

Zhuang Yan clenched his teeth as he watched the recruits running into the sunset. After a brief hesitation, he gritted his teeth and joined the team.

"Brothers!" Lin Yi's voice rang out from the front. "Let's sing a song!"

"Our team faces the sun, ready—sing!"

The recruits' voices rose in unison, "Our team faces the sun, stepping on the soil of the motherland, carrying the hope of the nation. We are an invincible force!"

Their loud singing echoed through the camp, and their figures stretched longer and longer under the fading sunlight.

In that moment, Zhuang Yan felt something shift within him. All the hardship and exhaustion melted away. If there was anything worth remembering from his time in the army, it would be these moments, the unforgettable bond with his comrades.

Not far off, Zheng Sanpao watched the scene, a small smile playing on his lips. He had already made up his mind.

Typically, recruits spent about a month in the army before being assigned a deputy squad leader—a position granted only to those who stood out in terms of skill and leadership. However, in the 8th Special Regiment's recruit company, Lin Yi had made history by being appointed deputy squad leader after just five days.

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30 power stones for an extra chapter