A Show of Strength (Part 2/3)

Qin Fen had a tranquil expression. The training volume sounded considerable, but the navy vessel wasn't large. A lap was approximately the distance of three-hundred and fifty meters. Twenty laps wasn't hard in this situation where they weren't carrying any weight. It really wasn't much compared to the volume of labor he did at the construction site, as well as the life-or-death training in the dream.

The squad leader of First Squad continued to describe the afternoon's training program, causing quite a few people's expression to turn even more serious.

Squad Leader Hao forced a bitter laugh, "Actually, the brass gave us two different training option. The first option is large volume training like what First Squad Leader is saying. There's another option that's more vacation-like."

In this moment, not only did the recruits of Second Squad become curious, First Squad and Third Squad next to him revealed inquisitive gazes when they heard Squad Leader Hao's words.

"Forget it!" Squad Leader Hao shook his head after thinking for a moment, "It's better not to say, so that you all won't say that I cheated everyone."

This way of talking, wanting to say something but hesitating, caused everyone to become even more interested. Under the inquisitive gazes of the crowd, Squad Leader Hao slowly said, "Actually, the other option of training is like this. Recruits can challenge their commanding officer to a one-on-one fight. Anyone who can beat their squad leader or can last for a hundred moves against their squad leader can enjoy four days of vacation free of training."

The recruit's eyes immediately glistened the moment these words were spoken. The corner of Qin Fen's mouth twitched. He stood up without saying anything and grabbed a training sheet from Squad Leader Hao's hands. He followed the instructions on it to begin the first training option, starting with two-hundred push-ups.

There was one more person who followed Qin Fen in freely choosing to train. It was none other than the recruit who had sneered earlier.

Qin Fen was a bit surprised. This one appeared to be quite arrogant. This teenager, with grave and stern expression, actually chose to go through the military drills? Could he be the same as Qin Fen? Had he seen through Squad Leader Hao's strength?

Squad Leader Hao gaped slightly. He studied Qin Fen, who was doing push-ups at quick speeds, in amazement. Even the roaring leader of First Squad grew silent to gaze at Qin Fen with eyes of unrestrainable shock.

The squad leaders were seasoned soldiers. The teenager who freely joined Qin Fen in going through the military drills was named Du Peng. His movements, whether from walking or otherwise, revealed the bearing of a standard soldier. There was an eighty-ninety percent chance that he was the successor of a military household. Undergoing normal basic training was part of procedure, to let let him experience the life of a basic soldier. After some time, he would apply to the Army's military academy and be promoted to a higher position.

But Qin Fen was different. Not a hint of a soldier's bearing could be detected from his body. A few close-by squad leaders sized him up with inquisitive gazes, each of them speculating. Did he chose to go through the military drills because he was timid? Or did he see through the squad leaders' hidden strength? It was impossible for an ordinary person to know of this year's recruit training plan ahead of time.

How bizarre! Squad Leader Hao rubbed his chin subconsciously. This was clearly his first time seeing this teenager. Why did he feel like he met this teenager before?

"I want to challenge the squad leader!" The most tall and sturdy recruit in Qin Fen's squad stood up, revealing a height that was at least a hundred and ninety centimeters.

"I also want to challenge the squad leader!"

"I also want to challenge the squad leader....!"

A moment passed, and everyone from Second Squad, First Platoon, Third Company, Second Battalion, beside Qin Fen and that other recruit, felt that Squad Leader Hao was a good-natured man. He should be much easier to handle than the other squad leaders whose mouths were filled with vulgar words.

"Okay, okay, okay." Squad Leader Hao laughed in a silly manner, " Everyone's so enthusiastic. I'm touched. No need to feel anxious, everyone. Everyone who signs up will get their chance. Since this is the case, let's start with Deng Biao."

Deng Biao, whose height was a hundred and ninety centimeters, strode forward with a face filled with excitement. He sneered as he walked past Qin Fen, spitting out, "Coward."

Qin Fen shook his head in a wry smile, not really caring. If he had been assigned to a different squad, it wouldn't have been a bad option to challenge the squad leader for the training exemption. However, his luck was bad! His assigned squad leader was the strongest out of all the squad leaders, and this squad leader had reached the meteor level! Challenging him was simply seeking to get beat up!

In the path of the martial dao, the one-star to four-star warriors were classified by numerical levels. However, after the five-star level, there were unique levels. The five-stars and six-stars were collectively known as experts of the meteor level. Even higher were the comet level, the planet level, the main-star level, and even the galaxy level experts.

It was just that the higher the expert in level, the scarcer their numbers. The main-star level experts merely existed in theory. None had truly attained that level as of yet.

Those on the lower levels typically found it hard to see through a high level expert when the expert was hiding their level. This was especially true when the expert was someone who was at the meteor level or higher. People who weren't at the meteor level were completely unable to see through their opponents disguise.

Qin Fen was quite baffled himself. Why was he able to see that his opponent was on a much higher level than him with a mere glance? There were far too many bizarre days for him recently, so Qin Fen no longer wondered at the strange sights when it came to the weirdness of his own body.

The punches and kicks in the fight between Deng Biao and Squad Leader Hao rang out on the deck. Qin Fen continued to do his push-ups, but he looked up to see the fight.

Deng Biao's strength was quite decent. He was considered skilled among two-star warriors. His ferocious Eight Extreme Fists matched his large and muscular body quite well, generating formidable gales with every strike. He suppressed Squad Leader Hao, who revealed the strength of a two-star to match. Every strike gave people a certain feeling, that just one more strike was needed to knock Squad Leader Hao down.

The excited roars of Second Squad, First Platoon, Third Company, Second Battalion gave Deng Biao endless boosts to his morale. Squad Leader Hao could only dodge over and over, looking to be placed in a difficult situation.

Third Squad already had two of their recruits knocked to the ground. Deng Biao's fight with Squad Leader Hao was still in the same situation where it seemed the next strike would be the one to knock Squad Leader Hao down.

Third Squad already had their fourth recruit knocked to the ground. Deng Biao's speed was much slower than before by now, but Squad Leader Hao remained like a small boat in a raging storm. One that could capsize at any moment.

The recruits of Third Squad, faces bloody and swollen, obediently started the first military training program option, while Deng Biao's fight had yet to end. He waved his fists, out of breath.

The Second Squad recruits had shouted until their throats became hoarse. Their mood changed to a sorrow incomparable from their initial excitement.

Some more time passed, and all the recruits of the other squads had already started the first training program option.

Qin Fen ran laps around the deck of the transport ship. When he made it back to Second Squad's spot, he saw that Deng Biao was gasping for breath. With just a small kick in the belly by Squad Leader Hao, Deng Biao vomited to lie sprawled on the ground. 

"Just a little bit more would have done it. What a pity," Squad Leader Hao appeared to be gasping for breath as he wiped the sweat off his forehead with the cuff of his uniform. He looked at Deng Biao, who was sprawled on the ground, with joy across his face, "Since you lost, then you know you should go through the first military training option. If you still want to do the second training option, you can challenge me tomorrow. You're really good, after all. I think quite highly of you."