Chapter 53: Because He Was Going to the Reconnaissance Company!

As soon as Shen Biao uttered those words, Qi Tian and the others bolted without lingering for even a second!

He had aimed straight at a man's most treasured spot, and that reckless fellow looked like he actually had the guts to pull the trigger!

If they weren't hit because they were too small, they would undoubtedly become the laughingstock of the others for a good while.

If they were hit, they would be laughed at for the rest of their lives!

No one wanted to be discharged due to such an injury and return to their hometowns as eunuchs. Moving fast right now was undoubtedly the wisest choice!

"Those brats!"

Watching Qi Tian and the others sprint at full speed into the distance as if fleeing a disaster, Shen Biao couldn't help but laugh and scold.

Fu Wei, standing beside him, also chuckled out loud, "Old Shen, you're getting bolder with your games. When the rest of us talk about shooting ducks, we shoot at the ones in the sky, but you? You're playing for real, aren't you?!"

"I was just trying to scare them. If I had actually pulled the trigger, those five fellows would've fought me to the death.

Their attitude from early this morning is still fresh in my memory.

Those five are all tough nuts to crack, and not a single one is easy to deal with.

I don't want to play for real with them; losing would be utterly humiliating, and winning wouldn't be much of an honor either!"

"True. Those five are even wilder than we were back in the day. Let's hope they pass the selection smoothly.

Having spent so many years in the Sharp Blade, I've never seen such interesting corporals and privates!"

The two exchanged remarks, watching the receding figures of Qi Tian and the others with faces full of smiles.

After the showdown earlier that morning,

the two officers, much like Nie Feihong and Zhu Xiaotian, grew increasingly fond of these five recruits the more they looked at them!

In fact, Fu Wei had left one thing unsaid.

It had been a very long time since he last saw Shen Biao joke around with others the way he just did!

The Living Hades, who was previously reputed to never smile, had finally bloomed like an iron tree today and genuinely laughed for once!

Unfortunately, the smile on Shen Biao's face didn't last long.

It soon reverted to his usual stern expression, tinged with a hint of helplessness!

"Old Fu, today is the third day of selection. Judging by the looks of it, those veterans who have stubbornly refused to eat shouldn't have much left in their stomachs by now.

Once this morning's marathon training ends, the number of people left standing will likely shrink to just two digits. Ah, what a pity!"

"What's so pity about that? It's just survival of the fittest!"

As he spoke, Fu Wei pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it for himself, and handed another to Shen Biao.

"On the real frontline battlefield, the food will only be more disgusting and harder to swallow than what we prepared.

What, do they expect to starve themselves to death when the time comes?

Troops who can't even break through this psychological barrier—allowing them to join Sharp Blade is no different from killing them with our own hands.

In fact, I'd rather see these guys crawl back to their original units for more training. At least they'll be somewhat safer there!

As for those five recruits, they're more to my taste by the day. They've bulldozed through the toughest hurdles and finished them quite brilliantly.

The remaining stamina and individual military skills tests shouldn't pose much of a challenge for them.

These are the exact soldiers Sharp Blade truly needs and is worth heavily cultivating!"

...

Over the next four days, Qi Tian and the others participated in all training sessions.

Along with the fifteen veterans who managed to last until the end, they successfully passed the selection and assessment of the Sharp Blade Amphibious Unit.

By day, they endured grueling sessions of physical conditioning, marksmanship, and hand-to-hand combat.

By night, they were subjected to all sorts of bizarre and eccentric forms of torture.

Under such harsh tempering, the changes in the twenty men could only be described as earth-shattering.

Though their frames grew increasingly lean and their skin deeply tanned, their individual combat effectiveness multiplied exponentially!

In the blink of an eye, the final day of selection arrived.

Late at night, around midnight.

The selection zone.

Qi Tian and his companions unloaded the one-hundred-and-twenty-pound rucksacks from their backs and saluted Fu Wei to report:

"The thirty-kilometer all-terrain weighted cross-country is complete. Here are our records for your review."

"No need. Keep them yourselves as a memento."

"A memento?"

Behind Qi Tian, Jiang Chong raised an eyebrow, locked his eyes onto Fu Wei, and asked excitedly, "You mean... our assessment is over?"

"Yes. You used five days to complete what was meant to be a week-long assessment for others.

Furthermore, I calculated that the extra weight you deliberately added exceeded the total training weight of the veterans' first two days combined.

Now, on behalf of the Sharp Blade Regiment, I officially congratulate you all on becoming part of this big family!"

The moment he finished his last word, Fu Wei's stern expression of the past five days suddenly melted away, replaced by a wide smile.

While Qi Tian and the four others collectively let out sighs of relief, their hearts overflowed with indescribable joy and excitement!

"Brother Tian, we did it! We really did it!"

"We passed the assessment for the Sharp Blade Amphibious Unit, this reinforced regiment, and officially became members!"

"Gosh, I can't even bear to think about the past five days. If it hadn't ended now, I swear I would've lost my mind from the torture!"

"..."

Waving their arms, they cheered loudly, as if releasing emotions that had been suppressed deep within their chests for a long time!

Watching the five men dancing around in front of him, Fu Wei wore a look of deep gratification.

He had watched these recruits with his own eyes grow step by step over five days into what they were today.

Every ounce of effort, sweat, and even blood shed during this period was witnessed by him firsthand.

At the same time, Fu Wei had poured all his skills into these five men.

Especially his specialty—marksmanship—which directly elevated Zhang Meng and the others to a whole new level.

Before the assessment, there had been a massive gap in shooting proficiency between Qi Tian and the other four.

After all, Qi Tian was a sniper back in the Iron Fist Regiment, while the other four were merely ordinary soldiers.

But now, though a gap still remained,

Zhang Meng and the rest had reached a level of marksmanship that could truly be called excellent.

To call Fu Wei their mentor in arms was not an exaggeration in the least.

At this moment, he felt like a veteran craftsman looking at his disciples successfully concluding their bitter training, feeling deeply fulfilled and content!

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Just then, a crisp cough rang out from behind the crowd.

Looking back, they saw Leng Qiangguo and the Deputy Commander of the Sharp Blade Regiment, Zhu Xiaotian, walking slowly out from behind the canvas shed.

The other fifteen veterans who had passed the assessment stood nearby, each holding a file folder.

Obviously, they had already learned which company they would be assigned to after joining the Sharp Blade Regiment.

"One-hundred-and-twenty-pound loads, completing an all-terrain cross-country, and only taking twenty minutes longer than these veterans. To be honest, when I was young, I wouldn't have been a match for the five of you!"

Leng Qiangguo took the lead, walking up to the five men while applauding.

"Salute!"

"Good day, Chief!"

At Qi Tian's command, the other four raised their hands in unison to salute Leng Qiangguo and Zhu Xiaotian.

Even Battalion Commander Fu Wei, driven by some inexplicable impulse, followed Qi Tian's command and raised his hand as well.

"No need to be so stiff. You've finally passed the assessment. Tonight belongs to you for celebration. I'm just an old soldier here to offer congratulations."

Leng Qiangguo smiled as he replied, sweeping his gaze across each of them before letting it rest finally on Qi Tian.

Seeing this, Deputy Commander Zhu Xiaotian stepped forward quickly, waved his hand at the five men, and said:

"You've been put through the wringer in the selection zone for so long, you're all smelling quite ripe. Come with me, I'll take you to the Sharp Blade Regiment by vehicle.

First, you'll eat a good meal, take a shower, and change into clean training uniforms to complete the remaining admission procedures. Qi Tian, you go with Secretary Leng. The rest of you, follow me!"

"Yes!"

Though the men didn't understand why Zhu Xiaotian made such an arrangement, since higher-ups had given the order, they naturally wouldn't question it.

Besides, having eaten slop for five full days and suffered through such prolonged torture,

they were eager for a hearty meal and a good rest, making them care little about such trivial matters as splitting up into different vehicles.

Acknowledging the order, they joined the other fifteen veterans and boarded a military bus parked outside the selection zone.

"Chief, I see there are still plenty of empty seats on this bus. Why did they make Brother Tian go with the other chief? Isn't that a bit redundant?"

Once on board, Jiang Chong, who was usually observant, glanced around, noticed the vacant seats, and asked Zhu Xiaotian.

Hearing this, Zhu Xiaotian had no intention of keeping it a secret.

He spoke directly to clear up Jiang Chong's confusion:

"It's very simple. The place Qi Tian is heading to tomorrow is the reconnaissance company of the Sharp Blade Amphibious Unit.

That place is the elite of the elites!

Your assessment has officially ended, but for Qi Tian,

his assessment still has its final and most difficult trial waiting to be completed!

This is also the reason why Regiment Commander Nie Feihong didn't show up tonight.

Because he is the chief examiner for Qi Tian's reconnaissance company assessment.

As far as I know, it's a real combat mission.

A true, head-on combat mission between us, the soldiers of Dragon Country, and an overseas spy organization!"