Chapter 64: The Overseas Viper Gang

"Qi Tian, accept her challenge. I, Yu Congrong, will back you up. If you win, I'll personally escort you to report to the Sharp Blade Reconnaissance Company. If you lose, the conditions I just proposed remain unchanged!"

Since Nie Feihong had already spoken, Yu Congrong naturally couldn't stay idle.

As soon as Ouyang Nanyue's voice trailed off, he directly urged Qi Tian to agree to the contest she proposed.

That way, regardless of the outcome, it would be all benefit and no harm for him!

If Qi Tian won, he could send this new recruit king off on his final journey.

But if Qi Tian lost, he would have the opportunity to keep Qi Tian in the SWAT detachment to groom him!

Nie Feihong inwardly cursed, thinking that this old fox Yu Congrong was truly shrewd to the core.

With conditions like these, let alone Qi Tian, a rookie who had only been in the military for forty days.

Even if you brought over a veteran from a reconnaissance company, he wouldn't be able to resist such a temptation!

However, right at that moment.

Qi Tian, who had remained silent all along, suddenly stepped forward and shook his head with a smile at Ouyang Nanyue:

"There's no need for a contest. Luo Mei was captured by you; I have no reason, nor do I have the qualification, to make you play an extra round with me.

My brothers are all still waiting for me at Sharp Blade. If I go to the reconnaissance company, who is going to lead them through hellish training?

I don't deny the ability of the Sharp Blade instructors, but only I can push them to unlock their absolute maximum potential during training.

And I have confidence that during the next reconnaissance company evaluation, all five of us will pass. When that time comes, I will come to challenge you!"

As soon as Qi Tian finished speaking, Nie Feihong's previously tense expression instantly relaxed.

Taking a stride forward, Nie Feihong tightly gripped Qi Tian's wrist and pressed on:

"Qi Tian, are you willing to come back with me to Sharp Blade, even if you fail the evaluation?"

"Of course. Secretary Leng showed great favor in discovering me, and he brought me to Jiangnan specifically to join Sharp Blade. I cannot let down his expectations of me!"

"That's the best possible outcome, simply the best!" Nie Feihong didn't care what Qi Tian's reasons were for choosing to stay in Sharp Blade.

As long as this fine sapling stayed, Nie Feihong had no doubt he could cultivate the kid's sense of belonging to Sharp Blade in the future.

Meanwhile, Yu Congrong's expression nearby quickly collapsed.

This was the first time he had ever offered such generous conditions.

All to pull in a promising recruit, and he had even prepared to butt heads with Leng Qiangguo and Nie Feihong over it.

Yet even so, it still hadn't tipped the scales in Qi Tian's heart toward him.

It would be a lie to say Yu Congrong wasn't disappointed!

"Captain Yu, thank you for your kind intentions, but my brothers are still waiting for me at Sharp Blade, so..."

"No need for formalities, I understand!"

Before Qi Tian could finish, Yu Congrong waved his hand and interrupted him, "Previously, I always thought you punk were strong without a single flaw.

Even though you're just a recruit, you possess all the necessary military literacy, martial blood, and soldier's grit. But looking at it now, you do have a weakness after all. Qi Tian, you care far too much about personal bonds!"

"Captain Yu, how can valuing bonds be a weakness?"

"I can't answer that question for you right now. When you reach the battlefield in the future, you will understand naturally. Right now, I'd rather say a few words to this young lady."

The last sentence was directed at Ouyang Nanyue, who was standing in the front row.

At the same time, the gazes of Leng Qiangguo and Nie Feihong also shifted from Qi Tian to Ouyang Nanyue.

"To be honest, I haven't met a single one of the brothers Qi Tian just mentioned.

Yet for their sake, Qi Tian was willing to give up challenging you, and even give up a superior training environment. I believe that if his brothers faced the same choice in the future, their answer would remain unchanged.

Furthermore, I believe that once they reach the battlefield, they will become each other's most formidable backing, willing to sacrifice themselves to protect one another.

Such camaraderie cannot be cultivated anywhere else except in the military.

Ouyang Nanyue, let me ask you: do you still stubbornly believe that, as a sniper, you don't need comrades?

Did you really win this evaluation with a clear conscience? Do you still insist that you can fight as a lone operative without needing anyone else's help?"

"I..."

Ouyang Nanyue was left at a loss for words by Yu Congrong's remarks.

After hesitating for a long while, Ouyang Nanyue raised her eyes and glanced toward where Qi Tian stood, her expression visibly shifting: "No, I need comrades!"

"Very well, you are dismissed!"

Hearing Ouyang Nanyue's response, the expression on Yu Congrong's face turned from gloomy to bright. He turned, exchanged a glance with Leng Qiangguo and Nie Feihong, and nodded with a smile.

He hadn't managed to poach Qi Tian from Nie Feihong today, indeed.

However, he had helped Nie Feihong forge an equally exceptional soldier.

This favor was one Nie Feihong now completely owed him!

In the future, if a similar situation arose, Nie Feihong would have nothing left to say and would have to obediently hand over any good soldier.

"Secretary Leng, the guy who got knocked out cold by Qi Tian in this morning's jewelry store robbery case has started talking. This is an organized and premeditated crime.

The mastermind behind this case is the leader of the Green Snake Hall under the overseas Viper Gang. How about coming along to the detachment to hear it firsthand?"

When Yu Congrong reported the situation to Leng Qiangguo, he didn't deliberately avoid the veterans who had passed the evaluation.

Of course, there was truly no need to hide or cover it up.

The primary combat targets for these veterans in the future would be overseas criminal and terrorist forces.

Even if he didn't mention it today, these soldiers would certainly find out about it sooner or later.

On the contrary, the usually calm and seasoned Leng Qiangguo and Nie Feihong heard the name of the Viper Gang.

Their expressions actually changed simultaneously!

They even instinctively exchanged glances: "The Viper Gang?"

"Let's go, let's hear what they have. Qi Tian, come with us. After all, this operation was commanded by you and executed smoothly; you are qualified to participate in the final interrogation."

A moment later, Nie Feihong seemed to suddenly think of something.

He beckoned and called over Qi Tian, who had just changed into a new set of training fatigues.

Under Yu Congrong's lead, they arrived at the SWAT detachment's interrogation room.

At that moment, police officers were routinely questioning the robber leader.

The transcripts of the previous conversation were scrolling across the large screen in front of Qi Tian and the others.

"Chief Nie, could this Viper Gang have some connection with Jiang Chong?"

Carefully examining the transcript compiled by the police officers, Qi Tian's eyes suddenly lit up as he probed Nie Feihong:

"Earlier, when Captain Yu mentioned the name of this gang, the expressions on your faces were clearly abnormal.

Besides, the team had already been dismissed. I could tell you originally had no intention of bringing me along at all.

It was entirely because of the name 'Viper Gang' that you changed your plans.

Zhang Meng, Song Wei, Lin Mang, and I certainly have nothing to do with the Viper Gang. The only one who might possibly be tied to it is that military brat Jiang Chong."

"You punk, you really are sharp!"

Nie Feihong looked at Qi Tian with a hint of surprise and nodded heavily in response: "That's right. This Viper Gang is related to Jiang Chong, and you could even describe it as a blood feud!

Jiang Chong's father, Jiang Weiping, was my former comrade-in-arms—my most trusted comrade!

Back then, the Viper Gang detained a group of our country's merchants doing export trade abroad, and Sharp Blade took on the rescue mission.

At the very end of the operation, all the hostages returned safely to China, but Jiang Chong's father was shot dead by the Viper members.

Weiping had a chance to survive back then, but he chose to protect me, so..."