Chapter 13: Domination on a Physical Level

Outside the dormitory building.

First Squad had mostly fallen into formation.

Lin Hui sprinted over and took his place at the head of the line.

Xu Da glanced at him, gave a small nod, and said nothing.

Wang Yong was instantly furious.

If anyone else had been the last to arrive, they'd have been punished and chewed out for sure.

So how did Lin Hui get away without a scratch?

Was there no fairness left in this world? Was there no justice?

Wang Yong glared at Lin Hui. "You're pulling rank, aren't you? Fine. I'm going to snatch that privilege right out from under you — let's see what you've got to be smug about then!"

Xu Da raised his voice to address everyone. "Today we're learning a new subject: the combat crawl!"

Faces lit up across the squad.

They'd been drilling military posture and marching formations until they were sick of it.

Finally, something different.

Chen Erhu's eyes gleamed with excitement. "The combat crawl? Is that like in the movies, where the hero crawls up to blow up a bunker? I've seen it on TV!"

Lin Hui smiled to himself. Erhu, you big lug — did you really think the combat crawl was going to be fun?

This was a serious tactical movement, nothing like the simple drills they'd done before.

The combat crawl generally came in three forms: the low crawl, the high crawl, and the side crawl.

All of them required keeping the body close to the ground, using the strength of the arms and legs to pull and push the body forward.

It looked simple. In reality, it was brutally exhausting.

Even seasoned veterans could only manage a few lengths under load.

For a rookie, even without any gear, a hundred meters was enough to leave you half-dead.

More importantly, the combat crawl had a time limit.

You had to reach the finish line within the allotted time, with proper form — only then did it count as passing.

You couldn't just flop on the ground and drag yourself along like a dog!

Lin Hui let out a helpless sigh. "Now that we're getting into tactical movements, I have a feeling the good days are over."

Thinking about Wang Yong breathing down his neck day and night made him even more irritated. "Damn it, how does that big idiot manage to have such a one-track mind?"

Xu Da continued. "Now, I'll explain the key points of the combat crawl!"

"During the combat crawl, your body must stay close to the ground. Use the strength of your arms and legs to pull your entire body forward…"

After the explanation, Xu Da led everyone out to the training ground.

"I'm not taking you out into the field just yet."

"But it rained last night, so the ground is wet — close enough to outdoor conditions. Alright, no more talk. Let's begin training."

"Everyone, get down!"

The recruits exchanged uncertain looks.

Most of them had grown up in the countryside, but even they weren't in the habit of rolling around in the mud.

They weren't pigs in a sty — they had standards of hygiene, thank you very much.

Besides, if their clothes got dirty, they'd have to wash them themselves. What a hassle.

Ma Xiaoshan asked carefully, "Squad Leader, the ground's really dirty. Can we find somewhere drier? I'm worried about getting my clothes muddy."

Xu Da shot him a look. "A grown man afraid of a little dirt? This is training, not playtime. Get down. Now!"

The words had barely left his mouth when Wang Yong suddenly slammed himself face-first onto the ground.

Right into a puddle.

A huge splash of muddy water flew up and splattered across Lin Hui and the others' trousers, nearly making them curse out loud.

"Squad Leader, what do we do next?"

Wang Yong lay flat on the ground without moving, bellowing at the top of his lungs.

Lin Hui stared wide-eyed. "Holy shit, are you seriously trying to out-hustle everyone? You're addicted, aren't you?"

Xu Da's face broke into a satisfied smile. He was just about to speak when Lin Hui, without a word, threw himself down too — sending a spray of muddy water all over Wang Yong — and shouted even louder.

"Squad Leader, what do we do?"

Xu Da was thrilled. He pointed at the rest of the squad. "You see that? When I say get down, you get down. That's what a soldier looks like. The rest of you — follow their example!"

Wang Yong bared his teeth and glared daggers at Lin Hui.

Lin Hui didn't back down for a second, glaring right back.

Since this guy clearly didn't know when to quit, Lin Hui decided to crush him completely — on a purely physical level.

I've got the System on my side, pal. You really think you can out-grind me?

"You want to play? Fine. I'll play with you until you drop."

Wang Yong ground his teeth in fury. "Bring it on. Whoever gives up first, whoever cries uncle first — that guy's the grandson!"

"Well, good grandson, I'm afraid I don't have any New Year's money for you!"

That one line nearly made Wang Yong spit blood.

He wanted to tear that smug mouth right off this guy's face!

Xu Da watched it all with quiet amusement.

The more these two went at each other, the better.

"Watch me first. I'll demonstrate the low crawl. Pay attention."

With that, Xu Da pitched his body forward rapidly, and just as he was about to hit the ground, both hands shot out and caught him.

Then, like a gecko, he moved swiftly forward on all fours.

Even Lin Hui couldn't help but silently admire the display: No wonder he came out of the Vanguard Company — his tactical movements are both sharp and precise!

In no time, Xu Da had crawled a full length and back.

"Alright." He stood up without so much as a furrowed brow. "Did everyone get a good look? Pay attention to the key points — use your arms and legs to drive your body forward. Don't rely on just one!"

Everyone nodded and reluctantly got down onto the grass.

"Low crawl training begins now. Move!"

The moment Xu Da gave the order, Wang Yong shot forward like a giant grasshopper.

Lin Hui was right behind him, charging out without hesitation.

He'd figured this guy out by now — Wang Yong was a stubborn mule, the single-minded kind.

Reasoning with him was basically impossible.

The only way was to crush him in every single category, make him understand just how vast the gap was between himself and someone with a cheat System.

Only then would Wang Yong back off on his own and stop picking fights.

Ding — Low Crawl +1!

Ding — Low Crawl +1!

One round trip, and the System chimed twice in Lin Hui's mind.

His movements grew increasingly fluid, and he quickly overtook Wang Yong, reaching the finish line first.

Lin Hui glanced back and said coolly, "I gave you a chance and you couldn't use it. I even slowed down and you still couldn't catch up? Maybe just give up — all you have to do is admit defeat."

Wang Yong was so furious he felt his lungs might burst. "Don't get cocky. I slipped back there. If I hadn't, you'd be eating my dust!"

"Then come at me again!"

Lin Hui rolled his eyes. This guy was just asking for it.

From a distance, Xu Da nearly snorted with laughter.

He loved watching these two go at each other like this.

Because it was exactly this kind of competitive spirit that would make them improve faster — and drag the whole First Squad up with them.

After the crawl training, it was time for the three-kilometer run.

Lin Hui didn't even bother resting — he went straight into a head-to-head with Wang Yong.

Ding — Running Ability +1!

The System boosted his running ability again. But after pulling ahead of Wang Yong, he didn't rush to open up a big lead.

Instead, he kept himself exactly one meter ahead — just to torment the guy.

"Think you're something special?"

"Come on then, try and catch me!"

Wang Yong exploded in a string of curses. "Damn you, stop being so smug! I'll catch up to you sooner or later!"

Lin Hui taunted with a grin, "You'd better pick up the pace then, slowpoke!"

"Fuck you!"

Wang Yong's veins bulged with rage as he threw everything he had into the chase.

That reckless, all-out ferocity scared Lin Hui enough that he didn't dare let up for even a second, running faster than a startled rabbit.

* * *

In the blink of an eye, the second-month recruit assessment was over.

On the day the results came out, Xu Da walked toward the squad with a cheerful bounce in his step.

"First Squad Leader!"

Xu Da turned around. Several other squad leaders had gathered around him.

"What's up?"

The Fifth Squad Leader gave a big thumbs-up from a distance. "Old Squad Leader, you're incredible!"

The Second Squad Leader said with mock exasperation, "Of course he's incredible — you were trained by him too, weren't you? You wouldn't be where you are without him."

"Right, right, exactly!"

The Fifth Squad Leader kept nodding. "Old Squad Leader, your guys Lin Hui and Wang Yong took first and second in this assessment. Except for that Chen Erhu who's stiff as a plank of wood, the whole squad scored well."

"First Squad's overall score ranked first in the entire regiment. How on earth did you pull that off?"

"Yeah, First Squad Leader — share your secrets with us!"

The other squad leaders all wanted a piece of that wisdom.

Xu Da beamed, unable to keep his mouth from spreading into a grin. "As long as you work hard and hold your soldiers to a high standard, you can train good soldiers too. In the army, there are no bad soldiers — only soldiers who haven't been motivated the right way."

Everyone nodded as if they were hearing words of profound wisdom.

The Second Squad Leader slapped his forehead. "Oh right, almost forgot the important thing — the Company Commander's been asking for you."

Xu Da's heart leapt.

Two months of assessments were done.

Last time, the Company Commander had promised him a Commendation, but it never came through. Surely this time it would.

Without another thought, Xu Da jogged straight to the company office.

He knocked and stepped inside.

Xu Da walked in with a light step and a face full of sunshine.

His usually stiff and serious expression had given way to a genuine smile.

"Good day, Company Commander! Good day, Political Instructor!"

Wang Hai set down his pen and turned around with a grin. "Now there's a sight — a man in high spirits. Look at our big block of dark wood, actually smiling for once."

Zhang Jiantao burst out laughing. "Leading his whole squad to first place in the Recruit Training Regiment — if that were me, I'd be laughing in my sleep."

Wang Hai walked over. "It really is something, Xu Da. You may not be the most educated, but you've got a real knack for leading soldiers."

Xu Da said modestly, "Political Instructor, Company Commander — you're far too kind. Everything I know, I learned from watching the two of you."

"Bullshit!"

Zhang Jiantao rolled his eyes. "You did this on your own ability — what's there to be modest about? And don't go putting hats on our heads. Do we look like we need that?"

He waved a hand. "Alright, enough of that. Let me give you some good news."

Xu Da perked up immediately.

His face was written all over with anticipation.

Zhang Jiantao said calmly, "That report — I submitted it a month ago. Originally I was going to get you a Commendation, but the Regiment Commander said to wait and see, to hold off until after recruit training ended."

"Just now, I called and put in another word for you. Want to guess what the Regiment Commander said?"

Watching the Company Commander drag it out, Xu Da felt like a cat on hot bricks. "Did it go through? Did the Regiment Commander approve it?"

Zhang Jiantao smiled. "The Regiment Commander's thinking is — skip the Commendation for now. Once the third-month assessment is done, he'll give you a Third-Class Merit Citation directly."

Xu Da nearly went out of his mind with joy. "A Third-Class Merit Citation! Does that — does that mean I can go up for Officer Promotion?"

Zhang Jiantao nodded. "Absolutely. Don't worry about it. You've got one month left — give it everything you've got and don't slip up at the end."

"Yes, sir!"

Xu Da snapped a salute, brimming with excitement. "I'll push even harder. I'm going to aim to break the regiment's all-time record!"

Zhang Jiantao and Wang Hai exchanged a glance. "Whoa, big talk from this one. If you actually break the regiment record, you won't just be promoted to Second Lieutenant — you might go straight to First Lieutenant!"

Xu Da was over the moon.

First Lieutenant!

Plenty of men from his village had gone into the army.

But not a single one had ever risen to such a rank!

If he could make First Lieutenant, that would truly be an honor to his entire family line!

Xu Da quietly made up his mind: he would train even harder when he got back. He absolutely could not afford to slip up.

But what he never could have imagined was that reality, as always, had other plans…