Chapter 15: I Give Up — Please, No More Competing!

The training ground was alive with noise and commotion.

Xu Da swept his gaze across the faces of First Squad, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Lin Hui's heart immediately tightened.

Something's off.

This guy is definitely up to something again.

"In less than a month, you'll be assigned to your units," Xu Da said, his tone turning serious. "Recruit Company is just a warm-up. Your real journey begins once you join your assigned companies."

"If you want to land a good unit, you have to fight for it — fight, and fight again."

"So for the time you have left, you absolutely cannot afford to be the least bit careless."

Lin Hui couldn't help rolling his eyes inwardly.

First Squad's overall ranking was already number one in the entire Recruit Training Regiment.

And that still wasn't enough?

What, was he planning to pit them against the whole army next?

Greed knows no bounds.

You want to rack up achievements for yourself — fine. But you can't just treat us like pack animals and keep cracking the whip.

The thought of pack animals made Lin Hui unconsciously glance over at Wang Yong beside him.

This guy had been going head-to-head with him day and night. If that wasn't a stubborn mule, what was?

Wang Yong seemed to have anticipated Lin Hui turning to look, and was already staring right back at him, eyes blazing with sparks.

"Hmph!"

Wang Yong turned his head away in defiance.

Lin Hui cursed him as an idiot under his breath: Still acting tough? Still? Look at the state you're in after I've been running you ragged — how do you have zero self-awareness?

Over these past days of training, Wang Yong had been getting thrashed by Lin Hui from morning to night, every single day.

He couldn't match Lin Hui's running speed.

His tactical movements weren't as precise.

Even when it came to eating speed, he was left in the dust by two whole streets.

Yet not only had the guy refused to admit defeat — he seemed to grow more tenacious the more he was beaten.

Every time he lost, Wang Yong would wail and howl, sometimes even slamming his head against a wall or a tree. But after venting like that, he'd be perfectly fine again and come right back for more.

Lin Hui was starting to wonder if this guy had some kind of masochistic streak.

He let out a helpless sigh. "The approach isn't working. This kid has been absolutely destroyed, so why won't he give up? Why does he keep trying to surpass me?"

"Is he brain-dead, or does he just not have a brain at all?"

"No good — I need to change tactics. This can't keep going on."

Xu Da continued, "To prepare for the upcoming overall assessment, I've decided to raise the intensity of training by another level!"

"During this period, all of you will continue to use Lin Hui as your benchmark and measure yourselves against him. Anyone who can surpass him gets double the rest time. Anyone who can't — double the punishment!"

Every face in the squad instantly turned sour.

"We're done for. We're absolutely done for."

"How are we supposed to surpass Lin Hui? What kind of brain does he have compared to ours?"

Chen Erhu's eyes welled up with tears. "The punishment was already brutal enough, and now it's doubled? Big Bro, I don't wanna live anymore."

Lin Hui's ears were practically growing calluses from hearing this. "Stop wailing. If you don't want to be punished, train hard. Maybe one day you'll actually surpass me."

"Really?"

Chen Erhu's eyes lit up. "Big Bro, you're not messing with me, are you?"

Lin Hui nodded. "Of course not!"

He thought to himself: Erhu, try harder in your next life — get yourself a better reincarnation. As for this life, forget it. I've got the System on my side...

Wang Yong was seething, his whole body burning with frustration. Why did they always have to use Lin Hui as the standard?

Like they couldn't survive without him?

He glared daggers at Lin Hui, eyes full of fury.

Feeling that piercing stare, Lin Hui was at a loss for words: What the hell are you keep staring at me for? It's Xu Da, that little punk, who's stirring up trouble — go glare at him.

Watching the two of them face off like a needle against a blade of wheat, Xu Da smiled with a hint of mischief.

That tension — one poke and it flared right up.

"Everyone, begin the six-kilometer run! All personnel, right — face!"

The entire squad trudged toward the track with the look of people who had lost the will to live.

Wang Yong charged out first, like a horse that had broken free of its reins.

"Here we go again!"

Lin Hui shook his head in exasperation, broke away from the group in a few strides, and caught up.

Seeing Lin Hui close the gap so quickly, Wang Yong's face flushed red with urgency.

But even pouring every last ounce of strength into it, he couldn't shake Lin Hui off.

Instead, barely half a lap in, he was overtaken with ease.

Lin Hui glanced back, his expression full of amusement. "Wang Yong, are you a donkey or something? How can you be this stubborn? I've already told you — you can't beat me. Why won't you listen?"

"It's talent, buddy. Talent. You know what that is?"

Wang Yong felt like his lungs were about to explode.

"Fuck you!"

He lowered his head and charged forward with a roar, spittle flying everywhere, like a maddened old ox.

Lin Hui shook his head. "This kid — way too earnest."

Ding — "Running ability +1!"

The notification chimed in his ear, and Lin Hui's speed surged, quickly leaving Wang Yong behind once more.

Overtaken again, Wang Yong's eyes filled with despair. "Bastard — did this guy grow up eating rocket fuel? How can he run this fast?"

* * *

At the flagpole platform in the distance.

Regiment Commander Zhou Zhongyi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a satisfied smile on his face.

Zhang Jiantao said respectfully, "Commander, if there's anything to report, I can come to you. Why did you make the trip out here yourself?"

Zhou Zhongyi waved his hand with a smile.

He had come on orders from the division commander.

He hadn't expected to stumble upon such a pleasant surprise.

"Haven't seen him in a while, but Lin Hui has improved remarkably fast. Word about him reaches me at the regiment headquarters every now and then. Not bad at all, Xiao Zhang — you've got quite a knack for training soldiers."

Zhang Jiantao laughed heartily. "Commander, you flatter me. It's mainly because these recruits are exceptional themselves."

He had misjudged Lin Hui at the start.

He'd assumed Lin Hui was a hopeless, useless soldier.

He never expected that in just two months of Recruit Company, not only had Lin Hui shone brilliantly — he'd even brought glory to Zhang Jiantao himself.

"Less than a month left until the recruit assessment," Zhou Zhongyi said, looking at him. "Don't let your guard down."

"Please rest assured, Commander," Zhang Jiantao said gravely. "In this assessment, First Squad will shine and deliver the best results. With Xu Da in charge, these soldiers will only keep improving — there won't be a single moment of slacking."

Zhou Zhongyi nodded. "With those words from you, I'm at ease. This assessment is different from previous ones — the division commander and the brigade commander will both be attending. We cannot afford any slip-ups."

"The division commander is coming too?"

Zhang Jiantao's eyes lit up instantly.

In all his years training recruits, he had never once had a division commander come to observe an assessment.

Zhou Zhongyi patted him on the shoulder. "Put on a good show. If things go well, it'll be a credit to both of us."

"Yes, sir!"

Zhang Jiantao snapped a salute, brimming with excitement.

It seemed this time around, it wasn't just an opportunity for Xu Da — it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for himself as well.

If he performed well, he might even earn an early promotion.

* * *

Before long, everyone had finished the six-kilometer run.

Lin Hui came in first, as always.

Xu Da walked over and announced loudly, "Everyone except Lin Hui — five hundred push-ups!"

"What — five hundred?!" The entire squad cried out in anguish. "Squad Leader, are you trying to kill us?!"

"Less talking, start moving!"

With one thunderous shout from Xu Da, everyone dropped to the ground, on the verge of tears.

Wang Yong was on the brink of a breakdown, both arms trembling uncontrollably.

Lin Hui watched Wang Yong's pitiful state and sneered. "Serves you right. Work yourself to death, why don't you."

Feeling the urge to use the restroom, he dusted off his hands, stood up, and headed to the bathroom.

He had just stepped out of the restroom when a figure suddenly burst out, startling him.

"Holy shit, what the—"

He looked more carefully. It was Wang Yong, drenched head to toe in sweat, as if he'd been fished out of a water tank.

Lin Hui gave him a sideways glance. "Well, well — if it isn't our little tyrant, Brother Yong. Go wash up. We'll keep competing in a bit, yeah?"

He turned to leave, but Wang Yong grabbed his arm.

"What do you want? Looking for a fight?"

Lin Hui squared his eyes. "If you want to fight, not here — too many people. Let's go somewhere else. I'm not getting dragged into trouble because of you."

Wang Yong's face crumpled, and with a thud, he dropped to his knees. "Bro, I was wrong. I was blind before — I couldn't see Mount Tai right in front of me. Please, I'm begging you — forgive me."

"Fucking hell, stop competing with me. If this keeps up... I'm not going to make it."

Lin Hui was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. "So you've finally cracked, have you..."