In the late autumn wilderness, the chill was biting. Despite wearing several layers, Huayan couldn't ward off the cold. To keep warm, she and Old Yang didn't stop walking even for a moment.
Fortunately, when they finally reached the end of the mountain path, a helicopter was already waiting for them. Upon entering the base, Wulin greeted her. Initially, the base commander had also wanted to meet her personally.
Unfortunately, a large-scale weapon smuggling operation had been discovered at the northern border. Given the strict gun control in the mainland, if some local criminals were to get their hands on these weapons, the potential harm and ensuing panic would be enormous.
Not only did the base commander head to the border, but a majority of the base's training personnel were also dispatched to respond to the emergency. If Wulin wasn't Huayan's only coach, he too would be at the northern border.
The gifts from Gouzi and Qiangzi would have to wait, as they were also reassigned. The base, which normally had few people, now felt even more empty and silent.
After dinner—which was no different from what other soldiers had, consisting of raw eggs, raw beef, wild vegetables, and coarse grains—Huayan almost gagged. It had been a while since she had tasted blood and raw meat, and filling her mouth with it again almost made her vomit.
However, Huayan knew she couldn't vomit. If she threw up the first time, it would set a psychological precedent for future nausea. People tend to follow an implicit rule of avoiding what causes them pain.
After finally finishing her meal, Huayan hurried outside, clutching an orange to mask the taste of blood in her mouth and to breathe in some fresh air.
Footsteps approached from behind; it was Wulin, also holding an orange.
"Still not used to the food? Have another orange to help," Wulin said, handing her a peeled orange.
"It's a bit tough to get used to," Huayan said, her face pale.
Wulin patted her gently, "But eating like this regularly will give you boundless energy and help your body recover faster. It will be very beneficial for the training ahead."
"What’s the training plan?"
"The next phase of training will last eight weeks. It includes enhanced physical training, advanced shooting training, parachute training, and electronic communication training. Let me especially mention the parachute training.
"There are two types of courses. The first is skydiving from 8,000 meters, opening the parachute at 300 meters, and landing slowly at a designated spot. The second, from the same height, involves using a wing suit to land within a 10-12 kilometer area.
"After completing each course, you'll need to consolidate what you've learned and practiced through missions, starting from the lowest F level and gradually increasing in difficulty. The higher the difficulty, the more valuable the skills and experience you'll gain."
"Challenging training—sounds exciting. I look forward to your guidance," Huayan said, playfully cupping her hands in a gesture of respect.
Wulin laughed and scolded, "You’re such a joker. Go to bed early. Tomorrow, I’ll treat you like any other soldier—no special treatment."
Huayan gave a firm salute and ran off with a smile.
The next day, before dawn, Huayan started her routine with a 3,000-meter weighted run, followed by an equally long weighted hike. Without rest, she proceeded to shooting training.
This enhanced shooting training wasn't static but dynamic. Both the shooter and the targets moved. On the hard gravel road, Huayan had to hit suddenly appearing targets; in the muddy outdoor wrestling area, she turned into a mud figure with only her eyes and gun remaining clean.
Wulin emphasized that her eyes and gun must always be functional because, in a crisis, they would be her lifeline. Whether crossing gravel, mud, or other obstacles, Huayan had to shoot accurately while moving.
Despite growing exhaustion and slowing shooting speed, her accuracy improved until every shot hit the bullseye. From a high platform, Old Yang and Wulin watched and conversed.
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"Last time, Huayan had no talent for shooting, like someone tone-deaf to music. But in her first mission, in a critical moment, she drew her gun and killed a drug dealer with one shot."
"So, you came up with this training method to tire her out and keep her nerves on edge, tapping into her potential and forming a habit."
"When I set up this training, I wasn't sure if it would work. Huayan gave me the confidence."
"This discovery is remarkable. The army has always had soldiers who perform poorly in training but excel in real danger, though they're rare and often not well-trained, leading to higher casualty rates. Many such talents are abandoned."
"One of my comrades was one of those abandoned," Wulin said, looking at Huayan and thinking of his friend. Seeing Huayan succeed brought him both joy and sorrow, as he lamented his comrade's untimely fate.
"Don't be sad. You've saved countless future soldiers. Having a life to live is ultimately a blessing," Old Yang said with unexpected sorrow.
Wulin was startled and asked worriedly, "Has a soldier been lost?"
Old Yang spoke in a pained voice, "Yes, Gouzi was killed by an arms dealer. He was only in his twenties."
After the evening training session, washed of the day's fatigue and dirt, Huayan learned about Gouzi's death over dinner. The news hit her like a thunderclap, leaving her ears ringing. After a long moment, she quickly ran outside. The simple-minded, often smiling Gouzi who used to hang around her was gone…
She knelt before a tree at the base and bowed three times, murmuring, "Gouzi, rest in peace." After that, she sat under the tree, not moving. The clouds obscured the moon, and the autumn wind rustled through the leaves above. Huayan wondered if it was Gouzi's spirit visiting them on the wind.
Without experiencing the sudden loss of a loved one, one cannot truly understand how important it is to cherish those around them.
The next morning, Huayan got up early and went to the assembly point. Old Yang and Wulin were already there, with the helicopter hangar open, suggesting there was a mission.
"You two are here so early; is there a mission?" Huayan asked, her body aching from the first day's training. If Wulin, her coach, had a mission, she might get to sleep in.
"Don't even think about it, girl. You're taking the lead on this one!" Old Yang, with his sharp eyes, immediately saw through her thoughts. Her wishful thinking shattered, Huayan couldn't help but feel disappointed.
The arms dealers at the northern border were particularly troublesome. They were highly organized and incredibly vigilant, as if they had received special training. The police wanted to secretly capture a mid-level arms dealer for questioning but hadn't found an opportunity.
After too much time had passed, one of the northern border officials, Shangguan Jianjun, requested Lao Qiao to deploy an enhanced soldier. The investigation revealed that this mid-level arms dealer was addicted to gambling. They planned to exploit this weakness to find an opportunity.
A person who always won at gambling and could be trusted was particularly important at this time. Shangguan Ning thought of Huayan’s clairvoyant ability, and Lao Qiao agreed.
Old Yang, Wulin, and Huayan secretly arrived in Caocang City, a place connected to the extreme north and northeast, teeming with mixed elements, local toughs, and numerous underground enterprises. Besides Lao Qiao and a small-time gangster, no one knew about Huayan's arrival.
The gangster quickly relayed the news to his boss, who passed it up the chain until it reached their unseen big boss.
Lao Qiao arranged for Huayan and the others to stay in a safe place. After some discussion, Huayan and Wulin pretended to be siblings who were lazy and loved to gamble.
After a few days of mingling with the local thugs and familiarizing themselves with the environment and people's habits, they started gambling in small casinos, winning more often than losing. After two days, Huayan and Wulin were robbed several times and beaten up multiple times by groups of thugs.
After another beating, Huayan and Wulin sat disheveled in a dirty alley. Both had split lips, still bleeding. They looked like a pair of down-and-out siblings.
"This is the fifth time we've been beaten up. Do you think I'll be scarred?" Huayan asked pitifully, looking at Wulin.
Wulin, like a big brother, gently wiped away her blood and said, "No, once this is over, we'll have Lao Qiao treat us to a big meal, and you'll be as pretty as ever."
To cheer her up, Wulin racked his brain for a place with good food and suddenly thought of one. "There's a place with really delicious food."
Huayan, despite the pain in her mouth, couldn't help but ask excitedly, "Where?"
"My hometown's private kitchen," Wulin said cautiously, avoiding any mention of places like Haibin City that might arouse suspicion. As soon as he spoke, Huayan's face darkened. Wulin, puzzled, asked, "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, it just reminded me of something."
Wulin suddenly said, "Is it about love?"
"How did you know?"
Wulin burst into laughter, finally getting the upper hand. Usually, it was Huayan who bullied him.
"So you were tricking me. How sneaky," Huayan glared at Wulin angrily. They started playfully tussling in the alley.
Hu Li, hidden at the alley's entrance, felt sorry seeing Huayan in such a miserable state. Just as he was about to approach, he noticed her displeasure at the mention of the private kitchen, which reminded him of something.
The night he got drunk, he had just left the hotel and run into Cai Cai. After a brief conversation, Cai Cai sprayed some perfume behind her ears, and he lost control, hugging and kissing her on the street. But within seconds, he snapped out of it. If those few seconds were caught on camera and shown to Huayan, it would cause a major misunderstanding. What should he do?
"Who's there?" Wulin suddenly shouted towards the alley entrance, ready to attack. Huayan also listened alertly, worried that the thugs were back for more.