First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 117
Chapter 117: Youth
After finishing breakfast, Lian Sheng and the others jogged towards the training room. Pushing open the door, they were surprised to find it unusually quiet inside. Thinking the instructor had arrived early again, they glanced to the side and realized it was the medical team setting up the area.
Several pieces of equipment had been brought in, and there seemed to be quite a few people. This setup made the students involuntarily tense up.
Lian Sheng spotted a familiar face - someone wearing a jacket with the Alliance University emblem, sitting near their assembly point with two others.
Approaching to greet him, Lian Sheng said: "Doctor Lin? You're here too. What a coincidence."
Doctor Lin removed his earphones and looked at her: "Mhm. To prevent accidents, we're here to supervise."
Lian Sheng: "What kind of accidents?"
Doctor Lin said bluntly: "Accidents like someone with your physical fitness sneaking into the training team."
Lian Sheng: "..."
As sharp-tongued as ever. Why did she even ask?
Counting the medical teams, Lian Sheng asked: "There are only twelve schools here?"
"You think just anyone can come? This is a proper military training base," Doctor Lin said. "Thank your seniors for their heroic performance in the selection matches that earned you this opportunity. Try not to embarrass yourselves in front of your juniors."
According to Zhao Zhuoluo, every year seniors would tell the next class about their glorious history here, which meant Alliance University was indeed a powerhouse.
Before they could continue chatting, a group of instructors marched in formation through the door. The leader shouted sternly: "What's with this sloppy behavior? Get in position immediately! How many times must I say it - show some discipline!"
The students quickly formed ranks.
The lead instructor walked to the center, dismissed the others with a word, and the remaining instructors jogged to their respective teams.
Standing at the front, the instructor smiled and asked: "Sleep well last night?"
No one answered.
The instructor glanced at his toes and continued smiling: "If you couldn't sleep well after yesterday's light training, you'll never sleep well from now on."
"Yesterday's failures... oh right, none of you failed yesterday. Not bad. Other instructors are quite envious of me - you all deserve some praise." Clapping his hands, he continued: "Now let me explain today's rules."
Stepping forward, he pointed to the perimeter: "Everyone runs laps. One kilometer per round. After completing a kilometer, random sparring matches begin. If you defeat your opponent, you get ten minutes rest. If you lose, you keep running until you win six matches. Those who finish early can rest early. Check your physical condition every half hour. Those who can't keep up can pack their bags and go home. Those who don't complete the task on time—"
He checked his optical computer: "It's currently 5:26. You must meet my requirements before 11:30. Any questions?"
The students were mentally processing the rules and formulating training plans.
Lian Sheng raised her hand: "Report."
The instructor narrowed his eyes: "Speak!"
Lian Sheng asked: "Are there time limits for the sparring matches and running?"
"Of course, didn't I mention that?" The instructor feigned innocence. "One kilometer must be completed within seven minutes. Sparring matches cannot exceed five minutes. Otherwise, it's invalid and you start over."
The students groaned in dismay: "Ugh—!"
They had briefly considered allocating time between running and sparring to pace themselves. Since the instructor hadn't mentioned rules, they assumed it was allowed. Their momentary joy vanished when they realized this was a carefully laid trap.
Clearly, trying to exploit loopholes would backfire - these instructors probably enjoyed watching students outsmart themselves. How malicious.
Seeing their expressions, the instructor shouted: "Quiet! Any more questions?"
Lian Sheng carefully considered the setup.
Both last night's and today's training were quite flexible. Yesterday, while each round was limited to forty-five minutes, only an overall goal was set. Within that time, running speed and sparring pace were self-regulated.
Today was similar.
For prolonged training, students who couldn't rest early would accumulate fatigue, putting themselves at a disadvantage in sparring. Frequent losses meant continuous jogging - a vicious cycle.
For students with good stamina, significant gaps might appear after five kilometers. But for someone like Lian Sheng with poor endurance, she couldn't afford two consecutive losses - meaning three kilometers of jogging.
The instructors wouldn't advise how to manage stamina. Learning self-regulation was a soldier's essential skill.
A student raised his hand: "Instructor, what about those who failed yesterday? What's their training today?"
"Weighted running today," the instructor said. "Standard is twenty kilograms, but since you're new, I'll go easy - just ten kilograms."
As they put on monitoring devices and prepared to run, they heard another instructor nearby shouting: "Got complaints? Then make it twenty kilograms! I said no objections are accepted here!"
The lead runners noticed the commotion and slowed to a stop, causing those behind to pause and watch.
The scolded student flushed red and retorted: "I was just asking a question!"
The instructor stepped right up to his face and roared: "Questions require reporting first! A third-year who doesn't know basic rules - are you proud of that? Penalty - two extra kilometers, now!"
The student took two deep breaths, raised his head, and shouted back: "Yes, sir!"
Then he turned, put on the weighted pack, and joined the runners.
The Alliance University instructor walked to the front and stared at his students for a moment. One student snapped to attention and gave him an embarrassed smile.
The instructor scoffed and said quietly: "See that? You're lucky to have me - gentle, considerate and reasonable. Right?"
The students nodded vigorously.
"I told you to run earlier, but you didn't. That's disobeying orders - very serious, understand? But don't worry, your instructor won't be so harsh on you." He stepped back, expression turning stern as he barked: "Two penalty kilometers for everyone, starting now!"
The students: "..."
Lian Sheng: "..."
Two penalty kilometers plus the initial one made three total. What was her plan again?
Adjusting her pace to finish each kilometer under seven minutes, Lian Sheng began feeling yesterday's aftereffects. After three kilometers, she was already panting. Still, this was rapid progress for her.
Confirming she met the standard, she left the running track for the sparring area.
Several male students immediately sprinted into the sparring circle behind her, causing groans all around.
"Me! Me!" A boy lying on the ground waved excitedly. "I got here first!"
The instructor waved: "Everyone else out."
The unsuccessful ones left grudgingly.
The victorious boy laughed triumphantly, standing up and straightening his clothes: "The path to survival belongs to the swift."
Lian Sheng rubbed her wrists: "Are you sure the swift find survival?"
The boy grinned: "Heh heh."
The instructor activated his optical computer: "Timer starts now!"
Facing each other, Lian Sheng wiped her face and stood unsteadily. Her opponent didn't rush to attack, giving her time to adjust.
"Sorry, I really hate washing dishes. It's a principle," Lian Sheng said. "So I don't plan to lose."
Her opponent replied earnestly: "Sorry, I really hate hitting women. But I don't plan to lose either."
"No problem, I'll preserve your dignity," Lian Sheng said. "You can wash dishes for me with a clear conscience."
The boy tentatively approached, fists raised hesitantly: "I'm coming now. Really coming!"
Finally throwing a punch at her face, he clearly held back some strength.
Lian Sheng watched his footwork closely, seized an opening to slide sideways, hooked his leg, and flipped him over instantly.
The boy had been completely unprepared. It was practically an instant knockout.
"Whoa—!"
The running crowd witnessing this erupted in cheers, giving the fallen boy enthusiastic applause.
"Nice one, speedy! Fast to run, fast to fall!"
"So that's why you rushed - literally racing to your death haha!"
"If I'd known this was your plan, I wouldn't have competed with you. My bad, really!"
"Hahaha buddy, are you joking?"
"No holding back! No mercy here, brother!"
The dazed boy looked up at Lian Sheng with utter confusion in his eyes.
Lian Sheng asked: "Does this count as a win?"
"Counts! Not bad, come scan your card," said the instructor monitoring the area, amused before sternly telling the boy: "Loser leaves! Limited space here - don't hog the arena after losing."
The boy reached out: "Give me another chance! I wasn't serious that time!"
The instructor said impassively: "Thirty seconds to leave or two extra laps."
The boy scrambled away like his life depended on it.
Lian Sheng went to sit cross-legged beside Doctor Lin: "Got anything to relax muscles? Or maybe give me a massage first? I'll repay you someday."
Her muscles hadn't recovered from yesterday's training - blood stagnation untreated. Now her limbs felt weak, unable to perform properly. This wouldn't do.
Doctor Lin gestured, and an assistant brought out a one-meter-long, half-meter-wide box containing viscous liquid.
Pointing at it, Doctor Lin said: "Soak."
Lian Sheng examined it: "Soak what?"
Doctor Lin: "Soak wherever's strained."
Lian Sheng: "But it's my thighs and arms."
"Then kneel to soak! Want me to get you a bathtub?" Doctor Lin rapped the table impatiently: "Soak or not?!"
Lian Sheng nodded immediately: "Soaking!"
Fang Jianchen also won a match and came to rest. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he said enviously: "Me too! I want to soak!"
Doctor Lin glanced at him: "We don't have extras."
"I don't mind!" Fang Jianchen said. "We can share!"
Doctor Lin scoffed: "Of course you don't mind."
The assistant added: "This is specially for female soldiers. If you get surgery right now, I can prepare you a bathtub."
Fang Jianchen covered his face dramatically and collapsed on the ground.
Lian Sheng rolled up her pants and sleeves, revealing ugly bruises. She stepped into the box and submerged her elbows.
The liquid was warm. As she soaked, her limbs grew pleasantly numb, her whole body relaxing.
Once kneeling, she didn't want to get up.
Exhaling deeply, she noticed Fang Jianchen lying beside her, curled up while hugging his arms, watching her pitifully.
"..." Lian Sheng said, "What are you doing?"
Fang Jianchen said plaintively: "Pretending I'm soaking too."
Lian Sheng looked down: "Lying beneath me?"
"..." Fang Jianchen snapped: "Screw you!"
Fang Jianchen felt like he'd been poisoned by her words. Rolling over, he pressed his cheek to the floor.
Soon Zhao Zhuoluo came over and sat beside him.
Fang Jianchen asked: "Which round is this for you?"
Zhao Zhuoluo: "Second."
His breathing remained steady.
Fang Jianchen sat up: "You're going too fast! This is endurance training, buddy."
"Quick battles. Can finish in two hours." Zhao Zhuoluo removed his sweat-soaked boots: "Finish early, rest early. Otherwise fatigue carries into afternoon training."
Lian Sheng and Fang Jianchen looked at him silently.
Fang Jianchen wiped his face: "How can you be so ruthless to yourself? Dad's heart aches for you. Take it slow, enjoy youth with your friends. Seize the day."
"Youth ends at twenty..." Zhao Zhuoluo looked at him: "Little brother, you've lost your youth privileges."
Fang Jianchen shut his mouth again, clutching his chest.
Why cling to a friendship that should have ended?
"Lian Sheng, time's up."
The medical assistant reminded her: "No need to wipe - just pull your pants down."
Standing up, Lian Sheng felt light-footed. After adjusting her pants, she resumed running. Soon Fang Jianchen's break ended too, following behind.
Influenced by Zhao Zhuoluo's strategy, he sped up to finish quickly, soon disappearing ahead.
When Lian Sheng reached the sparring area again, another chaotic scramble ensued.
Want to dive deeper into the story? You can request bonus chapters or grab the complete Part 1 (147 chapters) as an EPUB from my Ko-fi shop!
Comments
Post a Comment