Chapter Six: A Savage Welcome Ceremony

There was no doubt about it—this wasn’t some ancient romance drama where binding your chest and tying your hair could let you pass for a man. It was obvious the other person was a woman.

The female sniper was clearly experienced in battlefield first aid. She pressed Chen Cao down to sit on the ground, her tone brisk and commanding. “Don’t move. That dagger was treated with a special poison. Lie flat. I’ll gather some herbs to stop the bleeding, but you’ll need real treatment once we reach the base!” Without giving Chen Cao a chance to reply, she stood and darted swiftly into the woods.

It was the first time Chen Cao had ever dealt with such a decisive woman. Never mind how she’d look without the camouflage paint—there was a boldness in her that felt refreshingly different from the coy, pampered heiresses he was used to. Especially recalling the moment when she’d used the Chen family’s scissors move, the subtle curves of her body, the slight trembling of her forged physique—it all lingered in his mind.

As he lay flat on the grass, Chen Cao let out a long sigh. “Good grief, I’m only eighteen! How can I be this lecherous? Ouch!”

The female sniper soon returned, clutching a handful of purple grass. She was out of breath but wasted no time, biting into the herbs and chewing them before ripping open the camouflage fabric on Chen Cao’s shoulder with practiced hands.

This feels like being assaulted, Chen Cao thought, but since resistance was futile, he decided to just accept it.

The dark, ugly wound was laid bare. The sniper leaned over his shoulder, her face only inches from his. He could see her delicate features clearly and inhale the faint herbal scent on her breath. A shiver ran through him.

“Mother of mercy, she’s going to be the death of me!”

The herbs were cool and soothing on his wound, making him sigh involuntarily. This woman was skilled—no wonder she was a special forces operative. For the first time, Chen Cao entertained the idea that special training might not be so bad.

That thought lasted only a few seconds.

“Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone so reckless. Fortunately, it’s just a surface wound. Still, I admire your courage and skill!” After bandaging him up, the sniper sat on the ground, unashamedly cradling her sniper rifle. “Hey, are you dead or what? Did you faint from the pain?”

Seeing Chen Cao still sprawled on the ground, she craned her neck. “Well, are you alive or not?”

“So comfortable... Guess I’ll be sent back to the regular unit to raise pigs now. This accident came at just the right time!” After his brief longing for special training, Chen Cao’s laziness took hold and he sprawled out, determined not to move.

“Hey! I’m talking to you! Stop playing dead!” The sniper, clearly wise to his tricks, reached out her long leg and gave him a swift kick.

Chen Cao didn’t budge.

“If I lie down, I’m not getting up!” he muttered stubbornly, intent on his plan to be sent away to do farm work.

Noticing his motionless state, the sniper’s expression shifted. “Is he really poisoned? That can’t be—I timed everything right.” She got up, leaned over, and pressed her hand to Chen Cao’s nose, finding his breathing steady. Realizing he was faking, she was infuriated. “All right, playing sick, are you? I’ve seen plenty of spoiled rich boys like you in recent years, but none have fooled me yet!”

She stood, working the bolt of her rifle with a loud click, and aimed the black muzzle at him. “Get up, or I’ll open fire. Once you’re in Unit 0611, if you want to be eliminated, you’ll have to be a deserter in broad daylight. Is that what you want?”

“What’s 0611? Don’t try to scare me. I was just wondering how to get out of this hellhole—looks like you’re my scapegoat now. Tough luck for you!” Chen Cao was convinced she wouldn’t actually shoot.

“Oh, you want to play? Fine!” The sniper squeezed the trigger without hesitation.

With a crack, a bullet neatly sliced off the tip of Chen Cao’s shoe, a testament to her marksmanship.

Chen Cao still didn’t move, though inside he was trembling, praying desperately, “Okay, you win. One shot is enough, right?”

“Still not moving? This time I’m serious!” She stepped back, adjusted her aim, and said, “I’ll count to three. If you’re not up by then, I’ll shoot. Special forces operate with training casualty quotas. Right now, you’re officially in training.”

Chen Cao clenched his jaw, fear and stubbornness warring within him.

“To hell with it! If I die, I die!”

“One... two...” The sniper didn’t pause, her finger tightening on the trigger, the scope aimed at his leg. “Three!”

At the crack of the gun, Chen Cao leapt up, cursing, “Damn it, you’re really shooting!”

The bullet buried itself in the ground where Chen Cao had just been lying.

“I told you, our unit has death quotas for those who slack off during training,” she said calmly, as if she’d just done something trivial, and slung her rifle back.

“Murderer! I’ll fight you!” Out of patience, Chen Cao charged at her.

She merely smiled, sidestepped his clumsy attack, and slipped away into the trees. “Still lively? You’ll be fine!”

“Damn it, think you can escape your fate? Not so fast!” Now truly provoked, Chen Cao dashed into the forest after her, determined to get even.

Just then, gunfire erupted, followed by the thunder of running footsteps and frantic breathing.

“What the hell is happening?” Chen Cao was stunned as shadows swept past him, paying him no heed. Suddenly, a round-faced, rather adorable boy came into view, lugging an oversized pack and stumbling comically as he ran. Spotting Chen Cao frozen in place, he shouted, “You’re a new recruit too, aren’t you? What are you waiting for—run! These people are crazy! There are tanks behind us, and they’re using live rounds. They’ll fire the cannons at anyone, no questions asked. You’ll get blown to pieces—run!” Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed Chen Cao and dragged him into the woods.

Dazed, Chen Cao let himself be pulled along. Behind them, explosions thundered—clearly, an attack had begun.

“What now? Run—don’t try to play hero. You’ll end up dead for nothing!”

Sweat soaked his clothes, and thorns along the path left bleeding scratches on his skin. Dusk was falling.

At last, they reached an open field and spotted their barracks; the sounds of gunfire faded behind them. When they reached the parade ground, exhausted figures lay sprawled everywhere. Chen Cao collapsed, flinging his pack aside and gasping for breath.

The round-faced boy, cheeks flushed, apologized awkwardly, “Sorry, man, I made you work hard!”

“Can you not talk nonsense?” Chen Cao hadn’t expected such a short distance to be so grueling. Clearly, the route was designed for cross-country training. He could handle it thanks to his fitness, but he’d had to drag this obviously overfed, out-of-shape “comrade” along.

“I really am sorry—I’ll make it up to you!” the round-faced boy insisted, sounding both embarrassed and determined, as though he came from a wealthy family.

“Who cares?” Chen Cao finally caught his breath.

“Haha, I like your attitude! I’m Zhou Hongye, eldest son of Nanzhou Zhou Technology Group. You helped me out today—I’ll remember it. If you ever need anything, just ask!”

He spoke as if he’d come to the army to network, not to serve.

Zhou Technology Group—one of the nation’s top five hundred companies! Chen Cao was a bit of a playboy, but he knew that much about the business world.

“You’re the eldest son of the Zhou Group? Why the hell are you running around playing soldier?” a gruff voice interrupted.

A burly, dark-skinned boy nearby, built like a mountain, scoffed at Zhou Hongye.

Zhou Hongye didn’t take offense. “Well, I didn’t want to come, but my dad said this place is full of rich and powerful heirs—three years of training here and you’ll make plenty of friends, good for business later on. Besides, my grandfather’s always said every generation of our family must serve in the army, or he’d break our legs and disown us!”

“Who’s your grandpa, the Lord of Peach Blossom Island?” the burly boy sneered as he massaged his aching legs.

Zhou Hongye just smiled. “Not quite. His name is Zhou Enbo.”

At this, the burly boy fell silent, lowering his head. Chen Cao noticed his face had turned purple with suppressed feelings, and couldn’t help but admire Zhou Hongye’s gentle but effective approach.

Zhou Enbo—that name was familiar to Chen Cao since childhood. The middle school textbooks said: “Ten warriors, every tower taken; if you want to know a hero, look to Enbo!” One of the founding generals of the republic, and still alive to this day. So, Zhou Hongye had a truly impressive background.

It was obvious Zhou Hongye had picked up social skills from his businessman father. Sensing the other boy’s silence, he didn’t press further, but rummaged through his bulging pack, pulling out a small tin box and handing it over. “I know you too. Your father is General Yang Zhide, commander of the Airborne Special Operations Division. Just a small token—think nothing of it.”

Chen Cao was floored; this guy had really done his homework.