Who Fired the Shot

"Alright, then you can carry your own bag."

The Duty Soldier was quite carefree and thrust the black bag back into Lü Qinglong's hands.

Lü Qinglong took his bag and casually weighed it a couple of times, causing the Duty Soldier's heart to skip a beat.

What terrifying strength does this guy have? No wonder his arms are so thick they look like they're about to burst out of his camouflage uniform.

The Duty Soldier thought to himself, but being a Veteran, he maintained his composure. He added, "Ah~ It must be because I have a fever, so I don't have any strength. Otherwise, I definitely would have helped you carry your luggage."

Lü Qinglong nodded. So that's why the Duty Soldier couldn't even lift his bag; he was sick.

That was understandable.

The Duty Soldier led him down the barracks corridor, walking further inside.

As they passed each room, the Duty Soldier introduced it:

"This is the Armory. The guns you'll use for training are kept here. It has a dual-password system, with one password held by the Armorer and the other by the Company Commander. You need both to open it."

"And this is the washroom. When we're done training, us Veterans wash up here."

"This is the toilet. Since the entire base was just built, the facilities are very complete, and the bathrooms are all shiny and new."

"This is the activity room. Educational sessions are held here."

The Duty Soldier was very considerate and explained everything in detail, occasionally asking Lü Qinglong if he understood. It genuinely made him feel at home.

The last person who had explained things so patiently to him was the convenience store lady downstairs in his neighborhood when he was in kindergarten.

Lü Qinglong's heart felt warm, and his gaze towards the Duty Soldier softened considerably.

"Next, the Company Headquarters is where the Company Commander and Political Instructor usually live and work. The Squad Office is where the Clerk lives and works."

"Alright, the first room up ahead is your First Squad."

"Oh, and your Squad Leader... never mind, you'll find out later."

"Anyway, your Squad Leader is quite capable, so you won't go wrong listening to him."

The Duty Soldier seemed about to say something, but he paused and didn't finish his sentence.

"Huh? Thank you, Squad Leader."

Lü Qinglong nodded.

He understood some basic military etiquette, like how soldiers with less time in service should greet those with more, regardless of whether they were the Squad Leader.

Here, "Squad Leader" was a term of respect.

After bidding farewell to the Veteran Duty Soldier, Lü Qinglong walked towards the door of the First Squad's room.

However, instead of entering directly, he peered through the window beside the door to observe the situation inside.

The room was lively. Everyone except one person lying in bed seemed to be sitting on small stools, gathered in a circle, chatting and laughing.

Lü Qinglong observed that, like him, these individuals had no rank insignia on their shoulders, indicating they were all New Recruits.

He double-checked the nameplate on the door, which indeed read "First Squad." Only then did Lü Qinglong knock twice on the closed door with his right hand.

BANG! BANG!

The two loud knocks startled the New Recruit closest to the door, causing him to fall off his stool onto the floor.

"Who? Who's shooting???"

The gazes of the other New Recruits immediately shifted to the door. Even the old soldier lying in bed opened his closed eyes, looking at the door with a hint of confusion.

It seemed he was wondering which Veteran had the audacity to knock so forcefully?

The door slowly opened, and a head about a size larger than average, along with a face resembling a murderer's, poked in from outside.

"Holy crap? What... what's going on? A murderer's in our squad."

A New Recruit murmured in disbelief.

"What nonsense are you spouting? See the big red flower on his chest? He's a New Recruit, just like us."

A handsome, fair-skinned New Recruit spoke up from the side.

His eyes, unlike the others', held no fear when looking at Lü Qinglong, only excitement and curiosity.

"Um, I'm a New Recruit brought back by the Company Commander. He told me to come to the First Squad. Is this the First Squad?"

Lü Qinglong surveyed the interior of the room with curious eyes.

The room wasn't large, only about thirty square meters, with a window at the far end.

At first glance, the room appeared very neat and orderly. Along the walls on both sides were about six bed frames, three on each side, perfectly symmetrical.

Most of the bed frames already had mattresses and bedding laid out.

Additionally, a table was placed to the right of the entrance, looking like standard issue.

"Yes, this is the First Squad. You're Lü Qinglong, right?"

The Veteran sat up from his bunk, his eyes filled with surprise as he asked.

In all his years of service, this was the first time he'd seen a New Recruit so built!

Out in the civilian world, he'd be a bodybuilding champion, no doubt about it.

It was just his face... a bit hard to describe, maybe a little too fierce?

"That's right, Squad Leader. How did you know my name?" Lü Qinglong asked, scratching his head with a simple, honest expression.

It was only then that Lü Qinglong got a good look at the Veteran. His face was tanned, and the wrinkles around his brows were very noticeable, several deep lines suggesting he was nearly forty.

But Lü Qinglong knew that Veterans who had been in the military for a long time often looked older than their actual age.

What surprised Lü Qinglong the most, however, was the rank insignia on his shoulders.

Two rifles crossed, with two thick bars beneath them!

Lü Qinglong recognized the rank: Fourth-Grade Sergeant Major.

Judging by the rank, the progression was Corporal, Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, and then Fourth-Grade Sergeant Major.

To hold the rank of Fourth-Grade Sergeant Major in the Army, this person must have exceptional skills in at least one area, or possess outstanding military qualities.

Generally speaking, in a unit that saw constant combat, Fourth-Grade Sergeant Majors were usually few and far between.

Their influence within the Company could even outweigh that of the Company Commander or Political Instructor.

And now, standing before Lü Qinglong was a Fourth-Grade Sergeant Major.

"Don't worry about that. See those two bed frames at the far end?"

"One probably won't be enough for you to sleep on, so push them together."

The Fourth-Grade Sergeant Major pointed to the two innermost bed frames on the right.

"Huh?"

"Thank you, Squad Leader."

Lü Qinglong nodded, feeling a good impression of this tanned Veteran who smiled kindly.

He had just been wondering how he would sleep, as the bed frames were sized such that he'd have to curl up.

He hadn't expected his Squad Leader to have already thought of a solution, combining two bed frames so he could stretch his legs out.