Xu Gou?

"Wasn't it a good thing that someone took your squad leader's quilt to wash?"

"Yeah! I thought so too! I figured we were helping our squad leader lighten his load. I saw that his quilt was covered in maps, but he still wouldn't wash it. I have no idea what these old soldiers are thinking."

The new recruit from the neighboring squad waved his hand, looking confused.

"Could it be that after your squad leader's quilt is washed and dried, the cotton inside will fluff up so much that he'll never be able to fold it into a neat tofu block again?"

Lü Qinglong suddenly spoke up from beside them.

Once the quilt was washed and dried, wouldn't it end up just like the quilts the new recruits used?

No wonder he was so angry. Having your military quilt washed—who wouldn't be devastated?

"Wow! So that's why? Thanks, Brother Long!"

The new recruit from the neighboring squad suddenly understood and thanked Lü Qinglong for clearing things up.

By now, practically everyone in First Company knew there was a new recruit called Brother Long. The guy was built like a monster.

He hadn't even done anything, but his reputation had already spread far and wide.

"Then next time I can't stand some old soldier, I'll sneak off and wash his quilt! That way those old soldiers won't dare bully me."

The recruit muttered to himself, a bold idea gradually taking shape in his mind.

The ten-minute break soon ended, and the afternoon training resumed.

They went right back to standing at attention, training until around 4:20 p.m., when the duty officer finally organized them to wrap up.

Back in the squad room, the new recruits all felt like their lower backs were killing them.

"I can't take it anymore. It feels like my back's about to snap!"

"Xu Gou, your physical fitness is pretty bad. Your back's already hurting?"

Xue Daochao looked at Ji Baichang and couldn't help teasing him.

The guy was clearly used to having it easy. Since joining the army, he'd struggled not only with the food but also with training. Now that the afternoon session was over, he was the loudest one complaining about being tired.

"Down-to-earth Daoist, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? Me, a wimp? I'm damn strong! My back's just a little sore!"

"If you're going to mock me, why don't we settle it during physical training later? I'm really good at running!"

Ji Baichang heard what Xue Daochao had said.

He was riled up. Riled up indeed.

He was a man—say whatever you wanted about him, but don't call him weak!

Besides, before enlisting, he'd specifically spent two months training. His fitness was definitely better than the average person's!

"Sure. Let's see what you've got later."

They both saw the same spark of competitiveness in each other's eyes!

They were all young men full of vigor. How could they pass up a contest of physical fitness?

The other recruits, by comparison, looked completely drained. They'd just finished their afternoon training, and now the duty officer was downstairs calling them for physical training.

Was life in the army really this packed?

They hadn't even taken a nap at noon, and now they were already feeling dizzy and foggy-headed.

"Huh? You guys are racing later? Count me in!"

Lü Qinglong had just changed into an extra-extra-extra-extra-large physical training uniform. The moment he heard about the race, his big, doe-like eyes lit up.

He'd been fast ever since he was little. When he was six, in first grade, he'd entered the school sports day. He was already six feet tall, and he'd left the other kids in the dust in every event.

At eight, he'd competed in free combat in Southeast Asia for the first time and won the championship. He'd even crushed Thunder Dragon, a heavy-hitter known as the undefeated heavyweight champion.

But in fourth grade, he'd failed to finish his winter break homework because he'd been boxing.

His mother had been furious.

She thought boxing would interfere with his studies, so she told him to stop boxing.

To give everyone else a chance.

From then on, the boxing world lost a young prodigy.

Of course, Lü Qinglong had met people he couldn't beat.

That was his older brother, Lü Qingtian.

Lü Qingtian had just turned eighteen, while Lü Qinglong was only eight. His older brother really hadn't held back, and at eight years old, Lü Qinglong genuinely hadn't stood a chance.

After all, Lü Qingtian had the height and weight on his side. They weren't even in the same weight class.

Unfortunately, by the time Lü Qinglong grew a little older, his brother had already joined the army, and the two brothers never got another chance to fight.

"Huh? You want to race us too, Qinglong? Are you fast?"

Ji Baichang eyed Lü Qinglong doubtfully.

He was so big and muscular that he had to weigh a lot.

That meant he probably wasn't fast. They could give it a try and see.

"I'm all right."

Lü Qinglong gave a vague answer.

"Okay! The three of us will race. Now, as for the punishment... let me think."

"How about the loser has to wash the winner's socks for a week?"

"Sounds good! I'm in!"

Lü Qinglong immediately blinked his big, doe-like eyes.

"I'm fine with that too."

Xue Daochao nodded in agreement from beside them.

The contest was soon settled, and word spread among the other new recruits in their squad.

"Whistle~"

"Everyone downstairs for physical training!"

The duty officer's shout came from outside the building. The recruits changed into their physical training uniforms and hurried out to line up in front of the building.

It wasn't just the new recruits. The old soldiers did the same, changing into their physical training uniforms and lightweight canvas shoes before lining up at the rear of the new recruits.

"We'll all do a three-kilometer run. The company commander wants to assess the new recruits. After the run, each squad can break off and do its own training."

The duty officer briefly explained the requirements for the upcoming physical training, then led all the new and old soldiers from First Company to the field where they'd just done formation training.

First Company was closest to the field, so when they arrived, the other companies weren't there yet. The duty officer quickly led the new recruits to claim the track.

"One lap is a thousand meters. You'll run three laps, and the finish line will be where we're standing now."

"I'll lead you through some warm-ups so no one gets hurt running. If anyone can't run, report it."

After speaking, the duty officer led the recruits through some wrist and ankle exercises.

They focused mainly on loosening up the recruits' ankles, so their feet wouldn't give out or their ankles twist halfway through the run.

"Just watch me leave you in the dust. I stuffed a really springy insole into my canvas shoes. I'll show you what speed looks like!"

"You think you can leave me in the dust? Xu Gou."

"Tch! Down-to-earth Daoist, who are you calling weak?"

"Xu Gou."

"Perverted Daoist!"

The tension between Ji Baichang and Xue Daochao had grown intense.

Once the duty officer had finished leading them through the warm-up, Ji Baichang and Xue Daochao rushed to claim good spots on the starting line.

The duty officer pulled out one of the army's all-purpose magic tools: the Life-chasing Watch.

"Everyone, take your marks!"

"Get set!"

"Go!"