Benefits of the Airplane Brotherhood

The following week passed without incident. At school, Zhang Tie gradually came to know the other members of the Airplane Brotherhood better. Whether it was a promise made to Zhang Tie or a genuine realization after the previous incident that the risks of performing manual single-cylinder piston exercises at school were too high, no one in the Airplane Brotherhood did anything so outrageous again. This made Zhang Tie breathe a sigh of relief; although his own strength was still weak, he felt satisfied that he could protect Daina in such a way. At school, Gelis remained as arrogant and domineering as ever, staging a bullying act in the school cafeteria every single day. However, he certainly had the capital for such arrogance. In the several tests organized by the school last week, Gelis had refreshed the school's historical records in almost every event with excellent results. His records simply made all the boys in the school feel despair. The gap between a Level 2 Battle Soldier and an ordinary commoner was laid bare before everyone. Regarding Gelis, Zhang Tie felt lucky on one hand—he had never been cut in line by that guy while waiting in the cafeteria—but on the other hand, Gelis brought immense pressure to everyone, including Zhang Tie. Every day in the school cafeteria, Zhang Tie would think the same thing: if one day someone with harder fists than his own tried to violate what he was protecting, what would he do? Fight to the death? If he couldn't win, would he just watch? This immense pressure brought Zhang Tie immense motivation. Beyond training and studying desperately at school, Zhang Tie seized every possible moment at home to strengthen himself bit by bit. For Zhang Tie, igniting the Thought Fire of the Divine Palace a day earlier meant having a bit more self-preservation ability in this era. In fact, it wasn't just Zhang Tie; all the boys in the graduating class of the National Seventh Middle School in Black Flame City had begun to fight for their lives. This was everyone's final semester at school; the second half of the year would be spent entirely on internships, not at school. The mines around Black Flame City, the City Guard, the farms outside the city, and the major transportation hubs that required guarding were the internship sites for all graduating students. It was fine in the city where accidents were fewer, but interning in those other places could cost you your life. Once you left the protection of the high walls of Black Flame City, it was hard to find a place in the wild that could be called safe. The dangerous mutated creatures and the dark races in the caves could take your life at any moment, and the legends of the perverted gays in the City Guard who favored fresh interns had been circulating among the graduating students of the National Seventh Middle School for many years. If you don't fight, you die—this was Captain Colin's mantra and a true reflection of this era.

"Extend the spear, use force! Did none of you eat lunch? Extend, use force..." The Spear Instructor's roar echoed incessantly across the training ground in the afternoon. "Bastards, even if you were holding a red-hot iron rod, you wouldn't let the spear slide forward when thrusting! Is there no strength in your hands? You're not even as good as women..." Under the scorching sun, Zhang Tie was drenched in sweat, practicing the monotonous spear-thrusting movements over and over again. After two hours, the spear shaft, cast from hollow steel, had been polished until it was burning hot. The blisters on his palms had broken and reformed, stinging sharply, constantly irritated by the sweat and the scorching metal. Gripping the sun-baked spear felt like holding a red-hot coal; it hurt like needle pricks. However, looking at the Spear Instructor standing on the training platform, his body as straight as a javelin under the sun, and seeing the stern expression on his face, Zhang Tie could only grit his teeth and turn his pain into a roar of "Kill!" with every repetition. Then, he would straighten his body, step forward, and thrust—tireless, like a machine. In the eyes of all the students, what made them train even harder than the Spear Instructor was the record of the guy they hated most, posted on the high platform behind the instructor. This was a school tradition: all the data of the strongest student in each graduating class would be written in dazzling, large red characters on the high platform in the center of the training ground for all to admire. To some, it was an honor; to most, it was an incentive—or more accurately, a provocation. Gelis—100-meter dash: 10.3 seconds. Bench press: 150 kg. Squat: 310 kg. Explosive punch force: Right 510 kg, Left 340 kg. Maximum leg kick explosive force: 780 kg. Maximum continuous armor-piercing spear thrusts: 137. Endurance: 13. The endurance index, also known as the "Three Standards Index," refers to the maximum effective combat force delivery distance in kilometers under standard terrain and standard combat load. It sounds complex, but it is the most accurate explanation. If applied to a phalanx of spearmen of a certain level, this is the maximum tactical movement radius of that phalanx on the battlefield. This maximum effective combat force refers to the ability to retain more than half of one's maximum personal combat power after three minutes of rest following a forced march. A Gelis endurance value of 13 meant that after a forced march of 13 kilometers under standard combat load, he could still complete over 69 armor-piercing thrusts in one go or deliver a punch of over 255 kg with his right hand... This was the strength of a Level 2 Battle Soldier! The characters on the high platform were still fresh, that bright red text looking down from above, seemingly mocking everyone suppressed beneath that guy. Since the school had put up Gelis's name and these stats two weeks ago, the atmosphere on the training ground had become increasingly volatile. No one wanted to collapse at this time. On the day Gelis's name appeared on the platform, the cold-hearted Spear Instructor told Zhang Tie and the others: "On the battlefield, there are only the living and the dead; there are no good guys or bad guys." Everyone understood; Zhang Tie's interpretation was that those who could come off the battlefield alive were the good guys.

After more than two hours of spear training, it was time for a 10-kilometer armed medium-speed march. When he finished this final task of the day, Zhang Tie's legs were as soft as cotton. He found a patch of shade, plopped down on the ground, and panted like a dog, unable to stand up for a long time. Everyone in the Airplane Brotherhood was sprawled out, except for Doug and Baghdad. Baghdad was the strongest among them, ranking in the upper tier of the school, but Doug's situation was a bit special. The guy was acting abnormally excited today; not only was he drooling and giggling during class, but just now during spear training, Zhang Tie had accidentally caught a glimpse of him. Although he was exhausted, the guy actually had a high tent pitched in his crotch in the middle of the afternoon. This sight left Zhang Tie stunned. Damn, to be so aroused just from practicing spear techniques—Zhang Tie was truly impressed by this brother in the Airplane Brotherhood. Just after the run, Gelis and his lackeys drifted past Zhang Tie with their heads held high like roosters, casting a disdainful look at the group who were mostly sprawled out from the training. "Losers!" Gelis's mouth seemed to form the word. Zhang Tie had no heart to argue; he could only grit his teeth in silence. After resting for ten minutes and recovering a bit of strength, Zhang Tie saw the fat guy Barry walk tremblingly toward him, squat down, and ask in a rather sneaky, low voice, "Any plans after school?" "Twice a week, I have to go to the grocery store to work today!" "Are you still a virgin?" Hearing this, Zhang Tie felt a bit annoyed. "Fuck, what's wrong with being a virgin? Aren't you the same?" "Wrong. After today, you'll be the only virgin left in the entire Airplane Brotherhood!" Barry said calmly. The pity in Barry's eyes left Zhang Tie unable to react for a moment. "What do you mean?" Zhang Tie didn't understand. "You'll know when school ends. This is a benefit of being a member of the Airplane Brotherhood. It's Doug's turn today. Once I scrape together some more money, I'll arrange it for you next time..." After saying this, Barry patted Zhang Tie on the shoulder and walked away, leaving Zhang Tie sitting on the ground, puzzled for a long time.

The end of the school day felt a bit special. As they walked out of the school gate together, Zhang Tie noticed that Baghdad and the others were solemnly saying goodbye to Doug at the gate. Every time someone said goodbye, they would put their arms around his shoulders, lean their heads in to whisper something, and then burst into lewd laughter. Doug was very excited, his ears even turning red. Zhang Tie only vaguely heard bits and pieces—something about rinsing his mouth, how being clean would bring a surprise, and other inexplicable things. When it was Baghdad's turn, the guy had a loud enough voice for Zhang Tie to hear clearly: "The first time is very fast, don't be discouraged. The time after that will be long; you can go many times. I went and came seven times in a row..." Then came the shoulder-patting and hugging. Finally, a bunch of guys winked at Doug as they said goodbye. Sista wanted to follow, but was dragged away by Baghdad and Light. Zhang Tie was left feeling completely baffled. Barry said it was an Airplane Brotherhood activity and that Zhang Tie could come along to see it if he had time. Zhang Tie asked and learned that Barry and Doug were going toward the train station, which was on his way, so he followed them. Along the way, Doug was both excited and nervous, constantly asking Barry strange questions. "I took a bath last night, but I sweated a lot during training today. Is that okay?" "Did you change your underwear?" "I did, I changed after my bath yesterday!" "Then it's fine!" "But Sista said rinsing my mouth before going would bring a surprise!" "Don't worry, I've already prepared that for you!" As Barry spoke, he solemnly took a small paper packet from his pocket. The packet was layered, making Doug and Zhang Tie extra curious. They stretched their necks to look as Barry opened it, revealing three or four thin leaves inside. "What is this?" Doug asked curiously. "This is very precious. It's tea leaves. I stole them from my old man; someone gave them to him, and he usually can't bear to use them. This is something only found in the Eastern Continent. Here, put them in your mouth, hold them, don't chew, and don't swallow. Just hold them there. This works better than rinsing!" Barry carefully took the leaves and put them in his mouth, holding them tightly. He didn't even speak, afraid they would fall out if he opened his mouth. "How many times can I go?" After holding them for a while as they walked, Doug couldn't help but ask another question. "Three hours. You can go as many times as you want!" "Can I do the hole in the back?" A few minutes later, Doug asked another question like a curious baby. "The back..." Barry was truly shocked. "Who did you hear that from?" "My brother..." "This... should, it seems like you can't! Sista and the others haven't tried it!" "Oh!" Keeping his mouth tightly shut, Doug became obedient again. Seeming to feel that his previous answer wasn't impressive enough and had affected his authority, Barry explained seriously after a few seconds of silence, "Doing the back, it's very expensive. Yes, very expensive, and unhygienic..."

Zhang Tie already had a vague judgment in his heart, but his indescribable curiosity and rising male hormones made him follow Barry and Doug through the old residential area near the train station in slight nervousness. After turning around in a low alley for about three to five minutes, the three finally stood in front of a vermilion door. Compared to the obviously dilapidated doors around them, this place was much neater. As the three stood at the door and Barry knocked, a few passersby glanced at them with unidentifiable expressions, making Zhang Tie feel as if fleas were crawling on his face, itching slightly. He didn't know what special thing was behind the door, but his intuition told him it must be very exciting, and he became nervous too. Doug was sweating all over. Hearing a gulp from someone's throat, Zhang Tie turned his head to see Doug looking like he was about to retch, desperately trying to dig something out of his mouth. Barry was also startled. "What's wrong!" "Just now, when I was nervous... and swallowed... I swallowed those leaves. Now they're stuck in my throat... it's uncomfortable..." "Idiot..." Barry cursed, painfully slapping his own head. "So embarrassing! Stop digging, just drink some water to wash it down when we get inside!" "Ugh..." Zhang Tie's eyes widened as he watched Doug's face turn red, then the veins on his neck bulged and thickened. It seemed like something was surging up from his throat; his mouth puffed up, and then he tightly closed his lips, covered his mouth with his hand, and finally swallowed hard, forcing everything back down. "Okay, it's fine, I swallowed it. Good thing I reacted fast!" Doug patted his chest, looking like he had survived a disaster. After saying this, he gave a shy, toothy grin, and that grin revealed a piece of half-digested green vegetable leaf from the school cafeteria stuck to his teeth. Zhang Tie's face turned pale, and his stomach churned slightly. Too powerful. Now, every time Doug opened his mouth, Zhang Tie could smell a strange odor mixed with stomach acid, making him want to vomit. Barry was also dumbfounded, seemingly not expecting anyone to be this powerful. Zhang Tie retreated; his curiosity and hormones as a miserable green youth receded like a tide at this moment. "You guys play, I'm leaving!" Barry quickly pulled four silver coins from his pocket and slapped them into Doug's other hand. "Go in yourself later. Remember, don't say I brought you here, and don't say you know me!" The two ran away quickly, hiding to the side, leaving only Doug standing at the door, scratching his head in confusion. The vermilion door opened. Zhang Tie didn't see who was inside, only that Doug's eyes went straight, and then he gave a "shy" smile at the door. "Hello..." The person who opened the door was probably almost knocked out by Doug's stench. As soon as he finished speaking, with a "bang," the door closed again. Doug was baffled. After thinking for a moment, he turned his head to look at Barry and Zhang Tie. Barry gave him a thumbs-up, so Doug puffed out his chest again and knocked on the door. The door opened, Doug was still smiling "shyly," and he spread out the four silver coins in his hand. Seeing this action, Barry painfully slapped his head again. The door closed without hesitation, and this time the sound was louder and the force more violent, making it easy to imagine the owner's mood. When Doug knocked for the third time, Zhang Tie saw that the moment the door opened, a basin of water was splashed directly out from inside. Doug became a drowned rat instantly, and his "shy" smile froze... What an unlucky guy!