Chapter 16: The Devil's Smile

This sudden bellow startled the group of new recruits. They turned their heads to see the order had come from a sergeant whose complexion was so dark it seemed almost bluish. The stripes on his shoulder were so numerous that he looked exceedingly formidable. Gradually, people began to squat down.

Among them were the simple-minded Li Erniu and the regulation-savvy Xing Xiaolong. But Wang Yanbing, who was used to drifting through society, and He Chenguang, upright, loyal, and stubborn by nature, remained standing where they were, unmoved.

There was a hint of defiance in their posture.

Who do you think you are? Just because you tell me to squat, I have to obey? Wouldn’t that make me look spineless?

This was the true mentality of men used to the outside world, reflected in both He Chenguang and Wang Yanbing.

Li Erniu, afraid that He Chenguang might get into trouble, quickly tugged him down by the arm. Seeing that he was the only one still standing, Wang Yanbing felt a sudden chill in his chest, shrank his neck, and obediently squatted down.

“Is this unit really planning to start off by intimidating all the new recruits?”

Xing Xiaolong had no idea what kind of unit this was; he didn’t even know its official designation. But one thing was already clear: this was definitely not the same as the unit he’d served in before.

“Could this be a special forces unit?”

While Xing Xiaolong was speculating, a handsome captain stepped onto the small platform in front of the squatting recruits.

This was the same young officer who, during their hospital examination, had stopped Xing Xiaolong and the others from fighting.

“Hello everyone, my name is Gong Jian. In the upcoming recruit training, I will be your instructor. I’m very glad to meet you all.”

After Gong Jian introduced himself, his gaze swept over the lineup of new recruits. He spoke in a calm, unhurried voice, “Do you know why I asked you to squat?”

“The reason is simple: standing there, you ruin the scenery. Even though you’re wearing uniforms, none of you look like soldiers. You’re practically polluting the environment of this barracks.”

Damn, so it really is about establishing authority, Xing Xiaolong thought to himself. This must be no ordinary unit. Suddenly, his heart began to pound with excitement.

After five years of service in the real world, Xing Xiaolong’s greatest regret was accomplishing nothing—never becoming the legendary special forces soldier he’d dreamed of. It had become an obsession he couldn’t shake.

Now, having entered a parallel universe, he just might have the chance to fulfill that dream. How could he not be thrilled?

Xing Xiaolong’s face flushed with excitement, while on the other side, Instructor Gong Jian continued to assert his dominance.

“I simply can’t bear to have a group of people in uniform, who don’t look like soldiers, standing before me. So you’ll have to squat—stop blocking my view.”

“Tch!”

Wang Yanbing, annoyed, spat discreetly on the ground to express his discontent.

He Chenguang, who had won all sorts of honors since childhood and whose grandfather was a commander, had seen plenty of “junior officers” like Gong Jian in the military compound. He was equally unimpressed by Gong Jian’s words, rolling his eyes in indifference.

Standing on the platform, Gong Jian couldn’t see the small acts of defiance among the recruits below. He continued, “This place is called the Iron Fist Regiment. Do you know why?”

His voice rose in pitch.

“Because this is a unit forged in war, tempered with blood—a true iron fist. Now that you’re here, don’t talk to me about peacetime. In a soldier’s eyes, there are only two things: war, and preparing for war. You’re here to get ready for battle.”

“Iron Fist Regiment—!”

When he shouted the last three words, his voice was thunderous. Instantly, all the lined-up veterans shouted in unison, “Stay alert—prepare for war!”

“That’s so dramatic, haha,” Wang Yanbing chuckled, unable to keep from laughing at the synchronized shout, not yet feeling like a real soldier.

But He Chenguang, who had seemed indifferent, now found resonance in those words; his entire demeanor became solemn. After all, his father had died in the so-called peacetime.

Xing Xiaolong, a recently discharged veteran, was already conditioned by his time in the army. On hearing that familiar command, he joined in the shout without thinking. Realizing afterward that all the new recruits and old soldiers were staring at him, he finally came to his senses.

Luckily, if Xing Xiaolong was lacking in anything, it wasn’t a thick skin—his face was so thick it could stop a bullet. He received all their “admiring” glances with perfect composure, straightening his posture even more.

“This new recruit actually looks like a soldier,” Gong Jian thought with silent approval. He continued, “The honor of the Iron Fist Regiment was forged with the blood and sacrifice of martyrs and predecessors. We must not disgrace it. Do you all understand?”

“Understood!”

The first to respond were Xing Xiaolong and Li Erniu—Xing out of army habit, Li because he was honest to the core.

“Alright!”

The second to respond was He Chenguang, though his voice was not loud. Rather than an answer, it was more like a simple statement—so quiet it was barely audible.

Other than a few scattered responses, most of the new recruits kept their mouths tightly shut, sounding more like mosquitoes than men, as if they were either too shy or hadn’t eaten.

In the army, there are only two rules for answering a superior: be loud, and respond promptly.

Yet aside from a very few, most of the new recruits failed to meet the mark, which left Gong Jian deeply unsatisfied.

He’d been looking for an excuse to establish his authority, and now he finally had one.

“Looks like you’re all a bit shy, like girls just out of the boudoir. It’s alright. I’ll make sure you get familiar with this place very quickly.”

A devilish smile played at Gong Jian’s lips as he called out, “Old Hei!”

“Here!”

The answer came in a deep, powerful voice, like a tiger’s angry roar—a second-class sergeant with a gaze that could devour a man.

“I’ll leave the rest to you,” Gong Jian said. “I want you to make sure these new recruits get thoroughly acquainted with the Iron Fist Regiment.”

“Yes, sir! Mission guaranteed!” replied Sergeant Old Hei, his voice firm and forceful. Even the smile that appeared on his face, dark as iron, was enough to make one’s heart tremble.