After a day of contact at the Training Center, Zhou Ming finally understood its purpose.
Its core objective was to comprehensively enhance the physical fitness, agility, and endurance of Zhou Ming and the others. Intense physical training was conducted in multiple dimensions, including long-distance running, push-ups, sit-ups, and other basic exercises. These not only improved cardiopulmonary function but also effectively boosted muscle endurance and explosive power.
According to Wu Ke's introduction, they would also learn various martial arts techniques, evasion maneuvers, and body coordination training.
However, for everyone, the endurance training was undoubtedly the most arduous challenge. It involved running 20 kilometers in laps with a 100-jin tactical backpack, crawling over several sections of barbed wire obstacles, and scaling dozens of 1.5-meter wooden walls.
This training tested not only the limits of the body but also the fortitude of the will. Although Zhou Ming had awakened his Life Sequence and possessed strength beyond ordinary people, he still had to grit his teeth and persevere through the long endurance training.
The other three teammates were in even greater distress. After the training, they collapsed on the ground, gasping for air as if they had just gone through a life-or-death battle.
After a day of grueling training, night fell.
"Training concluded. Return and rest. I'll see you tomorrow," the old man said with a sly smile before disappearing from the Training Center.
Zhou Ming, looking exhausted, grabbed Wu Ke with his left hand and the girl Su Dayan with his right, heading towards the dormitory area.
Song Shangbei, unwilling to admit defeat, stubbornly stood up with a trembling body and followed closely behind Zhou Ming.
Zhou Ming didn't mind. He knew training would continue tomorrow, so seizing the time to train was paramount.
Zhou Ming, weary from the day's efforts, entered the dormitory area and walked into his own private room. His eyes lit up.
It was starkly different from the environments he had experienced before. Though small, the room was meticulously organized.
The bed was clean and tidy, making one instinctively want to lie down and rest.
As a new trainee, Zhou Ming also received special care due to Xu Biyao's connection. Ye Zhiqiou from the Fourth Brigade had already arranged for his daily necessities.
On the bedside table lay a brand new set of toiletries, from toothbrush and toothpaste to shampoo and shower gel, even including a change of clothes. It was clear that Ye Zhiqiou from the Fourth Brigade had prepared them specifically for him.
This thoughtful care sent a surge of warmth through Zhou Ming. He then took the new clothes, towel, and toiletries and headed to the bathroom.
After more than ten minutes of a refreshing hot shower, Zhou Ming left the bathroom feeling invigorated.
Suddenly, a wave of hunger broke the tranquility. The "rumbling" of his stomach sounded exceptionally loud in the quiet room.
Zhou Ming gently touched his shrunken stomach, shook his head with a wry smile, and realized he hadn't eaten yet.
He stood up, looked around, and searched for potential food storage.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
Just then, a series of urgent knocks sounded outside his room.
"Who is it?" Zhou Ming quickly walked to the door and opened it.
He saw Wu Ke and Su Dayan standing at the doorway, holding bags full of food, looking at him with smiles.
"Hey, Zhou Ming, we guessed you might not have eaten yet, so we brought you some food," Wu Ke said, raising the bag in his hand. A tempting aroma wafted out, making one's mouth water.
Beside him, Su Dayan, blushing, said sternly, "Zhou Ming, thank you for pulling me... us back just now."
Zhou Ming looked at the food in their hands, and a wave of warmth spread through his heart.
He hadn't expected to find such considerate friends in this unfamiliar environment.
He quickly made way for them to enter, saying gratefully, "Thank you, I was just worrying about what to eat, and you arrived. It's so timely."
Wu Ke waved his hand and said, "My clingy old mother is waiting for my call tonight, so I won't disturb you two."
With that, he flashed away, leaving Zhou Ming and Su Dayan looking at each other.
Seeing Wu Ke's hasty departure, Zhou Ming tentatively asked, "Su Dayan, would you... like to come in and eat together?"
As soon as he said it, Zhou Ming felt something was off. A man and a woman alone in a room, and they had only just met formally.
Su Dayan heard him, lowered her head slightly, and unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes. Blushing, she remained silent.
After a moment, she looked up at Zhou Ming and said, "I'm sorry, I... we aren't compatible. I came over to thank you for helping me just now. Please don't overthink it. We're not compatible, and besides, I have my own plans and no intention of dating right now."
Su Dayan said everything she wanted to say in one breath and then, without paying Zhou Ming any mind, turned and left.
Zhou Ming watched Su Dayan's hurried retreating figure with a helpless expression.
He realized his invitation might have caused a misunderstanding, which annoyed him.
But then, he thought that Su Dayan's honesty and directness were also part of her charm. At least she didn't let the misunderstanding fester.
He sighed softly and comforted himself, "Forget it. It was out of goodwill; I didn't expect it to lead to a misunderstanding."
Afterward, Zhou Ming turned his attention to the food Wu Ke had brought.
He opened the bag, and the aroma of food instantly filled the entire room, making him temporarily forget the awkwardness from moments ago.
After dinner, Zhou Ming tidied everything up and went to the communication area of the Forbidden Zone Management Center to call his parents, so they wouldn't worry about him causing any more trouble.
He walked through the quiet corridor and arrived at the communication area of the Forbidden Zone Management Center.
The area was brightly lit, but apart from the occasional sound of keyboard typing, the entire space was exceptionally quiet.
Zhou Ming walked up to a communication terminal, entered his authorization information, and a dialing interface immediately appeared on the screen.
He dialed his home number. After a few beeps, his mother's familiar and warm voice came from the other end: "Hello, who is this?"
"Mom, it's me," Zhou Ming said, with a hint of excitement he couldn't quite hide. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. I'm undergoing a three-month training at the Forbidden Zone Management Center. I can't say much about other things, but I'll call you when I have time. You and Dad don't need to worry about me."
"That's good. Your father and I thought you had done something foolish again," his mother's voice was full of relief. "Since you can't say much, I won't ask. Take care of yourself there alone. Don't be so rash like before."
Zhou Ming smiled. He knew his mother was reminding him to be careful and avoid trouble due to impulsiveness, as he had in the past. "Don't worry, Mom, I've grown up now and know my limits," he said seriously.
He then chatted with his father for a few more minutes. Although separated by a considerable distance, the familial bond across the phone line felt as close as if they were right beside each other.
He left the communication area. It was late at night. Zhou Ming returned to his room, lay down, and rested, gathering his strength.
Just then, knocking sounded at his door again.
Zhou Ming quickly got up and opened the door. Wu Ke stood there, making faces, wearing a pink floral pajama set, staring intently at Zhou Ming, and whispered, "Zhou Ming, did something happen? I just saw Miss Su, and she completely ignored me when I greeted her. She looked so cold, like her heart was broken."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Ming gave a wry smile and explained the misunderstanding to Wu Ke.
Wu Ke's mouth dropped open, his eyes wide as saucers. He exclaimed in astonishment, "Zhou Ming, the number one person in the academy is indeed extraordinary. Even interacting with the opposite sex is so direct."
Zhou Ming laughed exasperatedly, "What are you talking about? It was just good intentions, and it turned into a misunderstanding. What does being number one in the academy have to do with it? Besides, what's the point of being number one here? We're all just ants."
Wu Ke sighed and slumped into Zhou Ming's room, sitting down casually. "You're right. I didn't even want to participate in the Sequence Test. If my family hadn't forced me, I'd rather stay in the Western Pass Area and be an ordinary person. Only after coming here did I realize that the lives of Restricted Zone Residents are cheaper than dogs. That's why I still want to awaken my Life Sequence and protect my family."
Zhou Ming nodded in agreement. "The strong have the right to speak, while the weak have never had true equality. Strength is the rule of the Forbidden Zone."
Wu Ke suddenly leaned close to Zhou Ming's ear and whispered, "Zhou Ming, you'd better not offend Song Shangbei. You're new here and don't know that Song Shangbei is full of schemes. His arrogant and overbearing demeanor every day is disgusting. But strangely, the lords in the management center don't intervene at all. It seems the elders of the Song Family must have reached an astonishing level of power to allow Song Shangbei to act this way."