Nanwei passed through the corridor on the left of the exercise yard and entered the Federation’s central training facility.
Although the peripheral exercise yard was a frequent spot for recruit training, its size paled in comparison to the central facility. Beyond the outdoor area, the center also housed an indoor training ground.
Nanwei walked briskly down the central corridor, passing several squads in the middle of drills, until he reached the entrance of one of the indoor training rooms.
As he pushed the door open, a howl of pain erupted from within.
A soldier in a black undershirt had been caught off guard, caught by an opponent who executed an over-the-shoulder throw. The soldier’s body traced an arc through the air before slamming heavily against the floor.
Despite being thrown hard, the soldier didn't give up. He immediately reached out to grab his opponent’s ankle, attempting to trip him. Unfortunately, his opponent was no pushover; catching the intent instantly, the attacker used the momentum to pin the soldier’s arm and landed a swift elbow strike. The soldier cried out in pain.
"Cough! Major General! My arm! My arm is broken! My chest feels like it’s being crushed!"
Looking up, one could see the Major General was not only completely unscathed but hadn't even broken a sweat, forming a sharp contrast to the soldier sprawled on the ground.
Hearing the plea for mercy, the Major General, who had been firmly pinning the soldier down, finally released his grip, a faint, lingering smile playing on his face.
Watching the soldier beg for mercy, the onlookers teased, "You couldn't even beat him during a sneak attack? Did you waste your time at military academy?"
The soldier rubbed his chest, gasping for air, and bared his teeth. "If you're so capable, why don't you try? You just stand there watching the show—who in this base can actually beat Major General Xu? Is it my fault that I lost?"
Xu Jiangxing watched the soldier spout his excuses. He tossed his sweat towel onto the soldier’s face and said with a lazy smile, "Extra training for you this week."
Even though Xu Jiangxing still wore a playful expression, the moment they heard the emphasized words "extra training," everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.
It was rare for Xu Jiangxing to return to the base, and as was custom, no one wanted to miss the chance to spar with him. Xu Jiangxing usually didn't turn anyone away, but this time was different. He hadn't even finished knocking down a few people before he declared the session over, gesturing to Nanwei, who was waiting on the sidelines.
Xu Jiangxing had spotted Nanwei the moment he entered the room. Before Nanwei could state his business, Xu Jiangxing simply tipped his chin toward the exit and said, "Let's go somewhere else."
Xu Jiangxing had a private office at the base where no one else was permitted, making it the perfect place for a confidential talk.
As soon as they entered, Nanwei spoke impatiently: "Major General, there's a new recruit—"
"A new recruit used my wristband and got an 'A' rating?" Xu Jiangxing asked, settling onto the sofa with an air of indifference.
Nanwei paused. "You already knew?"
Xu Jiangxing raised his wrist. "The one I’m wearing synced up and told me."
Nanwei suddenly remembered that the Major General was using a backup wristband for the time being.
He looked a bit embarrassed. "I apologize, Major General. The situation was quite difficult, and I had no choice but to let him borrow your wristband."
"Was it Yao Nian?" Xu Jiangxing asked.
"No, not Yao Nian," Nanwei replied. "It was another one named Jiang Liulan."
Xu Jiangxing raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the answer. "Jiang Liulan?"
"He’s also one of the guests invited by the production crew."
A light screen flickered to life. Xu Jiangxing swiped through it, and the next second, Jiang Liulan’s face appeared.
There is always a sense of unreality when looking at a face through a screen.
Perhaps he had been in a bad mood when the photo was taken, as his lips were pressed into a thin, straight line and his eyes held a hint of impatience—the look of a pampered young master used to getting his own way. He appeared prideful, arrogant, and stubborn. Xu Jiangxing had seen many such people among his own troops, but Liulan was the first he’d seen with such delicate, porcelain-like features.
Seeing the Major General staring at the photo in silence, Nanwei decided to ask, "Major General, did headquarters really only mention the name Yao Nian?"
"Only Yao Nian." Xu Jiangxing swiped his finger, and more information about Liulan popped up. "Those Ancient Martial Artists usually keep a very low profile. Headquarters only knows about Yao Nian because he made his family lineage public."
Nanwei nodded. "Even so, it seems the Ancient Martial Artists aren't as godlike as they claim. Yao Nian’s results are good, but only at a high-third grade, far inferior to Jiang Liulan’s. Honestly, rather than wasting time hunting down Ancient Martial Artists, we should be scouting real talent. Jiang Liulan has no military academy background, yet he achieved the same evaluation grade as you. With a little training, he could surely become one of our Federation’s bravest warriors."
Xu Jiangxing stared at Liulan’s file, lost in thought, and didn't respond. After a moment, he turned his head and asked, "I recall you scheduled a combat class for them tomorrow?"
"Yes," Nanwei replied. "The instructor, William, was urgently reassigned last week. The base is short-staffed, so I was going to teach the combat class myself."
"I'll do it."
Nanwei was stunned. "What?"
"I said," Xu Jiangxing crossed his legs and said lazily, "I'll teach their combat class."