Once the troublemaker quieted down, everything proceeded smoothly.
The other two squads, already accustomed to this routine, quickly finished their random pairings, moving into three-on-three sparring sessions as Xu Jiangxing had directed.
It wasn't until they saw the soldiers actually begin to trade blows that the group of guests truly grasped the depth of Xu Jiangxing's decision.
Through long-term, rigorous training, every soldier present had pushed their body to a formidable level. They might have varied in height and weight, but each possessed a level of strength that could not be underestimated.
There is no room for "mercy" on the battlefield, so they gave their all during training. One soldier was slammed hard against the wall by his opponent, the dull thud echoing through the room. Watching his expression, the onlookers seemed to feel the impact of the blow themselves.
The sparring did not stop because of this; the soldiers simply repeated the cycle: attack, get knocked down, then counterattack. It was no wonder the Federal Military was able to form so many powerful legions with such intensity.
Bailin felt the reality of their strength more than anyone. The defeated soldier had been knocked down right at his feet. Bailin had no doubt that if a fist of that weight landed on him, he would lose consciousness instantly, yet the soldier simply lay there for a moment before scrambling back to his position.
It was a level of physical endurance that hardly seemed human!
The victor was undoubtedly intentional in his display. After the win was announced, he grinned viciously at Bailin, blood from a split lip staining his teeth. Paired with that provocative smile, the sight was terrifying.
Gong Yu, sitting beside Bailin, witnessed the scene and turned deathly pale with fright.
Perhaps because the soldiers' disdain for the production crew was becoming too overt, Xu Jiangxing cast a glance in their direction. The soldier immediately pulled himself together, returning to his post without further intimidating Bailin.
Most of the guests were stunned by the soldiers' prowess and watched with rapt attention, but Liulan found it increasingly boring.
To Liulan, this combat style was nothing more than empty choreography—it held no appeal for him at all.
As they worked up a sweat, the temperature in the room gradually climbed. The others took off their hats to cool down, but Liulan kept his firmly in place.
Having not slept well the previous night, Liulan yawned repeatedly. Seeing that Xu Jiangxing’s attention was fixed on the sparring soldiers, Liulan used the brim of his hat to shade his eyes and dozed off. No matter how excitedly Xie Ti and Zhu Yiyi shouted beside him, they couldn't stir him in the slightest.
Another round of sparring concluded. Once the next pair finished, it would be the production crew's turn.
Xie Ti was so nervous that he started shaking his leg uncontrollably, annoying Liulan so much that he reached over and held Xie Ti’s thigh still.
Just then, Gong Yu, who had been looking increasingly unwell, suddenly collapsed forward. Bailin immediately grabbed his shoulders, asking, "Gong Yu? What's wrong?"
"I..." Gong Yu’s face was devoid of color. He couldn't form a complete sentence, only clutching his stomach while hunched over on the floor.
Xu Jiangxing strode over and pulled Bailin aside. While keeping Gong Yu alert, he used his wristband to summon a military medic.
"How is he? Is Gong Yu alright?" Du Jinfeng asked hurriedly.
"He's fine," the medic waved a hand. "It appears to be a stomach spasm brought on by anxiety. He just needs some rest."
Xu Jiangxing frowned. "Take him to the infirmary and run some checks just to be sure."
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Gong Yu jerked his head up, protesting anxiously, "No! I'm fine."
Bailin disagreed with him. "Does this look like 'fine' to you?"
The others chimed in to persuade him, "Yeah, yeah, your health is what matters most."
"This isn't the only combat class; if you rest up, you can make it up next time."
Unable to argue against so many people, Gong Yu could only grit his teeth and, with teary eyes, allow the medic to escort him out of the training room.
After watching Gong Yu leave along with everyone else, Liulan suddenly realized a fact—
There were originally eight people in their group, just enough for one-on-one pairings. Now that Gong Yu was gone... wouldn't that mean someone would be left without a partner?