Chapter 2: Provoking the General

"Stand at ease—" At the command of the instructor, the previously tense recruits immediately relaxed a little. Although they were called recruits, not everyone was truly a rookie. The soldiers in this unit were drawn from active-duty troops, and the only true rookie was Yang Huawi. At this moment, Yang, the genuine rookie, was leaning casually against his instructor with a look of disdain and provocation, almost as if he wished someone would come over and kick him.

"Do you know what a soldier's duty is, Yang Huawi?" the instructor asked in a loud voice.

"I don't know, because I wasn't a soldier before this," Yang Huawi's response nearly caused everyone's jaws to drop. They stared at him as if he were a monster. Before the instructor could finish his speech, a bearded, imposing-looking instructor ran over from a distance, whispering something in the main instructor's ear. The instructor's expression immediately turned into one of disdain.

"So, you're just a spoiled second-generation rich kid, aren't you? It's only because your father has power that you think you're someone special. You're nothing, and I won't argue with you, but I'll make sure the others don't follow your example." The instructor turned to the other recruits, infuriating Yang Huawi, who immediately charged forward, fists and feet flying in a storm of fury.

The instructor deftly avoided the attacks and signaled, and several recruits rushed in to join the fight. After a few exchanges, Yang Huawi sent them flying with a spinning kick.

"If you have the skill to talk back, you should have the skill to back it up," Yang Huawi said menacingly, beckoning the instructor to come forward with a dismissive gesture. Despite Yang Huawi's tall, slim, and elegant appearance, his sudden display of cold fierceness made those around him shiver.

"Those who use their minds control others; those who use their strength are controlled by others. Didn't your commanding officer teach you this principle?" The instructor looked at Yang Huawi with contempt, ignoring his fierceness.

"Sometimes individual strength is absolute power," Yang Huawi replied dismissively.

"This is what I want to teach you today. Even if you have absolute power, you must understand unified command and coordinated combat," the instructor said, shaking his head. At that moment, four special police officers on guard suddenly rushed forward. Seeing the red gleam in their eyes, Yang Huawi's hair stood on end, and he used all his skills to evade them.

"No matter how strange you are, I am not afraid," Yang Huawi scoffed, glancing up at the sky. The training field had no roof, and Yang Huawi was not worried about being trapped. He didn't believe that his bizarre father's genetic enhancements couldn't handle a few odd people.

Half an hour later, Yang Huawi was starting to feel frustrated. Although the special officers couldn't hit him, he also couldn't bring them down. As the standoff drained his energy quickly, he realized that his scientist mother had neglected to improve his physical condition during his genetic modifications. Despite his enhanced strength, he remained lean and scholarly.

Even so, those watching him looked at him as if they had seen a ghost. The special forces trainees gazed at him with a mix of shock and admiration. Even the instructor, who had been biting his ear, showed a hint of appreciation. The instructor, however, maintained a cool, amused expression.

Seeing that expression finally irritated Yang Huawi. With an explosive series of kicks, he sent two of the special officers flying and forced the other two back with a couple of punches. He leaped in front of the instructor and reached out to grab him.

Seeing Yang Huawi coming, the instructor smiled slightly and also reached out to grab him. The two hands met as if old friends shaking hands. However, suddenly a force hit Yang Huawi, making him feel as if his hand might be crushed. He was shocked and kicked at the instructor's most vulnerable area.

With a loud crash, Yang Huawi was the one thrown back. The instructor released Yang Huawi's hand and punched him mid-air. After the huge impact, Yang Huawi fell to the ground like a heavy sack. While others were confused, Yang Huawi understood the severity of the situation.

In the moment he was thrown, he tried several ways to stabilize himself and land normally, but all failed, and he ended up face down on the ground.

Ignoring the pain, Yang Huawi quickly recovered and flew back with double the speed, aiming a double-fist strike at the instructor. The instructor, still smiling, met his fists without even adjusting his stance. With another loud crash, Yang Huawi staggered back several steps, but the instructor remained unaffected, watching Yang Huawi's disheveled state with a grin.

"How do you find it?" The instructor looked at Yang Huawi, who had managed to stand, with a touch of mockery in his eyes.

"Impressive!" Yang Huawi finally dropped his pretenses and said solemnly. He understood that a strong person only befriends other strong people. Seeing the formidable instructor, Yang Huawi realized there was no harm in learning from such a person for a year.

"What is a soldier's duty?" The instructor suddenly bellowed.

"Absolute obedience," Yang Huawi replied immediately without hesitation.

The lesson of absolute obedience made Yang Huawi experience hardship. The subsequent training was grueling, leaving him to wonder if the instructor was taking personal revenge. Despite this, he gritted his teeth and persevered, though the elimination rate was over eighty percent. After a month, only a hundred out of thousands remained.

Was this really just special training? Yang Huawi questioned as he observed the remaining team. The instructor's words echoed in his mind, urging him to persevere with extraordinary determination.

"If you don't want people to belittle your character, then prove your strength. The military is a battlefield of blood and fire. Only by combining mental and absolute physical strength can you rise above others and earn their respect. Only by standing at the peak of strength can you demand absolute obedience from others; otherwise, you will always be a machine obeying orders." The instructor's harsh words went beyond normal military training.

But such training stirred Yang Huawi's determination and fighting spirit. He didn't want others to question his character. Furthermore, Yang Huawi knew his father, though demanding, was quite capable. His father's authority could only be challenged by him, and no one else had the right.

Three months later, when Yang Huawi had become a strong figure among the special forces, only thirty or so people remained in the hundred-strong unit. These remaining individuals obeyed Yang Huawi as their leader. In the following three months of training, they formed a tightly-knit team, exhibiting a tacit understanding even in their movements. Yet, Yang Huawi did not see any of the red-eyed anomalies among them.

On a morning six months later, Yang Huawi, anxiously awaiting news of his instructor, was disheartened to learn that the instructor had been suddenly transferred a week earlier. While it was common for special forces to go on missions, the departure of such a formidable instructor was unusual. His sudden absence left Yang Huawi without a rival, causing his temper to flare. Over the past six months, he had been transformed into a hardened warrior. Although his appearance hadn't changed much, his pale skin had turned bronzed, and his formerly delicate frame had become robust and muscular. He wondered if he could even return to his former playboy persona.

As Yang Huawi brooded in his barracks, the pale instructor summoned the remaining thirty-one individuals urgently. With a heavy expression, he announced, "Please mourn for your instructor. Thirteen hours ago, he died honorably in the line of duty!"

"Died?!" The group of more than thirty was stunned, with Yang Huawi being the most shocked. How could such a powerful instructor be so easily killed? The astonishment quickly turned to grief and anger. Despite the instructor's strictness, he had become an inseparable part of Yang Huawi's life over the past six months. Blood debts must be repaid in blood. Yang Huawi's face turned icy as he awaited further explanation from the instructor.