163 Song Yangling is an exception.

"The last spot, the twenty-first officer candidate, Tang Xiaohua."

"Present!"

Tang Xiaohua stepped out and saluted.

Lu Ziqing threw the list to Qi Yong beside him, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked at the array of faces with varying expressions on the training ground—most of them were dejected, but a few were filled with an inability to accept.

Among them stood Shen Lingxi, above all the most affected.

"I first want to congratulate the twenty-one students whose names were just called. You are the inaugural officer candidates of Xilin Military Academy."

"Chief Lu!"

No sooner had Lu Ziqing finished his congratulations than Shen Lingxi could no longer hold herself back. She stepped out from the ranks, glaring at him with her eyes wide open,

"I have something to say."

"Speak."