6.Wang Brothers

After the checkpoint inspection was completed, Wang Zuo led the group past the guard post. After walking for a while, he stopped at a fork in the path. "You guys head back on your own. Qin Hu, you come with me!"

Qin Hu's face twitched, but he had no choice but to follow Wang Zuo.

Lowering his voice, Wang Zuo said, "From now on, you're a new recruit. I'll help you look into your father's whereabouts… Just remember—watch more, talk less."

Qin Hu nodded but quickly realized Wang Zuo couldn't see him. He hastily replied, "Got it."

Wang Zuo said no more and continued leading Qin Hu in silence. They walked for over ten minutes, taking several turns before finally arriving at a brightly lit cave hall.

The hall was spacious but only a little over three meters high. Looking up gave an oppressive feeling. Inside, at least a hundred people, both men and women, bustled about in defense force uniforms without insignia, moving swiftly under their commanding officers' orders.

Wang Zuo scanned the crowd and quickly spotted his target. He waved, "Wang Ben, get over here!"

A tall, heavily muscled junior officer jogged over, grinning at Wang Zuo. "Big bro, you're back? I was worried sick!"

Qin Hu's eyes nearly popped out. Wang Zuo was of average height, but Wang Ben had to be at least 1.9 meters tall—his head was almost touching the cave ceiling. On top of that, they didn't even look alike… Were they really biological brothers?

Wang Zuo chuckled. "I'm fine, it went smoothly." Then he pulled Qin Hu forward. "I brought you a new recruit!"

Wang Ben sized up Qin Hu and clicked his tongue in disapproval. "What's your name?"

"He's talking to you!" Wang Zuo gave Qin Hu a push.

Reluctantly, Qin Hu replied, "Qin Hu!"

"How old are you?" Wang Ben asked again.

"Sixteen!" Qin Hu answered loudly.

Wang Zuo smacked the back of Qin Hu's head. "Didn't you say you still had two months to go?"

Qin Hu straightened his neck. "That's practically sixteen!"

Wang Ben raised an eyebrow. "A slippery one, huh?"

Wang Zuo shrugged. "Alright, from now on, he's your responsibility."

Wang Ben hesitated. "He's not even sixteen yet—too young!"

According to the Lancang Defense Force regulations, the minimum enlistment age was sixteen, and Wang Ben had doubts about Qin Hu's actual age.

"Yeah, he's young," Wang Zuo admitted, "but don't worry, this kid's got potential!"

"Potential or not, rules are rules," Wang Ben said, shaking his head. "Here's the deal—he'll follow Wang Zhen for now. We'll talk in two months."

Wang Zuo shrugged off the responsibility. "He's your problem now—handle it however you like!"

"Fine, if you say so." Wang Ben grinned and shouted, "Wang Zhen! Wang Zhen!"

"Here!"

A small, wiry figure sprinted over. "Second Brother… Oh, Big Brother, you're back!"

Qin Hu struggled to keep a straight face.

Wang Zhen was even shorter than Wang Zuo, with a baby face that made him look no older than fifteen or sixteen. He was actually the same age as Qin Hu!

Wang Zuo smiled slightly. "Yeah, I'm back."

Wang Ben shot him a stern look. "Be serious! I was calling you!"

"Yes, sir!" Wang Zhen quickly stood at attention.

Wang Ben gestured toward Qin Hu. "This is Qin Hu, our new recruit. Get him some gear and find him a place to stay!"

Wang Zhen looked troubled, mimicking Wang Ben's expression from earlier. "Second Brother, we don't have any room left. We can't just put him in the female soldiers' quarters, can we?"

Wang Ben raised an eyebrow. "Then he'll bunk with you!"

"Huh?" Wang Zhen was dumbfounded, wanting to argue but shutting his mouth the moment Wang Ben glared at him.

"That's settled!" Wang Ben declared.

Wang Zuo added, "Do as your second brother says."

"Alright…" Wang Zhen sighed, forcing a smile at Qin Hu. "Come on, follow me."

Qin Hu glanced at Wang Zuo, then at Wang Ben, before silently following Wang Zhen.

After they had walked about ten meters away, Wang Ben suddenly remembered something and shouted, "Wang Zhen, don't forget to teach him the rules!"

"Got it!" Wang Zhen hollered back without turning his head.

Watching them leave, Wang Ben turned to Wang Zuo with a frown. "He's not even sixteen. Why'd you bring him to me?"

"You should be grateful!" Wang Zuo retorted. "Listen, this kid kept up with us with no gear at all!"

"No way! That scrawny body?" Wang Ben was shocked.

"Would I lie to you?" Wang Zuo countered. "And for the record, sending him to you was Zhao's decision."

Wang Ben scratched his buzzed head. "What's Zhao's plan?"

Wang Zuo rolled his eyes. "How would I know? Stop overthinking it. Just train him properly—don't coddle him, but don't hold back either. Times have changed. The more he learns, the better his chances of survival."

"Sigh…" Wang Ben let out a heavy sigh. "When will all this end?"

Wang Zuo sighed too. "Alright, I'm off. I've got other matters to handle."

"Fine, I won't see you off then," Wang Ben said.

"Go to hell!" Wang Zuo cursed with a grin before walking away into the darkness.

Though he seemed relaxed, his mind was heavy. The images from his journey replayed in his head, stabbing at his heart like needles.

The resistance army was still fighting, but even the defense force had been shattered. They were short on manpower and supplies, barely managing to take down a few Weisen troops now and then. Each attack provoked brutal retaliation. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before the Weisen wiped out all the survivors.

Was there really no way to get rid of the Weisen once and for all?

Lost in thought, Wang Zuo's figure vanished into the darkness.

On the other side of the training grounds, Qin Hu followed Wang Zhen closely. Suddenly, Wang Zhen stopped and pointed at two tunnels. "Left one's the male dorms, right one's the female dorms. Do not go the wrong way! Those girls are ruthless. If you wander in there, they'll break your third leg!"

Qin Hu was surprised. Was he exaggerating? Could it really be that bad?

Although he hadn't received formal military training, he had been struggling on the brink of death for the past two months. He was confident in his abilities and wasn't intimidated by the female soldiers.

That said, he was at an age where curiosity about the opposite sex was at its peak, and part of him did wonder what the female dorms looked like.

Wang Zhen didn't notice Qin Hu's thoughts and continued, "Listen up. We follow strict rules here: wake-up at 5:30, morning drill at 5:40, wash up at 6:30, get food at 6:50, breakfast starts at 7:00… Got it?"

"Got it!" Qin Hu replied firmly.