Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Tang Wulin frowned slightly. Could it be that this man considered him to be a rival for the major’s affections?
He could tell from the way this lieutenant colonel looked at Long Yuxue that he liked the major. Tang Wulin had obviously found himself in a predicament!
“Strength,” Tang Wulin answered flatly. He did not wish to cause any trouble, but he refused to remain silent. Even in the army, he would still need to stand tall as befitting his power.
The lieutenant colonel burst out laughing. “Strength? Very well! We shall have a trial of strength then. If you can last for three seconds in my hand, I’ll believe that you’re worthy of being promoted to private first-class.”
Tang Wulin’s expression turned cold. “Your opinion as to whether I am deserving of promotion is of no concern to me. Why should I engage in a trial with you?”
Jiang Qiyue widened her eyes while Long Yuxue, standing in front of him, could not help looking behind too.
This was a case of ‘newborn calves not being afraid of tigers’. New recruits were often overconfident upon arriving here, but they would all know their place in the end.
The lieutenant colonel showed no sign of anger, merely watching Tang Wulin with interest. He spoke, “Then what would it take for you to accept my challenge?”
Tang Wulin suddenly smiled as well, in an extremely genial manner. If the rest of his Shrek Seven Monsters were here to witness his smile, they would certainly understand that Tang Wulin was about to entrap someone. The more cunning Tang Wulin was being, the more sincere his smile appeared.
“Sir, I’m newly recruited here, and I don’t even have enough military gallantry for food. Why don’t we bet on a meal? If I win, I’ll eat from any window until I’m full, and you’ll foot the bill.”
The lieutenant colonel sized Tang Wulin up and down with his eyes. “Very well! It’s settled then. If you lose, I won’t give you too much trouble. You’ll do my laundry for a month at my place. How’s that?
The request was really not that bad. Tang Wulin could not help feeling less hostile toward the lieutenant colonel because he did not go too far at least. However, was he truly certain about betting with Tang Wulin?
Pity arose in Tang Wulin’s heart despite himself. “So how do you think that we should compete then?”
“It’s very simple. We’ll shake hands until one side admits defeat.” The lieutenant colonel stretched out his huge, fan-like hand as he spoke.
Tang Wulin spoke to Jiang Qiyue and Long Yuxue, “Will the two kind sirs please bear witness.”
Jiang Qiyue sighed softly. “Handsome boy, it’s not a bad thing to help with my brother’s laundry. It will be a chance to learn about my brother’s actual combat experience.”
Tang Wulin smiled. “Sir, are you so sure that I’ll lose?”
Jiang Qiyue giggled. “It seems like you’re very confident in yourself! Why don’t I add to the bet? If you win, I’ll buy you a meal too, and if you lose, you’ll do my laundry for a month, with the exception of my undergarments.”
The surrounding soldiers watching the scene immediately broke into uproarious laughter when they heard that.
Tang Wulin was not irritated. He answered with a grin, “Sure.”
He stretched out his hand and shook the lieutenant colonel’s as he spoke.
The lieutenant colonel raised his brows ever so slightly. “Rookie, remember my name. I’m Jiang Wuyue.”
The corners of Tang Wulin’s lips twitched once. He felt that the names picked by this family were truly just matter of convenience!
There were obvious differences between Jiang Wuyue’s and Tang Wulin’s hands. The length of Tang Wulin’s fingers and palm still had a slight upper hand in this situation, but Jiang Wuyue’s palm was exceedingly wide and thick just like a bear’s paw. There was a clear contrast between his and Tang Wulin’s slim, long and fair palm.
Both hands quickly gripped each other.
“This is a confrontation of pure strength. No one is allowed to use soul power or their martial soul, okay?” Jiang Qiyue spoke as she jumped about excitedly on the side.
Jiang Wuyue’s lips cracked into a malicious smile as his palm began to exert a small amount of force. What a waste that he did not manage to see the piteous look which flashed across Long Yuxue’s eyes standing by the side, remaining silent.
Jiang Wuyue was truly worthy of his reputation of being dumb to have a trial of strength with this boy capable of fighting Ba An using only his raw power.
Tang Wulin was also smiling, but his right hand was holding onto Jiang Wuyue’s in a natural manner.
“Huh?” The look on Jiang Wuyue’s face began to change one moment later. He felt as if he was not holding onto a hand but a piece of rare metal that was incomparably hard. The opponent’s palm and expression remained unchanged no matter how much strength he exerted.
‘The boy is…’
‘He’s only using his physical strength since there’s no soul power fluctuation coming from him. Could it be that the little toyboy’s strength…”
The jeering Blood God Army’s fighters could tell that something was wrong as well. Three seconds? It had already been ten seconds. Jiang Wuyue had said that Tang Wulin would be considered the victor if he could endure for three seconds.
“Sir, look! Time’s already up!” Tang Wulin spoke with an innocent look on his face.
Jiang Wuyue was being stubborn, so he exerted all his strength into his right hand while the expression on his face became grim. He could not embarrass himself like this in front of so many people!
Tang Wulin sighed softly. He had planned to give Jiang Wuyue a way out, but it seemed like the man before him still refused to quit! Tang Wulin’s hand finally began to shift as his five fingers slowly tightened.
Jiang Wuyue felt as if there was an iron hoop wrapped around his palm. He could do nothing as the hoop grew increasingly tighter. His strength ebbed away when faced with his opponent’s power, like a dead branch breaking off a tree. Intense pain began to radiate from his bones.
Jiang Wuyue’s face began to turn pale as he realized that the new recruit before his eyes had genuinely surpassed his strength.
Meanwhile, he suddenly felt as the grip around his hand loosened. Tang Wulin’s palm went back to normal while Jiang Wuyue got his nerves under control as the pressure was lifted. He was not a complete fool, so he immediately understood the opponent’s intentions.
Jiang Wuyue raised his brows ever so slightly as he took the lead to loosen his hand. “Very well. You’re capable of withstanding for so long in my hand, so you’re considered a man of great potential. I’ll be informing the higher-ups that our 1st Close Combat Battalion is taking you in.” With that, he raised his hand and slapped Tang Wulin’s shoulder twice.
Both slaps were genuinely heavy, but Tang Wulin endured it with a smile on his face.
“Thank you, sir. So what do you think I should eat today?” Tang Wulin asked.
Jiang Wuyue waved his hand generously. “Have anything that you like. The meals at the windows with lower numbers are the best. I recommend you to take some from window number one. I admit defeat!”
Jiang Wuyue had a straightforward and easy-going temperament. Moreover, he even helped to point out the window with the most expensive meal for Tang Wulin. This gave Tang Wulin a good impression of him. Despite all that, Tang Wulin was always merciless when it came to food…
It had already been too long since he had last had a scrumptious meal as he was busy hurrying on with his journey. He could only munch on cold and hard dried rations, especially after entering the boundless mountains. The test earlier had already consumed a great deal of his spiritual power.
If one could use words to describe Tang Wulin’s situation now, then the word ‘savage’ would be most suitable for him.
“Sir, I won’t be borrowing from you anymore for today. Thank you, sir.” Tang Wulin walked over to window number one as he spoke.
Jiang Qiyue looked toward her brother with an inquisitive look. The rest of the soldiers watching the scene gradually dispersed. Even though they were curious about Tang Wulin, he was not more important than eating during meal time.
Jiang Wuyue spoke with a bitter smile on his face, “The boy is a monster. His strength is extremely high, and he’s more powerful than me.”
“That can’t be.” Jiang Qiyue widened her mouth in surprise. “I still remember that your strength had already exceeded thirty thousand kilograms during your last strength test. Don’t tell me that you were acting mercifully earlier?”
Jiang Wuyue’s lips twitched once. “Merciful? Do you think that I’m that type of person? However, the boy is quite impressive. He’ll serve his full purpose in our Close Combat Battalion with such powerful strength. So it’s decided then. I’ll look for higher authority later.”
“He belongs to our Secret Service. Don’t you even dare to think about it,” Long Yuxue’s icy cold voice floated over.
“Secret Service?” Jiang Wuyue spoke in astonishment, “So you want this boy as well, Yuxue? But your Secret Service normally focuses on intelligence missions, where long-range attacks are more important than close quarter combat. Do you think he is of use to you?”
Long Yuxue did not bother to explain, but she pointed to the situation at window number one. “It’s not looking very good for you, it seems.”
Jiang Wuyue turned his head to the side and looked to the window casually. His expression changed abruptly in the next moment. “Does the boy have a death wish?” He walked over in great strides as he spoke.
Plates after plates of food were continuously brought out from canteen window number one. There was already a row of plates placed on the platform in front of the window and the staff was still carrying more food to the outside.
More than a dozen sets were ordered within that short period of time.
