As soon as Zhou Jiao got home, before she even entered the living room, the phone rang incessantly. It was only when she picked it up that she realized it was Cheng Ruzhu’s Soul Chasing Kill.

After hanging up, she thought about it and dialed her father’s side. Hearing the familiar voice of the transfer personnel, she felt a bit embarrassed.

When the call went through, she immediately heard her three sons shouting "Mom!", warming the heart of Zhou Jiao who had just felt the cold emptiness of the room.

Little Ping’an worriedly asked, "Mom, are you scared being alone?"

Liu Yi and May 1st joined in the teasing, "Mom, scared."

"Hahaha... Mom is grown-up, she’s not scared."

"Did you eat on time? What did you have for dinner? Dad called this afternoon worried about you, he said he doesn’t know your office phone number."

Zhou Jiao regretted for a moment. "Really, what else did he say?"

"He said he’s doing well himself, told me to tell you not to worry. Also said he misses us three brothers, asked us to listen to Grandma and Grandpa and stay safe."

Zhou Jiao knew Zhang Guoqing couldn’t say much over the phone, "Remember, without an adult, do not run to play by the seaside."

"I’m watching over my brothers. They’re very good."

"I’m very good."

"I’m also very good."

Zhou Jiao laughed heartily, "You three brothers are all very good. Is Grandpa and Grandma home?"

"Mom, Grandpa is by my side, Grandma has gone out for some errands."

"Dad, why didn’t you say anything? I thought you went to a meeting again. How’s your health these days? Aunt might come to visit you tomorrow, anything you need her to bring?"

"I had no chance to speak. Don’t need to bring anything, there’s plenty here. I’m in good health, just don’t forget to eat while you’re busy working."

Zhou Jiao stifled a laugh.

"Xiao Wu is doing well in school, heard he took first in all training events this time, probably wants to report the good news to you. Be careful alone at home."

"Okay."

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up. The kids have your mom with them, remember to work hard."

Oh dear, that’s the downside of direct phone calls, her dad has to say these formalities.

After hanging up, Zhou Jiao felt a lot more at ease, and wandered to the kitchen intending to simmer some meat sauce for Zhang Guoqing. Even though he says he’s fine, just managing a full stomach is probably good enough.

Over at the military academy, Zhang Guoqing was also thinking about his wife. Since the trainees couldn’t freely leave the school, nor could outsiders come in, except for seniors allowed leave, the rest of the cadets purchased their daily necessities inside the service club.

So even though they were in the same city, not too far apart, he hadn’t seen his wife in the past forty-six days.

Aside from thinking about her, the kids, and the family late at night, in this past month, Zhang Guoqing gradually integrated into the entire unit.

Just as his father-in-law Zhou Xiaozheng said, when he first arrived, there were so many talents that he really didn’t count for much. All the honors from university already seemed trivial in front of classmates who had won second-class merits on their medals.

Apart from a few who had trained with him previously, the rest were all elites selected from various military regions, to be honest, he felt a lot of pressure himself.

Luckily, with guidance from his father-in-law and awareness of his own innate talents, he didn’t overly mind winning or losing for a moment. Finally, after a month’s effort, he once again proved with strength that Zhang Guoqing was no less than anyone.

The class arrangement in military school was different from civilian universities, following the army’s platoon setup, each class had 8 people living in one dormitory. The whole team had many classes managed by team leaders.

On the registration day, a military cap, summer uniform, white vest, big shorts, and other military gear like a backpack strap were distributed.

Thinking of the few yards of cloth ticket each year, even Zhang Guoqing sighed that the country truly didn’t shortchange the soldiers, his blood boiled instantly, ready to fight!

The past month’s military training was mainly assisted by an Instructor Zhang. There were six major contents, namely queuing, housekeeping, shooting, tactics, physical fitness, and education. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Ultimately, queuing, housekeeping, and shooting were to undergo a school-wide assessment comparison, in which freshmen teams from each academy competed against one another, and the top three freshmen teams would receive pennants. And on the last day of training, a school-wide campaign trek would take place.

This time, unlike previous training, was visibly more rigorous. Instructor Zhang jokingly said since you’re selected elites, show your skills.

Yi Jiefang privately complained to Zhang Guoqing about this countless times. It was true as he said, they were on a civilian route, not the frontline.

But having chosen this path, into military school, the army will teach you loyalty. Following orders and obeying commands is a soldier’s duty, loyalty surpasses ability.

In the midsummer heat approaching thirty to forty degrees, standing in military posture under the blazing sun, feet on the scorching ground, tucking summer uniform shirt into pants, tightening the belt.

The shirts and pants were barely breathable, sweat pouring from head and back down into pants. In a single session, within five minutes, one would get soaked from clothes to pants to socks.

The instructor said: break your limits, stand for forty minutes, this is the moment to test your willpower.

On the first day, two collapsed, but the next morning they were all back in full attendance. It repeated continuously, even the never tan Zhang Guoqing turned red and peeled, within a week he became bronze, not to mention others.

Rows of queues varied in shade, knee and elbow patches; Liberation shoes had patches of yellow-green became black. At night when lights were out, unless teeth were exposed, a person couldn’t be seen.

"Zhang Guoqing, let’s compete again next month."

In front of a low bungalow with red bricks and blue tiles, Zhang Guoqing grinned, "Alright."

After the person left, Yi Jiefang pursed his lips, "That guy seeks abuse again!"

Zhang Guoqing laughed heartily, "Isn’t this good? I like their open challenges, it’s shameful to play petty tricks behind the scene in such uniforms."

"You better take it slow!" Yi Jiefang advised softly, "Don’t mess big and get transferred to command, then we brothers have to split up."

Zhang Guoqing chuckled. Some things aren’t that simple, not to mention whether his father-in-law would oppose, some won’t let him switch departments.

Before coming, he worried someone might trip him secretly, fortunately despite having backing these comrades disdained petty politics.

He cherished these likable, respectable brothers - during campaigns sharing half a canteen, supporting each other to the end filled with camaraderie.

No wonder they say soldiers’ friendship is having shared rivers, jointly crawling, chatting about anything, with mutual sincerity, in all competitions, he respected opponents.

As a man, Zhang Guoqing favored his comrades’ inherent defiant challenges.

Was Zhang Guoqing afraid?

His goal: Even as a civilian soldier, dominate so-called elites. Despite lacking innate Divine Power and resources, he competed for first before, let alone now?