Chapter 100

Having made a name for himself by standing, s.h.i.+ Jin firmly secured the top spot on the unofficial list of celebrities of the police academy freshman cla.s.s of 1x. His image in everyones eyes changed from a pampered young master to an expert in standing at attention with super-human physical strength and endurance. His overall reputation also changed, from a public enemy of the whole nation to a national entertainer.

Look, its him, that guy over there. Ive heard that he couldnt endure standing at attention yesterday and almost fainted. Finally, the instructor had to carry him out of the training field.

Are you serious? No one in the girls group fainted but he, a man, did?

Its not his fault. He had to stand for several hours, and hed also been punished with standing earlier in the day. Hes really unlucky.

Not only unlucky but also kind of dumb. Ive heard that he doesnt even know how to make a bed. But apparently, hes quite humblehe asked someone to teach him out of his own initiative. He doesnt seem to be as proud and arrogant as rumors suggest.

That aside, how can he not know how to make a bed at his age?

Someone said his family owns a mine or something, and the bedding at his home is changed every day, so I guess he never needed to make it?

s.h.i.+ Jin, eavesdropping with the help of the hearing enhancing buff:

Seeing the expression on his face, Xiao Si hurriedly comforted, < At, at least they dont look down on you any longer, and when they gossip, they arent bad-mouthing you So, JinJin, cheer up, okay? >

Im not sad. s.h.i.+ Jin wiped his face with his hand. I cant control what outsiders think of me, he continued helplessly. And whether they like me or hate me, it cant really affect my life. I just think these kids have a lot of imagination. A mine, really? Come on, as if anyone in real life

< In fact, there are several mines under your name, > Xiao Si interrupted him. < And Darling is yours, and Ruixing is also yoursJinJin, youre worth a lot now. >

s.h.i.+ Jin:

Luo Donghao, who approached at some unknown moment, b.u.mped s.h.i.+ Jin with his shoulder. s.h.i.+ Jin, everyone has agreed that if the instructor still makes us stand at attention today, well do our best to hold on as long as possible, he said. If you get tired, just sit down and restthe rest of us will do the additional training in your place.

Huh? Everyone?

s.h.i.+ Jin returned to himself and glanced around, only to find that all the members of his squad looked everywhere but at him, their expressions awkward and embarra.s.sed to varying degrees. He couldnt help but smile. He gave them a little wave of his hand, then looked back at the slightly nervous Luo Donghao next to him and said, raising his voice, Alright, lets tough it out together and try not to let the devil instructor punish us with additional training!

Yeah! Lets stick it out, everyone! Luo Donghao immediately echoed, high-spirited.

When the team members heard s.h.i.+ Jins words, the guilt that piled up in their hearts through the night lightened a little. One after another, they picked up the rallying cry, some of the more hot-blooded ones even shouting that they would defeat the devil instructor and win their squad a great victory!

Who are you calling a devil?

Suddenly, a voice which had deeply engraved itself in the cadets hearts over the course of just one day cut through the enthusiastic atmosphere. A shudder racking through their bodies, everyone fell silent and looked straight ahead, acting as if nothing had just happened.

Xiang Aoting looked at them as though he were watching a group of quail chicks who wanted to spread their wings and leave the nest before theyd grown feathers. His gaze found the most fluffy-haired one and the corner of his mouth hooked up for a second before he looked back at the front of the line, and said, Thats quite a bold tone for a bunch of little brats. Youve only just gathered for the morning a.s.sembly and youre already yapping awayit seems youre quite bored, huh? Go run three laps around the training field, then stand at attention for one hour! The old rulesone person moves and the whole squad gets additional training!

So fierce! But they were not afraid!

s.h.i.+ Jin was the first to stand up and answer in a loud voice, Yes, sir!

The others also stood up one after another, shouting Yes, sir! following s.h.i.+ Jins lead. Unlike yesterday, they didnt look at all withered but seemed to have high morale.

Xiang Aoting glanced at them, expressionless. What are you yelling for? Line up and warm up, then get on the track!

The cadets immediately quieted. They exchanged tacit glances and winks and hurriedly lined up, good-naturedly jostling and shoving. The team seemed much more united than yesterday.

Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations. Read on the original translators site to get the fastest updates!

There were always people who usually neglected exercise. When running now, they fell behind after only one lap. When s.h.i.+ Jin was about to pa.s.s a person like that, he took the young mans arm and ran while supporting him, also teaching him how to adjust his breathing. All the people around him saw this, and when they noticed any of their teammates was about to fall behind, they also took the initiative to help.

Xiang Aoting ran at the side of the squad. Seeing s.h.i.+ Jins actions and the other cadets emulating them, a pleased expression appeared in his eyesthe atmosphere in the team became like this in just one day, very good.

After running, there came standing at attention. Readying up for the battle to come, everyone lined up without waiting for the instructors command.

Xiang Aoting adjusted their posture one by one as he had done the previous day. When he got to s.h.i.+ Jin, he deliberately stopped.

s.h.i.+ Jin glowered at himif he dared to pull him to the front to be publicly executed again, s.h.i.+ Jin was totally going to complain to the rest of his brothers!

Probably seeing the threat in his eyes, Xiang Aoting flashed him a smirk and patted him on the shoulder as if correcting his stance, then walked over to the next cadet.

After checking the cadets posture, Xiang Aoting stood behind the squad, as usual, exerting a kind of pressure on them and making everyone inwardly scold him as despicable. Anyway, they were going to wash away yesterdays shame and prove themselves to the devil instructor!

Twenty minutes, half an hour About the fortieth minute, one of the students couldnt help moving. His face full of chagrin, he immediately adjusted his posture and stood still again.

In the next twenty minutes, several more people moved as they were approaching the limit of their physical strength. But overall, the situation today was much better than yesterday.

Finally, an hour later, Xiang Aoting walked to the front of the team and said, The rest is all the extra training time, a total of 15 minutes. Those who have moved can sit down and have a rest.

Everyone felt apprehensive, knowing that the real test was beginning right now.

A few seconds pa.s.sed, and no one sat down. All who had moved gritted their teeth and stood stillit was only fifteen minutes, they could do it!

Seeing this, Xiang Aoting put the roster in his hand under his arm and said mildly, I know youre determined to persevere but despite this, you still couldnt help moving. It means your physical strength and endurance are all below the teams average. If you keep going, youll most likely not be able to stop yourselves from moving again, thus putting greater pressure on the team and forming a vicious circle. Sometimes, giving up at the right moment is also a way to protect your teammates.

This sounded quite reasonable. With Xiang Aoting guiding them with such a gentle att.i.tude, some cadets who were not confident in their physical strength couldnt help but waver.

s.h.i.+ Jins eyes rolled so hard that he could almost see the back of his skull. He hadnt expected Xiang Aoting to resort to this underhanded trick.

In the end, a student was persuaded by Xiang Aotings words and sat down.

Xiang Aoting immediately changed his tune and barked, Just now, one of your companions chose death in order not to drag you down. However, when I, the enemy, was tricking him into dying, none of you spoke out to warn or dissuade him. Seeing someone in danger and refusing to help is equal to becoming an accomplice. You failed to get a pa.s.sten minutes of additional training for the squad.

What?! The student who chose to sit down stood up again, wanting to argue.

The dead have no right to speak, sit down, Xiang Aoting interrupted him. Then he called out a few names and said, These people have just been affected and moved, the team gets more extra training!

Devil!

At this moment, all the team members had only one thought in their hearts: Xiang Aoting is a devil! I really want to punch him!

s.h.i.+ Jin forcefully closed his eyes. He wanted to look up to the sky and sighhe knew it would be like this! What giving up is to protect your teammateshow could someone who wanted to be a policeman choose to give up? Brothers, it was obvious it was a trap! Xiang Aoting, ah, Xiang Aoting, I thought you were different from those devious veteran instructors and would not mess with rookies, but it turns out youre even more ruthless than those crafty old fellows!

But He glanced at the students in front of him, whose backs were now much straighter, his eyes nostalgic as he recalled himself going through the same thing in his past life. But, this method was actually very effective. The naive students who didnt understand the cruelty of the battlefield and everyday society really needed a lesson like this.

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The mood of the team became tense. Xiang Aoting stopped talking and wandered to the back of the squad, reminding them before leaving, The people who move can sit down and rest at any time. It wont cause you to get any additional training except for the usual.

The cadets clenched their jaws so hard their teeth almost cracked. Additional training, additional trainingnow their guts hurt when they heard those words!

Another few minutes pa.s.sed. After a struggle, the cadet who had moved before and was not confident in his physical strength apologized to everyone and sat down. He hung his head, blaming himself for being useless and dragging everyone down.

Where there was one, there soon were others. In order not to continue prolonging the squads additional training time, some students chose to give up and sit down. However, those who had not moved yet were all gritting their teeth and insisting.

Unfortunately, the additional time they already got was too long and more cadets continued to move, so the extra training time continued to increase, seeming as if it would never end. There were some people who moved yet still tried to hang on, but willpower couldnt always overcome the bodys limitations. Once theyd reached the end of their physical strength, despite their determination, they couldnt help but move again, making the teams situation even worse. This being the case, if someone moved, theyd take the initiative to sit down even if they found it hard to bear.

Because of the students who wanted to gut it out but failed more than once, the time of additional training today was expected to exceed that of yesterday despite many more people remaining standing.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely. The atmosphere of the team had sunken from the resolute, high-spirited morale of the morning to one even lower than after the previous days training.

In the end, only Luo Donghao and s.h.i.+ Jin remained standing.

Finally, when the morning training session was about to end, Xiang Aoting walked back to the front of the team and said, The additional training is over. The situation is a bit better than yesterday, there is one more person alive. Now, get up and get ready for the next exercise.

The moment Xiang Aoting announced the end of the training, both s.h.i.+ Jin and Luo Donghaos bodies relaxed and they nearly collapsed to the ground. Before they could say anything in response to the second part of his orders, the teammate next to them protested, Sir, please let them have a rest first!

Unmoved, Xiang Aoting refused directly: Our training speed is already behind the other teams and we must catch up. Their resting time has been used to pay for your mistakesif you want them to be able to have a break, try to do better tomorrow. Now, line up and number off!

Hearing his answer, everyones expression darkened, and they stood up reluctantly. s.h.i.+ Jin and Luo Donghao also got to their feet with the help of nearby team members.

Fortunately, the morning training session wasnt too long, and the rest of the training was just practicing marching and turning motions, which wasnt very tiring. s.h.i.+ Jin and Luo Donghao took this opportunity to stretch out their stiff bodies, and they actually felt much better.

Lunch was followed by an hour-long lunch break. The residents of room 103 all collapsed on their bunks without a word, making an excellent impression of corpses.

Next time, should the people who move choose to give up immediately? After a long silence, one of the teenagers finally asked, his voice full of grievance. I dont want to drag everyone down anymore. Why the h.e.l.l is the instructor doing this? Does he just feel its fun to bully us?

No one answered. Everyone seemed to have fallen asleep.

I just want to hang on with everyone the young man continued, his voice growing nasal as if he was about to cry. It was incredibly stressful to watch your teammates suffer because of your own mistakes.

Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations. Read on the original translators site to get the fastest updates!

s.h.i.+ Jin lay with his hands on the back of his head. Hearing the anguish in his roommates voice, he said, stifling a sigh, Then do. Even if you move, its fineas long as we train enough, we will improve. And the instructor wont let us stand indefinitely, we also have to do other training.

But, if I keep moving again and again, the squad will get a lot of additional training time because of one person

Not reallyif it hadnt been for the instructor to cheat us in the morning, it wouldve been only fifteen minutes. Everyone wouldve managed to hold on for that long. The whole team completing the training together is actually not that hard a task, s.h.i.+ Jin replied, then joked, Besides, isnt there still me? I dont think anyone can s.n.a.t.c.h my t.i.tle of the young master whos an expert in standing at attention. Ill be able to stand for as long as is needed, even if you move many times. Im sure youll gradually improve as long as you stick to it. Youre just not used to the intensity of military training.

Luo Donghao suddenly sat up on his bed. The h.e.l.l are you saying? he asked, scowling. If the whole team keeps moving, youll have to stand for hours! You want to become a cripple?

s.h.i.+ Jin poked his head out to look at him. But have you ever noticed that the policemen at the roadside sentry box stand guard the whole day, and they still have to pay attention to everything around them? They dont become crippled, do they? After graduation, well all start from the bottom rung of the ladder, and maybe well get a.s.signed to exactly that kind of roadside sentry box. Now the instructor has us practice the most fundamental basics. He intentionally makes things difficult for us because he doesnt want us to give up easilybecause in our future work, there wont be any room for giving up.

Stunned, Luo Donghao fell silent. The other people in the room couldnt help but sit up, though they didnt speak either.

Didnt the instructor say that the dead have no right to speak? He shouldve added, as long as theres life, theres hope, so dont give up. Sticking to it is the right choicethe moment we decided to enter this profession, weve renounced the option to give up, s.h.i.+ Jin guided them patiently. He didnt have the heart to watch these young people continue wasting their time and energy going around in circles, or perhaps even driving themselves into a dead end.

Everyone looked thoughtful. The person who started the conversation clenched his fists and said, s.h.i.+ Jin is rightin this profession, we dont have the option to give up. Ill hang on with everyone, so Im sorry, s.h.i.+ Jin, but Ill continue to drag you down for a while!

Its fine. Seeing that his talk wasnt in vain, s.h.i.+ Jin gave the youth a fatherly smile. If you drag the team down, then youll just have to invite everyone for a meal when were back in school. Now come on, lets rest. Well likely return to the regular training program in the afternoon, so we should get our strength back as soon as possible.

Yeah! the teenager responded vigorously. He added with a smile, If Ill have to invite everyone for a meal, then Id better start saving money nowmy physical fitness is really bad.

Everyone couldnt help but laugh, and the atmosphere finally relaxed a little. Luo Donghao looked at s.h.i.+ Jin, who was lying on the edge of his bunk and smiling as he watched his roommates. Unable to hold back his curiosity, he asked, s.h.i.+ Jin, your family seems pretty rich, so why did you choose to enter the police academy?

The laughter stopped abruptly, and everyone looked at s.h.i.+ Jin tentativelyyeah, he was a young master and could spend his life in luxury, so why did he run to a police academy to suffer hards.h.i.+p?

s.h.i.+ Jin:

Because being a civil servant is an iron rice bowl job Well, of course he couldnt answer this way. He bowed his head in silence, pretending to look serious, then replied, Because theres someone I want to protect. When I become a policeman, I will be able to protect him openly. As he spoke, he couldnt help but feel amused at the image of Lian Jun looking at him with an expression full of trust and dependence and saying, Thank you, officer.

Because theres someone I want to protect.

Luo Donghao looked at him obviously thinking of someone, with even his smile becoming gentle, and flopped back on his bed. You are really a strange young master he sighed.

Im just an ordinary person. s.h.i.+ Jin also lay back on his bunk and looked up at the ceiling, suddenly missing Lian Jun very much. Hed been away for three dayswho knew if Lian Jun was eating properly now that he wasnt by his side

In the club, Lian Jun held a tablet, browsing through the pictures and tidbits of information Li Jiuzheng had received from Xiang Aoting and forwarded to him. As he looked at the photos of s.h.i.+ Jin, das.h.i.+ng and handsome in his uniform, his eyes were soft.

This is your dream You look great in that uniform. The person he loved was, indeed, better suited to walk in the light.

Jun-shao, Gua One, who had appeared in the study at some unknown point, called in a low voice.

Lian Jun came back to his senses. He turned the tablet face-down and looked at Gua One, his expression inscrutable again. Whats the matter? he asked.

Gua One stepped forward and put the file he held on the desk. Theres some movement in the underworld. In addition, the authorities suddenly invited us to cooperate on a mission in G Province.

G Province? Wasnt that where Tarantulas headquarters was?

Lian Jun frowned. He took the doc.u.ment and quickly flipped through it, his expression sinking a little. They want to take a shot at Tarantula, he said. But why? Why are the officials suddenly focusing on Tarantula? Snake Fang is clearly the one making waves right now.

Gua One shook his head, just as puzzled. Jun-shao, should we agree to take part in this a.s.signment?

Yes. If we want to protect Tarantula, we must partic.i.p.ate in this mission. His finger tapping on the file, Lian Jun ordered, Contact TarantulaI need to meet with Lu Shan.

Gua One was well aware that this matter was of utmost importance, so he nodded hurriedly and turned to carry out the order.

Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations. Read on the original translators site to get the fastest updates!

As s.h.i.+ Jin expected, during the afternoon training, Xiang Aoting didnt tell them to stand at attention but instead, like the other teams, made them do some regular training. The whole squad breathed a sigh of reliefto be honest, if they had to be subjected to this kind of psychological pressure tactics several times a day, every day, they would all break down sooner or later.

After going through two h.e.l.l-like standing at attention training sessions, everyone found the regular training pleasant and relaxing and threw themselves into it with enthusiasm, without Xiang Aoting even having to order them. They also took this as a chance to try to prove to him that they were not as useless as he thought.

During the scheduled break time, Luo Donghao and the others in room 103 exchanged tacit glances, then got up and walked to the people from the other rooms, and whispered to them.

s.h.i.+ Jin didnt know anything about it because as soon as the break started, Xiang Aoting pulled him out of the training field to help him bring water for everyone in the squad.

You really are using your position to bully me, s.h.i.+ Jin accused Xiang Aoting in a low voice, lifting a bucket of water.

Xiang Aoting was also carrying a bucket. Seeing that s.h.i.+ Jins forehead was damp with sweat, he reached out to help him hold the bucket. I just wanted to talk to you. Are you mad at me for what I did during the morning training?

s.h.i.+ Jin looked at him as though he were an idiot. Why would I be mad at you? You are our drill instructor, so its up to you to decide how to train us. Besides, youre doing this for our own goodeveryone will understand this in the future.

Xiang Aoting didnt expect him to understand and was a little moved. He raised a hand and rubbed s.h.i.+ Jins head.

Without his support, s.h.i.+ Jins bucket lurched down, nearly hitting the ground. He stopped walking and hurriedly straightened his back to stabilize himself, then took a step sideways to avoid Xiang Aotings hand. Dont touch a mans head and a womans waist, dont you know this precept? Im not a child anymore! he said. Then, as if a sudden thought hit him, he moved back to his brothers side and gave him a false look of wors.h.i.+p.

As soon as he saw it, Xiang Aoting knew that the teenager was definitely scheming something. He reached out to help him hold the bucket again, asking, What are you up to?

s.h.i.+ Jin flashed him a fawning smile. Im not up to anything Ive heard that instructors are allowed to use mobile phones. Have you brought your phone with you? I want to send Lian Jun a message, but my own phone was taken away and locked up. I cant get it back until the military training is over.

Xiang Aoting frowned, obviously unwilling.

Are you still calling yourself my brother? s.h.i.+ Jin complained, aggrieved. Look at my trembling legs, my hunched back, my sweaty head, and this bucket of water Im carrying. You

You cant borrow my phone, but I can send Lian Jun a message for you, Xiang Aoting had no choice but to compromise. What do you want to tell him?

s.h.i.+ Jin instantly changed his expression to a flattering smile again. Just that he has to eat and sleep properly. Thats all, otherwise youll feel awkward. Thank you, Fourth Brotheras expected, you really are the brother who loves me the most.

Xiang Aotings expression softened. Everybody loves you the same. Abruptly, he pulled the water bucket out of s.h.i.+ Jins hand, quickened his pace, and walked towards the squads position.

Stunned, s.h.i.+ Jin watched him trot away with two buckets of water, then smiled and chased after him.

He didnt know why, but he suddenly felt very happy. It was as if hed been looking forward to such a moment for a long, long time.

No one had fallen into the abysson the contrary, everyones future was still filled with endless possibilities.

Abruptly, Xiao Si said, < JinJin, your progress bar has dropped to 80. >

The author has something to say:

Extra: why would Lian Jun receive photos from Li Jiuzheng

One day, Lian Jun sent a text message to Li Jiuzheng: [Ill let you take s.h.i.+ Jin to school, but youll need to do something for me.]

Li Jiuzheng (instant reply): [Deal.]

Another day, the brothers chat group:

Xiang Aoting: Xiao Jin is working hard. [picture][picture][picture]+n

The brothers quietly right-clicked and saved.

Li Jiuzheng adjusted his gla.s.ses, saved, and forwarded.

Translators Notes:

Dont touch a mans head and a womans waist