Military recruitment? Sorry, I just want to be a couch potato!

"Student Lin Yuan!"

He deepened his tone, attempting one last effort.

"You might not fully understand what joining the military means!"

"It means supreme glory!"

"It means the sacred duty to be the Guardian of all people!"

"And it means…"

Xiao Zheng's voice was filled with allure.

"The country will prioritize all resources for you!"

"Top-tier Cultivation Techniques! Top-tier Medicinal Pills! Top-tier Sharp Weapons… You can freely read all the sealed Cultivation manuals in the national treasury!"

"You can freely enter and exit all the Cultivation Holy Lands within Dragon Xia Kingdom!"

These words were resonant!

Every word was like a heavy hammer smashing into one's heart.

Let alone ordinary Martial Artists.

Even those long-famous Grandmasters would absolutely be excited to the point of madness upon hearing these conditions!

Even Lin Jianguo's eyelids twitched upon hearing this.

He inwardly exclaimed that the Marshal had truly spared no expense this time!

However.

He turned his head.

And saw the growing impatience on the face of his own rebellious son.

"Are you finished?"

Lin Yuan yawned.

Xiao Zheng nodded subconsciously.

He felt that the conditions he offered had already reached the pinnacle of this world.

He didn't believe anyone could refuse!

"If you're finished, then hurry up and leave."

Lin Yuan waved his hand impatiently, as if trying to shoo away a buzzing fly.

"Don't delay my sleep here."

"You…"

Xiao Zheng choked, almost suffocating on the spot.

He looked at Lin Yuan in disbelief.

"Could it be that you… you are not moved by what I just said?"

"Moved?"

Lin Yuan laughed.

His eyes were filled with pity.

"I say, General Xiao."

"Do you have some misunderstanding about the word 'Genius'?"

He slowly stood up.

The aura belonging to the fifth level of the Meridian Opening Realm, which had just calmed down, leaked out again, faint and indistinct.

He stretched out a finger and tapped his temple.

"Do I look like someone who needs your so-called resources?"

Boom—!!!

This sentence!

Like a bolt of Nine Heavens thunder!

It struck Xiao Zheng squarely on the crown of his head!

He was struck dumb, instantly freezing in place!

His brain went blank!

That's right…

Resources?

Does he need them?

A monster who could break through five levels in a row from the Peak of the Qi Sea Realm to the fifth level of the Meridian Opening Realm just by taking a nap!

What resources does he need?!

His own self-righteous and tempting promises from just a moment ago.

Looked at now.

How ridiculous!

How stupid!

It was like a billionaire showing off a few pounds of gold to an immortal!

Disgraceful!

Simply disgraceful to the extreme!

Xiao Zheng's face instantly turned the color of pig liver.

He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into immediately!

"Alright, alright."

Lin Yuan had already laid back down on his "throne," adjusted to a comfortable position, and closed his eyes.

"Dad, see the guest out."

Lin Jianguo: "…"

He walked up to Xiao Zheng, who was already dispirited and dumbfounded, and patted his shoulder.

His face carried a bit of helpless apology.

"Ahem, General Xiao."

"Look… this…"

"I told you earlier, this child has a bit of an… unusual personality."

Xiao Zheng turned his head mechanically.

He looked at Lin Jianguo, his lips moving for a long time before he squeezed out a very dry sentence from his throat.

"General… General Lin."

"I… I understand."

He understood.

He completely understood.

Some people are simply not born to follow rules.

They exist to break rules, or even to make them!

"Sorry for causing you trouble."

Lin Jianguo sighed, his tone carrying a bit of helplessness.

Although this result had long been in his expectations.

"No… no trouble."

Xiao Zheng shook his head, only a bitter smile remaining on his face.

"I will report this matter truthfully to the Marshal."

"As for… how to handle the follow-up, we… we shall see."

After finishing, he gave a somewhat stiff military salute to Lin Jianguo.

Then, he turned around.

Walking with heavy steps, he left this backyard that had shattered his worldview.

His back.

Desolate.

Lonely.

Full of a young and promising general's deep doubt about his past life.

Lin Jianguo watched his retreating back and shook his head helplessly.

He turned around, his gaze once again cast upon his son, who had merged with the sunlight.

Finally.

A thousand words.

Only turned into a long sigh filled with complex emotions.

"Sigh…"

"This rebellious son…"

On the outskirts of Yan Jing City, the headquarters of the Dragon Xia Kingdom military.

This place is the most heavily guarded and murderous heart of the entire country.

Steel and discipline are the eternal themes here.

Every inch of air seems to be soaked with the smell of iron and blood.

A military off-road vehicle roared in, kicking up dust, and stopped steadily with a sudden brake in front of the headquarters building.

The car door opened.

Xiao Zheng walked down from the car, looking dispirited.

His crisp military uniform appeared a bit disheveled at this moment.

The pair of eyes that were usually as sharp as a hawk's were now filled with a bewildered expression.

As if half of his soul had been sucked away.

"Huh? Isn't that General Xiao?"

"What's wrong with him? He looks like he lost his soul."

"Wasn't he ordered by the Marshal to go to the Lin family to recruit that young hero? Could it be… that he was rejected?"

"Are you kidding! Who would dare to refuse our military's recruitment?!"

The passing officers, seeing Xiao Zheng in this state, all showed expressions of astonishment and whispered to each other.

They only knew that a young hero named Lin Yuan had appeared in Yan Jing City.

But the specific deeds were just hearsay, and they didn't understand them clearly.

In their view, being personally named and recruited by the military and the Marshal was a huge honor!

It was a good thing that meant their ancestors were blessed!

How could someone make General Xiao look like this?

Xiao Zheng turned a deaf ear to the gazes and discussions around him.

He walked with stiff steps straight into the building that symbolized the highest military power of Dragon Xia Kingdom.

Marshal's office.

The air was heavy.

An old man with a burly figure, a head of silver hair, and a face covered with the traces of time and war was sitting upright behind the desk.

He was just sitting there quietly.

The aura of iron and blood on him, which commanded respect without anger, was enough to make the world pale.

He was the supreme commander of the Dragon Xia Kingdom military, one of the pillars of the nation!

Marshal, Zhao Lie!

"Returned?"

Zhao Lie didn't look up, his voice calm, yet carrying a power that could pierce through people's hearts.

"Yes, Marshal."

Xiao Zheng stood at attention and gave a standard military salute.

His voice sounded a bit dry.

"The result."

Zhao Lie slowly raised his head, his sharp eyes falling on Xiao Zheng.

"…Failed."

Xiao Zheng squeezed these three words out of his throat with difficulty.

There was no look of surprise on Zhao Lie's face.

As if this result had long been in his expectations.