30: Return to the barracks, new system rewards

Su Lei slowly nodded.

As a veteran who retired due to injury, he was well aware of the dangers of the battlefield.

But the various suspicious signs from the Chen Corporation always made him uneasy.

If he had a choice, he would rather die on the battlefield as a martyr than become a modified monster like a “Troll.”

But he had just agreed to the other party, and now he was leaving Jiangnan City?

Going there would likely completely offend Chen Sheng, and he didn't know when he would be able to return, or if he would be able to return at all…

For a moment, Su Lei was indecisive.

“The procedures for becoming a mercenary are very troublesome, and the Chen Corporation here…”

Lin Qianqian suddenly blinked playfully, “What's there to worry about? Leave it all to me.”

“However… you’ll owe me a big favor.”

After a long silence, Su Lei slowly nodded, “I need time to consider.”

Lin Qianqian didn't press him, simply pushing a gold-embossed business card in front of him, “Call this number when you’ve made up your mind.”

After leaving the bar, Su Lei hailed a taxi by the roadside.

He watched the fleeting neon lights outside the window distractedly.

When he pushed open the door to his home, the wall lamp in the living room was still on.

Li Xue凝 was curled up asleep on the old sofa, a thin blanket draped over her.

Beside her was the tactical backpack he had brought back from his last mission.

The zipper was open, and inside, tourniquets and energy potions were neatly arranged.

Su Lei quietly walked into the children’s room.

He leaned down, intending to cover Su Yun with the blanket, but a Martial Dao monthly magazine was peeking out from under the bed.

The open page described in detail how to train Qi and blood, and how to become a Martial Artist.

The edges of the magazine were dog-eared and curled.

He clearly longed to become a Martial Artist.

This child had never mentioned wanting to become a Martial Artist, nor had he ever actively asked the family to buy him Qi and blood pills.

Perhaps, at seven years old, he had already sensed the family's financial situation…

Su Lei secretly sighed.

At this moment, his conviction to earn money grew even stronger.

He took out the business card from his pocket and dialed Lin Qianqian’s number.

…

An hour later, a military jeep silently stopped downstairs.

Su Lei, carrying simple luggage, got into the car, where Lin Qianqian was already waiting in the back seat.

She handed him a kraft paper bag containing a mercenary contract and a military pass.

Su Lei carefully read it under the dim light of the car, then pressed his thumbprint at the signature spot.

“From now on, you are a mercenary of the Southern Military Region.”

“Next, you just need to report to the commander.”

Su Lei nodded lightly, “Let’s go.”

With a roar, the jeep slowly started.

It entered the main road, passed through quiet streets, and headed out of the city.

It wasn't until the sky began to lighten with the first rays of dawn that they finally arrived at a hidden military base.

The towering walls were topped with electrified barbed wire, and searchlights on the watchtowers scanned back and forth.

After passing through three blast doors disguised as a mountainside, the jeep stopped at the base's main gate.

“We’re here.” Lin Qianqian pushed open the car door, the morning breeze ruffling her short hair.

“Don’t worry, I’ve already spoken to Uncle Chen.”

“Even if the Chen Corporation really wants to do something to you, they wouldn’t dare to cause trouble for you here.”

“I wish you all the best.”

“Thank you.” Su Lei gave her a deep look, then turned and walked towards the military camp.

From a distance, he could hear the rhythmic footsteps and the shouts echoing one after another.

Although it was still dim, formations had already lined up on the training ground.

Martial Artists, wearing weights, practiced military boxing under the supervision of their instructors.

Su Lei paused and watched for a while.

This scene brought back a long-lost sense of familiarity.

He, too, had once been one of them.

…

A few minutes later, Su Lei was led by a soldier to a gray building.

“Colonel Ron is inside, please.”

Su Lei nodded, then knocked a few times on the office door.

“Come in.”

A low voice came from inside.

Su Lei pushed the door open.

A man in a military uniform, appearing to be in his forties, was reviewing documents at a desk.

The man had a scar on his face, extending from his brow bone to his chin, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s.

He took Su Lei’s Materials, flipping through them carefully, his gaze lingering for a while on the gold-embossed Martial Artist certificate.

“Welcome to the Southwest Military Region.”

“I am Colonel Ron, the highest commander of this base.”

“The Sharp Sword Squad happens to be short-handed, so you’ve come at just the right time.”

Ron handed over a magnetic card.

“Since you’re a retired veteran, I presume I don’t need to explain too much.”

“Rest today, and start your mission tomorrow.”

…

After leaving the office,

Su Lei arrived at a military green tent on the edge of the camp.

He lifted the flap; inside were four simple cots, three of which were clearly in use.

As he placed his luggage on the empty cot, the long-absent System prompt suddenly sounded in his mind.

【Detecting that the Host already has a good foundation, training can now begin】

【A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, please start by learning to crawl】

【New Mission: Crawl 100 meters in one go】

【Reward: Treading Wind and Flowing Clouds】

Looking at the refreshed panel, Su Lei felt a warmth in his heart.

From the name, it seemed to be a Martial Skill.

He had already deeply experienced the wonders of the Sonic Oscillation Method and the Meditation Technique.

He imagined this Martial Skill would also be extraordinary…

As for crawling one hundred meters.

This was incredibly simple for him.

Looking around to confirm he was alone,

Su Lei immediately lay on the ground and crawled back and forth like a baby.

【Mission Progress: 1 / 100】

【10 / 100】

【20 / 100】

The panel kept refreshing, and Su Lei cast aside all his worries, feeling an inexplicable anticipation.

…

Until 【90 / 100】

Just as the mission was about to be completed.

Suddenly, there were messy footsteps and drunken laughter from outside the tent.

The next moment, the flap was violently pulled open, and three figures froze at the entrance.

Su Lei’s expression tightened,

Before he could react.

“Holy crap!”

“Who are you?!”

“What are you doing?!”

Looks of incomprehension, as if they were staring at a madman, shot towards him.

Su Lei's face darkened, and he forced himself to crawl the last ten meters.

【Mission completed, Reward: Treading Wind and Flowing Clouds】

With the System prompt, unfamiliar memories suddenly appeared in his mind.

Su Lei immediately stood up, brushing the dust from his hands as he looked towards the entrance.

“Su Lei, a newly joined member.”

He calmly introduced himself, while also sizing up his three future teammates.

One was a burly man nearly two meters tall, his muscles straining against his elastic vest.

Another was a tall, thin man, appearing to be around forty years old.

And there was a handsome young man.

As Su Lei observed the three, they, too, were staring at him with the look one gives a madman.

The next moment, they all frowned in unison.

“Why did Colonel Ron send such a strange person…?”

“Is there something wrong with this guy’s head?”

The tall man suddenly turned and left, only to return a moment later, whispering, “I asked, he’s indeed from our squad, just became a First-Order Martial Master.”

Hearing this, the burly man, his eyes hazy with drink, let out a hiccup, “First-Order? That’s acceptable.”

He staggered over to Su Lei and extended a broad, thick hand: “Wu Ming, Second-Order Martial Master.”

“Zhao Tian, First-Order Martial Master.” The tall man reluctantly shook his hand.

“Li Qingchen, Third-Order Martial Master.” The handsome young man leaned lazily against the bed frame, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

After exchanging greetings, the three ignored Su Lei and gathered around a table to play poker.

Their faces were flushed with a hangover, and they were shouting loudly.

The tent was filled with a strong smell of alcohol.

Su Lei secretly sighed.

Leaving the tent, he went to the training room in the military camp.

【Treading Wind】

This was a light body Martial Skill.

It had three Realms, each requiring extreme control over the body.

The first Realm involved stimulating the legs with powerful Qi and blood, continuously stepping on the ground in an instant to generate strong reaction forces, thereby unleashing several times the usual speed.

It was very useful for both offense and escape.

The second Realm involved stepping on the air with powerful foot strength, generating strong levitation force, allowing one to walk in the air like climbing stairs, but not staying in the air for too long.

At certain times, it could play a very crucial role.

The third Realm, Treading Wind.

It was a bit mysterious, and he couldn't yet understand its principles.

Su Lei slightly parted his legs, and Qi and blood began to gather in the Meridians of his legs.

Blood vessels bulged slightly under his skin, and muscle fibers tensed like bowstrings.

The next moment, his right foot stomped down fiercely!

“Bang!”

The rubber floor of the training room let out a dull sound, and a deep footprint appeared.

Su Lei's figure instantly appeared ten meters away.

Immediately after, his body swayed, and he stumbled, almost falling.

“Did I fail…?”

Su Lei closed his eyes, carefully recalling the Cultivation Technique’s essentials.

Qi and blood needed to complete more than ten explosive cycles in a very short time.

At the same time, a powerful force would instantly surge into his legs, and he had to precisely control every ounce of that force.

“Let’s continue…”

“I’ll try to master it completely before tomorrow.”

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