8: Chapter 8: What kind of monster is this kid?

Inside the family quarters.

Zhou Haitao poured Su Han a cup of tea, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke: "Third Grandpa, the regiment is leaving for the Sea Training Ground the day after tomorrow for a month-long sea training session. Your training plan is quite special, so the regiment commander asked me to check if you'd like to join."

Su Han thought for a moment and then nodded. "I'll go. The Sea Training Ground has subjects I need to train in."

Zhou Haitao breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Alright, then I'll add you to the list."

Just then, Su Lingxue walked out of the kitchen carrying a freshly cooked dish, a gentle smile on her face. "Third Grandpa, Haitao, time to eat."

She set the plate down, wiped her hands, and looked at Su Han with a hint of reluctance in her voice. "Third Grandpa, I'm planning to head home tomorrow."

Su Han was taken aback. "So soon?"

Su Lingxue nodded. "According to military regulations, family visits can't exceed one month. I've already stayed for over twenty days."

"Besides, you guys are heading to sea training soon. It wouldn't be right for me to stay here alone."

She paused, a blush creeping onto her face, and whispered, "Also, the date for mine and Haitao's wedding has been set for the National Day holiday in two and a half months."

Su Han's eyes lit up. "That's great news! I'll definitely be there to celebrate!"

Su Lingxue smiled. "It's not just to celebrate; you're going to be our Officiant!"

Zhou Haitao's expression suddenly became conflicted. He scratched his head, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Su Lingxue keenly noticed his abnormality and frowned. "What's wrong?"

Zhou Haitao sighed helplessly. "Ling Xue, Third Grandpa is still in his first year of service. According to regulations, unless there's a major family emergency, he isn't allowed to take leave to go back. And a wedding... doesn't fall under special circumstances."

Su Lingxue's expression changed, and her voice rose sharply. "What?! Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

She stood up abruptly, her eyes slightly red. "If Third Grandpa can't go back, how can we get married? According to the Su Family rules, without Third Grandpa present, the marriage simply won't count!"

Zhou Haitao grew anxious too. "Aren't I trying to find a way? But military regulations are regulations..."

While the two were arguing, Su Han calmly took a sip of tea and said slowly, "It's fine, I can go back."

Zhou Haitao and Su Lingxue were both stunned and turned to look at him.

The corners of Su Han's mouth curled up, his tone certain. "The All-Army Special Forces Competition is in two months. As long as I get good results, a promotion to officer is guaranteed. Even if the promotion process isn't finished, if I just mention it to the Military Region Chief, taking a leave of absence won't be an issue."

Zhou Haitao's eyes widened. "Third Grandpa, are you that confident?"

Su Han chuckled. "Do you think I'd do something I'm not confident about?"

Zhou Haitao thought about Su Han's performance over the past month and didn't dare to doubt him for a second.

Su Lingxue immediately broke into a smile through her tears and grabbed Su Han's arm. "I knew Third Grandpa was the best!"

Zhou Haitao also breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Alright, then we'll proceed with the wedding arrangements as planned!"

...

Two days later, the entire regiment departed for the Sea Training Ground.

Over a journey of several hundred kilometers, the convoy moved majestically. Su Han sat in the military truck, watching the scenery fly by outside the window, while planning his next training steps in his mind.

Sea Training Ground, shore camp.

After the entire regiment arrived, each company quickly set up camp.

Zhou Haitao called a meeting of all squad leaders and issued training tasks: "Each company is to count the soldiers who can't swim and organize unified training. Make sure everyone masters basic swimming skills within a week!"

Liu Yong returned to the 3rd Squad and scanned the group. "Who in our squad can't swim?"

Wang Hao weakly raised his hand. "Squad Leader... me."

Liu Yong frowned. "Just you? Fine, go to the company's unified training later."

Wang Hao nodded with a bitter face, clearly filled with dread for the upcoming "collective drowning experience."

At that moment, Su Han spoke up. "Squad Leader, let me teach him. I have a secret technique that guarantees he'll learn in a single afternoon."

Wang Hao's eyes lit up as if he were grasping at a straw. "Really? Brother Han!"

Liu Yong hesitated. "Su Han, swimming isn't like shooting. Without a foundation, things can easily go wrong..."

Su Han smiled. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him. Nothing will happen."

Thinking of the terrifying strength Su Han had shown recently, Liu Yong finally nodded. "Alright, take him and try, but you must prioritize safety!"

Half an hour later, at the seaside.

Su Han and Wang Hao changed into their physical training uniforms and stood in the shallow water.

Wang Hao stepped on the sand tremblingly. As soon as the seawater reached his knees, he was already so nervous he was gulping.

"B-Brother Han, how are we going to train?"

Su Han grinned. "Simple. First, get used to the water."

After saying that, he suddenly grabbed Wang Hao's wrist and yanked him hard into the sea!

"Holy crap—!"

Before Wang Hao could react, he was dragged into the sea by Su Han. Both of them plunged into the water, sending spray flying everywhere.

"Glug, glug—!" Wang Hao struggled desperately, swallowing several gulps of seawater in his panic, his limbs flailing wildly.

Su Han, however, was as agile as a fish, dragging him directly toward deeper waters.

A few seconds later, the two had reached the mid-sea area, dozens of meters from the shore. The water was at least four or five meters deep. Although the waves weren't large, for a landlubber like Wang Hao, it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff!

"Brother Han! Th-this is way too deep?!" Wang Hao clung tightly to Su Han's arm, his voice cracking.

Su Han said calmly, "Don't worry, you won't drown."

"But I don't know how to swim!"

"That's why you're learning now." Su Han gave a "kind" smile. "Remember, the fastest way to learn to swim is to practice while drinking seawater."

"Huh? Wait—!"

Before Wang Hao could react, Su Han gave him a sudden shove, throwing him right out!

"Splash!"

Wang Hao crashed into the water like a stone, sinking instantly, then struggling back up, splashing frantically. "Help! He— glug, glug!"

Su Han swam over, hauled him up, and said coldly, "Don't shout, swim on your own!"

After saying that, he threw him out again!

"Brother Han! You're murdering me—!"

On the shore, the soldiers of the 7th Company were organizing their equipment.

Suddenly, someone pointed at the sea and shouted, "Holy crap! Is someone drowning over there?!"

Everyone looked up and saw a figure splashing frantically on the distant surface of the sea, water flying everywhere, with faint, shrill cries audible.

"Quick, save him!" Several soldiers dropped their things and rushed toward the sea.

Liu Yong also arrived upon hearing the commotion, his face pale. "What's going on?!"

Just then, Su Han's booming voice came from the sea: "It's fine! We're training!"

Everyone looked closely and realized Su Han was right next to Wang Hao. Whenever Wang Hao was about to sink, he would reach out and grab him, then... throw him out again!

"Is... is this freaking training?!"

"Su Han is gambling with a life!"

"Wang Hao won't be killed, will he?!"

The soldiers on the shore were dumbfounded. Liu Yong's mouth also twitched; he wanted to stop them but didn't know what to say.

Meanwhile, in the sea, Wang Hao had swallowed a belly full of seawater, but miraculously, under Su Han's "devil training," he actually began to instinctively move his limbs and could barely stay afloat!

Seeing this, Su Han nodded with satisfaction. "See, didn't you learn?"

Wang Hao wanted to cry but had no tears. "Brother Han... I hate you..."

Su Han laughed loudly and grabbed him. "Come on, let's swim a few more laps to consolidate!"

"Noooo—!"

Evening, camp.

Wang Hao slumped on the beach, his face pale, looking like a salted fish washed ashore.

Liu Yong walked over and patted his shoulder. "How are you? Still alive?"

Wang Hao weakly raised his hand and gave a thumbs up. "Squad Leader... I... know how to swim now..."

Liu Yong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He turned to Su Han, who was wringing out his clothes. "Your training method... is way too ruthless, isn't it?"

Su Han shrugged. "As long as it's effective."

Zhou Haitao rushed to the seaside, his face livid.

"Liu Yong!" he roared. "Do you have water in your damn brain? Letting Su Han train a Recruit like that—who's responsible if something happens?!"

Liu Yong stood at attention, sweat beads forming on his forehead. "Reporting to Company Commander, I..."

"It's not the squad leader's fault." Su Han walked over and said calmly, "I requested it myself. While this training method is a bit dangerous, the results are excellent."

Zhou Haitao's eyes widened. "Results? You call it results when someone almost drowns?!"

Wang Hao weakly raised his hand. "Company Commander... I really can swim now..."

Zhou Haitao was so angry he laughed. "Fine, then should I hand over everyone in the company who can't swim to you for training? Huh?"

Su Han's eyes lit up. "Can I?"

"Like hell you can!" Zhou Haitao almost jumped. "I'd end up in a military court if anything happened!"

Su Han shook his head helplessly, thinking to himself: This is the difference between regular units and Special Forces. In his past life in the Special Forces, this kind of training method was perfectly normal.

Zhou Haitao took a deep breath to calm down. "Su Han, the regiment commander has ordered that you can train individually, but Armed Swimming must be done with the main unit. That's the bottom line!"

"Fine." Su Han shrugged.

...

An hour later, the entire company gathered at the seaside.

Zhou Haitao stood before the formation, stopwatch in hand. "Today's subject is 3 kilometers of Armed Swimming! Every squad, watch out for safety and look after each other!"

3 kilometers sounded far, but it was a standard military training requirement.

Since it was in the sea, the buoyancy was greater.

It was at least twice as easy compared to swimming in fresh water.

Basically, with just a light kick, you could float and swim forward.

The soldiers quickly checked their equipment—rifles, magazines, tactical vests, combat boots—fully geared up.

"Into the water!"

With the order given, the soldiers of the 7th Company entered the sea one after another.

Su Han walked at the back, feeling the buoyancy of the seawater, and took a deep breath.

In his past life in the Special Forces, Armed Swimming was his forte.

Now, with the boost from the Tortoise Breathing Technique, he wanted to see what this body could achieve.

"Start!"

At Zhou Haitao's command, the soldiers began to swim forward.

Su Han adjusted his breathing, activated the Tortoise Breathing Technique, and shot forward like an arrow from a bow!

Splash—

His movements were standard and powerful; his arms sliced through the water like oars, and his legs kicked like a fish's tail. His speed was so fast that he instantly left the main group behind!

"Holy crap!"

"What kind of speed is that?!"

"Is Su Han crazy? Going that fast in Armed Swimming?!"

The soldiers on the shore were speechless.

Zhou Haitao's expression changed drastically. "That bastard, didn't I tell him not to train on his own?"

On the sea, Su Han swam faster and faster. The Tortoise Breathing Technique kept his breathing long and steady, minimizing his physical exertion.

"1 minute 20 seconds... 300 meters..." A soldier on the shore looked at the speedometer, his voice trembling. "Is he even human?!"

The "excellent" standard for Armed Swimming in regular units was 1 kilometer in 30 minutes, but at Su Han's speed, he could finish a kilometer in 10 minutes!

Zhou Haitao was beyond shocked on the shore. "Just how many more surprises does this kid have that I don't know about?!"

...

Twenty minutes later, Su Han had finished the 3 kilometers and easily came ashore.

The soldier responsible for timing on the shore recorded with a numb face: "20 minutes 15 seconds... He broke the regiment record..."

Zhou Haitao ran over and looked Su Han up and down. "Are... are you okay?"

Su Han shook the water droplets from his hair and smiled. "I'm fine, just a bit hungry."

Zhou Haitao: "..."

"Didn't I tell you to train with the main unit?"

Zhou Haitao scolded him, still feeling lingering fear.

Su Han said, "I did. I entered the sea with the main unit."

"But they swim slowly. You can't expect me to swim that slowly too, right? What's the point of training like that for me?"

Zhou Haitao: "..."

Just then, an urgent voice came over the walkie-talkie: "Company Commander! Wang Hao from the 3rd Squad has a cramp! He's sinking!"

Su Han's expression changed, and he turned to jump back into the sea.

Zhou Haitao grabbed him. "You just finished 3 kilometers, your stamina..."

Before he could finish, Su Han had already broken free of his grip and dived into the sea with incredible speed!

"Speedboat! Follow him!" Zhou Haitao shouted anxiously.

But before the speedboat could even start, Su Han had already swum dozens of meters away!

On the sea surface, Wang Hao was struggling desperately, looking like he was about to go under.

"Hang in there!" Su Han roared, increasing his speed even more, cutting through the waves like a shark.

In just dozens of seconds, he reached Wang Hao's side and grabbed his tactical vest.

"B-Brother Han..." Wang Hao's face was pale, his lips trembling.

Su Han checked his condition and said deeply, "Leg cramp? Relax, I'll take you back."

As he spoke, he supported Wang Hao's back with one hand while paddling with the other, remarkably maintaining a high speed as he swam back!

The soldiers on the speedboat were dumbstruck. "He's still this fast while doing Armed Swimming with one hand?!"

Zhou Haitao on the shore was also stunned. "Just what kind of monster is this kid..."

...

Five minutes later, Su Han dragged Wang Hao safely to shore.

The Military Doctor quickly stepped forward to check and confirmed it was just a minor cramp with no major issues.

Wang Hao lay on the beach and weakly grabbed Su Han's hand. "Brother Han... you saved my life again..."

Su Han patted his shoulder. "Remember to warm up before training next time."

Zhou Haitao walked over, his expression complex. "Su Han, your performance today... I will report it to the regiment."

Su Han nodded, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Company Commander, tomorrow I want to try Armed Swimming with a longer distance and heavier load."

Zhou Haitao: "..."

He took a deep breath and turned to leave. "I'll go to the regiment commander to apply for a dedicated speedboat just for you!"

The soldiers burst into laughter, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at Su Han.

This former "tail-ender" had now become a legend of the 7th Company!