Chapter Nine: Personal Training

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Duan Peng and Xu Yan were both members of Zhang Xudong’s squad. At this moment, Zhang was like an ant on a hot pan, restless and anxious, but Jing Zhi Min refused to relent, leaving him powerless.

Five more minutes passed before Jing Zhi Min finally said to Zhang Xudong, “Stop them immediately. Each of them will be confined for two days.”

“Yes, sir!” Zhang responded sharply, beginning to reduce the gravitational pull as he moved.

By the time he reached the plaza, gravity had returned to the normal standard of Blue Star.

“Stop!” Zhang shouted loudly, ordering his squad to assist in halting the two men.

Duan Peng and Ji You were carried to Zhang’s front.

Zhang, a rugged man, felt a pang of sympathy but had no choice but to follow Jing Zhi Min’s orders.

“The match has already been decided. Unauthorized contests...” he began.

But Duan Peng interrupted, “Captain, we were doing extra training, not a contest!”

“Right, we were just training,” Ji You quickly added, catching Duan Peng’s meaning.

“Physical training isn’t something you can add on at will. Both of you will be punished—two days in confinement.”

After saying this, he turned to the other squad members supporting the two men, “Take them to the confinement room immediately.”

No one dared to argue with such a punishment, but some understood the reasoning.

These two stubborn men would only settle down in confinement; otherwise, if left to keep ‘training’ like this, they might end up seriously hurting themselves.

Once the door of the confinement room shut behind Ji You, he exhaled deeply.

His raw strength was definitely superior to Duan Peng’s, yet Duan Peng’s physical condition exceeded his expectations. Though he couldn’t fully assess how much his own perception had deteriorated, he realized that not every creature on Blue Star was weak.

The same species could display vastly different potential, which seemed unbelievable.

“Whether you believe it or not doesn’t matter. Don’t underestimate Blue Star,” Xu Yan’s mental voice came through his mind, tinged with pride.

“That’s because you don’t understand the biology of Lamu Star,” Ji You replied.

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“But you’re on Blue Star now. Even if you’re strong, it’s not by much. Duan Peng might not even be the strongest—rumor has it the interstellar combat teams are tougher,” Xu Yan said. Having never witnessed it firsthand, he spoke only from hearsay. For most on Blue Star, the interstellar combat teams, while not legends, were as formidable as gods.

“Why did the instructors and captain stop the contests twice?” Ji You took the chance to ask.

Xu Yan answered, “They’re protecting you, not stopping you. Every training has a process. What’s the point of winning against a bunch of rookies given your physical condition?”

Ji You was speechless at the remark. What did “winning means nothing” even mean?

Winning in physical strength allowed him to disdain anyone; winning in research let him dominate that field. Naturally, victors enjoyed privileges and protection—that was the right of the winner.

Yet, despite feeling sure he had finally beaten Duan Peng, Ji You no longer felt the joy of victory as before.

Especially when Duan Peng explained to Zhang Xudong in the end, Ji You tried to avoid trouble, but Duan Peng didn’t seem worried. Though he had started the whole thing, Duan Peng took half the responsibility.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Coming out of confinement and seeing Duan Peng, Ji You barely had time to react before Duan Peng raised his hand halfway in the air, saying, “Xu Yan, not bad! I recognize you as a friend!”

Ji You was momentarily stunned, then, prompted by Xu Yan, also raised his hand and clasped Duan Peng’s firmly in the air.

Zhang Xudong stood before them, stern-faced. “Since you two like to compete so much, from now on, you’ll be trained personally by the battalion commander. Whoever loses will be sent to the tenth squad.”

When Zhang handed Xu Yan and Duan Peng over to Jing Zhi Min, he felt deeply unhappy. These two new recruits were truly rare talents, yet he had to give them up. It pained him, but orders were orders. Fortunately, their assignment remained within the first squad.

Jing Zhi Min glanced at the two and said, “Follow me. I like people who take things seriously.”

The two exchanged looks and slowly followed Jing Zhi Min out of the confinement room, not returning to the training grounds, but heading in another direction.

Inside a neat room, surrounded by various equipment, Duan Peng’s eyes lit up.

Before he could inspect everything, Jing Zhi Min pointed at a device already placed on a platform.

“One minute. Put on all the equipment and start from here. A 30-kilometer cross-country run. Rest only after finishing.”

Ji You and Duan Peng hurried forward, donning backpacks and weighted gear on their legs, arms, waist, and shoulders. On their feet, they wore leather boots resembling rain boots.

Following Jing Zhi Min’s indicated direction, they ran out through a large door.

Ji You roughly estimated that their total weight exceeded fifty kilograms—nearly two-thirds of their body weight. Running 30 kilometers under such load was no easy feat.

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The distance remained the same, but their load was more than doubled compared to ordinary troops.

But the two had underestimated the challenge. After just five kilometers, Jing Zhi Min caught up in a convertible combat vehicle.

With a flip of a switch above their heads, rain began falling precisely along their path.

The water soaked their gear, adding more weight.

Duan Peng turned and said, “Battalion commander, if this is all you’ve got, stop wasting your energy.”

Ji You glanced at Jing Zhi Min’s reaction but was disappointed—he seemed not to have heard.

“Don’t bother looking. Instructors like these have no ‘humanity,’” Xu Yan’s voice echoed in Ji You’s mind.

“I don’t think he means any harm!”

“Of course not. They’re happier training excellent soldiers than seeing women!”

Ji You shook his head. He could understand good soldiers, but Xu Yan’s claim of lacking ‘humanity’ was hard to grasp.

Everything depended on results; the process was less important.

Ji You looked at Duan Peng, who seemed increasingly energized, as if ignited by some kind of conviction.

“Xu Yan, should we leave Ji You behind completely or keep going together?” Ji You quietly asked.

“Don’t push yourself. Long time, long distance—it’s not just about physical strength, but also about faith!” Xu Yan warned.

Ji You was puzzled by Xu Yan’s mention of faith. From a scientific perspective, he believed because that was what he loved most.

Yet, the Golden River Special Forces was not a lifelong post; if you were unfit, you would be mercilessly cut.

How could such a special forces unit inspire faith? Unless, like him, one aspired to join the interstellar combat teams.

Just as he was about to ask, Xu Yan’s mental voice returned, “Don’t ask. The answer is you must have it. Asking makes you sound foolish!”