The True Training Ground

Truth be told, Xu Lingqu wasn't in good shape right now.

The high-intensity rescue work, combined with being trapped in the water and battered by the river's current, had drained every last ounce of her strength.

Her fingers, torn and cut by branches and bark, were still dripping blood. She pressed her hands against her drenched clothes, hiding the bleeding from view.

Instructor Kai Ang walked toward the center of the group. The students watched him with trepidation, afraid he might announce something even more terrifying.

The flood that had struck in the dead of night had completely shattered their psychological defenses. This was no longer just physical torment—it was a dual assault on mind and body that left most of them mired in fear, unable to pull themselves out.

"Scared?" Instructor Kai Ang surveyed the students. "When the river surged, most of you were still dreaming, weren't you? Having a nice sleep..."

He smiled coldly. "And yet this is when you choose to follow orders?"

Instructor Chen sat in the cockpit, operating the Stalker alongside two other instructors.

They had put considerable effort into simulating this flash flood. To guarantee zero casualties among the students while still making them genuinely feel fear, they had drafted numerous contingency plans. The higher-ups had never approved them, but in the end, they had insisted on pushing this assessment through.

These students had ability—innocent, passionate, and trusting of one another. Those were all wonderful qualities. But on the battlefield? Not so much.

Back when Instructor Chen worked for the Military Department, his primary job had been collecting the bodies of Imperial soldiers. He had seen too many young souls lost. Facing this batch of students, most of whom were about to enter the military, he appeared kind and affable, but he harbored little pity for them. His pity was reserved for the dead.

The number of students who noticed something was wrong was lower than they had anticipated. But the students' self-rescue efforts had far exceeded their expectations.

Downstream, they had prepared thorough rescue measures, bringing plenty of instruments and equipment. They had originally expected to save around two hundred people downstream, but in the end, only about a dozen aircraft were needed. In fact, each net could hold ten or more people—but they hadn't expected so few to arrive, so they simply let each person ride in their own net.

Today, following Kai Ang's wishes, Xu Lingqu had been sent to the medical tent, and the two of them had made a bet. The wager was whether Xu Lingqu would discover the rescue supplies and put them to use for the students.

Instructor Chen had won the bet.

Kai Ang called out the names of the five students who had participated in the rescue.

Xu Xiqin wrung the water from her sleeves, her eyes shining as she listened to Instructor Kai Ang's praise.

She was one of the few students who could still express joy right now. Another, equally obvious, was Jin, who was grinning proudly, showing off his canine tooth. He relished the looks of surprise and admiration coming his way.

"...And finally, the overall commander of this self-rescue operation—Xu Lingqu."

Xu Lingqu was so exhausted she was on the verge of passing out again. She barely had the strength to lift her eyelids to indicate she'd heard him.

"Without her, most of you wouldn't be in the trees. You'd be in the nets being hauled over by us. There isn't much difference in terms of how bedraggled you look, but congratulations—you've escaped the fate of losing points." Kai Ang smiled as he announced to the crowd, "For this river raid assessment, the only student to earn a perfect score is Xu Lingqu. Only the idiots who got washed downstream and waited for us to fish them out lose points. Everyone else gets bonus points."

As soon as he finished speaking, each person's smart bracelet immediately displayed a ranking table. Xu Lingqu, with 15 points, sat firmly at number one.

"I'm sure there are a lot of curses running through your heads right now. Things like, 'Did these jackass instructors treat our lives as a joke?' or 'The instructors at Moye Military Academy are nothing but unrepentant lunatics.'" Instructor Kai Ang spread his hands. "Let me be perfectly clear: yes, the instructors at Moye Military Academy are lunatics. And for the next month and a half, I can't guarantee you won't encounter more of the same."

"So—stay alert. Staying alert can keep you safe from a lunatic's sudden whims. Or, if you'd rather quit, it's still not too late. Reapply next year, or go back to your home star system's academy for another year." Instructor Kai Ang paused. Some students hesitated, murmuring among themselves, but in the end, no one chose to withdraw.

Sometimes, after a day of jump combat training and a flash flood ambush, you realize that if you've survived all that, what else could possibly break you?

No one wanted to turn tail and run like a deserter. Kai Ang was satisfied inwardly, though he didn't show it. His expression remained as smug and arrogant as ever.

The Stalker soon reached its destination. When it landed this time, the hatch opened once more and the students filed out. This time, they had arrived at the true training ground.

This was a small military base that the Military Department had built on this planet, specially borrowed by Moye Military Academy to serve as the trial grounds for the students.

Their feet on the regulation track, looking at several pale green buildings—even though they were humans of the interstellar era, some of the more sentimental students couldn't hold back their tears at the sight of this simple, unadorned base.

The contrast with their previous tent camp, which had been flooded, was staggering. Truly, comparison was the mother of appreciation. This training base instantly won the approval of every student, and they were practically dying to charge into the dormitory buildings.

Instructors emerged from the base and handed each student two sets of new combat training uniforms. After tonight's ordeal, most people's clothes were torn, shredded, or too filthy to look at.

Instructor Chen stepped out of the cockpit and let out a sigh as he looked at the students. "Go on back. We'll allow you to start the first day's training from the afternoon. Go get some good sleep."

Individual dormitory room numbers were sent to the students' smart bracelets.

The sky was already fully light by now. After the terror came exhaustion, and many people's eyelids were so heavy they could barely keep them open, ready to fall asleep right where they stood. But still, they didn't dare make a move.

What if this was another one of the instructors' tricks? What if another bizarre test was waiting for them?

Unconsciously, everyone's gaze drifted toward Xu Lingqu, as if they hadn't yet emerged from the river incident, all waiting for their commander to announce the next move.

Xu Lingqu raised her hand. "Instructor, where is the infirmary? Could someone take me there?"

She revealed her injured hand, and an instructor immediately came to lead her away.

Xu Xiqin was about to follow, but Xu Lingqu patted her shoulder and stopped her. "Go back to the dorm and get some rest."

At those words, the crowd relaxed. If Xu Lingqu said that, then it probably really was over. Most people's hearts settled back into their chests, and they scattered like birds to go rest.

Xu Lingqu followed the instructor to the infirmary. It was much larger and tidier than the medical tent—bright and clean. Xu Lingqu's eyes landed on the cabinet filled with Xirake condensate, a set of exquisite, ornate instruments. This was the very reason she had pushed her body to come here.

Even though she was filthy all over and so drowsy she could pass out at any second, she had to see the Xirake condensate she would be inseparable from from now on.

The abundant stock. Xu Lingqu was extremely satisfied.

Doctor Li turned to look at Xu Lingqu. "Why is it you again—"

Before she could finish the question, Xu Lingqu's body went limp and she collapsed to the floor.

Doctor Li was speechless. "Passed out again?"

She crouched down to examine Xu Lingqu's condition, and a moment later, reached a conclusion.

This one was simply exhausted.