Commander Ye

"It's a crystal implanted in the eyes—everyone gets one at age three. You're two years older than me, Tu Ran, so you were about three when the alien beasts descended. That's why you wouldn't know about it."

Tu Ran nodded. "Then how do I communicate with you remotely from now on? Does the training base have external communication devices?"

"Of course! I'll find one for you tomorrow," Ai Meigui said readily.

Tu Ran thanked her.

It was already late. They turned off the lights and each went to their own bunk to sleep.

The next morning at six o'clock, a sharp, piercing bell rang across the entire training ground, and everyone assembled for morning drills.

First, they ran a full lap around the training ground.

This training ground was the same stretch of yellow earth that had taken Tu Ran an hour by car the day before just to get from the edge to the finish line. Running the whole thing in one morning, without using her abilities, left Tu Ran so exhausted she couldn't straighten her back.

Ai Meigui, meanwhile, had collapsed directly onto the ground, gasping for breath—but that didn't stop her from feeling a strong sense of duty as a 'veteran' who had arrived two days earlier than Tu Ran to explain things to a newcomer. "The past few... days... we only ran back and forth, but today... they made us do a whole lap. Who knows what they'll have us do tomorrow... How... how are you already recovered?!"

Ai Meigui looked up at Tu Ran, who was standing in front of her, too shocked to close her mouth. Originally, Tu Ran's face had been as red as hers, her back too sore to straighten, panting heavily—but now, Tu Ran stood up straight, her face no longer flushed, her breathing even, and she even seemed to be taking in the scenery, as if the person who had been dead tired just moments ago wasn't her at all.

"I just have good stamina," Tu Ran said, changing the subject. "When do we get to eat?"

She was very hungry. While her abilities repaired her body, they also consumed a huge amount of energy.

"Soon—we can eat once everyone's back," Ai Meigui said, using Tu Ran's hand for support as she stood up, leaning her whole weight against Tu Ran.

Tu Ran didn't refuse. She kept one hand on Ai Meigui's waist to steady her, staring ahead, hoping the people behind would hurry up.

Half an hour later, everyone had returned, and the cafeteria opened. Tu Ran practically dragged Ai Meigui toward it.

She ordered a lot of food—nearly twice as much as Ai Meigui.

Ai Meigui glanced at Tu Ran's tray several times, opening her mouth as if to speak each time, but always stopping herself. Finally, she cautioned, "Once you take food here, you have to finish it. It can't be wasted."

Tu Ran nodded, returned to the table, and hurried to eat, because Ai Meigui had said mealtime was only twenty minutes.

And after eating, training continued.

Tu Ran, who had always complained bitterly about military training back in the day, never imagined she'd one day come to the army and undergo ultra-high-intensity physical training.

This training went on for five days. Not only did she not break down, she actually grew more and more adapted—by the end, she even felt a certain exhilarating ease, like a fish in water.

On the sixth day, the initial physical training ended. Those who hadn't passed the physical requirements were weeded out and transferred to other departments, leaving behind only those with strong bodies, ready for the next stage of training.

Today was the day Ye Hongci came to visit the reserve trainees.

Ye Hongci was the Commander Ye that everyone had on their lips—the one Tu Ran had heard about countless times. She was the most respected commander in the entire Haendeng Galaxy, having made her name in a decisive battle over Jiuzhou Star. Because of her bravery, Jiuzhou Star had not fallen prey to the beast hordes; because of her foresight, the Haendeng Galaxy had never seen another Wasteland Star No. 4.

Tu Ran, wearing a dark green training uniform, sat on a small folding stool with the other reserve trainees, arranged in a circle. In the open space at the center, Ye Hongci would soon be giving her speech.

Tu Ran sat in the first row.

The first row was always the most contested spot at times like this—everyone wanted to be closer to Ye Hongci. Tu Ran had originally planned to sit in the back and take a distant look. She didn't feel much reverence toward the so-called War Goddess Commander; she didn't live in this galaxy, so she couldn't feel the fervent devotion the people here held for Ye Hongci.

Too bad she wanted to sit in the back—Ai Meigui didn't.

Ye Hongci was her role model, so of course she wanted to look up to her from the closest distance. And Tu Ran was her good friend—how could she abandon a friend?

So she dragged Tu Ran along by force, her small frame packing a surprisingly explosive strength. She carved a path through a crowd of two-meter-tall men and tall, strapping women, pulling Tu Ran into the packed first row and squeezing in beside her.

Ai Meigui tugged on her left ponytail, which had come loose, then adjusted the right one. She pulled a small mirror from her chest pocket, checked her appearance, made sure everything was in order, tucked the mirror away, placed both hands flat on her knees, straightened her back, stared straight ahead, and wore a solemn expression.

It was rare to see such a serious look on her face—at least, in all these days, Tu Ran had never seen it.

As if sensing Tu Ran's confusion, Ai Meigui rolled her eyes around, confirmed Ye Hongci hadn't arrived yet, and immediately leaned over to Tu Ran's ear, covering her mouth with her hand, and whispered quickly, "Commander Ye is a very serious person. She hates sloppy, unserious types. I need to make a good impression on her."

With that said, she resumed her composed, dignified posture.

Tu Ran was momentarily speechless. The power of a role model, indeed.

She waited in silence for the so-called Commander Ye to arrive.

Ten minutes later, a vehicle drove in from the entrance, trailing a plume of yellow dust behind it, and stopped about fifty meters away from them.

Two people got out of the car. The one walking in front was a woman in a black combat uniform. Her hair was gray, very short, but not messy—neat and crisp. Her skin was fair, with faint traces of age at the corners of her eyes. Her gaze was gentle, which was something Tu Ran hadn't expected.

From the way others described her, Tu Ran had instinctively assumed this person would be cold, stern, and unsmiling.

But now, Ye Hongci was smiling and greeting everyone, without a trace of a commander's airs, looking warmly at all the reserve trainees who had come to welcome her.

Behind her followed a very sharp-looking woman who fit the image Tu Ran had originally had of Ye Hongci—aloof, expressionless, a face like frost, looking down on everything.

"She's Ye Hongci's adopted daughter, Tang Ying. She's amazing—back then, she carried the injured Commander Ye out through an airtight encirclement of the beast horde. If it weren't for her, Commander Ye might have... sigh."

It was clear that Ai Meigui both admired and envied this Tang Ying.

Ye Hongci walked into the center of the crowd, while Tang Ying stood straight at the edge of the formation, guarding her.

"Children, I am Ye Hongci. I'm very glad to see you all here. That you're willing to join my team makes me happy."

"It's our honor to join Commander Ye's team!" Ai Meigui shouted at the top of her lungs, taking the lead, and immediately many voices joined in.

Tu Ran thought to herself: So much for dignity, huh?

Ye Hongci looked at these people with a faint smile until everyone quieted down, then she continued, "And congratulations to you all for passing the initial physical selection. In the days ahead, you will face even more rigorous trials. I wish you all the best in passing them."