Lei Kuan was very satisfied with the deathly silence on the scene; he liked this feeling of absolute control.

He didn't say anything more, but instead strode forward, like a black bear surveying its territory, slowly walking past the group.

His military boots rustled softly on the sand, each step feeling like a blow to everyone's heart.

He walked to the middle of the line, stopped, and his eyes, hidden beneath the scars, scanned the young and nervous faces inch by inch.

"What? Scared?" His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a mocking tone. "Scared already? If you're scared, you can get out now! I'll give you five minutes to get to the front door yourself, and I won't stop you!"

Nobody moved.

What a joke! We're already here, who would desert now? Wouldn't that be more embarrassing than being eliminated and having to go back?

Everyone gritted their teeth and lowered their heads even further, afraid of being stared at by that fierce gaze.

"Very good." Lei Kuan smirked, the scar twisting even more grotesquely. "Looks like you're all tough nuts to crack until you're faced with a death sentence. I like tough nuts, because... it's only satisfying to smash them!"

His voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"Now, everyone! Listen up!"

"Put all your belongings, all your shabby possessions, on the ground in front of you right now! Immediately! Quickly!"

At the command, a group of instructors in identical uniforms with stern expressions rushed into the ranks like hungry wolves pouncing on their prey.

They acted roughly, giving no one time to react, snatching suitcases and canvas bags from the recruits' hands, unzipping them, or simply kicking them open, dumping all the contents onto the grayish-white saline-alkali land.

Splash—

In an instant, the playground descended into chaos.

Clothes, shoes, socks, books, cookies, candy... all sorts of things were scattered all over the floor.

A pastry, neatly wrapped in oil paper, rolled around a few times and became covered in dust.

A brand-new notebook rustled in the wind before being mercilessly trampled underfoot by a military boot.

The situation was even more appalling for the female soldiers.

Someone brought their treasured face cream and clam oil, and the bottles were roughly thrown on the ground with a crisp sound.

Some people brought red ribbons and brand-new floral fabrics, which were treasured outside and represented the girl's feelings, but now they were mixed with dust and pebbles, looking disheveled.

Su Tang's worn-out leather suitcase was also kicked away by an instructor with pockmarked face.

The contents spilled out in a clatter—a few faded, dusty clothes, a neatly folded but stiff towel, and a worn-out wooden comb with a few missing teeth.

Simple and unassuming, just like her current identity as "Su An," she would be completely inconspicuous in a crowd.

Su Tang remained completely unmoved.

Compared to the torture and humiliation she experienced in her previous life, this little scene was like a kindergarten game.

She had anticipated this; it was standard procedure.

Typically, the first step in the stripping-remodeling training method is to destroy personal identifiers and erase social attributes in preparation for the implantation of a new collective identity.

The technique was crude, but it was enough to have a psychological impact on young people.

So, she put the thick cotton blouse that Qin Ye had folded for her by hand, a few pieces of fruit candy, and the yak jerky that he had dried by hand into her space in advance.