Bonus Chapter: Return to Camp, A New Beginning for the Young Warriors
One week later, at Xishan Military Academy.
At five o'clock in the morning, the reveille sounded.
Lu Chen rolled out of bed faster than an alarm clock.
While the other five recruits in the dormitory were still confused, he had already put on his training uniform.
"Holy crap, Lu Chen, are you a robot?" Wang Lei, in the lower bunk, rubbed his eyes. "It's only been three days, and you've already gotten used to it?"
"I'm used to it."
Lu Chen gave a brief reply and turned to wash up.
Three minutes later, he stood on the playground, his back straight.
Other recruits arrived one after another, some still yawning, some not even fully dressed in their uniforms.
Lu Zhanting stood at the front of the group, his gaze sweeping over each person.
When her gaze fell on Lu Chen, it lingered for less than half a second before she looked away.
"Complete the five-kilometer cross-country run in under forty minutes."
His voice was as cold as the winter wind.
"I can't finish running, so there's no breakfast today."
The new recruits were wailing in despair.
Lu Chen didn't say anything, but simply moved his wrists.
Forty minutes is nothing to him.
The whistle blew.
The boy rushed out.
---
Thirty-five minutes later, Lu Chen was the first to cross the finish line.
He stood there, breathing steadily, barely sweating.
Lu Zhanting glanced at him.
"Pass."
Just two words.
Lu Chen gritted his teeth.
He knew that his father wouldn't give him any special treatment here.
It might even be stricter.
Other recruits arrived one after another, the last being Wang Lei. He was over the time limit at forty-two minutes.
"Wang Lei".
Lu Zhanting spoke.
"arrive!"
The boy stood at attention, his face deathly pale.
"Two minutes over the time limit, breakfast deducted, plus two extra kilometers of training."
"yes!"
Wang Lei gritted his teeth and agreed.
Lu Chen looked at him and suddenly spoke.
"Report."
Lu Zhanting looked at him.
"explain."
"I'll run with him."
The playground fell silent for a moment.
All the new recruits looked at Lu Chen.
Lu Zhanting's eyes turned cold.
"reason."
"He is my comrade-in-arms."
The boy's voice was firm.
Lu Zhanting remained silent for a few seconds.
"allow."
He turned around and said, "Two kilometers, finish within twenty minutes, or neither of us will have breakfast."
Lu Chen and Wang Lei exchanged a glance.
"Walk."
The two turned around and rushed back onto the track.
---
In the cafeteria, Lu Chen sat down with his tray.
Wang Lei was opposite him, his eyes red.
"Thanks, bro."
"Don't mention it."
Lu Chen took a bite of his steamed bun. "We'll be in the same class from now on, so let's help each other out."
“But…” Wang Lei lowered his voice, “I heard it from someone else that Instructor Lu is your dad.”
Lu Chen paused for a moment.
"yes."
"Then you still dare to..."
"Precisely because he is my father, I cannot be treated specially."
The boy looked up, his eyes bright.
"Here, he's the instructor, and I'm the recruit. That's all."
Wang Lei looked at him and suddenly smiled.
"Okay, from now on you'll be my older brother."
Lu Chen chuckled.
"Stop fooling around and eat properly."
---
In the afternoon, there was combat training.
Lu Zhanting stood in the center of the training field.
"Today we'll teach basic combat techniques."
His gaze swept over all the new recruits.
Who is willing to come up and be a demonstration?
No one dared to make a move.
Lu Zhanting's gaze fell on Lu Chen.
"Lu Chen".
"arrive!"
The young man stepped forward.
"Come up."
Lu Chen walked to the center of the field and stood facing his father.
"Attack me."
Lu Zhanting said calmly.
Lu Chen took a deep breath.
He knew this was a test.
The boy moved.
A straight punch, as fast as lightning.
Lu Zhanting dodged to the side, grabbed his wrist with his other hand, and threw him over his shoulder.
Lu Chen flipped in the air and landed on his feet, dissipating most of the force.
A gasp of surprise rang out from the crowd.
"good."
Lu Zhanting released his grip. "Again."
This time, Lu Chen did not attack directly, but instead threw a few probing punches.
Lu Zhanting defused each attack, then suddenly launched a counterattack.
A whip kick aimed straight at Lu Chen's waist.
The boy crossed his arms to block the kick, but was forced to take three steps back.
But he did not fall.
"very good."
Lu Zhanting finished his move. "Do you see that? The core of fighting isn't strength, it's reaction and judgment."
He looked at all the new recruits.
"Lu Chen has a good foundation, but he is still no match for me."
"You must remember, on the battlefield, the enemy will not show mercy."
"So I don't do it during training either."
The new recruits responded in unison.
Lu Chen stood to the side, watching his father's back.
The man who used to serve him food at home was now as cold as a knife.
But he knew that this was the real Lu Zhanting.
---
Nine o'clock at night, before lights out.
Lu Chen lay on the bed and took out his phone.
There are three unread messages on the screen.
Mom: "Chenchen, are you settling in well at school? Are you eating properly?"
Eldest brother: "Second brother, how's life in the military? Let's chat sometime."
Sister: "Second brother! I learned a new acupuncture technique today! I'll teach you when you get back!"
Lu Chen looked at these messages and a smile appeared on his lips.
He replied quickly.
"Mom, I'm fine, I'm eating well, don't worry."
"Big brother, it's good, it's just that the training intensity is high, but I can handle it."
"Xiao Xi, you're amazing! Teach me when I get back."
After sending the message, he was about to put down his phone.
The screen lit up again.
It was sent by my father.
"You did well today, but it's not enough. We'll have extra practice tomorrow."
Lu Chen paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Yes, instructor."
He put down his phone and closed his eyes.
Outside the window, the moonlight was like water.
The military camp was completely silent.
But in the boy's heart, an indescribable passion surged.
---
The next day, at 4:30 a.m.
Lu Chen was woken up by someone pushing him.
"Get up, emergency assembly."
It was Lu Zhanting's voice.
The boy instantly woke up and got out of bed.
The other people in the dormitory were still asleep.
"Just you."
Lu Zhanting turned and walked out. "Five minutes, assemble on the playground."
Lu Chen quickly dressed and rushed out of the dormitory.
On the playground, there were only him and his father.
"Starting today, you will train half an hour earlier each day."
Lu Zhanting looked at him.
"Why"
"Because you are my son."
The man's voice was calm.
Others can slack off, but you can't.
Others can give up, but you can't.
"You have to be stronger than everyone else to survive on the battlefield."
Lu Chen looked at his father and suddenly understood something.
"yes."
"Ten-kilometer cross-country run, begin."
The boy turned and rushed into the night.
Lu Zhanting stood there, watching his son's back.
The little guy who once needed to be held in his arms can now run on this road on his own.
He lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
The smoke slowly dissipated in the morning light.
---
One month later.
Lu Chen has fully adapted to military life.
His performance was among the best of the new recruits; he excelled in combat, shooting, and tactics.
But Lu Zhanting's demands on him never decreased.
That day, Lu Chen received a phone call from home.
"Second Brother!"
Lu Xi's voice came through the receiver, filled with excitement.
"Mom said she can come see you this weekend! We're all coming!"
Lu Chen felt a warmth in his heart.
"real"
"Yes! Dad approves!"
The boy looked at his father, who was instructing new recruits on the training field not far away.
The man had his back to him, his back ramrod straight.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Chen took a deep breath.
It's been a month.
He was homesick.
I miss my mom's cooking.
I miss my older brother's nagging.
I miss my sister's laughter.
He also misses... his father who used to pat his head at home.
---
Weekends are designated family visitation days.
Lu Chen stood at the camp gate and saw the familiar car in the distance.
The car door opened.
Lu Xi was the first to rush down.
"Second Brother!"
The little girl threw herself into his arms.
Lu Chen hugged his younger sister, his nose feeling a little sore.
"You miss me"
I miss it so much!
Lu Xi raised her head, her eyes red.
You've lost weight.
"No, I've gotten stronger."
Lu Chen smiled and ruffled her hair.
Su Wanqing and Lu Nian'an also came over.
"mom."
"Chenchen".
Su Wanqing looked her son up and down, her eyes filled with heartache.
"You've really lost weight."
"Mom, I haven't lost weight, I've just gotten more muscular."
Lu Nian'an pushed up her glasses.
"You look to be in good spirits."
"Of course."
The family walked into the camp.
Lu Zhanting stood at the edge of the training field, watching this scene.
Su Wanqing walked over and naturally took his arm.
How did your son do?
"good."
The man's voice was faint.
"It's alright."
Su Wanqing glared at him.
Lu Zhanting's lips curled into a very faint smile.
"very good."
"That's more like it."
---
In the cafeteria, Su Wanqing opened the thermos she had brought.
"These are all your favorite foods."
Lu Chen looked at the familiar dishes, and his eyes welled up with tears.
"Mom, you're so great."
Stop talking nonsense and eat quickly.
The family sat together.
Lu Xi chattered on about things at home.
Lu Nian'an talked about his recent research progress.
Su Wanqing frequently served food to Lu Chen.
Lu Zhanting sat to the side, quietly eating his meal.
But those eyes never left their son.
"dad."
Lu Chen suddenly spoke.
"Um"
"Thank you."
Lu Zhanting put down his chopsticks and looked at him.
"No need to thank me."
"Thank you for training me to be so strong."
The boy's eyes were bright.
"Now I understand why you were so strict back then."
"Because only in this way can I gain a foothold here."
Lu Zhanting remained silent for a while.
"Remember this feeling."
He stood up.
"Because it will be even more difficult from now on."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Su Wanqing watched her husband's retreating figure and sighed.
"That's just how your dad is, stubborn on the outside but soft on the inside."
Lu Chen smiled.
"I know."
---
In the evening, the family prepared to leave.
Lu Xi held Lu Chen tightly, refusing to let go.
"Second brother, you must take good care of yourself."
"knew."
"Also, don't push yourself too hard, you'll get injured."
"rest assured."
Lu Nian'an patted her younger brother on the shoulder.
"come on."
"Um."
Su Wanqing gave her son a final hug.
"Call me if you miss home."
"good."
Lu Zhanting stood to the side, his hands in his pockets.
Lu Chen walked up to him and stood at attention.
"Reporting to the instructor, family visits have ended. Requesting to return to the unit."
Lu Zhanting looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
"allow."
He paused.
"We'll have extra practice tomorrow."
Lu Chen grinned.
"yes!"
After watching his family leave, Lu Chen turned and walked towards the camp.
The setting sun stretched his shadow long.
Not far away, Lu Zhanting stood there, watching his son's back.
Su Wanqing walked to his side.
"Reluctant to part with it"
"Um."
Surprisingly, the man admitted it.
"But this is the path he chose."
"I know."
Su Wanqing grasped his hand.
"Our son will become the best soldier."
Yes, it will.
Lu Zhanting's voice was soft, yet firm.
"Because he is our son."
As night fell, lights out sounded in the military camp.
Lu Chen lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
All I could hear were my comrades snoring.
The sound of patrolling footsteps could be heard outside the window.
Everything was so unfamiliar, yet so real.
The boy closed his eyes.
In his dream, he was wearing a military uniform and standing on the battlefield.
Behind him were the family he wanted to protect.
Ahead lies the future he seeks to conquer.
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