Chapter Eight: A Lifelong Plan

Attention! With the arrival of a squad of heavily armed soldiers and a single sharp command, the boisterous atmosphere that Zhou Hongye had stirred up instantly quieted. At the call of "Attention!", the new recruits, who had been sprawled carelessly across the training ground, immediately straightened up in perfect order.

Anyone assigned to 0611 came from a military family, drilled from childhood by strict fathers, and they understood the iron law of obedience. With just one command, even the scuffle between Young Master Chen and the bear-like recruit ceased at once—now, only the sound of breathing filled the air.

Chen Cao was not descended from a military lineage. He was the pampered son of a wealthy businessman, and unlike those raised in martial households, he could not compare. At a height of 175 centimeters, he stood in the center—not the tallest, nor the shortest, and his row was thus neither high nor low, which made the female instructor with the crisp nose before them crease her brow ever so slightly.

She quickly relaxed, however, sweeping her gaze over the ranks of newcomers. "Not bad, quite lively here. It seems the previous test wasn’t tough enough. Old Zhou’s standards must be slipping!"

After a brisk inspection of the thirty-some recruits, her sharp eyes settled on Chen Cao, who stood, at ease, in the ranks. Though she spoke to everyone, it seemed her words were meant especially for him: "But that’s all right. What’s ahead is your first true trial since joining the unit. The task is simple and requires only four words—wilderness survival. You’ll have no backup, all supplies will be confiscated, and you’ll trek a hundred kilometers through the forest in the span of a week. Only those who reach the destination may enter the academy for two years’ study. In other words, even if you don’t advance in rank after two years, you’ll graduate with the rank of Major!"

The average age among them was fourteen. That meant that just two years later, at sixteen, they would hold the rank of Major. Imagine: by thirty, they could be colonels, and with their family connections, might become the youngest generals, or military stars. Such a prospect was irresistible.

And so, every chest swelled, every back straightened as they gazed at the female major before them, poised between girlhood and womanhood; in their eyes, she was the goddess who offered them both future and power.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Guo Qianshuang, and I am your assistant instructor." Sensing their thoughts, her voice softened, becoming more gentle. "Heh, of course, to be part of 0611 means you’re the elite of the elite. A mere hundred kilometers of wilderness survival is nothing for those born in military families, so I’ll spare you the details. Instead, let me explain why our unit is called 0611!"

Glancing at her watch, Guo Qianshuang continued, "Whoever can explain it well will earn one extra point on their entrance assessment."

The foxlike Zhou Hongye shot up his hand, eager to answer. "I know! The 0611 Special Forces, also known as the ‘Shadow Unit’, is the most charismatic, mysterious, and powerful unit in the Great Chen Republic. Besides training elite officers, it also carries out unconventional missions."

As Zhou Hongye spoke, several assistant instructors brought out large cauldrons, setting them over pits where fires had already been built. The pots crackled; the aroma of meat wafted out, making mouths water and stomachs growl.

Zhou Hongye smacked his lips and continued, "More importantly, the Ministry of Military Affairs trusts this unit because entry into 0611 requires deep family ties. For instance, I was admitted thanks to my grandfather’s connections. Everyone here—our families are intricately linked to the nation and the military. We could never betray our country or the people, which is why the Ministry entrusts us with special missions."

Guo Qianshuang nodded, her smile deadly as ever. "Yes, that’s mostly correct. You’ve covered the main points, but you’ve overlooked something."

"There’s more? That should be it!" Zhou Hongye scratched his head, pinching his round cheeks as he racked his brains.

"Anyone else know?" Guo Qianshuang, the picture of a game show host, surveyed her audience.

The group fell silent—not out of fear of answering, but fear of embarrassment, of making a poor impression on the beautiful instructor before them.

Chen Cao gazed at the instructor, struck by a sense of familiarity, as if he’d seen her somewhere before. But before he could place her, the instructors began cooking again. Truth be told, after vigorous exercise and having not eaten since morning, the meat in those pots was impossibly tempting, and Zhou Hongye’s words had piqued his curiosity enough to distract him from his musings.

As no one answered, Guo Qianshuang set her folder behind her back. "I’m sure you don’t know. 0611 is less the number of a unit than the name of a project."

She opened her folder. "Take you, Zhou Hongye. I won’t introduce your grandfather—everyone knows he’s a founding hero. Your father served in the military, too, before leaving to enter business after a mysterious mission. But do you know why he gave up everything to go into business?"

"A project? I… I don’t know!" The usually quick-witted Zhou Hongye was stumped, stammering.

Even Chen Cao, who had only been focused on the food, now perked up his ears.

Guo Qianshuang’s expression grew serious. "This is a lifelong project. Since you answered first, Zhou Hongye, let me use you as an example. Your father joined the army in the seventy-third year of the Great Chen Republic, fought in several wars as a soldier, rose through the ranks from platoon leader to regimental and divisional commander. Had all gone well, he would have earned a general’s star after that campaign. But do you know why, fourteen years ago, he suddenly left the army for business—and why the founding hero, General Zhou, allowed it? Your father was his favorite, despite all your uncles and cousins holding high office. With General Zhou’s temper, you’d expect him to break your father’s legs for quitting the military—but he didn’t. Why do you think that is?"

Zhou Hongye was utterly dumbfounded. Apart from Guo Qianshuang’s voice, only the whisper of wind could be heard.

Guo Qianshuang went on, "It was to cultivate your abilities. Your family’s assignment was to raise a superlative intelligence-gathering prodigy. At the time, you were being assessed for your potential in that field, so your father willingly left the army for business, bringing you into the commercial world to hone your networking and social skills. Do you all understand now?"

A lifelong project, determined from birth. Everyone held their breath, hearts pounding. They realized they had been chosen by 0611 for their innate talents—truly the elite of the elite.

Chen Cao couldn’t help but think, "Damn, for more than ten years, all I’ve done is eat, sleep, and chase girls. Could that really be what the old man was training me for?" The thought made cold sweat break out on his back. "Damn it, does this mean they want me to be a playboy in the army? That’s even more dangerous than going to war!"

Guo Qianshuang let out a long sigh, watching Chen Cao in the ranks, rolling his eyes and fidgeting. Accustomed to the strict discipline of military life, she frowned and called, "Chen Cao, step forward!"

"Yes!" Chen Cao, unaware of army protocol and not raised in a military household, replied with the exaggerated accent he’d seen in TV dramas—though he did so with great enthusiasm.

"According to your record," Guo Qianshuang said, "you haven’t been tested by any relevant agency. Your file for the past decade is blank. Your only hobbies are clubbing, fighting, and chasing girls. How did someone like you end up here?"

At those words, the recruits, previously fired up by Guo Qianshuang’s speech and confident in their own unique talents, immediately looked at Chen Cao with disdain.

Chen Cao shrugged indifferently. Of course he knew the beautiful instructor was setting him up for embarrassment. No wonder—he suddenly remembered: she was that damned female sniper who’d once pulled a gun on him.

Guo Qianshuang seemed satisfied with the reaction of the recruits. This meant Chen Cao had been thoroughly isolated; in the coming survival exercise, he would have to face the challenge alone. Even for seasoned special forces, traversing dense primeval forests without any advanced equipment was a daunting task, let alone for rookies with no experience or resources. No matter how strict their upbringing, their families would never have let them face such hardship in peacetime.

So, for Chen Cao, this round was as good as lost.

"Damn, now I’m really in trouble," Chen Cao thought angrily. Watching Guo Qianshuang check her watch again, he realized keenly, "This woman is stalling to delay our meal!"

Everyone else caught on, too. In their eyes, Guo Qianshuang now seemed to sprout black wings, her pretty lips revealing two sharp fangs, a little fork in her hand—like a devil in disguise.