Chapter 6: I Challenge You

Two hundred push-ups—a nightmare for any new recruit just enlisted.

But Qi Tian was different.

After receiving the beginner’s gift pack from the system and undergoing physical enhancement, his physical fitness had long surpassed that of an ordinary conscript.

These two hundred push-ups were by no means easy for him, yet with grit and determination, completing them was far from impossible.

However, there was no way he would do these push-ups for nothing.

Qi Tian had already decided that once he finished, he would demand justice for himself.

At the very least, he needed to understand why the company commander was targeting him.

Ignoring the strange looks from those around him, Qi Tian dropped to the ground in front of all the new recruits and began doing push-ups with perfect form, pausing at every motion.

Old Hei seized the moment when everyone’s attention was fixed on Qi Tian and quickly approached Xu Guoqing, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear.

“Company commander, this kid’s military blanket, in my opinion…”

“Shh.”

Before Old Hei could finish, Xu Guoqing gently shook his head, his gaze fixed coldly on Qi Tian, his expression unreadable.

Old Hei swallowed the words lodged in his throat, intending to ask Xu Guoqing about Qi Tian’s military blanket once the formation was dismissed and the new recruits settled.

At that moment, from the ranks of the first squad, Song Wei sneered coldly at Qi Tian, who was fiercely powering through forty push-ups without a single breath.

“Sure enough, a fool. He doesn’t even understand basic steady-paced exercise. Now he’s holding his breath, pushing himself to the limit. The moment he exhales, all his strength will be gone!”

Song Wei made no effort to suppress the contempt in his voice.

Old Hei shot a sharp glare at the man who enjoyed mocking his comrades, then hurried to Qi Tian’s side and warned, “Qi Tian, keep a steady breath. Don’t hold your breath. Two hundred push-ups can’t be done in one breath!”

“Don’t worry, squad leader. I’m fine.”

Qi Tian clenched his jaw, and as he spoke, his pace quickened, arms pushing even harder.

Within the first squad, seeing Qi Tian’s increasing vigor, as if fueled by endless energy, someone exclaimed in awe at his seemingly inexhaustible stamina.

“Is this guy even human? Dozens of push-ups done just like that, barely out of breath—he’s a beast!”

“Looks like even those from sports schools don’t really know how to train. Can’t do it themselves, so they think no one else can?”

Hearing this, Song Wei, who had just mocked Qi Tian’s lack of training knowledge moments before, immediately shut his mouth, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Especially after catching Old Hei’s sharp disapproving gaze, he dared not say another word.

Yet his eyes never once left Qi Tian.

Having endured harsh special training at the sports school, Song Wei believed deep down that no new recruit like Qi Tian, maintaining this pace, could possibly reach two hundred push-ups.

Once Qi Tian lost strength and suddenly collapsed, Song Wei’s doubts would be proven right, and there would be no need to argue further.

But that imagined scene never came.

After one hundred seventy push-ups, Qi Tian’s pace did slow.

Sweat beaded densely across his forehead, his face flushed red, breathing heavily.

A vein bulged grotesquely across his forehead like a writhing worm.

Yet he showed no signs of collapsing; his body was taut, his teeth clenched, stubbornly fulfilling Xu Guoqing’s order.

At this point, the comrades in the first squad were inspired by Qi Tian’s indomitable spirit.

Especially the few new recruits whom Qi Tian had helped earlier.

They began shouting the numbers in unison, cheering him on in this way.

“197, 198, 199… 200!”

When Qi Tian finished the final push-up, several soldiers from the first squad rushed forward to help him up.

They expressed concern for his well-being and marveled at his terrifying physical fitness.

As for Song Wei, he had long since slipped to the very back of the first squad, standing apart from the others.

Not for any other reason than his earlier mockery of a comrade had drawn Old Hei’s displeasure.

At the same time, the other soldiers in the squad now held a very poor impression of him.

“Old Song, what you said just now was really out of line.”

Zhang Meng, the squad leader of the second squad, a burly youth like a small mountain, leaned over and quietly admonished Song Wei.

Zhang Meng, another sports school student whom Xu Guoqing had been closely monitoring, specialized in ancient martial arts and had a good relationship with Song Wei at school.

Normally, Song Wei would have begrudgingly smiled and agreed when Zhang Meng spoke.

But now, he felt a deep resentment.

Why had every opportunity to shine been stolen by Qi Tian?

Hearing Zhang Meng’s warning, Song Wei lost his temper.

“Out of line, my foot!

You didn’t see how this kid messed with me during the long run.

I just don’t like him. So what?!”

Seeing Song Wei’s agitation, Zhang Meng, who had stepped forward to reason with him, lost heart and retreated.

Though he usually ran at the front with Old Hei, during the laps around the training ground, he often glanced back to check on his brother.

He had clearly seen Song Wei deliberately blocking Qi Tian’s sprints and nearly causing him to fall.

As for Qi Tian’s subsequent actions, Zhang Meng fully understood.

After all, if it were him, he would have repaid the grudge the same way.

But for the sake of his relationship with Song Wei, Zhang Meng chose to turn a blind eye and act as if nothing had happened.

“Report!”

With a deep sigh, Zhang Meng had just returned to lead the second squad when a sharp, somewhat defiant voice rang out behind him.

The shout drew not only Zhang Meng’s attention but also that of the eight other company commanders of the recruit battalion and the assembled recruits.

Xu Guoqing, standing at the front of the formation, furrowed his brows and glared at Qi Tian, who met his gaze unflinchingly.

“Speak!”

“Company commander, I challenge you!”

The sprawling training ground fell utterly silent, as if a needle could drop and be heard.

Old Hei’s face immediately fell, an expression of profound displeasure.

To challenge the commander of the recruit battalion in front of all the new recruits—

He never expected that Qi Tian, who appeared so innocent and cheerful, was in truth a rebellious soldier.

“Qi Tian, calm yourself! Don’t lose your mind!”

“Report, squad leader, I’m not losing my mind.”

Qi Tian’s gaze remained locked on Xu Guoqing, his tone neither submissive nor arrogant.

“Since the commander said my folded blanket was rubbish, then I ask you to teach me, using the recruit blanket, what kind of blanket qualifies as a perfect tofu block!”

Hearing this, Xu Guoqing couldn’t help but laugh in anger.

A mere recruit dared to challenge him, a captain who had struggled and fought in the army for over a decade, in front of so many people.

Such a troublemaker deserved to be singled out!

“Fine, I accept your challenge, and I welcome any of you to challenge me as well.

But I’ll say this upfront: I don’t have the best temper.

If you lose, bear the consequences yourselves!”