Special Forces: From the very beginning, I can upgrade the entry

Chapter Thirty-One: The Special Operations Brigade – Military District Assessment Team Arrives!

“Ahh…!!”

Once Zhuang Yan had completely disappeared from sight, Chen Guotao clutched his injured leg, trembling in pain. At that moment, a figure emerged from the shadows and teased, “Look at you—already in this state, yet still pretending to be tough. Who are you trying to impress?”

“If that stubborn brat Xiao Zhuang had stayed any longer, would you even be able to get out of bed tomorrow?”

“Sigh…”

Chen Guotao let out a long sigh as he glanced at Lin Yi, who had just appeared. Lin Yi stepped forward, rolling up Chen Guotao’s trouser leg. The muscles in his calf were visibly strained, veins bulging, and his skin had taken on an unnatural pallor. Without hesitation, Lin Yi pressed a fine needle into the meridian points of the leg.

“Drip… Drip…”

Droplets of blood fell to the ground, not bright red, but tinged with a faint purplish-black hue.

“Ankylosing spondylitis does not present obvious symptoms in its early stages. Cases like yours, where it has already affected the lower limbs, are exceedingly rare.”

“You should be well aware that this condition is a result of your prolonged intense training. What ordinary people can do, you cannot.”

“If you continue like this, you’ll truly be paralysed before long. Have you thought this through?”

Lin Yi’s voice was low and solemn as he locked eyes with Chen Guotao.

His knowledge of Miao medicine was not particularly advanced. The only medical skill he possessed, Dēngtáng Rùshì【登堂入室】, was merely of blue-tier proficiency. For an illness like this, he could only provide relief—curing it completely was impossible, let alone restoring Chen Guotao to his former condition. Of course, even if he had a way, Chen Guotao would never willingly put his training on hold just to undergo treatment—not when the Special Forces selection was fast approaching.

“Truthfully, before you came, I had already made my decision.”

“If a person can devote their life to a single goal, then it is a life without regrets.”

“If I must pay the price for this, at the very least, I can say that I tried—can I not?”

Chen Guotao had already made peace with his reality.

“You…”

Lin Yi shook his head. The reconnaissance company never lacked for stubborn men. Miao Lian was one. Chen Platoon was another. And Xiao Zhuang—well, he was cut from the same cloth.

“You should spend more time reading military literature on special operations.”

“Books like SEAL Team Six.”

“Hm?”

Chen Guotao looked puzzled.

SEAL Team Six

“You don’t need to know why.”

“When the time comes, you will understand.”

Lin Yi cast him a meaningful glance, leaving the matter ambiguous. At present, the military’s research on synthetic forces was still in the experimental phase—let alone the formation of a Special Operations Brigade.

Historically, the first synthetic special operations force would emerge in the Jingji region. From there, various military district special operations battalions would gradually be upgraded into Special Operations Brigades. Langya Special Operations Brigade would be the first synthetic special forces unit in the Southeast Military District.

But Lin Yi’s ambitions went beyond simply forming a Special Operations Brigade. His sights were set on the much larger arena of a professionalised Blue Army —the elite opposition force used in military exercises.

[Blue Army (蓝军, Lánjūn): In Chinese military exercises, the Blue Army represents the opposition force, designed to simulate real combat scenarios.]

“Alright.”

Chen Guotao tactfully chose to drop the topic.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

The following day, mist still shrouded the landscape.

At the Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company’s shooting range—

“Align to the right! Face forward!”

“Stand at ease! Attention!”

Platoon Leader Chen Guotao issued a series of crisp commands. Before him, dozens of soldiers straightened their backs, standing at the ready.

“Beep! Beep!”

A military-green off-road vehicle, marked with the insignia of the military district, drove across the open field and came to a halt at the range. Two officers stepped out—one was a Major General, the other a Lieutenant Colonel.

“Sir!”

Miao Lian quickly stepped forward to salute, greeting them warmly. “Welcome! Please, this way!”

“Good!”

The Major General returned the salute and strode towards the centre of the range. Miao Lian’s gaze, however, lingered on another figure emerging from the vehicle. Dressed in dark camouflage, wearing a black beret with a wolf insignia on his epaulette, and sporting a pair of dark sunglasses, the newly arrived Major exuded an air of quiet authority. The Major stepped up to Miao Lian, raising his left hand into a fist and tapping it lightly against his forearm.

“Always ready!”

“Always ready!”

Miao Lian responded in kind, his fist meeting the Major’s in a gesture of unspoken camaraderie. A grin spread across both their faces—an unspoken bond forged in the crucible of life-and-death battles.

“What’s this? Here to inspect my unit today?”

Miao Lian walked alongside the Major, speaking as they moved.

“What’s this? Afraid I’ll ruin your operation?”

The Major slung an arm around Miao Lian’s shoulders with a chuckle. “Just trying to earn my keep under Minister Zhao.”

“Oh?”

Miao Lian smirked and teased, “Earning your keep under me, more like.”

“Your Special Operations Battalion’s rations are nearly as good as the military dogs’.”

“Here, we get nine yuan seventy a day—enough steamed buns to eat our fill.”

“Hahaha!”

The Major threw his head back in laughter.

“Sir!”

At that moment, Platoon Commander Chen stepped forward, having spotted Minister Zhao. He ran over, saluted sharply, and reported, “Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company, assembled for assessment!”

“Awaiting your orders!”

“At ease.”

Minister Zhao returned the salute.

“Yes, sir!”

Chen turned back to his soldiers.

“At ease!”

Stomp!

In unison, every soldier of the reconnaissance company stepped forward with their left foot.

“Shall we begin?”

Minister Zhao turned to Miao Lian and the sunglasses-wearing Major.

“Yes, sir!”

Miao Lian’s expression turned serious as he issued the order.

“Begin!”

“First squad, step forward!”

Chen shouted.

Tat-tat-tat! Tat-tat-tat!

Three reconnaissance soldiers jogged to the firing positions, rifles slung across their backs.

Among them—Xiao Zhuang and Chen Xiwa.

“Sir, this way.”

Miao Lian gestured for Minister Zhao to follow.

“Alright.”

Minister Zhao moved towards the designated observation area.

“Stand ready!”

By now, Zhuang Yan and Chen Xiwa had reached the firing line.

Seeing the insignia on their shoulders, Minister Zhao raised an eyebrow.

“They’re both privates?”

“Miao, are you short on personnel?”

“A private is still a soldier of the Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company.”

Miao Lian chuckled. “Minister, if you want to see the true capabilities of this unit, privates will give you the most accurate picture.”

“Hmph…”

“Interesting. This is a first—privates reporting directly to me.”

“Let’s begin.”

Minister Zhao nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

Miao Lian shot Chen an instructive glance.

“Prepare!”

Chen barked the command.

Squad Leader Zheng Sanpao, assigned as the safety officer, stepped away from the two soldiers, keeping a ten-metre distance while watching them intently.

“Multi-functional shooting—ready!”

Xiao Zhuang and Xiwa unslung their QBZ-95 automatic rifles, cocking them into position.

“Commence!”

At the command, the two privates leapt forward like hunting leopards.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gunfire erupted.

Minister Zhao raised his binoculars.

Miao Lian watched intently.

Only the Major in sunglasses remained unmoved, as if unimpressed.