University Military Training

After a busy half day, Hou Rui finally collected his textbooks and settled into his dormitory, experiencing the same process as any ordinary university freshman.

“Hou Rui, tidy up a bit. At noon, most of our classmates eat at the Third Canteen. Just come over and I’ll introduce you to everyone. Don’t forget, military training starts at one on the main field. Don’t be late.” After giving these instructions, Li Lei left, leaving Hou Rui alone in the dorm.

It was a standard eight-person university dormitory. Since Hou Rui was the last to arrive, he ended up with a top bunk near the door. The room was a bit messy and faintly smelled of socks—a common problem in boys’ dorms—but these details didn’t bother Hou Rui at all. After Li Lei left, he simply sat there, holding his issued camouflage uniform and staring into space.

It was the same jungle camouflage training gear as on Island Zero, just like what he’d worn before. Staring at the uniform, all the painful memories he desperately wanted to forget came surging back.

Take it one step at a time, Hou Rui thought. He couldn’t think of any better way. He quickly changed into his training uniform, gave himself a bit of encouragement, tidied his bed, and headed straight to the main sports field.

By the time he arrived, the students of Photography Class Two had already gathered, chattering away. The military instructors responsible for training stood nearby, passing the time until the session began.

Li Lei, always enthusiastic, soon introduced Hou Rui to the others. Driven by curiosity and the spirit of gossip, nearly the whole class crowded around Hou Rui, bombarding him with questions.

“So your name is Hou Rui? Are you from Beijing?”

“Hey, man, you’re cool! Where have you been the past half month?”

“Hi, I’m Wang Cong.”

“I’m Zhang Yongrui, your dormmate. Let’s have a drink sometime.”

“Hey! The instructor’s coming! Line up, we’ll talk later!” Just as Hou Rui’s head began to ache from the noise, a girl shouted out, and the group quickly dispersed to form ranks.

Before the class had even lined up properly, a tall, thin soldier in his twenties, with sergeant’s stripes on his shoulders, stepped in front of them. “Attention! Right dress! Front row, count off!”

“1, 2, 3...” In no time, the ragged line became orderly, except for Hou Rui, who stood alone, not yet assigned a place in the formation.

“I hear our class has a new member today?” The instructor called out with a powerful voice.

“Reporting, Instructor! I am Hou Rui, just arrived today!” Prompted by a glance from Li Lei, Hou Rui shouted back.

“Why did you take half a month off from military training?” The officer’s tone was harsh and brooked no argument.

“I went out to sea for fun.” Already in a poor mood, Hou Rui saw no reason to hold back, and replied just as bluntly.

“Oh?” A few troublemakers among the students started to make noise.

Perhaps feeling undermined, the instructor’s face darkened further. He barked, “That’s not an excuse! You’ve missed half a month of training, and you’ll have to make up for it. Start by running laps around the field—now!”

“Yes, Instructor!” Hou Rui was more than willing. With a shout, he turned and dashed off, not giving the instructor a chance to say more.

Following the methods Professor Dis taught him aboard the container ship, Hou Rui alternated between running and sprinting. After months of training this way, he could feel his leg and waist muscles growing not just stronger, but both more explosive and more enduring. The muscles, toughened by high-intensity exercise, were as resilient as cords of tendon.

At first, not many people paid attention to Hou Rui’s punishment run. But after he’d completed twenty laps of the 800-meter track, alternating between running and sprinting, people began to notice.

“Hey, Old Li, when did your class get such a good runner? He must be on the long-distance team!” Another instructor nudged the Photography Class Two instructor.

“Long-distance? I haven’t heard that. He’s just a new student, bit rebellious. I was thinking of straightening him out.”

“Twenty laps of an 800-meter track is almost a half-marathon! If he’s not a long-distance runner, I’ll eat my hat!”

“Maybe he is. I’ll ask him later.”

“It’s not just about the laps,” a major in his forties interrupted, cutting off their conversation.

“Commander Li!” The two instructors quickly stood at attention and saluted.

“At ease,” Commander Li said, pointing at Hou Rui. “Look, he’s not just running—he’s running 300 meters, sprinting 100, again and again. That puts far more strain on the body, and the training effect is at least three or four times greater than ordinary running. Don’t underestimate that kid. I’d say his fitness is already on par with the elite troops in our military district.”

“No way! Commander, isn’t that a bit much? He’s just a student—comparing him to elite soldiers? Those guys are animals!”

“I’m talking about physical fitness alone—he’s absolutely at the same level,” Commander Li replied with certainty.

“That kid! I’ll believe it when I see it. I want to know how long he can keep this up.” The Photography Class Two instructor said stubbornly, and the three officers watched Hou Rui’s progress intently.

By the 25th lap, all the training instructors on the field had gathered and were discussing the new student with interest.

By the 30th lap, the other students began to notice the “wild horse” among them, sneaking glances as he ran.

By the 35th lap, the regular training had been disrupted. Nearly everyone was watching Hou Rui, wondering when he would finally stop.

By the 37th lap, his sprinting slowed noticeably, and his running became unsteady.

At the 40th lap, Hou Rui’s swaying body forced itself to finish the last step before he collapsed and lost consciousness.

“Two people, take him to the infirmary!” The instructor finally gave in and rushed over to check on him. Commander Li, who stayed behind, lamented, “What a soldier he would have made! If he were in my hands, I’d make him the best in the regiment.”

“Forget it, Commander. He’s a university student, the pride of the nation. There’s no way he’ll join the army, no matter how talented,” another instructor said, trying to console his superior, and then led the regretful Commander Li away.

Passing out from running—this could be considered Hou Rui’s way of avoiding military training. When he regained consciousness, it was already eight in the evening. He spent his first night of college in the infirmary.

Over the following days, Hou Rui kept a low profile during military training, blending into the crowd. He appeared no different from any other student, giving no hint of the “wild horse” within.

As training neared its end, Hou Rui gradually became more familiar with his roommates. Just as he thought the training would end uneventfully, an unexpected twist occurred.

“Class, today’s military training is live-fire shooting. We’ll arrive at the range in twenty minutes. Because there will be firearms, everyone must follow instructions and observe strict discipline,” the instructor announced on the bus. Meanwhile, Hou Rui leaned against the window, lost in the sky and clouds outside.

“Hey, Monkey, this time we get to handle real guns!” Ma Siyuan, Hou Rui’s excited roommate, kept patting his arm.

“Oh.” Hou Rui responded indifferently.

“Come on, aren’t you excited? I’ve loved guns since I was a kid! If I were born in America, I’d have a whole arsenal at home!” Ma Siyuan gushed, clearly the kind of boy fascinated with guns from an early age—now nearly beside himself at the prospect of handling a real one.

“If I could, I’d never touch a gun again,” Hou Rui said softly.

“Never again? Monkey, you’ve used a gun before? Is your family in the military?” Ma Siyuan asked, puzzled.

“It’s nothing. Look, we’re almost at the range,” Hou Rui quickly changed the subject.

At the Zhangxinzhuang Shooting Range on the outskirts of Beijing, the students burst out of the bus, racing toward the earthen mounds, until their instructors herded them back into formation.

The live-fire exercise allocated two pistol magazines and one magazine for a Type 95 assault rifle to each student. Once everyone sat in circles, the instructor began explaining the firearms and their usage. Hou Rui could only feign interest, listening to what he’d only recently learned himself.

After the demonstration, the eager students rushed to handle the weapons, posing in a variety of shooting stances. Once everyone had their turn, the instructors collected the guns and began live-fire drills one-on-one.

Soon, the crackle of gunfire echoed over the range as the instructors rushed about, correcting students’ shooting posture and reminding them of the essentials.

“Keep the muzzle pointed at the ground, not your own feet. Good, insert the magazine—use more force.”

“Remember, align the sights. Don’t let your hands shake—why are you shaking even more?”

“You didn’t release the safety!”

Before he knew it, it was Hou Rui’s turn. When the instructor handed him a pistol, Hou Rui hesitated, not grabbing it eagerly like the others.

“It’s fine, don’t be nervous. There’s no magazine yet. Here, hold it with both hands,” the instructor said, now regarding Hou Rui with more appreciation after the running incident.

Unable to explain, Hou Rui took the pistol, holding it carelessly in one hand, letting it hang at his side.

“Remember, the first key is to stand straight and steady—” the instructor began, but Hou Rui’s mind was already far away. He was reliving every day, every minute of his time on Island Zero, in Vietnam, the training he’d endured, the people he’d killed—especially the pirate child’s face.

When pain, oppression, and regret build up inside, they need an outlet. Unfortunately, Hou Rui chose the wrong time and place. Before the instructor could finish, he suddenly raised the pistol and, with his other hand, grabbed a magazine...