Chapter 98: Approval From Vulture
Along the way, Chang Ning’s joy was overflowing, as he now had one worry off his mind.
After the three parted ways in Wolf Fang’s parking lot, Gao Zhong Dui hurriedly ran to He Da Dui’s office, wanting to report this matter up the chain.
It was no issue at all for someone as excellent as Chang Ning to catch the attention of superiors.
Tong Youyou returned to her infirmary thoughtfully, recalling in her mind which of the people she knew were qualified to participate in research on Chang Ning.
Such a person needed to have high expertise in genetics and considerable authority in the military, and such people were not easy to find.
Meanwhile, Chang Ning found Gray Wolf alone and applied to join the training.
“Bleed and sweat but not tears, shed skin and flesh but not drop out of the team!
Rookie A Team!”
Geng Jihui was at the front, shouting loudly to keep his teammates focused. If they lost focus, their thoughts would easily wander.
“Loyal to the motherland, loyal to the people!”
Rookie A Team shouted the slogan as everyone carried logs and endured high-pressure water guns while running on the mountain road.
Their physical fitness was rapidly depleting; even Chang Ning, who joined midway, was starting to breathe heavily.
After finishing physical fitness training, the exhausted rookies were led to an open ground with folding stools.
A small blackboard was placed in front of the folding stools, and beside it stood an instructor with camouflage paint on his face.
To Lao Pao, this person looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he had seen him for the moment.
This instructor was named Cai Xiaochun, the lecturer for this sniper training. His sniper strength in Wolf Fang was second only to Assassin Han Guang.
The instructor’s codename was Vulture, and from the codename alone, one could tell Cai Xiaochun’s ruthless personality.
“My codename is Vulture. I’m your lecturer for this sniper training, responsible for explaining sniper tactics to you.”
Vulture’s voice immediately reminded Lao Pao where he had seen this person before.
During jungle survival, it was this guy pretending to be a forest ranger offering him canned food.
Noticing Lao Pao’s unusual gaze, Vulture looked at him and realized it was an acquaintance, revealing a barely noticeable smile.
But this smile, though Vulture meant it as goodwill, made Lao Pao extremely uncomfortable, like being targeted by a top predator, making his hair stand on end.
‘So he’s Vulture!’
Chang Ning carefully observed Vulture from the crowd. During these days in the selection training camp, he had heard Wolf Fang’s instructors discussing a lot, and the most discussed were Assassin and Vulture.
He had met Assassin; today he also saw Vulture, who was second only to Assassin.
As Assassin’s observer, Vulture’s fierce and cold aura made it clear at a glance that this guy was not to be trifled with, and that was indeed the case.
Vulture gave the rookies a show of force as soon as he opened his mouth.
“Listen up, rookies. I’ll only explain all sniper tactics once. After class every day, I’ll give you questions to answer. If you can’t, you’ll be eliminated!
Here with me, I won’t give you any opportunity. Once you get it wrong, you’re eliminated—no room for discussion!”
Seeing the rookies’ attitudes straighten up, Vulture then slowly began lecturing on sniper tactics《 sniper tactics》.
According to Chang Ning’s observation, Vulture’s demeanor changed when explaining sniping.
If he had been a dagger sheathed in its scabbard while warning them earlier, then while explaining sniping, he was a blade drawn from its sheath, emanating cold sharpness.
“As special forces soldiers of the army, you may sometimes penetrate dozens or even hundreds of kilometers behind enemy lines to complete missions.
Perhaps your mission location is right in the capital of the warring country. In such harsh conditions, what does a sniper need?
Strict training?
A clever mind?
I believe the most crucial thing is your heart—your inner courage!
Deep behind enemy lines, you may face being surrounded by enemies at any time. What supports you to return from the gates of hell?
It’s faith in the Chinese people, faith as a sniper, faith in the motherland, courage in your heart, and absolute standards higher than your opponents.
These are what support you, the spiritual pillar as Chinese soldiers!
I hope you firmly engrave them in your hearts!”
The rookies sat on folding stools, quickly jotting down classroom notes.
Seeing the spirited Vulture, Chang Ning realized that when Assassin had sparred with him earlier, he was completely just playing around.
Now Chang Ning was certain that if Assassin had wanted to back then, there was no need for any feint to the east, attack to the west strategy—he could have eliminated him in one encounter.
The reason Assassin did that, the explanation Chang Ning could think of was to demonstrate sniper combat to him.
Whether it was really as he thought, only after he joined Wolf Fang and asked Assassin personally would he know.
“You’re Chang Ning?”
After finishing the lecture, Vulture came up to Chang Ning and asked.
“Report, yes!”
Vulture stared intensely at Chang Ning, his aura pressing down on him.
Aura is something invisible and intangible, but its existence cannot be denied.
At this moment facing Vulture, Chang Ning’s whole body was covered in goosebumps; he even had the urge to strike first.
Only when facing danger did he have the thought to strike first.
Seeing no evasion in Chang Ning’s gaze toward him, Vulture smiled in satisfaction.
“You’re not bad. I’m really looking forward to the moment you join Wolf Fang!”
Vulture saw a bit of his younger self in Chang Ning.
The same untamed defiance, the same refusal to admit defeat.
It’s just that Chang Ning didn’t show it as overtly and flamboyantly as he had back then.
“Thank you, Instructor. I’ll work hard!”
Chang Ning said loudly.
“No need to say thanks. You already have that kind of strength.”
With that, Vulture left with his notebook wrapped in black artificial leather; he still had training to do.
Vulture conducted massive specialized training every day to surpass Assassin, but there was something called “talent” in this world, far more important than diligence.
Talent determines a person’s upper limit, while diligence determines the lower limit.
Which is more important, everyone has the answer in their heart.
One week later.
Rookie A Team was covered head to toe in camouflage, fully armed and standing in formation at attention. Opposite them were five real Wolf Fang special forces soldiers, similarly attired and led by Earth Wolf.
Gray Wolf Mada was dressed the same, holding a tactically modified 56-1 submachine gun as he strode to the center: “Rookie A Team, this afternoon we’re conducting reinforced jungle combat training! This is a joint drill and also actual combat!
Tonight we’ll head to the border region. We’re taking you to experience real combat!
All you can do is stick close to the veterans and obey orders.
This is actual combat—people really die. Hope you take it seriously!
Now go write your wills. This is our special forces soldiers’ tradition.
We are a unit on call 24/7, so we all prepare our wills in advance—you too.”
Seeing the rookies silent, Gray Wolf continued pressuring them; this was their final assessment.
Only Chang Ning in the formation had a strange expression, showing no worry at all.
