Chapter 212 - 159: From today onwards, I’m not going to pretend anymore_2

Yao Shuwei twisted his arm, made a preparatory move, and without much talk, walked up to the horizontal bar, called out "Ready!" and got on the bar.

The two leaders also blinked and became more attentive.

Chief of Staff Zhou said, "This one’s good."

Zhang Zhongting nodded, "Hmm..."

They were there to update their all-around perception of the Detachment’s top soldiers, especially the most formidable ones.

Yao Shuwei also became much more serious. Yesterday’s pull-up test score was 47, but today, he was at 49 and still not showing his full strength.

"Rest for no more than five seconds!" Chen Zhechang reminded loudly.

"Ugh!"

Yao Shuwei let out a long shout from his chest, suddenly kicked his legs, and exerted himself.

He made it.

"Fifty! Not bad! He cleared the bar! Three more than yesterday!" Chen Zhechang exclaimed excitedly.

Hearing this, Fang Huai rarely joined in with everyone to applaud.

Though in his eyes, the score was just average.

But it wasn’t about the score being high or low, being able to break through one’s own limits at the crucial moment was indeed something worth encouraging.

Zhang Zhongting, however, touched his chin and said,

"Hmm... The last swing was a bit wide. We should strive for fifty indisputable pull-ups that leave no room for the referees to argue.

Prepare well for the Corps Martial Arts Competition later this year and aim for a good result."

"Yes, Regimental Commander!" Yao Shuwei clenched his aching palms and made a fist.

"Next one!"

...

None of the next three passed 45 pull-ups.

Six people went by quickly, in just over a dozen minutes, but the group climbing the hook ladder on the side was even faster and was already waiting their turn for the bar.

Fang Huai noticed Liu Shoulin among that group, the strongest in overall performance.

On the pull-up bar, it seemed he scored 52.

"Liu Shoulin, how did you do on the hook ladder?" Chief of Staff Zhou asked with a cheerful smile.

This was one of the Detachment’s prized soldiers with top scores all around, especially in leg strength, strong enough to contend with He Zhijun.

"A bit of a slip-up, Chief of Staff, 15.83 seconds."

Liu Shoulin somewhat sheepishly spoke about a time that many elites couldn’t achieve in their lifetime.

"Someone in the country has already broken the 14-second barrier, 13.7 seconds. Young man, you need to work hard!"

Zhang Zhongting sighed once again.

"Liu Shoulin has also made it under 14.6 seconds. These events, you can’t always be in the perfect state," the Chief of Staff said with a laugh.

Speaking of which, he turned to Fang Huai,

"What about you, young man? Watching these excellent squad leaders, can you still be as wild as before?

Give you another year, where do you think you would rank among them?"

As he said this, those from Second Squadron chuckled to themselves.

Fang Huai smiled as well.

Yet, he didn’t answer the Chief of Staff, only looked at Liu Shoulin and said,

"Squad Leader Liu, I’m just a new recruit. If we tie, does that mean I win?"

Everyone was stunned.

Liu Shoulin smiled helplessly.

He was completely unsure of Fang Huai’s ability; anyhow, reaching 50 was a sure thing.

Fang Huai’s first practice of 39 plus a seamless second practice of 24 were indeed challenging for him to complete.

But seeing Fang Huai’s challenging gaze, he had no choice but to say,

"My legs have been a bit uncomfortable these past days, I don’t want to run, and here you are picking on me, right?

Alright, today I will risk it all with you, gentleman. If we tie, you win!"

The air suddenly grew quiet.

When everyone heard this, their minds were buzzing.

What was Liu Shoulin saying?

They couldn’t understand, not at all.

Even the two leaders were puzzled.

Only then did Fang Huai ease his smiling face, glanced around at the two groups of old soldiers, and proclaimed,

"Squad Leader Zhang Guangxu, Squad Leader Long Xinfeng, last night didn’t you ask me what qualifications I had to join Special Service Squadron 2?

Fine, today I’ll stand for Special Service Squadron 2 and challenge you. If you can surpass me, Instructor Cao will certainly write a report for the leadership next year to recruit you."

Cao Yi also laughed, "For sure, if you can surpass Fang Huai, our leadership is here. I’ll write the report immediately, I’ll even accept skipping ranks to submit it!"

"Hahaha..." Everyone from Second Squadron laughed outright.

The other old soldiers, seeing Cao Yi’s demeanor, suddenly felt a bad premonition.

But they still didn’t believe it.

The ones feeling somewhat nervous were just a few people who scored around 40.

Zhang Zhongting and Chief of Staff Zhou turned their heads and scanned everyone.

What was this about?

"Little Fang, how many can you pull?" Zhang Zhongting couldn’t help but ask.

"Hehe, just watch."

Fang Huai didn’t say anything and turned around to get ready for the pull-ups.

"Alright!" Fang Huai stood under the bar and yelled loudly.

Today, he wasn’t going to hold back any longer; from today on, the parallel bars were no longer worth showing off on for him.

With a leap, he was on the bar!

"One! Two! Three! Four!"

As Fang Huai started, the people of Special Service Squadron 2 immediately began to count out loud for him like a mountainous roar or a tidal wave.

Chief of Staff Zhou and Zhang Zhongting’s eyes began to show astonishment. The speed of his start was too fast; this definitely wasn’t a matter of just twenty or thirty reps.

The shouts from Squadron 2 bewildered the group that had just finished climbing the rope and had moved on to the hook ladder.

They had just started, so why were they yelling so loudly?

But the more they listened, the more alarmed they became.

This son of a bitch had been shouting up to twenty without stopping!

The ones not in battle began to crane their necks to see what was happening at the parallel bars area.

"Twenty-nine, thirty!"

He finished thirty reps in one go without stopping.

This was just too damn exaggerated.

Zhang Zhongting felt as if his eyeballs were about to shatter.

The Chief of Staff’s eyebrows were deeply furrowed.

Chen Zhechang kept rubbing his eyes, finishing up, and then began scratching his head.

Impossible...

Thirty-five.

Fang Huai paused, taking a deep breath.

He felt as if his heart was finally making noise again, beating fiercely; in three seconds’ time, the feeling of abundant strength started to surge again.

Forty.

Forty-five.

Every five reps, he took a break, but each time he got back up his movements were still fierce and quick.

The old soldiers of the Training Team had become numb.

Today was a disaster.

Half the people in the Training Team were going to be responsible for contract violations from the 20-kilometer punishment, based on the bet.

From the look of things, hoping for less than fifty reps was wishful thinking.

Fang Huai’s movements finally began to slow down.

But they were continuous, without end.

"Forty-eight!"

"Forty-nine!"

"Fifty!"

"Fifty-one!! Come on, Fang Huai!!"

He smoothly crossed the fifty-rep threshold.

Fang Huai let out a breath; it was time for his limit.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Five seconds! Go for it!" Zhang Zhongting couldn’t care less anymore; he just wanted to see what kind of big news his admirable nephew could make today.

"Go up... just go!"

Fang Huai shouted and started exerting his strength again.

"Fifty... two!"

"Fifty... three!"

"Fang Huai is awesome!" General Han, who was naive enough to be unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth, began to shout loudly.

"Fifty... four!"

"Damn it..." Those on the Training Team began to swear, and even Liu Shoulin’s face began to twitch.

Who shouted about a 20-kilometer punishment just now??

Damn it, he must be the Secretary of Punishments!

"Fifty-five, fifty-five!"

"Fang Huai, sixty reps! Knock He Zhijun down for me!"

Zhang Zhongting saw that Fang Huai could still do pull-ups and was so excited he almost threw his cap on the ground, but seeing the police badge on it, he restrained himself.

Fang Huai gritted his teeth inwardly.

What kind of... joke is this?!

"Fifty-six!!!!!"

Fang Huai struggled to keep his head up and desperately reached for the bar, but when he heard that shout, he finally came down.

"Wow!" Both leaders felt it was such a pity.

At this moment, their mindset had completely changed.

This kid was no longer part of the rank and file of prospects.

He was a contender, a contender! And a contender must be held to high standards!

(This Chapter is an extra update for reaching 2000 monthly tickets.)