[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse":3,"chapter-from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","From Special Forces to the Multiverse",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2315071,4527,"Chapter 21: Demonstrating Strength","from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>Just as Zhang Chu’an was panicking, Chen Pai’s voice came over:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine, just need to lie down for a bit, I’ll recover soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you really okay? Don’t you need to go to the infirmary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chu’an asked cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need. But you kid hit hard—one kick left me unable to get up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Pai couldn’t help regretting it: he should’ve known this kid hit harder than he looked; after all this time, Zhang Chu’an was slick as oil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handled soldier disputes with a “water down the conflict” attitude, but never expected him to go this hard in sparring—unaware that Zhang Chu’an had already held back; had he gone all out, Chen Pai wouldn’t just be out of Special Forces—he’d be out of the army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhang Chu’an still eager, Guo Jing smiled and asked: “Still not done? If you want more, I’ll spar with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chu’an looked uneasy, but Guo Jing said: “In the military, we speak straight. Lose a fight, no one holds a grudge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chu’an agreed readily—he knew Guo Jing was honest and kind, wouldn’t hold a grudge, and he’d been holding back too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never dared fight anyone, afraid of revealing his true strength, like a sewer rat terrified of sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his grandfather died, his father Zhang Yude told him: attracting attention meant disaster. Even in school, when he performed poorly, teachers scolded him—and everyone noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, when he studied hard and his grades soared, the teacher praised him in front of the whole school—but he didn’t want attention at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grandfather died when he was seven. Before that, he’d learned the Golden Light Spell and Thunder Art—his talent surpassed all peers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before seven, he wandered with his father and grandfather; after seven, he lived alone, careful and isolated, with no one to trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nie Huaishang had his loving older brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xiaofan had his parents and companions from Cao Miao Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after his grandfather died and his father left, who did Zhang Chu’an have left? Who could he trust? Who could he believe in?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why, upon meeting Feng Baobao, he gave everything to help and protect her—they were each other’s only anchor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, Guo Jing, having read “One Man Under,” felt deep pity for Zhang Chu’an: others saw only his deceit and shamelessness, never realizing these were survival skills for an orphan with no one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life had taught him all the tricks of worldly cunning; in his world, there was no one to rely on, no one to trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing on the training ground, Guo Jing said seriously: “Chu’an, go all out. I’m just a small man, no power, no talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if anyone tries to hurt you because of what you have, they’ll have to step over my corpse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Jing’s gaze was sincere, his tone firm—others saying this to Zhang Chu’an would’ve seemed like empty flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Guo Jing was different: honest and straightforward, he never lied. Whatever he said, he’d do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Zhang Chu’an smiled at Guo Jing: “Brother Guo, I’m worse than you with firearms—but hand-to-hand, you’re no match for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Jing knew this well: though Zhang Chu’an couldn’t use the Golden Light Spell or Thunder Art, the martial techniques his grandfather taught him as a child still applied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the moves his father used to beat him—Whirlwind Knee Break and Black Tiger Steals Heart—after barely dodging them, Guo Jing muttered: “These are the moves your dad used to beat you? That’s brutal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even these two strikes would’ve crippled him—but the sparring wasn’t over. Guo Jing’s techniques were wide and forceful, growing fiercer with each exchange; over ten years, he’d learned countless military fist techniques from Doghead Gao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chu’an’s Daoist martial arts were equally refined, but overall, he held the upper hand. Their commotion quickly drew the attention of the entire Night Tiger Recon Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Zhang Chu’an’s own new recruits—they were stunned. All this time, they’d thought their platoon leader was a jaded veteran; some even wanted to challenge the company commander, but Zhang Chu’an had defused them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Holy shit—I didn’t know Platoon Leader Zhang could dominate Platoon Leader Guo! Guo Jing’s just defending, no chance to counter!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Pao muttered, having always despised Zhang Chu’an’s attitude, eager to fight him and prove the army wasn’t for guys like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good thing he never tried—on the field, Guo Jing got knocked down over two hundred times in half an hour by Zhang Chu’an, and even then, Guo Jing had held back so he wouldn’t hurt Lao Pao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhuang teased Lao Pao: “Sergeant, I remember you’ve been itching to test yourself against Platoon Leader Zhang. After Guo’s done, why don’t you step up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Pao shot back, scowling: “You want me to spend two days in the infirmary so you guys can slack off, is that it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Miao Lian said to Chen Pai: “Looks like our Night Tiger Recon Company’s full of hidden talents—but why are you lying down talking to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Pai replied calmly: “I already sparred with Zhang Chu’an.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their fight had thrilled the onlookers—only fighters of near-equal skill make a spectacle. After 150 moves, Guo Jing, outmatched by Zhang Chu’an’s vast superiority, lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Zhang Chu’an won, the whole platoon cheered: “Platoon Leader, you’re awesome!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Platoon Leader, teach me that move you just used!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his men cheer and surround him, Zhang Chu’an realized—standing in the sunlight felt good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Jing walked over to Xiao Zhuang and the others, smiling: “Your platoon leader lost. Doesn’t make him look bad, does it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not! Platoon Leader, you’re still the strongest in my eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhuang hurriedly replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough with the flattery. Hey, Lao Pao—I recall you’ve wanted to spar with Platoon Leader Zhang before. Since the chance’s here, why not try?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Jing teased Lao Pao too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Pao’s face flushed red: “Platoon Leader, you know my skills best—I can’t even last ten seconds against you. Fighting him? I’d just be asking for punishment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the whole platoon burst into laughter—rare to see Lao Pao admit defeat so openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, stop ribbing Lao Pao. Today’s match taught us: there’s always someone stronger out there. Only by staying humble can we keep improving. Only then, even if we lose, we’ll win back next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Jing then roared to the whole platoon: “You understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire platoon answered in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>",1075,"2026-06-20T13:48:22.834Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","84cfce1c22280ea300731a22ce6d29c90db04b74f04d0b94e5c81e7f331e5e39","from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-chapter-22","from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-chapter-20",205,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffrom-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-cover.jpg"]