Chapter 101: Lu Yang, You're Isolating Yourself from the Masses!

"Continue, I'm watching from the side; I'll point out any problems."

"Yes!"

Lu Yang loads a fresh magazine, begins to retreat, and continues to stay prone on the ground.

This was taught by Company Commander Guo Yongwen, who once emphasized it to himself during the construction of simple field‑position training.

As a gunner, especially one who may become a sniper, never expose your torso to the enemy's line of sight under any circumstances.

If you can go prone, never kneel; if you can kneel, never stand; even when standing, stay close to cover.

Embedding this caution deep into your bones greatly boosts your chances of surviving on the battlefield.

"Begin!"

When the red triangular flag over there flutters.

Lu Yang springs up, hoists his rifle with one hand while crouching, and dashes forward.

Upon reaching the designated spot, he instantly releases the safety, pulls the bolt, and, kneeling on one knee, aligns the barrel with the target.

This time, Lu Yang's gaze is as sharp as an eagle's; he swiftly pulls the trigger on the target.

At 9:30 p. m., the training unit's barracks on the second floor are lit.

Having just finished the 81‑mm live‑fire drill, a weary Lu Yang carries a basin and walks into the washroom.

Seeing his grimaced, clenched‑tooth expression as he turns the faucet, the veterans washing up burst into laughter.

"How's it feel, shoulder—any excruciating pain in the elbows?"

"It's fine..."

"Fine?"

Seeing Lu Yang stubbornly deny it, a veteran laughed and said.

"Shooting is a step‑by‑step process."

"The first live‑fire session, firing that many rounds—if it doesn't hurt, you're seeing ghosts?"

"Especially the recoil of the 85 sniper; after a while, a dislocated shoulder is normal."

"You're using an assault rifle, a sniper, and mixing combined tactics; not to mention your slight frame, even we veterans can't endure it."

Lu Yang washes his face with cold water and soap, scrubbing the suds onto his cheeks, and replies with a smile: "Only the Training Squad lets me fire like this; I'm afraid when I return I won't have this opportunity."

The veterans are both exasperated and amused, wondering if they were risking their lives just because they feared that in the next company they'd never get to fire so many rounds.

Not really; the Seventh Company is still relatively well‑funded, and if they aim to cultivate a sharpshooter, the Seventh Company commander is quite willing to invest.

However, the Training Squad's opportunity is indeed rare; out of over a thousand troops, only thirty were selected.

And Lu Yang is the sole one who was directly transferred from the New Recruit Company.

Naturally, he wants to learn as much as possible to prepare for the upcoming next company.

They say new recruits go to the next company while veterans enjoy the holidays; Lu Yang hopes that when he moves to the next company, those under‑performing veterans will tremble—that would be fun!

After freshening up and returning to the barracks, Lu Yang keeps moving his arms, and his joints constantly creak as if some rusty mechanical parts.

Wan Baoshan hands him a bottle of Tiger‑brand circulation oil.

"A hometown specialty; it's far more effective than those red‑flower oils out there. Rub it on the shoulder and it won't hurt as much."

"I also have two plasters; later I'll stick them on the right shoulder socket, so shooting tomorrow will be more comfortable."

"I have an old pair of knee braces; want them? They're a bit worn, but still handy for prone or kneeling shooting."

Even though they're all trainees of the Training Squad, the veterans treat Lu Yang's rookie status like that of a younger brother.

In the unit, veterans looking after and caring for new recruits has always been a long‑standing tradition.

Moreover, Lu Yang has a good temperament, sweet talk, and trains diligently.

In the unit, such soldiers are liked not only by the company commander but also get along well with the veterans.

Regarding everyone's care and concern, Lu Yang accepts it all, because he arrived from the New Recruit Company unprepared and had no idea what to prepare.

Lu Yang vigorously rubs the circulation oil into his shoulder socket; the hot, burning sensation greatly eases the soreness.

As everyone knows, firing a gun generates recoil; the moment the bullet leaves the barrel, the stock slams back into Lu Yang's shoulder.

One or two times cause no serious harm, but hundreds or thousands of impacts can loosen the bone density.

After using the oil and applying the plaster, Lu Yang moves his arm lightly.

Feeling much better, he then prepares to go upstairs to the reading room for a bit of reading.

"No way, you're that exhausted and you're still reading?"

The other veterans wear equally bewildered expressions.

"Lu Yang, have you gone mad from over‑training?"

"During the day it's zeroing, trench digging, target shooting, and several high‑intensity fitness drills."

"At night on the range you keep running around nonstop like a spinning top. The lights are about to be turned off, yet you don't go to bed, you still have the mind to read—aren't you tired?"

"Tired?"

"Then why aren't you lying down? What are you thinking?"

"But reading and studying is relaxation for me."

"......"

The veterans fall silent together.

This guy is literally a born masochist.

They'd rather run five kilometers or go on a shooting binge than read those dull, tedious books.

Even so, they know the books surely contain useful information, like the multi‑structure composite material fortification Lu Yang demonstrated today.

But alas, as soon as they open the book, the tiny print curls around like tadpoles, making them drowsy and confused.

Wan Baoshan, anguished, says: "Lu Yang, you need to fit in, you need to fit in! You're separating yourself from the people!"

Lu Yang laughed heartily: "Comrade veteran, I am so eager to improve, I must take the military academy entrance exam, I must become an officer, I cannot disappoint the expectations of the elders back home!"

After speaking, Lu Yang strode with a heedless gait and left the dormitory.

The door was shut again, the room's heating locked at a very comfortable temperature, yet the veterans inside all stared at each other.

"Ah, being young is great; thinking back, I was just like that!"

"Look at how vigorous his energy is, look at his zeal for learning—do you feel ashamed or not?"

"Shameful, of course ashamed! A rookie so ambitious—how can we veterans be so lax? This is improper, unprincipled, downright lazy!"

"Then what should we do, study with him? But I'm exhausted to death right now, I just want to sleep."

"I have a suggestion: pull the blanket over, fall asleep, and then we won't feel ashamed!"

Wanbaoshan had a flash of inspiration, was the first to pull the blanket over and began snoring.

The other veterans, seeing this, nodded in agreement, thinking it truly was a good suggestion!

So they hurriedly pulled the blankets over, falling asleep at top speed.

It's not that they aren't diligent; it's that Lu Yang is too diligent.

We must never let the trend of involution blow into the training squad.

They must persist in being themselves; as long as they don't see it, as long as they fall asleep, they feel not ashamed at all.

"One‑one, two‑one, two of two, three of three…"

In search of psychological comfort, the veterans also recited multiplication mnemonics before sleep.

Some used an English phrase like "Aberzitef Song" to numb themselves, hoping to properly study a foreign language in their dreams later…