Chapter 27: I Want to Be a Soldier King, Please Train Me to Death

"Prepare to eat!"

"Adjust the stool!"

"Sit!"

After a set of commands, the new recruits finally took their seats.

Breakfast is prepared in advance by each squad's duty officer in the Cafeteria, and they eat it as soon as they arrive.

The breakfast spread is abundant—eggs, milk, flower rolls, and buns, everything is there.

Especially the Cook Squad's own spicy pickled radish strips and the crisp kimchi, which are especially tasty with rice.

A starving recruit in the squad couldn't wait and grabbed a bun, but just as he was about to put it in his mouth, a cold stare swept over him.

The soldier immediately forced a nervous smile, handed the bun to the Squad Leader's bowl, and said, "Squad Leader, you eat first."

According to unit rules, the Squad Leader usually eats first, because the Squad Leader is the elder of all the new recruits.

But Zhou Kaidong didn't eat it; instead he gave the bun to Lu Yang and said earnestly.

"Lu Yang, yesterday the Tuan Bu leadership gave special commendation for your blackboard newspaper, praising your creativity."

"They also emphasized that your physical fitness needs improvement and that you'll receive extra training."

When those words were spoken, the Third Squad recruits' eyes all widened.

Earlier, they had just been criticized anonymously, and now Lu Yang turned the situation around?

It seems that whenever the Third Squad as a whole gets punished or scolded, the Assistant Squad Leader can, with his own effort, salvage a shred of face.

Especially this time, it was noted by the Tuan Bu leadership and singled out for cultivation, which is far more significant than the Instructor's attention.

It's like jumping two levels at once, leaping over the battalion level, and establishing a connection with the Tuan Bu leadership!

Lu Yang also didn't expect that the blackboard newspaper would attract the Deputy Political Commissioner's attention.

So far, the highest‑ranking officers he's met have been Captain Gao Feng and Captain He Zhen Tao.

Now being singled out by a deputy‑level officer of the Tuan Bu, he feels a bit surprised and honored.

Meanwhile, Ding Tengfei, who had been spacing out earlier, once again became a negative example, feeling as if he'd swallowed dozens of lemons.

He doesn't understand why, when he was the one who ran first, Lu Yang is the one being highlighted.

In the end, he gets scolded and punished, while he receives all the attention and praise?

He has clearly been striving upward and working hard to perform actively!

Zhou Kaidong looked at Lu Yang and said sternly, "From now on, I'll hold you to stricter standards, aiming for a qualitative leap before the next Company Commander, so you'd better be mentally prepared."

Lu Yang smiled confidently, "Squad Leader, I aspire to become a Soldier King; please train me to death, thank you."

Zhou Kaidong laughed, "So arrogant? Don't look back; run ten laps and shatter the Soldier King dream, then tell me you're a scholar."

Everyone laughed; they didn't expect the Squad Leader, even off‑duty, to be so witty, spouting one quip after another.

Then Zhou Kaidong turned to Kong Long and said, "And you."

Kong Long was thrilled, "What's up, Squad Leader, did I also get singled out for praise by the leadership?"

"Not at all."

"Oh."

"Stop drinking your protein powder, and eat less rice and buns; you're like a damn pig—no one in the Whole Company has a bigger appetite than you."

"Within ten days, shed that bulky muscle, and your training results can improve further."

"Huh?"

Kong Long's face nearly collapsed onto the table.

He quickly said his arm circumference had already shrunk by a whole circle; any more and it'd disappear.

He'd put a lot of hard work into building that tendon meat, and was reluctant to lose it.

Zhou Kaidong ignored his excuse, "If you have to lose it, lose it—why all the damn chatter?"

Kong Long complained, "Then what about the protein powder I brought?"

Zhou Kaidong replied, "Either feed the pig or give it to Lu Yang—your choice."

Lu Yang nearly spat out his porridge, "Wait, why am I being equated with a pig?"

Nevertheless, the Squad Leader's words were rough but sound; he does need those things now.

The unit's meals are good, but they can't keep up with all the young lads who are still growing.

A group of eighteen‑ and nineteen‑year‑old youths who run daily have an obvious huge appetite.

Intensive training requires extra nutritional supplementation, otherwise the body can't cope.

Thus, for a physically weak Lu Yang, Kong Long's protein powder and supplements are the best boost.

But he would never take advantage of a brother; he states the price of the supplements, and will purchase them at cost later, ensuring Kong Long doesn't lose out.

Kong Long waved his hand, "What money? We're brothers; you'd eat better than a pig anyway, and a pig certainly can't digest as well as you."

Lu Yang's eyes widened like copper bells, "Are you being polite? I ask you, are you being polite?"

Everyone was holding back laughter; the Squad Leader's earlier 'feed the pig or feed Lu Yang' was just too witty.

A few simple jokes instantly dissipated the negative energy from the earlier scolding at the Cafeteria entrance.

In the unit, it's not all seriousness; liveliness is also a necessary seasoning.

At this moment, Zhou Kaidong's gaze finally fell on Ding Tengfei.

Ding Tengfei's eyes instantly showed a hint of anticipation, hoping the Squad Leader would say something.

Even if he added after the previous remark: "Protein powder to feed the pig, feed Lu Yang, or even feed Ding Tengfei, I won't give you!"

But looking at Ding Tengfei's face, Zhou Kaidong strained to hold back laughter for a while, unsure what to say.

The criticism had already been voiced by the Company Commander earlier, so repeating it was pointless.

Moreover, he didn't want to further bruise the youngster's pride, so he said something harmless.

"Don't get distracted while eating; you're the slowest eater, no waste allowed!"

"Yes…"

Ding Tengfei helplessly lowered his head, listlessly poking at the food on his plate, which tasted like chewing wax—flavorless.

……

After lunch, they returned to the dormitory.

Kong Long opened the cabinet and took out several packets of pre‑packaged protein powder.

He handed it to Lu Yang with great solemnity and reluctance, looking as if they were parting forever.

Seeing his pained expression, Lu Yang couldn't help recalling that infamous scene on the train where the big fool wrapped a white powder bag in tape and paper, covering the whole carriage.

Lu Yang awkwardly said, "Ahem, it can't be that bad, can it?"

Kong Long immediately struck the standard "Pulling Mountains" pose, then a "Devil's Horn", and finally the "Thinker".

Between his brows exuded a philosophical aura, like an octopus split by the golden ratio, saying, "Do you know how much effort it takes to forge a body of muscle? How much time? How many meals of boiled chicken breast, broccoli, and protein?"

"Originally, my dream was to make a splash at the Olympiad, but…!"

"The math Olympiad?"

Suddenly, someone in the class jokingly asked.

"Kong Long, can your brain even take part in the Olympiad?"

"Not the math Olympiad—it's the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition, the highest level of men's bodybuilding worldwide!"

"So, what's it about?"

"It's a contest of who can sculpt the most aesthetic, perfect muscles, like Schwarzenegger!"

"And then?"

"There's no after that."

"Tch~~"

I originally thought it would be like a triathlon or marathon, but it turned out to be just a contest of who looks better trained?

No wonder the Squad Leader always says Kong Long's body is dead muscle that must be shed.

Scratch your back, and your arms can't even reach; this thing is useless except for looking intimidating.

Lu Yang had seen similar bodybuilding videos in a past life, but the line that stuck was: "Let me ask you, let me ask you, why is your head so pointy?"

But because he's not an insider, he never quite understood, not knowing why a bunch of people spray‑painted black and gestured on stage.

After hearing Kong Long's explanation, he finally realized that the ultimate goal of bodybuilding is a beauty pageant.

But, shaping oneself like a peeled bullfrog—does it really look good?

It's said that many tech moguls have skin on their backs resembling toads, and they die prematurely in their thirties or forties.

Lu Yang stroked his chin, pondering, "Should I limit the dosage? How much should I drink each time? I'm afraid I'll end up like you."

Kong Long's eyes bulged like copper bells, instantly flaring, "Do you think getting like this is easy? Do you know how much hardship I've endured, especially during the preparation period…"

"Fine, you wouldn't understand even if I explained more; just drink it normally."

"Alright."

"This is a nitrogen pump, plus creatine; a sip when you're exhausted quickly restores stamina…"

Lu Yang had never tried it; it looked like milk tea and smelled even more like it.

So he lifted his thermos, intending to heat some water and brew a cup first.

The others, who also hadn't tried it, gathered around like for fun, each wanting a taste.

At that moment, in the water room, other class recruits were heating water; as the weather grew colder, hot water was used up faster, so Lu Yang waited at the doorway for a while.

He didn't expect the guy ahead to run out of hot water in one go, requiring a long wait to reheat.

While Lu Yang guarded the water dispenser, waiting for its green light to turn red, someone tapped his shoulder from behind.

"Could we… talk?"