Chapter 374: We

Hahaha……

Even the absent‑minded Lu Yang was made to laugh.

Sure enough, any joke only becomes funny when you tell it yourself.

Then, the group smoothly turned the conversation to: what units does the South Sea Fleet have?

Lu Yang: "Ships, submarines, shore defense, support and logistics, naval infantry, aviation…"

"So many service branches, which one shall we go to?"

"It depends on the assignment. If we perform well, we can all get good units."

Everyone's face showed longing.

Someone said they wanted to join the ship units, to stand on the deck and feel the allure of the steel leviathan at sea.

Someone else said they wanted to join the shore‑defense troops, the aviation troops; and there was even one who said they wanted to be a "water monkey"—that is, a submariner.

Lu Yang, curious, asked whether he knew how harsh and grueling a submariner's daily life is.

The other person was rather carefree, replying only that the salary is high, the benefits are good, and there are extra allowances when going to sea.

Zhang Jiaheng remained silent beside them, but he firmly kept that guy who wanted to be a submariner in his mind.

It is said that once a submariner gets ashore, his resentment is extreme, and even the three‑service Military Police dare not mess with him; this is no joke.

It is said that once there was a short‑sighted silver‑capped officer who, over a trivial matter, confronted a newly‑ashore submariner.

Apparently it was because his hair was too long and his beard unkempt, affecting military appearance.

The dispute escalated, and that guy ended up with two broken ribs.

The assailants were not only the submariner but also the leader of the opposing unit.

Later it was learned that they had just completed an extremely dangerous ultra‑long submerged mission; to fulfill the task, the entire crew almost perished at the bottom of the sea.

In the end, the beaten man, seated in a wheelchair and pushed over to apologize, marked the conclusion of the incident.

"I just remembered," Kang Changyi suddenly thought of something: "Do you recall those two guys who recently came to our company to provoke us, calling us three‑legged cats?"

"You mean the guy from the Zhencha Daitui with the surname Lan?"

"Right, right, if you hadn't mentioned it, I almost forgot!"

"Forget it, when will the cycle of revenge ever end? If we go to the Navy, we probably won't have a chance to meet again, right?"

"Ah, what a pity, I still want to see our Platoon Leader pin that kid to the ground and beat him until his teeth scatter everywhere."

Lu Yang laughed heartily: "The future is long, the future is long; there will be a chance."

Kang Changyi, fuming, said: "Just thinking of that Lan‑surname kid's swagger makes me sick. If I ever run into him in a big drill, I'll definitely beat the crap out of him!"

"The most annoying is someone who's better at studies and also prettier than me!"

Everyone laughed: "Those last two lines are the main point, right?"

Kang Changyi laughed: "Don't say it out loud, don't say it, just keep it in your heart."

Beep—

The assembly whistle sounded downstairs, and everyone immediately grabbed their bags and went down.

Several buses that were to transport the group had already been waiting on the open space in front of the Shengqi Tai.

"Report: the Whole Company's expected headcount matches the actual headcount, awaiting orders!"

"At ease, attention!"

Ma Qing'an gave a simple command to straighten the formation, and the rear bus door opened.

Wearing a blue ocean‑camouflage training uniform, Former Sixth Company Instructor Pan Yuan clutched a notebook as he stepped down from the bus.

Lu Yang and the others only then noticed that many people were already seated on the buses.

It was probably elite units from other divisions, also drafted to support Navy development like them.

Pan Yuan approached the formation, first saluting Ma Qing'an, then raising his hand toward Lu Yang and the others.

Even he himself hadn't expected that one day he would return to his old unit in this manner.

Without further talk, time being tight and the mission urgent, Pan Yuan opened the Roster and began calling names.

The procedure was similar to the previous unit's distribution: call a name, then board a different bus.

"Zhou Kaidong, Bus Three!"

"LiMin, Bus Five!"

"Liu Ziqiang, Bus Four!"

"Kang Changyi, Bus One…"

The number of shadows on the open space in front of the Shengqi Tai dwindled.

Those whose names were called immediately took their luggage to the assigned bus.

In no time, the Sixth Company's over‑hundred‑strong formation was reduced to just two or three people.

Even Squad Leader Hong of the Cook Squad and his men were assigned to their buses, yet Lu Yang remained standing in place.

At first, Zhou Kaidong thought it was a finale, so he stayed to watch until the end.

But it wasn't until Pan Yuan closed the Roster, boarded the bus with Ma Qing'an, that the Sixth Company's soldiers truly realized something was wrong.

"Company Commander, what's going on? Why isn't Lu Yang's name there?"

"What's the situation? Why is Brother Yang still there?"

"Driver, don't close the doors; there are still people who haven't boarded. Our company still has people left!"

Facing the question, Ma Qing'an helplessly told a well‑meaning lie.

He couldn't tell them that the Division's Zhencha Daitui had already set its sights on Lu Yang, and Lu Yang might not be able to go to the Navy.

The reason he packed his things was also to prevent the big group from worrying and affecting the upcoming sea training.

"Your Instructor received a sudden assignment; Lu Yang stayed to assist with the matter, and will leave once it's handled."

"So that's how it is, you scared me!"

But Zhou Kaidong, as a veteran, clearly didn't believe that excuse.

Simply recalling, Lu Yang has noticeably spoken less these past two days, and even when he doesn't take the initiative to reach out, people will forget his existence.

Such a self‑inflicted weakening of one's presence is itself abnormal, but he thought at the time that Lu Yang was just busy with many matters and heavy work pressure, so he didn't ask further.

"Alright, let's set off."

"Take care."

Pan Yuan nodded at He Zhen Tao standing outside the car door.

Then he cast a regretful glance at Lu Yang.

But just as the convoy was about to move, someone suddenly shouted.

"Don't close the door, wait a moment!"

Then Zhou Kaidong lunged through the door and rushed toward Lu Yang.

"Squad Leader?"

"Lu Yang, I don't know what scheme you're up to, but the Squad Leader isn't stupid; you can fool them, but you can't fool me."

"Sorry, Squad Leader, I may not be able to get to you within a short time."

"I understand, but I know that as long as you want to come, there will be a way; we'll be waiting for you at the Navy!"

Zhou Kaidong gave Lu Yang a tight hug, then shoved something into his hand.

"The Company Commander told me to give this to you; he wants you to take good care of yourself, and also look after your sister‑in‑law…"

Zhou Kaidong turned and sprinted onto the vehicle; Pan Yuan watched, but said nothing more.

He understood that partings are always hard to let go.

But just as he was about to have the driver close the door, someone else sprinted down from the vehicle.

And it wasn't just one person—it was a group!

"Lu Yang, take good care; we're heading out first!"

"Platoon Leader, you must come find us; without you, how could we survive?"

"Brother Yang, you said in a dream that we'd be each other's angels; you can't break that promise, can you?"

"Brother Yang, I was wrong in the past; after I join the Navy, I'll set things right; I give this to you, hoping it helps you endure endless lonely nights…"

Looking down at the two‑ended leaking Tifa thermos cup in his hand, Lu Yang's mouth twitched twice.

Without a second thought, he raised his hand and tossed Zhang Jiaheng's girlfriend sixty to seventy meters away.

Zhang Jiaheng's heart felt like being cut by a knife, anguished: "You, you…"

Lu Yang gave him a hard kick: "Get up, or I'll confiscate your tool of crime!"

The vehicle, carrying the yearning warriors, drove away, and the previously bustling Sixth Company barracks instantly fell silent.

After finishing the tasks at hand, a car came at noon to pick up He Zhen Tao, but he couldn't bear to leave Lu Yang alone.

"How about I call Cheng Junbai to come keep you company during the day? He hasn't left yet."

"No need, Instructor, I can manage."

"But in such a huge camp, you're the only one left; I'm afraid you…"

"I like cleanliness." Lu Yang helped him load the luggage onto the vehicle: "You go ahead without worry; leave this to me, I'll hold the final post."

"As long as I'm here, the Sixth Company remains, our home remains."

He Zhen Tao's eyes instantly reddened, and even the soldier who drove to fetch him was deeply moved.

He Zhen Tao stood at the car door, saluted Lu Yang forcefully, then hugged him: "I'm sorry for the trouble!"

Lu Yang patted his back: "You go ahead first; I'll be there soon. Don't go too fast, or I won't be able to catch up after I arrive."

He Zhen Tao burst into a smile through tears: "Let's go!"

"Take care!"

Lu Yang waved his hand, seeing He Zhen Tao off.

At this point, the entire Mo Bu Mo Bu Sixth Company had only his lone sprout left.

But he did not become dispirited, nor did he feel any sorrow.

Instead, he turned and walked into the Shushe lou, put on a weighted vest, and, as usual, walked alone toward the training ground......