Chapter 382: Answer me, can you take a beating?

Beep—

The whistle blew, and the two charged out of the track simultaneously.

The 400-meter obstacle run actually has a total track length of only 200 meters; going back and forth makes a total of 400 meters.

The first 100 meters have no obstacles; the second 100 meters consist of a track made up of eight sets of obstacles: hurdles, ditches, low walls, high jump platforms, ladders, single-log bridges, high walls, and low-post nets.

During training, one must sprint at 100-meter dash speed to complete the course in one go; then, from the finish line, pass through the obstacles in a different way and sprint back quickly.

Many soldiers can manage the outward leg, but on the return they often suffer from exhaustion, side stitches, and similar issues.

Even professional athletes, if they ran the 400 meters at sprint speed, would be worn out enough to curse.

Moreover, during the run they must also vault over various types of obstacles.

In any grassroots unit, this training is a nightmare for ordinary soldiers.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be the saying that one would rather run five kilometers than do the 400-meter obstacle run.

"Holy shit, this kid surnamed Lu is fast!"

"Nonsense, Iron Foot is the ace of the Motorized Infantry Company; you think these guys' footwork is a joke?"

"The first 100 meters are useless; the obstacle field is where the outcome is decided; just wait, he'll be left behind by Squad Leader Niu later!"

In the first leg, Lu Yang, at the twenty- to thirty-meter mark, had already pulled several body lengths ahead of Squad Leader Niu.

Although Squad Leader Niu was also surprised by this guy's speed, his mindset remained very calm and experienced.

He could have caught up, but he didn't; instead, he was preparing to devote more stamina to the obstacles.

Properly allocating stamina is a veteran's lesson; unlike a raw recruit who charges ahead headfirst.

"Kid, you're still a bit green; later I'll make you eat my dust!"

After completing the first 100 meters, Lu Yang ran around the turning flagpole, but instead of immediately entering the obstacle area, he suddenly stopped.

"What is he doing?"

"I don't know?"

"Could it be that he got a side stitch and wants to quit?"

"Holy shit, this bastard is actually waiting for Squad Leader Niu; damn infuriating!"

Seeing this, Yang Yong's eyelids twitched violently; he thought Lu Yang's pretentious act was really over the top.

He had already told him beforehand that Squad Leader Niu holds the division's 400-meter obstacle record; yet he still dared to act so arrogantly?

Division Commander Luo and Xiong Yao furrowed their brows, said nothing, and just continued watching silently.

On the contrary, Zheng Chengfeng maintained a smiling, squinty expression, as if he didn't care at all about the outcome.

Xiong Yao glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, feeling a silent alarm; he even worried that if the other side lost the bet, they might refuse to pay up.

If he once again produced the previous theater's order and forcibly took people away, what would we do?

But the facts proved his worry was unnecessary, for Lu Yang at this moment was already a different person.

"How fast!?"

Squad Leader Niu swiftly vaulted the obstacles, caught a glimpse in his peripheral vision that Lu Yang was almost keeping pace with him, and his heart jumped.

Originally, seeing this guy waiting for him at the turn's small flag, he had felt quite annoyed.

But when he actually arrived at the obstacle field, he realized this kid was no ordinary.

Speed, footwork, technique, explosive power—he was in no way inferior to himself.

Such speed, such stamina—no wonder he's Motorized Infantry!

No time for further surprise; Squad Leader Niu increased his speed, ready to unleash his full ability!

But just as he thought that exerting his full strength would easily shake off Lu Yang, he found that the guy still maintained the same pace as him.

It was as if he had been copied and pasted onto the adjacent lane—impossible to shake off.

Soon, the first 200 meters ended, and Lu Yang and Squad Leader Niu emerged together from the low-post net.

But as they began the return, he clearly felt something was off, because Lu Yang's speed had actually increased.

Logically, after completing the first 200 meters of obstacles, stamina should decline; even if speed didn't drop, one's overall condition would quickly deteriorate.

Yet this guy wasn't affected at all; on the contrary, during the process he glanced back at him once, as if checking how great the gap between them was.

But this time, Lu Yang didn't slow down or stop as before; instead, he darted through the opening like a clever, swift cheetah.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, it was as if he were stepping on a spring, and he shot forward explosively.

He cleared the remaining obstacles at a terrifying speed, opening a gap of six or seven body lengths, and left Squad Leader Niu behind.

Finally, not only did he dash across the finish line like a flying man, but in front of everyone from the Reconnaissance Battalion—including the division commander, chief of staff, and navy chief—he refreshed the division's 400-meter record once more.

"Huu~"

Lu Yang stood with his hands on his hips, alone catching his breath.

He didn't ask for the score, nor did he mock Squad Leader Niu; he simply asked a question.

"Chief, I won this round; shall we move on to the next event?"

"......"

Division Commander Luo had a breath caught in his throat, looking at Lu Yang with a complex expression, really not knowing what to say.

He also hadn't expected Lu Yang to win the match so easily and break the record.

Xiong Yao, to salvage a bit of face for his subordinate unit, proactively found a way out.

"The footwork of the Iron Foot Company is indeed formidable; losing to him is no disgrace."

"However, Lu Yang, I suggest you quit while you're ahead; because from now on, winning won't be so easy."

Xiong Yao's words had two layers of meaning: first, your Iron Foot Company inherently has a speed advantage, you train this every day, winning is just a trick, an advantage from your branch's attributes—don't get too full of yourself.

Second, let this farce end here; you've already received Lan Li's apology, you've already shown off in the Reconnaissance Battalion—it's time to stop.

"Chief of Staff Xiong, aren't you just dampening the youths' enthusiasm? We agreed on best of three, you've only won one match, and now you want to drive him away?"

Zheng Chengfeng stood up again to stir things up: "Could it be that you're afraid your unit can't match Lu Yang, worried they'll keep losing?"

Xiong Yao's anger surged: "You...... you're talking nonsense!"

Zheng Chengfeng didn't respond, but looked at Yang Yong, Lan Li, and these people of the Zhencha Daitui: "You're all elite, the strongest; now someone's come to cause trouble—can you tolerate that?"

Anyway, if it were our Navy, we definitely couldn't tolerate it—after all, our troops are more hot-blooded!

Damn it!

Xiong Yao wished he could go up and fight him with bayonets!

Usually he's the one stirring the pot and setting the pace, but this time he's about to be played into a fool by this guy!

Division Commander Luo's icy gaze fell on Zheng Chengfeng, and although this Navy colonel, several ranks lower, remained consistently steady, completely unfazed by pressure.

Zheng Chengfeng, I really underestimated you—no wonder the higher-ups entrusted such important work to a colonel like you; you're indeed capable.

Hey, that's not how to say it; your Army is the elder brother, and if our Navy wants to develop, we still need to rely on your help.

Hmph!

Division Commander Luo didn't want to waste more words on this old fox, and directly looked at Lu Yang.

What's the next match about?

I'm fine with anything.

Lu Yang this time voluntarily handed the choice over to the Zhencha Daitui.

On one hand, it shows his magnanimity; on the other hand, it shows his magnanimity.

A true hero must bear the bearing of a king; he not only wants to win, but to win with dignity, to win convincingly.

Yang Yong: "Free fighting, dare or not?"

Lu Yang: "What rules?"

No rules, until one side goes down or voluntarily concedes.

Sure.

Lu Yang glanced around: "Who's up?"

Lan Li stepped forward, about to say "I'll go," but Yang Yong pulled him back, glaring at him fiercely: "I'll fight you!"

As soon as he said that, the venue fell silent, everyone staring at him in shock.

Battalion Commander, he doesn't need you to step in—I can handle him myself!

He's just a yellow-haired kid—no need to use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken!

Move aside!

Yang Yong pushed through the crowd, came up to Lu Yang, and stared at him almost nose to nose.

Can you still admit defeat now? Otherwise, I'll definitely make you leave lying down!

I have a question?

Go ahead.

Can you take a beating?

Hiss!

The surrounding temperature suddenly dropped, and everyone shivered.

We've seen the fearless, but we've never seen anyone like Lu Yang.

Lan Li warned: "Lu Yang, you can't beat him; our Battalion Commander was on the provincial sanda team before enlisting and also practiced hard qigong—against him you'd lose badly, and nobody here is his match."

Lu Yang smiled, his finger provocatively hooked upward, still asking the same question: "So, can you take a beating or not?"