Chapter 455: This time, I'm going to win back everything I lost

Company Commander, Company Commander, the first platoon has lost contact!

Instructor, the eighth squad has been ambushed by the enemy; this road cannot be taken, there's an ambush!

Go north, go north; even if we have to detour, we absolutely cannot go this way!

Gunfire rang out continuously from the woods, and white smoke kept drifting up from the soldiers' heads.

Under the command of their respective officers, the soldiers participating in the evaluation began to march quickly through the forest in various combat formations.

Because ammunition was limited and they were unfamiliar with the nearby terrain, if they encountered the enemy they could only flee in panic, with no other option.

Even though Ma Qing'an's plan of action was already thorough and meticulous, they still repeatedly ran into enemy ambushes on the road, losing many men.

Company Commander, it looks like someone's over there?

Are they enemies?

They don't look like enemies; they seem friendly. Let me check... Company Commander, they're from the Seventh Company!

By coincidence, Ma Qing'an ran into Gao Feng.

Seeing him in an even more disheveled state than himself, Ma Qing'an's mind finally felt balanced.

Hahaha, I thought only our Sixth Company was this miserable, but it turns out you're worse off than us?

What bullshit are you talking!

Gao Feng cursed: 'What the hell is going on with this evaluation? Why is it so hard? Isn't Lu Yang your examiner? He hasn't given you any special treatment?'

Ma Qing'an looked speechless: 'Don't mention it; that kid really did look after us—right to death.'

Gao Feng froze: 'Isn't that good enough?'

What good is that!

Ma Qing'an briefly explained the situation.

Although they were training at the same Sea Training Base.

But a regiment has over a thousand people; they can't all complete the evaluation together, so they must be split into different teams.

Each team has its own examiner and an instructor responsible for recording scores.

Originally, Gao Feng had been envious, but after hearing what happened, a chill ran down his back.

Is this still the Lu Yang I know? He's completely changed—could he have been cursed? This place is close to Nanyang, after all.

Who knows how he suddenly turned like this, flipping out and not recognizing anyone; he literally bawled out our platoon leader surnamed Kang, and even I, the company commander, got dressed down—don't you think that's over the top?

Over the top, quite over the top; so you mean the increased difficulty of the evaluation is also his doing?

Otherwise what?

Gao Feng still doubted: 'I don't think it's possible; Lu Yang's ability is only at the level of individual combat, he hasn't had systematic training in commanding small-unit operations, ambushes, or such tactics.'

At most he's just someone who follows orders to do work; how could he have the ability to target all of us at once?

Ma Qing'an also couldn't figure it out, but he insisted: 'Anyway, even if he didn't personally organize it, he's still involved! Besides him, who else knows our fighting style so well that they could press us this hard right off the bat?'

Gao Feng frowned: 'That's also true; it looks like we need to change our strategy.'

Split up!

We thought of the same thing!

Ma Qing'an and Gao Feng quickly agreed and changed their strategy.

They took the original squads and split them all into three‑person teams.

By splitting up, they aimed to minimize the chance of being discovered and exposing the group.

At the same time, they concentrated as much ammunition as possible in the hands of the reconnaissance units sent out first, so that if they met the enemy they would still have some fighting power.

Just say it, do it: Zhou Kaidong, Liu Ziqiang, Chen Panpan, and Ding Tengfei each became team leaders, scattering to march toward the objective.

As for Zhang Jiaheng, the 'wounded', he was placed farther back, carried by Kang Changyi and LiMin.

Wearing a relaxed look, lying on the stretcher with a blade of grass in his mouth and eyes closed, the two carriers were fuming.

Kang Changyi: 'Damn it, can't you just shoot yourself and be done with it?'

Zhang Jiaheng opened his eyes: 'Platoon Leader, how can your lukewarm mouth say such cold‑hearted words? I'm your comrade! Besides, even if I killed myself, you'd still have to bring my corpse back.'

Longguo soldiers never abandon a comrade, even if it's just a corpse.

Kang Changyi cursed: 'Damn it, you talk too much; there's no one around—get down and run yourself!'

Zhang Jiaheng still shook his head in refusal: 'Who knows if there are hidden sentries or cameras in the woods? I don't want to get chewed out by the big boss for breaking the rules. I'll just stay honest, and I advise you to do the same.'

You don't want to be publicly scolded by Lu Yang and lose face, do you?

Kang Changyi nearly choked with anger, wanting to strangle him and bury him in a hole.

Fortunately, LiMin timely intervened, saying we can't argue now; first we must break out, then we can talk after reaching the evacuation point.

Just then, as the two were panting while carrying the 'wounded' along the ground traces, following the guides, a car engine suddenly sounded from the right.

The three turned their heads together and saw two bright headlights appear in their field of view; because it was overcast and the headlights had been modified, the strong light still flashed at them.

Zhang Jiaheng, having long served as military police, had sharp observation and immediately spotted a gun‑wielding figure poking out of the car roof.

Holy shit, it's Lu Yang—run!

Lu Yang popped out of the car roof, holding an assault rifle, and fired directly at the three most conspicuous targets.

Hearing the two words 'Lu Yang', Kang Changyi shuddered, let go of the stretcher in his hands, and took off running.

LiMin also flinched from the incoming bullets, released his grip, and dove into the nearby bushes, fleeing in another direction.

Poor Zhang Jiaheng fell on his butt, his tailbone almost breaking; seeing Lu Yang still firing this way, he was terrified and sprang up from the ground, abandoning the stretcher and sprinting away.

Lu Yang watched the three flee in three different directions, blew smoke from the barrel, and jeered.

Can a wounded guy still run that fast?

Should we, or should we deduct ten points?

Never mind, just treat it as his final burst of energy.

Instructor Sun, who was driving, gave a wry smile; the flashback was truly something he hadn't expected.

The main point is to act at will—deduct points if you want, and don't if you don't.

Lu Yang squeezed out from the roof of the car, jumped down, and glanced at the footprints on the ground.

"These guys have changed tactics, breaking the unit apart and fragmenting it."

"I'll go myself; you drive ahead to block, tell the ambushers at ACF to adopt Plan B, and keep the others as they are."

Instructor Sun stuck his head out of the window and asked bluntly, "Isn't this a bit too ruthless? With this, half our battalion might fail to break through and reach the extraction point."

Lu Yang: "If we can't get there, then we can't."

Instructor Sun, looking at this examiner whose rank was still lower than his own, couldn't help but remind him, "Comrade Lu Yang, I think I still need to caution you; this assessment is under close scrutiny, and your actions will make the overall score of the three battalions look dramatically worse compared to other Sea Training Bases."

"When that time comes, the commander will be furious; you, I, and everyone here could all suffer."

"I know, but I still have to do it."

Lu Yang's answer left Instructor Sun unable to understand.

"You're so young and were exceptionally promoted to captain; do you not value your own career prospects at all?"

"Also, these are your former comrades, friends, superiors; have you considered how you'll face them after this is over?"

"I just want to remind you, being iron‑faced and impartial is good, but overusing it easily offends people and harms yourself; so, are you still determined to do this?"

Lu Yang turned, looked at Instructor Sun in the car, and smiled, "Some things must be done by someone; in the southern war zone, within the Marine Corps domain, we are fresh newcomers with no precedent."

"To quickly establish a foothold here, avoid becoming a bottom‑tier unit, and retain more people, this is the only way."

"I'll be harsher with them now, tougher, push them; in future competitions and exercises, when facing your elite units, they'll have a better chance of survival."

"We lost once on the training ground; the consequence was the entire regiment being collectively restructured, and all past glory reset to zero; I missed that time, but this time I'll win back every loss!"

Instructor Sun stared seriously at the delicate young man, his inner shock beyond words.

In the past, he had heard Chen Panpan and others speak of Lu Yang and knew he was a good soldier.

Having truly interacted for only a day or two, he hadn't seen any ability and had even thought him merely flashy and insubstantial.

It wasn't until this moment that Instructor Sun truly understood why he was here, why he had become the proctor whose authority surpasses that of other examiners.

Indeed, Lu Yang's red sleeve cuff not only symbolizes his role as proctor but also marks him as the most powerful among all the proctors of the sanda team; he even devised this assessment's ambush routes and strategies.

At first, Instructor Sun, like everyone else, was resentful, thinking this was a kid whose hair hadn't even fully grown, and wondering how he could handle such a huge task single‑handed.

But now, Lu Yang has completely overturned his preconceived notions; his technique is solid, his ability impressive, his insight sharp, and his conduct flawless.

His coldness, sarcasm, and sharpness toward his comrades are purely to motivate them, fearing they might become complacent.

Instructor Sun asked him, "If the assessment ends and I invite you to serve under me as Company Commander, would you still refuse?"

Lu Yang smiled, "Not long ago, a commander of a T0‑level unit, even stronger than you, invited me to stay as Company Commander, and I didn't agree."

T0‑level?

Instructor Sun was clearly taken aback, but didn't immediately think of Jiao Long, assuming it was just some top sea‑land reconnaissance unit.

In their eyes, Special Operations is an unattainable presence, a mountain in the Navy System that cannot be surpassed.

Especially a team like Jiao Long, renowned with impressive records, how could it possibly be linked to Lu Yang and even invite him to be Company Commander?

So, he just took Lu Yang's invitation as a modest joke.

Lu Yang: "But if you invite me to be your opponent soon, I'd be happy."

Instructor Sun shook his head, "At their current level, they're still far behind."

Lu Yang: "It won't be long; soon, very soon, they'll catch up. I know how formidable they are, and I have confidence in myself."

Instructor Sun thought he was a very interesting person, raised his hand and tossed two magazines to him, "You're the proctor; whatever you say is law. I'll convey your orders; take it easy and don't get ambushed and taken out."

"It's fine, I have a hook; they can't get past me."

Instructor Sun drove away, and Lu Yang slipped the two magazines into his pocket, ready to follow the trail.

Having been stuck on the island for over two months, constantly undergoing training and discipline, he finally could apply everything he'd learned.

It's time to let them feel the 'suffering and torment' I endured on the island!

But after only a few meters, Lu Yang squinted and suddenly noticed something odd.

"Alright, stop hiding; I see you!"

"I'll count to three; if you don't come out, I'll shoot, okay, one…"

As soon as the words finished, the tuft of grass on the left stirred, revealing a helpless, despondent face...