Qin Hao had joined the military as a trainee guard. Depending on performance and talent, trainees would eventually be assigned as either Civil Guards or Gate Guards or even military soldiers.
Right after enlistment, Qin Hao was summoned to the training ground early in the morning along with many others. Everyone stood in row, heads held high without any slightest movement. Most of the kids were older than him around eighteen to twenty. Thus his stature fell short compared to others.
The trainer entered the ground with his hands clasped behind his back. He was a senior guard responsible for training new recruits, a scar-faced, middle aged man, looking very menacing.
"Listen up."
"From this moment on, you are not civilians. You are not students. You are trainees. This ground is not a playground, and I am not here to be liked."
"If you came here expecting comfort, turn around and leave now. Once training begins, there will be no excuses, no complaints, and no second chances."
"Out there, the weak die first. In here, I will make sure the weak either change… or break. Those who endure will earn the right to stand in uniform. Those who don't will be sent home in disgrace."
"Remember this clearly, your life no longer belongs to you alone. It belongs to the unit."
"If you can't accept that, leave the training ground right now." The trainer's words here loud and seemed very harsh.
Everyone was silent.
"Good!" the trainer barked. "We'll begin training with one hundred push ups."
The recruits immediately dropped to the ground. Some couldn't endure even halfway and collapsed, only to be beaten harshly by the trainer without mercy.
Qin Hao found it manageable until he reached fifty. After another twenty, his arms began to tremble violently. By then, around thirty trainees had already failed. Only twenty five remained. Gritting his teeth, Qin Hao forced himself onward. He understood the importance of physical training, breaking through to the thirteenth level of the Martial Realm was impossible without it.
In the end, only five trainees completed all one hundred push ups, Qin Hao among them. When he stood up, his spine bent under exhaustion, but he squeezed out every last bit of strength to straighten himself. Those who failed lay scattered across the ground, beaten black and blue. It was brutal.
"So this is what military life is? Its exciting.." Being first, Qin Hao felt a sense of accomplishment but soon his eyes twitched when he heard the trainer's next sentence.
"Stand up and do three hundred squats. Fail to do so and you'll have to forget about dinner tonight." He said as if purposely tormenting the trainees.
"But sir, we just finished…." Someone wanted to speak up but before he could finish, a fierce punch landed on his stomach. Clutching his abdomen the guy bent his body like a shrimp as his face turned red like tomato. Trace of blood could be seen from his nose.
The trainer withdrew his fists and uttered coldly. "Here, every order is absolute. You obey without question." His eyes narrowed. "This is your only warning. If there's a next time, I'll pull out your fingers one by one." No one saw how he moved. The speed was terrifying, leaving only afterimages behind.
His cold threats made all those who were about to complain gulped down their words.
Qin Hao began squatting in a steady rhythm. Seeing him move, the others followed.
Some tried to feign weakness for sympathy but were slapped hard instead. Very quickly, everyone understood: deception was useless here. Only effort mattered. They could only work hard and compete with each other.
Qin Hao barely completed all three hundred squats. The moment he finished, his legs gave out and he collapsed onto the ground. Those who failed were lashed with whips and had their meals deducted.
"Those who completed all tasks will receive extra meals taken from the failures," the trainer said as he turned away. "My name is Mohim. Remember it well for the next twelve months."
Many trainees couldn't understand why the reward was only extra food and felt dissatisfied.
Only five had passed.
Among them was a bald, broad shouldered youth around twenty years old, Chen Mo. Qin Hao noticed him glancing in his direction several times.
"This one is an enemy," the second consciousness said suddenly.
"Just because he took glances at me doesn't mean he's an enemy. He is probably just competitive." Qin Hao shook his head.
"No, i sensed killing intent."
"Killing intent? But why did i not sense it?" Qin Hao asked in confusion.
It sneered with disdain. "If you could sense killing intent with this level of mental strength then it would be nothing but miracle."
"If i can't sense killing intent then how could you? Aren't we both the same?" Qin Hao asked innocently.
"You already forgot? Killing intent is born from killing. Normal people can't sense it. But i do because i am the negative side of you, thirst for blood and violence." It replied.
"Oh i remember now. There is something inside the worms memory about this."
The second consciousness scoffed.
After the first training session, the trainees were assigned cleaning and washing duties. The girls were sent to assist the cooks.
The trainees could only curse under their breath as they gritted their teeth in frustration.!
By lunch, Qin Hao dragged his exhausted body to the yard. The meal consisted of one piece of meat, two pieces of bread, and vegetable soup.
"They're serving chicken? This was unexpected." Qin Hao muttered in surprise. In fact many were astonished, because meat was expensive and rare since most of them came from poor backgrounds.
They ate silently at wooden tables arranged across the open yard. Qin Hao picked up his food plate and sat down, starting to eat quietly.
"Hello, may i sit beside you?" A soft voice rang beside his ears.
Turning his head, Qin Hao saw a girl around the age of seventeen staring at him with a smile. He recognised her instantly. She was one of the five who completed their training. Hundred pushups and three hundred squats were no easy feats for a girl yet she had done it. Her name was Jiang Fei.
"Sure." Qin Hao nodded, giving a slight smile.
The atmosphere remained quiet.
"Break time ends! Get back to the second session of training in five minutes. Late and you will be starving tomorrow morning as well." Trainer Mohim entered the yard as his voice reverberated loudly.
While most of them had finished their meals but some weren't able to as they once again cursed the nine generation ancestors of Mohim.
The second session of training was about doing pull ups and running laps. This time only three people were able to finish, Chen Mo, Qin Hao and Jiang Fei. The rest were given fifty whip lash each.
"You can take rest for today. Tomorrow morning, remember to be present on the training ground at the exact time." Mohim said, his voice stern as ever. The trainees were delighted to hear it.
Some wailed in agony, some crying out loud and Some were so tired that they were sent to the barracks by stretchers.
"I am tired as well." Qin Hao felt his body giving up from exhaustion. In his years of life he had never been so much tired. It was on a different level.
"You can't take rest yet. Don't forget to train martial arts." Second consciousness spoke in a cold tone.
"I know."
When night fell, most of the trainees were asleep, snoring loudly. They still wouldn't wake up even if someone kick them in their sleep.
Qin Hao quietly slipped out and returned to the training ground. At this hour, it was completely empty.