Chapter 336: The Arrival of the New Recruits

Chapter 336: Chapter 336: The Arrival of the New Recruits

But they weren’t close enough to be best friends, not on the level of her and Jiang Yan.

Their personalities were still very different. Shi Lan was happy to have someone as uncomplicated and intelligent as Bai Rao for a colleague, but their values didn’t align well enough for them to be close friends.

Ordinarily, Bai Rao would ask to learn some of her treatment techniques. She was very curious about Shi Lan’s ability to heal a collapse value down to zero. Bai Rao had a much better attitude toward people more skilled than herself, and Shi Lan didn’t hesitate to share her knowledge.

Bai Rao spent some time trying to figure it out on her own in private, but she still couldn’t do it. Figuring her Spiritual Power Level was likely too low, she then asked Shi Lan how to improve her spiritual power.

Shi Lan told her to watch the old interviews from Zhenxin Hospital. There were plenty of discussions online about her 3S Spiritual Power, and a simple search would reveal her original account of how her spiritual power had upgraded.

The result was that after watching them, Bai Rao apologized to her yet again.

She had seen how Shi Lan had been relentlessly mocked at Imperial Capital University for being a so-called "worthless female." Although Bai Rao herself hadn’t been among the mockers, she had always been indifferent. The main reason for her apology was the thought that if Shi Lan had been a member of the Bai Family, one of the Imperial Nobles, those males would never have been so brazen.

In the end, she felt guilty because she believed she had usurped Shi Lan’s identity and enjoyed the conveniences that came with that status.

Shi Lan gave a resigned smile. "That’s not why I had you watch those. Besides, that’s all in the past. The people who once mocked me can only look up at me now."

’Besides, even if they apologized to me, I’m not the one who should be forgiving them. The original owner of this body is.’

To Shi Lan, their words couldn’t cause the slightest ripple in her heart; they were nothing more than insignificant strangers.

Afterward, Bai Rao didn’t ask about such things again. She thought perhaps the mysterious energy she had once obtained might also work. However, she had investigated secretly and found that no one knew anything about it. Her own encounter with it had just been a matter of good luck and pure coincidence.

She stopped focusing on such shortcuts and instead concentrated on diligently improving her spiritual power.

That’s why Shi Lan did have a certain appreciation for Bai Rao. Of course, their relationship would never progress beyond that of colleagues.

***

Two weeks after Shi Lan’s arrival on the Border Defense Star, the new volunteer recruits finally arrived.

During that time, she had often heard Jiang Xia complain unhappily that the screening office was too slow and the recruitment contingent still hadn’t been fully assembled.

The others also kept saying they missed her and couldn’t wait to see her. And now, that day had finally arrived.

The heavy snow on the Border Defense Star had recently stopped, and Insect Clan activity was on the rise. It wasn’t convenient for Shi Lan to travel too far from the installation, so she waited for them directly at the military base.

Bai Feng, being a Major General, was the one to receive them. Soon, a fleet of hovercars stopped at the entrance of the military base. Several hundred people disembarked, forming a long, dense queue outside.

Shi Lan stood to the side with He Hanshi. She didn’t need to stand on tiptoe to see; as 2S Level males, Yan Huoshui and the other two had been assigned as squad leaders and were standing at the front of the formation. She spotted them at a glance.

They spotted her at the same moment.

Shi Lan waved to them happily. The corners of Yan Huoshui’s lips lifted as he silently mouthed to her, "Lanlan, I’m here."

Mu Tangfeng’s proudly tilted chin lowered a fraction under her gaze. His red lips curved upward, and he raised his arm to wave back in response.

Jiang Xia was even more dramatic. He broke formation entirely, excitedly about to run over and hug her. But he had barely taken a step before a harsh glare from Bai Feng stopped him cold. Exasperated, Bai Feng spoke with forced solemnity, "Now that you’re a part of the military, you are expected to maintain military discipline. Young Master Jiang, and you, Young Master Mu—both of you. Stop moving around. Stand properly in formation."

Jiang Xia sheepishly scratched his hair, but the moment his hand moved, Bai Feng shot him another severe look.

As a coddled young master, he had truly never experienced the hardships of military life.

It was the same for Mu Tangfeng. He hated being bossed around by anyone other than Shi Lan and his family. He Hanshi, being his idol, could just barely make him listen. ’But who was Bai Feng to order him around?’

His expression darkened, and he glared back fiercely.

Bai Feng was groaning internally. ’Could the people at the screening office *be* any more useless?’

’Why did they send these great young masters over? This is the army; was he supposed to wait on them hand and foot?’

Of course, Bai Feng would do no such thing. The army had its ironclad rules, and with so many new recruits arriving today, it was even more important to establish his authority. He kept his voice cold and sharp. "Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng, out of formation. Give me fifty push-ups."

Mu Tangfeng bristled, about to curse back, but Bai Feng spoke again. "The days ahead will be even tougher than this. If you can’t take the heat, you’d better go back now."

"That doesn’t just go for them. The rest of you, too. You still have a chance to change your minds."

Hearing this, Mu Tangfeng clamped his mouth shut and fell silent.

Just then, He Hanshi also stepped forward. "General Bai is right. The Border Defense Star is bitterly cold, and the Insect Clan have been numerous lately. The daily training is intense, and we see a lot of combat. It will be hard, you will get tired, and you will be injured. You’re not here to enjoy a comfortable life. If anyone came here with that expectation, they should leave now."

After hearing this, the soldiers immediately shouted, "We volunteer to stay! We’re not leaving!"

They knew it wouldn’t be easy when they signed up. Now that they had finally passed the screening and been accepted, they had to treasure this opportunity all the more.

Serving in the military was a great honor, and the government’s policies and benefits were heavily in their favor. Of course they were willing.

Mu Tangfeng and Jiang Xia didn’t want to leave either. Left with no other choice, they immediately began their push-ups.

Shi Lan felt a little guilty watching from the sidelines. ’If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have waved.’ She hadn’t expected them to be so forward. ’Thank goodness Yan Huoshui is more composed.’

At noon, during the new recruits’ break, Shi Lan thoughtfully massaged both of their palms. The ground outside the military base was cold, rough gravel left behind by melted ice and snow. They had done their push-ups on that surface, and the red marks on their hands had yet to fade.

She felt a pang of sympathy.

Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng had never suffered such an ordeal before, let alone being punished in front of so many people.

But after learning about military discipline, they knew Bai Feng wasn’t deliberately targeting them, so they didn’t hold any grudges.

What’s more, they were thrilled just to be here and see their wife.

Seeing Shi Lan frowning, Jiang Xia hugged her and said cajolingly, "Lanlan, don’t overthink it. It doesn’t hurt at all. I’m a male—I’ve got thick skin."

Mu Tangfeng did the same, lowering his eyes to take her soft hand from his own and press it to his lips for a kiss. "Mmm, it doesn’t hurt. I’m just happy I got to see you, Lanlan."

The new recruits’ barracks were for males only, so it wouldn’t have been appropriate for Shi Lan, a female, to go there. Instead, they found a corner in a public lounge.

At this time of day, almost everyone was in their rooms for a midday rest, so the lounge was empty.

Still, being so intimately pressed between the two of them made Shi Lan a bit embarrassed. Maybe it was because they were in the military, but she felt this behavior violated public decency.

And just as she was debating whether to push them away, Yan Huoshui and He Hanshi, who had used a tracker to find their partner, appeared at the entrance.