Chapter 28: The Assessment Concludes

After the battle with Zhao Ling, Hou Xinjie was eliminated, leaving only three members in Tian Su’s group.

Two days later, everyone in Weiyang Palace heard a long, deep blast of a horn. Everyone knew this signal marked the conclusion of the freshman assessment.

"It’s finally over," Wang Xian sighed deeply. He was truly exhausted after these past few days, having endured various battles until he was drained of all energy.

"Indeed, this freshman assessment is exhausting. It’s fortunate that three out of our four members made it into the military academy; the result isn't too bad, all things considered." Tian Su also let out a long sigh; as a senior student, he was also thoroughly worn out.

Everyone who emerged from Weiyang Palace gathered in the square in front of the palace. The military academy instructors were already there, looking as if they were celebrating the return of champions.

On a raised platform in the center stood a middle-aged man with a stern expression, radiating an aura of strictness.

"Quiet, everyone, keep it quiet," the instructors maintaining order paced back and forth, working hard to keep the students in line and ensure the entire square remained silent.

"Ahem." The middle-aged man on the platform coughed twice intentionally. The sound seemed to possess a boundless magic, instantly reducing the noisy chatter across the square to a whisper, and within moments, the scene became deathly silent.

"Very well, I know you are all very happy. After several days of assessment, you have gone from being strangers to acquaintances, and there is much you want to say, but save it for when you return to the military academy," the man said in a serious tone.

He scanned the crowd, and no one dared to meet his gaze. "Hello everyone, my name is Fu Qinghua, and I am the Dean of Students at Huali Military Academy. For the next three years, I will be responsible for your studies, your daily lives, and everything else."

"The motto of Huali Military Academy is: 'Apply knowledge to practice, bring prosperity to the nation.' I trust you all understand its meaning. I do not wish to see any scoundrels among you, nor anyone who brings shame to the academy. I hope you will all graduate successfully. The country is currently in need of people, and I hope you will all serve the nation."

"That is all I have to say. Once again, congratulations to everyone for passing the freshman assessment. Your futures are promising; let us strive together."

Looking at the passionate speech delivered by Fu Qinghua, a surge of hot blood rose within the hearts of those below. Each person seemed to see themselves galloping across the battlefield three years from now.

Following the closing speech, the group was led by the instructors back to Huali Military Academy.

...

After the freshman assessment concluded, each student was reassigned to a new class. Ma Yuan and Wang Xian were placed in the same class, while Tian Su, who had taken care of them, was assigned to a different class in a separate area. As for Hou Xinjie, he had been sent back to Gao City immediately after the assessment; Ma Yuan and Wang Xian never even had the chance to see him.

Huali Military Academy is vast. Upon entry, students are assigned to different military branches. While the academy considers the students' preferences, it is merely a reference, with the final assignments based on the academy’s evaluation of the freshmen.

Ma Yuan and Wang Xian were assigned to the infantry, while Tian Su was assigned to the special forces. Tian Su had played a leading role during the assessment and possessed strong analytical skills, which are the most basic requirements for a special forces soldier; he was a perfect fit.

The instructor for Ma Yuan and Wang Xian’s class was named Li Ge, a retired veteran who had once served as a company commander in an infantry combat unit of the Western Theater Command. He was a seasoned soldier with a wealth of experience.

Li Ge’s personality differed from Fang Lei’s. Fang Lei was the type to have a sharp tongue but a soft heart, scolding students harshly while genuinely caring for them. Li Ge, however, had a more balanced temperament. He was strict with his students, but he did not use biting words to provoke them; he preferred to convince them through reason.

After the assessment, the freshmen began their formal training. These exercises were primarily designed to hone their physical fitness and provide them with a deeper understanding of Huali Military Academy, which had been established for over twenty years.

Day after day, a monotonous routine filled Ma Yuan’s life. At first, he found it difficult to adapt, often reminiscing about his days in Gao City and Hui Village—missing the times spent playing with Lu Guozhang and Zhu Cong, and the days spent roaming the streets and alleys of Gao City with Wang Xian and Hou Xinjie.

Although Ma Yuan knew that dwelling on the past was detrimental to his time at the academy, he was determined to get ahead. To do so, he had to quickly adapt to the dull, repetitive training schedule of Huali Military Academy.

During these days, Ma Yuan rapidly familiarized himself with everything at the academy. Beyond the people he had met during the assessment, he also made good friends with several classmates.

For instance, at this moment, a burly man stood before Ma Yuan, excitedly telling him about an upcoming social event.

This youth was named Xiang Ting, a local from Yuanzhou City. Unlike Li Qing or Zhao Ling, Xiang Ting came from a humble background—the son of ordinary civilians in the sprawling city of Yuanzhou. To afford his tuition at Huali, his parents had spent all their savings.

Therefore, Xiang Ting was exceptionally diligent at school. He participated in any activity he felt would be beneficial to his progress in the academy, because winning an award meant receiving a merit, which in turn brought a bonus. This allowed him to ask his family for less money, as every expense he incurred at school was a disaster for his household.

Ma Yuan and Xiang Ting had met during a training march. Xiang Ting had taken the lead with his strong physique, but he was sabotaged by others and ultimately failed to take first place.

After being injured by the scheme, Xiang Ting spent time recovering. During this period, Ma Yuan visited him frequently. Having learned of Xiang Ting’s background, Ma Yuan felt a sense of kinship, as their circumstances were quite similar, which prompted him to look out for him. Through these interactions, the two became good friends.

As for Wang Xian, Ma Yuan rarely saw him now. Being the only son of the Wang family in Gao City, Wang Xian was constantly surrounded by students eager to curry favor with him, leaving Ma Yuan with no opportunity to speak to him.

Thus, Ma Yuan consciously avoided seeking Wang Xian out. He was well aware that as someone from a small place like Hui Village, no one would be looking to curry favor with him.

However, he felt fortunate to have met Xiang Ting—someone whose destiny was intertwined with his own and who shared the same aspirations.