Chapter 29: Shock
Page (1/3)
“What’s going on? Why are we always just one second too slow?”
“Can’t we speed up, even a little?”
“We’ve already lost two rounds. If we lose the third, it’ll be a disgrace beyond words!”
“We’re on our home turf—let’s not leave without scoring at least a single point!”
The members of the Military Dog Battalion, having lost two consecutive matches, were growing anxious.
For the third round, the battalion sent Huo Dong and his Leopard. This search-and-capture event was Leopard’s specialty.
Huo Dong and Leopard performed brilliantly in the search.
“Wow, five minutes and forty-eight seconds—nearly breaking the district record!”
“Yes, looks like the First Company will lose this time!”
“It’s still Leopard, truly outstanding!”
As their voices buzzed with excitement, Guo Yudong entered the field with his Rifle.
“Rifle, we don’t need to go all out this time. Remember to follow my instructions,” Guo Yudong whispered to Rifle.
“Woof!”
Rifle didn’t quite understand, but he obeyed, for his leader, Sky General, had already given him the order.
“This dog is excellent. But I’ve never seen one quite like this—looks almost exactly like a wolf!” Yu Hongyang observed Rifle with satisfaction.
Gao Yuan’s expression now was a kaleidoscope of emotions. He had intended to make things difficult for Long Fei, but unexpectedly, all the bitter fruit was his to swallow. The feeling was indescribable.
The battalion members stared intently at Guo Yudong and Rifle, palms sweating.
“Rifle has completed the task, with a time of five minutes and forty-seven seconds!”
The moment the timekeeper announced the result, the room fell silent.
If the first round was just luck for the First Company,
What about the second? The third?
Was it all luck? Blessed by fortune? Favored by the gods?
None of these seemed to fit. The truth was clear to them.
“Long Fei, come here!”
Commander Yu Hongyang called out to Long Fei, who was sitting at the edge.
Long Fei strode over and asked, “What is it, Commander?”
“Tell me honestly—how much effort did your team put into this competition?”
Yu Hongyang, seasoned and shrewd, immediately saw through the ruse. None of the First Company’s three dogs had used their full strength—he could see that clearly.
“Thirty percent.”
Page (2/3)
Since the commander had noticed, Long Fei saw no need to hide and answered frankly.
“Long Fei, even if you beat us, there’s no need to boast so shamelessly, is there? Thirty percent? You beat us by three seconds with just thirty percent?” Gao Yuan stood up, full of displeasure.
“Gao Yuan, sit down, don’t get worked up!” Yu Hongyang paused, then addressed Long Fei. “You must remember—there are no idle words in the army.”
“I noticed Deputy Captain Gao has prepared a bite-and-takedown event. Commander, would you like to see it?” Long Fei asked, locking eyes with Yu Hongyang.
“Very well. This time, let your dogs give it their all. I want to see just how extraordinary the First Company’s dogs are,” Yu Hongyang replied, still skeptical.
It wasn’t that Yu Hongyang believed Long Fei’s claim, but the answer was so unbelievable.
True, the Military Dog Battalion was experiencing a gap, but they were no weaklings and still had strength to show.
“Commander, please select a dog,” Long Fei said to Yu Hongyang.
“Oh? So confident? Let’s have Sky General compete then!” Yu Hongyang had long anticipated Sky General’s performance.
“This…” Long Fei was momentarily hesitant.
“What’s the matter, Captain Long? Afraid? Making big claims without fear of breaking your teeth?” Gao Yuan said coldly.
“Commander, Sky General’s bite force is formidable—there’s a risk. Perhaps you could choose another dog?” Long Fei suggested after a moment’s thought.
“No need. Sky General it is.”
“Li, suit up in protective gear. You’ll be the mock enemy,” Yu Hongyang instructed softly.
Li Yuanwei, Yu Hongyang’s personal guard, had grown up training in the Shaolin Temple. His martial prowess was such that, even among the experts of Sirius, he ranked in the top ten.
“Yes, sir!”
Li Yuanwei, nearly six-foot-three, donned the protective suit and slowly walked onto the field.
“Send in Sky General,” Yu Hongyang ordered.
“Yes, sir!” Long Fei jogged to Gu Jianfeng, relaying the commander’s wishes.
“Madman, that guy is Li Yuanwei, the commander’s personal guard. Be careful!” Long Fei cautioned, worried.
Page (3/3)
Gu Jianfeng knew that Long Fei wouldn’t have sent him in if it weren’t necessary.
“Don’t worry, Captain. Nothing serious will happen,” Gu Jianfeng replied with a smile.
He led Sky General to the preparation zone and whispered, “Sky General, this guy isn’t weak. You’re not his equal yet, but just knock him down. Don’t hurt him—understood?”
“Woof!”
Sky General barked and nodded.
As the timekeeper dropped the signal flag, Sky General shot out like lightning.
“Roar!”
When he caught up to Li Yuanwei, Sky General seized his arm in a powerful bite. Man and dog wrestled fiercely.
After only two rounds, Li Yuanwei was floored by Sky General.
“How long?”
Seeing Li Yuanwei down, Yu Hongyang couldn’t help but ask the staff.
“Commander, ten… fifteen seconds!”
The staff member was visibly shaken.
“What?”
Yu Hongyang could hardly believe his ears.
Not until the timekeeper repeated the time did Yu Hongyang accept it.
The national military dog bite-and-takedown record was thirty-eight seconds; Sky General had managed less than half.
Moreover, Li’s skills far surpassed those of ordinary mock enemies.
If it had been a regular mock enemy today, the time might have been even shorter.
Yu Hongyang’s hand trembled slightly, unable to control it.
He hadn’t expected such a harvest today.
“Sky General, let go!”
Seeing Li Yuanwei on the ground, Gu Jianfeng shouted from outside the ring.
He ran over to Sky General, reached out, and helped Li Yuanwei up. “Sorry, brother. Sky General may have bitten a bit hard.”
“Good thing I’m trained. If it were an ordinary person, your dog could’ve bitten right through their arm!”
“I guess I’ve broken a record today—probably the fastest mock enemy to be taken down. I doubt anyone will beat my time!”
“Can we get acquainted? I’m Li Yuanwei!”
Li Yuanwei smiled.
“Gu Jianfeng!”
With that, their hands clasped tightly, a feeling of long-awaited camaraderie blossoming between them.