Chapter 45: The Mysterious Tool

  At dawn, the moon sets and the stars are sparse. The east has already revealed a faint fish belly white. A few distant dog barks echo through the sky, set against a serene backdrop of heaven and earth.

  " Splash——" A faint splashing sound broke this rare tranquility.

  "Fast! Fast! Fast!" The nineteen members of the training team were fully armed and swimming desperately forward in the water.

  ……

  After the event of Han Shi Ming being eliminated, the team members who were not particularly familiar with each other originally had an additional competitive mentality between them. Whether it was in their daily training or in the discipline of their daily lives; whether it was in the unpredictable evaluations or in the regular physical examinations. They were always competing with each other, striving to be the best.

  Fan Shao and Li Shangwei are very supportive of this competitive atmosphere, which they intentionally or unintentionally intensified through their occasional praise for outstanding team members and subtle hints in their daily speeches.

  For Qu Mingjun, it's even more so. He has now been included in the reserve list of the training team. In regular training sessions, even if his performance is the same as everyone else's, when it comes to elimination, he will be the first to go. How can such a thing happen to Qu Mingjun himself? I not only want to win but also win beautifully and make Li Shangwei personally ask me to join the final nine-man squad. That's what Qu Mingjun thinks and does.

  So in training and assessment, Qu Mingjun rarely started to be silent, just burying his head to train and study desperately. Other team members saw it with their own eyes, and a sense of crisis arose. Qu Mingjun also indirectly motivated other team members to work together, and was even praised by Captain Fan for this reason.

  Although the competition was fierce, the team members were not in a state of vigilance and hostility towards each other. On the contrary, their friendship deepened day by day. From another perspective, this had a lot to do with everyone having two common "enemies" - Captain Fan and Lieutenant Li.

  For Qu Mingjun, from the day he resolutely stood up for Han Shiming, all the foreign team members who came to the training camp regarded him as a friend who could be deeply interacted with and was worth deeply interacting with. In the training team, Qu Mingjun's interpersonal relationship is the best, no matter who sees him at least will greet him, let alone Cui Ze and others who are in the same company as Qu Mingjun.

  It's three o'clock, the sky is pitch black, and the team members of the training camp have entered dreamland after a day of training. Now is the moment when they sleep most soundly. Today is the weekend, let them have a good sleep.

  "Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep......" The continuous and abrupt whistle suddenly exploded in the corridor of the training team, like a sudden death, and instantly pulled people back from their sweet dreams to reality.

  "Hurry! Emergency assembly!" Qu Mingjun almost reacted conditionally, and as soon as the first whistle sounded, he sat up, and by the fifth whistle, he was completely awake. He shouted to Choi Tae, who was still in a daze, while quickly jumping out of bed.

  Fortunately, I learned a few tricks from the old soldiers. Normally, pants and clothes are placed in fixed places, and it's easy to put them on with one hand and one foot. When taking off clothes before sleep, don't unbutton them, just pull them down like a vest, after all, camouflage uniforms are loose enough. This way, when there is an emergency assembly, you can save time buttoning up.

  Qu Mingjun's two feet kicked into the trouser legs, then his feet stepped into the combat boots while pulling up the camouflage pants and fastening the belt. Then, with both hands, he put on the camouflage uniform from top to bottom, and began to grab the tactical vest.

  Choi Ze didn't move slowly either, after all he was a veteran, and had a good grasp of emergency assembly.

  The two quickly put on their full gear and rushed out of the building, only starting to tie their shoelaces and adjust any inconvenient parts of their uniforms after they reached the assembly point. Fortunately, the instructor had mentioned earlier that during the training period, emergency assemblies did not require wearing backpacks, otherwise it would have taken even longer to get out.

  Although Captain Li was still somewhat dissatisfied, it was strange that he didn't scold anyone today.

  "Get your guns from the armory." Captain Li waved his hand.

  Everyone took their 95-style automatic rifles and retreated to the front of the building. What's strange is that when they received their guns, each person also received a small thing from the soldier in charge of security.

  The little warrior had a very strange smile when he fired his gun.

  Soon, all the team members who received the items were like that little warrior, revealing a very strange smile.

  A small, square, green vacuum package with a circular protrusion inside. Press it and it's soft.

  How could this thing be sent out? Qu Mingjun was so angry he couldn't help but laugh.

  The nineteen team members present, although they were all still unmarried, could still recognize the must-haves for couples, and it was clearly written on the packaging.

  Choi Ze's face was also very strange, he looked around and wanted to say something but didn't come out. If someone who usually has the thickest skin is like this, let alone others.

  Everyone reassembled in front of the building, each person stiff and awkward, their hands frozen as if they were holding not ordinary household items but hand grenades with pulled pins. The formation naturally lacked a bit of military sternness, looking more like a group of embarrassed big boys attending physical education class.

  "Everyone, get on the bus!" Although Captain Li still had a cold face and tone, the occasional curve of his mouth revealed that he was secretly laughing at everyone's embarrassed expressions.

  "Two disciplines, one, no one is allowed to make a sound before reaching the destination. Two, the props given to you must be kept properly and not discarded!" Captain Li coughed and made two requests.

  I really want to get rid of this thing, Qu Mingjun thought. Damn it, I don't even know what this thing is used for, it's definitely not the normal use of this thing, but Li Shangwei said that this thing is a prop, what kind of prop is this?

  Soon, nineteen people got on a Liberation truck with a covered canvas, and the bright headlights pierced through the darkness of night, slipping out of the college and heading far away.

  Under the strict order of Captain Li, all the team members in the training team were silent and motionless in the canvas-covered carriage. Some people simply hugged their guns, lowered their heads and started to make up for lost sleep. Originally, the daytime training intensity was high, and they slept late at night. Today, they were all woken up at three o'clock, and it was normal to feel drowsy.

  Qu Mingjun put the package that was distributed into his own pocket. Since they were distributed, there must be a reason for it. He shouldn't think wildly or ask around randomly. It's better to just go to sleep quickly.

  Two olive-green Liberation trucks rumbled along the highway, initially still encountering a night bus every now and then, but once they turned onto the dirt road, they became two lone wolves in the dark of night, solitary yet stubbornly pressing on towards their destination.

  "Screech..." With a long screeching sound of brakes, the truck came to a steady stop at some place.

  After jumping off the car, Qu Mingjun's first reaction was to take a look at the situation around him.

  Here is a dock, what a vast expanse of water. Oh, it's a reservoir, Qū Míng Jùn saw the dam in the distance.

  "Right dress!"

  "Take a short rest."

  "Attention!"

  "Comrade team leader, the military training team has arrived. Nineteen people were supposed to arrive, and nineteen people have indeed arrived. Please instruct!" Captain Li reported solemnly to Major Fan with a salute.

  "Halt!"

  "Comrades," said Captain Fan, and then fell silent for a moment. He looked back at the water's surface, shook his head, and said: "Today we need to complete the armed crossing subject. From here, get into the water and swim to the dam, then swim back. The total distance is over 3,000 meters."

  "It needs to be reminded that the danger of armed crossing is relatively high. If you have poor swimming skills or your body is not suitable for entering the water at this time, you can make a request." Captain Fan emphasized, "We will not count voluntary abandonment into the assessment results and will not eliminate you because of giving up on this armed crossing. On the contrary, if you are really unable to do it but still force yourself to cross, and an accident occurs, your test score will be counted as zero."

  What? Giving up doesn't matter, but swimming underwater will be counted as zero points?

  Nineteen team members looked at me, I looked at them, all were very puzzled by this command.

  "Qu Mingjun?" Fan Shaoxiao waited for a moment, seeing no one speaking up, raised his voice and called out.

  "Report!" Qu Mingjun was also puzzled by this unreasonable command and hastily responded.

  "You're a freshman, not an old soldier who enlisted from the troops. You haven't learned this armed amphibious landing lesson yet," said Captain Fan. "You go with Major Li and me to board the ship."

  "Who else wants to give up?" Captain Fan asked loudly to the other team members.

  Team members looked at each other, not making a sound. Who would be the first to show weakness in this competitive atmosphere? Although Captain Fan had said that actively giving up was okay and swimming records would score zero, wasn't actively giving up equivalent to showing weakness to others? If so, then one wouldn't be able to hold their head high in the training team again. Besides, they were all top-notch athletes, and there was still some confidence in the armed swimming event.

  Everyone was silent. Commander Fan waited for a moment before saying, "Alright, let's get started then. First, go to the second truck and bring down the rubber boat..."

  "Report to the instructor!" Qu Mingjun had been holding back his anger for a while, why wasn't he allowed to get in the water? Even if he hadn't practiced armed infiltration, couldn't he still swim? Born and raised by the water in the southern country, how many seven-foot-tall men can't swim? Not to mention that Qu Mingjun was also an excellent athlete. Besides, having been relegated to the reserve list himself, was he supposed to just stay on reserve forever?

  "What's up?" Fan Shaojie was suddenly interrupted by Qu Mingjun, but he didn't get angry.

  "Reporting to instructor, team member Qu Mingjun requests to dive in for training." Qu Mingjun said loudly.

  "But you haven't received armed parachute training."

  "I can follow the old soldier now."

  "Nonsense!"

  "I'm not messing around! Report to the instructor, my physical fitness is excellent and swimming is also one of my strong points. I have swum over 10,000 meters in the sea without any problems with my bare hands. I think I can smoothly participate in this project's training."

  "That won't work either. Can armed infiltration be compared to swimming with bare hands? Can the ocean be compared to this reservoir?" Captain Fan waved his hand.

  "Me..." Qu Mingjun still wanted to argue strongly.

  "It's settled then," said Captain Fan. "Later, follow us onto the ship and provide security for everyone, it's also part of your job."

  Qing Mingjun's eyes were rolling around, and he was breathing heavily. Not letting me get in the water, huh? Then I'll follow Old Soldier and learn from him. At worst, I'll sneak into the water myself, I don't believe it. Underestimating me, how can Captain Fan underestimate me like this?

  Unconsciously, Qu Mingjun attaches great importance to how Fan Shaojie views himself. Now he may not even understand himself, whether his current desperate and bitter training is for the sake of becoming a formal team member or to prove his image in Fan Shaojie's heart.

  The veterans, led by Captain Li, began to warm up their bodies after carrying the rubber boat down. Although it was still very hot in late September, the water in the reservoir was stagnant and had little flow. At this time before dawn, the water was also at its coolest. Without proper warming up, it would be unsafe to get into the water.

  Qu Mingjun secretly started to move on his own, but he didn't dare to make too big a move, for fear of being scolded by Fan Shao.

  However, he was still discovered by Captain Fan, "What are you doing?"

  "Reporting officer, I am in good physical condition." Kuang Ming-jun said loudly.

  "You don't even get in the water and you're exercising your body." Captain Fan was puzzled that this kid could be so reasonable and confident.

  "Isn't it to guarantee my safety? What if one of our comrades is not feeling well, I can also jump into the water and help him back onto the boat." Qu Mingjun indeed had quick wit, and smoothly came up with such a grandiose reason.

  "Hmm...alright then." Captain Fan thought for a moment and also found it reasonable, so he just let him be.

  Hehe, Qu Mingjun snickered twice and quickly started exercising with the team in a big and exaggerated manner.

  "Get your gear in order." Captain Li looked around and saw that everyone was loosening up, then continued with the orders. "Right, the tool you were given is used like this."

  "Qū Míng Jùn, bring your gun and that thing you shot over here." Captain Lǐ called out to Qū Míng Jùn.

  "Here!" Qu Mingjun hastily ran forward and handed over the Type 95 automatic rifle and the issued equipment to Captain Li.

  Captain Li swiftly tore open the bag, pulled out a suppressor and screwed it onto the muzzle, then tightened the already constricted barrel with a rope.

  "Oh, so that's what it's used for. The sleeve can be used to waterproof the gun barrel, what a great idea! Who came up with this? Qu Mingjun is very interested."

  "Everyone has seen it." Captain Li returned the gun to Qu Mingjun and said, "Let's all do this. Although it doesn't meet the requirements of actual combat, we still have other training this afternoon, and the 95-style automatic rifle issued by our college is relatively rare, so it won't hurt to take extra precautions."

  The team members giggled and took the thing and started doing it.

  I'm glad I don't have to bother with it, haha. Qu Mingjun thought to himself.

  The team members tightly fastened their weapons and equipment to their bodies, unbuttoned the first button of their camouflage jackets, turned all pockets inside out, rolled up their pant legs and sleeves to their knees and elbows and secured them with safety pins, and finally tied their boots to the front of their tactical vests.

  Li Shangwei inspected them in order, then gave the command, "Dive!"

  Qu Ming heard it and immediately secretly...