CH 54

Chapter 54: Terrifying special training routine

After Huo Zaiyuan retreats into the bedroom and disappears into his space, Long Zhanye, Li Qing and Qin Jun make a simple lunch from the pile of food on the table.

"All right, now that little Yuan has gone into 'closed-door cultivation', during this undeterminable length of time, you all will not be allowed to slack off. Let's begin 'special training', shall we?" Standing with one hand raising the rifle to rest on his shoulder, Long Zhanye smirks down at the two younger men.

"Special training?" Li Qing asks, eyes brightening as he locks onto the rifle. "Older brother Long, are you going to teach us how to shoot? That's great, that's great ah! I want to learn how to shoot a gun! How manly would that be!"

Looking at those dark eyes full of eager anticipation, Long Zhanye extends his free hand, wagging his index finger left and right. "Not going to teach you how to shoot. In the near future, there will be a lot of opportunities to train on the road. This time, the 'special training' will only consist of this!" After speaking, he raises his fist.

Li Qing and Qin Jun exchanges a glance, then turn as one to regard Long Zhanye. Finally, Qin Jun speaks for them both, asking in a faintly nervous voice. "Eldest brother Long, can you clarify that…?"

Although he is not familiar with the soldier, his keen intuition informs him that Long Zhanye's bearing is daunting, and to watch out for what might come next.

"This exercise is to gauge your reaction speed and dodging ability." Long Zhanye replies mildly. "You are both aware of the monsters out there, that you will be infected no matter if you are bitten or scratched. I will train you to the point that under any circumstances, you will be capable of dodging a zombie's attack. Naturally…only under real combat situations will a person's ability to learn be at its highest. However that is extremely risky, so you will not be put through that."

"It makes sense. But if not a real combat situation, then how are we going to train?" (QJ)

"Through unarmed free-for-all, understand?" Reaching into his uniform's breast pocket, he removes a packet of cigarettes and pulls one out. Clenching a stick between his lips, he eyes are like burning torches as he stares at the two men.

"I don't understand." Li Qing is too honest.

"All right." With a calm expression, Qin Jun agrees.

"Then let's go to the courtyard." Biting the cigarette, a devious smile curves his lips.

Upon seeing that look, the two men suddenly tremble as a chill goes down their spines. For some reason, they feel as if they will be met with bad luck shortly, a sense of foreboding times to come making a bead of cold sweat break out at their temple…how strange…

When he was living in A City's military district, Long Zhanye's daily hobby was bullying his minions - the group of soldiers directly under his command. Listening to the sounds of their miserable whining and crying, he feels a sense of satisfaction.

(Author: So, Long gong…aren't you just another sadist?

Long gong: Scram! )

"Older brother Long, here we go!" Li Qing announces, face full of concentration. On the other hand, Long Zhanye is a picture of relaxed ease, cigarette held between two fingers as he exhales a lungful of white smoke.

"Just come at me, no need to announce it."

Say, those words just radiates pure arrogance. Evidently, he is not putting Qin Jun and Li Qing in his eyes.

Being the sore losers that they are, Long Zhanye's words predictably stir up a fire within Qin Jun and Li Qing's souls. Exchanging a glance, they attack Long Zhanye from both sides.

Good strategy.

Seeing the two deciding to flank him from both sides, a small smile surfaces. Eyes narrowing slightly, his figure flashes away, causing Li Qing and Qin Jun's attacks to hit thin air. Not waiting for either one to react, Li Qing's wrist is suddenly grabbed tightly. Before he could open his mouth to yell, his body is lifted up and thrown away. Li Qing collides with Qin Jun, and the two slam into the courtyard's wall, landing in a tangle of limbs.

"Tsk, tsk…this kind of reaction speed, even an infant would be able to beat you."

Both pairs of eyes gleaming with the displeasure of admitting defeat, Li Qing and Qin Jun drag their sore bodies up from the ground, charging towards the completely unrestrained man once again.

During the next few days, the two youths accumulated quite a number of small scrapes and bruises, all of which are courtesy of Long Zhanye's unforgiving fists. Their visible skin is a mosaic of blue and purple, visually shocking to anyone who sees it. Who knows how Long Zhanye does it, but every time his fists are fast yet accurate, incurring pain but not damaging muscles or bones. The beating they suffered under his training really isn't something the average human can endure.

On the day Huo Zaiyuan emerges from his 'closed-door cultivation', he came out just in time to witness the aftermath of an evening spent being beaten up by Long Zhanye. The two are lying sprawled on the ground carelessly, panting breathlessly and sporting more bruises.

"Just…what happened to the both of you?"