Pei Yan originally thought that joining the military was just a means to disguise his identity. However, when the training Wang Wenze mentioned truly began, he realized just how naïve he was.
For two whole months, there were no imagined missions nor any so-called high-tech superpower training. During this period, the only feeling Pei Yan had was one word: tired!
During this period, he was strictly prohibited from arbitrarily using his abilities, undergoing strict Hell training under the guidance primarily of Hu Wenjun.
Memorizing regulations, tactical training, physical fitness training, combat readiness drills one after another, all within the specially designated training arena in the basement of the office building. Since Pei Yan's first heart-rending scream echoed when forcibly stretched on the track, this place had become the best pastime spot for idle internal personnel during free times, bustling with people coming and going.
"Do you know what you'll truly rely on when fighting with interdimensional beings in the future?" Hu Wenjun shouted at Pei Yan who was running with weights.
There was no answer because Pei Yan didn't even have the strength for a single extra word, he could only keep running by gritting his teeth and hanging on by a thread.
"It's discipline! It's your physical strength! It's your tactical literacy! Sweat during training, bleed less in war!"
Looking at Pei Yan lying on the ground gasping heavily under weight, Hu Wenjun squatted in front of him and sarcastically asked, "How come you can't handle this? I've never seen such an ugly five-kilometer weighted run, are you in ill health? Or do you think our bureau's salary is that easy to get? Or are you just useless trash once you leave your abilities?"
With his face covered in sweat-drenched hair, Pei Yan wiped the sweat off his face and stubbornly stared at Hu Wenjun, retorting, "I want to know, is it just me like this? Or does everyone in here go through such training after entering the bureau?"
"Why, kid? Not convinced?" Hu Wenjun stood up and glanced around, spotting Wang Wenze and Xia Yu among the crowd watching. He pointed and said, "You two, go get the training gear and come over here!"
"Ah!" Initially there for entertainment, Wang Wenze, after being called, dejectedly flipped over the railing into the training ground and reluctantly put on the weights handed over by the assistant instructor.
The other named Xia Yu had a nonchalant look and even showed a hint of excitement on his face.
Once they were fully equipped, the two stood behind Pei Yan. Hu Wenjun pointed at Pei Yan and teased, "Come, help Eldest Young Master Pei to the side of the track to rest well, then demonstrate the training subjects he just did for him again."
Sitting beside the track, Pei Yan felt as if he'd been slapped hard in the face, his cheeks flushing red with embarrassment. The two people Hu Wenjun named completely repeated the training subjects he just did from start to finish. Sit-ups, pull-ups, planking, weighted five km run, once fully completed, Wang Wenze was slightly panting, yet Xia Yu only displayed slight facial redness and even showed an eager-to-continue demeanor.
"So, convinced? If not, you can challenge anyone present, including civilian personnel, or should I get down and demonstrate for you?" Hu Wenjun tilted his head, looking at Pei Yan, who sat silently with his head down.
Still, without any answer, Pei Yan stood up and rejoined the training field, quietly running laps.
In the end, Pei Yan didn't even know how he got back to the dormitory. Running until his mind was a complete blur, ignoring any body odor or sweat, the moment he saw his bed he collapsed and fell into a deep sleep.
In his slumber, Pei Yan felt as though he was enveloped by warmth, a sense of ecstasy spreading throughout his body. Suddenly, a sharp, numbing sensation from the soles of his feet jolted him awake.
"Don't move! You'll spill the water everywhere!"
Waking up, Pei Yan saw one of his feet soaking in a warm basin of water, while the other rested on Wang Wenze's knee, who was carefully pricking the blisters on the sole of his foot with a needle.
Pei Yan's eyes reddened as he choked back tears, "Brother Wang!"
"It's alright, just need to lance the blisters, and after some more days of training this tender skin will become calloused. How come, still unconvinced huh? Captain Hu is doing this for your own good. Everyone who didn't come from a military background goes through this when they join the bureau. When you're on a real mission, you'll realize not everything can be solved by abilities, this training could save your life in a critical moment." Wang Wenze explained while lancing the blisters.
Pei Yan pulled the blanket behind him to lean against, introspecting, "I understand, hey, when I came, I thought I'd soon touch the world you all talked about. Even if it was training, it'd be those ability development ones, but the gap was too big, and I got stuck with frustration temporarily clouding my mind."
"One bite at a time, one step at a time. Those miraculous encounters leading to sudden huge increases in abilities, even within our bureau, I've only seen two or three people like that, they're truly beyond us. Let's proceed steadily and don't overthink it, the bureau still values you; you'll see next. Well, your foot is done, dry it yourself!"
Saying this, Wang Wenze placed the foot with the lanced blisters back into the water, making Pei Yan yelp with a sharp sting. Amidst successive thanks, Pei Yan dried his foot and curiously asked, "Brother Wang, tell me about those transcendent people you met."
"Stop asking about that, just lie down quietly, you'll meet them someday." Wang Wenze said, pushing the getting-up Pei Yan back into bed while carrying the foot basin out as he spoke.
The tedious training paused only on the day National Day arrived. When it was announced that they could rest for a day, Pei Yan also heard two good news: First, the three-plus month-long physical training finally came to an end, and tomorrow they'd transition into the next phase of training. Second, he could make a phone call home.
Standing in front of the office desk, Pei Yan excitedly gazed at the receiver in Hu Wenjun's hand. He had never imagined in his previous life how much he'd anticipate dialing a phone call like this.
"Just go ahead and dial, this call will be redirected automatically through a military district in the capital. You know what to say and not to say, right? If your parents ask too many details, just explain with the military's confidentiality rules, understand?" Hu Wenjun pressed the landline, instructing Pei Yan.
"Understood!"
Hu Wenjun vacated his seat for Pei Yan and stepped out of the office, glancing at the excited, ecstatic Pei Yan holding the receiver, then quietly closed the door.
Half an hour later, Pei Yan stepped out of the office, closed the door, and saluted with a standard military salute to Hu Wenjun, who was smoking in the hallway.
Seeing Pei Yan's slightly reddened eyes, Hu Wenjun extinguished his cigarette, patted his shoulder, and gratifiedly said, "Finally looks a bit like a man."