Chapter 176: Chapter 175: Not Outstanding

Ling Chengyan didn’t run ahead; instead, she ran at the back of the group, maintaining a steady pace.

Everyone was carrying a load of thirty kilograms, having just completed a 400-meter obstacle course. Everyone was a bit tired, so at this point, controlling the pace and conserving energy was particularly important.

They ran out of the city and onto an off-road path. It had rained the previous two days, so while the dirt road wasn’t too muddy, there were still some small puddles that could make one slip if not careful.

This road condition increased physical exertion, and soon everyone’s clothes were soaked with sweat.

Ling Chengyan grabbed the towel tied to her harness to wipe the sweat off her temples, then picked up the pace to run ahead, checking on everyone, reminding them to take sips of water or have something to replenish their energy.

When everyone pinched a small, soft steamed bun from their ration bags, the aroma of oil spread. Two people turned back and smiled at Ling Chengyan: Thanks to Deputy Company Commander Ling, who prepared lard noodles with sugar for them, eating a small portion could stave off hunger for a while.

An unexpected scenario presented itself: there was actually a river on the cross-country route, with no bridge crossing allowed, and no boats to use. The only way left to cross was swimming.

Ling Chengyan estimated the river to be about ten meters wide, an artificial channel built for irrigation. The bottom of this channel was relatively flat, without abrupt pits, but there was one unfavorable factor for swimming: the banks were steep, with no trees, and the wild grass was shallow-rooted, making it risky to pull on.

Fortunately, Ling Chengyan had familiarized herself with the group’s capabilities, knowing that some were particularly good swimmers. So, she asked a few people to go down and scout the river first.

Wu Qingyun was among them.

Ling Chengyan pulled out a rope from her backpack and handed one end to Wu Qingyun, “Tie it to a tree on the other side; you don’t have to wait.”

Wu Qingyun and the others removed their luggage bags and ration bags, raised them over their heads, and slowly waded into the river, heading to the other side.

Ling Chengyan watched intently as the water gradually reached their waists, then to their chests, with the deepest spot at neck height. She exhaled softly.

The water level didn’t go over the top, and with the rope providing security, even those who couldn’t swim could cross safely.

Wu Qingyun took the rope to the opposite bank and tied it to a tree there.

Ling Chengyan urged everyone to get down into the river quickly, with one hand holding their luggage bag overhead and the other gripping the rope tightly.

“… Steady now, move carefully.”

Ling Chengyan noticed a non-swimming soldier stuck by the riverbank, silently staying at the back and untied the rope, taking it along.

At this time, they were all competitors, not battlefield comrades, so there was no room for softness.

Guard Company Commander Shao Guoqing arrived at the riverbank and happened to witness this scene, his gaze darkened as he led the Guard Company into the river to swim across.

Two guards couldn’t swim, watching helplessly as their comrades crossed the river, leaving them behind.

After Ling Chengyan crossed the river, she quickly organized the personnel to check their luggage and weapons, ensuring nothing was left behind. Then, checking the time, she organized the team to run forward.

In the initial phase, they maintained their endurance; with one-third of the distance left, they could sprint.

When the entire Automobile Company returned and reached the finish line, waiting on the side, Political Commissioner He and Staff Officer Xing exchanged glances, both seeing a shared understanding in each other’s eyes.

With two tasks completed, Ling Chengyan received a last-minute notice that shooting would follow immediately without a break.

Ling Chengyan hesitated for a moment before leading her soldiers to the shooting range.

Both the 400-meter obstacle course and the ten-kilometer cross-country were extreme physical challenges involving movement, while shooting was relatively static, at least requiring mental calm and steady hands when pulling the trigger.

Movement and stillness presented clear conflict and contradiction. Yet in real combat, static shooting was often infeasible, with running, jumping, and shooting on the move being a norm.

Leading the group to the shooting range, Ling Chengyan shouted orders along the way, instructing the Automobile Company soldiers to adjust their breathing and thus swiftly calm their emotions and minds.

Their river-soaked clothes had already dried, only to be soaked by sweat again, with their backpacks still on their backs.

The lard noodles they had eaten were mostly gone, and their water consumed, leaving them unprepared for additional unexpected tasks.

Ling Chengyan handed over her canteen, “One sip each.”

She sweated the least and drank the least, having only consumed half her canteen, with the rest enough for everyone to wet their throats with small sips.

After drinking some water and scraping up the remaining fried noodles in their ration bags, everyone regained some energy, and their breathing notably steadied, at least quelling much of the finger tremors.

Upon arrival at the shooting range, about twenty people already waited ahead. Ling Chengyan commanded the group to sit down and recover their strength and composure.

By the time it was their turn, they had largely settled down.

With each round comprising twenty people, Ling Chengyan had the others go first.

After ten rounds per person, Ling Chengyan exhaled easily, as they performed at about eighty percent of normal levels, which was quite good.

When it was Ling Chengyan’s turn, she was surrounded mainly by new arrivals.

Known for her quick shots, Ling Chengyan finished before others had fired two or three rounds, adding pressure to those waiting around her.

When the results came out, with her scoring a perfect ten rings, everyone was stunned.

The face of Guard Company Commander Shao Guoqing, who had advanced first during cross-country, darkened like a pot’s bottom.

Then, when the Guard Company members competed, their best score was less than 90 points. Shao Guoqing even misfired one, scoring only 81 rings.

With all three tasks completed, everyone dispersed to rest, while team-leading company commanders and deputies awaited the day’s final selection results.

The Special Service Company had a planned allocation of seventy spots, with ten officers and sixty soldiers, divided into three platoons.

With more than 280 applicants, selecting sixty people meant nearly a one-in-five acceptance rate.

Ling Chengyan sat quietly in the corner of the meeting room, sipped her water bottle. Reconnaissance Company Deputy Commander Zhou Lixin approached and whispered, offering a piece of compressed biscuit, “Eat a little something first.”

Unreservedly, Ling Chengyan accepted, nibbling a small bite and eating slowly.

Zhou Lixin watched Ling Chengyan, refined and savoring, and softly chuckled, shaking his head.

Off the field, when she was quiet, she looked graceful, even more so than a reputable family’s daughter, but once on the field, her aura unfolded, truly fitting her nickname “Mother Tiger!”

Simply unlike the same person.

“How is it? How many do you think will make it?” Zhou Lixin quietly asked.

Ling Chengyan shook her head, “Let’s see the results. Our company hasn’t stood out.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep