Chapter 11: Major Jian Qing
When Chen Ning returned to the dormitory, countless eyes turned toward him. Their gazes were varied—some curious, others admiring—but most carried a glimmer of respect and relief for him.
They had only been at the Azurebird Training Camp for a little over ten days, but the camp’s terrifying elimination rate was already well known. Of the original one thousand recruits, fewer than five hundred remained.
No one knew whether they themselves would survive the next round of brutal training or end up being cast out.
Chen Ning’s miraculous self-redemption tonight had, without question, set a new precedent. From now on, whenever someone hits their breaking point, they might try following his example—entering that dreaded isolation chamber to push past their limits, hoping to pull off another miracle.
Chen Ning first went to the public bath to wash up and inspect his injuries. He discovered claw marks across his left shoulder and back, but the worst damage was to his chest—where the gray bear’s massive swipe had fractured two of his ribs.
Under normal circumstances, such injuries should be treated immediately by the camp’s medics.
But Chen Ning didn’t dare.
He was afraid that if Major Jian Qing found out he’d broken two ribs, she would declare him too badly injured to continue training—and have him eliminated from the camp altogether.
So, instead, he crudely wrapped his chest with a few layers of bandage, tightened it for support, and left the bathhouse.
Just as he reached the dormitory entrance, a soldier in a black high-collared Azurebird uniform stood waiting expressionlessly for him.
It was Jin Ming. He tossed Chen Ning a vial of Angel’s Kiss serum and said coldly, in an official, detached tone, “This is the recovery serum you requested. Major Jian Qing also ordered that once you’ve taken it, you are to report to her office immediately.”
Chen Ning had expected to receive Angel’s Kiss—after all, the major hadn’t failed nor punished him in the dark room—but her wanting to see him personally caught him off guard.
Why would that beautiful and dangerous woman want to see him?
Could it be… she’d discovered that he’d drunk bear blood? Or worse—that he carried a dormant zombie virus in his body?
A chill crept up his spine. But there was no way out now. “Understood. I’ll go right after this,” he said.
After Jin Ming left, Chen Ning quickly drank the Angel’s Kiss. He’d learned his lesson—never again would he leave a serum unattended long enough for Liu Xi and his cronies to sabotage it.
Moments ago he’d consumed bear blood; now he was taking the recovery serum. The combined effects surged through his body. His head swam as if tipsy on strong wine, his scalp tingled, and a current of raw energy raced through his spine, from skull to tailbone. The pain dulled. His exhaustion evaporated.
Feeling almost reborn, Chen Ning left the dormitory and made his way to Jian Qing’s office.
He knocked firmly on the door. “Reporting in—Recruit No. 999, Chen Ning.”
“Come in.”
Her voice was crisp, clear, and oddly musical.
Chen Ning opened the door—and there she was. Major Jian Qing, seated behind her desk, one long leg crossed elegantly over the other.
His ex-wife, Zhang Qian, was a stunning woman in her own right. Yet every time Chen Ning faced Jian Qing, he found himself caught off guard by her allure all over again.
If he compared their features one by one—Zhang Qian’s face shape, her eyes, her nose, her lips—each was arguably prettier than Jian Qing’s. But somehow, when all of Jian Qing’s features came together—the delicate oval face, the narrow phoenix eyes, the faintly smiling red lips—everything fused into a flawless harmony of charm and poise.
And beyond her looks, there was that commanding aura—the cold, magnetic power of a woman from the Phoenix Legion—something no vain socialite could ever match.
Despite her sensual beauty, Chen Ning noticed that almost every male instructor in the camp kept a respectful distance from her, as if she were a venomous scorpion—beautiful, but deadly.
“Major, Recruit Chen Ning reporting,” he said quickly, lowering his gaze after a brief glance at her face. He stood stiffly, like a schoolboy before a teacher.
Jian Qing had seen the state he was in back in the dark room. His injuries had been severe. Yet here he was, less than half an hour later, looking vigorous and alive again. Was it the Angel’s Kiss that worked so fast—or the effect of that bear blood she suspected him of drinking?
Jian Qing wasn’t just an instructor; she was also a medical researcher, and her specialty—her obsession—was the study of the zombie virus.
Chen Ning carried the virus, yet it remained dormant within him. A rarity. That alone made him a fascinating subject. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have paid this much personal attention to a mere recruit.
She looked him over and asked, “How are your injuries?”
“Reporting, Major—nothing serious.”
Her eyes glinted with amusement. “Come a little closer. I’ll check for myself.”
Her voice was soft and lilting, but there was an undertone of quiet authority that brooked no refusal.
Caught off guard, Chen Ning hesitated for half a second, then stepped forward obediently, spine straight, eyes fixed ahead. He didn’t dare let his gaze wander—he knew all too well that this beautiful officer was not someone to trifle with.
To her surprise, his restraint annoyed her slightly. If an experienced soldier behaved so stiffly around her, that was normal—they already knew her methods. But Chen Ning was new. He didn’t even know her reputation. So why was he acting like a monk before a temptress?
A flicker of displeasure passed through her eyes.
If Chen Ning could have read her thoughts, he might have cried out in frustration. What was he supposed to do—stare at her and be accused of lechery, or avoid her gaze and still offend her?
Jian Qing studied his calm, unreadable face for a moment, then rose from her chair and began examining his injuries herself.
He stood like a statue while she pressed and prodded along his shoulder—the same shoulder torn open by the bear’s claws. Her pale fingers kneaded the bone, testing for fractures.
She deliberately applied more pressure than necessary, but Chen Ning didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink.
That surprised her. With an injury like this, most people would be screaming from the pain. Yet this man was as steady as a mountain, face composed like the legendary Guan Yu enduring surgery without so much as a grimace.
——
TL Note: legendary Guan Yu enduring surgery without so much as a grimace.
The legendary warrior Guan Yu was once shot in the arm with a poisoned arrow. When the doctor had to cut his arm open and scrape the poison off the bone—an incredibly painful surgery—Guan Yu just drank wine and played a board game. He didn’t even flinch or make a sound during the whole operation, which is why he’s famous for being unbelievably tough.
——
Jian Qing mused inwardly, “He’s got nerves of steel.”
She remained unaware, however, that the combined effects of the bear’s blood Chen Ning had consumed and the Angel’s Kiss had plunged his body into a unique state of dual restoration. His nerves were dulled, shielding him from the worst of the agony.
Jian Qing continued her examination, moving to his back and chest. Her hands brushed across him, firm but professional. Still, the scent of her perfume, faint and warm, teased his senses until his composure wavered.
Finally, he couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at her. His eyes darted down—just once—catching a glimpse of the pale, breathtaking curve beneath her taut uniform shirt. His heart skipped a beat.
Unfortunately for him, Jian Qing noticed.
She noticed everything.
She didn’t miss the way his eyes flickered over her, and a cool smirk played on her lips. So much for thinking Chen Ning was the earnest, humble type. In the end, he’d shown his fox’s tail—just another lecherous man, no better than the rest.
When she finished, she wiped her hands with a tissue and said evenly, “The wounds on your shoulder and back aren’t too bad. But your left chest has three broken ribs. You’ll need to see the camp medic for treatment.”
Chen Ning blinked. “Report, Major, I think you might’ve miscounted. It’s only two ribs, not three.”
Her lips quirked. “No. It’s three.”
Chen Ning was taken aback. But when his eyes met her icy, scornful gaze, he instantly realized his mistake.
But the instant this realization dawned, Jian Qing was already in motion. With lightning speed, she launched a sharp, powerful kick with her right leg—clad in its military boot—landing squarely in Chen Ning’s left armpit.
He tried to dodge on instinct, but her movement was too fast. The blow sent him flying sideways, and he hit the ground with a heavy, dull thud. Pain exploded through his ribs.
Now it was three.
Jian Qing strode forward, her expression cold and unreadable. Looking down at him, she asked, “Do you know why your third rib just broke?”
He was about to claim he didn’t know, but the answer struck him instantly—this was the price for that one brief, stolen glance. Her retribution was swift and severe.
Face twisted in pain, he croaked, “Yes, Major.”
Satisfied, Jian Qing’s icy demeanor melted into a faint smile. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and said calmly, “Good. Now, go to the medical bay. Have Old Doctor Fang treat your three broken ribs.”
“Yes, Major.”
Chen Ning didn’t know whether to thank her or curse her. All he knew was that the farther he got from this terrifying woman, the better.
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