Chapter 19 GO Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Joke Went Too Far

Over two hundred recruits completed their final assessment. Most scored around two or three points, with only a handful reaching above seven.

Of course, there were also a few freakish exceptions — among them, Bai Yuhao. His score was seventeen, even after he generously credited two points to Chen Ning. Although Chen Ning made it into the elite group, his results were only mid-to-lower tier compared to the rest.

Instructor Butcher and the newly certified warriors piled into the transport trucks and headed back to the Azurebird Camp.

From that moment on, Chen Ning and the rest could finally shed the label of rookie. They were now, at long last, true soldiers of the Empire.

The camp granted the recruits two days of rest. Those who entered the elite unit — Chen Ning among them — each received a reward of three gold coins, while the regular soldiers received five silver coins.

In this post-apocalyptic world, gold, silver, and copper coins were the universal currencies across all civilized zones: one gold coin equaled ten silver coins or one hundred copper coins. A single copper coin could buy a loaf of bread in the city zones.

That meant their three gold coins were no small bonus — quite a fortune for someone of Chen Ning’s background.

The Azurebird Base was massive, housing over five thousand people. It was essentially a small town, complete with restaurants, general stores, tailors, and even taverns.

Of course, until recently, such places were strictly off-limits to rookies. Only instructors and veteran soldiers were allowed to indulge.

But now, things are different. They’d passed the assessment and graduated from recruits to official soldiers — especially Chen Ning’s elite unit of fifty, each destined for greatness. The restrictions were lifted; they were free to enjoy the base’s amenities.

Naturally, everyone went wild. Whether elite or regular soldiers, all two hundred new graduates flooded the base’s streets, pockets heavy with reward money, eager to celebrate.

Among the wares in the grocery store and the tavern’s offerings, cigarettes and liquor never fail to hold the greatest allure for the troops and remain the most coveted items.

By nightfall, Bai Yuhao dragged Chen Ning into the tavern, insisting they drink to their success.

Bai Yuhao possesses great strength, and what’s more, he hails from a prestigious and influential household,  was never short of company. He arrived with Chen Ning and three others — two men and a woman, all from the same batch, all elite soldiers.

The two men were twin brothers — Luo Long and Luo Hu — known among the others simply as Big Luo and Little Luo.

The woman, Su Luo, was strikingly pretty, with delicate features and a slim, graceful figure. When she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared, giving her a pure, almost innocent charm — but her eyes often flashed with foxlike cunning. Chen Ning immediately realized she was no naïve beauty; after all, no “innocent girl” could survive boot camp this long.

The Luo brothers were towering brutes — burly as stone towers, loud as thunder. Their personalities were rough, their drinking capacity enormous.

Bai Yuhao might have looked refined, and Su Luo might have looked gentle, but both could hold their liquor far better than Chen Ning.

Chen Ning, however, rarely drank. In this broken world, alcohol was a luxury far beyond a poor man’s reach. After only a few cups of white liquor, his cheeks were blazing red.

And in any drinking party, the one who can’t drink always becomes the target.

Big Luo and Little Luo, though appearing crude, were mischievous devils. Seeing Chen Ning flushed, they pounced, forcing more drinks on him.

Bai Yuhao laughed, stepping in: “Hey now, where’s the fun in just forcing drinks? Let’s make it interesting. How about a game?”

The Luo brothers grinned — they loved that idea.

“What game, Young Master Bai?” Big Luo asked.

Bai Yuhao turned toward Su Luo, smiling. “Miss Su, any suggestions?”

Su Luo giggled. “Let’s play dice. Whoever rolls the lowest drinks. But if someone refuses the drink… they’ll have to be teased instead, similar to truth or dare, but it’s drink or dare. Deal?”

Everyone cheered at that. Su Luo waved over the waiter, asking for a large bowl and three dice.

With a flick of her wrist, the dice clattered inside the bowl — clack, clack, clack! — and came to rest at 5-5-6. Sixteen points.

Chen Ning frowned slightly. Her toss was too smooth — practiced. She’d clearly played plenty before.

Next came Bai Yuhao and the Luo brothers. Every one of them rolled high — all above fourteen.

Chen Ning sighed helplessly. These people clearly weren’t playing fair; they were experts at this.

Then it was his turn. He rolled — clatter. 1-1-2. Four points. Lowest of the bunch.

Su Luo burst out laughing. “Chen Ning loses!”

Big Luo roared, “Bottoms up! One big cup of white liquor!”

Little Luo smirked. “Or… if you don’t want to drink, we’ll think of a little punishment instead.”

Having already downed several cups, Chen Ning really didn’t want another. “Alright then,” he said, half-curious, half-nervous. “What kind of… punishment?”

Bai Yuhao chuckled. “No fixed rules. We make something up — as long as it’s not too much.”

“Fine,” Chen Ning said. “No drinking. I’ll take the forfeit.”

The group huddled up, whispering and snickering, before Su Luo turned back with a sweet smile. “We’ve decided. Your punishment is… you must tell the next person who walks through that door — ‘I like you.’”

Chen Ning froze. “What?! Isn’t that a bit much?”

Before anyone could reply, laughter erupted nearby. A burly man was spinning awkwardly in a skirt, doing a clumsy dance before blushing furiously, tearing off the dress, and throwing it back to a giggling waitress.

Chen Ning blinked. Oh. So he must’ve lost his own drinking game.

Alright — compared to dancing in a skirt, saying “I like you” to a stranger didn’t sound that bad. Even if the next person was a guy, it was all in good fun. Everyone here knew how the tavern worked — no one took things seriously.

Steeling himself, Chen Ning nodded. “Alright. I’ll do it.”

He stood up and positioned himself by the door, face slightly flushed but determined.

Inside, Bai Yuhao, Su Luo, and the Luo brothers watched with wicked anticipation.

Chen Ning peeked outside. A young female soldier was approaching the tavern — his heart leapt with relief. Thank goodness. In a base where men outnumbered women nine to one, that was a blessing. Even if it was just a game, it still would’ve been mortifying to say “I like you” to a man.

Relaxing slightly, he waited for her to step in.

But fate had other plans. The woman walked past the tavern without entering.

Instead, the next figure through the door was a tall, striking woman in a black fitted uniform and tight pencil skirt, long legs wrapped in high boots — a female officer radiating authority.

Chen Ning didn’t even notice the switch.

He took a deep breath, rehearsing the words silently. I like you. I like you. I like you.

And the moment the figure stepped inside, he blurted, loud and clear —

“Hey beautiful — I like you!”

The instant the words left his mouth, Chen Ning felt a chill crawl down his spine.

Because standing before him was not the plain-looking female soldier he expected — but her.

Major Jiang Qing.

The very same instructor who’d once kicked him so hard she broke his rib.

For a heartbeat, Chen Ning stood frozen.

Then, pure horror flooded his face. Oh no… not her. Not her! I’m dead. I’m so dead!

Jiang Qing rarely came to the tavern. Tonight, a friend had invited her. She hadn’t even changed out of her officer’s uniform. But the moment she stepped through the door, a soldier had the gall to shout a confession at her.

At first, she blinked in surprise. Then her expression turned cold — her beautiful face tightening with a sharp, icy smile.

And when she recognized the idiot standing there — the same man who once tried sneaking a peek down her collar — her lips curved into a dangerously amused grin.

“Well, well…” she drawled. “Beautiful, hmm? And you like me, Chen Ning? My, my — you’ve grown bold. Calling your instructor ‘beautiful,’ and confessing, right here in public?”

The tavern fell dead silent. Every soldier turned to stare.

Even Bai Yuhao and Su Luo were stunned — the smirk fading from their faces.

Everyone knew what kind of people the instructors were — Butcher, Hawk, Jiang Qing — ruthless, merciless, terrifying.

Just look at the numbers: a thousand recruits started the training, and only two hundred survived. That said enough.

Most soldiers avoided them like the plague.

And now, here was Chen Ning — the poor fool who’d just flirted with the female devil herself.

Every man in the tavern shared the same thought.

This guy’s done for. The mouse just licked the cat’s nose.

He’s dead.

May your soul rest in peace.