Chapter 25 GO Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Jian Qing, Fiercely Protective

Shi Yu had never liked Chen Ning to begin with—mostly because of Jian Qing.

Normally, though, there wasn’t much he could do about it. Chen Ning was part of the Elite Squad, while Shi Yu served as an instructor for the Regulars. Their duties didn’t overlap, and Chen Ning wasn’t under his command.

But this time was different.

Chen Ning had actually gotten into a brawl with one of Shi Yu’s trainees in the cafeteria—and when Shi Yu rushed over to break it up, Chen Ning didn’t give him the slightest bit of respect.

Right in front of him, Chen Ning smashed his student Huang Haifu’s left leg.

Shi Yu was completely enraged.

A mere soldier from the Elite Squad dared to challenge the authority of an instructor—his authority!

If he didn’t put Chen Ning in his place today, how would he command respect or lead his troops at the Azurebird Base in the future?

Fury turned murderous. Shi Yu snapped an order to the guards behind him—

“Seize Chen Ning! Give him thirty lashes with the punishment whip!”

Several guards rushed forward like a pack of wolves, ready to tie Chen Ning up.

But Chen Ning’s face remained expressionless as he said,

“No need. I’ll go with you and take the punishment myself.”

The guards exchanged uncertain glances. Then, surprisingly, they obeyed— they didn’t bind him, only escorted him out under guard.

_______________________________________________________

At the edge of the training grounds stood a stone statue of an Imperial general, towering over two meters tall.

It was there, beneath that cold monument, that all soldiers who broke the rules were whipped to atone for their offenses.

Under the watchful eyes of Shi Yu, Xiao Zihao, and a crowd of soldiers gathered to spectate,

Chen Ning calmly took off his military jacket, his face devoid of emotion.

Beneath the uniform was a body of solid muscle— and crisscrossing it, a lattice of half-healed whip scars, old wounds layered atop new.

Narrowing his eyes, Chen Ning raised his arms and placed his palms against the cold stone of the statue, turning his back toward the execution guards and Shi Yu’s group.

“Do it,” Shi Yu ordered coldly.

CRACK!

The whip screamed through the air. Flesh split. Blood welled.

But there was no cry.

Chen Ning stood motionless, jaw clenched, eyes half-lidded.

Each lash that tore open his skin only made him seem colder, like a block of granite refusing to shatter.

Around him, even the most hardened soldiers couldn’t help but flinch.

_______________________________________________________

Meanwhile, Su Luo was sprinting across the base toward the officers’ wing.

She burst into the command office—no Butcher, but there was Major Jian Qing.

“Report!” Su Luo saluted sharply.

After receiving Jian Qing’s permission to enter, Su Luo hurried inside and quickly recounted everything that had happened.

“Major Jian Qing,” she pleaded anxiously, “Instructor Shi Yu has sentenced Chen Ning to thirty lashes! Even the strongest soldier couldn’t survive such punishment—he’ll be whipped to death! Instructor Jian, please—consider how hard he’s trained, how much potential he has. He’ll become an outstanding warrior one day. Please… save him this once!”

When Jian Qing heard that Huang Haifu and his gang had gone looking for trouble with Chen Ning—and that Chen Ning had, right in front of Shi Yu, broken Huang Haifu’s leg and was now being harshly punished for it, she was genuinely surprised.

Her impression of Chen Ning had always been that of a steadfast, composed man.

She hadn’t expected that, when pushed, he could be so fierce—so utterly domineering.

Her brow furrowed. After a moment, she rose.

“Take me there.”

As they walked, she asked, “The ones fighting him—what were their levels?”

“Two at level two, two at level one.”

Jian Qing’s brows arched slightly.

Chen Ning was only level one himself. To take on four at once, two of them were stronger than him? That wasn’t normal.

She thought briefly of the strange, dormant virus in his blood—the zombie virus the medical team had never fully understood.

_______________________________________________________

Back at the training field, the fifteenth lash landed.

Chen Ning’s vision swam. His breath came ragged. But he refused to fall.

Then—just as the sixteenth strike was about to descend—

A clear, icy voice rang out:

“Stop!”

The whip froze midair.

The crowd turned, curious to see who would dare to interrupt the punishment. Two figures strode in—the shorter one Su Luo, the taller cloaked in authority.

Jian Qing.

Her boots hit the ground like drumbeats, her long coat fluttering with each step. Her presence was cold, commanding, undeniably sharp.

Even Shi Yu’s heart skipped.

“Jian Qing?” he said, forcing a smile. “What brings you here?”

Jian Qing’s gaze fell on Chen Ning, not far away—his back a mess of torn flesh and blood.

A flash of urgency sparked in her eyes as she strode forward.

“Shi Yu, what do you think you’re doing?” 

Shi Yu noticed that brief flicker of concern and felt jealousy twist in his gut. He forced a calm tone.

“Just disciplining a soldier who’s forgotten his place. He attacked my men and defied orders. I’m teaching him respect.”

“He’s learned enough,” Jiang Qing cut in, voice like glass. “Thirty lashes will kill him. It wasn’t easy to train a soldier. Punishment ends here.”

Under normal circumstances—or if it were anyone else—Shi Yu would’ve gladly given Jian Qing face, eager to please her. But he’d long suspected that Jian Qing harbored a certain fondness for Chen Ning, a warmth she never showed toward other men.

So every time she stepped in to defend Chen Ning, jealousy burned in him all the more.

Now, his expression was icy as he replied, “No. I don’t think the punishment is enough. The full thirty lashes must be carried out.”

Jian Qing, proud and headstrong by nature, hadn’t expected Shi Yu to defy her so bluntly. Her beautiful face frosted over, her tone turning cold and commanding:

“As far as I know, the fight between Chen Ning and Huang Haifu started because Huang Haifu and his men provoked him first— they tried to snatch Chen Ning’s weapon, Dragon Fang. Chen Ning was acting in self-defense. 

If punishment is to be given, shouldn’t Huang Haifu and the others face it as well?

And Instructor Shi, since those troublemakers are your trainees, shouldn’t you bear some responsibility for their disgraceful conduct?”

Shi Yu hadn’t expected Jian Qing to go so far—for the sake of that insignificant Chen Ning, she was actually willing to turn against him, even escalating the matter to accuse him of poor discipline as an instructor.

He was just about to speak when Jian Qing continued, her tone calm but edged with authority:

“So here’s my proposal—Huang Haifu and the other trainees from your Regular Squad, take them back and discipline them yourself.

As for Chen Ning from my Elite Squad— I’ll take him back and handle his punishment personally. How about that?”

For the first time Shi Yu felt a private flicker of anger toward Jian Qing. He opened his mouth slowly and said, “And what if I insist on punishing Chen Ning?”

Jian Qing didn’t flinch. “You and I are both majors. Since we disagree, I’ll have to call Lieutenant Colonel Butcher and let him decide how to handle this.”

That name hit like a slap.

The Butcher was the highest authority in the camp—and he had worked with Jian Qing far longer than with Shi Yu. What’s more, Chen Ning was the Butcher’s own disciple.

If Jian Qing really called him over, chances were high the lieutenant colonel would side with her. And given the Butcher’s notorious temper and brutal ways, Shi Yu didn’t dare risk provoking him.

He quickly seized the chance to back down gracefully, softening his tone and forcing a smile.

“Jian Qing, there’s no need to bother Lieutenant Colonel Butcher over something this small,” he said.

“Let’s do as you suggested—you take your Elite people back, I’ll take my Ordinary Squad men. Each of us will discipline our own trainees.”

“Good.”

Jiang Qing turned toward Chen Ning.

She looked at him—at the blood, the scars, the unbroken spine—and asked quietly, “Can you walk?”

Chen Ning straightened, eyes steady. “Reporting to the instructor, yes.”

“Then come with me.”

He followed her without a word, back straight as a blade.

Shi Yu’s eyes followed them, dark and venomous.

Xiao Zihao, among the crowd, watched too—his expression carved from ice.

_______________________________________________________

Chen Ning followed Jian Qing out of the training grounds.

He thought she would take him to the infirmary to see old Doctor Fang for treatment—

but to his surprise, she led him instead to the instructors’ dormitory building, stopping finally at the door to her own quarters.

Jian Qing took out her key, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.

Only then did she realize Chen Ning hadn’t followed.

Turning back, she saw him standing awkwardly at the doorway, uncertain what to do.

A flicker of exasperated amusement crossed her heart—where was that fearless defiance he’d shown when confronting an instructor just moments ago?

She shot him a sidelong glare, her tone crisp and feminine all at once.

“Well? Get in. What are you standing there for, looking all dumbfounded?”

Chen Ning couldn’t help staring—that casual, almost effortless roll of Jian Qing’s eyes carried a hint of feminine charm that left him momentarily spellbound.