Chapter 177 : Chapter 177

Chapter 177. What? We’re Just Returning to the Military District, and the Military District Commander Is Personally Receiving Us?

“What the hell! A Special Class Merit!”

Tang Long’s tiny eyes widened into circles as he stared at Jiang Yichen in disbelief.

Chu Xingchen also revealed a look of utter astonishment, mixed with a trace of envy. “That’s the highest honor a soldier can receive!”

Jiang Feng, meanwhile, felt rather dejected. He lowered his head slightly and clenched his fists.

He could not understand why he was inferior to Jiang Yichen. He had never worked any less hard than Jiang Yichen had!

In just one short month, Jiang Yichen had obtained the honor every soldier dreamed of. What was left for him to compete with?!

Jiang Feng shook his head helplessly. From beginning to end, he had lost completely.

“Wow! Brother Yichen, you’ve received the highest honor in the military. That’s absolutely amazing.”

Su Linyu cupped her cheeks with both hands and gazed at Jiang Yichen with eyes full of admiration.

There was no false pretense in those eyes, only complete sincerity.

The corners of Jiang Yichen’s lips lifted slightly. The highest honor in the military?

That felt pretty good.

In his previous life, his military district internship had been dull and monotonous, and he had always envied those who were praised and awarded honors.

Now it was finally his turn. It was a strange and wonderful feeling, one he had never experienced in his previous life.

Honor and praise were also indispensable seasonings in the enjoyment of life.

“Little brat, I got one too. And our leader’s honor seems to be even higher than your minister’s.”

At the side, Tang Long shook his head smugly as he flaunted this in front of Lingling.

Lingling puffed out her cheeks, snorted, turned her head away, and stamped her foot hard.

Tang Long instantly felt much better and broke into a broad grin.

“Boss, awesome.”

Sleep God, his eyes only half-open, gave Jiang Yichen a thumbs-up.

Jiang Yichen nodded. “You did well too.”

“That really is enviable,” Mei Xue’er’s affected, cutesy voice suddenly rang out. “Still, it’s only what you deserve.”

Jiang Yichen was speechless. “Will it kill you to speak normally?”

“Mind your own business.” Mei Xue’er lifted her chin, revealing her thick beard, and swayed her bucket-like waist as she said, “See you next time. Don’t get too infatuated with me.”

She waved at Jiang Yichen and the others, then looked toward Mo Yan. “Little Yan.”

The latter gave a slight nod, gathered himself for a moment, and then declared, “Back to headquarters!”

Half a minute passed.

Six black dots flew overhead, and nothing happened.

Mo Yan gave an awkward smile, immediately bowed devoutly three times, and began repeating himself. “Back to headquarters, back to headquarters, back to headquarters...”

“...” The corners of Mei Xue’er’s mouth twitched. Was it really this hard just to put on a show?

Jiang Yichen could not help but smile at the sight. By the time he and the others said their farewells to Sentry Captain Feng and got into the vehicle bound for the First Military District, Mo Yan was still chanting.

“Bye-bye, little brat. Next time, big brother will beat you up again.” Tang Long waved at Lingling.

Lingling shot him a hateful glare, then turned her head away and ignored him.

Mei Xue’er watched as the military vehicle drove farther and farther away, gradually vanishing from sight, and the corners of her lips curved upward slightly.

“At the Guankou Divine Ruins, Jiang Yichen, we will meet again.”

...

The military vehicle jolted along the road the entire way. Jiang Yichen had originally intended to use Spatial Jump directly, but after seeing the desert at sunrise and its unusual beauty, he abandoned the thought.

The morning light was faint, like pigment spread evenly across xuan paper, slowly flowing along the contours of the dunes and coating the sharp ridges of sand with a gentle radiance.

Leaning against the rail of the vehicle, Jiang Yichen admired the view with great interest.

In his previous life, he had always been rushing about, never pausing to notice the beautiful scenery along the way.

Now that he was moving forward at a slower pace, he realized that beauty was hidden everywhere in life, waiting to be savored little by little.

As he watched the scenery gradually recede behind them, Su Linyu slowly leaned closer beside him. Resting her chin on both hands, she found just the right distance and looked out in the same direction as he did.

Su Linyu tilted her head slightly. On the ground beneath them, her shadow’s head happened to rest against the shoulder of Jiang Yichen’s shadow.

She pressed her red lips together, delighted beyond measure.

By noon, the military vehicle arrived at the main gate of the First Military District.

The moment Jiang Yichen and the other four got out, Xu Lin, with the golden olive branch and three stars on his shoulders, walked over. Behind him followed the upper echelon of the First Military District.

The five of them froze. This display was a little too grand, was it not?

“Xiao Chen, come, come, come. Let everyone get to know you.”

Xu Lin had lost all of his usual sternness. He warmly clasped Jiang Yichen’s right hand and pulled him in front of the crowd.

“This is Jiang Yichen. By his own strength, he stopped the Beast Tide and won the first ‘Special Class Merit’ for our military district. Everyone, applaud!”

The military district commander was smiling from ear to ear as he clapped his hands.

The majors and colonels behind him also began applauding, their faces glowing with pride.

Xu Lin was naturally delighted. If the military district earned a ‘Special Class Merit,’ then East China’s military budget next year was bound to soar.

Jiang Yichen had not only brought honor to himself, but to the military district as well.

As the military district commander, Xu Lin himself felt positively radiant.

When the Five Great Regions held their year-end conference, he was absolutely going to boast in front of North China.

Xu Lin patted Jiang Yichen on the shoulder and said with emotion, “Young and promising indeed. Your award ceremony is at three this afternoon.”

“Xiao Chen, make your preparations. You’ll be giving a speech on stage! Let the soldiers from East China’s ten military districts get a good look at the bearing of a new recruit!”

Huh?

Jiang Yichen was stunned. It was just an award ceremony, and yet Xu Lin had invited all ten military districts?

Su Linyu and the other three also looked shocked. Was this really going to be so high-profile?

The moment those words were spoken, all five of them tensed up involuntarily. It truly was their first time facing such an enormous occasion.

Xu Lin saw through their nervousness at a glance and said with a laugh, “Don’t be nervous. You weren’t nervous when facing a Beast Tide nearly a million strong, so what is there to be nervous about here?”

“Xiao Chen, you’d better prepare a speech and perform well on stage.”

“Su Linyu, that goes for the rest of you too. You should all say a few words on stage.” As he looked at the five of them, satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

A speech?

A troubled expression appeared on Jiang Yichen’s face. He had no idea how to do that.

Just then, the system’s voice rang out.

【Ding! Slacking Choice triggered...】