Chapter 6

Zhang Tie almost didn't know how he managed to make it through the afternoon without fainting. He had been beaten up by some guys from the Airplane Brotherhood at noon, which made him lose his appetite for lunch. For the entire afternoon, he could only endure the hunger with an empty stomach. When he was extremely hungry, he could only drink a few gulps of water from the school's water pipes during breaks—this was one of the survival skills he had learned at school. The school's instructor had said that in extreme situations, if there was nothing to eat, and if there was clean water, one could drink a lot of water to alleviate hunger and slow down the decline of physical strength. A person who is both hungry and thirsty can only last for two days at most, while a person who is hungry but has water can last for more than three days. This was the difference.

The only thing that made Zhang Tie feel lucky was that the afternoon class was a collective military drill, which was one of the courses with the least physical exertion in the afternoon. The entire afternoon class involved all the graduating students, after changing into uniformed light armor, carrying a 3-meter-long drill spear and practicing formations on the drill field. They changed formations and practiced array and thrusting techniques according to the instructor's commands. Becoming a first-level spearman and earning a first-level spearman badge was a symbol and the beginning of manhood in this era, and it was also the choice of most students during their military service. The spearman was the most emphasized formation and teamwork among all the military units, the strongest and the weakest at the same time. A formation of first-level spearman could easily withstand attacks from three times their number of non-formation enemies of the same level on the battlefield. A formation of fifth-level heavy-armored spearman, on the other hand, was a significant force on any front-line battlefield. The entire Black Flame City, with its surrounding millions of people, could only form three fifth-level heavy-armored spearman formations, which served as the ultimate military power of the Coal Steel Federation's rule over the city.

Because of his inferior physical condition, which made him somewhat weaker compared to others, Zhang Tie was not particularly fond of the spearman profession. The 3-meter-long, over 10-kilogram training spear felt very heavy and cumbersome to him when he had to wave and thrust it. By the end of the training, each time he thrust the spear, he often doubted whether his speed and strength were enough to hit and kill an enemy. Even the fatso Barry looked more competent with the spear than he did. After thrusting the spear fifty times, Zhang Tie felt his strength gradually waning, while the fatso could thrust it seventy times before his strength started to diminish. Among all the members of the Airplane Brotherhood, he was the weakest with the spear.

Although he did not like the spearman profession, Zhang Tie had to admit that the formation of this profession, which he disliked, gave him a great sense of security. Each time he stood inconspicuously in the middle of the formation, looking at his classmates around him, he felt a strange sense of security. This was a very contradictory feeling. For Zhang Tie, it seemed to be the tragedy of all the unremarkable little people in this era—often, one had to rely on things they disliked to survive.

During the afternoon training, Zhang Tie felt his entire stomach and abdomen like a water-filled bag. Every time he moved, the water inside his body would slosh around, making him feel anxious. Several times, when he thrust the spear, a slight movement would cause the water in his stomach to surge up to his throat, making him feel uncomfortable and almost vomit. His hands always felt weak and powerless. Several times, he felt the instructor's stern gaze on him, but after a few glances, the instructor would look away with a hint of disdain, which made Zhang Tie clench his teeth in frustration but feel helpless.

What attracted the attention of the spear formation instructor was naturally Gris. Among the six spear formations on the training field, Gris's formation was the most eye-catching. As a second-level combatant, Gris immediately stood out from the other rookies. Standing at nearly 1.9 meters tall, he wielded a 30-kilogram standard Black Flame City military precision steel spear, with a triangular red spearman captain's flag on it, making him stand out in the entire formation, looking mighty and invincible. Under the instructor's appreciative gaze, Gris became even more excited, roaring like a madman with each thrust, making the entire training field echo with his shouts.

Zhang Tie felt somewhat disdainful in his heart but had to admit that if he were to face Gris now, he might be stabbed through in just a few thrusts, or even just one. Gris indeed had the right to be proud. Among all the graduating students, only Gris was a second-level combatant; everyone else was just a reserve combatant, not even a first-level combatant. According to the normal progression, most people would only complete their advancement from a reserve combatant to a first-level combatant in the first two years of their military service, around the age of 18. In the eight years of military service, over 95% of ordinary people would retire at the third or fourth level, a few would reach the fifth level, and only professional soldiers and those who relied on their martial skills for a living could reach the sixth level, advancing from a combatant to a warrior, earning respect anywhere.

As soon as the afternoon military drill class ended, Zhang Tie, after hurriedly changing out of his smelly equipment in the equipment room and putting on his shoes, rushed out without even saying goodbye to Barry and the others, leaving the other members of the Airplane Brotherhood looking at each other in confusion.

"What's up with this guy?" Savin, with his brown hair and freckles, scratched his head.

"He seemed to drink a lot of water this afternoon, probably couldn't hold it!" Baghdad replied. As a black person, Baghdad was the strongest physically among the members of the brotherhood, and the afternoon training was the easiest for him. Baghdad also had the highest combat value in the Airplane Brotherhood.

"Ha, poor guy!" Light laughed.

"Poor, I'm the one who's poor!" Even now, Doug was still somewhat resentful, especially thinking about the embarrassing sight of his face covered in vomit seen by many people, which made him feel nervous and hypersensitive all afternoon.

"Alright, those few silver coins, Barry will get them back for you!" Sista winked and made a vulgar gesture that everyone understood, looking at Barry, suddenly becoming very generous, "All members of our brotherhood must lose their virginity before graduation and become real men!"

"Don't worry, your benefits won't be reduced!" Barry patted the somewhat hurt Doug, comforting him. Looking at Zhang Tie's rapidly disappearing back, thinking about his four silver coins, Barry's fat face twitched with pain, then he shook his head, "An interesting guy, his abilities haven't shown yet, but he's ordinary in every aspect. However, he has a good heart and a decent mind, a reliable guy. At least, you don't have to worry about being betrayed when you're with him!" The fat Barry stroked his chin in a mature manner.

Everyone nodded, except for Doug, who was still cursing and looking resentful.

Zhang Tie, almost bursting his bladder, rushed to the toilet and finally felt relieved after urinating. However, his stomach rumbled loudly. After washing his hands at the water pipe, Zhang Tie rushed out of the school gate. With four silver coins and thirty-four copper coins in his pocket, he needed to get some food quickly, or he doubted he could make it home.

Not far from the school was a bakery. Normally, Zhang Tie, who was always broke, could only look at the tempting bread and swallow his saliva as he passed by. Today, feeling the money in his pocket, he finally had the courage to enter the bakery. After spending 10 copper coins on a piece of ordinary rye bread and wolfing it down, Zhang Tie stepped out of the bakery and immediately saw Teacher Daina.

Teacher Daina was as beautiful and charming as ever, walking with Captain Collin and another male teacher, who were being attentive and gentlemanly. At that moment, Zhang Tie's mouth was stuffed with a large piece of bread, distorting his face. Seeing Teacher Daina, he froze. Even Captain Collin didn't look at him, probably feeling embarrassed to acknowledge him at that moment. The three of them walked past Zhang Tie without a glance, and it wasn't until they were far away that Zhang Tie reacted. He quickly turned around and looked at his reflection in the shiny glass window of the bakery—holding half a piece of bread in one hand, his mouth full, looking like he was about to choke, his mouth open, his head tilted, with two wads of paper still in his nose from the nosebleed he had earlier, his eyes squinted, and his face still showing the marks of the beating. He stood there, looking like a fool, with bits of bread and saliva mixed on his lips. This appearance was that of a complete idiot.

Was this the image Teacher Daina saw of him just now? This realization made Zhang Tie feel extremely dejected and disheartened. No wonder Teacher Daina didn't even look at him. With his current foolish appearance... He looked down again at his old, grinning, and extremely vulgar shoes...

The 15-year-old green youth felt utterly hopeless and lifeless.

Looking at Teacher Daina in the distance, Zhang Tie felt the gap between her beautiful figure and himself growing wider. At that moment, he didn't even have the mood to secretly follow her and enjoy the sight of her beautiful figure.

Standing outside the bakery, staring at the passing crowd, he finally finished the remaining bread, savoring it without much taste. Then, he dragged his tired and confused body toward the commercial district in the east of Black Flame City. Since last year, his family had found him a part-time apprenticeship there to learn some survival skills. He had to work for two hours every week before he could go home...

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