Not enough Japanese devils to kill? 1.4 billion people volunteer for the Battle of Shanghai.

"That Yao Shoude is really doing a great job."

Bian Yun nodded.

"Yes."

"This grenade is more effective than any mobilization effort."

Wang Kangmei smiled:

"He wasn't making things difficult for these soldiers."

He paused, then pointed to the figures climbing:

"He was teaching them."

"Teach them—"

"On the battlefield, there is no time to prepare."

"There is no time for discussion."

"There was no warm-up time."

"only--"

"To live, or to die."

Bian Yun watched the figures climbing.

Watching those "dead" soldiers who had been hit by tagged bullets and slid down the rock face.

Looking at those who are still persevering, still striving, still roaring.

He thought of 1937.

I remembered the thirteen people in the small building.

I thought of Old Zhao and Shizhuzi.

I remembered that line, "Kill—!!!"

"The commander is right," he said softly. "On the battlefield against Japan, there are no signal flares to signal 'start'."

He paused:

"only--"

"The moment the Japanese soldiers suddenly appeared in front of you."

"You react quickly, you're alive."

"Slow reaction, death."

Wang Kangmei looked at Bian Yun.

His eyes were deep and intense.

"So, what do you think is the significance of this selection process?"

Bian Yun remained silent for three seconds.

Then say:

"It's not about choosing who can fight better."

"Who should we choose?"

"To be able to react correctly in any situation."

"They can all survive."

"They can all complete the mission."

Wang Kangmei nodded.

"right."

"This selection process itself is a lesson."

"Teach them—"

"No matter how capable you are, no matter how well prepared you are—"

There will always be unexpected events.

There will always be things you haven't expected.

"There will always be—"

He paused:

"A grenade that flew in from who-knows-where."

Bian Yun looked at the rock wall.

Look at those elite soldiers who are still fighting.

Look at those who have "fallen in battle" but are still sitting in the same place, silently cheering for their comrades.

His eyes were a little hot.

"them……"

He said softly:

"They will all be good soldiers."

Wang Kangmei smiled.

That smile held satisfaction, pride, and a hint of—

Distressed.

"right."

"They will all be good soldiers."

He paused, his voice slightly hoarse:

"But the real test is yet to come."

"In 1937, compared to this—"

"Ten thousand times more cruel."

........................

The mountainside of Sheshan.

"Bang bang bang bang bang!!!"

The gunfire was so intense it sounded like firecrackers going off during Chinese New Year.

The marker bullets hit the rocks, scattering white powder like a strange snowfall.

People kept getting shot and sliding down the rock face, only to be caught by safety ropes below and dangle in mid-air.

But there are also many people who are still striving upwards.

Lei Xiong was at the very front.

His right hand gripped a crevice in the rock tightly, while his left hand groped for the next foothold.

Sweat mixed with marker powder stung his eyes. He blinked hard, his vision blurred for a moment, then cleared again.

Just as he was about to exert force upwards—

A muffled thud came from behind.

Lei Xiong suddenly turned around.

A young soldier was falling from below him.

No, it wasn't a fall.

They pounced on it.

He had been hit in the chest by a marker bullet, and white powder was spreading. According to the rules, he was "dead" and could no longer move.

But he didn't stop.

With his last bit of strength, he lunged towards Lei Xiong.

With one's own body—

It stood between Lei Xiong and the enemy forces above.

"Stone--!!!"

The roar of the thunder bear exploded on the rock wall.

Stone.

His full name is Shi Zhuang.

He is from Linyi, Shandong Province, and is 23 years old this year. He has been in the army for five years.

He was a soldier trained by Lei Xiong.

I've been following Lei Xiong since basic training.

five years.

Stone wasn't much of a talker, but he was incredibly hardworking. While others slacked off, he was cleaning his gun. While others complained, he was practicing extra. While others slept, he was standing guard at Lei Xiong's door.

Lei Xiong had insulted him:

"Are you crazy? What are you doing standing at my door in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

Stone scratched his head and smiled憨厚ly:

"I'm afraid someone might harm you."

Lei Xiong laughed out loud in anger:

"This is a military camp! Who would dare to harm me?!"

Stone still had that same simple and honest expression:

"Anyway, I'll keep watch, so I feel at ease."

Five years.

He stayed for five years.

Now, he is lying on the rock face above the thunder bear.

The marking bullet in his chest had exploded, and white powder stained his entire chest.

According to the rules, he is already a "dead man".

It cannot be moved anymore.

I can't climb anymore.

They are no longer eligible to participate in any subsequent selections.

But his body was still positioned between Lei Xiong and the sniper.

Like a wall.

A wall built with "corpses".

"Stone...you son of a bitch..."

Lei Xiong's voice choked.

Stone looked down at him.

His young face was covered in sweat and face powder, but his eyes were still shining.

"Brother Lei," he said, his voice already very weak, "I...I've been shot."

"I know," Lei Xiong gritted his teeth. "Don't move! Don't move! I'll come down and get you!"

"No need," Stone shook his head.

His body swayed, but he clung tightly to the crevice and did not slip.

"Brother Lei..." His voice grew softer and softer, "I...I don't have any special skills."

"I served in the army for five years, but I never earned any merit or killed any enemy soldiers..."

"I only know one thing..."

He paused, and with his last bit of strength:

"Even if I die, I must die before Brother Lei."

Lei Xiong's eyes turned red.

He wanted to curse, to yell, to say, "What the hell are you talking about?"

But he couldn't open his mouth.

Because what the stone said is true.

For the past five years, in every exercise, every mission, and every time there was danger, Shi Tou always stood in front of him.

It wasn't his arrangement.

It was the stone's own choice.

This honest and kind-hearted Shandong man, from the very first day he followed him, was convinced that—

"My life belongs to Brother Lei."

"Stone..." Lei Xiong's voice trembled, "Listen to me, you still have a chance. Get down first, I'll shield you, I'll carry you up Sheshan on my back."

The stone shook its head.

"Brother Lei, I can't go on."

He looked down at the white patch on his chest.

The marker bullet was positioned right in the heart.

If this were a real battlefield...

He is dead.

"I'm already dead," Stone said, "but my 'corpse' is still usable."

He looked up at Lei Xiong.

There was no fear, no regret in those eyes.

There is only one—

Calm yet burning with unwavering determination.

"I'll use my 'corpse' to block your way."

"I'll take the bullet for you."

"I'll help you—charge forward."

Lei Xiong was stunned.

To stop a bullet?

Using "corpse"?

This……

He opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But the stone had already closed its eyes.

He clung tightly to the crevice in the rock, suspending his entire body above the thunder bear.

Like a shield made of flesh.

Above, the sniper's gun barrel moved again.

Through the scope, the crosshairs were positioned above Lei Xiong's head.

Pull the trigger—

boom!

The marker bullet flew out.

But it didn't hit the thunder bear.

It hit the stone.

It hit the stone squarely on its already "dead" body.

The second marker shell exploded, and white powder bloomed on the back of the rock.

The stone remained completely still.

His hands were still gripping the crevice in the rock.

His body was still firmly blocking Lei Xiong's path.

Lei Xiong's eyes turned red.

He didn't say anything more.

He just gritted his teeth and started climbing.

Use the stone body as cover.

Above, sniper bullets kept coming.

One shot after another.

It hit the stone completely.

Everything was blocked by that "deceased" "corpse".

On the stone's back, the original color of its military uniform was no longer visible due to the whiteness.

But he still didn't move.

It's still blocking the way.

still--

He used his "corpse" to protect his elder brother...