Rebirth in the Dragon Kingdom: The Strongest Blade

The transfer order arrived in early September, just a few days after Lin Zhe turned twenty.

In the border regiment commander's office, Zhao Tiezhu handed the transfer order to Lin Zhe, his tone complex: "Special Operations Brigade of the Military Region, 'Hunter Blade.' This is the sharpest blade in our Southwest Military Region; the best soldiers are all there."

Lin Zhe received the transfer order, which read in black and white: "Major Lin Zhe, deputy company commander of the reconnaissance company of the 127th Regiment, is to report to the Special Operations Brigade of the Southwest Military Region, effective immediately."

"Commander, I..."

"Stop talking." Zhao Tiezhu waved his hand and took a box out of the drawer. "This is a gift the troupe prepared for you."

Lin Zhe opened it, and inside was a military knife with "127th Regiment Reconnaissance Company" and a line of small characters engraved on the blade: "Eagle Soars Through the Sky".

"This is an old tradition of our regiment. We give a gift to every outstanding officer who is transferred away." Zhao Tiezhu's voice was a little hoarse. "Lin Zhe, although you only stayed in the reconnaissance company for a little over a year, you are the best soldier to have come out of here. No matter how high you fly in the future, don't forget to come back and visit."

Lin Zhe stood at attention and saluted: "Commander, I will always be a soldier of the 127th Regiment!"

The reconnaissance company's farewell was simple yet heartfelt. There was no ceremony; the entire company stood in formation at the camp gate, and Lin Zhe, carrying his pack, shook hands with each of his comrades one by one.

Old Zhou held his hand, his eyes reddening: "Deputy Company Commander, take care from now on!"

Da Liu patted Lin Zhe's shoulder forcefully: "Don't forget about us!"

Xiao Zhao burst into tears: "Deputy Company Commander, I...I still want to learn from you..."

Wang Dashan stood at the front of the line. When Lin Zhe approached, this towering man suddenly stepped forward, hugged Lin Zhe tightly, and whispered in his ear, "Do a good job and bring glory to the reconnaissance company!"

Even after the car had driven far out of the camp, Lin Zhe could still see the group of figures standing at the gate, lingering for a long time.

The special operations brigade was stationed in a valley deep within the military region, with security several times tighter than that of the border defense regiment. Lin Zhe's car was stopped at the entrance and inspected at three checkpoints before being allowed to pass.

The camp wasn't large, but its facilities were state-of-the-art. On the training ground, a dozen soldiers were practicing rock climbing, their movements as swift as monkeys. Lin Zhe got off the vehicle carrying his luggage, immediately attracting a crowd of attention.

He was too young, with the face of a twenty-year-old, and the major's star insignia on his shoulder was dazzling in the sunlight. What was even more striking was the way he carried his luggage—he carried a backpack weighing dozens of kilograms with one hand, as easily as if he were carrying a handbag.

"Lin Zhe?" A familiar voice called out.

Lin Zhe turned his head and saw Qin Feng walking out of the office building, still wearing the same combat uniform, with the same major star insignia on his shoulder as Lin Zhe.

"Captain Qin." Lin Zhe saluted.

Qin Feng returned the greeting, smiling as he looked him up and down: "Good lad, you've gotten even stronger. Come on, let me show you around."

The two walked side by side through the camp, attracting curious glances from the surrounding special forces soldiers. One soldier tentatively asked, "Captain, who is this...?"

"Our new comrade-in-arms, Lin Zhe, Major," Qin Feng introduced simply.

"Major?!" Exclamations rose and fell. There weren't many majors in the special forces; Captain Qin Feng was one, and there were two vice-captains. But they had never seen a twenty-year-old major before.

Qin Feng led Lin Zhe to the center of the training field and clapped his hands: "Assemble!"

More than thirty people quickly lined up. These special forces soldiers were all highly skilled, with sharp eyes and upright postures. They looked at Lin Zhe with curiosity, scrutiny, and undisguised skepticism in their eyes.

"Let me introduce you," Qin Feng said, pointing to Lin Zhe, "Lin Zhe, twenty years old, major. From today onwards, you are a member of our Hunter Blade Special Forces."

Whispers broke out in the ranks.

"Twenty years old? A major?"

"Is it someone with connections?"

"He looks quite energetic..."

Qin Feng glanced at them, and the murmurs immediately ceased. He continued, "Comrade Lin Zhe has been awarded two First-Class Merits in the border defense forces and has single-handedly taken down more than fifty armed men. These are all real achievements."

Upon hearing this, many people's expressions changed. Special forces admired the strong, and they all understood the weight of a first-class merit.

"Lin Zhe, say a few words too." Qin Feng stepped to the side.

Lin Zhe stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the ranks: "My name is Lin Zhe. I used to serve in the reconnaissance company of the 127th Regiment. I'm here in the special forces to learn, but also to fight. I hope you'll all guide me in the future."

He didn't say much, but his tone was calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant.

After the introductions, Qin Feng arranged for Lin Zhe to stay in a four-person dormitory. His three roommates were all captains, all over twenty-five years old. Upon seeing Lin Zhe enter, their expressions were somewhat subtle.

"Major Lin, this is Chen Feng, an assault soldier," a burly man spoke first.

"Li Ming, the sniper." The tall, thin man pushed up his glasses.

"Wang Hao, the demolition expert." The last one, with a scar on his face, grinned.

Lin Zhe put down his luggage and extended his hand, saying, "Lin Zhe, you can just call me by my name from now on. There are no military ranks in the dormitory."

These words softened the expressions of the three men somewhat. Chen Feng helped Lin Zhe make the bed, Li Ming handed him water, and Wang Hao asked curiously, "Lin Zhe, the captain said you took down more than fifty people by yourself, is that true?"

"The battlefield was chaotic; it was all fought by comrades," Lin Zhe said, not giving a definitive answer.

But the more he acted this way, the more the three of them felt that he was no ordinary person—he was capable but didn't flaunt it, which was a rare quality in the special forces.

Training began the next day. The special operations team's training intensity was a level higher than that of the border defense company, and the subjects were more specialized: high-altitude rappelling, underwater infiltration, demolition and bomb disposal, electronic warfare...

On the first day of combat training, Qin Feng specially arranged for Lin Zhe and Chen Feng to spar. Chen Feng is a well-known combat expert in the Hunter Blade team. He is 1.85 meters tall and weighs 90 kilograms. When he stands there, he looks like an iron tower.

"Chen Feng, don't hold back, let me see what Lin Zhe is made of," Qin Feng shouted from the sidelines.

Chen Feng grinned: "Major Lin, excuse me."

Before he finished speaking, he lunged forward, his fist flying towards Lin Zhe's face. The punch was so fast and powerful that an ordinary person would fall instantly if hit by it.

But Lin Zhe moved. Instead of retreating, he advanced, dodging the punch while simultaneously grabbing Chen Feng's wrist with his left hand and lifting him with his right. Chen Feng lost his balance and fell forward. Lin Zhe then delivered a sweeping kick, and Chen Feng crashed to the ground.

The whole process took less than three seconds.

Silence fell over the training field. Chen Feng got up, his face flushed: "Again!"

The second time, Lin Zhe took five seconds to take him down. The third time, three seconds.

After three defeats, Chen Feng was convinced and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Lin Zhe, I'm impressed! Where did you learn your skills?"

"I learned some things from my elders before," Lin Zhe said, pulling him up. "You're very strong, but your power comes out too directly, lacking variation."

In the following shooting training, Lin Zhe once again astonished everyone. In pistol rapid fire, all ten bullets hit the bullseye, two seconds faster than the record. With a sniper rifle, he hit the bullseye with all three shots against a moving target at 1200 meters.

Li Ming, a professional sniper, stared in disbelief: "Lin Zhe, how many years have you practiced your marksmanship?"

"A few years, I guess." Lin Zhe wiped his gun, not mentioning that he had designed firearms in his previous life and was very knowledgeable about ballistics and firearm performance.

In electronic warfare training, Lin Zhe's performance was even more impressive. He not only skillfully operated various electronic devices, but also wrote programs to crack simulation systems. The special forces technicians, watching Lin Zhe's fingers fly across the keyboard, were dumbfounded: "Major Lin, you studied computer science before?"

"I've learned some on my own," Lin Zhe said casually.

After a week, no one in the special forces team questioned Lin Zhe anymore. His strength was undeniable; there was no arguing against it. A twenty-year-old major was an exaggeration, but given his abilities, it seemed perfectly reasonable.

Lin Zhe quickly integrated into the group. He wasn't talkative, but he trained hard and treated people sincerely. He patiently answered anyone's questions and offered help to anyone in need. Gradually, "Major Lin" became "Brother Lin," even though he was the youngest.

A month later, the mission arrived.

In a late-night emergency assembly, Qin Feng stood at the front of the group, his face grave: "Intelligence indicates there is an armed training camp in the border region of a neighboring country, specifically training personnel to infiltrate our country. Orders from above: cross-border elimination, leaving no trace."

A cross-border mission! Lin Zhe's heart skipped a beat. This was real frontline combat, far more dangerous than border defense battles.

Qin Feng began dividing the team into groups: "Group one, Chen Feng will lead the frontal assault. Group two, Li Ming will lead the long-range support. Group three..." He looked at Lin Zhe, "Lin Zhe, you'll be in my group, responsible for infiltrating and eliminating the command center."

"yes!"

"Remember," Qin Feng scanned the room, "this mission requires speed, precision, and ruthlessness. The operation begins at 3:00 AM, and you must be back in territory by 5:00 AM. Set your watches now!"

At 2 a.m., the special forces team secretly crossed the border. The jungle was pitch black, with only a green glow in the night vision goggles. The team members advanced silently, moving as nimbly as cheetahs.

Lin Zhe followed behind Qin Feng. This was his first time participating in a special operations mission, but his year of combat experience had made him exceptionally calm. He observed the terrain, calculated the route, and his mind raced.

The training camp was located in the mountains, with simple wooden huts and tents, and the figures of patrolling people could be vaguely seen. Qin Feng made a gesture, and the team dispersed, each taking their designated positions.

"action!"

The order came through the headset. Lin Zhe dashed out like an arrow, his target the central wooden house—intelligence indicated it was the commander's residence.

Before the two guards could react, Lin Zhe had taken them out with a dagger. He pushed open the wooden door, and inside, a middle-aged man was looking at a map. Hearing the commotion, he looked up, only to find Lin Zhe's gun already pressed against his forehead.

"Don't move," Lin Zhe said in a neighboring language.

The middle-aged man's face turned deathly pale, and he slowly raised his hand. Lin Zhe quickly searched him, removed his weapon, then bound his hands and feet with cable ties and gagged him. The whole process took less than twenty seconds.

"Command center control," Lin Zhe reported through his earpiece.

"Received. Continue clearing the perimeter," Qin Feng replied.

The battle unfolded in silence. The special forces soldiers, like grim reapers, silently eliminated their targets, mostly through close-quarters combat.

But an accident still occurred. A team, while clearing the eastern barracks, triggered the alarm. The piercing siren instantly tore through the night!

"We've been exposed! Launch a full-scale attack!" Qin Feng ordered.

Lin Zhe rushed out of the wooden house and saw that Chen Feng's side was engaged in a fierce battle. More than a dozen armed men poured out of the barracks, suppressing a group of soldiers with their firepower.

To make matters worse, the sound of a car engine came from afar—reinforcements!

"Li Ming, suppress the reinforcements! Everyone else, finish this quickly!" Qin Feng commanded while firing his gun.

Lin Zhe quickly surveyed the battlefield. Chen Feng and his team were pinned down behind a low wall, and two members were already injured. The militants were encircling them, and if they were completely surrounded, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Captain, I'm going to rescue Group A!" Lin Zhe rushed out without waiting for a response.

He didn't move in a straight line, but instead used the terrain to advance in a serpentine pattern. Bullets whizzed past his ears, but he was incredibly fast, reaching the militants' flank in just a few breaths.

At that moment, an armed man was aiming at Chen Feng. Lin Zhe raised his hand and fired a shot, and the man fell to the ground. Then came the second shot, the third shot... In five seconds, five armed men fell.

With the pressure reduced, Chen Feng and his team seized the opportunity to counterattack. Lin Zhe continued to move about, appearing like a ghost in the most unexpected positions of the enemy, and someone fell with every shot he fired.

"Lin Zhe, watch out!" Qin Feng's exclamation suddenly came through the earpiece.

Lin Zhe suddenly ducked, and a bullet grazed his scalp. He rolled over and fired a shot—seventy meters away, a sniper hiding behind a tree was shot in the forehead.

"Beautiful!" Chen Feng shouted from the other end.

Ten minutes later, the battle ended. All thirty-seven militants in the training camp were wiped out, two members of the special forces team sustained minor injuries, and no one was killed.

"Withdraw!" Qin Feng ordered.

The team quickly withdrew. Lin Zhe was responsible for covering the rear, setting up booby traps as he retreated to delay any potential pursuers.

As they evacuated back into the country, the sky was already beginning to lighten. After counting heads and confirming safety, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

On the way back, Chen Feng patted Lin Zhe on the shoulder: "Brother Lin, thanks to you today. If it weren't for your timely support, at least a few of us in our group would have been laid off."

"Of course," Lin Zhe said.

Qin Feng, sitting in the front row, glanced back at Lin Zhe, his eyes full of admiration. His first special operations mission was marked by calmness, decisiveness, high tactical skill, and even saving his comrade... This kid was simply born for special operations.

Back at base, at the mission debriefing meeting, Qin Feng specifically praised Lin Zhe: "Everyone saw Comrade Lin Zhe's performance today. Not only is he highly capable individually, but more importantly, he has a strong sense of teamwork and dares to step up in critical moments."

The team members nodded in agreement. After this battle, Lin Zhe's position in the Hunter Blade Special Forces was completely secured.

At the evening dinner, the special forces team was allowed to drink beer as an exception. Chen Feng brought over his glass: "Brother Lin, this is for you! I feel more at ease working with you on future missions!"

"Yes! Respect, Brother Lin!" The others also raised their glasses.

Lin Zhe raised his glass in response, a warm feeling welling up in his heart as he looked at his comrades-in-arms who had shared life and death with him. In his previous life, he had worked alone in the laboratory; in this life, he finally had brothers he could entrust his back to.

Qin Feng sat to the side, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at Lin Zhe, who was surrounded by the crowd. He knew that the Hunter Blade Special Forces had truly struck gold this time.