Beyond the Zenith

Sure enough, the Gold Erasers had come to openly poach Han Qingyu.

Regiment Commander Li, Lao Jian, and the others, yet to even show their faces to Han Qingyu, consciously or unconsciously looked away from the second-floor window of the instructor building, glancing at one another instead.

“Don’t bother watching. It’s useless. That’s the Gold Erasers and the strongest recruit in a decade. They’re made for each other. Who are we to object?” the regiment lead advisor muttered with an expression of quiet anguish; every word heartfelt.

It was the simple truth. They all understood it deep down.

Not quite ready to let go, Li Wangqiang lamented, “If this were the old days, all we’d have to do is bring Captain Wang Liuzheng out to stand there, and none of them would have dared.”

“You said it yourself; those were the old days. If it were still the old days, would they have the nerve to poach from the 425th? They’d count themselves lucky if we weren’t poaching from them.” The regiment lead advisor’s resemblance to a spurned lover was genuinely heartbreaking to behold.

Lao Jian sighed. “Fortunes rise and fall.”

“Except this time, fortune was clearly rising on our end,” Regiment Commander Li added with a pained tone.

“You know what? Come to think of it...” The regiment lead advisor paused. “It would’ve been better if he’d tested at B-rank. Even as a B-ranker, this kid would? have been a top-tier fighter.”

Regiment Commander Li nodded. “True. If we’d known earlier, we would’ve kept a lid on him.”

“Keep a lid on him, how? His light was too bright. There’s no way to contain it. Forget it. It’s too late for us to say anything now. I’m done watching.”

“Fine. I’m done too. It just hurts to look.”

The group turned to discuss how to keep He Tangtang instead.

***

Down below, Han Qingyu remained unaware of how deeply he had wounded all these senior officers and instructors of the 425th Regiment.

A man in his mid-to-late twenties, standing by the road with a friendly smile, had just stopped him, Wen Jifei, and the others.

He wore a standard officer’s uniform with a captain’s insignia on the shoulders and a gold insignia on the chest.

A soft gasp came from behind Han Qingyu. “That’s the Gold Erasers!”

Not just Han Qingyu, but also the three accompanying him—Wen Jifei, Liu Shiheng, and He Tangtang—saw the insignia clearly.

Admiration for strong fighters and heroic predecessors was typical of the military. Reverence and aspiration toward the Color Erasers came just as naturally in the Ninth Army.

The three behind Han Qingyu reacted on instinct, snapping to attention and saluting, their enthusiasm tinged with nervousness and excitement. “Good day, sir!”

“Good day, sir!” Han Qingyu quickly saluted as well.

“Nice to meet you all.” The captain smiled, returned the salute, then extended his hand. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Qin Guowen of the Gold Erasers.”

Han Qingyu, not entirely accustomed to shaking hands, stepped forward and shook his hand. “Han Qingyu, 425th Regiment recruit.”

“Han Qingyu, as in the Silver Medal recipient? Or the flying Sharpie killer? Or perhaps the strongest recruit in ten years?” Qin Guowen listed each title with a growing smile. Evidently the type to excel at conversation, he smoothly skipped past the awkward part and asked with concern, “I heard you got injured on a recent mission?”

That gave Han Qingyu an easy entry point. Smiling ruefully, he said, “Yeah, we ran into some trouble. Couldn’t win, so all we could do was run. Ended up banged up pretty badly. Spent more than ten days at a medical station.”

“Couldn’t win? That’s a bit much, coming from you.” Qin Guowen never stopped smiling. “I heard there were ape-men at the scene. More than one, too.”

Han Qingyu nodded.

“That only makes it even more impressive. Our entire platoon has been discussing it the past few days. It’s almost hard to believe that you managed to get all your teammates out alive,” Qin Guowen subtly praised with a grin.

Han Qingyu returned the smile, then said plainly, “I had help.”

That was the reality. Perhaps Han Qingyu could’ve escaped without Shen Yixiu; realistically though, it would’ve been impossible to get Liu Shiheng, He Tangtang, and Wen Jifei out safely as well.

“I see.” Qin Guowen nodded.

The Gold Erasers had already reached this conclusion. Although none of them had been at the scene, they were all seasoned veterans with rich combat experience and formidable skill. A simple analysis of the available information was enough to deduce that parts of the story had been left out.

Pleased with Han Qingyu’s candor and lack of pretense, Qin Guowen tactfully didn’t push further and asked bluntly, “How about it? Interested in joining us as brothers?”

Just like that, an invitation from the Gold Erasers had arrived, casual and direct.

“Little Qing...”

Someone behind him prompted, though unnecessarily. Then silence.

They had all anticipated this. Han Qingyu was almost certainly going to receive an invitation from a Color Eraser platoon. Still, Wen Jifei, Liu Shiheng, and He Tangtang still couldn’t help the involuntary rush of excitement when the invitation actually came.

Every Color Eraser platoon was destined to be remembered and celebrated.

If Han Qingyu said yes, his name would be added to the legendary roster and the related stories.

Of course, they would have preferred to be in the same platoon, but this was the Gold Erasers. Who could turn that down?

He should go. That was what they were thinking.

So they stayed silent.

The Gold Erasers would undoubtedly want Shen Yixiu too.

At that moment, they heard the sound of military boots on concrete.

“Han Qingyu!” It was one of Qi Shantong’s men.

Han Qingyu turned and snapped to attention. “Here.”

“Head Instructor Qi orders you to report to his office immediately for a mission debrief.”

“Yes, sir.” Han Qingyu looked at Qin Guowen. “Sorry about this, Captain Qin.”

“No worries, go ahead.” Qin Guowen smiled, glanced at Qi Shantong’s subordinate, then turned back. “One thing, though. Let’s set something up. Do you have time tomorrow morning? How about a round in the combat arena?”

“Sure.” Han Qingyu nodded.

“Then it’s settled.” Qin Guowen reached into his pocket, pulled out a blue crystal energy core, and tossed it to Han Qingyu with a smile.

Han Qingyu caught it. It was full.

“Now, this isn’t candy to tempt a kid. It’s not to show off how rich we Gold Erasers are or anything.”

Despite Qin Guowen’s words, his grin seemed to ask, “Do you like it? We Gold Erasers really are that rich.”

“It’s for you to use in the combat arena tomorrow,” the man said with a wave. “See you tomorrow.”

***

“Reporting.”

“Enter.”

Han Qingyu pushed open the door and stood before Qi Shantong.

There was another person on the office sofa, a first lieutenant.

“Let me introduce you. This is Liang Ge, of the White Erasers.” Qi Shantong gestured.

“Good day, sir.” Han Qingyu saluted as per regulations.

The man returned the salute.

“Well? Have you thought about my suggestion? About joining the White Erasers?” Qi Shantong stared at Han Qingyu, his gaze still carrying that twisted quality, wrapped in an unspoken but no less understood threat.

“I haven’t thought about it,” Han Qingyu said.

“Then think about it now.”

“I’m done thinking. I decline.”

Qi Shantong paused. “You’re not afraid of offending me?”

“I’d be delighted to offend you.”