Chapter 599: Continue Using, They Will Die!
"Instructor Lin, this time things have gotten a bit out of hand."
「Divine Machine Camp.」
Kong Lin had a worried look on his face. It was clear he thought the battle in Suzhou had frightened even a battle-hardened bigwig from the Military Department like himself.
"How out of hand?" Lin Mu blinked, asking in return.
Kong Lin was startled, then asked with some trepidation, "Are you... really that person from River City?"
"What do you think?" Lin Mu blinked again.
A smile spread across Kong Lin’s face. "I knew it! How could there be two such similar people in the world?"
With that, Kong Lin tossed a document in front of Lin Mu. "This was originally an order from the higher-ups to dismiss you, but someone shot it down."
Lin Mu opened the document with a smile. It was an official directive, filled with Zou Ju’s various negative evaluations of him as the Chief Instructor of the Divine Machine Camp. Of course, it was filled with disparaging remarks, the gist of which was that Lin Mu was unfit for his position and did not deserve to be an instructor for the Divine Machine Camp.
But the request had been rejected.
The reason for the refusal was just a few words: Utter nonsense, pure fabrication!
The signatory was Xiao Xuan.
A smile touched the corners of Lin Mu’s mouth as he looked at the document. Old Xiao is still pretty reliable.
"Although the Commander-in-Chief rejected it, I heard he made a bet with someone else," Kong Lin said, still concerned. "He wagered that if you fail to win the championship in the Grand Competition, his own position in the Military Department will be affected. There are only two months left. We’re completely out of time."
"But we still have two months, don’t we?" Lin Mu replied. "This championship is as good as mine!"
"Instructor Lin... I know you’re strong, a peerless prodigy. You’re highly regarded in the Martial Arts World, but no matter how you look at it, there’s just not enough time," Kong Lin said with a wry smile. "On top of that, Sichuan-Shu has invited Wang Ye of Wudang to be their instructor. With him training them personally, it will be next to impossible for the Divine Machine Camp to win the championship."
Wang Ye was considered a generational talent, a Martial Arts Grandmaster of unfathomable strength.
"Besides, you refused to let the members of the Divine Machine Camp use the Gene Potion. The gap between them and their rivals will only get wider." This was Kong Lin’s biggest worry. The Gene Potion was used by every military unit. This miraculous concoction could stimulate human potential, allowing the body to be developed to its maximum limit. That’s how every member of the Divine Machine Camp was able to outclass regular special forces soldiers.
Lin Mu said, "Don’t worry. If Wang Ye really goes to Sichuan-Shu, he won’t use the Gene Potion either."
"Instructor Lin, why are you so certain?" Kong Lin genuinely didn’t know where Lin Mu got his confidence. Even if his previous training methods had proven effective, could he really train every single person in the Divine Machine Camp by himself?
"You’ll find out in a moment." Lin Mu ordered all members of the Divine Machine Camp to assemble on the training grounds. He was going to address them.
After the battle in Suzhou where Lin Mu had fully demonstrated his strength, not a single member of the Divine Machine Camp questioned him anymore. Even the way they looked at him had changed dramatically, shifting from acceptance to respect, and finally, to fervent adoration. One could say that the hundred-plus members of the Divine Machine Camp now revered Lin Mu as a god.
If anyone dared to speak ill of Instructor Lin, the members of the Divine Machine Camp would undoubtedly swarm them and beat them to a pulp.
"I know you all have many questions," Lin Mu said calmly, looking at the hundred-plus faces before him. "But I want to make one thing clear: if you want to continue training under me, you will obey me!"
Had he said this before, they might not have opposed him, but they wouldn’t have been truly convinced. Now, however, things were different.
"Yes, sir!" everyone roared in unison.
"Good," Lin Mu said. "You will obey my commands without the slightest resistance!"
"If you cannot do that, you may leave now. I will not stop you."
In the past, some might have actually left. But now? What a joke. After seeing what Instructor Lin could do, only a fool would leave.
"No one is leaving, correct?" Lin Mu said, his tone turning serious. "I will give you one last chance. If you leave now, I guarantee you will have a good future ahead of you. But if you stay and train with me, it will not only be difficult—you might very well lose your life."
Lose their lives? That sounded serious. Although they were soldiers and death on the battlefield was to be expected, dying during training would be a senseless waste.
Two men exchanged a hesitant glance. Then, they both stepped forward. They were new recruits to the Divine Machine Camp who had not witnessed Lin Mu’s battle in Suzhou.
Another man hesitated for a moment, but when he saw the looks of contempt the other members were giving his two comrades, a flash of determination crossed his eyes. He gritted his teeth and stood his ground.
"We are soldiers! We are not afraid to die!" he roared. Afraid my ass! If I die, I die!
Hearing him, the other members of the Divine Machine Camp nodded in approval. The kid still had some backbone. As for the two cowards, they would definitely live to regret their decision.
Meanwhile, the two recruits who had stepped forward shook their heads slightly as they watched their former comrade remain. It’s better to avoid training that could be fatal.
"Anyone else?"
After waiting for several minutes and seeing no one else step forward, Lin Mu finally nodded in satisfaction. "One hundred and eight. A good number."
The Divine Machine Camp originally had ninety-nine members. Then, Zhang Ze brought a dozen or so more, all of whom Lin Mu kept. With two having just left and Zhu Tao already dead, that left exactly one hundred and eight people.
"Instructor Lin, you can count on us! We’ll follow your every order!" Monkey declared.
How long has that kid Leng Feng even been following Instructor Lin? Yet he already beat all of us. His skills are terrifying. But Instructor Lin is on another level entirely. He killed two Grandmasters in a rage, and even the Spirit Seer is just his lapdog. He’s an absolute badass! Following him is the right choice!
"Very well," Lin Mu said. "From now on, you will no longer use the Gene Potion. You will train using my methods exclusively."
Lin Mu’s first command, however, caused the expressions of the Divine Machine Camp members to change. No Gene Potion? How were they supposed to train?
"Instructor Lin, is that really a good idea?" Kong Ying asked hesitantly. "After all, there isn’t much time left before the Grand Competition."
"Are you questioning my decision?" Lin Mu glanced at Kong Ying.
Remembering Lin Mu’s display in the recent battle, Kong Ying shuddered and dared not say more, though she remained unconvinced. Without the Gene Potion, I’d like to see how you plan to train us.
The two who had chosen to leave were now secretly pleased with themselves. Good thing we made the right choice. The whole reason they had joined the Divine Machine Camp was for the Gene Potion, a substance that could rapidly enhance their abilities.
"Instructor Lin, could you explain why we are to stop using the Gene Potion?" Kong Lin spoke up. He needed to understand the reasoning behind this decision.
"Because it will harm them," Lin Mu said flatly. "If they continue to use it, they will all die."