【Volume One: Rise of the King of Soldiers】

A generation’s king of soldiers, rising from the border, climbing upward against all odds!

Chapter 1: The Border Outpost Tragedy

At dusk, on the southwestern border of the country.

A head crowned with a grass ring poked out from an inconspicuous corner at the mountaintop, cold eyes searching for something. The face, smeared with camouflage paint, wore an indifferent expression—a coldness toward life and death. Soon, it withdrew. Not long after, an SVD sniper rifle was extended out, the scope pressed to the eye, continuing the observation—like a wolf lurking in the shadows, watching its prey. After a while, the person withdrew again, leaving no further movement.

A chilly wind swept over the semi-deserted peaks, stirring up clouds of yellow sand. Withered grass curled and was carried into the sky. Dark clouds pressed low, the temperature dropped sharply, adding a sense of grimness to the desolate mountains. The first autumn rain was about to fall. A few mountain eagles screeched, full of defiance and wild pride, soaring into the clouds and quickly vanishing from sight.

Along the undulating mountain ridges, on a relatively flat clearing halfway up the slope, a bright red flag fluttered. Next to the flag stood a cluster of low barracks—the garrison of the Ancient Road Outpost on the northwest border of Huaxia. Below the slope was a gorge, the only east-west passage for hundreds of miles. In ancient times, this road was bustling, a golden route for smugglers; in today’s peaceful era, it was deserted, with only this inconspicuous outpost silently guarding the ancient road, preventing illegal crossings.

The Ancient Road Outpost had only a single squad. Except for the sentry on the watchtower in the square, the others were huddled inside, preparing dinner. In this deserted outpost, days passed in utter boredom. Besides cooking, standing guard, patrolling, and entertainment, there was nothing to do but count ants or chase wild rabbits. Soldiers assigned to the border outpost had basically lost all hope and dreams, just waiting to retire and go home.

Squad leader Kevin Wright was a veteran from northern Ji, bold and forthright, righteous and deeply respected by his comrades. If nothing changed, he would retire in half a year. In this desolate wilderness, where even birds were rare, what could he possibly accomplish? Without military merit, promotion was just a fantasy.

“It’s about to rain. Damn it, why can’t it rain gold instead? Henry Wright, you’re the deputy, go out for a bit and take a raincoat. Andrew Clark, that brat, should be back soon. It’s his first time going to the battalion to collect supplies—don’t let him get lost or get carried off by wolves, or we’ll be the laughingstock of the Northwest Army. I can’t afford to lose face like that.” Kevin Wright said as he kneaded dough, looking nothing like a squad leader, let alone the highest-ranking officer at the outpost.

“Alright.” A soldier tending the fire replied casually, tossing down a piece of firewood and standing up. He was over 1.8 meters tall, with a lean face and a sturdy build. His uniform was clean and neatly pressed. Even at this remote border, the blood of a soldier had not cooled.

“Squad leader, don’t you know Andrew Clark? Don’t be fooled by him being a new recruit—when he gets serious, not just wolves, even tigers would steer clear. He’s got real skills. Could it be some legendary family martial arts?” another soldier joked.

“Whatever it is, that’s his business. Everyone has their secrets. I’m warning you, if he doesn’t want to talk, don’t go poking around and making things awkward. There’s plenty of time ahead. If brother Andrew Clark wants to share, he will. Paul Wright, you’ve got half a year left too, right? What are your plans after you leave?” asked squad leader Kevin Wright.

“Go home and farm, I guess. Didn’t learn much else in the army, but I sure got stronger. Farming suits me best.” Paul Wright replied offhandedly, but a trace of bitterness flashed in his eyes. What soldier doesn’t want to make a name for himself? Who’s really willing to go back home in obscurity?

Kevin Wright said nothing more. In the kitchen, everyone fell silent, lost in their own thoughts.

Bang! A crisp gunshot rang out.

“Who fired?” Everyone was startled, dropping what they were doing and looking at squad leader Kevin Wright.

“It’s a Type 95, 5.8mm caliber automatic rifle,” Kevin Wright said, ears pricked. Suddenly, his face changed dramatically. He shouted, “Not good! That’s our standard-issue rifle. Something’s wrong! Everyone, follow my orders—go out the back door, grab your weapons, and defend in place. Do not leave the barracks. Watch out for snipers!” As a veteran of the outpost, Kevin Wright had never seen combat, but he’d heard plenty of stories passed down through the ranks. His instincts told him something was very wrong.

Everyone responded and rushed toward the back of the kitchen, which was connected to the armory. Normally, they kept their weapons close, but it was mealtime, and nothing had happened at the outpost for years, so they’d grown lax and stored their weapons together while cooking. This oversight would cost them their lives.

Before they could get out of the kitchen, a hail of bullets swept in from outside. The heavy curtains and glass windows were no match for the gunfire, shattering instantly. Two grenades followed, exploding with deafening blasts. The soldiers inside fell in pools of blood—none survived.

From the moment they heard the gunshot to the time they were ambushed and killed, only two seconds had passed. The soldiers who had just been chatting and laughing were now corpses, eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace.