Seeing Qi Dalei and the others descend the mountain.
Xiao Dao immediately walked forward with his two teammates, giving them a thumbs-up and praising them.
"Hahaha, you're all great, truly impressive."
"It seems our year of training wasn't in vain. Even though our overall strength is inferior to the Patrol Division, we still managed to defeat them."
"Indeed, our Dragon Group is the most formidable special department in Jiangnan City."
"..."
Unaware, Xiao Dao and his two teammates praised them effusively.
They hadn't noticed the unnatural expressions on Qi Dalei and the others' faces, as they desperately blinked at them.
Then.
Xiao Dao and his three teammates turned to Zhang Yang and sneered.
"Zhang Yang, weren't you scared earlier? Do you understand the gap between us now?"
"Your clothes are so clean, were you too scared to even make a move just now?"
"Exactly. Look at our Dragon Group members; every single one of them bears the marks of battle."
"..."
This!
Damn it.
The members of the Dragon Group lowered their heads as low as they could.
Their combat uniforms were dirty not because of fighting.
It was because they had hidden, lying on the grass to camouflage themselves, that their uniforms got dirty.
Were Xiao Dao and these two blind!
Didn't they see them constantly signaling him?
How could they have no perception!??
Even Qi Dalei, who had good tolerance, blushed and felt deeply ashamed when praised by Xiao Dao like this.
Qi Dalei coughed several times before finally speaking.
"Xiao Dao, you've misunderstood. Actually, Zhang Yang he..."
"Captain, I understand what you mean. Are you trying to say Zhang Yang also contributed and that I shouldn't exclude him?"
"If that's the case, you don't need to say anything. Today, I must make him realize our difference."
Zhang Yang looked at them with a smile, showing no intention of refuting.
Qi Dalei wished he could dig a hole on the spot and escape this troublesome situation.
"Xiao Dao, shut up and let me finish speaking."
"This team competition has nothing to do with us. Zhang Yang single-handedly dealt with the Patrol Division."
Xiao Dao nodded proudly.
"Yes, yes, yes, of course, I know Zhang Yang was the one who dealt with the Patrol Division this time..."
"What? Captain, what did you just say?"
"You're saying he dealt with them all by himself?"
Mid-sentence, Xiao Dao's eyes widened in disbelief.
Qi Dalei seized the moment of Xiao Dao's shock and repeated.
"We all hid in the shadows. Zhang Yang dealt with all the Patrol Division members alone."
This!
What!?
Impossible!
Xiao Dao and the two Dragon Group members beside him were also astonished.
"Captain, you're not joking, are you?" Xiao Dao's face twitched.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Qi Dalei said, utterly embarrassed.
Xiao Dao quickly turned to the Dragon Group members who couldn't raise their heads, a storm brewing in his heart.
"Everyone, is what the captain said true?" Xiao Dao asked.
"Of course, it's true. Otherwise, why do you think we're keeping our heads down?"
"You too, you should have understood the situation before praising. Isn't it even more awkward now?"
"..."
The Dragon Group members complained speechlessly.
On their way down the mountain, they had finally managed to recover from their shame.
But Xiao Dao's praise had sent them right back.
"My heavens... How is this possible." Xiao Dao's eyes were filled with shock.
When he noticed Zhang Yang looking at him and smiling without a word,
He blushed even more, wishing he could escape immediately.
Xiao Dao felt extremely uncomfortable. He would have preferred Zhang Yang to ridicule him a few times, which would have made him feel better.
But Zhang Yang just kept smiling at him.
This... was simply losing face to the extreme.
At the same time.
Fang Zheng and Huang Rui also walked towards them.
"Haha, well done, Zhang Yang. I knew you could do it, you truly didn't disappoint me." Fang Zheng laughed heartily.
He patted Zhang Yang on the shoulder, as if he had believed in him completely from the start.
This made Huang Rui, who was standing nearby, feel a bit resentful.
When people get old, they can talk nonsense without any pressure.
"Commander Fang, I just did what I should have done." Zhang Yang smiled faintly, showing no arrogance.
Huang Rui, standing beside him, also greeted Zhang Yang proactively.
"Zhang Yang, my name is Huang Rui, the Mayor of Jiangnan City. Here's my business card. What's your phone number?"
"Mayor Huang, hello." Zhang Yang was taken aback, somewhat confused by Huang Rui's sudden desire to befriend him.
However, he still gave the other party his phone number.
"You all did well this time. Prepare yourselves; you can head to the provincial capital in a couple of days," Fang Zheng said to Qi Dalei and the others.
After that.
He looked at Zhang Yang, pondered for a moment, and said.
"As for Zhang Yang... he joined the Dragon Group not long ago. He will take over Qi Qi's captain position and go to the provincial capital next year."
Zhang Yang only knew that there was a competition every year, but he was unclear about what happened afterward.
"What? Commander Fang, you want me to be the Dragon Group captain? That doesn't seem appropriate!"
"Will Captain Qi and the others not return after going to the provincial capital?" Zhang Yang was very surprised.
He didn't want to be the Dragon Group captain; this wasn't the life he desired.
Fang Zheng chuckled and explained.
"Heh heh, after winning this competition, Qi Qi and the others can join the provincial capital's Dragon Group First Team."
"Zhang Yang, I know your heart isn't in the Dragon Group, but I still hope you'll stay."
"Don't worry, A Tian is injured and can't go this year either. He will help you manage the other affairs of the Dragon Group, and you won't have to lead the newly recruited Dragon Group members."
This...
Zhang Yang still didn't quite understand.
Fortunately.
Qi Dalei provided a thorough explanation for Zhang Yang.
It turned out that the reason the Dragon Group Second Team in Jiangnan City was called the Second Team was that each province only had one Dragon Group First Team, and the teams from other cities were considered Second Teams.
The teams that participated in the annual competition and won received generous rewards and the opportunity to report to the provincial capital.
As for the Dragon Group Second Team, suitable members would be recruited again to await next year's competition.
The recruits were generally selected from the military camps.
The Patrol Division was the same; elites were selected from ordinary Patrol Division members to join.
"I see." Zhang Yang suddenly understood and then teased the Dragon Group members.
"So, you can go to the provincial capital thanks to me. You owe me a big favor."
Qi Dalei and the other Dragon Group members could only smile awkwardly.
They felt quite embarrassed, but they had indeed incurred this debt of gratitude.
"Zhang Yang, if you need anything in the future, just call me. We will definitely help," Qi Dalei said, taking the lead in expressing his commitment.
The other Dragon Group members also looked at Zhang Yang gratefully and nodded solemnly.
"Alright, I won't be polite," Zhang Yang said with a smile. He wasn't one to dwell on such things.
With the year's competition concluded, Zhang Yang and the others prepared to leave.
However, at this moment.
Gao Feng suddenly blocked their path.
He exuded a strong sense of oppression, locking onto Zhang Yang and his group.
Qi Dalei and the other Dragon Group members felt extremely stifled.
Zhang Yang, however, only frowned slightly.
Before he could speak, Fang Zheng quickly pulled him behind him.
"What? Are the Patrol Division people sore losers?"
"If you want a fight, I'll gladly take you on anytime!" Fang Zheng said coldly.