165. Casual Naming

While Zhang Xuan was caught up in his internal debate between *The Deer and the Cauldron* and the venerable Jiunan Master, Nie Zheng and the others watched his ever-shifting expressions with uncertainty. They had no idea what to do or why Zhang Xuan’s demeanor changed so drastically at the mention of Ako’s name. As for any prior acquaintance between the two, Nie Zheng was certain it was impossible. In the end, the group simply stood there, silently observing Zhang Xuan, hesitant to speak or ask questions, waiting for him to break the silence.

When Zhang Xuan finally returned from his reverie in his martial arts world, he glanced at the six who were watching him and felt his cheeks flush slightly. What a clumsy start on the very first day—how could he possibly lead them from now on? “Sorry, I was a bit lost just now. Big Dog and Dahua, if you don’t mind, why don’t you take my surname for now? When you eventually learn your real names, you can change back. Calling you Big Dog and Dahua all the time just feels a bit odd during training.”

Nie Zheng and Shi Qian looked at Zhang Xuan in disbelief. They never imagined he would do something like this—just assign surnames so casually. Did he not understand how important a surname was to a person? After a moment’s thought, Big Dog and Dahua had no objections and spoke in unison, “That’s fine!”

“Alright then, Big Dog, you’ll be Zhang Sheng for now, and Dahua, you’ll be Zhang Hua. As for Ako, you can just keep your name. Good, that’s settled happily!” Zhang Xuan clapped his hands, quite satisfied with the names he had chosen. Nie Zheng and Shi Qian exchanged a glance, thinking how haphazard this naming was. No wonder Yang Zaixing said not to judge Zhang Xuan by ordinary standards—his mind often short-circuited, generating sudden, wild ideas. After spending time with him, one simply got used to it.

“Everyone, let’s go have dinner first. After we eat, come back here. Since the other three squads are adding extra training sessions, to avoid being at the bottom during assessments, we should do the same! This will help you get used to it in advance. Dismissed! And remember, eat enthusiastically—if you don’t, your brain’s got a problem! Run!” Saying this, Zhang Xuan turned and dashed off, leaving Nie Zheng and the others staring after him in confusion. But when they recalled his last words, they too broke into a run.

Halfway through his sprint, Zhang Xuan was pulled aside by Yang Zaixing and Yuwen Chengdu, with Yang Hu also present. “What are you doing? I’m rushing to dinner—if you’re late, there won’t be any food left. You can ask around!” Yang Zaixing said.

“Xiao Xuan, tell us what training subjects we’ll be covering. We can’t just send them off to train blindly,” Yang Zaixing held Zhang Xuan’s hand and asked.

“Brother, I know we’re close, but I don’t like being handled like this. My orientation is normal, so please don’t grab or tug me in public. Look at all the people passing by—it’s not a good impression,” Zhang Xuan replied with a sigh.

“Xiao Xuan, what are you talking about? I don’t like that either. Bah! Stop dragging the topic,” Yang Zaixing let go and wiped his hands on Zhang Xuan’s shirt.

Zhang Xuan sighed deeply, comforting himself that these were his brothers and he could endure a moment of discomfort. “Alright, speaking seriously—training subjects. What I used to make you practice before, just teach them the same: standing, running, basic kung fu fundamentals. When it rains, they can carve characters indoors or read books. For now, that’s all. Simple, right? We’re just laying the foundation. Once that’s solid, we’ll move on. Oh, and it’s best if your team sleeps in their uniforms tonight. Why? Well, that’s a secret for now.”

Yang Zaixing, Yuwen Chengdu, and Yang Hu all thought to themselves, “Simple? Standing—how long? Running—how far? To where? And basic kung fu fundamentals—those are all questions! Being a squad leader doesn’t look easy!” But they kept these thoughts to themselves, knowing they would still carry out the orders. None of them wanted to lose face in front of Zhang Xuan. In the end, the three gave Zhang Xuan an imaginary middle finger for his “secret,” which he promptly ignored, moving on toward dinner.

Meanwhile, Elder Tong and Yang Bo were discussing what they had just witnessed. “Yang, what do you think about Xiao Xuan’s idea of training these children to the standards of an outstanding soldier?”

“I’m honestly skeptical. Has Zhang Xuan ever truly seen a soldier, let alone an outstanding one? Without knowing him, one might think he’s just playing pretend. But somehow, I feel that under his training, these twenty-four kids could really become sharp blades. I don’t know why I have this feeling, but I’m never surprised by anything Zhang Xuan does.” Yang Bo watched Zhang Xuan surrounded by Yang Zaixing’s group, feeling an inexplicable confidence in him. If Zhang Xuan knew what Yang Bo was thinking, he’d probably press a hand to his forehead and say seriously, “Believe me? You troubled soul lost in the mundane world, trust Brother Xuan, and you will have eternal life—fully revived after death. You deserve it!”

Elder Tong nodded in agreement, looking at the same scene. “Yes, whatever happens to Xiao Xuan, I won’t be surprised. Let’s see what he can really make of these children. Honestly, I’m quite looking forward to it!”