“What?
Only nineteen?”
“He’s legal!
I can!!
o(////▽////)q”
“Watch your mouth.
Shouldn’t we worry about him being too young—less steady—more likely to get hurt??”
“Heh, here come the ‘experts.’ Do you even know what it takes to qualify for pilot recruitment?”
“Exactly.
I’m with Little Jing—he only looks tired because he didn’t sleep well.”
With real info out, the chat eased.
Even the Chief’s frown smoothed into a smile.
Facing the camera, the former rear admiral explained: “Some viewers may not know, so here’s a quick primer.
“Air Force selection is strict.
“Broadly: pre-screening, re-screening, final selection.
“Only after multiple filters do candidates enter flight school.
Complete the training, and you’re a real pilot.
“And even before pre-screening, metrics must meet standards just to apply.
“In short, if you’re eligible to apply, you’re already exceptional.”
He glanced at Bingbing.
“Do we know how far he made it?
Pre-screen or re-screen?
Did he pass?”
Bingbing blinked, a hint of confusion on her refined features, and rifled her notes…
After a moment, she shook her head.
“The specifics aren’t public.
This is all we have.”
The Chief looked disappointed, but nodded.
He understood.
There were things one didn’t ask about the military.
He was “just a retired old man” now.
Sharing anything at all was already generous.
As it happened, the task force knew far more.
This kid, Jing Yuan— had already cleared pre- and re-screening.
He was about to enter final selection.
Judging from his earlier scores, barring surprises, he was as good as in.
A pilot-cadet in all but name.
Physically and psychologically far above his peers.
Politically excellent, too.
Such talent—hardly lazy.
He’d probably just been pressed for time before entry, hence the lack of prep.
Really, who would expect to be that one in 1.4 billion?
And Jing Yuan’s head had been full of pilot exams…
So the old general thought.
In any case, the nation should be his firmest backer.
Decision made, Old Zhang ordered at once: “Notify the Academy of Sciences.
By any means necessary, attempt to establish contact with the Zone!”
“But, General… that could cost an astronomical sum,” someone frowned.
“And it may not even work…”
“Even then, it’s worth the attempt,” the general said, stern.
“The entire Dragon Nation is tied to this boy now.
Our fortunes are one.
Must I spell it out?
“Set aside that he is a future ace.
“Think only of that irreversible ‘Fate Penalty.’ If there’s any chance to avoid it, we spare no cost.”
He softened, eyes on the young man onscreen.
“At the end of the day, he’s still a kid.
He needs us…”
“Understood.”
Heads nodded, convinced.
At the Academy, scientists began the shot-in-the-dark effort to reach into the Zone.
Hopeless or not, for the nation, they’d go all out.
…
After the Chief’s crash course,
Dragon Nation viewers saw Jing Yuan in a new light.
“Damn it—he’s not just handsome, he’s outstanding?
How are us normies supposed to live!
(rage)”
“I’m a fan now.
This is someone worth stanning!”
“When your idol is still doing that ‘Gini bad-girl’ dance, my Jing is already headed for the skies (hmph).”
“I’m still worried though… How will he handle this environment?”
Meanwhile, in an apartment in the Magic City,
Old Wang skipped chess that day.
He grabbed his son to teach him how to watch the stream on a smartphone…
Compared to national fate, chess could wait.
When he tapped into the stream under his son’s guidance and saw the familiar figure, his eyes bulged.
“Little Jing??”
“Wasn’t the kid off to pilot testing?”
“What’s he doing on the stream?”
At his age, he didn’t register right away.
His son nudged him: “Dad, that’s our Trailblazer.
You know him?”
Old Wang looked at his son, then at the screen…
He swallowed, then said hoarsely, “That’s the Little Jing I told you about!”
“The one who plays a mean game?” the son blurted.
Father and son stared at each other, their faces a picture.
Inside the Zone,
Jing Yuan had no idea of the stir outside.
He only felt something off.
The icefield looked… familiar.
Like he’d seen it somewhere before.
But he couldn’t place it.
Still—he was here now.
He had to explore.
First come, first serve—intel was everything.
And you couldn’t gather intel standing still.
He picked a direction and strolled off.
Little did he know every step tugged at a billion hearts in the stream…
“Uh… shouldn’t he at least pick a bearing?”
“I remember the emergency kit includes a compass!
Use it, please (screaming)!!”
“People might think you’re sightseeing!”
“Too young after all?
(sigh)…”
Seeing the chat panic, Xiao Sa cleared his throat and forced a smile.
“Everyone, don’t worry.
I’m sure Jing Yuan has his reasons…”
And so, hundreds of millions “walked” with him, admiring the snow of the Zone…
About half an hour later, the Chief spoke up first.
“Something’s off.”
Thank you so much for reading until the end.
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