Several days later...
With a fierce whoosh, his leg kicked towards her, and Qin Qin bent over to narrowly avoid it before immediately countering with a sharp-fisted strike, which Zhao Han forcefully parried, stepping back several paces.
Their figures clashed across the expansive training ground with the speed of a violent wind.
Their sparring concluded with Qin Qin’s palm wind halting directly in front of Zhao Han’s face, leaving him with an expression of shock that soon turned into acceptance.
Applause and voices of approval echoed from around them.
"My thanks for letting me win," Zhao Han took a step back, cupping his fist towards Qin Qin in respect.
He, a man in his thirties and once a champion Eagle King, had been defeated by an eighteen-year-old girl.
Qin Qin smiled slightly, glancing at Zhao Han’s legs, now as good as before, "Although you’re not quite there yet, for you to fight now, you truly deserve the title of the former Eagle King."
Lu Xue Zhen came up with a towel, offering it to both of them, and then spoke with pride to Zhao Han, "So, do you now admit the might of our Qin Qin? From now on, you guys better not look down on women."
"Of course, from now on we won’t ever look down on women," said five men around Zhao Han’s age, all of whom looked at Qin Qin with admiration. They couldn’t imagine that this young girl could defeat their most admired captain, the formidable Eagle King.
The five men, their eyes brimming with tears, looked at Zhao Han, "Captain, it’s been so long!"
Zhao Han stepped forward and gave each of them a big hug, "Brothers, it’s been too long."
Back when his right leg was incapacitated and he had fallen into despair, abandoning himself and fearing to face the look in his brothers’ eyes, he didn’t dare to contact them. It wasn’t until he volunteered his group of brothers to help Qin Qin that he learned they had also left after his departure, without informing him. Over the years, as he gave up on himself, he never knew their situations; only now did he find out that despite their skills, they too faced disdain and exclusion, even treated unfairly as security guards. Now was their time to shine, and this time, he resolved never to abandon these brothers who had once fought alongside him through life and death.
The five manly figures, having just arrived, wiped away their tears and patted Zhao Han’s shoulder forcefully, "Captain, this time you absolutely cannot leave us behind again."
A surge of guilt swept through Zhao Han, "I’m sorry, everyone. I brought you here this time to make us all successful—I won’t abandon you again."
The five men and Zhao Han gripped each other’s fists tightly, the camaraderie from years of fighting side by side still as strong as ever.
"This is the person I wanted to introduce to you, my future boss, Qin Qin."
Qin Qin stepped forward with a gentle smile, looking at the five sturdy men, the legends of the Hawk squad.
These men had ordinary looks that wouldn’t stand out in a crowd, yet they were the ones who had created the legendary Hawk exploits that not even Jiang Qingtian’s current squad could surpass. They had once lain in wait in the tropical rainforest for ten days and nights to capture nearly a hundred drug traffickers, perfectly annihilating the enemy and capturing a sought-after drug lord—all with just six men.
"My name is Lou Ping, everyone calls me Pingzi. Miss Qin, it’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time," said the tallest among the five, thickly built with a buzz cut and an unremarkable face that belied the fact that he was a sharpshooter who never missed his mark.
"My name is Qi Damao, everyone calls me Big Mao. It’s nice to meet you, Miss Qin," said the slimmest man in the group, with a big white-toothed smile that made him seem approachable. He was extraordinary up close, able to take on Zhao Han in close combat.
"My name is Pan Hu, you can call me Big Hu," said a seemingly burly man.
"My name is Chen Xiao, and this is my younger brother Chen Yong," the last two men, identical twins with innocuous smiles, were the most crafty of the six-man squad.
After everyone had introduced themselves, Qin Qin extended her hand towards the five, "My name is Qin Qin. I look forward to working with all of you. I’m sure Brother Han has already shared my plans with you."
The five nodded; the captain had told them before they came, and without any hesitation, they had followed, trusting their captain and desiring to continue with him.
"Well, since everyone knows, I will tell you clearly right now: I, Qin Qin, will make sure in the future that all of you thrive and rise above others, not to be bullied by anyone—you’ll only be in the position to bully others."