Chapter 51 Try Not to Go Out

Zhou Zhihan's physical fitness had already passed, and there was no need to continue testing.

As the Superintendent of West Point, Major General Arthur King still had a lot of work to do today. After drinking a few cups of water and chatting with Zhou Zhihan for a while about Chinese history and cuisine, he, along with Major Jeff Hunt and his aide, continued to observe the physical fitness tests of the graduating class.

Major Jeff Hunt gave Zhou Zhihan a few days off, telling him to prepare well for the coming days. As an observer and technical researcher for West Point, Zhou would participate throughout the entire process of the Marine Corps' selection of top talent among all American military academies.

Just as Zhou Zhihan had turned and walked about a dozen meters away, Major Jeff Hunt's voice came from behind him.

He stopped.

He turned back.

Major Jeff Hunt lowered his voice and said, "Zhihan, the new Japanese cadet, Ryunosuke Sakamoto, was pretty badly hurt the day before yesterday—internal injuries. He was first treated at the academy's infirmary and is now hospitalized. After he is discharged, he will first return to their embassy to recuperate and has asked for half a month off."

"We reported it as an injury sustained during training."

"Also, try not to go out during this period."

"I heard cadets whispering in private that Ryunosuke Sakamoto hates you to the bone and has sworn to take revenge on you."

"It seems the Japanese consulate found out about this yesterday as well. Perhaps because Ryunosuke Sakamoto has been defeated by you time and time again, they might feel it makes them look bad, which is why they haven't spoken out about this incident."

"By now, I estimate that the Japanese throughout New York City know your name. So try not to leave the academy these next few days unless necessary. Staying within West Point is the best way to guarantee your safety."

A warm feeling welled up in Zhou Zhihan's heart. Major Jeff Hunt was truly an upright person and did not hold a grudge against him for talking back in the office the day before yesterday. "Thank you, sir!"

"I also know about the relationship between you and Japan. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to say too much. I can only tell you this much, so take care of yourself from now on!"

After saying this, Major Jeff Hunt patted Zhou Zhihan on the shoulder and left.

This young Chinese cadet was patriotic, loyal, brave, and responsible—a true rarity. Although he was a bit of a slickster, most young men were like that. He had been young himself once, so it was completely normal.

The nature of young people was mostly lively, and being too lively naturally gave people a sense of unreliability.

Yet, real society required precisely this: young people needed to be proactive, bold in innovation, daring to forge ahead, and distinct in character; middle-aged people needed to be steady, grounded, low-profile, and thorough in every consideration; and the elderly possessed wisdom, guiding the youth with life experience to alleviate the confusion of middle age.

Zhou Zhihan gave Major Jeff Hunt a military salute. "Thank you, sir!"

Without looking back, Major Jeff Hunt nodded and walked away.

Thinking of Ryunosuke Sakamoto, a cold sneer appeared at the corner of Zhou Zhihan's mouth. If they were not in the United States and not at West Point, he would have made this bastard, whose hands were stained with Chinese blood, meet his end.

Right now, he wished eagerly that Ryunosuke Sakamoto would come looking for him outside the academy grounds. As long as they left West Point, Zhou Zhihan had countless ways to dispatch Ryunosuke Sakamoto, preventing this beast from doing evil in the future after completing his studies.

His exceptional skills now gave him immense boldness.

Zhou Zhihan was no longer the same Zhou Zhihan of half a month ago. As long as the Japanese dared to come after him, he dared to eliminate them.

Take Yoshiko Kameyama, for instance—anyone whose hands were stained with Chinese blood had to die!

Although the Japanese hated him to the bone, on American soil they still did not dare to openly shoot him in the back. As long as he remained vigilant from now on, he actually hoped the Japanese would summon the courage to confront him openly and squarely.

Returning to his dormitory before ten o'clock, Zhou Zhihan went to the bathroom to take a shower, put on a standard Chinese Sun Yat-sen suit, wore a student cap, and rode the bicycle he had traded back the previous night out through the gates of West Point, heading toward the old cowboy's inn.

Maintaining a steady pace without slowing down from start to finish, he arrived at the old cowboy's inn in less than an hour.

Seeing Zhou Zhihan park his bicycle at the inn's entrance and walk inside, the old cowboy nodded toward a stool.

The two of them did not speak. Although they hadn't known each other long, they appreciated one another. They couldn't quite be called close friends, but they simply clicked well together.

And that was enough!

Zhou Zhihan sat down on the stool, pulled out two cigarettes, and tossed one to the old cowboy.

Lighting the cigarette with the brim of his hat pulled down so low that Zhou Zhihan couldn't clearly see his eyes, the old cowboy said, "Around two o'clock last night, those three Japanese men asked me when you checked in and how many days you were staying."

"It really was the Japanese!" Zhou Zhihan said, a mental image flashing in his mind of the scene where those three Japanese men entered the Chinese owner's small restaurant the night before.

Damn it, they've come at the right time. I hadn't gotten around to looking for them, yet the little devils have come looking for me instead.

"I only told them you were Chinese. As for your name or what you do, I didn't say."

At that time in American inns, identification documents were not required for lodging. An establishment like the old cowboy's inn required even less—as long as you paid the money upon arrival, you got a room.

Zhou Zhihan smiled. "Next time they ask you, tell them Zhou Zhihan from China, an international student at West Point, and that he awaits their esteemed presence anytime!"

The old cowboy remained very calm, showing no surprise that Zhou Zhihan was a West Point exchange student. "While listening to their chatter yesterday, I also heard them mention the West Point flight academy. It seemed one of them was also a student at that military academy."

"Oh!"

Interest instantly sparked in Zhou Zhihan.

The old cowboy propped his legs up on the table. "One of the younger Japanese students said he seemed to have seen you at some air academy or another."

"Randolph Air Academy?"

"Yes, yes, yes, that's the one—Randolph Air Academy. He said he was a student in the same year as you, and that you seemed to have failed some test or something... Later, other guests arrived, so I didn't listen closely!"

Zhou Zhihan felt no embarrassment at all and smiled, certain that the old cowboy was sparing his pride. "Are they still here?"

"They left just as the sky was beginning to grow bright!"

"Oh! I'm going to take a nap, and don't let your girls or anyone else disturb me. I have important matters to attend to this afternoon."

Without a word, the old cowboy took a key off the wall beside him and tossed it to Zhou Zhihan.

Taking the key, Zhou Zhihan headed upstairs, the old cowboy's voice trailing behind him.

"Sarah Palin cleaned it yesterday at noon, the room is clean."

"Thanks! Tell her I'll treat her to a drink sometime!"

Entering the room, Zhou Zhihan thought for a moment before taking out the "Do Not Disturb" sign and hanging it on the outside door.

Staying at the old cowboy's inn was merely an expedient measure and could not be permanent. He needed to find a separate place to live not far from the military academy so it would be convenient to practice flight techniques.

Furthermore, his hearing was exceptionally keen. Sometimes, in this place, he could hear indescribable noises coming from rooms two doors away.

Most importantly, Japanese people had been here recently.

Those sounds weren't something he deliberately wanted to eavesdrop on, but rather because those indescribable noises carried straight to his ears, leaving his ears with a mind of their own.

Reflecting on what the old cowboy had just said, among the three Japanese men from yesterday, one of the younger ones must have also been at Randolph Air Academy. Could this young man be the very same one who had turned around and stared at him for a few seconds at the inn's entrance yesterday?

Zhou Zhihan had no impression of this Japanese person whatsoever. Even what Randolph Air Academy looked like had become somewhat vague in his memory, and the faces of the students who had traveled together with him from China felt somewhat unfamiliar as well.

Could this be because some of the predecessor's memories were gradually fading away?

Regarding this, Zhou Zhihan wasn't certain. Anyway, ever since he killed Yoshiko Kameyama and left that night, the predecessor's consciousness had never influenced him again.

And that was a good thing!

Lying back comfortably on the bed, Zhou Zhihan opened the system.