Chapter 1: The Beginning—In "Drawing the Sword," I Even Broke My Leg

Chapter 1: The Opening—In "Drawing the Sword," Even a Broken Leg

(1)

“Old Li, is this really the right way to train? My heart’s pounding just watching! If the higher-ups find out what we’re doing, they’ll skin us alive!”

“If the higher-ups come down on us, I’ll take the blame. I’d rather see my men get injured in training than watch them die on the battlefield. Last time we fought the Japanese with bayonets, our casualties were far too high…”

Guan Shan was drifting in and out of consciousness, listening to two familiar voices.

This dialogue?

These were the lines from Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang in "Drawing the Sword"!

What’s going on? Did I fall asleep during a marathon and dream of "Drawing the Sword"?

This is too bizarre!

“Shan! Shan!”

Guan Shan blinked awake, gazing at the unfamiliar surroundings.

No longer a marathon in a coastal city, but a rural landscape of the north… This crowd—are they volunteers? Why aren’t they wearing red vests, but gray-blue uniforms and caps of the Eighth Route Army?

“He’s awake! Zhang Captain, Shan’s awake, he’s all right!” Wang Gensheng shouted excitedly.

Wang Gensheng? The grenadier from the 3rd Platoon, 2nd Company, 1st Battalion of the Independent Regiment? The shepherd boy who could toss a grenade through the gun slit of a pillbox?

“Clear out! All of you, clear out!”

(2)

The rough, booming voice—so like Li Yunlong.

“Go, go, scatter! If you all crowd around like this, you’ll suffocate him whether he’s hurt or not!” Li Yunlong bellowed, chasing off the soldiers gathered around Guan Shan.

“Captain Zhang, what happened?”

That voice should be Political Commissar Zhao Gang.

Zhang Dabiao stammered his report, “Reporting, reporting to the regiment commander and commissar, our battalion was organizing rock climbing training, and accidentally—well, there was an accident…”

“Shan saved me, reporting to the commander and commissar. If you’re going to punish someone, punish me!” Wang Gensheng interjected eagerly.

Li Yunlong shouted, “Damn it, what’s all this noise? One at a time! Wang Gensheng, you speak first!”

Zhao Gang crouched down, reaching toward Monk Wei, “Give me the canteen!”

“Yes, sir!” Monk Wei replied, then hesitated, “Commissar, do you want water or liquor?”

“The one with water in it!” Zhao Gang said irritably.

(3)

After a few sips of warm water, Guan Shan felt much clearer, memories flooding back.

He and Wang Gensheng were from the same village, both shepherd boys. When the Japanese swept through and enacted their policy of "three alls," burning the village and killing their families, they joined the Eighth Route Army together, determined to avenge their loved ones.

This was the Guan Shan of this life, after crossing over.

The Guan Shan of his previous life was born in New China, raised under the red flag, enjoying excellent education and getting into his dream university. He had the opportunity to attend numerous clubs—music, sports, art—his life was full of happiness.

After graduation, Guan Shan entered a tech company in a first-tier city as he had hoped, working diligently. At twenty-seven, he moved from a technical position to grassroots management, marking his first career leap.

To prepare for greater challenges, Guan Shan signed up for extreme training, honing his character through rock climbing, surfing, paragliding, and other adventures. He learned awe for nature and embraced the endless pursuit of progress.

By thirty-three, Guan Shan had earned stock options and moved up to middle management. In just over two years of scientific training, he pushed his marathon time to the professional level—3 hours 24 minutes, a feat for elite runners under twenty-nine, and he was already thirty-three.

His half marathon was even more impressive: 1 hour 15 minutes, just shy of the national first-class athlete line at 1 hour 12 minutes. For a thirty-three-year-old, this was pushing the limits, a miracle.

But fate struck unexpectedly; a sudden accident halted Guan Shan’s relentless stride at thirty-five.

Then, his soul crossed over, landing in the fourth episode of "Drawing the Sword."

(4)

During the Independent Regiment’s “Big Training,” Li Yunlong had the cook squad slaughter a pig every ten days or so for a contest: hand-to-hand combat, bayonet fighting, grenade throwing, mountain cross-country running, rock climbing—more and more disciplines.

This time, it wasn’t a contest but an internal selection in the 1st Battalion. Though Wang Gensheng and Guan Shan had already won prizes in grenade throwing and mountain running, earning a share of meat, they still signed up enthusiastically for the rock climbing event.

Wang Gensheng explained timidly, “It’s—it’s not about being greedy… Shan said, Shan said, it never hurts to learn more skills… and, and…”

“What’s wrong with wanting meat? What’s wrong with wanting to eat meat? There’s nothing shameful about it!” Li Yunlong glared, straightening up and surveying the soldiers. He declared loudly, “The skilled ones eat meat! Wolves travel a thousand miles for meat. Dogs travel a thousand miles for dung!”

“Cough, cough!” Zhao Gang coughed softly, reminding Old Li to mind himself.

(End of Chapter)