Nie Yan and Xie Yao left the house and headed to the other villa. When they arrived, Wang Duo, Lin Yi, and the rest had already packed their bags and were waiting outside. They stood in rank and file, wearing formal military attire.
"Instructor Nie, Miss Yao, good morning!" they greeted in unison.
Nie Yan nodded. "At ease. We'll be accompanying you guys to the train station."
"Yes sir!" Wang Duo, Lin Yi, and the others had a somewhat sullen look on their faces.
"Don't feel so down. You guys might be leaving today, but that doesn't mean we won't meet again someday. You're always welcome to visit. Come on, let's go," Nie Yan said with a smile. Having been neighbours these last couple of months, he also couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental about their departure.
Wang Duo, Lin Yi, and the others gazed at Nie Yan, as though they wanted to say something.
"What is it? Speak up," Nie Yan said. His eyes fell on Wang Duo. "Wang Duo, tell me."
"Yes sir!" Wang Duo hesitated for a moment before asking, "Instructor Nie, is Instructor Bayonet not coming?"
"No, he won't," Nie Yan replied. He swept his eyes over the group. Just a few days before, they were gnashing their teeth and glaring daggers at Bayonet. Now they were asking about where he was. Nie Yan suddenly understood something. Bayonet might be a harsh instructor, but in that had created a bond with these soldiers. This wasn't something ordinary people would understand.
"Oh…" The trainees were clearly disappointed.
Everyone set off, preparing to take the metro to the train station. Wang Duo, Lin Yi, and the others were silent. Though Nie Yan was in charge of their training, they had spent most of their time with Bayonet. Even inside the game, they would rarely converse with Nie Yan. He was simply too busy. So, he had Bayonet function as the middle man.
"Did Bayonet say anything before you guys left?" Nie Yan asked.
"He told us that we better not tell anyone we're his students, or we'd disgrace his name," Wang Duo said with a sad look on his face.
Nie Yan chuckled. "That does sound like something he would say. That's just how he is. Don't take it to heart."
The trainees glanced over their shoulders at the villa. They still hoped Bayonet would come see them off.
Several minutes later, the group hopped onto the metro, which they rode for three minutes before getting off at the train station. When they arrived at the railway platform, the train was already there. It was leaving in 20 minutes.
Wang Duo, Lin Yi, and the others stood in front of Nie Yan in rank and file. They were extremely respectful, as if they were facing a superior. However, they were all clearly much older than Nie Yan. From all around the platform, people looked at this spectacle in surprise.
"No need to be so stiff. You guys can relax." Nie Yan waved his hand.
The trainees were at a bit of a loss on what to do before standing at ease.
Xie Yao couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle. These guys really were a bunch of stiff wooden boards.
Nie Yan helplessly smiled. "We still have 20 minutes. I'll call Bayonet over."
"N-n-no, it's fine," Wang Duo hurriedly dissuaded.
"Don't you guys want to see him one last time?" Nie Yan asked.
The trainees glanced at each other, slightly embarrassed. Truthfully, they all felt respect for bayonet in their hearts.
"Ah fine. Just get on the train then." Nie Yan waved his hand. He understood what Wang Duo and the others were feeling right now. It was a real shame Bayonet didn't want to come.
After saying their goodbyes to Nie Yan, the trainees were about to get on the train, when someone quietly said, "Instructor Bayonet is here." Everyone looked over and saw Bayonet reluctantly making his way over.
"Didn't you say you weren't coming?" Nie Yan asked in an amused tone. He had managed to glean something from Bayonet's expression. This was a fresh new experience.
"Instructor Bayonet!" Wang Duo, Liny Yi, and the others greeted with elated expressions. They'd already given up any hope of him coming.
"I got bored, so I decided to take a look at you maggots one last time. That selection exam or whatever, if you guys don't pass it, don't bother coming to see me ever again," Bayonet said, his expression much milder than usual.
"Yes sir!" Wang Duo, Lin Yi, and the others answered in high spirits.
"Alright, now get out of my sight, quickly." Bayonet waved his hand, an annoyed look on his face.
"YES SIR!" They puffed out their chests and shouted out loud in unison, "THANK YOU INSTRUCTOR NIE! THANK YOU INSTRUCTOR BAYONET!" They then deeply bowed, bending their bodies at 90 degrees and holding the position for 10 full seconds.
Nie Yan felt touched as his nose soured. Farewells were never easy. After spending so much time together, they had unwittingly formed a deep bond. He gazed over at Bayonet, whose lips were trembling. Bayonet seemed to want to say something but held back in the end. Though Bayonet usually hid his emotions behind a cold exterior, he was still human. Nie Yan could understand his mood.
An indescribable emotion spread out in everyone's hearts.
"Hurry up and leave. Stop dawdling around like a bunch of fools, or else I'll deny that any of you are my students!" Bayonet said.
Wang Duo and the others were deeply touched. They quickly nodded, gave Bayonet one last look, and then stepped into the train.
Nie Yan and Bayonet watched Wang Duo and the others disappear into the train carriage. A while later, the door closed and the train started moving, slowly leaving the station.
At this moment, several carriage windows opened, and Wang Duo and the others stuck their heads out and waved their hands. "GOODBYE INSTRUCTOR NIE! GOODBYE INSTRUCTOR BAYONET!"
The train sped away and quickly disappeared behind the horizon.
"Those guys…" Nie Yan chuckled. Withdrawing his gaze, he turned to Bayonet. "Missing them already, huh?"
"Bah, who'd miss those good-for-nothings? The farther they scram, the better. I couldn't be happier," Bayonet indifferently said.
Nie Yan gazed at Bayonet with a face full of interest. No matter how much Bayonet tried to hide his emotions, it was useless. His actions and expression spoke volumes.
Bayonet felt a bit embarrassed after being seen through. He hardened his expression and said, "I'll take my leave first. I won't bother you two lovebirds any longer."
What an amusing fellow. Nie Yan couldn't help but chuckle. After sending Wang Duo, Lin Yi, and the others off, he had already completed the task Mo Yuntian gave him. As for how they would fare, that was up to fate. After going through this harsh training, he was confident they had grown considerably. As for whether it was enough to get into the 12th Mech Armoured Corps, that remained to be seen.
Nie Yan and Xie Yao left the train station and headed off for school.
The day went by peacefully. As the final bell rang, Nie Yan and Xie Yao returned home. When evening came, the two entered back into Conviction.