That evening, Chen Mo left the laboratory and was heading to the cafeteria for dinner when he ran into Colonel Phillips.
"Back to being the doctor's guinea pig?" the colonel said, looking Chen Mo up and down.
"Look at you!"
"My best soldier is almost turning into a bookworm like that old man!"
After a round of complaints, Colonel Phillips looked at Chen Mo and asked skeptically.
"So, can you still handle a gun?"
Chen Mo glanced at his lab coat and the thick biology books he was holding and smiled helplessly at the colonel's sharp tongue.
Colonel Phillips was a pure soldier, and soldiers valued strength above all. Chen Mo's outstanding performance had always impressed him. With his strong physique, keen insight, and sharp mind, Chen Mo's combat and shooting skills were exceptionally formidable, making him the perfect super soldier in the colonel's eyes.
Yet, this combat genius was being dragged into the lab by the doctor every day as a guinea pig and was later even transferred to the lab as an assistant. Colonel Phillips felt a deep sense of frustration and regret, feeling that such talent was being wasted. Every time he saw Chen Mo, he couldn't help but complain.
"Always ready for your test, Colonel."
"How about another competition?"
"I feel like I've really regressed lately."
Chen Mo looked at Colonel Phillips with a sincere expression.
The colonel's face reddened slightly, and he immediately scolded.
"Get out of here! Disappear from my sight!"
The last competition had been a heavy blow to the colonel, and he had never mentioned competing with guns again. But just now, he had accidentally let Chen Mo bring it up again.
In truth, the colonel was still very satisfied with Chen Mo. No commanding officer would dislike a strong soldier, and he usually took good care of him, as long as the topic of guns wasn't brought up. That was a sore spot for the colonel.
"Well, Colonel, your best soldier is now going to do something very important."
Chen Mo waved at the colonel and turned to walk away with his books.
The colonel watched Chen Mo's back and couldn't help but smile.
"This rascal!"
…
After parting with the colonel, Chen Mo went to the cafeteria.
As for the very important thing he mentioned, it was, of course, filling his stomach.
He had just started eating when a beautiful figure suddenly sat down across from him.
"I heard the colonel's roar just now. Did you provoke him again?"
Agent Carter, in her military uniform, still looked as valiant and stunning as ever.
"I reminded him of some unpleasant memories."
Chen Mo shook his head, answering while eating.
Carter couldn't help but laugh. She had been the referee during their shooting competition and had witnessed the entire process of the colonel being thoroughly defeated by Chen Mo. It was rare to see the colonel so embarrassed.
"Are you practicing today?" Carter was quite interested in throwing knives.
"Tonight, I'll give Steve some extra lessons. I heard he's been slacking off lately. During today's training run, he left the instructor and his teammates halfway and rode back in your car."
Hearing Chen Mo mention this, Carter remembered the bewildered expression on the instructor's face and couldn't help but laugh.
"He's very clever."
"If he were too dumb, he wouldn't be my disciple." If Steve weren't smart and talented, and if Chen Mo didn't particularly like him as a superhero, he wouldn't have put in the effort to teach him.
…
Steve finished his training late and hurriedly ate a few bites before running to the training ground to find Chen Mo.
"Master! I'm late!" Steve shouted as he ran. When he got closer and saw Agent Carter, he suddenly fell silent, feeling embarrassed.
"Agent Carter, I didn't know you were here."
Carter smiled warmly at Steve.
Chen Mo and Steve both left a good impression on Carter. As a beautiful, independent, and strong woman, Carter was very annoyed by the men around her who coveted her beauty but underestimated her abilities. They always thought women should stay at home, take care of children, do housework, and serve men, which she couldn't accept.
But she could feel that Chen Mo and Steve looked at her with clear eyes, without any desire, only admiration. They genuinely respected her and didn't look down on her because she was a woman. This made Carter feel respected and recognized, and she felt comfortable being around them.
However, there was a difference. She could sense that Chen Mo's admiration for her was purely platonic, treating her as a friend.
Steve, on the other hand, had a boyish shyness in front of her. During training, he often glanced at her like the other soldiers, but unlike their lecherous gazes, Steve's eyes held a hint of innocent affection, which Carter didn't find annoying.
Chen Mo began teaching Steve on the open ground next to the camp, while Carter watched with great interest.
"When you punch, the power should come from your feet. Push with your legs, twist your hips, and send your shoulders forward. The power travels through your spine to your arms and finally explodes at the moment you hit your opponent."
"When you're on the battlefield, it's not a street fight. You don't have time to slowly take down your opponent, and the enemy won't surrender just because you knock them down. So remember, always aim for the vital points, take down the enemy with one move, and finish them as quickly as possible. Don't give them a chance to counterattack."
…
After instructing Steve, Chen Mo let him practice on his own and turned to Carter. He had noticed that she was listening even more intently than Steve and seemed very interested.
Seeing Chen Mo looking at her, Carter suddenly stared into his eyes and said, "I want to challenge you!"
As a senior agent, Carter had received very formal training, was proficient in close combat techniques, and could skillfully use various firearms and weapons.
Listening to Chen Mo's instructions to Steve, she understood some parts but not others. She was very curious about Chen Mo's combat abilities and was confident in her own skills. She wanted to test him personally.
Chen Mo was momentarily stunned but then smiled and nodded.
"Alright, but before that, you need to defeat Steve."
Carter turned to look at Steve, who was focused on practicing and hadn't noticed what Chen Mo had said. He was still absorbed in practicing and digesting Chen Mo's teachings.
Carter then remembered Chen Mo's abnormal physical fitness. Even if he stood still, she probably couldn't beat him. She had been so focused on the combat techniques that she almost forgot this point. She quickly nodded in agreement.
"Okay, I'll spar with Steve first."
She turned to face Steve.
Steve, still immersed in his own world, suddenly felt a burning gaze on him. Looking up, he saw his goddess, Agent Carter, staring at him with a fighting spirit.
"What's going on?" Steve asked weakly, his heart racing under Carter's gaze.
"Spar with me," Carter said bluntly.
"This…" Steve was at a loss. Being suddenly asked to fight his goddess left him unsure of what to do. He looked to Chen Mo for help.
"Agent Carter wants to spar with you. Don't hold back, use your full strength," Chen Mo explained.
Encouraged by Chen Mo's gaze, Steve reluctantly nodded.
"Alright, Agent Carter, let's keep it friendly."
Steve then formally bowed to Carter, a habit he had developed while training with the martial artists at the dojo, where they always bowed before sparring.
Carter took off her military jacket, revealing a shirt that clung tightly to her figure.
Handing the jacket to Chen Mo, Carter stood in front of Steve and nodded, signaling that they could start.
Steve stole a glance at Carter's figure and quickly looked away, blushing.