Riding a motorcycle for 800 miles is no easy feat, even if Long Zhan's Harley is a touring model—it's still a grueling experience.
If he had chosen a more efficient mode of transportation, this long journey would have been much easier.
Unfortunately, Long Zhan's credit card didn't support that luxury.
Luckily, Long Zhan loved riding motorcycles. That feeling of the wind brushing against his face during a ride always left him utterly enthralled.
His body, honed through years in special forces and rigorous self-discipline, was more than capable of saving him a few hundred dollars.
It turned this originally torturous journey into an oddly enjoyable adventure.
Day 1.
Under the scorching sun, one man and his motorcycle departed from the hospital, leaving behind Chicago, a city often associated with crime and chaos. He took the I-90E highway into Indiana, then switched to the I-65S heading into Ohio.
By nightfall, he found a roadside motel to rest and recover his energy.
Day 2.
At dawn, he set out along I-70E, leaving Ohio and entering West Virginia. From there, he transitioned onto I-77, which cut through the state.
Eventually, he reached an independent city near the South Hampton Roads area, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, with North Carolina's beach cities to the south.
To the southeast lay a naval fleet training center called the Oceana Naval Air Station—a place often referred to as the Navy's Fort Bragg.
This was where DEVGRU's base was located, Long Zhan's ultimate destination. Here, he would begin his Green Team selection process.
The Green Team was one of DEVGRU's seven squadrons. The Gold, Silver, Red, and Blue Teams formed the combat units, while the Black Team handled intelligence, and the Gray Team specialized in transportation and logistics.
The Green Team, however, was a training squad responsible for screening and evaluating new recruits.
"I've heard that every single day in the Green Team's training is worse than Hell Week in BUD/S training. I'm not sure if that's true, but I hope it is—makes it more exciting," Long Zhan muttered.
He accelerated his motorcycle to 70 mph, watching as the "Welcome to Virginia Beach" sign blurred past. The long-dormant blood in his veins began to stir.
Virginia Beach, the largest city in Virginia, was not just expansive in area or population; it was also exceptionally well-managed.
Compared to Chicago, which was practically under gang control, Virginia Beach could definitely be considered a "civilized city" in America.
Perhaps it was Long Zhan's appearance—his mixed heritage gave him an overall Asian look.
Or maybe it was his towering, muscular physique, radiating an overwhelming sense of intimidation.
Or it could have been the retro (and frankly battered) Harley he rode—a type of bike often favored by outlaw bikers and gangsters—making him seem less than trustworthy.
As Long Zhan tried to pass through the city, a police car stopped him midway.
"Sir, please cooperate with our inspection. Take your hands off the handlebars, step off the motorcycle slowly, and keep your hands visible at all times. Then, produce your identification," said one of the officers.
Two officers got out of the car, both over 6 feet tall, but their wariness was palpable as they faced Long Zhan, who stood over 6'3" and weighed more than 200 pounds.
"Okay, no need to be nervous," Long Zhan said calmly.
He was well aware that laws varied from state to state in the U.S. While he was confident he could incapacitate both officers in three seconds, such an action would serve no purpose.
Never do anything without value—this was Long Zhan's life philosophy.
As he reached into his pocket to retrieve his Social Security card and driver's license, a black Harley motorcycle in pristine condition, its polished surface gleaming, approached from behind.
The rider slowed as they noticed the trident emblem on the travel bag strapped to Long Zhan's seat. They came to a stop behind the police car.
"Hey, buddy, got yourself into some trouble?"
Hearing the friendly greeting, Long Zhan instinctively looked up at the source of the voice.
He froze for a moment, then broke into a smile.
The man had a stocky, muscular build under a tracksuit, a thick black beard covering the lower half of his face, and rode a Harley-Davidson Sportster—a bike that practically screamed aggression.
Long Zhan immediately recognized him.
It was Quinn Sonny, a minor character from the 2017 hit TV series SEAL Team. He was a demolition expert under Team B, with the codename B3.
Seeing a character from the show in real life confirmed Long Zhan's suspicions.
If he could complete the Green Team training, Long Zhan would not only become one of the world's elite warriors but also integrate into the SEAL Team storyline. With this omniscient advantage, he aimed to secure the $10 million he sought.
That sum would be his seed money. Coupled with the skills he had honed over years in special forces, Long Zhan was brimming with confidence.
Money, honor, status, women...
All within reach!
Thinking about the brilliant future awaiting him, the frustration of being stopped by the police vanished.
No matter Sonny's intentions in approaching him, Long Zhan wasn't going to miss this opportunity to build rapport.
To achieve that $10 million, joining SEAL Team's core group was crucial.
Forging a connection with Sonny was all benefit and no harm.
"I'm a SEAL officer heading to Oceana Naval Air Station, but these two gentlemen don't seem convinced I'm a good guy, so..." Long Zhan spread his hands with a shrug, letting the gesture speak for itself.
"Got a CAC card?" Sonny asked as he put his bike on its stand and walked over.
The Common Access Card (CAC) is a military ID in the U.S., akin to a soldier's or officer's ID in other countries. It contains a chip with the holder's personal information and has basic identification details printed on the front and back.
"Of course."
Long Zhan pulled the card from his jacket pocket and handed it to Sonny.
If it were anyone else, Long Zhan wouldn't have shown the card, even during an inspection. But knowing Sonny was with DEVGRU, he had no reservations.
"Long Jibril? The spelling is like Bruce Lee's Long. I like the name," Sonny said with a grin.
American expressions of emotion are typically straightforward, and Sonny didn't hold back his praise. However, his tone shifted to surprise when he saw the age and rank on the card.
"Twenty-five years old, E6? Buddy, you've been moving up fast. Looks like you've been making waves in the teams."
E6 is the rank of Staff Sergeant, above six lower ranks, including Private, Specialist, and Sergeant.
In the U.S., the minimum enlistment age is 18. It typically takes 10–15 years for a soldier to reach E6, but Long Zhan had achieved it in just seven years, putting him in the top 1% of his peers.
Remaining composed, Long Zhan smiled faintly and said, "That's why I'm here—to get even better."
"Bold words, buddy. I like it."
Sonny, being from DEVGRU's elite squadron, quickly understood Long Zhan's purpose. Adhering to confidentiality principles, he refrained from asking more questions.
Taking out a card identical to Long Zhan's, with E7 listed as his rank, Sonny displayed it to the officers and said, "We're both SEALs. If everything checks out, may we go?"
Sonny's tone carried a commanding authority. Though phrased as a question, it was more of a notice.
The SEALs, known for taking down high-profile targets, were seen as national heroes in places like Virginia Beach, where they enjoyed immense public respect.
The police, keen to avoid unnecessary conflict, promptly verified the CAC cards and not only let Long Zhan go but also apologized profusely.
If Long Zhan had shown his CAC card earlier, he would've been cleared immediately.
Once the officers left, Sonny patted Long Zhan's broad chest with a touch of envy and said, "Let's go, big guy. I'm heading back to the base too. I'll show you the way."
"Thanks a lot, Master Chief."
Pride radiated from Long Zhan's disciplined and powerful physique. He enjoyed Sonny's admiration, pocketed his ID, and mounted his Harley.