Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1204 - 585: Admission Card

"Time to return."

Fang Cheng looked around, curbing the urge to perform another set. The disturbance he caused moments ago was significant; if he exercised again, he risked drawing the attention of the water police. Furthermore, he had official responsibilities to attend to today. The Special Search Team had requested his presence to collect his exam admission ticket and get acquainted with the interview procedure. Since he had committed to this disguise to protect his true identity, he needed to follow the proper channels to avoid attracting unnecessary scrutiny.

Fang Cheng regulated his breathing, dropped his body, and moved his arms like oars, cleaving through the water. He surged forward like a sleek fish, leaving a white wake beneath the shimmering surface as he raced toward the woods where his clothes awaited.

..................

Morning. Jing’an District, Huaihai West Road.

Sunlight pierced the thin clouds, striking the gray granite exterior of the Special Search Team Headquarters and casting a cold, metallic gleam. The facility was a sprawling, multi-acre complex organized in a "hui" shape. The main building reached thirty stories into the sky, constructed with sharp, uncompromising lines devoid of ornamentation—a massive steel monolith anchored in the city center. A colossal metal national emblem shone above the main entrance, while vibrant red flags snapped in the crisp breeze.

Armed sentries stood at the gate, their eagle-eyed gazes scanning every individual entering or leaving. Even from across the street, the crushing weight of authority and solemnity was palpable—an oppressive aura unique to the nation’s most powerful institutions.

The square in front of the building was already swarming with people. Thousands of young hopefuls were gathered, either huddling in quiet circles or standing solo as they reviewed their notes. The air hung heavy with the scent of perspiration and palpable anxiety.

"Ah Cheng! Over here!" A booming voice cut through the clamor.

Fang Cheng turned to see a figure as sturdy as a bear waving to him from the bottom of the stairs. Ma Donghe wore a tight black T-shirt that struggled to contain his massive musculature. He stood among the crowd like a heavy boulder, causing the thinner candidates to instinctively clear a path as they navigated around him.

"You're quite early," Fang Cheng remarked, approaching with a grin.

"It is a big day, after all." Ma Donghe slung an arm around Fang Cheng’s shoulder and guided him toward the interior with the confidence of an insider. Throughout the walk, he offered boisterous greetings to several other burly, rough-looking men in the crowd: "Da Fei, that get-up looks incredible; you really committed to the look!" "Qiang Zi, don't just disappear after the test—let's grab a drink tonight!" "Hey, Old Hei, you’re here too? Has your leg recovered?"

His loud holiday-style greetings drew the eyes of many. A middle-aged man recognized as Old Hei pushed through the crowd, approaching with an apologetic smile while offering a cigarette with both hands. "Brother Ma! Your help made the recovery incredibly fast."

Ma Donghe brushed off the cigarette and clapped a hand onto Fang Cheng’s shoulder. "This is my good brother, Fang Cheng. If you end up on the same mission team, make sure you look after him."

"Brother Ma's brother is my own. I understand, I understand." Old Hei nodded fervently, his eyes sweeping over Fang Cheng with a newfound sense of respect.

During their short trek, Ma Donghe greeted at least five or six distinct groups. It was evident that he had spent the last few months making a name for himself, positioning himself as the de facto leader among the civilian candidates.

After the brief social encounters, Ma Donghe lowered his voice: "You see this crowd? It’s exactly like a thousand troops fighting to cross a single-log bridge. Don't let the numbers alarm you; most of them are simply cannon fodder. You and I are different—we are ‘special-talents’ recruited specifically by the Special Search Team." He gestured toward the opposite side of the square, where a group stood in disciplined uniform. "Those guys are elite graduates from the Special Police School. They are the team's home-grown professionals, and they are our primary competition for the open slots."

Fang Cheng glanced over. Those trainees stood with perfect posture, their eyes burning with intense pride. In contrast, the group of civilian candidates did look like a ragtag bunch.

"Let's head inside; Brother Wei is waiting."

Ma Donghe led Fang Cheng through the security checkpoint with ease and into the service hall. The room was climate-controlled and buzzing with uniformed staff; the sounds of printers and muffled phone conversations filled the air. Wei Zheng was dressed in the dark green professional uniform of the Special Search Team, his silver epaulets catching the light as he appeared exceptionally sharp.

"You have arrived." Seeing them, Wei Zheng offered a warm smile and handed a folder to Fang Cheng. "The paperwork is complete. I signed as your recommender. Given the sensitivity of the teacher’s position, it is better to maintain a low profile to avoid unnecessary complications."

"Understood. Thank you, Brother Wei." Fang Cheng accepted the folder without hesitation and signed his name. He welcomed this arrangement. He sought the qualifications to pass the background check, not the label of a "connected hire," as his own strength provided him with more than enough confidence.

"Very well. Both of you, hold onto these admission tickets." Wei Zheng handed over two magnetic ID cards before gesturing toward a massive electronic display on the wall. "The procedural details are live. Take a close look."

Below the screen, a crowd had already gathered. Everyone was fixated on the rolling text, their murmurs sounding like a disturbed hive. Fang Cheng and Ma Donghe moved in to get a better look.

The examination would span three days. The written portion, scheduled for the following morning, would be held at the National Police Academy, a facility linked to the Special Search Team. It would be split into three blocks covering Basic Law, Basic Psychology, Political Science, Tactical Command, and language proficiency tests. Law and psychology were designed to gauge comprehensive ability, while the language portions were clearly intended to weed out those lacking basic education.

Surveying the extensive list of subjects, Ma Donghe looked as sour as a bitter gourd and scratched his scalp in agony. "I am doomed. This looks like ancient code. I wonder if I can even manage a passing grade?" He glanced at Fang Cheng for solidarity. "Ah Cheng, how does your preparation look?"

"Not bad. I spent the last few days cramming," Fang Cheng replied calmly.

Wei Zheng, assuming Fang Cheng was merely trying to save face, patted his shoulder in encouragement. "Do not stress too much. You are applying to the Medical Team as a traditional medicine specialist, so the written requirement is lower. Just ensure you do not turn in a blank sheet; even if you barely pass, the teacher will assist you during the interview process."

Fang Cheng just smiled without explaining further. With his photographic memory, these rote learning tasks were comparable to a scholar solving elementary arithmetic; failing was not a realistic possibility.

"Brother Wei, what about me? What should I do?" the 'illiterate' Ma Donghe asked, wearing the expression of a distressed grizzly bear.

"You?" Wei Zheng shot him an exasperated look. "Just write something for every question—don't leave anything blank. As long as your physical test scores are outstanding, the teacher has grounds to secure a 'special talent' waiver to compensate for your written performance."

Seeing Ma Donghe relax, Wei Zheng pivoted to the final procedures. "After the written exam, you will have your interview on the afternoon of the second day in the Special Search Team’s interrogation room."

"The interrogation room?!" Ma Donghe gasped.

"Do not be nervous, it is merely a borrowed venue," Wei Zheng assured him. "The process will focus on psychological evaluation and a political background check. It sounds daunting, but it is effectively a formality to ensure your history is clean and you lack antisocial tendencies."

Wei Zheng paused, his expression turning grave as he pointed to the final line on the electronic board. "The true core of this entire ordeal is the physical assessment on the third day."

Fang Cheng’s gaze followed his finger to the bottom of the screen. His eyebrows arched slightly. "West Mountain?"