Chapter 248

Chapter 248

Bai Xingshu promptly delivered the captives to the medical facility and underwent hand therapy.

During the entire evasion, Bai Xingshu refrained from using any combat abilities while operating the mech, relying purely on manual control. As a human operator, the physical strain on his hands was considerable.

However, Bai Xingshu concealed any signs of fatigue with exceptional discipline. Even after utilizing medical equipment for muscular rehabilitation, no one detected any irregularities.

Within minutes, the soreness in his hands completely dissipated, and Bai Xingshu silently acknowledged the efficacy of this era’s medical technology.

Once all post-operation procedures were attended to, Bai Xingshu proceeded to the command center.

He needed to report the results of his infiltration behind enemy lines.

To summarize the operational outcomes: he had destroyed one engineering base, neutralized approximately four combat mechs, and inflicted gradated damage upon several others.

During tactical withdrawal under pursuit, Bai Xingshu would occasionally execute precise counterattacks when opportunities arose.

As the saying goes, the best defense is a strong offense.

Shen Geng listened attentively to Bai Xingshu’s report, mentally mapping the locations of these losses and the engagement range of the pursuit-capable mechs.

While listening, he rapidly analyzed the defensive layout of the United forces and immediately directed the command staff to devise focused assault strategies targeting these weak points.

However, the greatest achievement overall…

After Bai Xingshu concluded his full operational debriefing, Shen Geng summoned the chief officer responsible for energy allocation and inquired, “Do you recall the attack patterns employed by the United forces? Focus only on the major ones.”

Shen Geng suspected that perhaps… the United’s most significant loss was not in matériel.

Bai Xingshu calmly recalled the events and nodded before detailing the United’s offensive tactics.

In their efforts to capture Bai Xingshu, the United had deployed multiple high-yield energy strikes.

It was well known that area-of-effect energy attacks were the most effective means of restraining or eliminating Bai Xingshu.

Without these assaults, given Bai Xingshu’s speed and precision in mech operation, there was no way so many enemy units could have pursued him this far.

As Bai Xingshu recounted the enemy’s losses, Shen Geng immediately grasped the implications.

While Bai Xingshu detailed each attack, the energy division personnel calculated the figures, cross-referencing pre-war energy allocation records from logistics. The United’s large-scale operation to capture Bai Xingshu had…

“Depleted at least 11% to 13% of the United’s energy reserves,” the energy officer reported promptly.

This amount was not critically significant, but neither was it negligible. Given that the conflict remained in its early phase, it was still possible for the United to recover from this energy shortfall later.

But Shen Geng would permit no such opportunity.

A series of strategic adjustments flashed through his mind, and he swiftly decided to revise the current operational plan.

—Real-time battlefield plans were always subject to modification based on evolving conditions; this was standard procedure.

Shen Geng immediately convened a tactical briefing with several commanders experienced in this type of warfare. Bai Xingshu, who was technically part of the combat unit but currently without an available mech, naturally joined the session.

On-site, Bai Xingshu observed as Shen Geng and the officers formulated a plan involving strategic deception to provoke the United into deploying energy-intensive weaponry against them.

Once the energy disparity between the two sides reached a critical threshold, the outcome would be inevitable.

This represented the most secure strategy for ensuring victory—and delivering the most overwhelming advantage over the enemy.

Baiting the enemy to waste energy is actually a pretty conservative strategy—it can extend the battle and give the United team plenty of time to show off in front of the judges, so they don’t get eliminated after just one match and miss their chance to be evaluated.

*So* gentle and considerate!

Bai Xingshu’s eyes lit up as he looked at Shen Geng. He gave him a big thumbs-up, wholeheartedly approving the battle plan.

Watching Bai Xingshu like this—fully in cahoots with his deputy commander…

The audience once again revised their opinions.

Or rather, they went back to their original impression.

Indeed, Bai Xingshu (a.k.a. “Xingzhe Jiangzhi”) was exactly the kind of bad guy they had imagined!!

When Bai Xingshu returned to the battlefield, it completely confirmed everyone’s suspicions.

Everyone had wondered before—what was *Bai Xingshu* really like when piloting a mech?

Now they saw.

On screen, Bai Xingshu pulled off every dual-skill move with flair, his movements crisp and precise. Each flick of his fingers across the control panel was as fluid as a painter’s brushstrokes.

He even made the control panel look expensive.

It was a total visual feast—like watching… a Cheng Yunxi action flick. Absolutely stunning.

—Well, purely from an aesthetic point of view, that’s a compliment.

Of course, for the students present—who held themselves to the standards of future soldiers—it only made them glance briefly. What mattered more to them was Bai Xingshu’s expression.

And that expression was exactly what they’d imagined!

On Xingzhe Jiangzhi’s handsome face, every bit of his cunning, villainous thoughts was on full display—no filter at all.

He was the *definition* of a "ruthless beauty."

All those moves that had driven them crazy? Now they knew—they were Bai Xingshu messing with them on purpose.

But not a single viewer could bring themselves to be angry at his sunny grin.

Not that they were all *that* shallow—“as long as he’s cute, everything’s forgiven.”

More importantly, throughout the entire fight, this big bad guy’s eyes *shone* with pure admiration for his opponent. His mouth never stopped—he kept dishing out praise like it was going out of style.

Stuff like “Wow, that move was awesome!” “Nice!” “Great control!” “Solid counter!”—he threw them out like compliments grew on trees.

Even if his opponents couldn’t hear him, Bai Xingshu kept hyping them up sincerely, appreciating every move they made.

Hearing him talk, the audience started noticing the mech pilots’ skills too.

Bai Xingshu gave every opponent respect, no matter their skill level.

And for warriors like them, that was more than enough.

Those frustrating, annoying maneuvers? That was just *how* Xingzhe Jiangzhi fought.

He was a born troublemaker—so who could blame him?!

In fact, more than a few grumbled under their breath—why #XingzheJiangzhi never *streamed*?!

They also wondered how Bai Xingshu had praised them during their past defeats.

Some even muttered that those who had faced Bai Xingshu would likely see their evaluation scores rise significantly within their respective legions.

For a moment, getting pummeled by Bai Xingshu was now oddly aspirational—ridiculous, really.

However, the discussions outside the arena didn’t reach the combatants inside, as both sides followed their commanders’ directives to the letter.

Bai Xingshu was itching to attempt another infiltration tactic, but unfortunately, the United side had caught on this time. As soon as someone targeted their mech’s cockpit hatch, they immediately entered a frenzied state.

Clicking his tongue, Bai Xingshu had no choice but to abandon the plan.

Yet without Bai Xingshu as the main punching bag, the rest of Shoujun’s students still met Shen Geng’s expectations.

As time passed, the United side soon realized their energy was draining alarmingly fast.

It hit the United Commander then—Shoujun’s strategy.

But…

This was a blatant strategy.