Chapter 4: Female Soldiers

Faced with the damp, pleading eyes, Lin Yilan found herself in a dilemma, unable to determine what decision would be the right one

Lin Yilan raised her head, the shadow blocking the light, a man standing very close, his muscular arms bulging in the backlight. "How about a game?"

Well, since we are all in the military, I will have the opportunity to see how different she is. Dana laughed lightly, carelessly walked away, avoiding the conflict

"Have they threatened you? Since when?"

I am not interested

Powerless to retaliate, she found herself in an awkward and shameful situation. The shadow of violence brought about a strong physical aversion, and Anji instinctively feared the approach of every man. Lin Yilan understood the reasons behind this but found it difficult to determine how to handle the situation.

Jones glared at the retreating figure and after a long pause, spoke tersely. "Stay away from that scoundrel; he has already been with all the female soldiers under his command, and recently he has even extended his reach to my team. Sooner or later, I will deal with him severely."

I will overcome, Commander

This is not a trivial matter; once you are on the battlefield, you risk not only your own life but also the safety of your teammates who support you.

Who are the others

What exactly happened

"Who are you?" Lin Yilan replied lightly, her gaze sweeping over the shoulder insignia of the other person's military uniform.

The muzzle erupted continuously, with gunfire sharp and frequent. Suddenly stopping, a nimble hand swiftly changed the magazine, pausing only for a moment before the sound reverberated again through the eardrum, continuing until all the targets were hit, after which silence ensued

Lieutenant Jones crossed his arms and nodded slightly at the *illustration* in the book. "Excellent in combat, outstanding skills, and remarkable marksmanship; overall, quite good." The overall quality was exceptionally high, and Jones was very satisfied with the results of his recent observations. However, he also had to admit that placing such individuals as soldiers in an infantry battalion was indeed a waste.

"Anji," Lin Yilan said with difficulty. "Your experiences are infuriating, and you should not bear all the injustices alone. However, you are currently unable to be a qualified soldier. Going to the battlefield would be tantamount to sending you to your death. I cannot allow you to continue serving under these circumstances... Have you considered applying for retirement?"

The incessant whistling from the surrounding soldiers came as they laughed and mocked the soldier who had collapsed on the ground. Various eyes followed her, but she could not be bothered to pay attention. She turned on the faucet by the wall and washed her face.

Yes, thank you, sir

Lin Yilan set down the heated gun barrel and stood with her hands hanging down.

I have nothing. The young female soldier, tormented by her predicament, looked despondent. The army is terrible, but no respectable job would want a young woman who is utterly unskilled, unless it is to become a courtesan, and I do not wish to fall to that level

"Her time should be spent reprimanding her subordinates, rather than engaging in trivial and boring small talk." Jones retorted without any regard for feelings.

Lin Yilan lowered her eyes and remained silent for a moment. "What happened next?"

The ranks of the army are filled with a mix of individuals, with 99% coming from impoverished backgrounds. There are frequent rumors of subordinates being bullied or internal brawls, which is far from an ideal environment. However, in pursuit of basic sustenance and a way out, the imperial army continuously recruits new soldiers.

It is easy to eliminate the disobedience of subordinates; the military has its own methods. In the training ground, battles are fought in turns, and when everyone has been defeated, the orders of the new captain come into effect, and the commands of the strong are naturally respected

"Since I came to Xiuwa, in the past... of course there were others, this is a military custom, everyone knows that female soldiers exist for the enjoyment of male soldiers." Anji's face was pale and numb

Lin Yilan's income is in sight. This reason should not lead you to reject your teammates

My parents have all passed away, and my brother sent me to the army as soon as I came of age. Although the pay is very low, at least it can fill my stomach. I have no other options

"Why not try to find a job in another city? You are still young, and the military is not a good place."

The fierce tone concealed a protective sentiment, and Lin Yilan smiled silently.

"No." Dana shrugged, a rogue smile on his face, "I noticed her skills were quite good, so I merely suggested a contest."

Anji lowered her head and remained silent

"Anji, what is going on with your recent performance"

Why not report to Lieutenant Jones

Looking at Anji, who had been knocked down and was struggling to get up, Lin Yilan sighed inwardly and marked a cross in her notebook. The psychological impact was too great; even if Dana did nothing, Anji would become flustered and anxious just by being present, which further complicated her coordination with teammates. She even kicked away a teammate who was providing support. Lin Yilan felt it was necessary to conduct individual training with her using books; otherwise, given her recent performance, it would be extremely dangerous in combat.

The response remains silence

The final sentence shattered the remnants of her will, and Anji could not control her emotions and began to sob

"I am sorry, sir." Tears fell one after another, soaking a large area of the deep blue uniform. "—Please don’t—me—me—"

It is not merely a matter of physical ability; you and your teammates are unable to collaborate, and there is a complete lack of synergy. Anji seems to regard her comrades as dangerous enemies, filled with vigilance and defensiveness

At the end of the training, Lin Yilan left Anji behind

Anji mentioned three names, all belonging to the same group, but not part of Lin Yilan's team

Feeling unwell? Lin Yilan tried to find a reason

Starting tomorrow, you will be promoted to Corporal and appointed as the squad leader

In the Xier Kingdom, both men and women are allowed to enlist, and during their service, they are treated equally, making chaotic relationships between the sexes not surprising. It is difficult for ordinary female soldiers to maintain their independence and integrity in a strictly hierarchical military, and most end up being treated as playthings. It is said that Dana once lured Anji into her embrace under the pretense of protection, and clearly, as the novelty wore off, promises turned to dust. Every time Dana appears, she is seen with different female soldiers, and even in front of Anji, she continues to joke around, openly disregarding her.

"Do not think that everyone is as foolish as that little wretch." Zhong Si was furious, his forehead veins bulging. The soldiers nearby were startled and took a few steps back, the atmosphere instantly becoming tense. Everyone was well aware of Zhong Si's volatile temper; a disagreement could easily lead to a fistfight.

Your parents and family

Anji's eyes glistened with tears as she bit her lip nervously in front of the books

Passing the handkerchief, Lin Yilan quietly waited for the other party to calm down. After a considerable amount of time, An Ji finally ceased her weeping, succumbing instead to complete despondency

Anji's intertwined hands suddenly tightened, the knuckles turning pale.

"You don't look like a newcomer. Where did you serve before?" The man's gaze, filled with interest, seemed to regard her like a spirited stallion, unabashedly assessing her figure. "What is your name?"

Lin Yilan does not like to press for answers, but it is necessary to identify the crux of the issue. "Is it because of Dana?"

The unexpected provocateur is a nuisance, especially for the female soldier Anji under Lin Yilan's command

The young female soldier's delicate face bore a look of unease, with shadows under her eyes accentuating her weariness. Despite sitting upright with a straight back, her fingers were stiffly gripping her knees.

The voice was not loud, yet the female soldier appeared to be in distress as if pierced by a sharp pain. "I am sorry, sir."

You have quite good skills

"No, sir," Anji trembled slightly. "It is my fault; I will strive to improve."

"No, sir, please do not expel me from the army," Anji pleaded in despair and sorrow. "I know nothing but being a soldier; leaving will only lead to starvation. I beg you not to do this."

Lieutenant Dana!" The interjector was Lieutenant Jones, whose stiff tone conveyed extreme displeasure. "Do you have an issue with my subordinate?"

I did not expect the rough lieutenant to say such words, and Lin Yilan returned a salute. "I will do my best, thank you, sir"

Your previous record is good

A few months ago, Lieutenant Dana expressed interest in me and wanted to sleep with me. He was not the first, and I thought he might help me escape the situation of being someone else's slave, so I agreed

"Jones, don't get so easily riled up; it has nothing to do with you." Dana, accustomed to Jones's harsh attitude, remained unfazed, her gaze shifting to the silent woman. "It's just making a friend in the camp; your teammate Angie climbed into my bed all on her own."

While appreciating, Zhong Si also felt a bit of a headache. Although she is a capable talent, women are always troublesome, and beautiful ones are doubly so. "No matter who you have offended in the past, under my command, only strength matters. However, you must be clever here; there are all kinds of people in the infantry battalion, so you better handle it with care"

With a towel draped over her shoulder, Lin Yilan walked down from the combat arena

"The lieutenant won't care; this is the norm." Anji's words were filled with bitterness. "He despises Dana for overstepping, but he holds an even lower opinion of incompetent people"

After a while, the calm female soldier awaited the final verdict, having settled her emotions

I submitted to Dana, and he beat up those three guys. The people in the team looked down on me because I betrayed my own and exposed myself to outsiders. Anji's voice became intermittent, her sunken eye sockets reddened, shedding tears of humiliation and hatred. Soon, Dana grew tired of me and began to hit me... even in front of his subordinates, he raped me, and in the end... he called them all to join in...

Tell me the reason, otherwise I can only report to Commander Jones that you are unfit to remain in the combat unit

Yes. Her response was very calm, showing no emotion, which made Jones appreciate her even more