Chapter Twelve: Youth and Passion

"Follow you?" Du Huaishan was taken aback by Tan Hai’s words. "You want to join the army too?"

Tan Hai nodded solemnly. "Yes, Huaishan, you’re my only friend. I just want to follow you—wherever you go, I’ll go. If you join the army, then I want to join too!"

"What kind of talk is that..." Du Huaishan started to ask if Tan Hai had anything he liked for himself, but when he saw the light in Tan Hai’s eyes, an inexplicable chill ran through him. The question turned into a dry cough. "Ahem, joining the army isn’t bad—at least it gives you a way to protect yourself!"

"I just don’t know when the winter conscription for the Yingzhou Army will begin..."

...

Yingzhou Army, First Cavalry Brigade Reconnaissance Regiment.

First Battalion Headquarters Building.

A middle-aged officer in a khaki woolen military coat walked slowly to the entrance. His face was marked by the hardships of war—he was clearly a veteran, having survived countless battles. Most striking were his deep crimson eyes, each with two pupils that seemed to turn with a powerful intensity.

"Sui'an!"

Suddenly, a woman’s voice, mature and alluring, called from behind. Chang Suian stopped and turned. A man and a woman were approaching side by side. The man was someone he’d just parted with not long ago—Zhao Jianwei, the third platoon leader who had returned with him from the Xintun battlefield that morning.

The woman beside him was around thirty, also clad in a khaki woolen coat, but her imposing figure was impossible to hide. Her hair was tucked under her cap, her lips crimson and full, her eyes a soft pink, brimming with feeling. The authority of her uniform only added to her elegance and cool charm.

Such a woman was undoubtedly fatally attractive to men.

First Platoon Leader, Zhou Zhong’ai!

"Platoon Leader Zhou, Platoon Leader Zhao, you’re here too," Chang Suian nodded in greeting.

Zhou Zhong’ai ignored the formality of his address, stepping forward with a gentle smile. "That’s right. Didn’t Old Chen say he wanted to discuss something with us?"

...

The three of them ascended the stairs together and turned into the office of the Reconnaissance Company’s commander.

Inside, a portly senior officer with squinting eyes was reviewing documents. Seeing them enter, he set them aside and waved his hand. "You’re here, sit down."

A young adjutant standing nearby turned around and began to prepare tea for the three.

"It’s nothing urgent," Company Commander Chen began. "The regiment received a telegram this morning—the 173rd winter conscription is about to begin. As usual, each company will send two outstanding officers to the Military Academy to teach. Among you three, who wants to go?"

He picked up his tea mug and took a sip.

Zhao Jianwei spoke first. "Commander, I’ll withdraw. Let Platoon Leader Chang and Platoon Leader Zhou go. My third platoon needs to be reorganized—I don’t have the time..."

His tone was heavy, as if he had not yet recovered from last night’s defeat.

"Jianwei, don’t blame yourself," Commander Chen said. "A Grade 23 Monster is not something two cavalry platoons can handle. Coming back alive is already something."

"But more people died." Commander Chen’s words seemed to be the final straw, and tears fell from Zhao Jianwei’s eyes. "Wu Shizhe, Hong Yi, Lin Bosong, Xu Peifang—Xu Peifang was only seventeen, just seventeen..."

Bang!

"Enough!!"

Suddenly, Commander Chen slammed the table and stood, his green eyes swirling with fury. He pointed at Zhao Jianwei and shouted, "You think you’re the only one who remembers them? You think you’re the only one who knows the pain of losing comrades?

"I joined as a new recruit in the summer of 564 in Chiyu, Class 127 at the Yingzhou Military Academy. I’ve been fighting for twenty-three years, until the founding of the An State government. It’s now the fifth year of An State. All my fellow recruits have died in battle—only I am left. Do you understand?"

"Zhao Jianwei! Zhao Jianwei! What can I say to you? You’re a veteran platoon leader—how can you not control your emotions? If you have the spirit, go kill a few more monsters on the battlefield!"

"Mm..." Listening to every word, Zhao Jianwei forced back his tears, refusing to let them fall.

"All right, Old Chen, Jianwei is just deeply attached to his men. Don’t be angry. As for teaching, Suian and I will take care of it." Zhou Zhong’ai’s charm was undeniable. With a soft smile, she quickly eased the tension.

"Tea, Platoon Leaders."

The young adjutant now brought over the tea, setting the cups on the table with a wooden tray.

Commander Chen shot Zhao Jianwei a glance, then took a sip of tea, sighing. "By the way, this Xu Peifang you mentioned is my adjutant’s younger sister."

In an instant, all three froze, cups in hand.

"Before you arrived, Adjutant Xu submitted a request to transfer to your platoon, Zhao Jianwei. I haven’t had time to sign it yet." As he spoke, Commander Chen picked up a sheet of paper—it was the document they’d seen him set down when they entered.

At that moment, Zhao Jianwei felt as if a jolt of electricity ran from his toes to the top of his head—utterly numb.

After a brief pause, he forced his stiff neck to turn, his swollen eyes staring straight at the young adjutant before him.

But the adjutant’s expression remained calm and composed, as if nothing could shake him.

Perhaps feeling Zhao Jianwei’s gaze, Adjutant Xu snapped to attention, heels together, chest out, his right hand raised in a salute by his ear, and declared in a clear voice, "Yingzhou Army Military Academy, 114th graduating class, Xu Peifeng, requesting transfer to the front lines!"

Having spoken, Xu Peifeng lowered his hand and looked at Commander Chen with a gentle smile. "Commander, I’m sorry—I can’t continue to serve by your side."

Commander Chen seemed to have known this moment was coming. Instead, he let out a laugh. Picking up his brush, he dabbed it in ink, nodding as he signed the transfer.

But as he wrote, his eyes grew moist. "Young people do have spirit. Go and do your best. As your commander, I’ll be waiting for the day you return. When you do, you’ll be my adjutant again!"

"Why..." Zhao Jianwei looked at Xu Peifeng. "Why do you want to join my platoon? Your sister died in battle because I took her with me—I didn’t protect her. Why would you..."

"Because Peifang told me," Xu Peifeng interrupted, taking a deep breath, his eyes blazing with barely contained grief and rage, "that you were the best platoon leader she ever met! Platoon Leader Zhao, I want to fight monsters with you—and avenge Peifang!"