Suddenly, several burly men, armed with rifles, burst into the medical tent.
The atmosphere became palpably stifling, as if an invisible hand had clamped down, squeezing the air into leaden blocks that pressed heavily upon everyone’s hearts.
“Wait, wait, don’t point those guns! You lot!”
A booming voice called out from just outside the tent, shattering the eerie silence.
The armed men lowered their rifles, exchanging bewildered glances.
After a tense two seconds, a figure in an army uniform pushed past them and approached Lin Yu.
“My apologies, they’re simply accustomed to making arrests…” the man said, a hint of contrition in his voice as he stood before Lin Yu.
“This isn’t an arrest warrant; it’s an order for reassignment.”
He then offered her a military salute, though it was somewhat less than precise, before producing an official appointment letter from his uniform pocket.
The fate of being apprehended had abruptly morphed into a peculiar reassignment order.
Before Lin Yu could fully process the shift, the man had already pulled out the appointment letter from his pocket and began to read aloud the decision from high command.
“Private Lin Yu is hereby appointed to the First Special Task Force, effective immediately, to serve as a field medic.”
“She is to report to Corporal Lu Xunwu at the front lines within the day.”
Lin Yu froze, her gaze darting around the tent for Nangong, only to find her now surrounded, with rifles pointed directly at her.
Having instinctively rushed to the bedside to grab a rifle herself, all the muzzles initially aimed at Lin Yu had swiftly redirected to Nangong.
The space within the tent seemed to constrict further in that instant, as every eye in the room fixed upon Nangong.
“And you… Corporal, do you have any objections?” the commanding officer asked, his gaze locked on Nangong with a warning glint, yet his tone striving for a semblance of calm.
“Nangong! Put down the rifle, quickly!” Lin Yu urged, desperately trying to prevent a direct confrontation.
“They’re a Supervisory Squad (TL Note: A military unit often tasked with enforcing discipline, ensuring morale, and preventing desertion, sometimes through harsh measures); they have the authority to…”
“I know more than you do, Lin Yu,” Nangong retorted, sparing a glance for Lin Yu, her rifle still aimed squarely at the chest of one of the black-clad men.
“This order hasn’t been approved by her direct superior; you won’t take her.”
Nangong had no intention of lowering her weapon.
“Last time they came, I couldn’t stop them, but this time you’ve been cleared of all charges.”
“I won’t let them take you again, no matter what.”
“Don’t be like this, Nangong…”
For an ordinary soldier, defying a Supervisory Squad could only lead to dire consequences.
Even with Nangong’s years of service as a medic, she held no privilege that would exempt her from their authority.
“Furthermore, Commander Yang would never agree to such a reassignment,” Nangong continued, pressing her point.
“As the highest commanding officer of this defense sector, this order didn’t pass through her hands, which makes it procedurally irregular.”
The commanding officer offered a brief explanation regarding Nangong’s assertions.
“Regarding your last point, I can tell you that this reassignment order came directly from the General Staff Department, and therefore does not require the approval of a direct superior.”
Lin Yu rushed over, pressing down on the rifle in Nangong’s hands and gripping her arm.
“There’s no active fighting on the front lines right now; I’ll be fine if I go over there for a bit.”
“If you’re truly worried about me, you can go speak to Commander Yang later…”
Nangong still attempted to raise the rifle’s muzzle.
Her strength far surpassed Lin Yu’s, forcing Lin Yu to exert all her might to keep Nangong’s hands pressed down.
‘It’s just a regular reassignment order; don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.’
Their usual roles seemed to have undergone a strange reversal in this moment.
Lin Yu had become the calm, persuasive one, while Nangong, overwhelmed by her emotions, struggled to maintain her composure.
Her hands still trembled slightly, as if she were wrestling to keep her emotions in check.
Nangong continued speaking to Lin Yu, trying to make her see that this was far from a normal reassignment, but rather another conspiracy linked to her previous imprisonment.
“How is this normal? Why would the Army’s General Staff Department issue a direct reassignment order for someone as insignificant as you?”
“And by name, no less? There’s absolutely a plot afoot; those who conspired to frame you for treason surely haven’t given up.”
“Nangong! Even if there’s more to it, can’t you see all those guns pointed at us?!”
“…I don’t care what their reasons are; this isn’t over.”
Though her words still conveyed defiance, at least the rifle was now lowered, no longer aimed at the black-clad soldiers, which allowed the volatile atmosphere to ease slightly.
“See, now that’s a cooperative attitude.”
Observing Nangong had finally ceased raising her weapon, the commanding officer nodded slightly and simultaneously ordered his Supervisory Squad to lower their rifles as well.
“Now then, let’s have this private pack her things and head to the trenches.”
“We hope to receive news of her return to duty from Corporal Lu soon.”
With another wave of his hand, the soldiers who had stormed into the tent like a gust of wind departed just as swiftly.
Nangong remained standing, clutching her rifle, while Lin Yu still had her hand pressed against Nangong’s arm.
Realizing she was still gripping Nangong’s arm, Lin Yu quickly released her hold.
A palm-sized red mark already bloomed on Nangong’s fair forearm.
“Nangong, please go speak to Commander Yang about this.”
“I’ll pack my things now.”
“…Alright.”
Nangong rehung her rifle, quickly tidied her hair, donned her cap, and then exited the tent.
With Nangong gone, Lin Yu found herself alone, standing idly before the table in the medical tent.
Her gaze slowly swept over the novel, the envelope, and the half-empty teacup resting on its surface.
‘Were the days of peace coming to an end?’
Lin Yu shook her head, then returned to her bunk to quietly pack her clothes.
****
With her steel helmet on her head, rifle slung across her back, and long boots laced on her feet, Lin Yu swayed slightly as she walked towards the trenches ahead, a small pack of personal belongings strapped to her back.
The environment was familiar, as was her attire.
Just over a month ago, on a certain afternoon, she had been unceremoniously shoved into these very trenches, thus beginning her military career.
Now, however, the quartermaster who used to sit by the trench entrance was nowhere to be seen, and she herself was wearing a uniform that could, at best, be considered military attire.
‘Could this truly be considered revisiting an old place, but with an entirely different state of mind?’
Before stepping into the trench, Lin Yu gazed up at the vast, cloudless winter sky beyond the mountains, posing this question to herself.
‘At least the Lanforsians aren’t keen on shelling the trenches anymore.’
Bowing her head, Lin Yu continued forward, offering herself this small comfort.
Her first priority was to find Lieutenant Xia.
As he was responsible for battlefield command in this sector, he should know the origins of the “First Special Task Force” mentioned by the officer, as well as its station.
With her steel helmet obscuring half her face, many failed to recognize her, simply assuming she was another soldier returning to the trenches after a shower in the rear.
Walking and inquiring along the way, Lin Yu eventually reached a dugout and stepped inside without hesitation.
“Report before entering… Oh? Is that you?”
Lieutenant Xia sat on a chair within, sipping water and holding a newspaper.
Recognizing her, he swiftly shifted his chiding tone to a gentle inquiry.
“What brings you here?”
Lin Yu posed the question that had been brewing in her mind for some time.
“Lieutenant, do you know where the ‘First Special Task Force’ is stationed?”
“Of course I know; I’ll take you there.”
“However, with you dressed like this… are you here for a field medical visit?”
He set down his newspaper and metal cup, placed his military cap on his head, and then took the steel helmet from its nail, securing it in place.
“No, I’m to report to Corporal Lu’s unit.”
“I’ve been reassigned to work under him.”
Lieutenant Xia, who had been adjusting his uniform, paused for a moment before pressing for more details.
“Did you upset Commander Yang? You were doing so well in the rear; why would you suddenly be transferred to the front lines?”
Lin Yu shook her head.
“This has nothing to do with Commander Yang; it’s an order from higher up, and I don’t believe Commander Yang even knows about it.”
“Is that so… I might not be able to help you much, but I can ask Mr. Lu to look after you a bit more.”
“Thank you.”
‘It truly pays to know people.’
She followed Lieutenant Xia through the winding trenches, eventually arriving at a familiar spot.
“See that bunker? His area of responsibility is just beyond it.”
Before her lay the very path she had traversed last night: a communication trench leading directly to the front.
‘Could it be… the place I’m going… and him…’
The answer was swiftly revealed.
The man was indeed serving in the unit to which Lin Yu had been assigned, leaning against a firing position with his rifle, appearing exactly as he had under the moonlight last night.
Yet, what was evidently more pressing in that moment was the “wounded” soldier lying on the ground, shot directly in the chest, surrounded by frantic infantrymen attempting to staunch the bleeding with bandages.
Lin Yu’s surprise stemmed from the silent, observing corporals, while Lieutenant Xia’s shock came from the wounded man’s face.
“Mr. Lu? You… you must hold on! She’s a medic, she can—”
Lin Yu, the medic they had summoned, delivered a grim prognosis to the wounded man.
“Lieutenant Xia, I’m afraid you must accept this loss; injuries like his are beyond saving.”