Returning Home

As the sole survivor of her squad, Lin Yilan fabricated a story sufficient to satisfy her superiors. After detailing the entire process, she was finally granted permission to return to her assigned barracks. In the Sear Empire, lower-ranking sergeants shared mixed-gender dormitories. Apart from partitioned bathing and toilet areas, all other arrangements made no distinction based on gender.

She took a hot bath to drive away the chill.

Wiping the mist from the mirror, Lin Yilan gazed at her reflection, feeling a slight sense of relief. Her first day in Xiuwa hadn't been good, but at least she was alive. Compared to her dead teammates and the severely botched mission, the loss of her weapon during the firefight was trivial.

Despite being a newcomer, Lin Yilan was well aware of how hostile the local civilians were toward the military and nobility. The soldier she failed to save was likely dead. The fact that she could retreat from the slums unscathed while wearing a military uniform, without getting her throat slit, was truly a miracle.

The front lines of Xiuwa were more dangerous than she had anticipated...

Her green eyes darkened slightly as she recalled everything she had heard about Xiuwa City.

Xiuwa City was one of the most important mining regions in the Sear Empire.

Seventy percent of the energy crystals required by the entire nation came from here. Officials appointed by the Council supervised the collection and transportation, handing them over to merchants approved by the nobility for sale. The steady stream of crystals from this place supported the energy consumption of the entire Sear Empire.

There were many types of crystals. Some could be made into expensive ornaments and jewelry, while others were worthless. Another type, which naturally stored energy, could be used for lighting and heating. However, the quality of such crystals varied greatly. Unstable ones were prone to exploding, while those from high-quality veins were expensive and usually reserved for the upper-class nobility and wealthy households. Inferior crystals were mostly used by commoners, while the poorest at the bottom could only use the most primitive oil lamps and firewood.

Possessing such rich mineral deposits, Xiuwa City should have been wealthy and prosperous. However, the nobility monopolized the crystal industry. The civilians who worked as miners received meager wages for arduous, heavy labor, while the massive profits fell into the hands of nobles and merchants. Over time, Xiuwa split into two worlds: one was the extravagant high society where noble families and energy mine owners spent money like water; the other was where the people, overburdened by excessive exploitation, struggled to survive. The slums continued to expand, creating a chaotic, dilapidated area filled with garbage—a space governed by rules entirely different from the law, like another dimension.

With order collapsed, public security in Xiuwa was atrocious, and even severe laws could hardly contain it.

Theft occurred constantly. Thugs robbed people at gunpoint in dark alleys, bandits openly looted carriages, and traveling merchants and nobles were stripped clean in the suburban forests while the security forces stood helpless. Although judges ceaselessly handed down death sentences and executioners were kept busy, crime continued to grow day by day. But what truly terrified the nobility was not the petty thieves, but the riots that were impossible to eradicate in Xiuwa.

The Empire issued harsh orders for crystal collection, and the flogging of laborers was common, frequently inciting unrest.

Several military suppressions had been bloody and cruel, causing the people of Xiuwa to utterly hate the military and nobility. This bred endless insurgents and formed underground resistance organizations. One mayor was even stripped naked and hung upside down in front of his mansion, becoming a long-standing joke. The intensity of the rebellions once reached a point where no noble dared to take office in Xiuwa. Finally, the Council passed a resolution to transfer the Sear Empire's most iron-blooded General back from the northern border to suppress the city.

The resolution achieved excellent results, and no major turmoil occurred in Xiuwa again.

After nearly ten years of peace, the General temporarily left the base for an imperial tour and to deal with border rebellions. Attacks targeting nobles immediately broke out in Xiuwa. The City Hall was set on fire by thugs. In his rage, the Mayor of Xiuwa overstepped his authority to take command, resulting in heavy casualties and zero results. Setting aside the terrible commander, the strength of the insurgents spoke for itself.

Touching the bruise on the side of her neck gently, remembering the dangerous situation from before, Lin Yilan’s breath hitched slightly.

She absolutely did not want to face such a terrifying enemy again.

With a long whistle, the steam train pulled into the station, and the noisy crowd hurried on and off.

The green-eyed young woman stepped off the train, ducked into a light carriage, and traveled across half the city, stopping in front of a luxurious, imposing mansion. A servant in crisp attire stepped forward to take her suitcase. She walked into the inner hall, where a chubby old woman greeted her with a hopeful smile.

"Dear Yilan, you're finally back."

Pulled into a wide, warm embrace, the young woman habitually buried her head in the old woman's chest. "Nanny Maya, I'm sorry. I should have returned last week. I even bought the gifts, but my leave was canceled. Blame the damn Mayor of Xiuwa; may heaven make his balding forehead even shinier."

The old woman laughed until she coughed, her wrinkled eyes filled with affection as she kissed the tender cheek.

"My little Yilan is still so cute. Let me take a good look." Stepping back a little to scan her, the old woman frowned. "You've lost weight again. Is the food in the army pig slop? Poor child, there's no meat on you at all."

Lin Yilan touched her face. "It's terrible. I dream of Nanny's delicious food."

Old Maya's heart ached greatly. "I'll make you something delicious right away. How many days can you stay this time? I won't let you leave until I've fattened you up."

Hugging Nanny's waist in agreement, Lin Yilan went to her room to freshen up briefly, changed into a long dress, and was immediately drowned in a dazzling array of delicious food.

Looking at the mountain of food on the dining table, and then at the smiling old nanny beside her, Lin Yilan took a deep breath and buried her head in eating. By the time the final dessert was served, she could barely stand up.

"Nanny—" It wasn't spoiling; she truly had the will but not the strength. Her gaze swept over the sweet-smelling dessert and paused. "Madeleine Flambé Blueberry Cake?"

Old Maya was quite proud. "It's exactly Little Yilan's favorite blueberry cake."

Madeleine Flambé Blueberry Cake was a top-tier delicacy of the Empire, and also quite difficult to make. It tested both baking skills and the chef's patience; if left overnight, the taste would be completely different.

"I just came back. How did Nanny Maya have time to make it?"

"I heard Yilan would be back in the next few days, so I made one every day." The old woman looked as proud as a child. "Luckily, you came home before my stash of blueberries ran out."

Cutting a piece and putting it in her mouth, it was as sweet as she remembered.

Her nose gradually tingled, feeling a little sour.

After tossing and turning for a long time under the comfortable silk quilt, Lin Yilan sat up.

Since joining the army, the number of times she had returned home could be counted on one hand. She was no longer used to the layers of soft bedding. Pulling the quilt off to wrap around her body, she fell asleep peacefully on the carpet.

"Miss Yilan!"

It was clearly a warm and kind voice, yet it carried a fierce undertone, startling Lin Yilan awake from her dream. Her mind was still a bit fuzzy. "Nanny Maya?"

"Sleeping on the floor! You are a lady! How could the child I raised single-handedly turn out like this? Heavens! Madam must be crying in heaven seeing her beloved child sleeping on the ground like a hobo..." The old woman's scolding poured out like a rainstorm.

Must have eaten too much yesterday and forgotten to crawl back into bed in the morning, Lin Yilan regretted silently.

The endless stream of complaints seemed to have no end, and she finally couldn't help it. "Sorry, Nanny. The carriage ride back yesterday was very crowded, so I was a bit tired. I didn't even notice I fell off the bed."

"Fell off?" Old Maya paused, her anger subsiding slightly. "Even so, your sleeping posture is..."

"Because the bed Nanny made was too comfortable, I accidentally slid off," Lin Yilan lied without changing her expression, looking completely innocent. "I'll be careful tonight."

"If that's the case—" The hands on her hips moved to cross over her chest. The old woman kept a straight face and stared at her, as if facing a disobedient little girl. "That was my negligence. I should let Miss re-familiarize herself with the etiquette a lady should have. Tonight, I will keep watch, so I can correct Miss's sleeping posture at any time."

"Huh?"

The streets of the Imperial Capital were as lively as ever. After finishing a cup of roadside coffee that Nanny Maya had once ridiculed as mud water, Lin Yilan tossed down a few copper coins and walked out.

A passing man glanced over casually, stared for a moment to make sure he wasn't mistaken, then adjusted his hat and chased a few steps behind her. Just as he was about to grab her arm, he suddenly lost his target. The young woman dodged the surprise attack, locked his wrist, and hooked his leg. The man instantly lost his balance, feeling like he was about to be thrown. He shouted in fright.

"Yilan, it's me!"

"Chaney." Meeting her classmate from the Royal Military Academy, Lin Yilan was pleasantly surprised. "When did you return to the Imperial Capital?"

"Administrative changes two months ago." Rotating his wrist, Chaney breathed a sigh of relief. "Still so vigilant."

Lin Yilan smiled. The Chaney before her wore a crisp uniform and looked high-spirited, very different from the lazy and slacking attitude he had at the academy. Clearly, several years of military life had left an invisible mark. "Transferred back? Congratulations, you finally got your wish."

She remembered Chaney's reaction when he first received orders to be stationed at the border fort; it could be described as wishing he were dead.

Chaney couldn't help but feel a bit smug. "And you? I heard you're no longer in Del City. Where are you now?"

"Xiuwa."

"How did you end up in that hellhole?" Chaney was stunned.

"Father said I had been doing clerical work for too long and sent me to Xiuwa for retraining."

"You still need retraining?" Chaney couldn't understand why an elite who was praised endlessly even by the strictest instructors at the Royal Military Academy still needed training.

"The academy and the army are two different things." Lin Yilan downplayed it, not intending to discuss herself further. "Which department did you join upon returning?"

"The Constitutional Department. Cost me a lot of effort to smooth things over. Those old guys in the Council are simply vampires." Chaney admitted generously, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, did you see Casey in Xiuwa?"

"He's in Xiuwa? I never heard." Lin Yilan was slightly surprised.

Chaney shrugged. "His brain is too good. He entered the Imperial Research Institute, and his work is classified as top secret. I only found out by coincidence that the research center is located in the Xiuwa Base. Poor Casey, his family hasn't seen him since he went in."

"What a..." The young woman shook her head, stopping mid-sentence.

Chaney sighed. "What bad luck? Indeed. Mentioning him makes me feel my luck is actually pretty good."

Lin Yilan couldn't help but laugh. The sunlight of the Imperial Capital was bright, reflecting in her green eyes like a pool of spring water.