Years turn into wind

Chapter 203 Soul Comfort

Aftermath

Inside the friendly camp, Cheng Yuwei's wounds were cleaned, stitched, and bandaged, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, the physical exhaustion was far less than the mental strain. Her mind kept replaying the images of those two times she was cut off—the determined expressions of the soldiers, the roar of the landslide, the lives lost in the gunfire... It all made her heart feel heavy.

"What are you thinking about?" Ling Xiaotian's voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Cheng Yuwei looked up and saw him coming over with a bowl of hot soup. A tired smile flashed in her eyes: "Thinking that we are still alive, it feels like a dream."

Ling Xiaotian handed over the hot soup and sat down opposite her, looking at her steadily: "You don't have to blame yourself for those who sacrificed. This is a battlefield. They sacrificed their lives in exchange for our chance to live."

Cheng Yuwei was silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice: "Where are their families? Will anyone tell them?"

Ling Xiaotian nodded: "Of course, every soldier's sacrifice will be remembered. Their families will also be proud of their bravery."

Cheng Yuwei lowered her eyes, covered her face with her hands, and her voice was choked: "But I think we owe them."

Ling Xiaotian sighed softly, put his hand on her shoulder, and spoke softly, "What you owe is a responsibility you can repay with your lifetime. Their sacrifice was to keep you alive. With your wisdom and actions, you can give more people the opportunity to escape the torment of war. This is the only way you can repay them."

Cheng Yuwei took a deep breath and nodded. Seeing this, Ling Xiaotian said nothing more and just stayed by her side silently.

Daily life in the army

A few days later, Cheng Yuwei's health had recovered considerably, and the atmosphere in the camp had become somewhat more relaxed. With the enemy's pursuit interrupted and Ling Xiaotian's team successfully reunited with the main force, the situation had stabilized somewhat.

In the morning, Cheng Yuwei followed the medical team to the field hospital to provide assistance to the wounded. She found that although these soldiers had experienced the baptism of blood and fire, their tenacity and optimism deeply touched her.

"Doctor, are you new here?" a young soldier asked Cheng Yuwei with a grin. His arm was wrapped in gauze, but his tone was relaxed.

"I'm not a doctor, I'm just helping." Cheng Yuwei replied.

"Oh, I'm relieved then." The little soldier blinked. "Because if you were a doctor, I would be afraid that you would accidentally give the wrong medicine."

Cheng Yuwei couldn't help laughing. Just as she was about to reply, the nurse next to her slapped the little soldier in the face and said, "You're the only one who's talking nonsense. Be quiet!"

The soldiers' humor and straightforwardness made Cheng Yuwei feel a rare sense of relief. However, every time she saw the pale and scarred soldiers lying on the hospital beds, a heavy sense of mission surged in her heart.

Warm companionship

At night, a bonfire was lit in the camp, and the soldiers sat around it, singing or telling stories of the past. Cheng Yuwei sat in the corner, her hands clasped on her knees, listening quietly.

Ling Xiaotian walked over and sat down next to her: "Why are you hiding here alone?"

Cheng Yuwei smiled and said, "I didn't hide. I just listened to their stories."

Ling Xiaotian nodded and handed her a pot of hot tea: "Drink some to warm yourself up."

She took the teapot, took a sip, then looked up at him: "Xiaotian, do you think we can win this battle?"

Ling Xiaotian pondered for a moment, his eyes looking towards the night sky in the distance: "I don't know, but we must win."

Cheng Yuwei looked at his calm profile and suddenly realized that the burden on his shoulders was heavier than she had imagined. She asked softly, "If one day, it really comes to the worst, will you regret it?"

Ling Xiaotian turned his head and looked at her, his eyes firm: "If I can protect you, I will never regret it."

These words shocked Cheng Yuwei's heart. She opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

The two men sat facing each other in silence, the firelight shining on each other's faces, as if time had stopped at this moment.

new crisis

However, peaceful days are always short-lived. The next morning, a messenger rushed into the camp, delivering an urgent letter. After Ling Xiaotian read it, his expression suddenly became solemn.

"What's wrong?" Cheng Yuwei noticed that something was wrong with him and asked.

Ling Xiaotian put the document away and said in a low voice, "The enemy's main force is approaching us. It is expected that they will completely encircle this area in two days."

Cheng Yuwei frowned: "Two days? What should we do then?"

"We must move immediately." Ling Xiaotian made a quick decision. "Also, we may need to disperse this time."

His words made Cheng Yuwei's heart tighten: "Disperse? What about you?"

"I'll lead a team to cover our retreat." Ling Xiaotian looked at her, his tone filled with unquestionable determination. "You follow the other team and go ahead. The farther the better."

"No!" Cheng Yuwei almost blurted out, "I can't leave you!"

Ling Xiaotian looked at her with a complicated expression: "Yuwei, this is an order, not a request."

Tears welled up in Cheng Yuwei's eyes, but she shook her head stubbornly: "Xiaotian, you let me live, but have you ever thought about what the meaning of my life would be if you were gone?"

Ling Xiaotian was stunned for a moment, his lips moving slightly, but he said nothing. He knew that the woman in front of him had become the most important part of his life, and her persistence was something he could not refute.

No choice

In the end, Cheng Yuwei chose to stay with Ling Xiaotian in the remaining group. Her reason was simple: "If we can all survive, that would be the best outcome; if we have to die, we have to die together."

Ling Xiaotian sighed helplessly, held her hand, and said in a deep voice: "Then let's fight together and survive together."