397: Chapter 397 The Cruel Battlefield!!

The lead veteran captain, who had a scar on his face and an aura at the third grade mid-stage, was the first to react.

He wiped the sweat from his face, strode forward, and cupped his fists in salute to Qin Yan and Xiao Wangshu, his voice loud and sincere.

"Brother Qin Yan, you're too kind! You just saved Old Zhang's life!"

He pointed to the soldier who had nearly died moments ago. "I'm the captain of this squad, Zhao Tiezhu."

“Brothers, come over and meet Brother Qin and Miss Xiao!”

The rest of the soldiers put away their weapons one after another and gathered around.

The gazes they directed at Qin Yan and Xiao Wangshu were filled with gratitude, admiration, and even a hint of awe.

In this world where power was respected and life hung by a thread on the battlefield, strength was the ultimate pass and the most effective language of communication.

“Brother Qin's display of externalized True Qi just now was truly beautiful! Fast and accurate!”

“It’s a good thing you two arrived in time, otherwise Old Zhang would have been done for this time.”

“Brother Qin, Miss Xiao, to think that at such a young age, you are already Fourth Rank Martial Artists and top students from Modu University of Martial Arts. Truly remarkable!”

“With the two of you stationed here, our section of the position can finally breathe a sigh of relief today!”

Everyone spoke at once, their tones enthusiastic.

The soldier known as 'Old Zhang' stepped forward and bowed deeply to Qin Yan. "Brother Qin, thank you for saving my life! My life, Zhang Dashan's life, was saved by you!"

Qin Yan quickly reached out to support him, saying warmly, "Brother Zhang, you're overstating it. Helping fellow soldiers is just part of the job."

“We are all here to defend the line; there's no need for this.”

After a brief exchange and introductions, the atmosphere became much more harmonious.

Qin Yan took the opportunity to ask Zhao Tiezhu and the others about the specific situation of this position, their daily tasks, and the potential threats they faced.

Zhao Tiezhu and the others were also happy to brief these two powerful yet approachable 'student soldiers' on the situation.

“This section of 'Greystone Beach' we're responsible for is under the jurisdiction of the Fifth Grand Brigade of the Fiftieth Battalion.”

Zhao Tiezhu pointed at the surrounding terrain and began to explain.

“We are mainly responsible for the defense of a five-hundred-meter stretch of coastline. On ordinary days, small-scale merman infiltrations like the one just now are commonplace.”

“These mermen aren't strong individually, mostly only second or third rank, but sometimes when there are many of them, or when one or two powerful ones are mixed in, it gets quite troublesome.”

He sighed and continued, “What’s truly lethal is the occasional Sea Race leader equivalent to a Fourth Rank Martial Artist, or elites from certain special races charging up mixed in with the fodder.”

“Once a fourth-rank level enemy appears, our small group can't stop them at all. We can only immediately fire a signal to call for reinforcements from the rear and neighboring positions.”

Zhao Tiezhu's expression turned solemn. “However, it takes time for reinforcements to arrive.”

“If our luck is bad and we encounter something particularly tricky, or the enemy comes too fast... we might not hold out until reinforcements arrive.”

Hearing this, Qin Yan couldn't help but frown.

He looked around at the defenders of this position—it was just these dozen or so third-rank soldiers before him.

Such a configuration was indeed extremely fragile in the face of a potential fourth-rank enemy, practically placing these soldiers in a dangerous spot where they could be slaughtered at any moment.

“Why doesn't the military... permanently station at least one Fourth Rank Martial Artist at frontline positions like this?”

Qin Yan asked the doubt in his heart, his tone carrying a hint of confusion and even some dissatisfaction.

In his view, this arrangement seemed too reckless, as if the lives of these ordinary soldiers were being treated as expendables.

Hearing this, Zhao Tiezhu and the surrounding soldiers looked at each other, their faces showing a hint of bitterness and helplessness.

“Brother Qin, you've just arrived, so you wouldn't know.”

“It wasn't like this before. A beachhead position like ours would at least be equipped with one Fourth Rank Martial Artist as the core combat power, supplemented by a squad of elite veterans. But...”

He paused and looked toward the distant sea where artillery fire filled the sky, his voice deepening. “But since a while ago, a third Eighth-Rank Grandmaster suddenly emerged from the Dragon Whale Clan opposite us, and the Sea Race's offensive suddenly intensified several times over!”

“The pressure on the main battlefield has increased tremendously, and casualties have also skyrocketed.”

“To fill the gaps on the frontline, the higher-ups had no choice but to gradually redeploy many Fourth Rank Martial Artists, who were originally stationed on the flanks for guard and clearing duties, to the most dangerous core battlefields.”

“So, the Fourth Rank Martial Artists originally stationed at these second and third-line positions, and even some experienced veteran teams, have been successively redeployed to the further front, to the main defensive lines and key nodes where the pressure is greater.”

Zhao Tiezhu gave a bitter smile. “We're considered lucky here... the higher-ups have no choice either. With only so many troops, they can only prioritize the most critical areas first.”

Qin Yan fell silent.

The righteous indignation he felt a moment ago turned into a heavy weight upon hearing this explanation.

This wasn't simple dereliction of duty or disregard for life, but a helpless trade-off under the cruel reality of war.

The frontline was like a giant meat grinder, consuming the lives and resources of both sides.

When the overall defensive line faced immense pressure, some relatively secondary links had to be sacrificed to preserve the more critical parts.

This was the cold logic of war.

After a while, Qin Yan finally spoke slowly, his voice calm but carrying the power of a promise.

“It’s fine. I’m here now.”

His gaze swept over the resolute yet tired faces of Zhao Tiezhu, Zhang Dashan, and the other soldiers.

“As long as I, Qin Yan, am still on this position, I will not give up on anyone!”

The veterans were stunned for a moment upon hearing Qin Yan's words, then grateful smiles appeared on their faces, though those smiles were mostly filled with the bitterness of understanding.

Zhao Tiezhu patted Qin Yan's shoulder, his tone complex.

“Brother Qin, we brothers appreciate the sentiment, we really do. Thank you.”

“However... with strength and talent like yours and Miss Xiao's, coming here is likely just a transition to let you get familiar with the battlefield atmosphere and basic tactics.”

He looked out at the distant sea, where the artillery fire was still intense.

“Once you've adapted, the higher-ups will definitely transfer you to the main frontline positions where you're needed more.”

“That is where geniuses like you belong, and where you can play a greater role.”

“This place... is ultimately just a small corner on the edge of the battlefield.”

Hearing this, Qin Yan did not immediately retort, nor did he speak any more heroic words.

He merely looked at these simple soldiers who knew they might only be brief passers-by yet still expressed kindness and gratitude, and nodded solemnly.

Some words didn't need to be said.

Some things just needed to be done to the best of one's ability.

Soon, under Zhao Tiezhu's arrangement, Qin Yan and Xiao Wangshu were stationed on a slightly elevated rocky platform at the rear of the position.

The view here was broad, allowing them to overlook most of the defensive zone.

Meanwhile, Zhao Tiezhu led the remaining soldiers, divided into two groups.

They began their routine cross-patrols along the designated boundaries of the defensive zone, staying alert for any possible unusual movements on the sea surface.

The sea breeze remained biting, carrying the scent of blood.

The distant roaring and the nearby sound of waves intertwined into an eternal background noise.

Qin Yan sat cross-legged, his gaze calm as he looked out at the deep and peril-filled ocean.

He knew this was only the beginning.

In this giant furnace called the Zhenhai Battlefield, his tempering had only just ignited its first flame.