Chapter 28 Confinement

Chapter 28: Lockdown

"We have a mission tomorrow, how come you two are just getting back now?"

At eight in the evening, only the dormitory building in the military academy still had its lights on. Chen Yueming had just put in a cup of instant noodles and looked up, feeling a little guilty, at Nie Hang and Zhu Shinian, who had just come back from outside.

"I just put these in, they might be a little smelly. Do you mind? I can eat on the balcony."

At seventeen, Zhu Shinian still had a bit of baby fat on his face, making him look even younger than he really was.

He didn't answer right away, just shook his head to say it was fine after Nie Hang, standing next to him, spoke up first, saying he wouldn't mind sharing a bite.

"They're not done yet..." Chen Yueming muttered. "What were you two doing? Why didn't you take me along?"

"I asked you the day before yesterday," Zhu Shinian said, a little confused but answered honestly anyway. "We went to deliver the compensation money to the family of that injured senior from Group 1."

"Senior Lin?" Chen Yueming paused, a little wistful. "He was my instructor when I first got here. It's a shame he can't fight anymore after getting hurt..."

Then he remembered that the two had indeed asked if he wanted to go along, but he really hated those kinds of occasions, so he had declined.

"As long as he's alive, nothing else matters," Nie Hang said casually. "Senior Lin just told me and Xiao Zhu that it's not that bad. His dad's been sick for a while, and now not only does he get a compensation payout, but the Gu family's also covering part of his dad's medical bills."

The Gu family was generous to the Guard, covering not just their tuition and living expenses during their time at the academy, but also looking after their families if they were injured and retired or died.

"I think I've heard about that..." Chen Yueming's father was the police chief of District 15, so he certainly wouldn't think of earning money that way. He brushed it off after Nie Hang finished. "The noodles are done. Do you want some?"

The Capital First Military Academy had strict management, so it's hard to go out on regular days. Usually, they could only eat in the cafeteria, which wasn't bad, but sometimes they just wanted junk food.

Zhu Shinian shook his head, while Nie Hang, as if waiting for that, took a big slurp of Chen Yueming's noodles, downing a quarter of it while Chen glared at him.

This was Zhu Shinian's second year at the Capital First Military Academy. After a year of training, tomorrow was their first mission.

It was also the second year since his brother's death.

Zhu Shinian went into the bathroom alone and came out distracted. Chen Yueming had to remind him twice that his hair wasn't dry before he finally heard.

Some thoughts, once they appear, take root like a seed, getting clearer and clearer in his mind.

Just like after his brother died, Zhu Shinian kept thinking that if it wasn't for him, his brother wouldn't have sold his blood, and if he hadn't sold his blood, he wouldn't have had that accident.

And now, Zhu Shinian couldn't help thinking that if he died or got injured on the battlefield, the Gu family would cover his grandma's medical bills and give her an additional compensation payout.

People from District 26 had worthless lives—drifting through life in a fog, they might not even earn half that compensation in a lifetime.

If he just got hurt like Senior Lin, that would be perfect.

Even if something happened, earning a payout that many in District 26 could never get in a lifetime, enough for his grandmother to live out her remaining years in peace, would be the most fitting end Zhu Shinian could imagine.

That night, Zhu Shinian didn't sleep well, waking up twice during the night, but he still woke up on time thanks to his internal clock.

Gu Zhen himself was leading their mission. By then, Gu Zhen was already the youngest lieutenant colonel in the empire, renowned for his extremely high mission success rate and efficiency.

At first, some secretly questioned whether his rank was just a result of his family's influence, but by now, few thought that way.

This mission turned out to be more dangerous than they had imagined. The mercenary squad, funded by the Federation, was not only experienced but also had firepower and equipment nearly on par with regular Federation troops.

These cadets were nervous on their first battlefield, and even Nie Hang, who usually had excellent shooting scores, was trembling badly.

"Not bad marksmanship," someone commented as they walked up to Zhu Shinian.

Zhu Shinian recognized the voice. Remembering his own shameful calculations, his heart wavered, and he missed several shots in a row.

"...Th-thank you, Lieutenant Colonel," Zhu Shinian stammered.

Sensing his nervousness, Gu Zhen didn't keep staring at him. He just muttered something about not being able to take praise and turned his gaze elsewhere.

Zhu Shinian missed another shot. He lowered his head, pretending to be calm as he replaced the empty magazine.

*The Gu Commander gave you a place to stay. The Gu family covers part of the medical expenses for injured retired soldiers—it's for those in need, not for you to... to cheat and swindle your way through.*

*Gu Zhen is your benefactor. He gave you shelter when you had nowhere to go. He's been so good to you. Zhu Shinian, how could you repay him like this?*

*Getting hurt on purpose—bullets and shells have no eyes. How can you be sure you won't die? If you die, you'll leave your grandmother alone in this world.*

*But I caused my brother's death...* Zhu Shinian couldn't help thinking. *If fate decides I should die here, it's what I deserve...*

In that moment of distraction, something slammed into him with immense force, knocking him flat to the ground.

The world spun. Gunfire continued from all directions.

His vision was a blur of red. Warm liquid splattered onto Zhu Shinian's face.

The next second, he realized it wasn't his blood.

The bullet had passed through Gu Zhen's body. Gu Zhen had pushed him away and fallen before him.

So much blood...

Zhu Shinian's mind went blank. Gu Zhen's face and body before him seemed to turn pale instantly, cold, shriveled, lifeless.

*No, don't die...*

Zhu Shinian's lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single sound.

*It's my fault. Don't die. Don't die in front of me.*

"Lieutenant Colonel, how are you?" The adjutant rushed over, asking anxiously.

"I'm fine, I won't die. What about the hostage?" Gu Zhen asked calmly.

"The hostage is safe. The enemy leader is neutralized. Let me carry you back."

"Hey, are you a new recruit?" Someone patted the frozen Zhu Shinian. "Why are you standing there stunned?"

........

"Are you a new recruit? First time on the battlefield?" The older man exuded an imposing aura. Just one look from him, and Zhu Shinian felt his dark thoughts were laid bare.

It was his twisted thinking that had caused this. He had harmed Gu Zhen.

"I'm sorry, Commander Gu, I..."

"First time on the battlefield, failing to protect Gu Zhen is understandable," Gu Liansheng said, not wanting to hear his excuses, and continued on his own.

"But the Gu family doesn't pay you extra for nothing. Two days of confinement and a restraint chair, then twenty lashes after the confinement ends. Adjutant Qian gets one day of confinement and ten lashes. Any objections?"

"Marshal Gu," Zhu Shinian bit his lip, gathering his courage to speak. "It has nothing to do with Lieutenant Colonel Qian. He was rescuing the hostage. I was by the young master's side. I failed to protect him..."

It was his own fault. He had been harboring messy thoughts that led to Gu Zhen getting hurt. If he dragged others into this, Zhu Shinian would only feel worse.

"He seems to be the new recruit the young master took in last year, still inexperienced," Adjutant Qian said with an apologetic smile to Marshal Gu. "Don't listen to him, Commander. I'll report and then accept my punishment."

Gu Liancheng's gaze swept lightly across the young face before him; he remembered this person—the one Gu Zhen had recruited past the deadline as an exception.

District 26, a low-class person from a low-class place. His more outspoken colleagues would probably say something like that.

Gu Liancheng wasn't really prejudiced about people's backgrounds—among the nobility, there were plenty of good-for-nothings, and among commoners, there were many ambitious and capable individuals.

But with a background like this, the person before him was bound to harbor resentment toward the country and society. It would be hard for him to truly be loyal to the Gu family or the empire. If it were up to him, he wouldn't have recruited someone like this.

"Young people value loyalty," Commander Gu said, looking at Zhu Shinian calmly. "That's not necessarily a bad thing. Since you're willing, then go ahead and shoulder Deputy Qian's punishment too."

At the Commander's words, Deputy Qian couldn't help but frown. Was this kid out of his mind, jumping at the chance to take on something like this?

Thirty lashes were one thing—painful, but not enough to cause lasting damage. But three days of confinement in that restraint chair was no joke. The chair would lock him in place with wooden stocks, handcuffs, and a neck restraint, leaving him completely immobilized. The dark room gave no way to tell time, making it pure psychological torture.

And that was just a second-year student; how could he endure that?

But he had served Marshal Gu for many years and knew Marshal Gu was always fair about rewards and punishments. He wouldn't agree to such a thing from a new recruit without reason.

If he agreed, it meant that imposing extra punishment on this kid was exactly what he intended.

Deputy Qian didn't dare argue further. He personally escorted Zhu Shinian to the confinement room, loosening the neck restraint as much as he could.

Zhu Shinian remained silent until he closed the door, then raised his eyes to give him a look.

The confinement room was pitch black. As the door slowly shut, until there was no light at all.

Only then did Zhu Shinian feel the fear setting in.

He hated himself for being a coward in the face of the punishment he deserved. You're the one who got the young master hurt. What right do you have to be scared, to feel sorry for yourself?

But fear of darkness was almost hardwired into humans. Darkness could hide terrifying monsters, could hold all kinds of unknown fears.

To make matters worse, Zhu Shinian had been given a suppressant beforehand, so he had no way to track how much time had passed during these three days.

It felt like blood could no longer reach his limbs. His hands and feet grew numb.

In the darkness, he heard the sounds of rats. They seemed well-fed—unlike the starving rats of District 26, the rats in the capital were almost as big as cats.

Because he couldn't move his head, Zhu Shinian had no idea where the rats were. All he heard was the constant sound of rats gnawing on wood or something else.

Before long, Zhu Shinian felt drowsy, but the restraint chair was set at such an awkward angle that whenever he leaned forward or back from drowsiness, the tightening wooden stocks or neck restraint would jolt him awake.

How long had it been? Two hours, maybe two days.

Zhu Shinian had no way to tell. This punishment seemed endless.

When the door to the confinement room was pushed open, Zhu Shinian thought he was hallucinating.

Was it three days already? Was it over?

The cold white light came on, illuminating the pale face of a man in a hospital gown.

"Young master, Commander Gu ordered this man to be confined here. Please don't do anything rash. It's only been half a day..."

"Enough," Gu Zhen ignored the protests from behind him. He walked up to Zhu Shinian and said calmly, "It's okay now."

"It wasn't your fault. I'll take you back."

Author's note: