Lin Xinglan subconsciously swallowed her saliva, as if she couldn’t understand the words.
"How, how is that possible? We’re just freshmen at the military academy, and the month-long military training was nothing more than routine drill formation. How could we possibly deal with actual combat?"
Lin Xinglan instantly snapped to alertness, her drowsiness blown completely away.
Song Lili pursed her lips, "Unusual opportunities always come with unusual risks."
"If it really is combat, then the enemy has already ambushed in Luoheng Mountain. How many enemies there are and in what manner they’ll appear are all unknowns."
"Xiao Hua... what you’re saying is making me so nervous. It can’t be that terrifying, right? I’ve never even shot a gun, let alone at a person..."
"You can choose to surrender."
"...I don’t want to!"
Lin Xinglan hastily straightened up and then earnestly grabbed Song Lili’s hand, "Teach me! Teach me now!"
Song Lili looked shocked and quickly pried off her fingers one by one, "Stop joking. Teach you now? How can I?"
Lin Xinglan stuttered, at a loss for words and unsure of what to do.
"As I said before, I’m only speculating. It might not be actual combat. I told you so that you’d be psychologically prepared."
"Prepared for what? If it really comes to that, I’ll definitely get my head blown off with a single shot!"
Song Lili looked at Lin Xinglan somewhat astonishedly, and realizing that Lin Xinglan was not joking, but deadly serious, she felt a mix of laughter and sorrow.
But what could she do?
If it were indeed combat, she would have difficulty just looking after herself, let alone Lin Xinglan...
As comrades, she wouldn’t abandon Lin Xinglan unless absolutely necessary, but she hadn’t forgotten the deal Shen Lingxi and Lin Xinglan made... it was still valid.
"Regardless, remember that the right to give up is always in your hands, and also remember, protecting yourself is always the most important thing at any time. That’s all I can say. Get some rest while you still can."
After saying that, Song Lili handed the bullets and gun to Lin Xinglan.
With her arms crossed, she leaned against the tree trunk, slightly tilting her head upward to admire the beautiful starry sky above the mountain.
"Tomorrow... will you abandon me?"
Lin Xinglan asked timidly, her voice revealing the fear of being left behind and abandoned.
Song Lili closed her eyes,
"Just make the most of the time to rest."
She didn’t give a direct answer, and she couldn’t.
Lin Xinglan didn’t get an answer from Song Lili, felt a bit dejected, and couldn’t help but deem Song Lili as heartlessly indifferent, even harboring some resentment.
Sleepiness swept over her again, the stress of the entire day and her depleted energy pressing down on her all at once...
Lin Xinglan could no longer think about tomorrow, she closed her eyes and rested her head on Song Lili’s shoulder, and slept.
Song Lili was tired too, but she never fully fell asleep, always opening her eyes at the slightest rustling of the wind and grass.
From the time they rested until three o’clock in the morning, six shots rang out, mostly near the base of the mountain; the sounds weren’t simultaneous, likely conflicts between the new recruits.
Lin Xinglan slept peacefully, undisturbed throughout.
As time ticked by, fortunately, Song Lili had managed to retrieve their luggage, otherwise a single sleeping bag would hardly fend off the cold for both of them.
Approaching four in the morning, Song Lili thought it was time to wake Lin Xinglan to continue their journey, when suddenly, not far from them, a series of footsteps burst from the woods!
Were others in conflict again...
Song Lili was on alert, carefully distinguishing the gunshots, they were so concentrated and numerous... she realized, she had really guessed right!