Chapter 2: Scumbags Need No Saving
Xiaotong ignored her and was about to say something when someone shouted as she came huffing after running over to her side.
"Xiao, Xiaotong! Oh god, you silly silly girl, what are you doing?"
An older female soldier who shared a room with her quickly pulled her to the side with shaky hands and softly said in a worried voice, "Do you want to be severely punished for insubordination? Quickly apologize now and do as she says. Captain Lu is someone who keeps grudges. Sigh, I know this doesn't feel good and you might not like me saying this but just hold it in for now. We can't fight against our higher up so just say you're sorry before Captain Lu snaps—"
Bai Xiaotong pulled her hands back and replied in a stern voice, "No. Who does she think she is? Those people, do you even know what they say about us soldiers? They think we are push-overs whom they can order around in the name of our so-called duty."
"Those people all they do is preach about their human rights whenever they have the chance to get what they want and yet they violate and forsake ours. They treat us as nothing but trash!"
"Why? Aren't soldiers human as well? Don't you feel wronged at all? No one respects us anymore. All of our dead companions and predecessors, so what if they didn't awaken? They died an honorble death deserving of everyone's respect! Don't sell yourselves short, we all deserve better!"
"That's enough, Xiaotong. There are... civilians around. It's not good to hear such—"
"Such what? Let them hear it. So they'd be aware of our feelings. How everyone are struggling and yet all they think is that we always owe them something."
"Bai Xiaotong!"
Ignoring their warnings, the girl scoffed.
"Do you know what else I've heard from those group's disgusting talk? Someone was boasting about shitting on a dead corporal's corpse who died after offering them a roof to stay and his family? They ruined his wife's virtues before killing her off and sold off their children to the black market! Who knows what other vile things they've done?"
This time around no one bothered to stop or scold her. All of those present were either shaking or dumbstruck in their toenails.
After hearing such an inhumane act, their chests constricted, and felt the blood rushing through their veins. Even the civilians present could feel the bloodlust among the soldiers and felt very scared.
But no matter how much loathing they felt, they were soldiers bound by their duty to save people.
"There's law Xiaotong—"
"Bullshit! We're no longer in an era where we can instill such thinking. Don't be foolish!"
Seeing their grave expression, Bai Xiaotong looked at them with sheer indifference.
"Do whatever you want, I won't be the one saving them. If anyone wants to save those fuckers, then do it on your own."
She glanced at the swirling red dungeon gate and spat coldly.
"Those dirty scumbags, need no saving. Since they like standing out so much while insulting others, let them stand on their own feet inside that irregular dungeon. If those C-rank and B-rank bastards survive an A-rank dungeon gate, I'll let them off for mocking the first-generation awakeners and those who perished while saving bastards like them. But if not..."
Heh!
At the corner, Captain Lu couldn't help but feel anxious. An heir to a wealthy tycoon is trapped inside, and she had already received a favor from that family in exchange for saving their son. If something happens to him, she'll definitely die and has to answer to them.
"That crazy bitch! This is all her fault!" She clenched her fist and cursed Bai Xiaotong for being a pain on her side.
"Bai Xiaotong, how can you be so heartless and not save them when you're an S-rank! What if a dungeon break occurs and monsters start swarming the city? Can you take responsibility—"
She stared at the raging Captain Lu disdainfully, "Don't talk nonsense, no one's too dumb to buy your crap. Did I tell them to enter? If not then, am I the one who made an error and gave them the wrong information about the dungeon's level?"
Though no one could really foresee such sudden changes when it comes to irregular dungeons, someone will still have to be accountable for today's accident.
"Fine, if that damn gate breaks out while I'm here, I'll obliterate all the monsters without anyone's help. But as for those people inside, I don't care if they die tomorrow or today. To me, they're dead. They're better off dead!"
"It's not my responsibility to save them. So don't force my hand and tell me what I should and shouldn't do, Captain Lu. Or else I'll throw you into the monster's nest or kill you along with them myself."
Everyone stood in silence, barely daring to move or breathe loudly. Those who had seen Bai Xiaotong's cold and murderous expression were paralyzed with fear. Is this still the quiet lady they had lived with for the past 18 months?
How can she act so savage?
Bai Xiaotong didn't need to guess what they were thinking. Even so, she wasn't kind enough to assure them that she wouldn't commit unnecessary murder. Because she might just have if they pulled any tricks against her.
During her time on the front line, she had overlooked their past behaviors and forgiven the disrespect of placing her in the lowest rung and making her an unawakened person's subordinate even when everyone knew she was an S-Rank Awakener.
For the sake of Bai Xiong, who held military men in high regard, she didn't make a fuss about it. Who knows how many times she had restrained herself from punching her officer's face, to give Bai Xiong peace of mind.
However, that never meant she had to force herself to do their bidding just because they said so when she was already this furious!
She could be maligned, but doing so to her family and the brave soldiers who saved everyone at the start by sacrificing their lives was a death wish!
And those scumbags trapped inside the dungeon, not only had they mocked the deaths of her heroes but even dragged her A-rank parents who died on duty while people like them are running away.
"Kill me? How arrogant! Bai Xiaotong, do you think you'll get away unscathed after threatening me just because you're an Awakener? Even your grandpa still has to give me face and dare not to be pompous in front of other officers. I'll make sure to get you properly disciplined! Since your parents failed to—huh? Ah! My hand, it hurts! Bai Xiaotong, you attacked me?! I'll kill you—"
Blag!
On that sweltering summer day, she departed from the front line with her heart cold and lifeless. Only a handful of high-ranking military officials and the people who witnessed the event with their own eyes knew that the reason she was dismissed was that she severed her superior's hand and shattered all her left ribs without remorse.
For Bai Xiaotong, she couldn't care less. She had lost the will to protect the people whom her grandpa and parents cherished deeply, only for them to turn their backs when the least they could do was pray for her parents' departing souls.
She thought that if the same mockery ever happened to her kind and honest grandfather, those people had just severed the last string holding her sanity from rampaging.
"It's only natural for the world to go down with him and accompany him wherever he goes."
Bai Xiaotong smiled coldly without Old Bai noticing. Completely unaware of the brewing storm swirling through her mind.
Bai Xiaotong blinked calmly like nothing happened before continuing to speak, "Compared to the Capital, this place is far safer. Why don't you just move in with me Grandpa? We can grow food here and raise a few livestocks. You can help me collect milk from the cows and feed the ostriches!" She pouted, remembering how hard it is to handle the stubborn ostrich birds in her farm. "I've already collected a whole bunch of supplies but if Grandpa wants, we can also hunt evolved beasts if you get bored while farming. Tong Tong will always be behind you to support your back."