CHAPTER 254: CHAPTER 146: FORCED MARRIAGE

"That’s the meat shield you were talking about? Height two meters two, weight one hundred forty-five kilograms, you could say he’s a walking mountain of flesh," Number 0 pointed at the towering figure in the middle of the arena, a gladiator who could rival the ancient O’neill.

"Hehe, Number 0, your analysis is a bit off the mark. Let me add a few more points; his linear impact force is comparable to a medium truck, this guy is a sergeant from the US Marine Corps, and he’s fought with me twice in a heist, never coveting more than his share, truly a straightforward person," Number 500 analyzed the opponent’s advantages in just a few words.

"Special Skill One is thick-skinned, Special Skill Two is Tai Mountain Pressing," Number 0 took a few more looks. Her Loli Reconnaissance Skill had hit a bottleneck, but there seemed to have been a breakthrough recently, she could now see clearly even when facing sergeant-level officers.

"I knew it; you’ve got sharp eyes, our boss didn’t believe it, saying he knew a reconnaissance soldier too, but every time someone’s asked to come over, he would hesitate and procrastinate. Turns out that reconnaissance soldier is a beauty, and boss has been keeping it under wraps," Number 500 continued unabated, his five-person team included the walking mountain of flesh, Number 0, and their immediate superior, Lu Xun. However, since Lu Xun had repeatedly stated not to reveal his true identity in ’Military Road’, Number 500 could only refer to him as the boss.

Hearing him out about their boss being somewhat of a meat shield too, Number 0 felt a bit more reassured.

"But there’s still something missing in our team, isn’t there?" Number 0 had not participated in team battles before, so she had to follow Number 500’s arrangements.

"There’s nothing missing; attack, defense, reconnaissance are all there, like in modern football - strikers, midfielders, defenders, plus a goalkeeper. However, we are short on numbers, most teams have five people," Number 500 analyzed while in the arena, a cheering erupted as the "meat mountain" successfully subdued an African lion.

Whether it was the bare-chested men or the exquisitely dressed ladies, all were excited by the thrill of beast blood,

"We’re missing a medic," Number 0 said, watching the African lion lying in a pool of blood, her nose already picking up the scent.

"Right, I heard some teams have medics, but that’s a scarce resource, that type of soldier, just like reconnaissance soldiers, are a vulnerable group," Number 500 spoke and glanced at Number 0 again.

When he first entered the Gladiator Arena, accustomed to civilized era practices like abolition of the death penalty and various euthanasia methods, Number 500 initially had some reservations about this brutal form of fighting. So he chose to prey on wealthy merchants and didn’t consider entering the gladiator arena.

Yet Number 0, whom he considered part of the "vulnerable group," didn’t seem to reject this scene. At least, her expressions and demeanor were still quite normal now.

"I know someone, but she’s not really a soldier. There are no explicit rules requiring a specific identity to compete in gladiator contests. I’ll try to persuade her," Number 0 said, staring blankly at the people cheering alongside her. What has become of this world?

"Alright, then our gladiator squad is officially formed. I’ll notify Yijie later," Number 500 had just finished speaking, and finally saw a reaction from Number 0, as she turned her face towards him.

In the arena, the neck of the African lion was twisted.

"Yijie?" A warmth surged in Number 0’s heart.

***

"Brother Xun," Lu Xun suddenly sprung up from the bed, spotting Ding Ling’s wheelchair right next to his bed. Lu Xun used to lock his door while sleeping, Ding Ling must have gotten a key made secretly.

Lu Xun was relieved that he’d worn flat boxers as he went to bed, but having Ding Ling barge in nonetheless made him quite embarrassed.

"Xiao Ling, I’ve told you before not to barge in while I’m sleeping," Despite being years away from street life, Lu Xun still retained the habit of staying vigilant while asleep. Especially after entering "Military Road," he felt some of his old habits resurfacing.

"But I really wanted to see you first thing in the morning," Ding Ling cooed, still dressed in her pajamas, her slender figure quelling the slight displeasure in Lu Xun’s heart.

Forget it, Lu Xun sighed internally. He once resented how "Ling" had changed, not the same as the "Ling" from the streets.

He himself was not the same either. During those months on the streets with "Ling," hadn’t he often sneaked to watch her as she woke up, to see her surprised and delighted face? Only now, Ding Ling was no longer the "Ling" of those days.

"Alright, our Ding family’s little ancestor, your birthday is coming up in a few days, have you thought about what gift you want?" Picking gifts for girls always troubled Lu Xun the most - clothes, jewelry, Ding Ling had plenty.

"I don’t want anything, I just want Brother Xun as my birthday gift," Ding Ling’s bold hint made Lu Xun wryly smile.

"Xiao Ling, you’re being unreasonable again. Me, a living person, should I tie myself up with a ribbon to be your gift? Or how about I buy you a watch? I saw one at Piaget today..." Lu Xun pulled back the quilt, and the cold air came in along with Ding Ling’s slender figure.

Ding Ling’s frail arms wrapped around Lu Xun’s sturdy waist, "Brother Xun, you always dodge my words. I’m serious, I don’t want a watch, and I don’t want jewelry. I want to be your wife."

Lu Xun hesitated, then finally pried her hands off, "Xiao Ling, you are still young, let’s discuss this matter in a few more years, okay?"

"I’m not young anymore. Since I turned eighteen, I’ve mentioned this to you, and you always say I’m still young. I think it’s not because I’m young, but because I’m disabled that you don’t want me, right?" Ding Ling was uncontrollably furious, she broke free from Lu Xun’s hands, trying hard to move back to her wheelchair.

The quilt on the bed slid off lightly, and with a slight misstep, she fell onto the floor. Ding Ling became even more anxious and angry, grabbing the quilt and pounding and hitting her legs, screaming and crying.

Early in the morning, her crying disturbed everyone in the villa.

Ding Ling’s private nurse rushed in chaotically, trying to help her up from the floor. But Ding Ling slapped the nurse twice, making the nurse afraid to come closer.

Wei Ruqin and Ding Han also hurried over in their pajamas, and seeing their daughter’s tantrum, Ding Han’s scolding only made Ding Ling cry louder. Wei Ruqin calmly watched the drama unfold, not offering comfort.

Left with no choice, Lu Xun had to apologize and promise to be her dance partner for the entire night on her birthday, and even let Ding Ling decide this year’s vacation spot to finally get her to stop her tantrum.

The private nurse, frightened, took Ding Ling back to her room and helped her get dressed.

"Do you think I’m pretty?" Ding Ling asked the nurse as she had her hair rolled up, looking at her own doll-like delicate reflection in the mirror.

"Beautiful, Miss has always been very beautiful since young," the private nurse replied with a swollen cheek, trying to please.

"I asked you to tell the truth. If you were a man, would you marry someone disabled like me?" Ding Ling shook her newly curled hair, the heat from the curling iron making her face even more flushed.

"Of course, Miss. Being beautiful and from a good family background, any man would marry you so he could struggle less in life," the private nurse left the other half of her thought unspoken, thinking, "A dead cripple with a nasty temper, only men greedy for power and status would want you."

"What are you thinking?" Although Ding Ling was disabled, her mind was sharp. From the reflected image in the mirror, she caught the nurse’s malicious glance. She grabbed the hot curling iron from the dressing table and pressed it against the nurse’s arm.

The freshly used curling iron immediately left a red mark on the nurse’s arm, who did not dare to talk back and kept apologizing profusely.

"You think I don’t know. You and everyone else call me a cripple, cursing that no one would want me. I will make Brother Xun marry me, and make all you jealous women die," Ding Ling said as her clothes and makeup were all set up, and having tormented the private nurse enough, she felt a bit better, "Why are you still standing there? Bring my phone over, I want to invite friends for tea."

Ding Ling’s friends were mostly those arrogant misses and daughters of military officers, among them was Zhang Fangxiao. Along with a few other spoiled wealthy girls, they often hung out together, a perfect match in their haughtiness.

After buying several outfits for the birthday party, Ding Ling and Zhang Fangxiao found a coffee shop and started chatting.

"What happened to your face?" Ding Ling, sharp-eyed, noticed a small patch of redness on Zhang Fangxiao’s cheekbone that thick makeup couldn’t cover. Although Mo Xixi wasn’t supernaturally strong, being a Rand military woman, her slaps were no joke.

Zhang Fangxiao had used cold compresses and beautification techniques at home, and the large swollen area had reduced to a patch, but it was still spotted by the keen-eyed Ding Ling.

"I got slapped by a bitch, and what’s more demeaning is that I couldn’t even hit back. Hey, aren’t you hosting a birthday party? Those two bitches are from the Rand military region, one of them is even a junior lieutenant. Bring them over, and we’ll deal with them properly then," Zhang Fangxiao disclosed Xia You and Mo Xixi’s names.

After hearing this, Ding Ling immediately agreed, since many people from Rand were invited to the party anyway, and Zhang Fangxiao was her bestie. Bullying her bestie was like bullying her.

"Ah, I really envy you. Lieutenant Colonel Lu is utterly devoted to you, whereas I’m still in this dead-end situation with Minghang; he hasn’t even contacted me recently," Zhang Fangxiao’s words brought back Ding Ling’s own concerns.

Her situation was not much better than Zhang Fangxiao’s, but Ding Ling did not want to vent any grievances with her; she knew that some friends were only good for socializing and having fun, for serious matters, she needed more reliable people.

After talking for a bit more, Ding Ling made an excuse about attending a church service and went to the David Sect to find Xianxian. (To be continued. If you like this book, you are welcome to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly passes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)