Tears Will Be Beaten Out of You

153rd Branch, Training ground.

Under the watchful eyes of all the marines, the formidable Lieutenant Isca was effortlessly subdued by Luo Ya in just two exchanges.

"What happened?"

Most of the marines were still bewildered.

Lieutenant Isca's attacks had clearly been swift and fierce, her sword flashes dazzling to the eye. Her final thrust had made their backs prickle, and merely watching it gave them the illusion of being pierced through.

Yet Second Lieutenant Luo Ya had stopped Lieutenant Isca's offensive with an almost casual posture.

"Silent Step!"

A look of shock appeared in Rhode's eyes.

Having fought Kuro many times, there was no way he could mistake it. The technique Luo Ya had used to evade the attack was definitely Silent Step.

How had he learned it?

Could there really be a super genius in this world who could comprehend an enemy's ultimate technique after seeing it only once?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Reason told Rhode that such a thing was absolutely impossible. Luo Ya had only fought Kuro once.

Yet Luo Ya had truly done it!

"I was too narrow-minded."

Rhode smiled bitterly to himself.

He had originally planned to train Luo Ya as his successor. In another two years, after he retired, he would let Luo Ya take over the 153rd Branch.

In his eyes, Luo Ya was smart and diligent, but ultimately still an ordinary person. It would already be impressive if he could lead the 153rd Branch in the future.

Only now did he realize that the small 153rd Branch could not contain Luo Ya. Luo Ya had a broader stage ahead of him and might even make a name for himself at Marine Headquarters.

There was another point.

Luo Ya was a member of the 153rd Branch, and no one could change that. The greater Luo Ya's achievements became in the future, the more help he would bring to the 153rd Branch.

He had to think of a way. He could not let the 153rd Branch bury Luo Ya's talent!

At the center of the Training ground.

Isca's face was bright red, practically overheating, but no matter how hard she strained her arm, she could not break free from Luo Ya's hold.

Luo Ya's hand was like Shackles, firmly locking around her wrist. Her position was also extremely awkward, leaving her unable to launch a counterattack at him from behind.

Damn it!

"Let go of me!"

"You really want me to let go?"

Luo Ya's expression turned strange.

Isca's cheeks heated up again.

This bastard was taking advantage of her!

"Let go!"

"Fine."

Luo Ya curled his lips and released her hand.

Isca was delighted and wanted to pull away to regroup. Now that she was prepared, she would not be careless again.

But she had forgotten her posture.

Her body was leaning far forward, still maintaining her thrusting stance, but she had long lost the momentum from her charge. Once Luo Ya let go, her body immediately lost its support and balance.

As the ground drew closer and closer, Isca let out a scream instinctively.

"Ah!!!"

"Thud!"

The girl landed face-first, falling flat on her face with remarkable efficiency.

"Caw—caw—"

It seemed as though crows flew overhead.

As they watched the girl lying prone on the ground, the Training ground fell into eerie silence.

"Pfft—"

Someone did not manage to hold it in.

"Pfft—"

Like a chain reaction, the marines hurriedly turned their heads away or covered their mouths, desperately suppressing their laughter.

The female lieutenant who had been so imposing just moments ago had now fallen forward like a clumsy little girl. The contrast was simply too much for them to bear.

Isca lay on the ground, listening to the muffled snickering around her. Her entire face instantly turned red as a baboon's butt.

In all her life, she had never embarrassed herself so badly. Her mind went completely blank, and she had no idea what to do.

Luo Ya crouched down and poked the girl's head. "Actually, I was planning to help you steady yourself just now," he said sincerely.

No!

Damn it, don't pity me!

I'm not such a fragile woman!

Isca bit her lip until blood seeped through her teeth. Supporting her upper body with one hand, she stared at Luo Ya with bloodshot eyes.

"Fight me again!"

"Sure."

Luo Ya shrugged.

The two stood five meters apart and faced each other again.

Luo Ya looked relaxed as he asked with a smile.

"Are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

Isca gripped her sword tightly, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. At this distance, her sword definitely would not miss!

Seeing the girl's nervousness, Luo Ya smiled and asked again.

"How about you relax first?"

"Don't look down on me!"

"Oh, then do you need a countdown?"

"No! Start immediately!"

Isca's emotions gradually slipped out of control.

"Clang!"

A flash of steel streaked past her ear. The man's long sword flew by, its sharp edge carving a thin bloody line across her cheek.

As several strands of hair drifted down, crimson blood seeped from the wound.

Isca's body stiffened, and sweat instantly soaked her back. If that blade had been aimed at her head, she would probably already be dead.

The next second, Luo Ya crossed the five-meter distance in an instant and appeared before her. In their previous duel, she had lost to that unbelievably fast footwork.

Looking at the man right before her and the fist he had clenched, she wanted to block, but her stiff body could not react in time.

"Bang!"

The fist slammed into her abdomen. Intense pain swept through her body, forcing her to bend over and collapse.

Isca dropped to her knees, clutching her stomach. Then her cheeks puffed out, and she vomited a large mouthful of gastric fluid mixed with streaks of blood onto the ground.

"Cough—cough cough cough—"

Perhaps she had choked on the stomach fluid. The girl coughed violently several times in a row, coughing out tears as well. Her body went limp, leaving her too weak to stand.

She had lost!

This time, she had no excuse.

He had defeated her head-on.

Seeing Isca clutching her stomach and curled up in pain, the surrounding marines could hardly bear to watch.

"Second Lieutenant Luo Ya was way too ruthless."

"She's a girl!"

"Quick, take Lieutenant Isca to the Medical Room!"

Ignoring the fearful looks around him as though he were some kind of monster, Luo Ya pulled the sword from the ground and strode coolly out of the Training ground.

Punching a girl until she cried...

It felt unbelievably good!

Of course, he did not have some special fetish for hitting girls. He had only hit hard so that the next operation would go more smoothly.

Compared to nagging explanations, intense hands-on instruction was undoubtedly more efficient, especially in a military where strength reigned supreme.

Without looking back, Luo Ya ordered, "Fullbody, tell that Lieutenant Isca later that she is to gather at the port at six tomorrow morning!"

"Understood."

Fullbody swallowed.

"Second Lieutenant Luo Ya, that Lieutenant Isca seems seriously injured. Shouldn't we let her rest for a couple of days?"

"She can rest on the Warship."

Luo Ya answered indifferently.

If she wanted preferential treatment from him, she needed to show enough sincerity. She did not have to fight bravely, but at the very least, she had to be obedient.

He was actually quite pragmatic.

The next morning, at the port.

Before dawn, Isca led twenty elite marines from the 32nd Branch, standing in neat formation at the port as they waited.

When Luo Ya arrived with his team, Isca immediately stepped forward and saluted.

"Lieutenant Isca, reporting for duty!"

"Mhm."

Luo Ya nodded slightly.

Compared to her flamboyant attitude yesterday, the girl was clearly much more restrained now. Though her eyes still held unwillingness, as if she wanted to challenge him again, the hostility and rejection from before were gone.

"Set sail!"