Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The smoke of battle in Wolf Valley had not yet completely dissipated, but the fruits of victory already weighed heavily on the shoulders and hearts of everyone in the Seventh Company.

There were still seven or eight grain carts that weren't completely burned. Although most of them had been taken by the Iron Wall Battalion, the remaining grain was enough to feed the nine men of the Seventh Company of the Beacon Fire Battalion for several months with some left over. The money, loose jewelry, relatively intact leather armor, and weapons looted from Di Rong's corpse filled several large bundles.

More importantly, it's about military achievements.

Captain Hu was very righteous. He not only attributed most of the credit for killing Di Rong's guards to the Seventh Company, which had worked well together (after all, their Iron Wall Battalion's main task was to destroy the supply lines, and the capture of enemy soldiers was secondary), but also, when counting the heads, he deliberately assigned the heads of several people who looked like minor leaders to the Seventh Company as well—especially the obvious targets that Lin Feng had killed with his arrows.

Ultimately, after rough estimates and negotiations between the two sides, the Seventh Company was awarded twelve ranks of "merit for head capture" for this ambush in Wolf Valley. This far exceeded expectations!

On the return journey, the atmosphere was completely different from when they set off. Although still exhausted, everyone's face was filled with barely suppressed excitement and a flushed glow. Their steps were much lighter, and even the few captured wagons loaded with grain and spoils seemed easier to push.

"Level 12! My God, we're really rolling in it this time!" Li Gou'er pushed the cart, his cheeks flushed with excitement. "How much will I get? At least one and a half levels, right? Deputy Squad Leader Lin, you'll definitely get the most!"

Zhang Kui grinned, "Go back and divide it according to the rules! Lin Feng deserves the most credit—setting the fire to stop the enemy and shooting the leader—he'll get at least half! The rest will be divided according to everyone's contribution! Everyone gets a share!"

The crowd cheered even louder upon hearing this. This meant that even those who contributed the least would receive some credit and get one step closer to the alluring goal of "level 10 wife swapping".

Lin Feng walked to one side of the group, his Iron Spine Bow already sheathed, but his vigilant gaze still occasionally swept across the surrounding wilderness. The closer the victory, the less he could relax. He silently calculated in his mind: his previous level five, plus the estimated level six this time (half of level twelve), would likely bring his total to eleven, easily surpassing the level ten mark.

Level 10. That number kept pounding in his mind.

Prisoner of war camp... women... home...

This system, which might seem barbaric and predatory to outsiders, was, for Lin Feng at this moment, a clear path to survival in this chaotic world. He needed this starting point.

It was already the afternoon of the following day when they returned to the beacon camp. The Seventh Company, laden with their spoils, immediately became the focus of the entire camp.

When the crudely tanned, grotesque heads of the Di Rong, along with the bulging bundles of spoils, were carried into the open space in front of the quartermaster's quarters, the crowd erupted in a tremendous uproar and discussion.

"Level 12! My God, has the Seventh Company really stirred up trouble in the Di Rong's lair?"

"See that? All that grain! And leather armor! We've struck it rich, we've really struck it rich this time!"

"Tsk tsk, it's Lin Feng again! I heard he's the one who shot most of the heads!"

"Wow, does that mean he's level ten now?"

Envy, jealousy, amazement, disbelief... all kinds of gazes were focused on the people of the Seventh Group, especially Lin Feng.

Liu Biao stood in the crowd, his face ashen, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. His henchmen were green with envy. They never imagined that a "critical mission" (guarding the beacon tower) that could have killed Lin Feng would not only have saved him but had also earned him great merit, propelling him to rapid promotions! Now, he might even accumulate ten levels of military merit in one fell swoop!

"Brother Biao..." one of the henchmen whispered, as if trying to say something.

"Shut up!" Liu Biao spat out the two words through gritted teeth, glaring fiercely at Lin Feng, who was surrounded by the crowd, before turning and pushing his way out. He knew he couldn't wait any longer. Once Lin Feng officially received a tenth-level military merit and gained the attention of the battalion commander and even higher-ups, it would be much harder to touch him.

Military merit calculation and reward distribution were carried out as usual in the supply shed. This time, even Battalion Commander Han personally came to supervise, along with the clerk sent by Deputy Lieutenant Zhou, clearly indicating that this successful ambush was highly valued.

The process was tedious but went smoothly. Each of the twelve heads was examined and recorded. The captured supplies were inventoried and recorded, with some valued and distributed as rewards and money to the Seventh Platoon. Zhang Kui, as the platoon leader, received two and a half ranks of merit and corresponding rewards; Lin Feng, as the top contributor, received six ranks of merit (more than expected)! Adding to the previous five ranks, his total military merit reached eleven ranks! The remaining six men received ranks ranging from half a rank to one rank based on their performance.

When the old clerk solemnly wrote "Accumulated Eleven Ranks" after Lin Feng's name on the merit book in his dry voice, the shed was quiet for a moment, followed by a series of suppressed gasps.

Level 11!

This means that, according to the ironclad rules of the border army, Lin Feng is now qualified to choose one of the female prisoners as his wife! Moreover, according to unwritten rules, those who are one level above the rank sometimes have slightly higher priority in the selection process, or receive some extra convenience when settling down later.

Han Yingzheng smiled and patted Lin Feng on the shoulder: "Good! Lin Feng, you haven't disappointed me! Eleventh-level military merit, well-deserved! According to the law, you can choose one of the female prisoners currently in the camp as your wife. The camp will arrange for clerks and guards to send her back to your hometown to settle down. Where is your hometown?"

Lin Feng answered based on the original owner's memories: "Reporting to the camp commander, my ancestral home is Linyuan County, Liaoxi Prefecture, Xiaohe Village." It turns out that he and Zhao Dayong, who had previously taken Su Mo away, were from the same county.

"Alright!" Han Yingzheng nodded. "Xiaohe Village...hmm, it's a villager from the same place as Zhao Dayong, what a coincidence. I will arrange this immediately. You can go to the prisoner-of-war camp first, and if you find someone you like, report it to me, and I will make the decision for you!"

"Thank you, Commander Xie!" Lin Feng clasped his hands in greeting, his voice steady, but a slight ripple of emotion stirred within him. Finally, it had come to this.

The news spread like wildfire, reaching the entire camp in an instant.

"Lin Feng is going to choose a wife!"

"Level 11! My God, how long has it been?"

"Go check it out, the prisoner-of-war camp is bustling today!"

When Lin Feng, surrounded by his sworn brothers Zhang Kui, Wang Hu, Li Gou'er, and others (more like spectators), arrived at the prisoner camp enclosed by a wooden fence in the corner of the camp, a number of soldiers who had come after hearing the news had already gathered there, pointing and talking amongst themselves.

The veteran guarding the prisoner-of-war camp recognized Lin Feng and knew his purpose. Not daring to be negligent, he quickly opened the gate and said with a smile, "Deputy Squad Leader Lin, please come in. Everyone is inside. Take your time to look around and choose."

There were more people in the prisoner-of-war camp than when Zhao Dayong had made his selections last time—about thirty women, huddled together in the open space in front of a few simple shacks. Most of them were ragged, emaciated, and looked terrified. When they saw someone else coming in to "select" them, many women instinctively lowered their heads or shrank back, their eyes filled with fear and despair.

Lin Feng's gaze swept calmly over the women. He harbored few romantic thoughts, his expression more like a cool, calculating assessment of resources. He was choosing not just a wife, but a partner to support him and face the future together in this chaotic world. Appearance was important, but personality, ability, and even background all needed to be considered.

In the original owner's memories, the image of a "wife" was nothing more than gentleness and fertility. But Lin Feng, a soul from the modern world, had more complex requirements for a partner: resilience, intelligence, preferably with certain survival skills, able to support the family in chaotic times, and even not become a pure burden in possible future turmoil.

His gaze swept over those who were too young or appeared sickly, and over those whose eyes were numb and completely lifeless. Finally, it settled on a few women who, though equally disheveled, still had a glimmer of light or stubbornness in their eyes.

A girl of about eighteen or nineteen years old hid behind the crowd. She was slender but had a straight back. Although her face was dirty, her features were still delicate. Her hands, in particular, were long and slender even when covered in grime, unlike those of someone accustomed to hard labor. Her eyes held fear, but more so vigilance and observation, unlike the utter despair of the others.

The other woman was slightly older, around twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a sturdy build, dark skin, and large hands and feet—clearly a farm girl who had toiled year-round. She was tightly embracing a similarly dirty little girl of about seven or eight years old; they seemed to be sisters or mother and daughter. Her eyes were filled with maternal protection and an almost fierce wariness, like a mother wolf protecting her cubs.

There was another one, leaning alone against the furthest fence. Her age was unclear, as her face was smeared with black ash, but she was quite tall and had a large frame; even curled up, her broad shoulders and thick back were evident. Her head was lowered, obscuring her expression, but Lin Feng noticed that while her posture appeared relaxed, her muscles were subtly tense, as if she were ready to leap out or flee at any moment. Furthermore, her knuckles were large, and there were fine calluses on the base of her thumbs, suggesting she had long been handling some kind of tool or…weapon?

Zhang Kui and the others followed behind, whispering among themselves.

"That younger one is quite nice, he's handsome!"

"What's the use of Jun? I think the sturdy one is better; he can do the work!"

"Deputy Squad Leader Lin, pick the young one! She's good at bearing children!"

"Yes, yes, youth is wonderful!"

Lin Feng ignored their discussion. He walked over to the clerk in charge of registering the prisoners, who quickly handed him a simple booklet with basic information about each female prisoner written on it: name (mostly transliterated or arbitrarily chosen), age, and general background.

Lin Feng first pointed to the slender girl with wary eyes: "What's her name? What's her background?"

The document was flipped through: "Oh, this one is called 'Liu Yun.' She's said to have fled from the south. Her parents are apparently dead, but details are unknown. She claims to know some needlework and be literate, and is about eighteen years old."

They fled from the south? They can read? To ordinary border soldiers, this might not be considered an advantage (or even a sign of being spoiled), but in Lin Feng's eyes, being literate meant that they might have received some education, and their thinking and comprehension abilities might be stronger. Needlework was also a skill.

He then pointed to the sturdy woman protecting the little girl: "What about this one?"

"This one is called 'Shi Xiu,' the daughter of a herdsman from the 'Black Stone Tribe' in the north. She resisted fiercely when captured, injuring two of our brothers. That little girl is her sister, named 'Shi Cao'er.' She's quite strong and can do heavy work, but she has a rather fiery temper," the clerk added in a low voice. "According to the rules, no one usually wants to choose someone who brings burdens..."

Lin Feng remained noncommittal. A fiery temperament meant she was opinionated and unyielding. Protecting her younger sister showed her loyalty and affection. Being a herdsman's daughter meant she was skilled in herding and likely knew the livestock and grassland paths. These were all potential values.

Finally, he pointed to the tall woman leaning alone against the fence, her face smeared with ash: "That one, the one with ash on her face."

The clerk glanced at her, a strange look on his face: "This one... is called 'A-Yue.' She's a slave captured from the 'Red Hoof Tribe' in the west. It's said she was originally the daughter of a small tribal chief, but became a slave after her tribe was destroyed. She's very strong, and can do the work of two people at once. It's just... she doesn't like to talk, and she's a bit aloof. Also, she seems to have a scar on her face, which is why she's covered it with ash. She's probably around twenty years old."

Born a slave? Daughter of a tribal chief? Strong? Scarred on her face? Lin Feng's heart stirred. Women with such complex backgrounds often possess a resilient spirit and may even have some special skills. Her quietness and aloofness might be seen as flaws by the border troops, but to him, they might not be.

The three candidates each have their own characteristics.

Liu Yun: Young, literate, possibly skillful, but her survival skills are questionable, and her temperament is unknown.

Shi Xiu: Older, stronger, with survival skills (herding), loyal (protecting his younger sister), but has a burden, and has a fiery temper.

A-Yue: Strong, may have some background and hidden story, has a scar on her face, and is withdrawn.

Lin Feng pondered for a moment. What he needed was a partner who could help him stabilize his rear in the early stages of the chaotic world, and even have some potential for development. Liu Yun's literacy and possible dexterity were advantages, but her survival skills were a weakness. Shi Xiu had good survival skills and was loyal, but taking care of his younger sister was a real burden, and his fiery temper might make him difficult to get along with. A Yue's strength and possible hidden story piqued his interest, but her aloofness and scars (a clear disadvantage in this era) were problems.

He turned his gaze to the three of them again.

Liu Yun seemed to sense his gaze. Her body trembled slightly, and she lowered her head, but her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, revealing her inner tension and resentment.

Shi Xiu met his gaze without flinching, tightly protecting her younger sister behind her, her eyes filled with vigilance and a resolute "choose me if you must, don't even think about my sister."

A-Yue kept her head down, seemingly indifferent to everything around her, but Lin Feng keenly noticed that when his gaze swept over her, her tense muscles seemed to tighten even more.

The soldiers who had gathered around to watch the spectacle began to riot.

"Deputy Squad Leader Lin, hurry up and choose!"

"Pick the younger one!"

"The one with the younger sister is also good, buy one get one free! Haha!"

"Forget about the one with the ash on his face; he's probably an ugly monster!"

Zhang Kui also whispered, "Lin Feng, that's good enough. Pick someone you like. In my opinion, Liu Yun is quite good. She's young, literate, and can teach her children to read after they have children."

Lin Feng didn't make a decision immediately. He walked to the fence and said to the veteran guarding it, "Could you call those three over? I need to ask them a few questions."

The veteran was somewhat hesitant, but seeing Lin Feng's status as deputy platoon leader and the battalion commander's attitude, he nodded and shouted a few words in Di Rong language to the three women (the veteran from the border region knew a little about it).

Liu Yun and Shi Xiu hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked over. A Yue, however, seemed not to have heard them and remained motionless.

Lin Feng first looked at Liu Yun and asked in as calm a tone as possible, "Liu Yun? You can read? What do you know?"

Liu Yun raised her head, glanced quickly at Lin Feng, then lowered her head again, her voice barely audible: "Replying to...Replying to the general, this humble woman...knows a few words, can do some needlework, and...can also cook."

"You come from the south, do you still have relatives at home?"

Liu Yun's eyes reddened, she shook her head, her voice choked with emotion: "It's all gone... the war..."

Lin Feng nodded and looked at Shi Xiu: "Shi Xiu? You know how to herd livestock? You know how to take care of animals?"

Shi Xiu puffed out her chest, her voice a little hoarse but strong: "Yes! I've been herding sheep and cattle with my father since I was little, and I can ride horses too! I know everything about pastures, water sources, and weather forecasts! My little sister is also very sensible and can help gather firewood and start a fire!" She said eagerly, hugging the timid little girl tightly.

"Quite a fiery temper? I heard he even injured someone when he was captured?" Lin Feng asked again.

Shi Xiu's face paled, she bit her lip, and raised her head, saying, "They...they want to bully my sister! I'll fight them! If you choose me, sir, I...I'll obey, but...but don't touch my sister! She's still young!" Her voice trembled at the end, but remained firm.

Lin Feng remained noncommittal, finally turning his gaze to A Yue, who was still sitting in the distance. He walked over and stopped a few steps away.

"Ah Yue?" he asked in Chinese.

A-Yue's body trembled slightly, and she slowly raised her head. The soot on her face obscured most of her features, but her eyes shone brightly beneath the grime, carrying a wild, untamed quality and a deep sense of wariness. She did not answer.

"Are you strong? What kind of work can you do?" Lin Feng continued to ask.

A-Yue remained silent, her eyes fixed on Lin Feng like a trapped wild beast.

The veteran guarding nearby couldn't help but say, "Deputy Squad Leader Lin, this guy's like a mute, we won't get anything out of him. Let's just forget about it and pick a better one."

A chorus of agreement and laughter erupted from the surrounding area.

Lin Feng looked into A Yue's eyes and suddenly spoke in a low but clear voice, using a strangely pronounced Di Rong language (the Red Hoof tribe is a branch of the Di Rong) that he had scraped from the original owner's memories: "You are not a slave."

A-Yue's pupils suddenly contracted! Her body tensed abruptly, almost springing up, but she forcibly restrained herself. She looked at Lin Feng, her eyes filled with even deeper wariness and a hint of surprise.

Lin Feng asked no more questions and turned back to the document.

Everyone was watching him, waiting for his decision.

Zhang Kui, Wang Hu, and the others held their breath. The soldiers outside the fence also quieted down.

Lin Feng's gaze swept over the three women again.

Liu Yun is delicate but may be clever; Shi Xiu is resilient but burdened with heavy responsibilities; and A Yue is mysterious and difficult to control.

His choice will determine who will stand shoulder to shoulder with him in this chaotic world for a long time to come.

After a moment of silence, Lin Feng raised his hand and pointed at one person.

"I choose her."

All eyes turned to the direction he was pointing.

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted into even louder discussions.

"Huh? Why did you choose her?"

"This... has a burden to bear!"

"What is Deputy Squad Leader Lin trying to achieve?"

Even Zhang Kui was stunned, and whispered, "Lin Feng, you...don't you want to think about it? Wouldn't the younger one, or the one who can read, be better?"

Shi Xiu, who had been chosen, stared wide-eyed, seemingly in disbelief. Then, a complex mix of emotions flashed in her eyes—relief, worry, and a hint of resigned acceptance. She hugged her sister even tighter.

Lin Feng didn't explain, but simply nodded affirmatively at the document: "It's her, Shi Xiu, and her younger sister Shi Cao'er."

The clerk quickly jotted it down, then produced a prepared document: "According to the law, the female captive Shi Xiu is to be chosen as wife, and her younger sister Shi Cao'er will accompany her. Deputy Squad Leader Lin, please sign here. The camp will arrange for personnel to escort them to Xiahe Village, Linyuan County, Liaoxi Prefecture as soon as possible. Your leave to visit your family will be arranged during your next shift."

Lin Feng took the pen and signed his name on the rough document—using the handwriting he had practiced in his previous life, which he had slightly modified in this one.

Shi Xiu, and her younger sister Shi Cao'er.

His choice surprised many. But he had his reasons: he valued Shi Xiu's survival skills, her deep affection (for her sister), and her unwavering spirit in the face of adversity. Caring for a sister was a burden, but this bond could also become a pillar of loyalty and responsibility. In this era, a wife who could herd livestock, knew animals, had wilderness survival experience, and possessed a resilient character was perhaps more suitable for the turbulent future he might face than a woman who could only read and embroider.

As for Liu Yun and A Yue… his heart stirred slightly. Liu Yun’s literacy might be useful, and A Yue’s secret also intrigued him. But at this moment, he could only choose one.

After the formalities were completed, the veteran guard led Shi Xiu and her younger sister out. The little girl clung tightly to her sister's hand, her large eyes filled with fear. Shi Xiu, on the other hand, stood straight, her face pale, but she tried hard not to let her timidity show. Her gaze towards Lin Feng was complex and unfathomable.

"Come with me," Lin Feng said to them, his voice flat and devoid of any emotion.

He turned around and, with the two women, one big and one small, left the prisoner-of-war camp under the various gazes of the crowd.

Behind them, there were envious sighs, puzzled discussions, and Liu Biao's cold, venomous gaze.

Before them lay the unknown future, but they had finally taken their first step into it.

Successfully completed level ten, wife already chosen.

Next, there was the wait for escort, and... that distant starting point called "home".