Nolan learned about Serena Feng visiting the military women’s quarters that same day. When she returned, he was already sitting there waiting for her.
Serena stepped inside. Nolan didn’t speak—he just looked up, icy and imposing, his presence commanding even without anger.
Serena’s heart thudded in her chest. She mumbled, “I’ll go freshen up,” and darted away.
By the time she finished bathing and tidying up, half an hour had passed. Nolan caught the fresh scent on Serena and his anger faded a little. Seeing her act so well-behaved, he didn’t scold her—just got up and said coldly, “Dinner.”
Serena couldn’t guess what Nolan wanted, so she obediently followed him to eat. At the table, she tried her best to please him, serving him food. Nolan ate as usual, his face still dark.
After dinner, Serena was about to say she needed to prepare medicine, but Nolan interrupted and told her to come with him.
Knowing she’d made Nolan angry, Serena didn’t dare say anything—she just followed quietly.
Nolan didn’t do anything else. He simply took Serena for a walk around the island—not every corner, but he showed her all the main departments.
After the walk, Nolan asked, “Well?”
“It’s fine.” There was no trace of normal life—these soldiers were like puppets, just eating, sleeping, and training.
“This is the kind of army I want. The presence of those women undermines the spirit of the camp,” Nolan finally said, revealing why he didn’t want Serena visiting the camp followers’ quarters.
It wasn’t that he looked down on the camp followers—it was that he disliked having a group that disrupted the camp’s discipline.
“Uh… soldiers are human too. They have needs,” Serena tried to explain, voice soft.
Whether it’s psychological or physical, soldiers’ needs are a problem no one can fully solve—not even in the modern world.
Young men full of energy don’t have perfect self-control. Facing endless, boring training, anyone with a weaker mind will eventually break. Sometimes, women are a way to vent and relax.
“They’re not ordinary people. They should control themselves—otherwise, how can they face battle?” Nolan shot Serena a glare.
On this issue, their views clashed. Nolan wanted an iron-blooded army—like his Black Riders—while Serena cared more about human nature.
“Life at sea is monotonous—every day is just training and ocean. If they’re wound too tight, they’ll go insane sooner or later. Some relaxation is good for them. Besides, those women are innocent.”
After a day of observation, Serena realized most of those women weren’t camp prostitutes at all. Many were rescued by the soldiers while at sea—some were local fisherwomen, others had been taken by pirates.
To these women, Nolan’s soldiers were lifesavers. After being brought here, they did what they could for the men—including, sometimes, sharing their bodies.
At least from what Serena heard, most of the women were here by choice—no one was forcing them.
“There’s no place for women in my army.” The presence of these women was one reason Nolan hadn’t left the island yet.
Nolan had ordered the island’s officers to send the women away, but the officers begged him to let them stay—not just for the women’s sake, but for the soldiers’ too.
Unfortunately, Nolan had never experienced the passions of youth—he simply couldn’t understand the needs of these energetic soldiers.
Neither side would budge. It wasn’t that the officers wanted to defy Nolan’s orders—they just couldn’t do it. Many of the children born here belonged to the soldiers. After decades at sea, this was their only hope, their only connection to the world. They simply couldn’t let go.
Nolan’s demands clashed with reality—and that was one reason he couldn’t leave the island for now. Serena looked at his rigid face and sighed, “I’m a woman too.”
“You’re different.”
“If you’re willing, those women could be different too. If they can survive in the army, they’re clearly not fragile. Nolan, give them a chance.” Serena thought of the women and children she’d seen that day and spoke up.
“A chance? What do you want me to give them?” Nolan had been troubled by this issue lately. If Serena had a good suggestion, he was willing to listen.
The island was far from the Emperor’s reach. He could force the women to leave this time, but what about next time?
In truth, Nolan didn’t want to hurt his officers or soldiers. If he were truly ruthless, the women and children would have been sent away the day he arrived.
“Let them prove they deserve to stay. Nolan, I don’t know about other camps, but I do know if there are only men here, sooner or later they’ll go mad. They’re soldiers, but they’re also ordinary people—with ordinary desires and needs.”
If everyone were like Nolan Dongling, the world would never know peace.
“I’ll think about it.” This time, Nolan didn’t reject her outright.
“Good, take your time. If used well, women can be as valuable as men. Besides, this island is too rigid—even daily life is militarized. In such a high-pressure environment, people’s minds can easily become warped.” After saying this, Serena left Nolan alone.
She hadn’t gone far when she ran into some senior officers. Serena recognized them and greeted them, “Are you looking for His Highness? He’s over there.”
“No, we’re here to thank you, Lady Serena. Thank you for saving those children and women, and for persuading His Highness to let them stay.” The officers were all tough men, and though their words were stiff, their sincerity was clear.
“You’re too kind. I was just doing my duty as a physician. Whether those people can stay isn’t up to me. I still have work to do, so I won’t disturb you further.” Serena bowed and turned to leave.
As she turned, a helpless smile lifted the corners of Serena’s mouth.
Nolan was truly himself—he could have settled things directly, but instead he went in circles. Serena hadn’t understood before, but seeing these officers, she finally realized why.
Nolan’s resolve had already wavered. If he hadn’t tacitly allowed it, how could Zuo An have met that woman on this tightly controlled island, or Serena have treated those people without anyone noticing?
Nolan had already made up his mind, but speaking out too soon wouldn’t win the soldiers’ gratitude—what comes too easily is never cherished.
Nolan hadn’t spent much time on the island, but to win his soldiers’ absolute loyalty, he needed to do something that would make them remember him forever.
By taking the long way around, he solved the problem of the women staying and showed the men he cared about them. Really, the soldiers didn’t ask for much—just knowing Nolan was willing to think of them and compromise was enough to earn their lifelong gratitude.
When it comes to winning hearts, she was still far behind Nolan.