The scorching sunlight baked the forest, and the air was sowhat stuffy and humid. A gentle breeze blew by, carrying a stench of decaying corpses that was unbearable. Luo Zheng looked up at the sky, quickly drawn to a few birds frolicking carelessly on a canopy of a big tree—no disputes, no troubles, free and unfettered. If only humans could be like that.
As he was pondering this, he suddenly saw a snake slowly climbing up, about two ters away from the small birds. It crawled stealthily and cautiously, but the birds were still alerted, screeched a few tis, and fluttered away. Luo Zheng was montarily stunned, then smiled bitterly. He felt a little lancholic; nature's law of survival of the fittest was the sa for humans. Without competition, there would be no developnt. He was just a soldier, and doing his duty was enough. Why think so much? It's just adding unnecessary trouble.
Just then, Lan Xue returned and whispered, "A recently awakened ard police officer ntioned sothing. After being ambushed by the Japanese, on their way to prison, they overheard a place na—God Demons Mountain. The Japanese went there. They suspect God Demons Mountain to be one of the Japanese strongholds. I asked Man Niu; he said the military outpost is locally called Demon Mountain. Perhaps the Japanese and Yue Country are promoting themselves and have renad it to Demon Mountain."
"So you're saying that the Japanese stronghold we're looking for in Yue Country is at God Demons Mountain? The Japanese who picked people at the prison—those who recovered might have been secretly taken to Demon Mountain. And this Demon Mountain is also a strategic missile base. It seems everything revolves around Demon Mountain." Luo Zheng analyzed with suspicion.
"There's that possibility." Lan Xue concurred.
"We ca to rescue those ard police, and besides saving people, it's also to scout the Japanese stronghold's location. Now it seems it should be that Demon Mountain. Quickly notify everyone, departure in ten minutes, and have Shusheng arrange personnel promptly." Luo Zheng's face turned solemn as he spoke seriously.
"Okay." Lan Xue hurried away.
"There's a new situation." Hong ihua's voice ca through the earpiece: "In light of the enemy amassing heavy forces at the border, and to coordinate with your actions, the military district has dispatched two reinforced mountain divisions, expected to arrive at the border at eight tonight, to draw the enemy's attention. Be careful."
"That's great." Luo Zheng said with surprise. With this troop's participation, even if they remain unmoved at the border, they can still create a deterrent for the enemy, drawing their attention. This way, everyone is relatively safer. Luo Zheng gratefully said, "Keep in contact at all tis, and also find us a safe route."
"Understood." Lan Xing replied without hesitation.
Ten minutes later, a twenty-man team escorted the rescued back north to the country, while Luo Zheng and others went south, heading directly to the Yue Country military stronghold ntioned by Man Niu. Shusheng's eighty-plus people, along with the three action teams of about thirty people each, totaled over a hundred and ten well-trained and well-equipped soldiers. Without the drag of wounded, the marching speed was very fast.
After nightfall, the team rested in a dense forest at a mountainside. This tactic was learned from the Snow Bear Special Forces. Mountain ridges or crests are the main route choices for military marches; resting hidden there easily leads to discovery. Canyons are even less safe due to a higher chance of unexpected enemy encounters compared to ridges and crests. Hiding in the mountainside forest is relatively safer. Who marches through the mountainside?
Everyone leaned against big trees, with camouflage suits adorned with various ferns, small branches, and grasses, squatting under the trees looking like shrubs from afar. This was a tactic learned from the Hook Tribe people. Learning to fight from battles is a mandatory course for every veteran.
Quietly, everyone chewed on compressed biscuits, relaxing their bodies to regain stamina. After half an hour of rest, Luo Zheng glanced up at the now-dark sky, indicating it was not suitable for further travel right now. However, he stood up and signaled, prompting everyone to rise, put on their Night Vision Devices, and continue forward like a silent wolf pack foraging through the nocturnal forest, carrying an air of confidence, moving straight ahead.
The troops advanced silently, with the moon erging from behind dark clouds, casting a hazy glow overhead. Through the foliage gaps, the moonlight curiously observed the swiftly marching troop on the ground. Over a hundred people moved like a hundred prehistoric fierce beasts; as they passed, all was still—birds and beasts alard, subdued by the invisible aura emanating from this troop.
As ti ticked by, the troop periodically halted during their march. Before they knew it, dawn broke, and they reached a mountain ridge to rest. They sat quietly behind big trees, blending with their surroundings as they ate dry rations. Luo Zheng checked the ti and spoke softly into the earpiece: "Rest here for two hours, Mountain Eagle, position your n on lookout."
"Yes." Mountain Eagle replied promptly.
The team ate their fill and sat to rest their minds, making the most of the ti to recuperate. Although staying awake for three to four days was nothing to them, with the battle yet to begin, it was wise to seize any chance to catch so sleep, ensuring optimal condition for the upcoming fight. On the battlefield, good condition is fundantal for survival.
Luo Zheng leaned against a big tree, unable to sleep, his mind filled with the information Man Niu provided, thinking of ways to complete the mission. Feeling an intense headache, he used the family Breathing Skill to adjust his breathing and drifted off unwittingly. Two hours later, Luo Zheng woke up naturally, feeling much better, he sighed in relief. Looking around, everyone was already up, maintaining their weapons. They were battle-hardened veterans who knew exactly what to do and when.
"In about two days, we can reach the destination. Have you co up with a plan?" Lan Xue approached and whispered.
"The intelligence is unclear. No solutions yet, and I don't know how Lan Xing's intel gathering is going." Luo Zheng replied low in frustration. Taking a glance at the hidden troop, he found so solace in having such a formidable force at hand, willing to take risks no matter the odds.
"The intel is still being gathered. The fog is too thick for aerial photography, it will take so ti." Lan Xing's voice, touched with irritation and urgency, ca through the earpiece.
"Don't worry, you have two days." Luo Zheng replied with a bitter smile.
"About twenty kiloters from you, there's a group that looks like a drug dealer organization, approximately thirty people. Judging by their route, they should pass by your resting spot. Watch out for exposure." Lan Xing reminded.
"Oh?" Luo Zheng paused, then his eyes lit up. He whispered to Lan Xue, "With the border on high alert, the drug dealers tend to have sharp intelligence. Them smuggling drugs during such tis must be a conspiracy. What do you think?"
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