After a round of small talk, Luo Zheng signaled everyone to pull back to the rear trench first, then talk. He glanced at Ghost Hand and Snow Leopard, who still hadn't co up, and his face sank. His sharp eyes locked on the dense forest farther away. He vaguely felt Jackson was hiding sowhere, secretly watching. The enemy was already ready to attack, so he called through the headset: "Mountain Eagle, take two n up there and release the prisoners. Take it slow, watch yourselves."
"Copy." Mountain Eagle replied, then rushed out of the trench with two n and headed toward where the prisoners were tied up.
Half of the POWs crossed the trench via the makeshift wooden bridge and went to the other side. After having his own people taken away, the officer signaled his n to keep unlocking handcuffs and shackles, getting ready to release the rest. Luo Zheng's eyes tightened as he stared at the distant forest, his brows twisting into a deep 川 shape as he considered possible enemy attack thods. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind and he shouted, "Hey, no need to bother with all that. Let everyone go in one go."
"You?" The officer looked at Luo Zheng in surprise, suddenly uneasy. Seeing the cold, murderous look in Luo Zheng's eyes, an inexplicable fear rose in his heart. But then he thought: they had to release these people anyway, and if the other side really went back on their word there was nothing he could do. So he ordered his n to unlock everyone's handcuffs and shackles.
Hearing Luo Zheng's words, Ghost Hand was taken aback and suspicious. He turned to glance at the dense forest behind him, then lowered his voice and said to the n nearby, "Brothers, sothing's off. The enemy might launch an attack right after the exchange. We need to move faster. Stay sharp."
"Copy." Everyone around him responded in low voices.
"Should we tear the bridge down after we cross and keep that batch of POWs?" Snow Leopard whispered.
"No. If we do that, the enemy will attack without any scruples, and their morale will spike under the banner of shared hatred. That'd be bad for us. As long as they release our people, we have to release theirs. Otherwise we're breaking our word. It doesn't matter if we betray the enemy's trust, but once we're labeled untrustworthy, it'll be hard to do anything later. Don't forget, a lot of countries' satellites are watching this place right now." Ghost Hand quickly refused in a low voice.
"True. If we really go back on our word, there'll be fewer people willing to work with us in the future, and even fewer who trust us. I just don't know where this place is." Snow Leopard murmured, flexing his hands and feet while casting suspicious looks all around.
"The terrain looks like prival forest, the vegetation like tropical rainforest. Hard to say for sure, but it doesn't matter. We'll know soon enough. Everyone be careful. If the enemy plays dirty, jump into the forward trench and take cover at once." Ghost Hand quietly reminded them.
They all agreed and looked around in wary confusion. Soon, the officer signaled they could leave. Everyone lined up in small squads in an orderly fashion and walked forward, one after another stepping onto the wooden bridge and rushing to the other side of the trench. As always, Luo Zheng went up to hug everyone, asking after them with concern. They'd once thought they were dood to be separated by life and death; no one expected to reunite so soon, and in this way. Emotions were running high.
Ghost Hand and Snow Leopard ca over last. Luo Zheng grabbed them both into an embrace. The three of them clasped hands and pressed their foreheads together, overco with emotion. Luo Zheng said apologetically, "I'm sorry, my two big brothers. You suffered because of ."
"Cut the crap. Tell , you got a plan? Where the hell are we?" Ghost Hand asked quickly.
"Yeah. Hook Tribe. We pull back first." Luo Zheng patted their shoulders.
The two were shocked by Luo Zheng's words. They looked around, then both let out cold, amused chuckles. They hadn't expected this to be the prival forest where the Hook Tribe was based. Ghost Hand said excitedly, "Now that's sothing. You can kill and burn out here and nobody cares. I've been burning up inside and finally got a chance to vent. We'll pull back first. You be careful."
"Yeah, go. Heal up first; there'll be plenty of fights. I can't handle a show this big without the two of you." Luo Zheng smiled knowingly, then shot a disdainful cold grin at the officer on the other side of the trench who was anxiously watching him. After signaling Ghost Hand and Snow Leopard to leave, he spoke into the headset: "Mountain Eagle, release them."
"Copy." Mountain Eagle replied.
Luo Zheng threw a look at Lan Xue. Lan Xue got the ssage and nodded. The two slowly pulled back. Luo Zheng said quietly, "It's about to kick off. You look after Uncle Lan."
"Copy." Lan Xue answered softly. With enemy helicopters overhead, they couldn't pull back down the slope; they could only stay hidden in the trench. Luckily the trench was deep and had Hidden Soldier Caves. As long as they held off the enemy assault, it wouldn't be too bad. She glanced worriedly at the enemy helicopters circling above and said, "Those enemy gunships are still a threat. Once they use missiles, these trenches might not hold."
"Yeah. We're short on ti. If these were permanent fortifications, we'd be fine. If it cos to it, we'll send soone to escort your dad back first. One or two people won't draw much attention; they probably won't bother chasing." Luo Zheng said in a low voice.
"Good. This kind of scene isn't for him. I'll feel better if he's taken back." Lan Xue murmured.
They soon reached the trench. Luo Zheng strode up to Lan Bo and said apologetically, "Uncle Lan, you've suffered. Rescue ca late. I'm truly sorry."
"Enough. I know your situation. You've done all you can." Lan Bo knew how serious things were. He spoke, then looked at Lan Xue with loving eyes and asked with concern, "Are you alright? I never imagined your life was like this."
"I'm fine." Lan Xue said apologetically, "Dad, I'll have soone escort you out first. There's going to be a battle here any minute. It's not safe for you to stay."
"Fine, better that than distracting you all." Lan Bo knew his own limits and agreed at once.
Luo Zheng turned to Ghost Hand and Snow Leopard and asked, "Anyone badly hurt? Have them go down too, heal up first. There'll be plenty of battles; missing this one won't matter."
"Nobody's too bad. After we were captured, those bastards actually didn't go too far. They arranged treatnt. The brothers' wounds have recovered decently, we can still hold guns. Everyone's got a fire in their gut, waiting to settle the score with the enemy. If you tell them to pull out now, they probably won't go." Ghost Hand reminded him quietly.
"Mm." Luo Zheng nodded, then looked at Hook beside him and said in a low voice, "Could I trouble you to send soone to escort this gentleman back to the valley and settle him there? Any problem with that?"
"No problem." Hook agreed imdiately, then called over a guard and had him leave in a hurry with Lan Bo.
Luo Zheng had Hook's n bring so food and hand it out to Ghost Hand and the others. Weapons were already on hand: captured "pot-helt" rifles and other guns and ammo. They could take what they wanted. After picking weapons that felt right in their hands, everyone squatted in the trench eating dry rations, their eyes full of the burning desire for revenge.
Everyone calmly watched the battlefield. Seeing the POWs rush across the wooden bridge one by one and get taken away on the far side of the trench, they couldn't help tightening their grips on their weapons, getting ready for the big fight. Luo Zheng looked at the enemy helicopters swaggering across the sky, a trace of worry flashing in his tiger-like eyes. He reminded them over the headset: "Brothers, get ready for contact."
Clack-clack-clack—the answer to Luo Zheng was a volley of bolts being pulled back.
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