The relentless downpour showed no signs of stopping; everyone slowed their pace, struggling to move forward. Facing such a harsh storm, everyone found it incredibly difficult to proceed. Fortunately, there were no enemy aircraft pursuing them, which significantly lifted everyone's spirits. From ti to ti, they would crack jokes to ease the tension.
Three hours later, as the light of day dimd further, the storm lessened slightly. However, no one dared to stop for a rest. They continued on while eating dry rations, grimly determined to keep moving. If they were ordinary soldiers, their bodies would not have withstood such intense marching. A history of life-and-death experiences and extre training had forged their resilient characters and superior physiques. Despite the storm, they persevered without succumbing.
Night fell, and the storm had greatly weakened. Everyone donned their Night Vision Devices and continued their march without rest or complaints, even though they were so exhausted they could have fallen asleep imdiately on the ground. However, they all understood that they were within Arctic Bear territory, and the enemy could arrive at any mont. Their only chance was to use the cover of darkness to escape from Arctic Bear territory and reach the tri-border area, a lawless region, which might increase their chances of survival.
The team marched through the night, their steps becoming slower and heavier. Although they were well-trained and physically exceptional, they were still human. After several days of continuous combat and forced marches, with nerves always on edge, no one could endure indefinitely. They supported each other as they moved, encouraging one another.
Unknowingly, dawn broke. After their overnight march, everyone's physical strength was at its limit. Luo Zheng knew they could not go on any longer; otherwise, they wouldn't need an enemy chase to collapse from exhaustion. Falling ill here, with scant dical supplies, would be nearly fatal. Reluctantly, Luo Zheng decided to stop in a canyon. They found cover under a rocky cliff and promptly fell into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted.
The torrential rain had covered their tracks well; all traces were washed away, and the enemy's ground forces couldn't possibly track them down. Hidden below the rocky cliff, even an unmanned surveillance drone passing overhead would struggle to detect their presence. For the mont, they were safe. Seeing everyone so tired they could barely hold their guns, with eyelids as heavy as Mount Tai, Luo Zheng let them be and quickly fell asleep, even the formidable Lan Xue couldn't resist fatigue and didn't stop them, opting instead to take on the guard duty for herself. Watching the waterfall-like rain on the mountainside of the canyon, her mood was especially heavy.
Luo Zheng possessed a family-taught "Breathing Skill" which he had used along the way to continually restore his energy. He was in a much better condition than the others, but still, he was significantly fatigued. Sitting cross-legged, he soon entered a transcendent state where he could hear sounds vividly around him, experiencing an almost mystical awareness.
Ti passed unmarked until suddenly, a roaring sound approached. Luo Zheng abruptly opened his eyes to see an unmanned surveillance drone sweeping overhead. Everyone else awoke as well, watching the drone with grave expressions. Luo Zheng tried to sound casual as he said, "Let's all have so dry food to replenish our strength and keep resting. Without good health, going out would be suicide. We'll decide what to do this afternoon based on the situation."
Everyone nodded in agreent, taking out their limited dry rations and swallowing them down with water. The water was rainwater, collected during their night march when Luo Zheng had told them to open their canteens to the sky; in this arid mountain range, water was incredibly precious, and they took every opportunity to stock up.
After eating and drinking their fill, everyone returned to sleep. Luo Zheng waited about an hour, and seeing no signs of Arctic Bear's aerial forces and confident that their tracks hadn't been exposed since ground forces were not as fast, he internally breathed a sigh of relief. After standing guard for two hours, he handed the watch over to Ghost Hand and went back to sleep himself.
When he woke up, it was around two in the afternoon. Luo Zheng checked the ti, ate so dry food, and said to everyone, "It seems we haven't been discovered hiding here; otherwise, the enemy would have definitely attacked during this half day. I suggest we wait until it gets dark before we move. Everyone continue to conserve your strength."
"Agreed," Lan Xue pondered for a mont and then expressed her agreent. Seeing that both the team leader and the deputy team leader had made their decision, no one objected. Everyone had slept through the morning, and their physical condition had sowhat recovered but was still not sufficient. After eating and drinking their fill, they continued to take turns sleeping to restore their strength and energy.
After dark, Luo Zheng woke up, feeling much better and significantly restored in strength. He looked around: the moon was high in the sky, casting a dim grey over the land with a visibility of about ten ters—ideal for traveling. The breeze swept gently over the ridges, bringing with it a fresh air that was revitalizing. Luo Zheng's spirits lifted as he smiled and said, "Brothers, it's ti to go out. I guess the satellites of the whole world are watching us here. The mont we go out, we'll be exposed, but let's go out and shock the world."
"It's entirely possible. With such a big commotion, with Arctic Bear deploying fighter jets, helicopters, and a large troop movent, satellites from various countries must have noticed. They are closely monitoring this area. We've been hiding for a day, and I believe many people might think we were blown up already. Won't going out scare quite a few?" Ghost Hand laughed.
"The folks back ho must be worried too, right? Going out would also reassure them at ho, but the mont we step out, we'll definitely be exposed. Arctic Bear, in its embarrassnt, will surely arrange a manhunt, so everyone be careful," Lan Xue said with a cool expression, ticulously checking her equipnt and maintaining the gun in her hands.
"Everyone check your weapons; we'll head out in ten minutes," Luo Zheng said sternly, regardless of the risks, they had to step out. As for the danger, there was no safe place on the battlefield; they could only adapt on the fly.
Ten minutes later, everyone was ready and walked out from under the stone cliffs, climbing up the hillside along the waist of the mountain and continuing forward along the ridge. Half an hour later, a drone swooped in. The leading Luo Zheng signaled everyone to stop, coldly watched the drone, and disdainfully flipped it off, then continued on their way, unaware that this gesture was captured by the drone, causing an uproar among the relevant departnts worldwide.
The National Blade Base Command Center Information Technology Personnel saw Luo Zheng's highly provocative gesture and imdiately beca excited. They had lost track of Luo Zheng and his team during the stormy night, not seeing any sign of them all day, and had mobilized all available national satellites for surveillance, still failing to locate them. Many thought they had been killed; the defiant gesture fired everyone up and led them to burst into applause.
Wu Jin saw Luo Zheng's provocative action frozen on the large screen, and his worry from a whole day and night was suddenly relieved. He cursed under his breath: "When did you start showing off, kid? I bet Arctic Bear is going crazy. The Snow Bear Special Warfare Team should be dispatched soon; you guys better hold your ground."
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