Chapter 132: The Surprise Raid
Chapter 132: The Surprise Raid
Chen Chuan glanced at the distant watchtower, noticing the stiff expression on the guard's face, and instantly knew that Ren Xiaotian had succeeded in his mission.
From his vantage point in the guard tower, Chen Chuan signaled with his flashlight, and at that same moment, Ren Xiaotian responded with a signal from the opposite tower.
Wei Chang'an and Cai Si had already stealthily approached the area, and upon seeing their success, they boldly climbed up, easily neutralizing the two sentries at the entrance, one on each side.
Chen Chuan, sensing their presence, looked down and spotted a patrol team of two approaching from the side, holding flashlights. He signaled to them from above and waved his flashlight twice.
Wei Chang'an immediately understood and ducked out of sight, disappearing from view. After a while, the patrol team reached the corner, and Wei Chang'an suddenly emerged from the shadows, grabbing the necks of the two guards and effortlessly dragging them forward a few steps. He turned the corner and discarded them to the side.
"Well done," Chen Chuan silently praised.
Around the same time, the other patrol members were also located and swiftly dealt with by Cai Si.
Chen Chuan could sense the lack of vigilance among the guards, as if they were overly relaxed.
This was quite normal, given that the usual encounters in the wilderness involved firearms and crossbows, without much emphasis on hand-to-hand combat. As long as the camp's entrance was well-guarded, it was nearly impossible to infiltrate the heavily fortified outer perimeter unnoticed. Moreover, these guards were bandits, not soldiers, and thus lacked the strict discipline of a military force.
After dealing with the patrolling guards, Wei Chang'an exited the camp, signaling with his flashlight to the others waiting outside. They promptly entered the camp through the main entrance.
Chen Chuan surveyed his surroundings and noticed a modified rifle and a crossbow near the bodies of the bandits. He picked up the rifle, inspected it, and slung it over his shoulder before descending from the watchtower.
As he reached the ground, Ren Xiaotian approached, "There were two people sleeping in the car. I've taken care of them."
Chen Chuan nodded, surprised that he hadn't considered the possibility of people sleeping inside the vehicle, invisible from the outside. "Well done, Ren Shixiong," he thought to himself.
"Ren Shixiong, I need you to take some men and keep an eye on the rear," Chen Chuan requested.
There was another road at the back of the camp, and these bandits might attempt to escape through it. Chen Chuan trusted only Ren Xiaotian to secure that area.
"Leave it to me," Ren Xiaotian replied. After a brief discussion, he led two of Wei Chang'an's men out of the camp to block the bandits' escape route.
With the outer perimeter secured, Chen Chuan signaled for the team to spread out and begin infiltrating the camp's interior.
Although the camp had numerous old and new tents scattered across the area, determining if they were occupied was straightforward. Most tents with occupants had a lamp lit inside, or at least a cable line extending within.
Chen Chuan approached a tent entrance and immediately heard the breathing of three people inside. Two of them were whispering, discussing the profits from their recent deal and their plans for entertainment afterward. Their conversation was laced with profanities and unfamiliar slang, possibly remnants of the Makarans' native language.
Chen Chuan gently lifted the tent flap and entered, his light footsteps and relaxed movements causing the occupants to initially mistake him for a fellow gang member. By the time they realized the intruder's identity, Chen Chuan was already in front of them, gently pressing on their heads, causing them to fall backward silently.
The third occupant, engrossed in a beauty magazine, remained oblivious to the commotion. Chen Chuan approached, nudged his foot against the man's temple, causing him to drop the magazine and cover his face. Chen Chuan then exited the tent and proceeded toward another lit tent.
As he walked, he could hear faint, intermittent grunts and thuds from the surrounding area, indicating that his teammates were also in action.
At that very moment, in the innermost tent, a middle-aged man abruptly opened his eyes. He stood, tucked a short stick into his belt, and exited the tent, wielding a coiled whip in his right hand.
Just outside, in the largest tent within the camp, the gang leader, 'Wild Eagle' Mitai, was reviewing a translated telegram with his deputy, 'Venom Snake' Yu'an.
"The exchange delegation might depart tomorrow, so we need to reach the rendezvous point by then," Mitai said.
Yu'an, surprised, replied, "Tomorrow? I thought the agreed date was the day after tomorrow. Besides, aren't they being watched by the Yangzhi City authorities? How can they leave?"
Mitai explained, "The telegram mentions that a connection has been made with a high-ranking official in Dashi. They're pressuring the Yangzhi City government to expedite the departure. It's not an issue if things go smoothly. We can leave with the delegation and meet them tomorrow."
Placing the telegram aside, Mitai continued, "By delivering the goods, we'll earn fame and status. Our brothers won't have to fight and die on the wasteland anymore."
Yu'an remained unconvinced, "Boss, it's the same everywhere. We're still just pawns for those above. At least we're of the same clan, so we get a bit more meat."
Mitai disagreed, "Don't be so pessimistic. If we deliver the goods, we'll be heroes to the Makarans. With fame, they'll treat us with some respect."
Yu'an countered, "You're the boss here, but back home, you're nothing."
Mitai pointed to his chest, his voice stern, "I've survived the wasteland since I was a child. Few make it to my age. I can feel it—if we continue like this, we'll die in some corner, worthless deaths, unknown to anyone."
(End)
As Yu'an returned, he knew that whatever he did, it was for his country. Even if he died, he would leave behind a name.
Yu'an said, "Alright, I've said it before. Since it's your decision, Boss, I'll follow you to the end. After all, you're the one who saved my life."
Mitai patted him on the shoulder. "Brother, get your things ready too, just in case."
Yu'an's eyes flickered. "Boss, are you worried they might abandon us after we cross the river?"
Mitai's voice turned solemn. "Just in case they don't keep their promise, we'll have something to hold over them. It's unlikely they'll do that, but we must be prepared."
Yu'an reassured him. "Don't worry, Boss. Dongxi and I have been ready. But let's not let it come to that. Even if you return, you'll have made enemies."
Just then, a voice came from the guard at the tent entrance. "Who's there?"
Mitai was instantly alert. He drew his gun and, along with Yu'an, moved to the entrance. After a quick glance, he saw a tall, middle-aged Makar man and breathed a sigh of relief. He noticed the whip in the man's hand and asked, "Qi Sai Duoma, why are you out here?"
Qi Sai looked outside. "There are people coming in."
Mitai was startled. His eyes darted back and forth, but he quickly blew his whistle, alerting everyone in the camp.
As they heard the sharp whistle sounds coming from deeper within the camp, Chen Chuan and the others realized they had been discovered.
Seeing that they had already been exposed, they no longer hid their actions. They took out smoke grenades and threw them towards the center of the camp, creating clouds of smoke inside.
This was a very useful tactic, as the sudden attack and obscured vision caused panic and chaos among the bandits.
The bandits, aware of the attack and the infiltration into their inner sanctum, were unsure of the number of attackers. In their panic, some raised their guns and fired randomly, shouting loudly as if afraid others wouldn't know their location.
Chen Chuan's group didn't hold back, returning fire from various directions.
Mitai heard the sound of Datuo assault rifles and saw the rare smoke grenades. He was surprised and anxious. "Could it be the Gray Dogs from Yangzhi City? Have we been exposed?"
Yu'an remained calm, listening closely. "At most five or six guns. It's probably not the Patrol Bureau. It might be the hired company; the style seems to match. They sneaked in without us noticing."
Mitai cursed, "The hired company? Could it be the cargo we robbed last time?"
Yu'an's face darkened. "I don't know, Boss. I'll go check the rear. We can't let them cut off our escape route."
Mitai agreed and gave his shoulder a firm squeeze. "Brother, I'm counting on you for the rear!" Yu'an waved his hand and called a few people to follow him to the back.
At that moment, Qi Sai, the Makar man, started walking towards the exit. Mitai didn't stop him, feeling both admiration and fear for the man who had come from Makar to teach them combat techniques.
Outside, Luo Kaiyuan listened to the shouts and gunshots, then raised his gun and pulled the trigger, taking down an opponent. He quickly moved from his position, ejecting the spent shell casing and reloading. After a quick assessment, he fired again, taking down another target.
Feng Xiaoqi, unaccustomed to guns, hid in a concealed corner, using his crossbow to shoot stealthily. This way, even if he missed, he wouldn't expose himself.
Wei Chang'an, an experienced fighter, found a well-covered spot and searched for targets. His marksmanship was excellent, and every shot found its mark.
But at one moment, after firing another shot, he became alert. He rolled over, and a whip shadow lashed through the spot he had just vacated, tearing the sturdy cover apart. The gust of wind from the whip caused a stinging pain on his side.
As he rolled, he fired back into the smoke, but there was no response.
He crouched in place, gun aimed forward, his grip steady and his gaze focused.
After a few breaths, he suddenly turned his head, his body leaning to one side. He fired two quick shots, and despite his evasive maneuvers, a thin bloodstain appeared on his cheek, burning painfully.
After rolling away, he dodged to the other side, barely avoiding another lash of the whip. He was certain he had hit his target, but the opponent was unharmed, indicating they were wearing body armor.
Just as he thought things were going badly, the enemy fire suddenly ceased.
He looked up and saw a tall, robust figure. This person suddenly reached out and deflected a crossbow bolt aimed at his head. But just as this person was about to approach Wei Chang'an, they suddenly stopped and looked in a certain direction.
At the other end of the passage, Chen Chuan was walking towards them. As he walked, he tossed aside his empty rifle and drew the Xuejun Blade from his back, planting it into the ground. With each step forward, the blade slowly emerged from its sheath.
...
Chapter end
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