Chapter 134: The Retrieval
Chapter 134: The Retrieval
After retreating from the front, Mitai and Yu'an, along with their men, boarded an armored vehicle within the camp. However, as they were uncertain about what awaited them ahead, another off-road vehicle led the way.
The road behind them was a downhill slope, and as soon as the vehicle exited the camp, it accelerated downhill, intending to break through in one go.
By this time, the sky had begun to brighten, but visibility was still somewhat hindered. When those inside the vehicle realized something was amiss on the road ahead, it was too late. The vehicle had already rolled over a tire spiker, causing the tires to burst instantly. It skidded for several dozen meters before flipping onto its side.
Yu'an, who had been driving the armored vehicle behind, suddenly realized something was wrong. He quickly braked, and a cold sweat broke out on his back. Fortunately, he hadn't been at the front earlier; otherwise, they would be the ones stranded outside now.
At that moment, gunshots rang out on both sides of the slope. Bullets struck the armored vehicle's makeshift armor, unable to penetrate, but they dared not stay put. They backed up and retreated.
Mitai slammed his fist on the steering wheel and cursed under his breath.
With a tire spiker blocking the road ahead, attempting to force their way through would result in the same fate—burst tires. While the men could walk, without a vehicle in the wilderness, they were as good as stranded.
"Boss, we can only get out from the back now," Yu'an said.
Mitai understood what he meant. It was a trench they had left earlier, allowing them to crawl through a narrow gap in the trench and exit the camp. He grabbed his gun and said, "After we get out, should we attack from behind? Fine, let's take them on!"
"Boss!"
Yu'an grabbed his hand and said, "These people must have come by car, probably from the city. There's only one place to hide vehicles in that direction, probably not far ahead. Even if there are guards, there won't be many. Let's get out first, then sneak over there. As long as we can seize a car, we still have a chance to escape!"
Mitai was taken aback but then felt a glimmer of hope. He thought for a moment and said sternly, "Let's do it!"
Earlier, they had taken six brothers with them, but four of them had already crashed their vehicles. In addition to Mitai and Yu'an, the vehicle carried two Makar students who had brought oak leaves. Qi Sai, who was supposed to be there, was absent, but these two could take his place in communicating with the exchange delegation. They might even speak up for them when they returned.
The four men reached a corner of the camp and, one by one, climbed down a rope into the trench.
Meanwhile, the firefight continued at the front.
Chen Chuan noticed that the enemy's firepower had significantly weakened, and after a while, he heard gunfire from the rear. This likely meant that some bandits had tried to escape from the back but were stopped by the team members positioned there.
However, the gunfire ceased after a few shots, indicating that the bandits hadn't managed to break through. Chen Chuan still felt uneasy, so he checked his watch. It was almost 5 a.m., and the sky was gradually brightening. After a moment's thought, he said, "Brother Wei, I'll go check the rear. You take over here."
Wei Chang'an pointed to the team members on the watchtower behind them and said, "Don't worry. Brother Ding is up there keeping watch. With the few guns they have, they won't get past us."
Chen Chuan nodded and quickly retreated from the camp's main entrance, circling around to the rear. If there were no issues at the back, he could attempt to break in from there, sandwiching the bandits and ending the fight swiftly.
As he reached the back of the camp, he saw the overturned off-road vehicle and the men who had crawled out, now subdued by Ren Xiaotian's team. After a quick discussion with Ren Xiaotian, they prepared to launch a rear assault.
At the same time, outside the camp, Mitai, Yu'an, and the two Makar students emerged one by one from the trench. They glanced back at the camp, where the firefight continued, unaware of their presence for now.
Yu'an waved to Chen Chuan and whispered, "Boss, this way." Mitai nodded and hurried forward, crouching low, with the two Makar students following closely behind.
However, just as they exited, the gunman on the watchtower seemed to sense something. He peered into the wilderness, where the sky was still not fully bright, but he could vaguely make out several moving figures. Chen Chuan had just passed by, but the gunman instinctively swung his gun in that direction and fired.
A gunshot rang out, and one of the Makar students' arms flew off, eliciting a scream as he fell to the ground.
Yu'an was startled and shouted, "Run! Spread out!"
In the exposed wilderness, facing a long-range gunman, they could only hope that the next shot wouldn't hit them. After running for about twenty meters, another gunshot echoed, and the Makar student leading the group collapsed.
At the camp's rear entrance, Chen Chuan had just taken a few steps when Wei Chang'an called out, "Chen Shidi, wait!"
Chen Chuan halted and turned back, asking, "Brother Wei, what's wrong?"
Wei Chang'an replied solemnly, "That shot was fired outward."
Chen Chuan immediately understood. A shot fired outward meant either someone had arrived from outside or the bandits had found a way to escape. However, if it were the former, a different signal would have been sent, making the latter scenario more likely. Moreover, whoever had fled at this time was undoubtedly a key figure.
Wei Chang'an shared the same assessment and immediately said, "Get in my car."
Chen Chuan nodded. With Wei Chang'an's three team members and the tire spiker blocking the way, anyone who tried to escape wouldn't get far in the wilderness.
Chen Chuan got into Wei Chang'an's car, and as soon as it started, they sped around to the front.
Mitai and Yu'an, meanwhile, were running for their lives, using the dim light as cover. Fortunately, they weren't shot again, and after sprinting for several hundred meters, they indeed spotted several vehicles parked ahead, filling them with joy.
The bandits in the wilderness were skilled carjackers, and once they reached the vehicles, they could figure out how to start them.
The two men left behind were part of Wei Chang'an's team, brought for their technical expertise. Still, they were capable of fighting if needed.
Action: Chen Chuan witnessed two figures running towards them, and they initially remained calm and unmoving. Only when they were within a confident shooting range did they raise their guns and fire. Yu'an was shot in the chest and fell instantly, causing Mitai to be startled. However, he had no time to hesitate; he quickly moved, drew his gun, and returned fire.
Nicknamed Wild Eagle for his exceptional eyesight, he fired at the two figures while in motion, hitting them at close range. They hastily retreated, taking cover.
During the exchange of gunfire, Mitai was also hit, but his protective gear shielded him from serious harm. Just then, the sound of an approaching vehicle grew louder, causing Mitai to feel a sense of urgency.
He suppressed the two figures ahead with his gun while rushing forward, then took cover behind a vehicle. He retrieved a box from his person and extracted a piece of oak leaf, holding it high for all to see.
"You're here for this, aren't you? If you don't let me go, I'll destroy this right now! Don't try to deceive me; I'll tear it up immediately!"
Mitai made a tearing motion with his hands, unsure if they were truly after the leaf. But when the two figures ceased firing, he confirmed his suspicion.
At that moment, the approaching vehicle stopped in the distance, and Chen Chuan emerged, knife in hand, slowly approaching. He stopped at a safe distance and said, "You can't escape."
Mitai held the leaf in front of him, his face contorted as he said, "Then I'd rather destroy this than let you have it."
Chen Chuan calmly replied, "Speak. What do you want?"
Mitai's heart sank as he said harshly, "Give me a car, let me go, and I'll place this wherever you want, with whomever you choose. From then on, we'll have nothing to do with each other. I won't ask who you are, and you won't come looking for me."
In the 1619 book, there's not a single mistake!
Chen Chuan's voice remained calm. "You're not a Makaran, are you? You probably didn't know that this leaf is a gift from the Makara to the Great Shun. It stays evergreen and is exceptionally resilient, making it indestructible by ordinary means."
Mitai was startled, his gaze fixed on the leaf. Just then, a loud bang sounded, and his forehead suddenly exploded, causing him to collapse face-first onto the ground.
Behind him, Ren Xiaotian spun his revolver, smoothly returning it to his waist holster, and nodded to Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan nodded back and walked forward. As he passed Yu'an's body, the latter suddenly sprang up, seemingly attempting to take Chen Chuan hostage. But with a flash of knife light, Yu'an's head flew off.
Chen Chuan's stride didn't falter. He flicked the knife, and the headless corpse behind him thudded to the ground. Without a glance, he continued to the fallen oak leaf.
His words to Mitai weren't entirely lies. The Foreign Affairs Bureau had informed him of the leaf's resilience and self-repairing properties, even if slightly damaged. So, there was no need for excessive caution in retrieving it.
Chen Chuan bent down and picked up the leaf.
Upon touching it, he felt a brief sensation of his "second self" fading, but it lasted only an instant before returning to normal.
He examined the leaf for a moment, found the box, and returned the leaf inside.
With the leaf secured, Chen Chuan's mission was nearly complete. However, there was one last group of bandits in the camp, all of whom were on the wanted list. Since they were here, he decided to take care of them.
As Chen Chuan's vehicle turned back, the firefight in the camp continued. The bandits, despite their dire situation, showed no signs of surrender.
In the wilderness, team battles rarely left survivors, except for the occasional escapee. Even if the opposing side offered mercy, it was rarely believed, so these hardened bandits fought to the bitter end.
As dawn approached, Chen Chuan leaped over the trenches and reached the camp's edge, a narrow spot, but he moved as if on flat ground. As he neared the entrance, he sensed someone's presence behind a barrier. He spun, stabbing through the barrier and skewering the person inside, their head impaled. Chen Chuan then crouched and charged forward.
As he did, the barrier behind him was riddled with bullet holes. He drew his knife and spun, reaching the entrance. He halted abruptly, facing two terrified bandits. With a swift slash, he beheaded them both.
Charging into the camp, he spotted three remaining bandits positioned at different spots, seemingly unaware of the commotion behind them. Chen Chuan drew his gun and fired several shots, instantly taking down two of them from behind.
He turned to the last bandit, a towering figure nearly two heads taller than him. The bandit wore a stolen steel helmet and a metal face mask, his bulky frame covered in protective gear. Upon seeing Chen Chuan, he roared and leaped down, charging towards him.
The bandit's massive frame created a deafening sound as he charged, but Chen Chuan remained calm, knife in hand.
Just as the bandit closed in, a muffled gunshot rang out, and his head exploded. The helmet flew off, and his upper body slumped forward before collapsing to the ground.
Chen Chuan glanced at the watchtower, where Ding, the marksman, raised his gun and gave a thumbs-up. Chen Chuan nodded in response and addressed the approaching group, "Everyone, let's clear the camp and aim to leave by noon."
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(End of Chapter)
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