Chapter 722: The Veteran
Chapter 722: The Veteran
The large bird in the sky circled around and descended towards the crowd. Immediately, someone in the group took out something to feed it and spoke in a low voice.
The man wearing the old Pioneer Team uniform glanced at Chen Chuan a few times and then at the items he carried. He gestured to the people behind him to stay put while he walked forward alone. He carried only a long sword that seemed to be crafted from bone.
Chen Chuan responded by lightly squeezing his legs and urging his horse forward to meet the man.
When the man approached, he removed his facemask, revealing a face full of wrinkles and a half-white head of hair.
The other half of his face was wrapped in cloth, and along the edges, one could see flesh-colored scars and wrinkled skin, indicating severe injuries. His exposed eye was sharp and piercing.
The man appeared to be in his sixties or seventies, but his true age seemed younger.
When the two were within thirty meters of each other, the man spoke in the Great Harmony language, "Judging from your weapons and attire, you must be from the Great Harmony military base. What's your name?"
Chen Chuan dismounted and stood holding his horse's reins. "Yes, I am. May I ask for your name, sir?"
The man's use of the Great Harmony language caused a nostalgic look to appear on his face, and his expression softened. "My surname is Yang."
He turned and spoke to the people behind him in the indigenous language, and they immediately lowered their weapons and firearms.
He examined Chen Chuan's Dragon Nose Horse and said, "You must have traveled a long way. This place isn't safe. A swarm of insects is approaching, and it might rain soon. It's best to leave early. Why don't you join us?"
"A swarm?" Chen Chuan nodded. Swarms were a common occurrence in the Fusion Zone, and in Chen Bitong's memories, they were the most frequently encountered threat.
They would swarm in overwhelming numbers, relentlessly biting their prey without letting go. When facing such a swarm, it was best to avoid them if there was no effective countermeasure.
But that wasn't the worst part. The most crucial factor was the rain. The rain and snow in the unknown regions of the Fusion Zone had mild corrosive properties, and they would bring down creatures that usually floated high in the sky. These creatures had strong parasitic and aggressive tendencies, so engaging them directly wasn't a good option. It was better to find shelter and wait out the rain.
If the rain was indeed coming, it wouldn't be suitable for traveling, and they would need to find a place to take shelter first.
Although Chen Chuan didn't know the specific identity of Mr. Yang, the conversation revealed that he was from Great Harmony and seemed friendly. Therefore, Chen Chuan didn't mind following him.
Seeing Chen Chuan's agreement, Mr. Yang immediately called out to his people, who acted swiftly and released the bird again. Everyone quickened their pace, their nerves taut with tension.
Chen Chuan mounted his horse and followed alongside them, observing their disciplined movements. They had a well-organized system for scouting, covering, and providing rear support during their march.
The clothes worn by these people were uniform, and they all wore facemasks. Their synchronized steps indicated rigorous training, suggesting a military background, possibly from a strict military organization.
Among the group were several individuals with tattered clothing and a few being carried on stretchers. These people seemed to be from a different group, possibly rescued from somewhere.
After walking for more than an hour, they reached a temporary camp ahead. People from their group were already there and quickly cleared the roadblocks at the camp entrance upon seeing their return.
After a brief exchange, they lit the pre-arranged bonfires around the camp under Mr. Yang's command, sending smoke billowing into the sky, obscuring it from view.
Only then did everyone seem to relax a little.
But upon entering the camp, everyone looked up at the sky, as if waiting for something. After about ten minutes, a loud, buzzing sound approached from the distance, resembling a massive cloud of darkness.
The swarm moved at an incredible speed, reaching the camp in just a few minutes. Upon closer inspection, it was a cloud of countless black, mosquito-like insects.
Most of the swarm avoided the smoke, but those that entered were swiftly stomped on and thrown into the fire by the people below.
This swarm lasted for over an hour before gradually thinning out.
Mr. Yang's face relaxed slightly as he said, "Thankfully, no Swarm King appeared."
This swarm was likely from the unknown region, where predators of Swarm Kings were common, and many strong fighters and armed personnel resided.
Swarms were challenging to deal with for individuals or small groups, but with numerous fighters, equipment, and special items, they could be managed.
Mr. Yang seemed to have a realization, his face turning slightly somber. At that moment, the sky began to drizzle, and a peculiar scent filled the air, landing on the rainwater on the ground. Something could be seen rolling on the ground, either burrowing into the earth or crawling onto the nearby people.
Some people started burning plant leaves to drive away these creatures, then took shelter in the tents within the camp.
Mr. Yang also called out to Chen Chuan to take refuge in the tent. After sitting down, he handed Chen Chuan a water container.
Chen Chuan took it and drank, and in his experience, this was a native custom. If the host offers you water and you drink it, it signifies trust in the host and acceptance as their guest.
Seeing Chen Chuan drink so readily, Mr. Yang's eyes showed a hint of acknowledgment, and then he looked at Chen Chuan with a glimmer of expectation.
"Mr. Chen, you're from the Great Harmony military. Have you received any old-frequency telegram signals recently?"
Chen Chuan looked at him and replied, "I'm not sure about that. The intelligence department didn't mention anything about it before I left."
Mr. Yang didn't seem to hold much hope, remaining silent for a moment before saying, "Yes, it's an old signal. Perhaps no one pays attention to it anymore."
Chen Chuan asked, "Were you a member of the Pioneer Squad before?"
Mr. Yang admitted, "Yes, it's been a long time, about twenty-five years." He paused briefly and added, "I'm not a deserter."
His voice turned somber as he continued, "Twenty-five years ago, I ventured into this area with several squad members. During our exploration, we discovered a relic, but unfortunately, an elite squad from the Old Imperial House also found the same place. After a confrontation, we annihilated their elite squad, but our squad suffered significant losses, leaving only me and another member with fighting capability.
Just then, we encountered an attack by a giant python. I ordered the other member to cover our retreat, while I stayed back to hold off the enemy. In the end, due to my excessive exhaustion, I couldn't dodge in time and was swallowed by the giant snake.
But I didn't give up. Inside the python's body, I continued to fight and cause damage.
I intended to take the python down with me, but unexpectedly, the python rolled and crashed into a native village, where it met its end. Later, the locals cut me out from the python's belly.
They wrapped my body in herbal medicine to treat my injuries. At that time, my entire body was almost melted, and it took over a year to recover."
He sighed softly, "I guess my squad members, even if they made it back safely, probably assumed I was dead. And without teammates or support, I had no way to return.
I sent out several telegrams, but there was no response, and I had no family left. So, I decided to stay here since the natives saved me, and I've been here ever since."
At that moment, he took a bamboo tube with a strong medicinal scent, opened it, and took a sip. Then he sprayed some of the liquid at the entrance of the tent.
A sizzling sound came from there, and several small insects that had crawled into the tent curled up, emitting wisps of smoke from their bodies.
Mr. Yang wiped his mouth and said, "About three months ago, I saw a cloud of light in the jungle, almost connecting with the sky. I knew a relic of considerable rank had appeared.
Whenever a third-rank relic emerges, it inevitably triggers a contest between the Old Imperial House, Great Harmony, and the Company. The gathering site is too close to that location, so I've been urging them to relocate, but they refuse to listen."
Chen Chuan was well aware that the initial appearance of relics was often accompanied by colorful lights and mist, visible even from a great distance. These lights could also indicate the rank of the relic.
All parties almost simultaneously discovered the appearance of the relic due to this phenomenon.
"The Great Harmony camp isn't here," Chen Chuan said. "The attack on the gathering site likely originated from the Company Union."
Mr. Yang's expression turned solemn. "I saw their emblem, and I also saw the Linaksis Federation's team. The area near the ravine and valley is almost entirely wiped out by them. We came here to try and bring back the survivors.
But it's not easy. I noticed a fighter from the Union following us, seemingly trying to locate our remaining camp. I can't let him succeed, so I confronted him twice, but I found his strength to be extraordinary..."
As he spoke, he lifted his cloak, revealing a chest covered in scars and wrinkles, with a gaping, terrifying wound that almost revealed his back.
His voice turned somber, "In the past, this person would have been a member of the Pioneer Squad, no, a squad leader."
Looking at Chen Chuan with his remaining eye, he said, "Mr. Chen, you've made it here alone, and I believe you're very capable. As an old soldier of Great Harmony, I implore you to help me stop this person. I promise to reward you handsomely afterward."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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