Chapter 722: The Veteran
Chapter 722: The Veteran
The large bird in the air circled once before descending towards the crowd. Immediately, someone in the crowd took out something to feed it and spoke in a low voice.
A man wearing the attire of a pioneer squad glanced at Chen Chuan and then at his belongings. He signaled to the people behind him to stay put while he approached Chen Chuan alone, carrying only a long sword that seemed to be crafted from bone.
Chen Chuan gently squeezed his legs, urging his horse to walk forward and meet the man.
When the man reached Chen Chuan, he removed his face mask, revealing a face full of wrinkles and white hair.
The other side of his face was wrapped in cloth, and along the edges, one could see flesh-colored scars and wrinkled skin. It seemed like he had suffered a severe injury, and his eyes were sharp and piercing.
The man appeared to be in his sixties or seventies, but Chen Chuan sensed that his true age might be younger.
When they were within thirty meters of each other, the man spoke in the Grand Harmony dialect, "Judging by your weapon and attire, did you come from a Grand Harmony military base? What's your name?"
Chen Chuan dismounted his horse, leading it by the reins as he stood. "Yes, my surname is Chen. May I ask for your name?"
Hearing Chen Chuan speak the Grand Harmony dialect, the man's expression softened with nostalgia. "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.
The man glanced at the hooves of Chen Chuan's dragon-nosed horse and said, "It seems you've traveled quite a distance. This place isn't safe. A swarm of insects is approaching, and it might rain soon. It's best to leave here early. Why don't you come with us?"
"A swarm?" Chen Chuan asked.
Chen Chuan nodded. Insect swarms were a common occurrence in the Convergence Zone, and in Chen Bitong's memory, they were the most frequently encountered situation.
When insect swarms appeared, they covered the sky and relentlessly bit their prey. It was best to avoid them when possible.
However, the most crucial factor was the rain. The rain and snow in the Convergence Zone had mild corrosive properties, and they could bring down creatures that usually floated high in the sky. These creatures were highly parasitic and aggressive, and it was not advisable to endure them head-on. It was better to find shelter and wait out the rain.
Given the situation, it indeed wasn't suitable for traveling. They needed to find a place to take shelter first.
Although Chen Chuan didn't know the specific identity of the man named Yang, their conversation revealed that he was from Grand Harmony and seemed friendly. Therefore, Chen Chuan didn't mind accompanying them, confident in his ability to handle any situation.
Upon Chen Chuan's agreement, Mr. Yang hurried back to his group. They acted swiftly, releasing the large bird once more, and everyone quickened their pace, their nerves on edge.
Chen Chuan mounted his horse again and followed alongside them. He observed their disciplined movements, noting that they had arranged for reconnaissance and rear cover during their advance.
The group wore similar clothing, all equipped with customized face masks. Their synchronized steps indicated they had undergone rigorous training, suggesting a military background.
Among them were several individuals with tattered clothing and a few being carried on stretchers. These people seemed different from the rest of the group, possibly having been recently rescued from somewhere.
After a swift march, they reached a temporary campsite. People who seemed to be part of the group had set up the camp, and upon their return, they immediately cleared the roadblocks in front of the camp.
After a brief exchange, the group, under Mr. Yang's command, lit the campfires they had prepared earlier. The blazing flames sent plumes of smoke rising into the sky, obscuring it.
Only then did the group seem to relax a little.
However, once inside the camp, everyone's attention turned to the sky, as if awaiting something. After about ten minutes, a loud, buzzing sound approached from a distance. It resembled a massive cloud of black insects, like mosquitoes or flies.
The swarm moved incredibly fast, reaching the camp's airspace within minutes. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a swarm of countless black insects.
Most of the insects avoided the smoke, but those that ventured into it fell to the ground, where people waiting below stomped on them before tossing them into the fire.
It took over an hour for the insect swarm to gradually disperse. Mr. Yang let out a sigh of relief, saying, "Thankfully, no swarm lord appeared."
Chen Chuan gazed in the direction of the swarm and pondered for a moment before replying, "Not necessarily. There might be something even more formidable than a swarm lord."
Based on Chen Bitong's memory, a swarm of this magnitude likely originated from the unknown region. There, predators capable of hunting swarm lords were common, and many powerful fighters and armed personnel resided.
While insect swarms were challenging to deal with for individuals or small groups, a large number of well-equipped fighters with special items could handle them.
Mr. Yang seemed to have an idea, his face growing slightly somber. At that moment, the sky began to rain, and a peculiar odor filled the air. Something could be seen rolling on the ground, either burrowing into the earth or crawling onto nearby people.
Some people began to light plant leaves to drive away these creatures, and one by one, they retreated into the tents in the camp.
Mr. Yang also called Chen Chuan into the tent to take shelter. After they sat down, he handed Chen Chuan a canteen of water.
Chen Chuan took it and drank a mouthful. According to his experience, this was a custom of the natives. If the host offers you water, drinking it shows trust, and you become their guest.
Seeing Chen Chuan drink so readily, Mr. Yang's eyes showed a glimmer of recognition. Then, with a hint of expectation, he turned to look at Chen Chuan.
"Mr. Chen, you're a member of the Grand Harmony military. Have you received any old-frequency telegram signals recently?"
Chen Chuan glanced at him and replied, "I'm not sure about that. Before I left, the intelligence department didn't mention anything about it."
Mr. Yang didn't seem to hold much hope either. After a moment of silence, he said, "Yes, it's possible that no one would pay attention to such an old signal."
Chen Chuan asked, "Were you once a member of the Pioneer Squad?"
Mr. Yang admitted, "Yes, it's been a long time, about twenty-five years, I think." He paused briefly and added, "I'm not a deserter."
His voice grew solemn as he continued, "Twenty-five years ago, I and a few squad members ventured deep into this region. During our exploration, we discovered a relic, but unfortunately, an elite squad from the former imperial court also found their way here. After a confrontation, we annihilated their squad, but our own squad suffered heavy losses. Only I and another teammate remained combat-ready."
"At that moment, we encountered an attack from a giant python. I ordered my other teammate to cover the retreat of the rest, while I stayed behind to hold off the enemy. Eventually, due to excessive physical exertion, I couldn't dodge in time and was swallowed by that giant snake."
"But I didn't give up. Inside the python's body, I continued to try and destroy it."
"I had intended to die with the python, but unexpectedly, it rolled and crashed into a native village, where it finally perished. The locals cut me out from the python's belly."
"They wrapped me in medicinal herbs, and at that time, my body was almost completely melted. It took over a year to recover."
He sighed softly, "I guess even if my teammates made it back safely, they would have assumed I was sacrificed. Without proper equipment and teammates, I had no way to return."
"Later, I sent several telegrams, but there was no response. My family was also gone, and these natives saved me, so I decided to stay here and have been here ever since."
At that moment, he took a bamboo tube with a strong medicinal smell, opened it, and took a sip. Then he sprayed it at the entrance of the tent.
A sizzling sound came from there, and numerous insects that had crawled into the tent suddenly curled up and emitted wisps of smoke from their bodies.
He wiped his mouth and said, "About three months ago, I saw a cloud of light in the forest that almost connected with the sky. I knew for sure that a relic had appeared, and it was of a high rank."
"Every time a third-rank relic appears, it will inevitably lead to a scramble between the former imperial court, Grand Harmony, and various companies." He paused, "The settlement is too close to that place, so I've been urging them to relocate, but they won't listen."
Chen Chuan understood that the appearance of relics was often accompanied by colorful light and mist, and this phenomenon could be observed from a great distance. Usually, the rank of the relic could be determined based on these lights.
All parties had discovered the relic almost simultaneously, and this was the reason.
"The Grand Harmony camp isn't here. The attack on the settlement is likely from the Corporate Alliance," said Chen Chuan.
Mr. Yang's expression turned solemn as he said, "I saw their emblems, and I also saw a squad from the Linax Federation. Now, the area near the mountain gorge and river valley, where the settlement is located, has almost been wiped out by them. We came here to try and bring back those who managed to escape."
"This won't be easy. There's a fighter from the Alliance who has been following us. He seems to want to find our remaining camp by tailing us. I can't let him succeed, so I've engaged him twice, but his strength is extraordinary..."
As he spoke, he opened his windbreaker, revealing a chest covered in scars and wrinkles. There was a hideous wound that had pierced through, almost revealing the clothing behind.
His voice grew solemn, "In the past, this person would have been a member of the Pioneer Squad, no, a squad leader."
He looked at Chen Chuan with his remaining eye, "Mr. Chen, you managed to come here alone, so I believe you are very strong. I beg you, as a veteran of Grand Harmony, to help me stop this person. I promise to reward you handsomely afterward."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
