Chapter 1: The Great Wind Rises

The old man did not respond, gazing at the two armies that were moving away, and said: "The way of nature is always clear, the way of yin and yang is always tranquil, the way of humanity is always constant, known as the 'Classic of Nature.' You have been learning the Four Books and Five Classics from me since you were three years old, and began practicing the techniques of the 'Classic of Nature' at five. It has been thirteen years now, and you have made some progress. Go forth, and little do you know, the coming together and parting is also natural. Once you step outside, no matter what you do, just remember that you are a descendant of Huaxia."

The one leading the way, named Gangzi, said: "Damn it, when have we ever abandoned our brothers? I cannot afford to lose this person, besides, there is no one left to be a brother."

At that moment, the person lying on the ground suddenly made a faint sound, "Water, give me water"

The young man looked at the departing elder with tears in his eyes, the person who had raised him. Memories of the past eighteen years flooded his mind, and he felt a deep sense of reluctance. However, recalling the elder's teachings and expectations, he turned his head and strode purposefully in another direction. The elder's words echoed in his mind: "Young man, I have taught you so much not for you to be lost in the mountains. One day, you must leave the mountains and pursue your own career; life should not be lived in vain."

"No way." The three of them said in unison, leaving no room for rebuttal

... ...

The three individuals quickly set off in their respective directions, leaving only the captain behind to inspect his firearm. Soon, he let out a bitter smile, realizing that there was not a single bullet left in the gun. The only weapon on him was the military dagger known as the "National Blade," which had accompanied him for many years. Made of high-carbon steel alloy, it emitted a chilling gleam, resembling an ancient weapon of destruction

It should not be; the other party is dressed like a hunter, holding a large bow in hand, with no other weapons. "Gangzi saw through the captain's thoughts and added.

It seems that the gunfire just now is related to him. Go tell Fengzi and the others not to harm the injured party, bring him over. With an acquaintance to guide us, we might just be able to find our way out of this damned primeval forest

"Is that our military personnel?" the elderly man said in a low voice, filled with confusion

"I will go instead; I am the sniper in the jungle, and none of you are better than me," said the soldier leading the way as he picked up his gun and prepared to leave

At this moment, the person who was lagging behind also caught up. Upon seeing the situation, he naturally understood the reason and calmly said: "Stop arguing, demolition is my forte, I am the most suitable for this task"

The four individuals looked warily behind them, and Binzi said, "The gunfire should be about three kilometers away."

Upon hearing this, the three of them, disregarding the drawing lots, excitedly looked at the person on the ground, gazing in surprise at the captain. One of them cut a vine from the side, extracting some white liquid from it, which dripped into the captain's mouth. With a few swift motions of the military knife, all the liquid from the vine was drained.

From the actions of the three individuals, it is evident that they are the elite among the elite in jungle warfare. Their choice of concealed positions, the speed and precision of their movements, and the camouflage they wear are all nothing short of exquisite.

The person who was scouting ahead heard this and quickly turned back, cautiously looking at the unconscious captain, and calmly said: "No, we haven't jumped out of the encirclement yet. Get on my back, let's go quickly"

An old man and a young man exchanged puzzled glances, slowly retreating behind the cliff. The old man wore a gray-black coarse linen robe, exuding an air of elegance, and held a slightly yellowed thread-bound book in his hand. He casually sat on a large rock. The young man was draped in a wolfskin vest, carrying a large bow on his back, revealing his muscular physique, which glistened faintly in the sunlight. On the ground lay a dead wild sheep, lifeless beyond measure.

A sharp gunshot shattered the tranquility of the primitive forest in the western border region of Huaxia.

Just as Bing Ge was about to draw the military knife tied to his leg to get some water, the captain on the ground had already woken up and said to the three of them: "Gangzi, Fengzi, Binzi, I can't go on any longer, you should leave."

Oh? The captain was also taken aback. In this vast mountain range, how could there be a hunter? Could it be a trick played by the other party?

Aren't they just a bunch of stubborn pests? I'll go and eliminate them. " Brother Bin, who was lagging behind, shouted as he was about to leave, but was grabbed by the captain. The four of them understood very well that these people were not just simple pests; otherwise, they wouldn't be in such a predicament.

To receive from nature is to return to nature; this is called the essence of the Dao. The essence of the people merges with the essence of nature, the vital energy of the people aligns with the vital energy of nature, and the spirit of the people harmonizes with the spirit of nature. By thoroughly understanding principles, realizing one's nature, and comprehending destiny, one achieves success and completeness, cultivates virtue, and transforms the golden body, directly attaining the sacred realm of the Supreme Ultimate and natural state. At this point, one understands the source of all things in heaven and earth, the mysteries of the universe's transformations, and the truths of the manifestations and concealments of all beings. You are already eighteen; it is time for you to have your own life. Go now, or else those soldiers will have trouble. Remember to come back and visit this old man when you have the time." The old man said, turning around and drifting away.

Looking back at the comrades busy with their tasks, the captain's eyes were filled with guilt and anger, as well as a strong fighting spirit, fully charged for the impending battle. For soldiers, dying on the battlefield is an honorable matter

Three individuals formed an arrowhead formation, cautiously advancing forward, each drawing their only personal weapon, the military "National Blade" dagger, moving stealthily like a serpent, making no sound, ready to respond.

"Alright, no more running. The green mountains are everywhere burying heroic souls. I will go set things up; even if I die, I must take a few down with me," said Binzi, as he turned around to prepare traps and similar devices.

Everything returned to calm, as if nothing had just happened. Only the towering trees made a rustling sound, and the startled birds flew back into the thicket.

Grandfather, I, a young man, yearn for the outside world, but the only thing I cannot let go of is my one and only closest family member by my side

Upon reaching a massive ancient tree, the soldier in the middle, who was carrying another on his back, suddenly whispered, "Not good, the captain has a high fever." Saying this, he placed the other soldier down on the ground, broke off a large tree leaf, and anxiously began to fan the air. His eyes were bloodshot, and the tough man was somewhat choked up.

A gunshot rang out again, and the two of them cautiously lay down, crawling to the edge of the cliff. In the distance, they saw several people hurriedly making their way through the dense forest of the canyon.

"Shooting without reason is not their style?" Gangzi muttered to himself

The old man gazed into the distance. Having aged, his eyesight was somewhat farsighted, and he easily spotted the pursuers about three miles behind him, and it appeared that there were quite a number of them.

The sky is high and the clouds are light, a gentle breeze brings forth greenery. On a cliff edge of a dense primeval forest, two heads, one old and one young, cautiously emerge, vigilantly surveying their surroundings. The elder has a kind and benevolent expression, exuding an air of ethereal wisdom, while the young man's dark, handsome face is marked by a pair of distinctly contrasting eyes that convey curiosity, cunning, and composure

Bang --! The sound of several gunshots.

On the towering cliff, the two retreated, leaning against a massive rock. The old man looked at the excited young man and, after a moment of contemplation, said: "It seems that our country's soldiers are being pursued by foreign troops"

In the dense, sun-blocking primeval forest, under the scorching heat of summer, a chilling aura permeates the air. A soldier cautiously forges ahead, his agile body moving with the swiftness of a civet cat. The resolute expression on his face is complemented by a pair of spirited eyes, yet they cannot conceal a hint of fatigue that naturally seeps through. Behind him, a stronger soldier carries an unconscious comrade on his back, while another soldier meticulously erases traces, remaining vigilant against potential dangers from behind

"Yes, they walked into the Valley of the Hungry Wolves, and further ahead is the Valley of Miasma, where survival is nearly impossible. Grandpa, it's getting late, let's head back." The young man still appeared excited; the exuberance of youth is inherently spirited and adventurous.

"Wait a minute, no one is a coward. Damn it, such a good thing, no one should think of monopolizing it. As per the old rules, we will draw lots," said the soldier carrying the burden.

The captain let out a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Good brothers, I apologize to you all. I never expected that the first group of the National Blade would be chased like a stray dog. I cannot afford to lose face. If I must die, then let it be. In the next life, we shall still be brothers."

Fengzi and Binzi were also taken aback by Gangzi's words, but soon they felt a sense of joy. Ever since they entered the primeval forest, it had been so dense that they could hardly find their way. Coupled with their unfamiliarity with the surroundings and the pursuing enemies behind them, even though they were all elite special forces, they had endured considerable hardships. Having someone familiar with the situation might just improve their circumstances

The four individuals exchanged puzzled glances, yearning to confirm their suspicions through each other's eyes

The elderly walk while singing, "How wonderful, the nature of the Great Way! The virtues of heaven and earth are united, the brightness of the sun and moon is harmonized, the principles of yin and yang are aligned, the seasons are in order, all things are in accordance with nature. The law opens the universe, and achievements are realized through nature. Therefore, the Supreme Ultimate, the Holy Ancestor of Nature, widely disseminates the principles of the natural way, benefiting all living beings, to illuminate the essentials of the Way."

The old man, however, showed no intention of leaving. After letting out a sigh, he said: "Young man, weren't you thinking of leaving the mountains to see the outside world? This is an opportunity; a good man should aspire to explore far and wide. I won't keep you here."

The young man was taken aback, looking at the old man with confusion, and said: "Grandfather, didn't you say to wait until my skills are improved before discussing this? Besides, I am not at ease with you being alone. I am not in a hurry; let's talk about it later."

In a moment's time, there were a total of four soldiers being pursued ahead, one of whom was injured and being carried by another. They quickly crossed the cliff area and swiftly fled deeper into the dense forest. After a while, more than a dozen similarly armed soldiers appeared, their uniforms not resembling those of the local forces, and they continued to pursue forward, disappearing into the thicket.

"Hmm, it seems like we are being chased," the young boy said excitedly in a low voice

Gangzi is about to leave, and the notification has been sent.

"The high fever persists, and the wound is inflamed. It is imperative to address this issue. You take the captain and Brother Bin and leave; I will distract them," said the tall and formidable soldier decisively.

At that moment, Gangzi jumped down from the big tree, set down the special telescope, and said in surprise: "Boss, I see a person running towards us; he seems to be a hunter"

"Alright, I will make the sign," said the person who was called Brother Bin after the break, as he casually broke a thin branch and started to fiddle with it, saying, "As per the old rule, the longest one goes, and the broken one stays." Soon, he held three branches that looked to be of equal length in both hands, signaling the two to draw first.

Once again, the captain reacted swiftly and commanded with effort: "Gangzi, climb the tree for reconnaissance; Binzi, Fengzi, you two go prepare. It seems the enemy is about to arrive. The national blade is sharp and invincible; there is only death in battle, not submission in life."

Is it possible?