Chapter 6: Thrilling

In Fengzi's mind, the image of the fruit picked by Zhao Wuji flashed by, and he sincerely exclaimed: "Your grandfather is a person of great wisdom, the people of Qingniu Village are remarkable"

As he spoke, Zhang Peng's gaze turned towards Zhao Wuji, and everyone else also looked at Zhao Wuji. Whether they could arrive at the designated location in time was crucially dependent on Zhao Wuji. Although no one would get lost in the primeval forest, when it came to familiarity with this mountainous area, no one was as knowledgeable as Zhao Wuji

Zhang Peng will soon draw a geographical location map of a larger area, indicating the position of the original forest, the orientation of neighboring countries, and the location of Zitan Mountain

Zhang Peng, who appeared deep in thought, walked over and sat beside Zhao Wuji. He whispered, "We are brothers in life and death. To be honest with you, if we do not complete this mission, it will become a lifelong disgrace for us. I intend to continue the unfinished task, and I believe their thoughts align with mine. A soldier can die, but he must never be a deserter."

Set aside worries, cultivate inner strength, and elevate mental power to its limit. The faint breaths of all living beings in the surroundings can be subtly discerned. Zhao Wuji cautiously leads the way, heading in a direction where there are no signs of enemy activity, although a few individuals are ambushed on the mountain tops on either side.

What are your plans for the next step? Zhao Wuji looked at the team leader, Zhang Peng

There is no time for exclamations; everyone is a well-trained elite, able to understand each other's intentions with just a glance. After Captain Zhang Peng signaled to continue moving forward, Zhao Wuji also realized that the danger had not yet been averted. Observing the surrounding terrain, he led everyone to climb up the hillside

"Really?" Zhang Peng said with surprise, "That's great. Although a few days have passed, I don't know if it will be too late, but we must not miss this opportunity. Perhaps heaven will help us after all."

Whether it is a night raid or breaking out of a siege, the most important thing is to avoid detection. Speed and silence are crucial; without speed, everything is moot. Making noise would lead to an encounter battle or a full-scale assault, which would come at a great cost and is unwise

At this moment, everyone was taken aback to find that many armed troops had appeared on the slopes above the canyon. Special operations were merely small-scale skirmishes, but deploying troops represented a completely different nature; that was war. Could it be that the neighboring country intended to initiate a war

Good brother," Zhang Peng said gratefully, "Since we are brothers, I won't indulge in pleasantries. With your help, I have an eighty percent chance of success.

I believe that the possibility of going to the capital of the neighboring country is the greatest. The target is to obtain the national scientific research secrets, which do not fall under military jurisdiction. If it were me, I would definitely take the target to a location with research facilities that is secure and safe, and extract the desired information from them. Such places are abundant in our Huaxia country, but there is only one in the neighboring country, which is the location of the Ministry of Defense in the capital, Zitan Mountain.

"No problem, stay by my side. If an older brother can't even handle this, then he might as well not live," said Zhang Peng. "Next, let's analyze the battle situation."

As he spoke, Zhang Peng picked up a branch and began to draw on the ground. Soon, an outline of a map appeared. While pointing at the map, he analyzed, "We encountered an ambush from the armed forces of the neighboring country here. This can only indicate one issue: our movements have been exposed in advance. We will discuss this issue when we return. Our task is to capture the target alive and eliminate them before they can open their mouths. This requires us to have prior knowledge of their movements. Does anyone have any thoughts? Feel free to share and discuss."

Zhao Wuji understood immediately and said: "I know this place; it is recorded in the classics of Qingniu Village, just under a different name. From our current location, there is a secret path left by our ancestors during the salt and iron trading days, which can be traversed in a day and a night."

As everyone lay in wait and observed, four armed helicopters suddenly dove down, unloading all the ammunition they had brought with them. The sound of explosions echoed one after another, turning the canyon into a sea of fire. The anti-aircraft machine guns on the helicopters indiscriminately unleashed a torrent of bullets, plowing through the canyon twice in succession.

A few people casually sat on the ground, massaging their legs, relaxing their muscles, and recovering their strength. Fengzi approached curiously and said, "Brother, there's a question that's been bothering me, and I really want to ask you: why did that giant python come out? What method did you use?"

The target is certainly surrounded by strict guards. After a few days, I believe we have already entered the territory of the neighboring country. In order to complete the mission, we must go to the neighboring country.

I have a request," said Zhao Wuji. "Whoever has time, please tell me about the situation outside, as I know nothing about it.

After some thought, Zhao Wuji said: "Where is Zitan Mountain located"

It is fortunate that each member of this small team is exceptional; to become a part of "National Blade," each individual must be a prominent figure from various military regions, possessing absolute advantages in at least one area. It is important to understand that "National Blade" is the nation's sharp weapon, affiliated with the special operations unit of the National Security Bureau, primarily responsible for significant military strike missions. Without substantial skills and qualifications, it is impossible to enter "National Blade"

Zhao Wuji yearned to leave this mountainous region to experience life outside, but being alone made him feel somewhat lost. The outside world, as depicted in books, was alluring, yet it was not without its dangers. Zhao Wuji, lacking any worldly experience, felt both longing and apprehension.

The distance between them is about 1 kilometer. For an average sniper, 1 kilometer is a challenging distance to overcome. Of course, this does not apply to top snipers. Whether the ambushing sniper is of top caliber is something no one has informed Zhao Wuji. Fortunately, the canyon is shrouded in mist, resulting in poor visibility, which is unfavorable for sniping.

Everyone exchanged a look of surprise and relief, their faces adorned with an indescribable bitter smile. This was also the first time Zhao Wuji had witnessed such a scene, and he was left in a state of astonishment. The destructive power of modern technology is terrifying, violating the natural order. It is uncertain how long it will take for this valley to regain its vitality.

Everyone had rested enough and was ready to set off when suddenly, a rumbling sound echoed in the sky, startling everyone. This sound was all too familiar to the soldiers. They saw four armed helicopters appear in the sky, carrying a large amount of ammunition, heading straight for the canyon

Zhao Wuji subtly inferred the focus of the task from the conversations around him. Regarding the task, Zhao Wuji understood that the military has its discipline, and he was not suited to know too much. The fact that everyone had spoken openly just now was, in fact, a veiled way of disclosing information, indicating a deep level of trust among them. If he were to directly inquire about the situation, it would create an awkward atmosphere; listening in is one thing, but asking face-to-face is another. This pertains to the distinction between the intentional and unintentional nature of leaks.

The slope is somewhat steep, around 45 to 50 degrees, but for everyone, it is not much different from flat ground. Each person knows how to climb, how to remain silent, and understands the importance of carefully assessing the quality and weathering of the rocks, determining the direction and route for climbing. They secure either both hands and one foot or both feet and one hand before moving the remaining hand or foot, thereby shifting their center of gravity upward

Everyone felt it made sense upon hearing this, and ultimately, the decision-making authority was entrusted to the military supervisor here, Captain Zhang Peng. Zhang Peng did not respond immediately; after a moment of contemplation, he slowly stated: "Binzi's suggestion is the most plausible. We must ambush before reaching the target, on the way."

Everyone has no objections to Zhang Peng's arrangements; each person has their own destiny, and a soldier's destiny is to complete the mission without compromise

Zhao Wuji said with some surprise: "Don't you know? Oh, it's the dragon fruit. Snakes love to eat dragon fruit the most. The ancestors of Qingniu Village discovered this. My grandfather said that snakes belong to the yin, while dragon fruit belongs to the yang. Snakes enjoy dragon fruit to enhance their own yang energy; snakes also need to maintain a balance of yin and yang."

Everyone was greatly shocked, and a chill ran down their spines. They secretly rejoiced for having left the canyon early; otherwise, it would have been nearly impossible to avoid death. Who could have imagined that at the break of dawn, the enemy would send such a formidable weapon over, as if they were engaging in battle with regular troops? The stakes here are quite high.

Of course, all of this was unknown to Zhao Wuji. Observing the marching steps of everyone, each step was light yet steady, and the speed was not slow at all, he couldn't help but admire them in silence. His familiarity with the survival rules of the primitive forest stemmed from having lived in this forest since childhood, combined with the experiences and lessons accumulated by the Qingniu Village over generations. Soldiers, on the other hand, despite their training, could only achieve this level in a few years, which indicated that they were all exceptionally gifted individuals. His familiarity with the survival rules of the primitive forest stemmed from having lived in this forest since childhood, combined with the experiences and lessons accumulated by the Qingniu Village over generations. Soldiers, on the other hand, despite their training, could only achieve this level in a few years, which indicated that they were all exceptionally gifted individuals.

At the pace of everyone, this steep peak was quickly conquered. Standing on the cliff at the summit, they glanced back at the distant canyon, shrouded in mist and clouds. Everyone felt a sense of survival after a disaster, looking gratefully at Zhao Wuji. Unbeknownst to them, Zhao Wuji was not only their guide but also the authoritative expert leading them away from this place

If Zhao Wuji understood modern special operations, he would certainly know that those few individuals are snipers, who not only engage in sniper tasks but also perform reconnaissance and surveillance duties

For these elite special forces, encountering the unknown and failing to understand it can lead to a lifetime of discomfort. Survival skills are the only means to stay alive; mastering even a little more is a sign of respect for oneself and for the lives of comrades.

More importantly, Zhao Wuji is not someone who easily gives up. He prefers to see things through to the end and enjoys interacting with the few people in front of him, being straightforward and warm. After some thought, Zhao Wuji refused, saying: "You all should not think of driving me away. We are brothers, sharing life and death together. There are only warriors who move forward, not hunters who retreat."

After walking for a while, there unexpectedly appeared some light ahead, which was moonlight. It seems that we have already walked out of the miasma valley's territory. Everyone took off their night vision goggles and looked up at the stars and the bright moon in the sky. It feels truly wonderful to be alive

The others also gathered around, nodding in agreement. Zhang Peng continued, "Brother Wuxi is not a soldier and can choose not to accept the mission. You should head to the capital first, go to Jinghua University to find my sister. If the brothers manage to return alive, we will drink for three days and three nights. Whoever collapses first is a coward."

It is not certain, and we cannot rule out the possibility of targeting a certain military base of the other party. Gangzi expressed a differing opinion from the side.

Thus, a group of people walked forward along the direction of the canyon, gradually moving out of the sniper's range. Perhaps after the elimination of the twelve elite members of the opposing side, they lacked the strength to confront directly, which is why they chose to adopt a defensive stance. Their defense was not rigorous, and with the aid of night vision goggles, they managed to escape unscathed for half an hour.

"It is the enemy's armed helicopter," Fengzi said in surprise, with keen eyes.

The sky began to brighten, and it would not be long before the sun would rise. Zhao Wuji said, "Everyone, let's take a break for a while."