Chapter 27: Breakout 2
Seeing Wolf Fang’s people slowly approaching, Chang Ning figured the time was about right and considered slipping away. He still didn’t want to meet Gao Zhong Dui right now.
If they found out he did all this, Wolf Fang’s people would pay attention to him. Then how could he run when he caused trouble later?
Chang Ning was only decent at shooting, combat, and physical fitness. Other professional skills like mine clearance, mine laying, and tracking were just basic—he knew how to use them but wasn’t proficient.
Once targeted by Wolf Fang’s people, it wouldn’t be easy to escape.
Pulling out the only hand grenade on him, Chang Ning made a simple booby trap with fishing line, then carefully stepped out of his sniper position one step at a time. After going about ten meters, he quickly stood up, turned, and ran full speed without looking back.
Even though the mountain land made it hard to run fast, Chang Ning’s speed was beyond what ordinary people could reach. Soon his figure disappeared into the jungle.
“Something’s off. It’s too quiet.”
Gray Wolf Mada muttered softly, full of suspicion inside. Putting himself in the sniper’s shoes, he definitely wouldn’t miss such a good timing.
Though they stuck to cover while advancing, parts of their bodies were still exposed. The cover couldn’t perfectly shield them.
Even for a rearguard mission, there should be some noise, unless…
Thinking of something, Gray Wolf’s face changed as he looked at Wild Wolf. Just then Wild Wolf noticed too. Their eyes met, confirming they both sensed something wrong!
“Bad news! He might have slipped away! Everyone, speed up!”
Gao Zhong Dui and the others realized too late. By the time they reached Chang Ning’s sniper position, he had long gone.
The battlefield only had bullet casings Chang Ning deliberately left and weeds pressed into human shapes.
“It’s an 85-style sniper rifle!”
Earth Wolf picked up the leftover 7.62x54mm bullet casing from the ground and put it in Gao Zhong Dui’s hand.
“Turns out it’s a rookie. He didn’t even clear his sniper position when retreating.”
Flying Wolf spoke up. A professionally trained sniper wouldn’t fail to clear traces when retreating. Their opponent was the renowned Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company—how could their snipers not know this.
In summary, the soldier who eliminated Miao Lang was a sniper rookie.
“We can’t believe we got played by a rookie. This is our shame!
Facing shame, we should find a way to wash it away!”
“Yes!”
This was truly embarrassing. They had no face to see He Da Dui.
“Careful!”
Earth Wolf was about to track Chang Ning when Gao Zhong Dui pulled him back.
“There’s a mine!”
Gao Zhong Dui signaled Earth Wolf to look down. A transparent fishing line was tight against Earth Wolf’s tactical boot. If he had stepped forward, the lightest consequence would be his elimination; worst case, the whole team would be annihilated.
Then the whole army would know Wolf Fang’s special forces team was annihilated by a reconnaissance soldier. He Da Dui would be furious, not to mention how the leaders would view Wolf Fang after their massive yearly resource consumption for this result?
“This kid is really cunning.”
Gao Zhong Dui laughed. Night Tiger’s people would all join Wolf Fang’s training camp selection eventually. This talent would be theirs then.
“Report, there’s an order.”
Just as Gao Zhong Dui was about to issue the pursuit order, the communicator handed over the radio headphones.
After listening to the order, Gao Zhong Dui returned the headphones to the communicator and ordered everyone to take the eliminated Red Team reconnaissance soldiers back the way they came.
Though curious about the order’s content, no one asked extra questions and quietly did their tasks.
Gao Zhong Dui’s mood was far from good right now. The leaders told them to hand over pursuing the escaped fish to the reinforcing Blue Team. The whole team was to return to the command post for new orders.
He knew priorities well, but felt unwilling inside. He was so close to annihilating Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company!
Chang Ning didn’t know how far he’d run. His stamina was severely depleted now; he needed to find a place to rest and think about his next action plan.
……
Xiao Zhuang forced himself to stay calm as he turned the hillside, plopping his buttocks down in the grass to gasp for air, heart pounding.
Heaven knew how nervous he was facing Gao Zhong Dui earlier.
Sudden intensive gunshots and shouts rang out behind. Xiao Zhuang hurriedly crawled to the hillside and went into stealth.
Soon, a team of Red Team reconnaissance soldiers, disarmed and dejected, were escorted out of the jungle by that Blue Team special forces team with hands cuffed behind.
Xiao Zhuang’s eyes went wide. He recognized them as Night Tiger’s comrades, scanning the crowd for familiar faces: Lao Pao, Xi Wa… No Chen Pai or Chang Ning.
Xiao Zhuang held his breath, hiding in the grass afraid to expose himself, watching the Blue Team special forces team escort the captives past him, then down the mountain.
Once everything quieted, Xiao Zhuang emerged from his hiding bushes. He ran toward the Red Team’s earlier stealth area.
Sure enough, it was a mess—empty blank bullet casings and combat traces everywhere. Xiao Zhuang anxiously searched around, calling softly: “Chen Pai! Chen Pai!”
A groan came. Xiao Zhuang followed the sound to the source. He rushed over, climbed down a few meters of cliff, pushed aside the grass, and saw Chen Pai lying in a grass nest.
Chen Pai had clearly rolled down. His weapon equipment was piled on his chest. He clutched his knee, groaning, big sweat beads dripping: “Xiao Zhuang, why’d you come back?”
Xiao Zhuang anxiously helped Chen Pai up: “I didn’t go far… I couldn’t help them. Seeing you weren’t there, I hurried back to find you—you’re injured?”
Chen Pai swallowed saliva, looked around: “I’m fine, just bumped it.
Did you see Chang Ning among the captured soldiers?”
“No.”
Xiao Zhuang thought carefully and really hadn’t seen that kid Chang Ning. He must have escaped.
“Now Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company is probably just Chang Ning and us two left.”
At this, Chen Guotao smiled bitterly.
Maybe that kid Chang Ning alone could have an unexpected effect.
Thinking of Chang Ning in his mind, Chen Guotao replied to Xiao Zhuang: “Find a place to rest, then we’ll wait for a chance to hit a Blue Team vital target.”
So what if few people? Disrupting Blue Team would be a force not to ignore! Chen Guotao hadn’t given up their mission.
“Then what?”
Xiao Zhuang was participating in the exercise for the first time and felt lost about what came next.
Hearing this, Chen Pai gave a miserable smile: “Then? What’s more ‘then’? After hitting it, tear off the chest strip and die in battle.”
With so few people, hitting a Blue Team vital was already hard. Chen Guotao dared not hope for more.
Xiao Zhuang was stunned, not expecting this answer. Recovering, he quickly helped Chen Pai: “I’ll help you walk.”
Chen Pai smiled bitterly: “Let’s go. I’ve figured out where to hit. Blue Team surface-to-surface missile unit. After that, we die in battle.”
“Mm, good.”
Xiao Zhuang took Chen Guotao’s rifle, supported him, and they walked step by step toward the mountain forest. Turning the mountain forest, they saw a big river.
The two reached the riverbank. Chen Pai picked up a stone and threw it in—splash, gone. It had just rained; the river was deep, rapid, with huge flow.
He looked around—no bridge. With a bitter smile: “Armed swim across.”
Xiao Zhuang removed Chen Pai’s weapons and backpack: “I’ll carry these. Hold my waist belt.”
Chen Guotao didn’t stand on ceremony and followed Xiao Zhuang’s suggestion.
The two entered the river. Xiao Zhuang swam ahead, Chen Pai followed behind.
The river was very rapid. A wave hit; Xiao Zhuang swallowed water and choked. Chen Pai got hit by a wave too. With his injury, he accidentally let go of Xiao Zhuang’s waist belt.
Xiao Zhuang felt the weight lighten behind. Looking back, Chen Guotao was gone. He panicked: “Chen Pai!”
Chen Guotao was swept downstream by the river. Waving his hand, he didn’t forget to tell Xiao Zhuang the target location, afraid Xiao Zhuang wouldn’t know if he got swept away: “Blue Team artillery position at A17 area…”
Before finishing, Chen Guotao was knocked down by a huge wave and vanished instantly. Xiao Zhuang shouted urgently: “Chen Pai!”
Xiao Zhuang swam desperately downstream, trying to find his platoon leader.
At this time, Chang Ning was still wandering in the forest, unaware Gao Zhong Dui had given up tracking him.
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