Chapter 65: Preparing To Hunt Chang Ning
In a patch of bushes, Qiang Zi endured the pain from the thorns scratching his body and ran forward blindly with his head covered. He didn’t know where his destination was; he only had one thought in his mind: he absolutely could not be caught by Wolf Fang’s people.
“Clang!”
Qiang Zi just kept running forward, but carelessly fell into a trap that had been prepared in advance.
It wasn’t that Wolf Fang’s people could predict the future and foresaw that Qiang Zi would pass through here.
Rather, Wolf Fang’s people had set up a large number of traps in this mountain land. They had hosted countless batches of trainees, so they knew the rookies’ psychology like the back of their hand.
The trap had been pre-filled with a large number of rats by the special forces soldiers. The rat swarm, startled by Qiang Zi, squeaked and scurried everywhere in the pit. Many fist-sized rats even climbed onto Qiang Zi’s body.
The sudden change scared Qiang Zi badly. In the darkness, he cried out in fear and hurriedly dodged to the corner, slapping at his body.
Two special forces soldiers appeared above the trap. They weren’t in a hurry to pull Qiang Zi up; they just squatted at the edge of the trap watching Qiang Zi’s joke.
Seeing people above, Qiang Zi couldn’t care less and immediately shouted loudly: “Buddy, pull me out quick!”
One of the two special forces soldiers who were watching the joke grinned and said: “You need to experience this more. Didn’t you want to join our Wolf Fang? This is just the beginning. Don’t be afraid; we have plenty of time to play slowly.”
“You perverts!”
Seeing these two not pulling him up but instead watching his joke, Qiang Zi immediately started cursing at them furiously from inside the trap.
The other special forces soldier said to Qiang Zi in the pit: “Hey, how about this: you say you’re voluntarily withdrawing from the selection training camp, and we’ll pull you up.”
Qiang Zi glanced at the scurrying rat swarm, endured the disgust in his heart, and quickly made his choice. He shouted loudly: “I came here with no intention of going back! If you want me to give up participating in the selection training camp, you’re dreaming!”
Seeing Qiang Zi being so ungrateful, the two special forces soldiers weren’t anxious. Just as said before, they had plenty of time to play with Qiang Zi; they could afford to wait anyway.
The two special forces soldiers watched Qiang Zi clumsily dodging the rat swarm at the edge of the trap, like watching a very entertaining performance, occasionally commenting on Qiang Zi’s movements.
“Yo, Squad Leader, you’ve got quite a catch here.”
Unbeknownst at what point Chang Ning and Lao Pao also arrived above the trap, squatting next to the two special forces soldiers. This move directly stunned Qiang Zi at the bottom of the pit.
‘What is this? Delivering myself to the door?
Big brother, they’re searching the mountains and plains for us. Even if you’re here to save me, shouldn’t you do it stealthily? Is being so open and aboveboard really okay?’
“Not bad, low-key, low-key.”
After speaking, the special forces soldier who had responded felt something was off. He turned around and saw that these two weren’t their people.
Before he could react, Chang Ning had subdued him.
“Ouch, isn’t this Capital Soldier Qiang Zi? What’s happened? How did you end up so pitiful?”
Chang Ning walked to the edge of the trap and looked inside. Hey, it was an acquaintance.
Qiang Zi recognized the voice right away; the one who solved the two special forces soldiers was from the Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company, the same truck as him before.
Thinking that he had just offended them and now had to rely on them for rescue, he felt extremely embarrassed.
“Brother, what happened before was my fault. For the sake of us all participating in the selection together, help pull me up, okay?”
When under the roof, one has to bow.
To get pulled up, Qiang Zi was going all out. What was a little grievance? It was still better than being eliminated by Wolf Fang. Moreover, the rats running around in the pit made him feel uncomfortable all over, giving him goosebumps.
“Wait, I’ll save you up right away.”
Once Qiang Zi softened, Chang Ning searched the two special forces soldiers and found a rope. Together with Lao Pao, they pulled him out of the trap.
……
Night had fallen, and searchlights along with the headlights of several Mengshi off-road vehicles illuminated the abandoned military unit camp in the mountains like daylight.
The captured scouts had their hands on their heads, wearing handcuffs, and sat frustrated in the middle of the field, surrounded by fully armed special forces soldiers.
They wore darker jungle camouflage, and the camouflage paint on their faces gave the special forces soldiers a mysterious aura!
The ten scouts who were caught first weren’t wearing handcuffs; they stood on the periphery of the field, with a five-star red flag behind them.
Xiao Zhuang secretly glanced around and asked Chen Xiwa beside him: “Where are Chang Ning and Squad Leader Lao Pao? How come I don’t see them?
Could they have been sent back early?”
Chen Xiwa shook his head: “I don’t know either. I haven’t seen them since we separated. I guess they haven’t been caught yet.
With Squad Leader Lao Pao and Chang Ning’s skills, they definitely wouldn’t be caught so easily.”
While the two were talking, another Mengshi jeep drove over.
Several special forces soldiers wearing black berets dragged a rookie off the vehicle. The guy was still unconvinced, struggling with left kicks and right punches while yelling: “If you have the skills, fight me one-on-one! What’s the big deal with a dozen people ganging up on me? I’m not convinced!”
The guy’s face was bruised and swollen; it looked like he hadn’t received little special treatment. The special forces soldiers next to him weren’t much better off either; some had torn clothes.
When the special forces soldiers took a loss, the scouts were happy. They all lowered their heads, trying hard to hold back their laughter.
For now, they were still in an adversarial relationship.
Having arrived at the training camp, the guy was still struggling. Gao Zhong Dui walked over slowly with a cold face: “Soldier!”
The guy looked up and saw it was Gao Zhong Dui, so he stopped struggling but still had a face full of defiance.
Gao Zhong Dui looked at him and said: “You are now my captive.”
“Report! If this were real, I absolutely wouldn’t give you the chance to capture me!”
“Shut up! This is the fact! This is your first lesson in training—being captured!”
“I’m not a captive!”
Hearing Gao Zhong Dui say the words “being captured,” the guy started struggling violently again. He didn’t consider himself a captive.
Seeing the guy still not behaving, Gao Zhong Dui suddenly lifted his leg and easily kicked him once.
With a “clang,” the guy was kicked into the captive group. He wanted to get up but found it very difficult; this kick was perfectly placed, instantly stripping him of his ability to resist.
Compared to the others, it seemed Gao Zhong Dui was the truly ruthless one through and through; he really went all out!
Gao Zhong Dui coldly glanced at the rookies squatting on the ground. After the commotion died down, he turned to face the first ten rookies caught standing nearby and said: “Please remove your steel helmets, place them under the national flag, and then you can go.”
“Why!”
“We were just unlucky.”
……
These ten people were unwilling to be eliminated just like that; they wanted to cheat.
The game rules had been explained clearly in advance, so Gao Zhong Dui naturally wouldn’t give the rookies a chance to cheat.
“Unlucky?
On the battlefield, if you’re killed by a single shell, can you shout for another go? On the grounds of being unlucky!
I tell you, luck is part of strength; this is not a reason you can use to evade!”
At this point, Gao Zhong Dui pointed at the rookies squatting to the side and said to the ten unlucky guys: “Eliminating you doesn’t mean your strength is inferior to theirs; it’s just that in the selection, some must be eliminated.
War won’t give soldiers time to explain, not even time to prepare.
All we can do is be ready at all times!
Go back, come again next year.”
The ten rookies eliminated early successively removed their steel helmets and placed them neatly in front of the national flag.
Gao Zhong Dui raised his hand to salute them, and the special forces soldiers followed suit. They were eliminated not due to lack of strength, so they deserved the salute from Wolf Fang’s people.
The eliminated scouts were all surprised; they hadn’t expected Gao Zhong Dui, who looked unapproachable at first glance, to salute them.
The ten stood at attention and solemnly returned the salute, then picked up their backpacks and silently boarded the truck to leave the training camp.
After seeing the ten off, Gao Zhong Dui turned to look at the rookies squatting on the ground and suddenly widened his eyes—Chang Ning wasn’t here!
“How are there fewer people!”
Everyone was stunned. Gray Wolf Mada quickly counted the numbers: “Indeed, six rookies are missing!”
They originally thought only Chang Ning was missing, but unexpectedly there were five more not caught.
Gao Zhong Dui was very dissatisfied in his heart with this batch of Wolf Fang special forces soldiers assisting him in the selection. He was determined to send them all back to the furnace once the matter was over.
“No, to be precise, five are missing, and one is right here.
Do you come out yourself, or do I drag you out?”
Gao Zhong Dui looked toward the direction where Geng Jihui was camouflaged. In fact, Geng Jihui had been spotted by Gao Zhong Dui long ago; he just hadn’t said anything.
This was a good prospect. Disguising as their people and boldly blending into the instructors’ team—just this mindset alone outclassed most rookies in his batch by miles.
Geng Jihui in the corner was straightforward and stood out openly.
Seeing Geng Jihui wearing a black beret and Wolf Fang’s equipment, Gao Zhong Dui was momentarily dazed.
He looks just like him! This kid looks too much like his sacrificed father!
Geng Jihui’s father was also Gao Zhong Dui’s comrade, but unfortunately, he was long gone.
Gao Zhong Dui narrowed his eyes looking at Geng Jihui, very satisfied with his performance in his heart, but now he couldn’t show his appreciation for Geng Jihui.
“You sure know how to play. Where are my people?”
Geng Jihui’s voice carried an unusual steadiness: “Report! About 3 kilometers from here, in a grass nest in the southeast direction.”
“I’ll take people to find them!”
Seeing the location confirmed, Gray Wolf Mada was about to go find them but was stopped by Gao Zhong Dui.
“No rush; aren’t there still five people? I’ll personally lead people to find them all, and along the way, play with Chang Ning some more.
Ever since meeting this kid, he’s been bringing me surprises.
I bet the other four are with Chang Ning too. He’s issued the challenge; how can we not answer?”
Gao Zhong Dui waved his hand for people to remove the equipment belonging to them from Geng Jihui, then had Geng Jihui taken to the rookies’ side to squat with them.
Xiao Zhuang whispered to Geng Jihui next to him: “Buddy, you’re awesome!”
Geng Jihui smiled without speaking, but from his expression, he was quite pleased with himself. At this moment, Geng Jihui showed some childishness, unlike the steady demeanor he had facing Gao Zhong Dui earlier.
“Gray Wolf, you don’t need to go this time. Help me watch these rookies; I’m afraid if I’m not here, they’ll cause trouble again.”
Gao Zhong Dui’s concern was not unfounded; this batch of trainee scouts were mostly young in age.
Being young meant fearless and reckless; having served for a short time, their minds were flexible, not yet rigidified by barracks rules.
If Gao Zhong Dui took Mada away, no one in the training camp could suppress this group of unruly kids; who knows what chaos might ensue?
Not to mention others, just Xiao Zhuang among the rookies and the earlier Geng Jihui definitely had the ability to incite the rookies to resist.
So Gao Zhong Dui had to leave Mada, his good partner, behind to avoid not catching Chang Ning and the others in the mountain forest yet having trouble break out at the main base here.
“Alright.”
Not being able to go capture Chang Ning himself this time left Mada quite regretful; after all, this might be his last chance to capture Chang Ning.
It was foreseeable that talents like Chang Ning and Geng Jihui would surely succeed in staying with Wolf Fang as long as no accidents happened during the selection training.
Geng Jihui was someone they paid close attention to; his father was Gray Wolf’s comrade, so Gao Zhong Dui and the others knew him inside out. They had even watched Geng Jihui grow up.
Chang Ning’s situation was different from Geng Jihui’s. Although he wasn’t someone they watched grow up, Chang Ning’s information alone would attract a bunch of peers to poach him.
For such excellent talent, Wolf Fang definitely wouldn’t let him go. But rules couldn’t be broken; although Wolf Fang hoped for talents like Chang Ning to join them, if Chang Ning couldn’t even pass the normal process, Wolf Fang couldn’t open the back door for him.
Besides, if Chang Ning couldn’t even pass the selection, didn’t that mean he was just hype? So despite Chang Ning’s dazzling information, he was still a big question mark for Wolf Fang’s top brass.
Except for Gao Zhong Dui, who had directly fought Chang Ning, and the Assassin from the sniper company, Wolf Fang’s top brass, including He Da Dui, were taking a wait-and-see attitude toward Chang Ning.
The last time Chang Ning didn’t last even one round against the Assassin had a big impact on him, somewhat lowering his attention level.
This was also why after the exercise ended, only Kang Regiment Commander came to poach talent.
“Miao Lang, you and Earth Wolf pick three more people to come with me. Flying Wolf, you assist Gray Wolf.”
“Yes!” ×3
Three special forces soldiers stepped forward. Flying Wolf went to Gray Wolf’s side. Miao Lang and Earth Wolf quickly selected three special operations soldiers and followed Gao Zhong Dui by vehicle to search for Chang Ning and the others.
The reason Gao Zhong Dui brought Miao Lang and Earth Wolf was that the former was a sniper from the Lone Wolf Commando Unit, while the latter had considerable expertise in reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance.
Another purpose was to let them clash with Chang Ning once more. In the previous exercise, various factors had influenced them, leaving Miao Lang especially unconvinced.
A new recruit rookie ultimately forcing the Assassin to mobilize—Miao Lang thought it was all his fault. If he hadn’t slipped up, it wouldn’t have come to the Assassin salvaging Wolf Fang’s face.
Unfortunately, Miao Lang was destined to be disappointed this time. He didn’t know Chang Ning had a cheat, and this cheat had just upgraded not long ago, significantly boosting Chang Ning’s shooting strength as well.
ps: 4000 words delivered, that’s it for today, see you tomorrow.
