Chapter 85 Huo Nanchen was shot multiple times and fell into the river
The two rushed out of the No. 3 passage, where a river hidden deep in the jungle flowed swiftly.
According to the plan, once the evacuation is completed, the amphibious military helicopters hidden underwater will be pulled up from the underwater air-raid shelter to the surface after receiving a signal.
As the helicopter began to ascend and emerge, the sounds of pursuing footsteps and gunfire could be heard from the passageway behind them and from the jungle on both sides.
"Ersheng!" Huo Nanchen shoved the briefcase into Li Ming's arms. "Listen, I'll cover you as you get through!"
"Don't worry about anything else. As soon as the helicopter surfaces, get on it immediately. The pilot will glide on the water and quickly pull up for takeoff."
"No, Brother Yisheng, I'll stay, you go!" Li Ming clutched the combination lock box and the insulated box tightly, his eyes bloodshot.
"Second son!" Huo Nanchen suddenly grabbed his collar, his voice hoarse and authoritative, "What is the first rule?"
Li Ming trembled, tears welling up instantly. He roared in a sob, "Highest level of risk! Sacrifice the greater to save the lesser! Antibodies last!"
"Remember this!" Huo Nanchen patted his shoulder heavily, his eyes resolute. "You must return alive and complete the mission!"
After saying that, he stopped looking at Li Ming, turned around abruptly, tightened his lightweight, specially designed protective suit, and pulled out a powerful high-energy pistol from his side.
Using the jagged rocks and trees along the riverbank as cover, he pulled the trigger in the direction the pursuers were coming from.
"Bang bang bang—!"
Soon, a blazing energy beam pierced the dim light of the jungle, temporarily suppressing the pursuers' firepower.
"Now! Go!" Huo Nanchen shouted at the two students.
With tears in his eyes, Li Ming clung tightly to the combination lock box and insulated box. Under Huo Nanchen's cover, he nimbly rushed towards the helicopter that had already surfaced and started its engine.
With the pilot's help, they quickly entered the cabin. After gliding along the water for less than ten seconds, the helicopter completely left the water and began to lift off, with the powerful airflow causing the river water to surge.
"Bang!" A bullet grazed Huo Nanchen's shoulder, tearing his protective suit and sending a burning pain through him.
He grunted, but his actions didn't stop at all. He continued firing wildly, trying to buy the helicopter the last bit of time to take off.
The pursuers' bullets rained down on the helicopter, leaving shocking bullet holes and sparks on the fuselage and bulletproof glass.
Watching the helicopter safely fly north, Huo Nanchen's tense nerves finally relaxed slightly.
However, two fists cannot fight against four hands.
No matter how agile he was, several bullets still struck his body from different directions. The powerful impact sent him flying backward, and blood instantly soaked through his black combat uniform.
He felt his strength rapidly draining away, and his vision blurred.
In the instant he fell, he glanced at the helicopter disappearing in the north, then looked south, as if he could see that slender figure in Hong Kong.
Finally, like a kite with a broken string, its body plummeted into the cold, swift-flowing river below, creating a splash of dark red water before being swallowed by the surging current.
Five minutes later, accompanied by a huge roar, several armed helicopters and troop transport aircraft appeared in the sky above the jungle.
Fully armed special forces rappelled down, and gunfire erupted again—this time, it was gunfire from the clearing and rescue operation.
The jungle fell silent again, with only the river sobbing and flowing, as if cheering for hope and mourning the tragic sacrifice that had just occurred.
At five o'clock in the morning, Hong Kong was still immersed in the darkness before dawn, with only a few scattered lights and a faint glimmer of light on the horizon.
Lin Xili woke up from a nightmare.
She dreamt that Huo Nanchen stood in front of her covered in blood, wanting to say something, but unable to utter a sound.
She wanted to run over, but her feet wouldn't lift, and she could only watch helplessly as he turned and walked into a bottomless darkness.
When I woke up, my pillow was wet, and I felt a sharp, stabbing pain in my heart, as if something was tearing it off.
An inexplicable panic gripped her.
She picked up her phone from the bedside table, instinctively wanting to dial the number, but her finger hovered over the screen before she finally put it down.
They're already divorced, so what reason does she have to contact them?
Lin Xili curled up and buried her face in her knees.
At the same time, Lu Qingshu was suddenly awakened by the sharp ringing of a special encrypted communicator beside her pillow.
This ringtone signifies the highest level of emergency contact.
She instantly snapped to attention, grabbed the communicator, and answered, "This is Lu Qingshu."
"Director Lu Qingshu, hello."
The voice coming from the receiver was calm and authoritative, so much so that even through the radio waves, it made people hold their breath involuntarily.
"I am Long Xiao, the commander of the Kyoto Special Armed Forces Command."
Lu Qingshu's heart skipped a beat.
This designation and name represent one of the nation's most secretive and elite defense forces.
How could someone like that directly bypass multiple levels of command to contact a local judicial bureau chief?
"Chief Long, please give your instructions."
"The organization trusts your abilities and character."
Without wasting words, Long Xiao went straight to the point: "Now, there is an extremely urgent and top-secret mission that requires your immediate assistance."
“Assign your most capable, reliable, and absolutely loyal forensic professionals to form a highly skilled team.”
"Remember, absolute loyalty is required. You must assemble within two hours. Someone will come to pick you up. This is a direct order from Kyoto."
Lu Qingshu's fingers tightened around the communicator, her knuckles turning slightly white.
She knew this meant something huge had happened, so serious that the most clandestine forces had to be mobilized and the most professional technical support from the local authorities sought.
"Yes, sir! I'll make the arrangements immediately and guarantee the mission will be completed!"
The communication was cut off, and silence returned to the bedroom, broken only by Lu Qingshu's slightly rapid breathing.
She didn't turn on the light, and sat quietly in the dark for a few seconds, her brain racing as she selected the most suitable candidate.
Then, she immediately got up and started making phone calls.
The first call she made to her husband, Huo Nanyu, who was on a business trip, was a brief one, informing him that he had an urgent mission and needed to leave, with no return date set.
Huo Nanyu didn't ask any further questions, saying, "Be careful, I'll take care of things at home."
Next, she contacted Wei Dongyang, the head of the criminal investigation branch, Gao Bowen, the head of the forensic department, and Lin Xili, Brother Li, and Brother Wang, the three core members she knew and trusted the most, with the highest priority.
Within one hour, bring your basic personal toiletries and portable advanced survey tools to the rooftop helicopter pad of the Justice Bureau for an emergency assembly.
Do not disclose your whereabouts to anyone, including family members. Mission level: Top Secret.
An hour later, the sky began to lighten.
On the top floor of the Justice Bureau, a military transport helicopter, completely black and without any markings, was parked there, its rotors slowly turning and emitting a deep, powerful roar.
Wei Dongyang, Gao Bowen, Lin Xili, Brother Li, and Brother Wang arrived on time, each with a solemn expression and carrying simple luggage.
Lu Qingshu was already waiting there, dressed in the same neat casual clothes, with a solemn expression.
Without any further instructions, the officer sent by Long Xiao verified their identities and signaled them to board the plane.
The helicopter took off, soaring over the gradually awakening city, and sped toward its unknown destination.
No one spoke in the cabin; only the roar of the engines and the unspoken questions in everyone's mind suggested something of immense importance.
After flying for about two hours, the helicopter began to descend and eventually landed on a flat area in a jungle.
The hatch opened, and a tall, middle-aged man with sharp, hawk-like eyes, wearing a desert camouflage combat uniform without any rank insignia, strode in, followed by several guards in similar attire.
He stood tall with his shoulders back straight, and every step he took carried the imposing presence of a thousand troops; he was none other than Long Xiao.
Lu Qingshu immediately led everyone off the plane, lined up, and saluted!
Long Xiao walked up to them, his gaze sweeping over each of them, and finally, he solemnly gave a military salute.
This action sent a chill down everyone's spines.
"Gentlemen, time is of the essence, so let's skip the formalities."
Long Xiao said, "The professional capabilities of the Xiangjiang City Forensic Department, especially its technology in dealing with new and difficult physical evidence, are evident to all."
"I remember that the 'love lipstick' incident that attracted public attention before was solved by a comrade named Lin Xili from here who was the first to overcome the technical difficulties, accurately identify the problem, and assist in the investigation, right?"
Startled by being called out, Lin Xili immediately straightened up and answered clearly, "Reporting to the commander, that was completed by my colleagues and me."
“Very good.” Long Xiao nodded.
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