The moment I learned the truth, I felt my mental world collapse.
No wonder the other two groups didn't show up at all when we entered the Far East this time.
When I first learned that Jiang Man was not one of their accomplices, I felt something was amiss. Given the connections between the Qu and Wei families, how could they possibly be wandering around Russia like headless flies?
Looking back now, I realize I was too naive.
Or rather, the other two sects have always been by my side, and have never been hidden, because Song Laosan was a pawn they released.
Even during our journey, these people were always around us. The reason they didn't show themselves was that they regarded me as their guide, saving themselves the trouble of finding the tomb of the King of Ze.
Therefore, after Song Laosan landed, he was likely picked up by Wei Shengnan and her group, and the task of arresting me was handed over to these security guards.
Jiang Man continued, "These mercenaries have been looking for you all afternoon and have called for backup. They were originally going to meet reinforcements five kilometers to the south, but they found our campfire on their way and that's why they came after us. Duan Tao, if we leave now, we might find a glimmer of hope over there."
"Bang!"
I pressed the security guard's forehead, knocking him unconscious on the ground, and then grabbed his satellite phone.
Jiang Man saw my movement and grabbed my wrist: "I advise you not to use this phone."
I glanced at him and asked, "Isn't it said that satellite phones can't be eavesdropped on?"
Jiang Man explained, "It's difficult to eavesdrop using technical means, but these mercenaries' phone calls are special. Most of the data is transmitted back, and they're equipped with tracking devices! If your call data is leaked, you'll be selling yourself out!"
After hesitating for a moment, I finally took Jiang Man's advice, turned off the satellite phone and threw it into the bushes, then dragged the security guard in as well, took his submachine gun and military knife, and led Jiang Man to move to the south.
"Da da da!"
We had walked less than a kilometer when we heard a burst of gunfire behind us.
Jiang Man paused, "Damn it, those people must have discovered our location and are using gunfire to call for their teammates."
"Take a detour and be careful of your surroundings!"
Originally walking in the valley, I changed my route and led Jiang Man into the woods: "This may not be a bad thing. The reinforcements will definitely rush to support us after receiving the news. This will reduce the number of people at their assembly point. Hopefully, they brought transportation into the mountains so that we didn't work for nothing."
Jiang Man looked at me with some concern: "But can your body hold up? Should we rest for a while?"
"fine."
I forced a wave and continued walking through the woods.
"Splash!"
After walking a while longer, we suddenly heard rustling sounds coming from the bushes ahead. I thought we had encountered some wild beast, so I immediately raised my gun. Jiang Man then pressed down on my shoulder: "There are lights ahead."
Looking out through the gaps in the bushes, several figures were maintaining a battle formation, heading north with flashlights in hand.
"One, two, three, four..."
Jiang Man watched a group of security guards walk past us and whispered, "There are nine of them in total. How was your security setup configured before?"
"A six-person team, divided into two groups."
As I watched the mercenaries gradually disappear into the distance, I continued moving south: "Judging from their personnel, they must have brought at least two squads. The reason why three people were missing is likely because they were guarding the equipment and vehicles."
Avoiding the security company's reinforcements, I continued south for another ten minutes or so, and sure enough, I saw lights in the woods.
An emergency light was hung on the treetop, providing illumination for an area of several dozen square meters around it.
Within the range of the lights, several four-wheeled mountain bikes were parked to the side. One of the three people nearby was providing security, while the other two were refueling the bikes with gasoline cans. Because the area ahead was all forest, these vehicles could not go any further.
Lin Man held her pistol and gently released the safety: "I can drive those mountain bikes. As long as I get my hands on one, I'm confident I can shake them off, but the prerequisite is that I need to destroy the other vehicles to stop them from pursuing me."
“All three of them are armed. You and I alone are probably no match for them. They are equipped with communication devices, so once the message is sent out, someone will be back to defend in as little as ten minutes.”
I looked at the three security guards in front of me, my fingers tapping rapidly on the gun barrel: "I'll find a way to lure them away. You steal a motorcycle and get ready to provide backup!"
"With your current physical strength, it's too difficult to attract them."
Lin Man rejected my idea and stared at the three people in the distance, saying, "If we launch a surprise attack, I can take out two of them in five seconds. How's your marksmanship? Can you take out the other one?"
"You're going to kill someone?"
I looked at Lin Man, who described the matter so calmly, and my eyes twitched a few times: "I never kill people, nor am I an executioner."
"Are you kidding me?"
Lin Man looked me up and down as if she had heard something unbelievable: "Do people in your line of work not have blood on their hands and take human lives seriously?"
“There are many reasons why I do this job. You can see me the same as everyone else and think that I’m doing it for profit, but I’m definitely not doing it to live this kind of dangerous life… At least I’m not like Duan Jinyan.”
I paused for a moment: "This isn't China. If we kill someone rashly and get caught by other mercenaries, things could get very complicated. Since we're trying to break out, it's safer to keep things quiet."
"Then don't kill people, just hurt them."
Jiang Man didn't argue with me. She just put her pistol in my hand, then took the submachine gun from me, adjusted the fire selector to single shot, pointed to a rock in the distance, and said to me, "Go in that direction and try to make some noise. The people left behind will definitely use the vehicles as cover to confront you. I'll stay in this position, which will keep them within my firing range. I'll only shoot their hands and feet. As long as my teammates come to their aid in time, these people won't be in any danger."
I'm a bit of a chauvinist at heart, and I find it hard to accept a woman taking risks for me: "The view is good here, but there's no cover either. Can you handle it?"
Lin Man adjusted the sights on the gun, looked at the three people twenty meters away, and said confidently, "I don't know any tactics, but I grew up in Florida, USA. I bet when I was playing with guns, you were still peeing and playing in the mud. At this distance, my accuracy rate is 100%."
"I'll listen to you!"
Having been unable to think of a better solution, I had no choice but to adopt Lin Man's plan and got up to prepare for action.
"call out!"
As soon as I took a few steps, a flare suddenly rose into the air from the camp, illuminating the surroundings for a moment.
"Gulp!"
Before I could react, Lin Man pounced on me and pinned me to the ground.
"Da da da!"
Immediately afterwards, gunfire erupted outside, bullets flew over my head and into the woods, sending countless wood chips flying.
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