Chapter Thirteen: The Brave Warrior Departs

The pigeons also had spy drones, as well as reconnaissance drones that were half the size and boasted better stealth capabilities. With these scouts paving the way, they moved cautiously and fortunately encountered no immediate danger.

However, the terrain around Hualin County grew increasingly fragmented and complex, riddled with countless gullies and ravines. The convoy proceeded with utmost care, traveling for a full five hours before finally stopping at the ruins of a quiet village.

Jiu changed into a brownish-yellow camouflage jacket, carried a modest tactical backpack, and had a nylon long pouch attached to his lower back—its contents unknown, perhaps a firearm or something else.

“If you need any equipment from my vehicle, feel free to use it,” he said before turning to leave.

Yu Shuang called after him seriously, “Comrade, there are some things I must say upfront.

When you delve deep into the insect hive, there are essentially three possible outcomes. First, you complete the mission, exit the hive safely, send us your location, and we come to pick you up so everyone can return smoothly to base.

Second, you finish the mission but come out in poor condition, pursued by the mutated insects. In that case, we will also come to assist you, fight alongside you, and shake off the pursuers.

Third, during the mission or even after finishing but before leaving the hive’s core, you get discovered and trapped in a deadly encirclement…”

Yu Shuang paused briefly but continued, “In that last scenario, even if you send out a distress signal, we won’t come to rescue you. My task is to provide support from the outskirts. I have to prioritize the safety of my team.”

Everyone in Team Two looked at Yu Shuang, but no one objected.

The young man remained calm, his tone and gaze betraying no emotion. “Understood. My locator can control signal shielding. If I’m trapped and can’t communicate, I’ll flash the locator signal.”

He demonstrated, “Two flashes at this frequency mean the mother hive is present; three flashes mean it’s not.”

This way, whether he returns or not, the mission’s intelligence can still be relayed.

After speaking, he turned and ran.

His running form was like a black panther; within minutes, he disappeared into the wilderness.

He was without complaint, without fear, without hesitation—charging headlong into a life-or-death abyss.

“The wind howls cold over the Yi River, the warrior rides off…” Zhuang Xiao murmured involuntarily, but was immediately stopped by the others: “Spit, spit! No cursing your teammates!”

No matter the circumstances, hope must be kept alive!

Yu Shuang slapped her own cheeks to invigorate herself and addressed the group, “The path ahead won’t be easy either. First, we must stay hidden. We can’t let the insects think that while they’re hunting inside the hive, we’re just making trouble outside and attracting a swarm of mutated insects after us.”

“Old Zhao, tell us the plan.”

The deputy team leader, always thoughtful and quick-witted, spoke without hesitation, “Jiu’s mission will last two to three days at the shortest, four to five days at the longest. We need to wait.

The hive is likely inside Hualin County. We should find a place nearby that’s safe enough to lie low, conserve fuel and power, and then move according to the ‘Cuckoo’s’ location updates.

Also, we must paint the vehicles with camouflage and collect scraps of steel and batteries to disguise them as abandoned scavenger vehicles. If we encounter mutated insects, we run—no lingering to fight.”

Yu Shuang patted Zhao Bohan’s shoulder. “Exactly! Everyone check your stomach and bladder. If you need to go, do it quickly. If not, help with vehicle camouflage. We regroup and depart in ten minutes!”

She glanced at the sky, thick with dark clouds and rising sandstorms, muttering, “The base said they’ll send a second wave of support. Let’s hope we get to use it.”

...

However, luck seemed never to favor those who prayed for it.

The base held continuous meetings about the mother hive. Wei Fengduo, head of the Chengfeng squad, briskly arranged a second support team, but a senior official nonchalantly remarked,

“Team Two’s purifier was recommended by Teacher Tang. They’re elite. Even without backup, shouldn’t they be able to return safely?”

So, a supply team was planned to meet them farther out, but they hesitated, cautious and slow, and as they approached the mission zone, they ran straight into the fierce spring sandstorms ravaging the northwest.

Another day dawned dark and murky. By afternoon, the wind eased slightly. Six members of the small team huddled inside a cave in a mountain valley.

Even with the wind subsiding, the opposite cliff face was clearly visible—a welcome sight.

Yu Shuang, Tang Long, and Zhao Bohan bundled themselves into three bulky “fat pigeons,” preparing to leave the cave.

“Watch the computer and radio closely. Don’t miss any updates from the ‘Cuckoo’!” Yu Shuang warned repeatedly before stepping out.

The three nodded and then stepped into the swirling sand, quickly swallowed by the storm.

They were going to fetch water.

Today marked the ninth day since Jiu’s departure.

The situation was far more dire than they had anticipated. Jiu’s mission had extended well beyond expectations, and they had completely lost contact with him. His fate was unknown.

The last communication had been five days ago when he was already far from Hualin County.

He said that the next area he would enter forbade any metal equipment, so he planned to bury his gear and contact them after exiting.

Plans couldn’t keep pace with change. After Jiu buried his equipment, the situation quickly exceeded the three scenarios Yu Shuang described and became: Jiu might have died inside the hive, unable to send intelligence or distress signals, leaving the team uncertain of his status and forced to wait indefinitely.

Qi An looked at the three vehicles parked just beside the cave’s entrance.

By now, their supplies were clearly running low—water foremost, then power.

The persistent wind and overcast skies rendered the solar panels useless. Their usual electronic devices managed, and Jiu’s vehicle had many batteries, but the vehicle’s own power was truly precarious.

The terrain around Hualin County was excessively fragmented and complex, compounded by the foul weather and the dense, elusive mutated insect strongholds. They had circled the north side of Hualin County, wasting countless detours and precious power.

The promised supply team from base had yet to appear, and their communications were cut off by the sandstorm, severing contact both ways.

Qi An sat by a cold, extinguished fire, wrapped in every piece of clothing she had, but still felt chilled. Opposite her was Su Qingran, the one who usually cared most about appearances, now covered in dust from head to toe.

“He’s probably dead by now,” Su Qingran said, her voice weary and indifferent.

Qi An was silent, then said, “Maybe...” Maybe there was still hope. Jiu even seemed to possess special enhanced abilities. Perhaps he could survive.

As these words fell, Zhuang Xiao in the vehicle suddenly flung open the door excitedly: “The radio is responding! It’s Brother Bird!”

The two girls jumped up at once.

“Really?!” Su Qingran exclaimed.

“Quick, answer! See what he says!” Qi An urged.

Yet simultaneously, she felt a premonition.

A massive swarm of mutated insects was approaching their location!