Chapter 145: Action

The next day,

Cheng Jingmo, Fan Lei, and Lou Wujun arrived at the designated meeting point at 10 a.m. to meet Yu Xiangyang.

The three men wore bulletproof vests and helmets, carried assault rifles, and had pistols and knives on their belts.

It had been exactly two months since Yu Xiangyang left.

The two had not seen each other for a long time, and all their words converged into a single glance.

Without exchanging pleasantries, Cheng Jingmo handed a bulletproof vest to Yu Xiangyang. “What’s the situation?”

While putting on the vest, Yu Xiangyang said, “The hostages are held in the house at the northwest corner. There are three guards with guns. I just set fire to their living quarters and granary.”

“All their criminal materials are in the leader’s room. I heard there’s a lot of confidential information related to our country.”

Cheng Jingmo handed an assault rifle to Yu Xiangyang. “Where does the leader live?”

Yu Xiangyang replied, “In the single house at the southernmost point.”

Cheng Jingmo said, “We’ll rescue the hostages first. Yu Xiangyang and Fan Lei, you take the hostages out. Lou Wujun and I will cover you.”

Lou Wujun asked, “Vice Captain Cheng, what about the mission to eliminate them?”

Today’s action would undoubtedly alert the enemy. If they didn’t wipe them out today, it would be much harder to capture them in the future.

Cheng Jingmo replied, “We’ll assess the situation and make further orders.”

Yu Xiangyang gave Cheng Jingmo a puzzled look but didn’t say anything as Cheng Jingmo commanded, “Move out!”

The four formed a combat advance formation and quickly entered the enemy camp.

Two houses ahead were smoking, and sounds of frantic firefighting could be heard.

Familiar with the terrain, Yu Xiangyang led the three men, bypassing the fire, straight to the northwest corner where the hostages were held.

They encountered two guards on the way, who were easily dealt with before they could raise their guns.

The four soon reached the house at the northwest corner, guarded by three men with guns positioned around it.

Four against three, it was an easy task.

Yu Xiangyang kicked open the door and rushed in with Fan Lei while Cheng Jingmo and Lou Wujun stayed outside to defend.

Inside the house, six women in their twenties were tied to pillars with rags stuffed in their mouths.

While cutting the ropes binding the women, Yu Xiangyang said, “We are the PLA, here to rescue you! When we go out, follow us closely!”

The women, long deprived of food and unable to move, struggled to stand.

Yu Xiangyang and Fan Lei each supported one woman, Yu Xiangyang saying, “If you want to leave here, you must rely on yourselves! If we fail this time, you will die here!”

The harsh words, though blunt, were not an exaggeration.

If caught again, the women would either be sold or killed.

Frightened but motivated, the women steadied themselves and said, “We’ll follow you, comrade PLA. Lead us out.”

Yu Xiangyang and Fan Lei led the women out of the house.

Yu Xiangyang exchanged a look with Cheng Jingmo.

Cheng Jingmo said, “Zhu Xiaohu is still in the cave and should hold out for a month. Tell Yu Xiangnian I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise. Get the hostages out quickly!”

“You tell her yourself!”

Yu Xiangyang didn’t delay and left with Fan Lei and the women.

Although the women were running for their lives, their speed was still too slow.

Before they got far, they were discovered by the enemy.

Cheng Jingmo and Lou Wujun engaged the enemy to buy time, exchanging fire with them.

The enemy was pinned down, taking cover behind obstacles and unable to pursue.

During a lull in the firefight, Cheng Jingmo, hidden behind a building, glanced at Yu Xiangyang and the women running in the distance, their figures becoming increasingly faint.

The first step, rescuing the hostages, was a success. The next step was to eliminate the criminal gang.

Cheng Jingmo signaled to Lou Wujun, who was concealed in a corner across from him: [You cover, I’ll break through to the south.]

Lou Wujun responded with a different gesture: [Understood!]

Cheng Jingmo made another signal: [If I succeed, you retreat immediately.]

Lou Wujun: [No way!]

If Lou Wujun retreated, Cheng Jingmo would be left to face the enemy alone, an impossible task even for a man with superhuman abilities.

Cheng Jingmo: [Follow orders!]

Before the operation, Lou Wujun had asked about the plan to eliminate the gang, and Cheng Jingmo had said it depended on the situation.

In reality, he had already devised a plan but hadn’t revealed it, knowing Yu Xiangyang would object.

As the leader, he tried to give his team the best chance of survival, reserving the toughest task for himself.

Currently positioned in the northwest, he needed to break through to the southernmost point.

The enemy had fifteen men; five had been taken out, leaving ten, including two women.

With cover, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to break through quickly.

He couldn’t carry the materials away but had to destroy them.

Although this would also destroy evidence of their crimes, it was the best way to prevent the sale of confidential information.

He had another goal: to draw all the enemies to the southern house. Even if it meant mutual destruction, he couldn’t let any criminals escape.

At Cheng Jingmo’s signal to “move,” Lou Wujun rolled and fired at the enemy, drawing their fire.

Cheng Jingmo quickly moved around the wall, heading south.

Gunfire erupted around him. He zigzagged, using obstacles for cover, and reached within ten meters of the southern house.

The door was closed. He took a deep breath and sprinted to it, kicking it open.

To his surprise, there were three people inside—two men and one woman.

One man and the woman were packing to flee, while the other man, likely the leader, aimed a gun at Cheng Jingmo.

Without any dramatic exchanges, the leader immediately opened fire.

Cheng Jingmo rolled multiple times, ending up in another room.

The plan was disrupted again.

Catching his breath, he thought about his next move.

He couldn’t wait for everyone to gather there. If he delayed another two minutes, the three would escape.

He had to take out the core members first, then deal with the rest as the situation allowed.

He peeked out, drawing a burst of gunfire that hit the opposite wall.

The leader was still at the door, keeping him pinned.

Seeing no way out through the door, Cheng Jingmo moved to the window, only to be met with more gunfire. He quickly pulled back.

He was surrounded and trapped.

Pressed against the wall, his gaze fell on the ceiling. His chest heaving, his hand moved to the grenade at his waist.

He had to rush out and throw the grenade into the room, destroying it.

This action would expose him to gunfire, regardless of the outcome.

He had to do it.

Counting down in his mind: Three, two…