Chapter 51.2

On Hongjun Island.

Senior Colonel Zhang hung up the phone with a calm tone, but his face was ashen, though he was not enraged to the point of exploding.

In truth, Manager Feng had underestimated Xie Zhen’s intentions.

Xie Zhen had wanted Su Xi to make the call rather than himself.

This was partly to help calm the old man’s emotions, hoping he would handle the matter regarding Major Wu with a cooler head.

But more importantly, it was for Senior Colonel Zhang’s own sake.

Senior Colonel Zhang had suffered too much in the past, from the pre-liberation era to the present, participating in countless battles.

Even though he was just over fifty, he was already riddled with health issues.

Xie Zhen worried that with Wu Gang having been with Senior Colonel Zhang for decades, the stubborn old man might not be able to handle the stress and might react poorly.

Su Xi, who was not very familiar with Senior Colonel Zhang and was still a doctor, had come to report to him.

In fact, everyone was just overly concerned, thinking too little of Senior Colonel Zhang’s strength.

After years of weathering storms, there was nothing he hadn’t seen.

He felt anger, yes, but he wouldn’t lose his reason.

Within just a few breaths, Senior Colonel Zhang had already adjusted his emotions.

With a serious face, he dialed the phone to the office of Yan An.

He quickly summarized the situation, asking him to select a company of soldiers to disembark from the island at the fastest speed possible to support Xie Zhen and his team.

None of them knew how many enemies had infiltrated. A company of over a hundred people was the most suitable as the advance force. Following that, reinforcements would follow.

After quickly finishing a few calls and making a series of arrangements, the urgent assembly bell rang out across the island.

Even the soldiers who had not received any orders stood at attention, ready to be dispatched in the best condition.

Listening to the hurried sounds of many people running outside, Senior Colonel Zhang tiredly closed his eyes for a moment and called his guard in. “Don’t disturb anyone. Go and control Wu Gang and his wife.”

“Yes!” The guard, though surprised, did not ask any questions. He saluted and turned to make arrangements.

As he was about to reach the door, Senior Colonel Zhang added, “Tell Wu Gang that I will talk to him personally later. As long as he hasn’t done anything against the organization, he shouldn’t worry.”

In the end, Senior Colonel Zhang couldn’t bear to chill his subordinate’s heart and uttered a statement that didn’t follow protocol, all to reassure the Wu couple.

After saying this, the fatigue on his face disappeared completely.

His gaze was resolute, his back straight.

He picked up the military cap that had been on the table and placed it on his head before striding outside.

At that moment, he was just a general defending the country! Everything was prioritized for the benefit of the nation!

—o—o—o—

At the same time…

Su Xi had already boarded the bus.

Manager Feng quickly gathered over a dozen comrades.

To prevent the enemy from discovering them while ensuring they could arrive as quickly as possible, everyone had to abandon their bicycles and take the bus instead.

They headed to their destination in this bold yet unassuming manner.

It was at this moment that Su Xi learned that the bus driver was also a member assigned by the military.

The speed of the bus was incomparable to that of a bicycle. They returned in less than ten minutes.

When they reached the alley at their destination, Su Xi had already confirmed that there were no suspicious signs.

Therefore, when Manager Feng ordered someone to go down and scout, she did not stop him.

After receiving the signal from the scouts in front, all the soldiers, who had disguised themselves as ordinary citizens, began to get off the bus one after another. They quickly dispersed with silent understanding.

Among these people, some carried baskets on their backs, some shouldered heavy burdens, while others clutched patched-up cloth bags. There were even those wearing triangular scarves, stuffing their hands into their sleeves, hurrying along the road.

If one did not see it with their own eyes and was unaware of the situation, Su Xi thought, they would find nothing suspicious at all.

Watching the bus drive away, Manager Feng, with obvious anger on his face, reproached Su Xi, “Military Doctor Su Xi, why are you still here? Didn’t I tell you to return with the bus? This operation is very dangerous; you need to hurry back. This is not something you should get involved in.”

Manager Feng truly hadn’t expected that in his moment of distraction, Su Xi, who should have left with the bus driver, would actually remain behind. He had previously praised her for being brave, calm, and quick-witted in handling situations.

But now, seeing her, he thought she was being too reckless. This was no different from the past when she was such a delicate girl in a fight; wasn’t she just throwing herself into danger?

Su Xi pressed her lips together and refused, “I am also a soldier.”

Manager Feng was exasperated. “You are a soldier, but you belong to a different branch. Have you forgotten? You are just a doctor. The situation is urgent; can’t we avoid causing trouble?”

Su Xi didn’t want to explain too much, feeling it would just waste time. She glanced around and then quickly walked to a corner, picking up a small half-brick.

In Manager Feng’s puzzled gaze, she applied some force, and the small half-brick crumbled to dust in her delicate hand.

Manager Feng: “……”

With a cold expression, Su Xi asked, “Is this enough?”

If she hadn’t been worried about disrupting these people’s plans, she would have gone in alone long ago.

Manager Feng swallowed hard and instinctively picked up a small piece that had fallen from Su Xi’s hand, squeezing it.

It was indeed a brick; it wasn’t an illusion.

Meeting the girl’s icy gaze, he stuttered, “C-could… could it be?”

Absolutely!

Without saying another word, Manager Feng, now assured of Su Xi’s impressive strength, handed her a wooden gun and obediently followed her into the alley.

If it weren’t for the situation, this man in his thirties would have screamed like a groundhog, wondering where Old Xie had found such a girl. She was so delicate, with no visible muscles, yet she had such incredible strength—simply unscientific.

Not long after Su Xi entered the alley, Xie Zhen slid down from a dilapidated rooftop about ten meters from Wu Hongmei’s boyfriend’s house.

Su Xi’s eyes lit up with excitement as she quickly approached him and grasped the man’s hand. “Are you okay?”

Xie Zhen’s eyes softened for a moment. “I’m fine! Don’t worry.”

After saying this, he led the three of them swiftly into an abandoned house before turning to Manager Feng and quietly asking, “Old Feng, how many of you came?”

Manager Feng replied, “Including me, sixteen.”

Su Xi added, “Including me, seventeen.”

Manager Feng: “……”

Xie Zhen knew his partner’s capabilities.

Although he preferred to keep Su Xi in a safe place, he wouldn’t deliberately stop her because he was well aware of her combat skills.

Moreover, with her impressive strength, self-defense was not an issue. So, as long as the girl wanted to stay, he would not oppose it.

Of course, more importantly, he had been monitoring the area for over forty minutes and had quietly scouted the courtyard several times.

He was 90% sure that this was not their main base, so there should only be a few dangerous individuals, perhaps just one.

Xie Zhen addressed the two of them, “I’ve roughly confirmed that there are nine households living in that courtyard, including Wu Hongmei. Counting her and a two-year-old child, there are a total of eleven people: four adult men, one infant, and six women.”

Su Xi pressed her lips together. Although her expression was not good, she remained silent, knowing in her gut that this man had already taken a risk.

Manager Feng spoke up, “What about the other eight households in the courtyard?”

Xie Zhen shook his head. “There wasn’t enough time; I could only get a general idea. However, based on my experience, these people seem to be just ordinary citizens.”

Manager Feng nodded in understanding. “We can’t let our guard down. Our people will be gathering here soon. We should leave a few behind to watch all the entrances and exits to prevent any escapees.”

Xie Zhen agreed with this plan and turned to Su Xi. “When we make our move, you should find the highest point and observe the movements of everyone in the courtyard. Also, pay attention to their conversations. Can you do that?”

Su Xi nodded seriously. “Yes!”

Manager Feng had just thought to himself that this was asking too much of someone when the scene of the girl crushing the brick with her bare hands suddenly came to mind. He promptly swallowed all his words.

Fine! He decided not to worry about it. Just by looking at Xie Zhen’s tense demeanor, it was clear that he wouldn’t have allowed Su Xi to come along unless he had complete confidence in her.

Su Xi’s ears suddenly perked up. “Someone is coming. Their footsteps sound cautious; it should be our people.”

Manager Feng hadn’t heard anything, perhaps because he had unknowingly placed Su Xi in the category of exceptional individuals after witnessing her previous display of strength. Without saying a word, he headed directly through the narrow exit.

Two minutes later, he returned with someone following behind him.

In this way, in the dilapidated little house that had grown quiet except for their breathing, everyone gathered in just a few minutes.

Xie Zhen took on the temporary command, quickly organizing everyone’s next course of action. After confirming everything once more, the group wore serious expressions, exchanging glances and embracing a resolve that allowed for no failure as they set off toward the nearby courtyard.

Su Xi watched Xie Zhen’s back. Though there was still concern in her eyes, it was no longer the weakness she had felt before. Looking at the man’s tall and sturdy silhouette, she silently wished him, *“Come back safely!”*

Then, as everyone simultaneously climbed over the wall into the courtyard, she steeled her gaze. With one foot, she pushed off against the wall beside her, using the momentum to lightly leap onto the top of the wall.

She then swiftly ran toward the highest point Xie Zhen had indicated earlier.

She had her own mission!

The mission of a soldier!