"Acknowledged. Squad 1777 has received the early warning and is ready to deploy. Squad 1777 acknowledges, ready to deploy." The warning bulletin from the Rejecters made Lao Jian's voice tremble with excitement.
"Understood. Wishing you a triumphant return," the other end responded. "Please maintain an open line at all times and report any unexpected situations immediately."
"Understood."
Concluding the mission dispatch, Lao Jian picked up the telephone receiver in his right hand again. He considered saying something to Regimental Commander Li, thought about it for a second, and then slammed it down with a click. How could a regimental commander compare in importance to a Great Spike?
He immediately picked up the intercom, cleared his throat, and fought down his excitement.
"Deployment order received. Deployment order received. Raise the warning marker. Lock down all depots and every related entrance and exit. All logistics personnel, take cover in the underground shelter at once...
"All squad members assemble! All squad members assemble! Equip your devices, inspect one another, and prepare to deploy!"
Ten minutes later, in the underground pre-combat prep room.
Captain Lao Jian stood clad in his combat fatigues, his captain's star emblem pinned to his chest and a greatsword strapped to his back. His gaze had turned completely solemn, void of even the slightest hint of his usual warmth and amiability.
Slightly behind him stood Vice Captain Milla, likewise dressed in the Coalition combat uniform. Across her chest was an extra bandolier slung diagonally, unlike the others. Over her left shoulder projected the hilt of her sword, while over her right shoulder loomed the dark, gaping barrel of the Milla 11.
Her long, golden-brown hair was now coiled into a neat, tight bun secured at the back of her head.
Every long-haired female soldier present had done the same.
"Reporting! First Echelon, twenty-four members assembled! Devices inspected, source energy blocks inspected, ready for deployment!"
The person delivering the assembly report for the First Echelon was Qi Rourou. The former huadan—who was constantly badgered by the others to perform an opera piece, only to tell them to scram with a cold face—now carried a completely different aura before battle, his eyes burning with fervor.
Of course, the true core of the First Echelon was Captain Lao Jian himself, followed by veterans paired with recruits... Liu Shiheng, for instance, had been assigned to the First Echelon.
Next, the core of the Second Echelon, Qin Guowen, stepped forward. "Reporting! Second Echelon, eighteen members assembled! Devices inspected, source energy blocks inspected, ready for deployment!"
The proportion of veterans in the Second Echelon was somewhat higher than in the First. As for female soldiers, Azure never divided quotas based on gender in wartime.
"Reporting." Han Qingyu took a somewhat awkward step forward, saluted, and said, "Third Echelon, three members assembled. Devices and source energy blocks inspected, ready for deployment."
Unlike ordinary squads, the tactical organization of a standard Azure squad was divided into two echelons, but Squad 1777 had divided into three.
This arrangement was essentially a transitional phase toward becoming a super squad, an attempt to simulate the tactical doctrine of super squads at this stage while training advance scouts.
Lao Jian glanced at him, then over at Shen Yixiu and He Tangtang. A faint unease stirred in his heart as he looked at them, and he couldn't help wishing they could add Wu Xu to the Third Echelon—that would make it truly solid... Alas, Wu Xu's enlistment review had remained suspended in limbo all this time. What a shame!
"Reporting! Perimeter security team, twelve members assembled!"
The last person to report was Wen Jifei.
At that moment, he held a standard military-issue semi-automatic rifle in his hands, carried the ultra-heavy caliber Milla 09 sniper rifle previously used by Milla slung behind his shoulder, and wore a dead iron straight sword, along with a source energy combat device strapped to his back.
Within a perimeter security team composed primarily of logistics personnel, Wen Jifei's setup made him practically the core anchor and strongest combatant. His role was to lie in ambush and observe on site, which rarely required showing his face.
"Good!" Lao Jian raised his head and looked at the team members standing fully equipped before him, especially those recruits heading into battle for the first time.
"Today is the very first true full-scale deployment for Squad 1777. It's spring, the sky is clear, it's morning—fine weather... I want a clean, decisive battle. Just like our legion's motto: I see, I destroy... I hope every single one of you returns safe and sound... I do not want to see cowardice or retreat... Obey your orders, and I will stand before you."
Finishing his words, Lao Jian raised his hand in a salute.
"Yes, sir!" All the members snapped to attention and saluted in unison. "For all that breathes, no retreat in battle; with our bodies we bar the sky!"
As the shout died down, Lao Jian swept his gaze across them, nodded, and barked in a deep voice, "Sole Witness Legion, Ninth Army, Regiment 425, Squad 1777... move out!"
***
This battle was located directly in the mountains, so no vehicles were needed. The column advanced in silence, plunging into the forest. They were heading toward Sectors 4 through 8, the area indicated by the early warning, to take up ambush positions ahead of time, observe, and wait.
Wu Xu stood atop the stone outpost, watching them from afar. He was dressed in a well-fitting Coalition combat uniform that bore someone else's serial number, with a Ninth-Generation device strapped to his back and a black spear in hand.
After watching the last person disappear and waiting for another five minutes, he leaped down from the outpost roof, intending to follow along. Wu Xu already knew the sector layout of Squad 1777's defensive zone by heart.
Upon landing, he had taken about two steps forward when—
"Wu Xu."
A familiar voice suddenly drifted up from the slope behind him.
Wu Xu froze, turned around, and saw several figures walking up the hill, coming to a halt... Yu Yindou, Yu Fengzi, the housekeeper, and several familiar faces who had once been fellow war slaves of the Yu clan.
Already knowing that they had raided an Azure depot and were hostile toward Azure, Wu Xu instantly grew guarded. His emotions churned with complexity, and he said nothing.
"How have you been these past days?" Yu Yindou asked gently.
Wu Xu hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Come back," Yu Yindou said, ignoring the silence. "Seeing you ostracized here, living all alone in a guard post—it breaks this old master's heart.
"And about what happened in Nepal, Fengzi already told me everything when she got back. She said she felt immense remorse and was deeply grateful to you. I've already scolded her and beaten her..."
Wu Xu finally spoke for the first time. "I don't blame the Eldest Miss... I live well here."
"Hahaha, since you're still willing to call Fengzi Eldest Miss," Yu Yindou said in a hearty, forcedly cheerful tone, "then come back, Wu Xu. The Yu family is stepping into the secular world now, and this is precisely when we need you."
"Awoo, ruff, ruff..." Before Wu Xu could respond, the little black dog, Bu Mang, who had been running around outside, suddenly dashed back. It planted itself firmly in front of Wu Xu, lowering its front legs, baring its teeth, and growling menacingly—assuming a posture of protection, intimidation, and attack.
"Wu..." Yu Yindou endured it and began to speak again.
"Woof, woof, woof, awooo!" He was cut off by the dog.
"Brute!" Yu Fengzi suddenly flicked her wrist, hurling a short blade straight at Bu Mang.
Such an attack was naturally impossible for Bu Mang to dodge.
Yet with a sharp whoosh—clang!
A black spear struck like lightning, arriving first despite moving second. Its tip embedded itself into the dirt, deflecting the short blade.
The atmosphere instantly turned taut.
"Bu Mang, get back," Wu Xu ordered.
The little black dog glanced back at him, then reluctantly trotted behind his legs.
Yu Yindou looked at the knife lying on the ground, then back at the spear already returned to Wu Xu's hand. "Wu Xu, do you... intend to raise your weapon against me?"
Wu Xu hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "No."
"Then what is the meaning of this?"
"This is a restricted Azure zone. I ask that the master take his people and leave."
"...Hahaha..." Yu Yindou froze for a second before bursting into loud laughter.
Having observed Wu Xu's current living conditions and his interactions with Han Qingyu and the others, Yu Yindou had not held much hope to begin with; his earlier words were merely a trial. Seeing that Wu Xu had made his choice, he laid all his cards on the table.
"Fine. The master will offer you a bright future today. All you have to do is lead me down to the depot at the garrison, or point out a few people for me... and I promise to leave right away."
Azure had accumulated nearly a century of experience and hard-learned lessons regarding garrison defense once a squad deployed. Among these, the garrison's reserve depot and the remaining logistics personnel were the absolute top priorities, and they were always exceptionally well hidden.
If outsiders took the opportunity to attack and turned the base upside down, they might eventually locate them, but attackers rarely had the luxury of time for such a search. That was precisely the predicament Yu Yindou faced.
Wu Xu understood. He looked up at Yu Yindou and said, "I don't know where they are."
"Oh?" Yu Yindou narrowed his eyes at him in disbelief. "Then why don't we go down together and have a look?"
Wu Xu shook his head. "Forgive Wu Xu, but I cannot comply."
Chapter 191