Reclaimed

After Mitai and You'an withdrew their men from the front line, they boarded the armored vehicle inside the camp. Unsure of what lay waiting ahead, however, they had another off-road vehicle take the lead. The road behind the camp sloped downward. The moment that first vehicle left the grounds, it accelerated downhill, intending to break through in a single burst of speed. Dawn was just beginning to break, but visibility remained poor. By the time the occupants realized something was wrong with the road ahead, it was already too late. The vehicle rolled right over a spike strip. Tires instantly blew out, and the vehicle skidded several dozen meters before flipping onto its side. You'an had been driving the armored vehicle close behind. Seeing the crash, he realized the danger and slammed on the brakes, cold sweat breaking out across his back. Thank goodness he hadn't charged out front; otherwise, it would be them stranded out in the open right now. Gunfire erupted from both sides of the slope. Bullets slammed against the armored car's makeshift steel plating. Though the rounds failed to penetrate, the occupants dared not stay in place and reversed back toward the camp. Mitai slammed his palm violently against the seat, cursing under his breath. With spike strips blocking the way, forcing a charge would only blow out their tires as well. People could walk on foot, sure, but in the wilderness, being without a vehicle meant they wouldn't get anywhere. You'an spoke up then. "Boss, our only way out now is through there." Mitai knew what he meant. It was a ditch they had prepared earlier, allowing one to slip past the trench through a narrow gap and reach the outside of the camp. Grabbing his gun, he said, "Slip out and flank them from behind? Fine, then we go all out!" "Boss!" You'an grabbed his hand. "These people definitely came by car, too! They must have driven in from the city. In that direction, there's only one spot where vehicles could be concealed, not far ahead. Even if they left guards behind, there won't be many. We get out first, sneak over there, and hijack their ride. As long as we get a car, we still have a chance to escape!" Mitai froze, then a spark of hope flared within him. After a moment's thought, he snarled, "We do it!" Earlier, they had taken six men with them, but four had just rolled over in the lead vehicle. Inside this armored car, besides the two of them, were two Maka students who had brought over the oak leaf. With Qitai's whereabouts unknown, these two could liaise with the exchange delegation in his stead and might even speak up for them once they returned, so they had to be brought along if possible. The four hurried to a corner of the camp and shinnied down a rope one by one. Meanwhile, up front, the firefight was still raging. Chen Chuan noticed the firepower ahead had slackened considerably. Soon after, he heard gunfire ring out from the rear. Some bandits from inside the camp must have tried fleeing out the back and run into the team stationed there. Yet the shots ceased after only a few rounds, indicating the enemy hadn't broken through. Still feeling uneasy, he raised his wrist to check his watch. It was close to five o'clock now, and the sky had begun to brighten. After a brief thought, he said, "Brother Wei, I'll go check the rear. I leave this to you." Wei Chang'an pointed toward the team member on the rear watchtower. "Don't worry. With Brother Ding watching from up there, there's no way they're breaking out with the few guns they have left." Chen Chuan glanced up, nodded, and swiftly pulled back through the main entrance of the camp, circling around toward the rear. If all was well back there, he could attempt a breach from behind, pincering the enemy from both sides to end this battle as quickly as possible. When he reached the back of the camp, he saw the overturned off-road vehicle. The men who had crawled out of the wreckage had already been dealt with by Ren Xiaotian and his men. After conferring with Ren Xiaotian, Chen Chuan prepared to launch an assault from the rear. At that very moment, outside the camp, Mitai, You'an, and the two Maka students crawled out of the ditch one after another. Looking back at the camp and seeing that the firefight was still ongoing, they figured no one would notice them yet. You'an waved to Mitai from ahead and whispered, "Boss, this way." Mitai nodded. Keeping low, he trotted outward at a brisk pace, the two Maka students trailing closely behind him. They hadn't traveled far, however, when the gunman crouching on the watchtower seemed to sense something. He peered out into the open wilderness. Though full daylight had not yet arrived, he could vaguely make out several moving shapes. But Chen Chuan had just passed by earlier; realizing these weren't his allies, the marksman instantly swung his muzzle around and took an instinctive shot into the distance. A shot rang out with a sharp crack. One Maka student's arm was severed and blown away. Screaming in agony, he collapsed to the ground. You'an recoiled in shock and shouted, "Move! Spread out!" With no cover across the wasteland, facing a sniper capable of long-range strikes left them no choice but to gamble that the next round wouldn't have their name on it. Scarcely twenty meters further, another gunshot echoed, and the Maka student running in the lead plunged headfirst into the dirt. Back near the camp's rear gate, Chen Chuan had only taken a few steps when Ren Xiaotian looked outward and called out to stop him. "Junior Brother Chen, wait!" Chen Chuan halted and looked back. "Senior Brother Ren, what is it?" Ren Xiaotian said gravely, "That shot just now was fired outward." Chen Chuan understood immediately. Firing outward meant either reinforcements were approaching from outside or people inside had somehow managed to slip out. If someone had approached from outside, however, a different signal would have been given. The latter possibility was undoubtedly far more likely—and anyone fleeing at this juncture had to be an important figure. Ren Xiaotian had reached the same conclusion. "Take my car! We're going after them!" Chen Chuan nodded. Three of Wei Chang'an's men were guarding this spot, backed by the spike strip. Even if someone managed to charge out, they wouldn't get far on the wasteland. So he climbed directly into Ren Xiaotian's vehicle. Once the engine roared to life, they sped forward in pursuit. Meanwhile, Mitai and You'an sprinted forward desperately. Cloaked by the dim dawn light, they were fortunate not to be struck again. After racing several hundred meters, they spotted several vehicles parked in the distance, sending a surge of joy through their hearts. Every bandit on the wasteland possessed some knack for hotwiring vehicles. As long as they reached them, they could find a way to get one moving. The two men left behind here were part of the crew Wei Chang'an had brought along. Though their primary duties were technical, anyone brought out into the wilderness possessed combat ability. Spotting the approaching figures and seeing there were only two of them, the guards stayed calm and held their positions. Only when the intruders reached reliable firing range did they raise their rifles and open fire. A bullet struck You'an squarely in the chest, dropping him instantly. Mitai was shocked, but there was no time to think. Shifting his footing, he drew his gun and returned fire. His moniker was "Wild Eagle" precisely because of his sharp eyesight. Even on the move, his shots struck dangerously close to the two guards, forcing them to scramble for cover. During the exchange, Mitai took a hit as well, but the protective suit he wore absorbed the blow, sparing him serious injury. Just then, however, the roar of an approaching vehicle reached his ears from behind, drawing rapidly closer. Anxiety seized him. Keeping up suppressing fire against the two men ahead, he dashed forward and ducked behind one of the vehicles. He pulled out a box from his person, yanked the oak leaf from within, and held it high for all to see. "You came for this, didn't you?! If you don't let me go, I'll destroy it right now! Don't try anything, or I'll ruin it on the spot!" His hands made as if to tear it apart. He wasn't certain whether they had come for this item and was merely taking a gamble, but when he saw the two guards indeed hold their fire, his suspicion was instantly confirmed. The approaching vehicle ground to a halt some distance away. Chen Chuan stepped out, blade in hand, and walked steadily forward. Stopping at a measured distance, he said, "You won't get away." Mitai held the leaf out before him, his expression ferocious. "Then I'd rather destroy this thing than leave it to you!" Chen Chuan said calmly, "Name your terms. What do you want?" Mitai relaxed slightly, snarling viciously, "Give me a car and let me go! I can leave this thing at a location you designate or hand it off to whoever you want. After that, we go our separate ways. I won't ask who you are, and you don't come looking for me!" Chen Chuan replied in an even voice, "You're not a native of Maka, are you? And you've probably never touched this leaf before. There is something you might not know: this leaf was a gift from the Maka people to Great Shun. It remains forever green and pristine, and it possesses exceptional resilience. Ordinary means cannot destroy it." Mitai gave a start and looked down toward the leaf. At that very moment, a deafening crack resounded. His forehead burst apart, and he plunged face-first into the dirt. Behind him, Ren Xiaotian twirled the revolver in his hand, slid it smoothly back into the holster at his hip, and gave Chen Chuan a nod. Chen Chuan nodded in return and walked forward. But just as he passed You'an lying on the ground, the man suddenly sprang up, seemingly attempting to take him hostage. With a single flash of blade light, You'an's head went flying. Without breaking his stride, Chen Chuan flicked the blade clean. Behind him, the headless corpse collapsed to the ground with a dull thud. Without sparing it a glance, he walked straight over to the fallen oak leaf. What he had told Mitai wasn't entirely a lie. The Foreign Affairs Bureau had informed him that the leaf was remarkably resilient and impervious to ordinary damage; even if slightly nicked, it would regenerate on its own, so he hadn't needed to worry excessively when reclaiming it. He bent down and picked it up. The moment his fingers touched it, a faint sensation stirred... He studied the object in his hand for a moment, retrieved the box, and placed it back inside. Having secured the item, the commission would be considered complete once it was delivered back. Yet a final group of bandits remained inside the camp. Nearly all of them were listed on bounty boards; since they were already here, they might as well wipe them out along with the rest. By the time he returned in the car, the firefight inside the camp was still underway. Having waited in vain for a rear flanking strike, despair was creeping into the bandits' hearts. Even so, they did not cease their resistance. In clashes between wilderness gangs, neither side ever left survivors, barring the occasional lucky runner. Even if the enemy offered quarter, none would believe it. Thus, these hardened thugs almost invariably fought to the bitter end. Daylight was gradually brightening. Stepping out of the vehicle, Chen Chuan crossed the trench with a few bounding leaps and arrived at the edge of the camp. The footholds here were narrow, yet he walked across them as effortlessly as if on flat ground. As he drew near the entrance, he sensed a presence behind a protective barrier. A bandit was guarding the doorway. Gripping his blade in a reverse hold, Chen Chuan twisted at the waist and thrust inward. The blade pierced straight through the barrier, impaling the man's head from front to back. Then Chen Chuan dipped low and dashed forward. The instant he made his move, several bullet holes thudded into the barrier behind him. Pulling his blade free in a fluid backward motion, he rounded the entrance and planted his foot to halt his momentum, locking eyes with two terrified bandits. Advancing as he swung—an upward slash followed by a decapitating strike—both men were instantly decapitated. Charging inside at a sprint, he immediately spotted the remaining three men standing in different positions, seemingly unaware of the commotion behind them. Drawing his Wuji pistol, he fired several shots in rapid succession, cutting down two of them from behind. He then turned his gaze toward the last man. Standing nearly two heads taller than Chen Chuan, the giant wore a steel helmet scavenged from who knew where, along with a metal face mask. Bulky and heavily padded with pieces of armor strapped across his body, he let out a furious roar upon spotting Chen Chuan, leaped down from above, and charged straight at him. The man was so hulking that his charge carried terrifying momentum, seeming to make the very ground tremble. Chen Chuan simply held his blade with one hand, regarding him placidly. Before the brute could even make it halfway, a muffled gunshot rang out. As if struck by a massive blow to the back of the head, his steel helmet flew off, the upper half of his skull detonating instantly. Stumbling forward a few more steps, his massive, unmoored body crashed limply to the ground. Chen Chuan glanced over to see the marksman surnamed Ding on the distant watchtower raising his barrel and flashing a thumbs-up. Chen Chuan nodded in acknowledgment. Looking toward the rest of the team gathering around, he raised his voice. "Everyone, move in and clear the camp. Let's aim to be out of here before noon."