Chapter 734 - 359: There’s Still Physical Training Tomorrow (2)
Chapter 734: Chapter 359: There’s Still Physical Training Tomorrow (2)
"The less simple it is, the more careful we have to be!"
Li Chang’an glanced at him.
"Everyone, gear up. We move out in ten minutes!"
The squad quickly returned to their dorms, checked their gear, and boarded a transport vehicle headed for the Southern Mountain Area.
Inside the transport, Sun Yang was already running his mouth.
"Hey, you guys think that Insect Race transport convoy will be carrying anything weird?"
Sun Yang asked.
"Shut up. No one wants to hear your theories!"
Shen Qiuyue shot back.
"Hey, don’t be so cold. I’m just trying to liven things up."
Sun Yang muttered, rubbing his nose.
"Instead of livening things up, you should be thinking about how to complete the mission!"
Li Chang’an said coldly from the side.
The transport vehicle stopped at the edge of the mountains. Li Chang’an was the first one out. He took a steady step forward, scanned the area ahead, then turned to his squad.
"Spread out and take cover. We’ll advance stealthily through this area.
Sun Yang, Han Ruoxi, you two take the left flank. I’ll take Shen Qiuyue and Bai Lin and circle around from the right. Remember, don’t engage prematurely!"
"Got it, Captain. But..."
Sun Yang glanced around hesitantly.
"The terrain here is so complex. What if the Insect Race has an ambush set up?"
"If there really is an ambush, you can be the first one to go up and block them,"
Shen Qiuyue added calmly.
"Hey, cut it out! I’m not a shield!"
Sun Yang immediately waved his hands in protest.
"I was just asking! Can’t we be a little more careful?"
"Get a move on!"
Li Chang’an ignored them and led Shen Qiuyue and Bai Lin directly into the dense forest on the right.
Han Ruoxi shot Sun Yang a glare.
"Can’t you just be quiet for a second? You talk way too much!"
"Fine, fine! I’ll shut up, okay?"
Sun Yang waved his hand dismissively.
"You take point, I’ll cover our rear. Happy now?"
The two of them set off as well. The squad, now split into two groups, crept cautiously toward the target location.
Along the way, Han Ruoxi kept glancing back, checking for any signs of the Insect Race.
"Stop looking back all the time. What are you so nervous about?"
Sun Yang couldn’t help but whisper.
"Who’s nervous?"
Han Ruoxi retorted.
"I’m just checking if any bugs are following us!"
"Even if there are, they might not be tailing you. They’re probably watching the Captain’s group!"
Sun Yang grumbled.
Han Ruoxi couldn’t be bothered to respond and quickened her pace, pushing forward.
Meanwhile, Li Chang’an led the other group, his Saw Chain Sword already drawn. Shen Qiuyue followed close behind, her Dueling Sword held slightly aloft as she scanned their surroundings intently.
"Bai Lin, what’s the signal status?"
Li Chang’an asked in a low voice.
"Signal interference is weak in this area. I’m not detecting any Insect Race communication waves at the moment,"
Bai Lin replied, his eyes fixed on his portable terminal.
"That means we haven’t been spotted. Stay sharp."
Li Chang’an nodded.
The team advanced for about ten minutes before a clearing opened up ahead. Several Insect Race transport vehicles were parked in the center, flanked by a few tall Insect Race warriors standing guard.
"It really is a transport convoy!"
Shen Qiuyue said in a low voice.
"Their target is probably that cave system. Looks like they’re preparing to move out."
"Bai Lin, can you detect what’s inside the transports?"
Li Chang’an asked.
Bai Lin quickly worked his terminal, shaking his head a few seconds later.
"The signal shielding is too strong. I can’t scan the contents."
"Then we’ll have to find out for ourselves."
Li Chang’an scanned the Insect Race’s defensive positions and quickly formulated a plan.
"Han Ruoxi and Sun Yang will draw their attention. Shen Qiuyue and I will approach the vehicles. Bai Lin, you provide cover. Once the objective is complete, we pull out immediately. Understood?"
"Understood!"
the squad members whispered in response.
Li Chang’an relayed the orders to the other group via his communicator, and both teams began to move.
Han Ruoxi and Sun Yang were the first to appear in the Insect Race’s line of sight. Han Ruoxi conjured a blinding arc of electricity in her hand and flung it directly at one of the creatures.
"Hey, fellas! Over here! Look over here!"
Sun Yang shouted as he opened fire, successfully drawing the Insect Race’s attention.
"Could you be any louder? Are you afraid they can’t hear you?"
Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but snipe at him, though her own attacks never faltered.
"Isn’t this the plan? Draw their attention!"
Sun Yang laughed while dodging an Insect’s claw, and continued to fire.
Li Chang’an seized the opportunity, leading Shen Qiuyue around to the other side. The two of them approached the transport vehicles with nimble movements.
"You guard this side. I’m going up to take a look."
Li Chang’an told Shen Qiuyue, then swiftly leaped onto one of the vehicles and opened the cargo bay to inspect its contents.
The cargo bay was filled with strange metal canisters, each engraved with Insect Race symbols.
Li Chang’an reached out and tapped one, discovering it seemed to contain some kind of liquid.
"What is it?"
Shen Qiuyue asked in a low voice.
"Not sure. I’ll take one back for analysis."
Li Chang’an took a metal canister from the cargo bay, slung it on his back, and then signaled for Shen Qiuyue to fall back.
Meanwhile, the battle with Han Ruoxi and Sun Yang was intensifying. There were more Insect Race soldiers than they had anticipated.
"Captain, can you hurry it up? We’re almost at our limit!"
Han Ruoxi shouted while unleashing another blast of electricity.
"Objective complete! Retreat!"
Li Chang’an ordered through the communicator.
Han Ruoxi and Sun Yang immediately turned and fled, firing back as they ran to slow the pursuing insects.
Shen Qiuyue provided cover for Li Chang’an and Bai Lin’s swift withdrawal. Once they regrouped, the squad made a beeline for the safe zone.
Back on the transport vehicle, Sun Yang flopped onto a seat, panting heavily.
"Those damn insects are so annoying! They were right on our tails!"
"Less talk. Check if you’re injured."
Li Chang’an glanced at him and began to take stock of the item they had retrieved.
Han Ruoxi leaned against the wall of the vehicle and let out a breath.
"Captain, wasn’t this mission a little too intense? Can we get a bit of a break next time?"
"If you think it’s too intense, you can apply for a transfer."
Shen Qiuyue replied coldly.
"Alright, that’s enough arguing. We’ll talk about this when we get back."
Li Chang’an cut them off, and the transport fell silent once more.
The squad returned to the base with their mission objective, ready to report their findings to their superiors and await new orders.
After arriving at the base, Li Chang’an took the metal canister straight to the command room.
Liu Na was waiting inside. She looked up when he entered.
"Mission complete?"
Liu Na’s voice was calm.
"Yes. We retrieved this canister from one of the transport vehicles."
Li Chang’an placed the metal canister on the table.
"I’m not sure what’s inside, but I have a feeling it’s nothing simple."
Liu Na walked over, touched the surface of the canister, and then took a closer look at the symbols on it.
"This is an Insect Race energy storage canister. It likely contains some sort of highly concentrated energy liquid.
If that’s true, then these canisters have significant applications."
"The transport convoy was headed for a nearby cave. There might be more of these canisters inside,"
Li Chang’an added.
"Excellent. This information is vital."
Liu Na nodded.
"You all rest for now. I will report this to the regiment commander and let him decide our next move."
"Understood!"
Li Chang’an acknowledged the order and left the command room.
Returning to the squad’s break room, he found the others gathered around a table, eating. Sun Yang was the first to speak when he saw him enter.
"Captain, is the mission report filed? What did they say?"
Sun Yang asked indistinctly while chewing on an Energy Bar.
"We’re to rest and await further orders."
Li Chang’an replied casually and sat down.
"Finally, a chance to rest!"
Han Ruoxi leaned back in her chair and stretched.
"Those insects today nearly worked me to death!"
"You’ve got some nerve saying that!"
Shen Qiuyue shot her a sidelong glance.
"During the fight just now, you almost got caught twice. If Sun Yang hadn’t provided cover, you would’ve been injured."
"I was just testing them!"
Han Ruoxi retorted, though she sounded a bit guilty.
"Testing them? Why would you test an insect? It’s not like they’re going to talk back to you!"
Sun Yang let out a chuckle, unable to resist teasing her.
"Sun Yang, can you just shut up?"
Han Ruoxi glared at him, exasperated.
"Alright, that’s enough from both of you."
Li Chang’an rapped his knuckles on the table.