Chapter Thirteen: Operation Serpent Eradication

Officer Li gave his orders: “To avoid alerting the enemy, we’ll get off here. According to Nian Xue’s instructions, before 10:17 tonight, our SWAT teams will secure every exit down the mountain, strictly following the plan! We must rid the people of this menace—there’s no room for error, understand?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Good. Operation Viper ends here—begin!”
Mu Xiaobao’s heart raced with excitement. He hadn’t expected to fight alongside the Tigers.
An Dachun’s eyes brimmed with tears. “They’re so cool! I wish I could wear their gear too!”
Ye Dong quickly hushed the two buffoons. “Alright, enough of that. Save your speeches for later. Let’s keep up with Officer Li and try not to be a burden!”
Though their physical condition didn’t match the well-trained SWAT officers, the four of them exercised daily and had more than average stamina. Under the cover of night, they followed up the mountain, waiting for Officer Li’s next command.

“Xiao Yang, you’ll lead Teams One, Two, and Three as the vanguard. The enemy may be armed—stay hidden and be careful!”
“Understood!”
Xiao Yang, strong and sturdy, slung his submachine gun and led his squads forward.
“Xiao Wang, you’ll take Teams Four, Five, and Six to guard the checkpoints and stand ready to support. Everyone else, stay behind me and follow orders strictly!”
Ye Dong and his friends understood that the operation had officially begun. Their nerves tightened again as they gripped their protective charms and knives, following Officer Li in steady silence.

After a while moving in darkness, Officer Li raised his hand. “We’ll wait here for Xiao Yang’s team. Stay alert, everyone!”
About ten minutes passed with no word from Xiao Yang, causing Officer Li to frown deeply, his gaze fixed on his precision watch.

Nian Xue whispered, “Officer Li, Xiao Yang’s face was glowing with good fortune tonight—he won’t die. No need to worry.”
Her reassurance calmed him instantly. “As long as no one’s dead. Did you check your own fate?”
She shook her head. “I never divine for myself. Knowing my own future would ruin the fun.”
Officer Li chuckled softly. The group held their breath, eyes glued to the path, anxious for the return of Xiao Yang’s team.

“Officer Li, there’s movement!”
Ye Dong, sharp-eyed, pointed to a sparse patch of moonlight in the distance. “Look—over there!”
Officer Li followed his gaze and saw Xiao Yang and his men crawling back toward them.
Officer Li gripped his submachine gun, cursing under his breath. “What’s going on? Did they walk into an ambush?”
He was about to step forward when Nian Xue stopped him. “If they were ambushed, they’d call for backup. Our enemy is a sorcerer—this could be a trick. Let them crawl over first.”
Suppressing his agitation, Officer Li watched as Xiao Yang’s team inched closer, crawling on their bellies.

Xiao Yang, gritting his teeth, led the three squads inch by inch toward Officer Li’s group. Breathless, he barked at the man beside him, “Radio operator, request reinforcements from Commander Li! Hurry!”
Ye Dong and the others were baffled. “Commander Li? Who’s that?”
“Captain Yang, the radio’s been destroyed! All we have left is this pager!” A soldier handed Xiao Yang a military boot, shouting, “Captain Yang, the situation is urgent—you tell Commander Li yourself!”
Liang Lingzhi craned his neck. “What are they doing? Filming a war drama?”
Xiao Yang snatched the boot and shouted, “Commander Li! Commander Li! The enemy’s firepower is too strong—we’re ambushed, heavy casualties, requesting backup! Requesting backup!”
Even Ye Dong couldn’t help but ask, “What are they playing at? Is this some anti-Japanese TV show?”
Suddenly, a soldier threw himself on Xiao Yang, pinning him down. “Captain! Watch out for the shell!”
The dozens of officers on the ground shielded their heads as ordered. Two seconds later, Xiao Yang shouted into the boot again, “Commander Li! The enemy has tanks hidden here! Requesting air support! Requesting air support!”
Stashing the boot in his arms, Xiao Yang called out, “Comrades, we’re the last survivors of a thousand-strong force. If we’re surrounded, we’ll fight to the death!”
“To the death!”
The teams shouted back, voices full of tragic determination.
Officer Li murmured, “Are they possessed?”
Nian Xue, uninterested in the spectacle, replied, “With a hundred percent certainty, they’re under a spell.”

She shook her head, pulled out a spirit talisman, and waved her elegant hand, chanting,
“Celestial star above, ever vigilant,
Banish evil, bind the wicked,
Guard my life, shield my soul,
With wisdom clear, mind at peace,
May my three souls endure, my spirit never wane.”
Ignited with true fire, the talisman floated gently toward Xiao Yang’s group.

Xiao Yang’s eyes widened as he stared at the approaching talisman, exclaiming with joy, “Commander Li sent the Hornet fighter to help! It’s the Hornet! We’re saved!”
Nian Xue drew another talisman, reciting quickly,
“Eight dragons, eight tigers, eight vajras,
Fire-dragons crown our heads, shining all around,
Pierce through ghosts and shadows, dispel all illusions,
Cut down demons, restore the light! By authority of the law, now!”
The talisman blazed toward Xiao Yang’s team. As Xiao Yang stared at the burning charm, his eyes snapped shut. When he opened them again, he saw Officer Li and the others staring at him in speechless disbelief.

Xiao Yang blinked in confusion. “Boss, what are you all doing here?”
Officer Li helped him up. “You were under a spell. Nian Xue broke it for you.”
Xiao Yang looked around in bewilderment, finally meeting Nian Xue’s nod and realizing he really had been bewitched.
Officer Li, seeing Xiao Yang had recovered, asked, “What happened out there?”
“Sir, we climbed a small hill and ran into some bandits. I tried to grab one for information, but then strange laughter echoed all around. I felt something was off and tried to report back, but I was caught in an illusion.”
Nian Xue pondered for a moment. “You probably triggered an illusion trap. When you went after the bandits, did you touch anything odd?”
Xiao Yang nodded. “There were a bunch of little flags stuck by the path. We knocked quite a few over.”
Nian Xue said, “Officer Li, since they already know we’re coming, there’s no need to stay hidden. Let’s storm in and take them down.”
Officer Li nodded. “Alright, I’ll lead as the vanguard. Nian Xue, follow behind us. If we’re enchanted, break the spell, alright?”
Nian Xue agreed, then turned to the four. “Can any of you pee right now?”
“Huh?” Liang Lingzhi was completely caught off guard by the question.