Chapter 130: What’s Wrong, Captain?

"Black Wolf, don't move." Snowy held Black Wolf tightly on his back, preventing him from making any erratic movements. He knew that Black Wolf was injured and that strenuous activity was ill-advised.

"Those bastards! This is infuriating. Feng, you have to survive this." Battle Hawk roared, his emotions mirroring those of Black Wolf. He was filled with a mix of fury and helplessness at the turn of events, a situation that weighed heavily on all of them.

"Captain." Shadow pressed a hand onto Battle Hawk’s arm, whispering, "Feng is one of our own. He did this to draw off the pursuers, to save Black Wolf, and to save us. We cannot just rush in now. If we do, Feng’s sacrifice will have been in vain. We cannot let his desperate efforts go to waste."

"That’s right, Captain. You must stay calm. We cannot be reckless. We will remember everything Feng did to keep us alive." Snow Leopard stepped forward, pulling back the volatile Battle Hawk. If the captain were to rush out, he would be putting himself in grave danger. Qin Feng had already plunged into the river, and his fate was unknown; Battle Hawk could not risk his own life as well.

"Exactly, Captain. We must think rationally. Let’s look at this optimistically—Feng is highly skilled. He just fell into the water, and he’s always been lucky. Perhaps he isn't dead; maybe he’ll survive."

Black Wolf offered this comfort despite his own condition. A bullet was lodged in his back, and his situation looked grim, yet he knew that Qin Feng had risked everything to save him and the others. He understood the gravity of that leap into the river—a gamble where the odds were stacked against survival—but he prayed that Qin Feng was still alive.

Battle Hawk gradually calmed down. His eyes were bloodshot and his face was livid with rage. He loathed the pursuers with every fiber of his being. Breathing heavily, he finally said, "Brothers, let’s move over there and scout the area carefully. See if Feng is still in that vicinity."

The men nodded and loosened their grip on the captain. They moved quickly through the dense forest, doing their best to avoid being detected by the enemy.

Soon, they reached a high vantage point overlooking the river. Below them, the vast, turbulent water flowed, concealing treacherous undercurrents. No one knew what lay beneath the surface.

Battle Hawk’s expression was dark and menacing, cold enough to freeze the air. His entire being radiated such a chilling murderous intent that the surrounding temperature seemed to plummet, as if they had been instantly plunged into the heart of a thousand-year-old glacier.

As captain, he had failed to bring his men back safely. Black Wolf was severely wounded and in critical condition, while Qin Feng was missing. This failure felt like a deep humiliation. He was consumed by self-reproach and a burning hatred for the pursuers. He vowed to eradicate them.

Black Wolf, Shadow, and Snow Leopard were equally distressed. Black Wolf, in particular, looked deathly pale, his breathing shallow from significant blood loss. He felt a profound debt to Qin Feng and prayed fervently for his survival.

Shadow and Snow Leopard were heartsick. As soldiers, they found it agonizing to have watched their comrade leap into danger to save them while they remained unscathed. It was a disgrace they could barely stomach; they would have gladly traded places with him if they could.

"Captain, look over there. What are they doing?" Snow Leopard’s sharp eyes caught sight of the pursuers. Some were jumping into the river to hunt for Qin Feng, while the majority were fanning out along the banks, searching for any sign of him.

Seeing this, Snow Leopard’s face twisted in grief. "Brothers, Feng jumped in for our sake. We must see him alive or recover his body. Let’s go."

"Yes!" The group moved out with heavy hearts, tracking along the river. The pursuers had dispersed near the spot where Qin Feng had vanished, but the river was wide and the currents were hidden; there was no sign of him.

"Danger! Hide!" Snow Leopard hissed. He sensed enemies nearby, scouring the banks.

"Those damn bastards. I am at war with you lot. I will wipe every one of you out!" Battle Hawk gritted his teeth, his voice a low growl. The thought of Qin Feng facing such peril—and likely having perished—drove him to the brink.

"Damn it, let’s go over and take them out," Shadow said coldly, his body coiled with a fierce will to fight.

"I agree. *Cough, cough*..." Black Wolf chimed in, struggling through a cough. He felt the enemy was truly detestable and must be destroyed at all costs.

"We must make them pay," Snow Leopard added, though he noticed Black Wolf beginning to cough up blood, staining his own back. "Black Wolf, how are you? Is it serious?"

As Shadow prepared to charge, Battle Hawk suddenly shouted, "Stop!"

Shadow froze and turned to look at the captain, as did the others, their eyes wide with confusion. They wondered if the captain had lost his nerve to seek vengeance.

"We are in no condition to continue the pursuit," Battle Hawk said, glancing at Black Wolf, whose condition was rapidly deteriorating. "I understand how you all feel, but think about this: those bastards knew there were five of us. Only Feng jumped into the river, and yet they stopped chasing the rest of us. Don't you find that strange? Are they only interested in Feng?"