Chapter Sixty-Seven: Arrival at the Target Area!

After the transport helicopter continued flying for about an hour and a half, warning lights illuminated the cabin. Everyone felt it and opened their eyes. Warhawk, feeling the surge, shouted, “Brothers, it’s time for our mission—Third Squad!” Then he extended his hand.

Snow Leopard, Shadow, and Black Wolf all placed their hands on top, followed by Qin Feng. Together, they shouted, “Victory in battle!”

Their voices rang out with fervor, hot blood coursing through their veins as an intense fighting spirit spread among them. They were about to execute their mission, and all believed in their success.

It was Qin Feng’s first time hearing the Third Squad’s motto. He felt his blood boil, his eyes blazing with determination. A sharp glint flashed in his gaze, and he took a deep breath to quickly calm himself.

At that moment, the scout Shadow moved to the cabin door, threw a rope down, and, after confirming it reached the ground safely, grabbed hold and swiftly slid down.

Next was Black Wolf, the demolitions expert. He approached the door, donned tactical gloves, seized the rope, and descended rapidly.

The third was Snow Leopard, the assault specialist. He gave Qin Feng an encouraging glance. Seeing Qin Feng nod, he grabbed the rope and descended with speed equal to Black Wolf’s—he was quick, reaching the ground in just a few breaths.

Qin Feng was no less skilled. He approached the cabin door, gripped the rope, and descended rapidly. He had trained for this disembarkation method before and was proficient, having mastered it completely. Wearing tactical gloves, he needn’t worry about friction burns and was well protected.

Warhawk was the last to descend. Once he landed, they formed a protective fan-shaped formation, guarding against possible ambushes and preparing for any sudden incidents.

The pilot aboard the transport helicopter gave Qin Feng and the others a thumbs-up in blessing before the helicopter soared into the sky, disappearing above the jungle.

“We move into the jungle. Stay alert,” Warhawk commanded coolly, scanning the surroundings with a steady gaze. He knew everyone needed to remain vigilant to handle any situation and complete their mission successfully.

“Yes!” everyone responded in unison. They rushed into the dense forest, quickly blending into their surroundings. Each man pressed his back to a tree, guarding against sneak attacks. Now that they had entered the jungle, they were on the battlefield. Here, vigilance was essential to confront danger, survive, deal with the enemy, and ultimately accomplish the mission.

The battlefield is ever-changing, with danger lurking at every turn. Caution is always wise.

If you neglect the battlefield’s shifting nature, a single misstep could be fatal. No one could guarantee there weren’t snipers or other enemies lying in wait in the forest. There is no absolute safety on the battlefield; danger could arise at any moment, so extreme caution is the only defense.

At this time, Warhawk retrieved a satellite phone from his backpack, inserted the battery, and dialed the commander of the Fierce Tiger Special Operations Battalion. The satellite phone was encrypted, so there was no fear of interception. The commander soon answered, and Warhawk’s expression grew serious. “The route is clear, what’s the situation ahead?”

“Good conditions. Move out at any time. Remember, once you collect the medicinal herbs, return immediately. Don’t linger to admire the scenery,” the commander replied, calm and composed.

“Understood,” Warhawk answered. He ended the call, removed the battery, stored the phone in his military pack, and then activated the BeiDou navigator. He opened the satellite map, studied it, and instructed, “Everyone, turn on your wireless earpieces, switch to the agreed channel, confirm no issues, check your weapons. If all is well, we set off for our objective.”

“Yes!” The team checked their earpieces and weaponry. Everything was in order, and they reported back to Warhawk.

Warhawk inspected his own gear, studied the map and terrain, and contemplated for a moment before saying, “We’re here now. It’s more than twenty kilometers to our destination. We need to arrive before eleven, set up an ambush, and see if we can eliminate the enemy and complete our mission.”

“We will complete the mission,” Shadow declared.

“I think so too,” Black Wolf added, his eyes sharp and full of confidence.

“I agree,” said Snow Leopard.

“We’ll get there first, assess the situation, then act accordingly. I believe we can accomplish this,” Qin Feng spoke up. It was his first mission abroad, and he felt confident in their chances.

Warhawk nodded. He believed that with their teamwork, they would succeed.

He glanced ahead into the jungle, a gleam of resolve in his eyes, and decisively ordered, “Let’s move.”

The team nodded and proceeded toward their objective. Their current position was deep in the forest—they had chosen to disembark early, wary of being spotted by armed bandits. Their helicopter was a large, noisy target, easy to detect. Should the enemy fire an RPG anti-aircraft missile, survival would be uncertain, let alone completing the mission.

With BeiDou navigation devices, they had precise geographic data and didn’t fear getting lost. This allowed them to press on efficiently, reach their destination, and accomplish the mission.

After more than two hours of stealthy progress, they reached a hilltop. Below, a vast valley spread out. Zhang Cheng observed carefully and saw a large valley with a stream running through it, surrounded by lush trees, shrubs, and wild grass—an abundant, thriving place. Around the valley’s edge, a faint path was visible, evidently trodden by frequent passersby.