Years turn into wind

Intensive gunfire echoed through the dense forest. It seemed as if the enemy had already set an ambush, surrounding Ling Xiaotian's team from all sides. Trees and rocks became temporary cover, but the threat of bullets was everywhere.

Zhang Jun opened fire while quickly reporting: "Commander, the enemy's firepower is too strong. We are temporarily unable to break through!"

Ling Xiaotian calmly scanned the battlefield, quickly analyzing the situation. He lowered his voice and said, "Although they have a large number of men, they are unfamiliar with the terrain. We should retreat to the southwest, where the trees are densely packed and can temporarily shake them off!"

They moved quickly and retreated along the slope of the dense forest. However, the enemy's pursuit did not stop.

Enemy strategy

"They're forcing us into the valley." Ling Xiaotian observed as he ran, keenly aware of the enemy's intentions. The valley was a deadly place, and the surrounding high ground could easily become an enemy encirclement.

Zhang Jun gasped and asked, "What should we do? Should we just force our way out?"

"No, forcing our way in will only result in heavy casualties," Ling Xiaotian ordered decisively. "Divide into two teams, make a feint to the east and attack from the west. I'll lead the small team to draw out the enemy's main force, while you break out from the southeast. Once you succeed, contact reinforcements immediately!"

Zhang Jun was anxious: "Commander, no! You are our core, what if——"

"Stop talking nonsense and follow orders!" Ling Xiaotian shouted in a low voice, his eyes as sharp as a knife.

Zhang Jun gritted his teeth and replied, "Yes!" He led a group of people to retreat to the southeast, while Ling Xiaotian led another team and quietly moved to the other side to attract the enemy's attention.

Seeking victory in danger

Ling Xiaotian and several soldiers moved through the woods, deliberately making some noise to lure the enemy towards them. They bypassed several forks in the road and hid in a pile of rocks, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

"Commander, they've taken the bait." A soldier whispered, pointing to the enemy approaching in the distance.

"Very good, wait until they get closer." Ling Xiaotian signaled everyone to hide, and at the same time picked up the telescope in his hand to observe the other party's movements.

The enemy squad gradually approached, but apparently did not notice Ling Xiaotian and his men in ambush. The moment they entered the range, Ling Xiaotian decisively ordered: "Open fire!"

The sudden sound of gunfire caught the enemy off guard, sending them into a state of chaos. Ling Xiaotian seized the opportunity and led his team to a swift relocation, luring the enemy to another complex terrain. They used the familiar terrain to create obstacles and slow the enemy's movement.

Breakout on the other side

At the same time, Zhang Jun's team also engaged in a fierce firefight with the enemy in the southeast. Although they were outnumbered, they worked well together and took advantage of the cover and terrain to launch a counterattack.

"Hurry! Hold on for five more minutes and we will be able to break through!" Zhang Jun shouted to his team members, while suppressing the enemy's firepower with a machine gun.

The enemy obviously did not expect the scattered troops to still have such strong resistance, and they were beaten back step by step. Finally, Zhang Jun successfully led his team to break through the enemy's encirclement and quickly evacuated the battlefield.

Dangerous

Although Ling Xiaotian's team successfully held back the enemy, due to their small number of people, they were gradually forced into a narrower area.

"Commander, the ammunition is running out!" a soldier said anxiously.

Ling Xiaotian frowned slightly, scanning his surroundings and spotting a naturally formed cave ahead. He immediately ordered, "Retreat inside the cave and continue defending by relying on the terrain!"

Several people quickly retreated into the cave, taking advantage of the narrow entrance to set up a defensive line. Although the enemy was numerous, they could only attack to a limited extent at the cave entrance. Ling Xiaotian led the others in a tenacious resistance, resolving the enemy's offensive time and time again.

However, the crisis is not over.

The enemy seemed to realize that the frontal attack was ineffective and gradually reduced its offensive, turning to throwing incendiary bombs at the cave entrance. Fire ignited at the cave entrance, and thick smoke quickly poured into the cave, suffocating it.

"Oh no, they want to use smoke to force us out!" said a soldier coughing.

Ling Xiaotian covered his mouth and nose while making a quick decision: "We can't delay this any longer, prepare to break out!"

He distributed the last few grenades in his hand to his team members and made a simple and direct plan: "I will go out to attract attention first, and you will take the opportunity to break out from the other side."

The soldiers shook their heads. "No, Commander, it's too dangerous! We're all together!"

"Listen to me, this is not a negotiation!" Ling Xiaotian growled, a look of determination that could not be refused flashing in his eyes.

Jedi strikes back

Under the cover of thick smoke and flames, Ling Xiaotian rushed out of the cave and accurately threw the grenade in his hand at the enemy's firing point. The explosion was deafening, and the enemy was caught off guard by the sudden attack.

At the same time, the soldiers inside the cave also moved quickly, quietly breaking out from the other side. After meeting Ling Xiaotian in the forest, they quickly changed their route and escaped the enemy's pursuit.

"Commander, we have successfully broken through!" Zhang Jun's voice sounded on the radio, bringing news of reinforcements from the rear.

Ling Xiaotian leaned tiredly against a tree, wiped the blood from his forehead, and smiled faintly: "Very good, reunite with the reinforcements as soon as possible and prepare for the next move."

Return to the Marshal's Mansion

A few hours later, Ling Xiaotian finally led his team back to the Marshal's Mansion safely. As soon as he stepped through the gate, Cheng Yuwei came to meet him. Seeing him covered in blood, her face immediately turned pale. "Are you injured?"

Ling Xiaotian waved his hand and said in a relaxed tone: "It's just some superficial injuries, nothing serious."

Cheng Yuwei was not reassured, so she dragged him directly to the infirmary. While treating his wounds personally, she complained in a low voice, "You are always like this, thinking you are made of iron and not considering my feelings."

Ling Xiaotian held her hand, his voice low and gentle: "I'm sorry for making you worry. But I promised you that I would come back, so I did."

Cheng Yuwei's nose felt sore and tears welled up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall: "Next time, no matter what danger it is, I will face it with you."

Ling Xiaotian looked at her, and after a moment of silence, he nodded: "Okay, I promise you."