Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

Black Wind Ridge is the only way back to the mountain city. The terrain is dangerous and there is only a narrow mountain pass through.

If the Japanese blocked the mountain pass first, they would be completely trapped in this mountainous area.

"Monkey!" Lu Yang shouted.

Monkey immediately ran back: "Brother Lu, what's the matter?"

"Go ahead and see if there's any movement over at Black Wind Ridge. Be careful!"

"I understand!" The monkey nodded, and his figure flashed and disappeared into the dense forest in front.

The team rested for a while, restocking on rations and water. The atmosphere was heavy, as everyone knew the journey ahead would be even more treacherous.

Qinglan walked over to Lu Yang and pulled out a small oil-paper bag from her bosom. She opened it, revealing a few dark herbs. "I picked these a while ago. They can reduce fever and inflammation. Chew them up and apply them to the wound."

Lu Yang glanced at her and didn't refuse. He took the herb and chewed it in his mouth. The bitter taste instantly spread.

He suppressed his nausea, spat the chewed medicine residue into his palm, and then carefully applied it to the wound on his shoulder. A cool sensation came over him, which seemed to ease some of the burning pain.

"Thanks," he whispered.

Qinglan shook her head with a complicated look in her eyes.

About half an hour later, Monkey came back like a gust of wind, his face filled with anxiety and seriousness. "Brother Lu, this is bad! There are Japanese soldiers over at the Black Wind Ridge Pass!"

Everyone's heart skipped a beat.

"How many people? What equipment?" Lu Yang asked immediately.

"I can't see clearly. There are machine guns mounted on the cliffs on both sides of the mountain pass, and at least one infantry squad! It seems that they just arrived not long ago and are still building fortifications!" Monkey spoke quickly.

Lao Hei's face turned pale: "Damn it! They're so fast! They got there first!"

There was a commotion in the team, and despair began to spread. Black Wind Ridge was the only passage, and if it was blocked, they would be trapped.

Lu Yang took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He walked to a large rock and spread out a simple map he had found among the captured Japanese supplies. "Monkey, besides the mountain pass, is there any other way to get through Black Wind Ridge?"

The monkey frowned and pointed to a location on the map. "To the west of the mountain pass, there's an almost vertical cliff. The locals call it 'Ghost-Seeing Cliff.' It's said that herbalists used to go down there on ropes, but it's extremely dangerous, and no one knows what's down there."

"Ghost Seer..." Lu Yang stared at the map, his finger slowly tracing the cliff area. His gaze sharpened. "We're running out of time. Forcing our way through the mountain pass is suicide. We... can only go to 'Ghost Seer'."

"Let's go to 'Ghost Sees Sorrow'?" Lao Hei cried out. "Boss, that place is not suitable for human beings to walk on! How can we get down with so many wounded people?"

"If we don't go down, are we going to be killed by the Japanese?" Lu Yang asked in a firm tone, "The wounded must be taken away. Not a single one can be left behind. Lao Hei, check the ropes and find all the ones that can be used."

He turned to Monkey and said, "Take a few people with you and go to 'Ghost Sees Sorrow' to have a closer look and find a place that is relatively easy to descend."

"Yes!" The monkey took the order and left.

The atmosphere in the team grew increasingly tense. Climbing down the "Ghost-Seeing" cliffs was a near-impossible task, especially with night approaching and the wounded among them. But no one questioned Lu Yang's decision. They all knew it was the only way to survive.

The team members began to check the ropes and discarded non-essential items in their backpacks to reduce the weight. The more seriously injured team members were pale and their eyes were full of fear, but no one complained.

Qinglan walked to Lu Yang and whispered, "Your injury..."

"I won't die." Lu Yang interrupted her and looked up at the gradually darkening sky. "Time is running out. We must act before dark."

The monkey quickly returned with his men. "Brother Lu, we found a spot where the slope is a little gentler and the rocks are more stable, but it's still very steep and at least 70 or 80 meters deep."

"Enough." Lu Yang nodded, "Everyone, prepare for action!"

The team reached the edge of the "Ghost-Seeing Cliff." Looking down, the depths seemed bottomless, with only the whistling mountain wind blowing up from the bottom, carrying a chilling chill. The rock face was sheer, with few footholds to climb.

Lao Hei firmly fastened several ropes to the thick tree trunks and rocks at the top of the cliff. "Boss, the ropes aren't long enough. We have to go down in sections."

Lu Yang nodded. "The healthy ones go down first and provide support in the middle. Tie up the wounded with ropes and lower them down slowly. Lao Hei, you'll be in charge of the command from above. Monkey, you'll go down first, explore the way, and ensure safety below."

"Got it!" The monkey didn't hesitate, grabbed the rope, and started to descend first. His movements were as nimble as an ape, and he soon disappeared into the shadows below the cliff.

Then, the other more skilled members began to descend. The cliff was slippery and the wind was strong, making every step fraught with danger.

Lu Yang stood at the edge of the cliff, watching his teammates disappear one by one below. His heart was in suspense. The wound on his left shoulder began to ache again from the tension and exertion, and his vision was blacking out.

Qinglan supported him: "How are you?"

"We can still hold on." Lu Yang gritted his teeth, "It's the wounded's turn now."

The first person to be lowered was a young soldier who had been shot in the leg. He was securely tied to a rope, and several team members slowly lowered it, while Lao Hei shouted commands from the side. The soldier's eyes were tightly closed, his face pale, and his body swayed slightly in the air.

The process was slow and dangerous. Each time a wounded person was lowered, a great deal of time and energy was consumed. The wind on the clifftop grew stronger, and the sky darkened completely, with only a few weak torches flickering in the wind.

It was Lu Yang's turn. Qing Lan insisted on going down with him.

"You go first, and I'll cover you." Lu Yang shook his head.

"No!" Qinglan's attitude was extremely firm. "You can't exert any more force on your injury. I'll support you."

Lu Yang looked at her stubborn eyes and finally stopped objecting.

The two men grasped the same rope and began to slowly descend. Qinglan was in front, trying to share Lu Yang's weight while searching for a foothold. Lu Yang couldn't bear to use his left arm, relying only on his right arm and legs for support. Every movement was accompanied by severe pain, and cold sweat soaked his clothes.

Halfway down, an accident occurred: a loose rock suddenly broke off and fell to the ground below.

"Be careful!" Lu Yang yelled and pushed Qinglan aside.

Qinglan avoided the falling rocks, but Lu Yang's right leg was grazed. Although it was not serious, his body lost balance and slid down suddenly.

"Lu Yang!" Qinglan exclaimed, holding the rope tightly.

Lu Yang desperately grasped the rope, his right arm muscles tensing as he managed to steady himself. However, the wound on his left shoulder had completely ripped open from the violent movement, blood instantly staining half his body red. The excruciating pain nearly made him faint.

"Hold on!" Qinglan's voice was filled with tears.

Monkey's voice came from below: "Brother Lu! Sister Qinglan! Hold on tight! We'll come to rescue you!"

Several team members who had reached the platform at the bottom of the cliff began to climb up to provide support.

Lu Yang gritted his teeth, endured the severe pain, and with Qing Lan's help, he continued to move down bit by bit. He felt his consciousness becoming increasingly blurred, and every breath was filled with the smell of blood.

Finally, they reached the platform at the bottom of the cliff. It was a relatively narrow space, barely big enough for everyone. The team members hurriedly helped Lu Yang to the side, and Qinglan immediately tore open his clothes to examine his wounds.

The wound was bloody and deep enough to see the bone. The situation was very bad.

"Water! Medicine!" Qinglan shouted anxiously.

The team members hurriedly passed around water bottles and wound medicine.

At this moment, several gunshots suddenly came from the top of the cliff!

"Bang! Bang!"

Bullets struck the rocks above their heads, sending rubble flying.

"The Japs are catching up!" Lao Hei shouted from above, "They've found us! Let's go!"

The faces of the team members at the bottom of the cliff changed drastically. The Japanese were in a dominant position, and they had become sitting ducks!

"Quick! Get out of here!" Lu Yang struggled to stand, but his head spun and he fell again. He had lost too much blood, and the wound was infected, and he was at his limit.

"Boss!" Lao Hei and the last few team members also slid down, their faces full of anxiety, "The Japanese firepower is too strong, we can't stay up there anymore!"

The gunshots became more and more frequent, and the sound of grenade explosions was heard on the top of the cliff.

"Monkey! Is there a road down there?" Lao Hei asked hurriedly.

The monkey pointed to the darkness on one side of the platform and said, "There seems to be a cave over here!"

"Hurry! Go into the cave!" Lao Hei made a prompt decision and directed the team members to support Lu Yang and the wounded and move towards the dark cave entrance.

Bullets continued to fall from the top of the cliff, hitting the rocks behind them with crackling sounds. Several team members were unfortunately shot during the transfer and fell down screaming.

Amidst the chaos and danger, the team finally retreated into the unknown cave. The cave entrance was narrow, the inside was pitch black, and there was a damp and musty smell.

"Quick! Block the entrance!" Lao Hei shouted.

Several team members immediately brought rubble and tried to seal the cave entrance.

Outside, the Japs' gunshots and shouts were getting closer and closer. They had apparently discovered the cave entrance as well.

Lu Yang leaned against the cold cave wall, his consciousness blurred, and he felt his body getting colder and colder. He heard the gunshots outside, the anxious shouts of his teammates, and Qinglan's constant calls in his ear.

"Water...water..." He uttered the two words with difficulty.

Qinglan quickly brought the kettle to his mouth.

After drinking a few sips of water, Lu Yang regained some consciousness. He looked at the swaying figures in front of him and the faint light of fire coming through the cave entrance. He knew that they were temporarily safe, but they were also in deeper trouble.

Where does this cave lead to? Will the Japanese block the entrance? How long will their food and ammunition last?

The journey home is long and the road ahead is uncertain.

And at this moment, they were trapped in this desperate cave.

In the distance, there seemed to be a faint sound of water, bringing a strange vitality to the dead silence.

Lu Yang forced his heavy eyelids open, and with the faint light coming through the cave entrance, he saw the team members frantically trying to seal the entrance.

Outside the cave, the Japanese devils' shouting and cursing became clearer and clearer, and bullets kept hitting the gravel at the entrance of the cave, splashing sparks.

"Brother Lu, hold on, we'll definitely get out of here!" Monkey squatted beside Lu Yang, his voice filled with anxiety and determination. Lu Yang nodded slightly, and just as he was about to speak, he was hit by a violent cough, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

Qinglan held Lu Yang's hand tightly, and with her other hand she quickly took out the remaining herbs from her arms, "Hurry, apply some more medicine, it can relieve the pain." Her voice was tearful, and her fingers trembled slightly as she applied the herbs on Lu Yang's bloody wound.

At this moment, the rubble blocking the cave entrance was suddenly shaken by a powerful force.

"Oh no, the Japs are using explosives!" Lao Hei shouted. As soon as he finished speaking, a loud bang was heard, and a gap was blown open at the entrance of the cave. Dazzling flames and thick smoke instantly poured into the cave.

"Shoot!" Lao Hei roared, and the team members raised their guns and shot at the shadowy figures of the Japanese at the entrance of the cave.

During the fierce exchange of fire, several more team members were shot and fell, and the cave was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder and blood.

Lu Yang struggled to his feet. Even though every movement felt like it was tearing his body apart, he knew he had to stay awake and direct everyone out of danger. "Old Black, leave a few of you to hold the devils back. The rest of you go with Monkey to find another exit from the cave!"

Lao Hei nodded and quickly arranged several team members to guard the cave entrance. The rest followed the monkey and groped forward in the dark.

The cave was full of strange rocks and the ground was uneven. The team members supported each other and moved forward with difficulty.

Lu Yang was supported by Qinglan and another team member. With every step he took, his wound felt a piercing pain, and beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his pale face.

Suddenly, a monkey shouted from the front: "Be careful!" Before everyone could react, a huge python jumped out from the crevice in the top of the cave, opened its bloody mouth, and pounced on the team.

The team members suddenly became chaotic and some people opened fire, but in this narrow space, the bullets bounced everywhere, which made it even more dangerous.

Lu Yang endured the pain and shouted, "Don't panic! Keep forming!" Just as the python was about to attack a team member, Lao Hei was quick-eyed and quick-handed. He swung the big knife in his hand and slashed at the python fiercely.

The python curled up in pain and then launched a more violent attack.

After a fierce fight, everyone finally repelled the python.

But before they could catch their breath, they heard the footsteps and shouts of the Japanese soldiers behind them.

It turned out that the Japanese broke through the defense line of the cave entrance and caught up with them.

"Hurry up! There's no time to waste!" Lu Yang urged. The team continued running in the darkness, and suddenly, a fork in the road appeared ahead.

The monkey stopped and looked troubled: "Brother Lu, there are two roads, I don't know which one to choose."

Lu Yang frowned and thought for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, a bullet flew past his ear.

The Japs are catching up! The situation was extremely critical. Lu Yang didn't have time to think about it. He pointed to the passage on the left and said, "Go this way!"

Everyone ran desperately along the passage, but before they had gone far, they found that the way ahead was blocked by a huge rock.

"It's over, there's no way out!" someone shouted in despair.