"Brother Ye, our instructor taught us the principle of 'the capable come first.' Although I'm a few years older than you, I know you're not an ordinary person—probably one of those capable people our instructor mentioned, so I address you as brother. I don't understand grand ideas like 'everyone has a duty when the nation rises or falls,' but when those southern devils burn, loot, and kill on my border, they commit every imaginable atrocity.
Thirty years ago, our army launched a self-defense counterattack because those southern devils brutally slaughtered and humiliated the Chinese within their borders and destroyed Chinese factories there. Countless compatriots were slaughtered by bloody blades. Although decades have passed, these devils haven't stopped their actions. Though more covert, they continue threatening us.
This time, my teammates were surrounded by Vietnamese devils. I, Guo Qi, will die trying to rescue them. So, seeing you as a fellow Chinese, I ask for your help. Besides, we are somewhat familiar with each other here. Once the teammates are saved, I'm willing to help you find what you're looking for," Guo Qi said earnestly, looking at Ye Mo.
Ye Mo was silent for a moment. He held no affection for those Vietnamese devils. As for asking Guo Qi to help find things, he'd been searching for days himself and didn't believe Guo Qi's group could help much. But Guo Qi's reasoning was sound—he was a fellow Chinese too, so it was only right to help with such a small matter.
Thinking this, Ye Mo nodded and said, "Brother Guo, you're right. No need to take it personally. I misjudged earlier. In that case, let's go. You can fill me in on the situation along the way. I haven't taken those southern devils seriously yet."
"Thank you, Brother Ye." Guo Qi happily cupped his fists, glad Ye Mo wasn't cold-hearted—he probably just hadn't been involved with others for a long time and was somewhat detached.
Guo Qi picked up three guns and handed one to Ye Mo.
Ye Mo waved it off. "No thanks, I don't like guns. They're troublesome to carry."
Guo Qi recalled how Ye Mo had killed several elite soldiers bare-handed and understood immediately.
After hearing Guo Qi's story, Ye Mo realized it wasn't that Guo Qi's group was weak, but that there were only six of them. During a border mission, they were ambushed in the jungle. The attackers never revealed their identity, but Guo Qi believed they were Vietnamese.
In the ambush, two of the six died, three were trapped, and only Guo Qi escaped. The trapped place was called Cold Cicada Cave. Guo Qi said if the terrain hadn't favored them, the entire team would have been wiped out. When the ambush occurred, they all tried to break out, but only Guo Qi made it. Without Ye Mo, even he wouldn't have gotten far.
Cold Cicada Cave wasn't close. Guo Qi and Ye Mo traveled quickly for two hours before arriving. As they neared the cave, gunfire rang out.
Hearing the shots, Guo Qi was elated. "They're not captured yet. That's my teammate shooting—I can tell by the gunfire."
Ye Mo was even more delighted because he realized the place Fang Nan mentioned was indeed Cold Cicada Cave. Although he still hadn't seen the evergreen trees, the environment matched Fang Nan's description exactly. It seems helping others really pays off; otherwise, he wouldn't have found this place in just two hours.
"Brother Ye, what now?" Guo Qi was an elite special forces member but knew he was far inferior to Ye Mo. Now that he knew his teammates weren't captured, his mind raced.
But he also knew his teammates wouldn't hold out much longer. If they had sufficient ammo, they wouldn't be firing so infrequently.
"How many enemies are there?" Ye Mo came back to focus. He needed to wipe out everyone trapping Guo Qi's teammates before searching.
"Based on their ambush gunfire, I estimate at least twenty. We killed three or four during the ambush. There should be sixteen or seventeen left. From the situation, my teammates haven't been captured yet. They're probably trying to hold out until dark to break through. But the enemy must know this and won't let my teammates last till then—they're likely discussing tactics," Guo Qi answered carefully.
Ye Mo nodded. "Stay close behind me and don't shoot unless necessary. I'll handle this."
Knowing Ye Mo had silently killed three special forces soldiers earlier, Guo Qi didn't doubt him at all. If Ye Mo was hidden, even a dozen enemies might not be a problem—though he wondered whether Xu Shi, who trained them for three days, was stronger than Ye Mo.
While Guo Qi pondered this, Ye Mo had already begun moving.
Cold Cicada Cave was in a valley. It was indeed easy to defend but hard to attack. Ye Mo didn't know why the enemy chose this spot to ambush Guo Qi's team, but he thought either time was tight or Guo Qi's team had retreated here just in time.
Ye Mo's spiritual awareness now extended about seven meters around. Approaching the valley, he immediately detected six enemies and spotted more lying in ambush nearby.
If Guo Qi's intel was wrong, it meant reinforcements had arrived.
With a thunderous explosion, a bomb dropped outside the Cold Cicada valley, creating a giant mushroom cloud. It seemed the enemy didn't want survivors or was trying to intimidate those inside.
Ye Mo shot six iron nails at once—some struck the backs of the heads of soldiers surrounding the cave, others hit their temples. All six died silently without a sound.
The valley outside Cold Cicada Cave was fan-shaped—easy to defend but also easy to surround. Ye Mo moved along the outer edge, killing enemies until the twenty-first victim, when three remaining enemies finally noticed him. They realized because the man he killed was on the phone; his call was suddenly cut off, alerting his comrades.
Three bullets fired simultaneously at Ye Mo's position. Though Ye Mo's spiritual awareness detected their actions and he dodged in time, his arm was grazed, drawing blood.
These enemies were far stronger than the Thirteen Tigers, and their guns were hundreds of times better.
Furious at being hit, Ye Mo unleashed six iron nails again. Two killed enemies instantly; the remaining four shattered the face of the one who injured him.
"Come here," Ye Mo called to Guo Qi.
Guo Qi now realized the surrounding enemies were not just a dozen but six or seven more. Slightly embarrassed, he said, "Sorry, Brother Ye. Looks like my intel was wrong."
"Go meet up with your teammates quickly," Ye Mo said, waving him off.