This time, Li Zhui's dream was unexpectedly enchanting.
He swam through the vast ocean, surrounded by several beautiful women, among them was Feng Sun'er, along with a rugged yet strikingly delicate woman, her petite face as refined as a porcelain doll—it was none other than She Yao Yao!
As he stood there, frozen in astonishment, a massive great white shark charged towards him. Its massive jaws opened wide, and he could see the sharp teeth closing in on his skull.
With a furious roar, Yao Yao leapt from the water, intercepting the shark midair. With a powerful grip, she seized its upper and lower jaws, wrenching them apart with such force that the entire head split in two!
Li Zhui awoke slowly, savoring the remnants of the dream. Could it be that Yao Yao was his guardian angel?
At that moment, voices echoed from outside. Among them, he distinctly heard Sun'er's voice. Ever since the neural system of the exoskeleton was integrated with his own, his senses had grown increasingly acute, and even whispers from dozens of meters away were now crystal clear.
He climbed out of his hollow nest and made his way toward the cave entrance.
Not only had Sun'er returned, but also Ling Jun had arrived. Xiao Kang was carried back on someone's back. Ling Jun, frantic with urgency, immediately sought out Yong Zi to relay a message to Li Zhui.
After a quick examination, Linghu Min immediately began the operation. Xiao Kang's luck was truly extraordinary—one of the shrapnel fragments had embedded itself dangerously close to his spine. Had it been off by even a few millimeters, his life would have been over.
The storm had rendered the elite guard unable to provide air support, and the floods had made ground operations even more sluggish. Consequently, in the recent counterattack, the Green Alliance had managed an easy victory.
Initially, Ling Jun had planned to expand their success and arrange for a breakout, but upon receiving an urgent letter from Linghu Min, he immediately canceled the operation and hurriedly withdrew his forces.
Why the sudden panic? It turned out that Zhai Zhongren had divulged two extremely vital pieces of intelligence: First, the elite forces known as the "Lightning Warriors" had been deployed to the Mu En section. Second, the He Kang Volunteer Team had already been stationed in the surrounding areas, ready for action.
Li Zhui had heard of the Lightning Warriors—they were among the most formidable forces under the East Tai Corporation, alongside the Thunder, Tsunami, and Hurricane Warriors of the Colonial Guard, collectively known as the Holy Warriors.
As for the He Kang Volunteer Team, Li Zhui had never heard of them, and it was clear that Zhai Zhongren would need to explain further.
It turned out that over a decade ago, the East Tai Colony had fallen into an ecological crisis. Due to environmental pollution and human negligence, a large number of malformed children were born.
To mitigate the problem, the East Tai Corporation had been forced to invest a vast sum of money to establish the He Mei Rehabilitation Center, a place where hundreds of thousands of these malformed children were kept in containment to prevent them from causing harm to society. These individuals, known in popular parlance as the "He Kang People," were seen as anomalies, but how could such deformed beings become warriors?
Zhai Zhongren then pulled up two diagrams on his tablet and reverently presented them to Li Zhui.
"Master, the first type is the Tiger Fish Warrior, transformed from the Big-Headed Child. The primary modification involved extracting all of their teeth and replacing them with alloy steel teeth."
"The second type is the Badger Warrior, modified from dwarfs. Their bones are reinforced, and steel claws are embedded."
"There is also a type known as the Bat Warrior, derived from the Skinny-Bones People. They are as light as a swallow, but they are unlikely to be used here. Master, these artificial beasts are not strong in individual combat; their strength lies in their overwhelming numbers."
Li Zhui raised his hand, signaling Yong Zi to take Zhai Zhongren away.
"Master Ling, you need to make a decision soon. The East Tai people grow more reckless the more they lose."
"The biggest problem right now is the sheer number of civilians. Leading them through a breakout is nearly impossible."
"It's not nearly impossible, it's completely out of the question," Li Zhui replied with a smile.
Ling Jun chuckled self-deprecatingly. "You're right, Master Li. Without your help, none of us will make it out."
"So, how do you plan to break out?"
"There's no hope on land, the only way is through the waterways. We'll take the underground river to the single-log bridge, where we can enter the Dragon Palace Passage, which leads all the way to the base beneath Bu Gua Ridge."
Li Zhui froze. Was he joking? From here to Bu Gua Ridge, even if you measured the map with a ruler, it was a hundred kilometers, not to mention the winding underground river. And the Dragon Palace Passage? Was he expected to travel like a submarine?
"Master Ling, you think too highly of me! But honestly, I would never take the Dragon Palace Passage. I'm no super-hero, and I have no interest in playing that part," Li Zhui replied, shaking his head.
"Have you heard of the Water Mothers, Master Li? They've traversed this route several times," Ling Jun quickly explained.
Li Zhui couldn't help but feel a stir of excitement. If the Water Mothers were willing to help them navigate the underground waterways freely, then even the East Tai forces, with all their might, wouldn't be able to stand in their way.
He suppressed his excitement and patiently waited for Ling Jun to continue. As expected, Ling Jun's plan was for Li Zhui and a few others to break out, reach the Bu Gua Ridge base, and from there, find a way to contact the Water Mothers and bring them in as reinforcements.
Though the plan seemed utterly absurd, Li Zhui didn't think it was entirely impractical. However, he couldn't endorse it without first resolving an issue.
"Master Ling, I estimate it will take three days for the round trip. Can you hold out for three days?"
"Without your support, Master Li, not even a single day is possible. But I can guarantee you, East Tai won't launch an attack tomorrow. So we at least have 24 hours."
"24 hours? In that case, I must tell you, that's absolutely impossible! Master Ling, your plan relies entirely on my exceptional performance," Li Zhui shook his head.
"To put it bluntly, your plan is like nailing me to a cross and setting me on fire. So, let's consider our discussion over," he said calmly, yet his stance was unwavering.
Ling Jun felt as though a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over him. He had thought that with his grand title, he could easily sway Li Zhui, but he had been naive.
Moreover, Li Zhui's refusal was completely understandable. The future battles were utterly unpredictable; even a god could fail to fulfill such a task.
Seeing Ling Jun's disappointed expression, Li Zhui gave a faint smile and offered an alternative suggestion: "Let's head south to Fulong Cave, then use it as the battlefield to give the East Tai Guard a proper lesson."
Liu Fushui immediately voiced his support, as his home was near the entrance of Fulong Cave. He knew the cave like the back of his hand.
"There's just one problem. If we enter the Fulong Cave through the Di Long River, we'll be going upstream. Master Li would have no trouble with that, but the rest of us might struggle!" Liu Fushui said with concern.
After Li Zhui asked him to describe every entrance and exit of Fulong Cave in detail, he had an idea. Previously, Liu Fushui had speculated that the waterway beneath Han Shui Cave might connect to the Fulong River.
If that were true, they could bypass the guards at Fulong Cave's entrance and save a lot of time. Of course, Li Zhui would need to verify that. Furthermore, he would have to make a trip to Ma Cang Ridge to bring the engineering team back.
"Good! We'll proceed with this plan. Master Li, don't stand on ceremony with us. If you need anything, just ask!" Ling Jun clasped his hands and said.
Li Zhui returned the gesture. "Then I ask you, Master Ling, to gather your best craftsmen. We'll need some tools."
After Ling Jun left, Li Zhui suddenly felt a spark of inspiration. He decided to take a walk along the stone framework at the edge of the cave pool and review his combat techniques.
A dozen elite Green Alliance soldiers, clad in helmets and bulletproof vests, armed with automatic rifles, were guarding the entrance. They looked impressive. However, if mutated beasts really showed up, the scene would be completely different!
When they saw Li Zhui approaching, the soldiers quickly lined up in two rows, bowing to him respectfully. This kind of adoration made Li Zhui feel awkward. He wasn't used to such treatment, with everyone bowing as if he were some star.
As Li Zhui walked toward the stone frame, the squad leader signaled, and the team quickly rushed to the pool's edge to set up a defensive position.
Li Zhui shook his head. He waved to the squad leader, "Brother, leave this to me. You all should continue guarding the passage."
"Thank you, Master!" The squad leader bowed deeply, his eyes brimming with tears. He was a survivor of the previous battle with the lizard-beasts, so he knew full well what this meant—they had a chance to survive today.
The suppression operation was under the command of Sakamoto Jiakun from the Western Base, but it was no easy task!
Before he had even finished viewing the battlefield footage, Sakamoto was already drenched in cold sweat. After pondering for a few minutes, he concluded that this was beyond his control and immediately reported directly to the commander-in-chief of the Guard, Hirai Zhanhong.
Likewise, after considering the situation, Hirai Zhanhong decided that he wouldn't cover for the matter and would report it to the highest level!
The Armed Guard is under the dual jurisdiction of the Security Supervision Committee and the Administrative Headquarters, but the true authority lies with the Chairman of the Company.
When Hirai Zhanhong picked up the red telephone, a chill ran down his spine. Despite coming from a core family, despite being a high-ranking overseer, and despite having met the Chairman on several occasions, this was the first time he had been asked to speak with the highest leader.
On the other end of the line, a voice came through, and Hirai Zhanhong took a deep breath, steadying his nerves.
"Director Hirai, how are you? Yes, yes, this is Hirai Zhanhong, I have an important report. Today, the Mobile Joint Team of the Western Base was attacked by insurgents while on a mission in the Mu'en Gorge. Seventy-one confirmed dead, fifty-seven missing, and many others severely injured... Yes, yes, thank you! Thank you!"
Upon hearing this, the Director of the Security Superintendent's Office was struck with awe—such an event hadn't occurred in a century. Not daring to delay, he immediately transferred the call to the highest leader.
Though the Chairman, Hirai Hengyuan, held a prestigious position, he lived a life of simplicity, free from excess. Unlike the other nobles whose nightlife was just beginning, he was already asleep.
The upper echelons of East Tai knew this well—unless it was a major incident, no one dared disturb him. So, when his personal secretary woke him up, he immediately understood: something serious was afoot at East Tai.
In less than 30 minutes, the largest organizational machine on Beiming Star was in full motion. From that moment on, any procrastination, shirking, or negligence would be met with severe punishment.
The majority of the Mobile Guard troops under the jurisdiction of the Western Base, Zhengnan Road, Chongdong Road, Xixi Road, and Xizhong Road were urgently deployed to the Mu'en Gorge region. The third Mobile Division, directly under the Armed Guard headquarters, prepared throughout the night, ready for reinforcement at a moment's notice. Among them, the Airborne Mobile Battalion immediately took flight to the Mu'en Gorge.
Within three hours, armed helicopters, armored vehicles, towed artillery, and even self-propelled artillery had arrived.
The hornet's nest Li Zhui had stirred up was immense!
However, the Guard didn't launch an attack. Instead, they established a series of layered blockades. Under the command of high-ranking officers, all actions were meticulously calculated. They weren't in a hurry to achieve victory, as "merits" held little significance for their positions.
As Ling Jun had anticipated, on July 15, the East Tai Guard focused on reinforcing surface fortifications, taking no action against the cave systems. This was because the highest leadership of East Tai was convening for a meeting, and as a result, no one dared to make a move.
On the Green Alliance's side, preparations were proceeding with intensity, the primary task being the production of a large quantity of protective gear. To be suitable for underwater use, the surface of the gear had to be smooth and fashionable, with as many holes as possible to minimize weight.
On the morning of July 15, Li Zhui, Yao Yao, and thirty diving experts, along with Zhang Xiaoba and Rong Dayuan, mutated beasts, were already en route to the Ma Cang Ridge cave.
From the winch used to bind Xiaoba, another steel chain was attached, and a mountain climbing rope several dozen meters long was tied. Except for Li Zhui and Yao Yao, everyone else used safety harnesses and carabiners to secure themselves to the main rope.
As they entered the first bubble cave, Rong Dayuan immediately became agitated. It detected the familiar scent in the air—the scent of the crocodile-lizard. This meant the engineering team was in grave danger.
Li Zhui rewarded the mutated beasts and motioned for them to continue. At every subsequent bubble cave, the humanoid salamanders emitted alarms.
At 2:00 PM on July 15, 102nd year of the Beiming era, the Security Supervision Committee's expanded Standing Committee meeting convened punctually. The Chairman of the Administrative Headquarters, the Political Supervisor, and the Supreme Commander of the Guard were all present at the meeting.
Chairman Hirai Hengyuan, who also held the position of Security Superintendent, was the only non-military person in the Security Supervision Committee.
According to East Tai's Basic Regulations, the position of Chairman must be held by someone from the Hirai family. Beneath the Chairman, there were four major positions, theoretically ranked as follows: the President of the Administrative Headquarters, the Political Supervisor, the Security Superintendent, and the Arbitration Supervisor. These four positions were open to members from the Hirai, Kuroki, and Akiyama families.
Typically, the Chairman held two roles, combining both the Chairman and the Security Superintendent positions. This illustrates just how crucial the position of Security Superintendent was!
As for Hirai Zhanhong, attending such a high-level meeting was akin to a mere crab-general attending a Dragon King's council.
But today, this senior figure, normally insignificant, had become the key player, for the report he had made would be decisive in determining the outcome of the meeting.