Chapter Fourteen: Let Us Fight Together

Liang Lingzhi laughed, “Isn’t it time to put our ‘boy’s urine’ to use?” Nian Xuejiao’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded in response. The special forces officers, all well-trained, took the “diapers” that Ye Dong and his companions handed over, and without a word, fastened them over their noses.

Officer Li gripped his submachine gun and took the lead. “Xiao Yang, Teams Seven and Eight, follow me. Nian Xue and the other five, stay right behind me. Everyone else, watch our rear for enemies. Protect Nian Xue and the others at all costs.”

The night deepened, and the mountain winds grew fiercer, but these could not dispel the tension in Ye Dong and his companions’ hearts.

Ye Dong silently recited to himself, “This is the first time I’m risking everything. Yayi, please bless me from the heavens!” Xiaobao whispered, “If Yayi hasn’t been reincarnated yet, she’s probably having a meal right now. We’d best rely on ourselves.” Ye Dong glared at him, “What do you know? If you really relied on yourself, why do you carry all those talismans?”

Xiaobao gave a sheepish grin, “Right, right, your Yayi will surely bless you!”

Officer Li moved swiftly, soon leading the unit to the slope where Xiao Yang had fallen under the illusion spell. “Chief, this is the place.”

Nian Xue surveyed the area: every few meters up the slope, a barely perceptible little flag was planted. In this remote mountain night, it would be all too easy to fall into a trap.

Officer Li nodded. “Nian Xue, we’re about to charge in. You just do what you need to do, and leave the rest to us!” Nian Xue grabbed his hand and took a large sack labeled “Granny’s Underwear” off Xiaobao and Dachun. “Officer Li, have a few sharp-eyed, quick-handed men go ahead. Every time they see a flag, cover it with one of these.” Officer Li accepted the bag with a smile and handed the underwear to Xiao Yang. “Time to redeem yourself.”

Xiao Yang pursed his lips in a grin, took the “Granny’s Underwear,” and led the way in. Officer Li followed close behind, with the sharp-eyed Nian Xue right behind him, directing as they ran.

“Don’t touch the yellow flags flying out from the roadside!”
“The candles in the trees are poisoned, hold your breath!”
“Those little paper figures ahead, burn them!”

Their party pressed on through every obstacle. Though they encountered some traps, they managed to overcome the bizarre sorceries and snares.

Officer Li exclaimed, “Nian Xue, you’re remarkable! When a master makes a move, you can tell at a glance!”

Nian Xue smiled and turned to Ye Dong. “How are you all holding up?”

Ye Dong panted, “Still all right for now, but I was nearly scared to death by that pile of snakes!”

Liang Lingzhi grumbled, “Those brats put so many snakes in the trees, but luckily we were well prepared, with a whole sack of smoke oil and sulfur. Otherwise, we’d have suffered a great loss.”

Officer Li said in a low voice, “Next, we’ll be facing armed bandits. I’m sure they’re well-prepared. Team Nine’s task is to escort Nian Xue and the others safely to the mountain summit via a detour. Xiao Li, do you understand?”

The captain of Team Nine, Xiao Li, replied, “I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!”

Officer Li nodded and cautioned, “Nian Xue, all of you, be extremely careful!”

“Don’t worry, Officer Li. You all be careful too!”

The group split into two. Officer Li led the main force straight up the main path, while Nian Xue and her companions pressed on toward the summit under Team Nine’s protection.

“Senior Sister, it looks like those damned police are preparing to attack,” a voice said.

The senior sister wore a blue cloak and a snake-shaped crown. In the moonlight, her fine features were visible. She turned and smiled, “Our position is easy to defend and hard to attack. Even if they’re well-armed, it will take time for them to break through—enough for us to finish the ritual. Besides, I, the Azure Scale Sorceress, am not to be trifled with. Today is an auspicious day—we mustn’t let them spoil it.”

The man with the sharp, rat-like face to her left grinned, “Senior Sister is right. Today is a great day; losing a few underlings is worth it.”

The burly tattooed man to her right laughed, “I wonder if that female Daoist followed us here.”

The Azure Scale Sorceress smiled wickedly, “I only hope she comes. With me, and you two—Black Scale and Yellow Scale—capturing her should be easy. If we take her soul, our master will reward us handsomely. It will be a great boon for us!”

The three exchanged knowing laughs, then swept their cloaks and strode together to the altar to begin the ritual.

The thick forest was indeed difficult to climb, and the treacherous terrain made Ye Dong and his team all the more cautious. Mist and sweat soaked their clothes. Suddenly, the distant crack of gunfire startled them to a halt.

Xiao Li gripped his rifle, encouraging them, “Don’t worry. The Chief is battle-hardened; we don’t need to worry about them. Let’s keep going!”

Xiaobao swallowed nervously. “Comrade Xiao Li, I’m not worried about Officer Li—I’m worried about our own safety. We’re not afraid, just a bit terrified.”

Xiao Li forced a smile, “Don’t worry. Team Nine will risk our lives to protect you!”

Xiaochun interrupted, “Bah! We’re all going to make it back safely!”

Ye Dong narrowed his eyes, scanning the surroundings. “Captain Xiao Li, Nian Xue, don’t you think something’s off?”

Nian Xue nodded, alert. “It’s too quiet here—unnaturally so.”

Xiao Li pulled a few pistols from his backpack and handed them to Ye Dong’s group. “I think so too. Even on a side path, the enemy should have posted guards. Stay alert—there could be a trap. Take these pistols and help protect Nian Xue when the fighting starts.”

Ye Dong took a pistol. “Xiao Li, are we allowed to carry guns?”

Xiao Li smiled, “Of course. Officer Li specifically asked me to carry these for you, since pistols are heavy.”

Before he finished, a rustling sound came from both sides of the dark path, rapidly drawing near.

Nian Xue called out, “Trouble! Grip your weapons and have the sulfur powder ready! We might be facing giant snakes!”

Ye Dong was startled. “Are we about to have a showdown with snakes?”

The group quickened their pace, covering another hundred meters before Xiao Li suddenly shouted, “Stop!”

Everyone froze. Not far ahead, seven or eight enormous snakes as thick as bowls lay coiled, flicking their disgusting tongues.

Nian Xue whispered, “Sulfur powder!”

“Here!”

Liang Lingzhi swiftly hurled several modified “sulfur powder bombs” at the snake pile.

To their shock, the snakes didn’t dodge; with a flick of their tails, they knocked the bombs down the slope, then coiled and leapt powerfully toward the group!

Ye Dong and his companions had never faced such ferocious snakes. Fearful, they doused themselves with sulfur powder, clinging to their pistols and bracing themselves for the assault.

Rattatata! Xiao Li opened fire first! The dozen soldiers behind him didn’t flinch, aiming bullets at the snakes’ vital spots.

Ye Dong marveled, “Xiao Li and his squad are truly well-trained. Even in such bizarre circumstances, they remain calm. Special forces really are different!”

Under the hail of bullets, the two leading snakes were quickly killed, but their companions, joined by smaller snakes, launched an attack from both flanks.

It seemed Xiao Li had anticipated this tactic. He shouted, “Plan B!”

The dozen team members closed ranks, surrounding Nian Xue and her group, picking off the snakes as they advanced. Soon the mountain was littered with snake corpses and blood flowed everywhere.

Suddenly, several small snakes dropped from the trees! Liang Lingzhi grabbed Nian Xue protectively with one arm, firing his pistol with the other—Bang! Bang! Bang!—killing two brightly colored snakes, but two more landed on his shoulder!

Seeing the danger, Ye Dong, without knowing where he found the courage, grabbed the two small snakes with his right hand and flung them away.

The snakes, seized, twisted and bit at Ye Dong’s wrist! But Ye Dong, instead of fear, gritted his teeth and fought back. “Want to bite me? Die!” He tossed his gun aside and, with his left hand, clamped down hard on both snakes’ heads.

With the snakes firmly in his grasp, Ye Dong’s fear vanished, replaced by grim determination.

A sizzling, roasting sound came from his hands, followed by the smell of charred flesh drifting to everyone’s noses.

Ye Dong was both shocked and delighted—he saw that the two venomous snakes were lifeless, and both their heads and bodies bore the imprint of a scorched palm.

“That’s the power of the True Samadhi Fire!” Liang Lingzhi exclaimed, releasing Nian Xue in his astonishment as the crisis passed.

Ye Dong picked up his pistol and glanced at his unscathed hands. “Now isn’t the time to discuss this. We need to be even more careful!”

Despite their efforts, several team members were bitten. Xiao Li shouted, “Don’t let any snake blood touch your wounds! If you’ve been bitten, inject the antivenom immediately!”

The battle raged for several more minutes. As the snake attacks dwindled, Xiao Li barked, “Maintain formation! Move forward slowly, then split up once we’re clear!”

Nian Xue thanked them. “Thank you so much!”

Xiao Li smiled, “We should be thanking you. You could have stayed out of this, but here you are, risking your lives for the cause.”

They trudged over the carpet of dead snakes, and once through the path, the snakes finally stopped chasing.

Xiaobao wondered, “Why did they stop?”

Nian Xue speculated, “That path was probably spelled to lure the snakes to attack us.”

Rattatata! A sudden burst of gunfire erupted! Bullets whizzed past, grazing Xiaobao’s arm and splintering wood from the trees.

Xiao Li shouted, “Take cover! Return fire!”

Submachine guns blazed, spraying the enemy’s position and buying precious time for everyone to find shelter.

Xiaobao, clutching his wounded arm, cursed, “Damn bastards, shooting at us from cover! I nearly became a martyr!”

Dachun, seeing Xiaobao unharmed, joked, “You still in one piece?”

Xiaobao retorted, “You’re the one who’s useless! I’m tough and lucky. I’m still a virgin—dying now would be such a waste!”

Huddled behind cover, their hearts pounded nearly out of their chests.

Ye Dong said, “First we survived a snake siege, now we’re caught in a hail of bullets. Tonight we’re truly living the life of the Flying Tigers!”

An Dachun pressed his hands together, praying, “God protect us, Amitabha! May the Celestial Lord of Supreme Purity keep us safe!”

Liang Lingzhi laughed at his babbling, “You’re invoking God, Buddha, and the Celestial Lord all at once—isn’t that a bit greedy?”

Xiaobao interjected, “No, no—the more gods the better. Who knows, maybe one of them will hear us?”

“Captain, the enemy on the right has been neutralized. Awaiting orders.”

“I’ll go with you—advance! The rest, provide covering fire. Follow the deputy’s lead!”

Under the deputy’s suppressive fire, Xiao Li and two others charged forward and dealt with the remaining enemies. He waved the others on to continue.

Liang Lingzhi couldn’t help but praise, “The Flying Tigers really are a cut above! Those goons were no match at all!”

Xiao Li pointed to the distance. “Nian Xue, is that where the torches are burning—the enemy’s altar?”

Nian Xue frowned. “It must be. Looks like the ritual has already begun. We have to hurry!”

A series of wild, guttural howls reverberated from the altar above, sending chills through everyone.

“What the hell is that?” Ye Dong and his companions froze in terror at the sight before them…