Chapter 115: Caught in a Bind!

When Qin Feng was a child, his grandfather, Old Man Qin, told him that some people in the Miao border regions possessed the skill to control venomous snakes and insects. This art had originated in the Western Regions a millennium ago. It was generally believed to be a lost craft, but as it turned out, it had not been lost at all; some terrifying secret techniques had been passed down. He had never expected the members of the Blood Skull Mercenary Group to master such a formidable ability.

"Treat life and death with indifference; if you refuse to submit, then fight." Old Man Qin had also given him this piece of advice, telling Qin Feng not to harbor any fear. Even when facing such enemies, one should remain indifferent to life and death and simply fight back if they refuse to submit.

"That's right. Indifferent to life and death; if they refuse to submit, then fight." A sharp glint appeared in Qin Feng's eyes. He felt his grandfather’s words were profound. Why should he be afraid?

"This place is no longer safe. We need to find somewhere else to rest," Qin Feng said. He sensed the danger and worried that more venomous snakes might appear here. He chose not to reveal to the group that the snake might have been controlled by the Blood Skull Mercenary Group, as he was under a gag order and could not easily mention the organization.

"Indeed, a venomous snake appeared here. Let's move," Zhan Ying agreed, also feeling that the area was compromised. If more snakes appeared, everyone would be in danger. They needed a secure location to rest, prepare to confront the enemies surrounding them, and ensure their survival.

The group relocated. The next morning, they rose early, had a meager breakfast, and prepared to break through the encirclement. However, the outskirts of the Foggy Forest were densely packed with enemies; there was no direction in which they could break out. It was a dead end. The enemies were simply waiting for them to run out of ammunition and food, hoping to force a surrender.

Qin Feng and his comrades would not surrender. They knew the Foggy Forest was perilous, but they refused to give up, surviving on wild game like pheasants they caught within the woods. Three days passed in a flash, yet they found no way out. The situation was increasingly dire.

As night fell, the Foggy Forest plunged into darkness, filled with swirling mists that created an atmosphere of impending doom. Their supply of compressed biscuits was nearly exhausted. The hope of breaking through seemed slim, yet they persisted, knowing that escape was the only way to complete their mission and return home safely.

They sat resting in a dense thicket, careful not to venture deeper into the forest where unknown dangers—man-eating ants, vipers, or wolves—might lurk. The toxic mist hanging over the forest was lethal; they had witnessed many animals, even highly venomous snakes, perish after passing through it. With two thousand enemies surrounding them, their prospects looked grim. The tension was suffocating, like a dark cloud pressing down on a city, and the shifting mist posed a constant, lethal threat.

"This is my fault. My command has been ineffective. I failed to lead everyone to a safe withdrawal," Zhan Ying said, his voice heavy with self-reproach. As their captain, he felt responsible for their desperate predicament.

"Captain, this is not the time for self-reproach," Qin Feng said sternly. "We need to find a way to break through. If we don't, we will be finished by the enemy."

"You're right," Zhan Ying replied, looking at Qin Feng. "Your mind is sharp and creative. Can you think of a way for us to break out together?"

Qin Feng shook his head. "I don't have a good plan yet."

Fei Ying, Hei Lang, and Xue Bao were equally stumped. The atmosphere grew heavier.

"If it comes to it, I'll just charge out and take as many of them with me as I can," Hei Lang declared, his eyes filled with a warrior's resolve.

"Calm down, Hei Lang," Qin Feng urged. "We aren't at the end of our rope yet. The enemies fear the toxic mist of this forest, which is why they haven't charged in. We might still find a way. We must believe we can succeed."

Xue Bao and Fei Ying echoed his sentiments, urging patience and the preservation of their strength. Zhan Ying nodded, agreeing that they must maintain an optimistic outlook, confident that a path to victory would eventually emerge.