Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Intelligence Was Wrong!

“This time, I will complete the mission.” Qin Feng silently vowed to himself. He felt a newfound confidence, a sense that this time, he would fulfill his duty more thoroughly, paving the way for so many things he longed to accomplish.

About three minutes later, a warning came through the wireless earpiece—Fei Ying’s voice, alerting them of the enemy’s possible approach. Instantly, everyone was on high alert, nerves stretched taut. They all knew the true battle was about to begin, and it would be a fierce one. Only by annihilating the enemy could they consider their mission truly complete, and truly protect more lives.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, the kind of silence that betrayed the tension in the air. Aside from the gentle rustling of leaves stirred by the wind, there was no other sign of life. It was a calm so profound it felt dangerous—the stillness before the storm.

A mountain eagle suddenly called out, flapping its wings as it soared skyward, disappearing within a few heartbeats as if it had never been there at all.

Soon, a group appeared in their line of sight. At first glance, they looked like a peaceful caravan hurrying along a mountain path. But a closer look revealed that each rider carried weapons slung across their backs, and their saddlebags too bulged with arms. This was no ordinary caravan, but a band of heavily armed, ruthless bandits—the very group Qin Feng and his team were hunting.

A mounting sense of danger welled up within Qin Feng. It was a visceral warning, a true premonition that something was wrong, a threat that was almost imperceptible but very real. He wondered if a sniper had fixed him in their sights. If so, the danger was grave, and he would have to be extra cautious to avoid being picked off and to survive, so that he could complete the mission alongside his comrades.

The caravan drew nearer, its members scanning their surroundings with wary eyes, clearly prepared for combat at a moment’s notice. It seemed they planned to pass through this area for some unknown purpose.

Qin Feng’s gaze lingered on a particular spot where the crowd was thinner and the activity subdued. He sensed this was where Chuck, the third-in-command of the bandits, might be hiding. Recalling the photograph he’d seen of Chuck, he was convinced the man there—tall, with a straw hat, a prominent nose, and sharp, triangular eyes—was indeed the one they sought.

“Everyone, get ready. Watch for the third leader of the enemy. Be prepared to open fire at any moment. This is how we’ll best fight and complete our mission,” Warhawk’s voice came quietly over the earpiece, urging everyone to prepare.

“Understood,” came the collective reply.

Qin Feng focused on Chuck, observing him closely. He used his earpiece to relay, “Seven o’clock direction—everyone check. That tall man with the straw hat and hooked nose, sharp eyes—is that Chuck?”

“Yes, that’s the one. Feng, get ready. Take the shot as soon as you have the chance,” Warhawk instructed.

“Understood,” Qin Feng replied.

The forest was deathly still. Controlling his breathing, Qin Feng suppressed his presence, careful not to betray a hint of killing intent. He knew Chuck was no ordinary foe—dealing with such an opponent required the utmost subtlety. A single slip, the slightest leak of murderous intent, and Chuck might sense it and evade the fatal shot.

He visualized himself as part of the jungle, gradually merging with his surroundings.

The group pressed forward, moving with utmost caution, prepared for unexpected danger at every step.

After a while, Qin Feng felt the forest’s silence deepen. He took aim at Chuck, glanced at the foliage to gauge the humidity and wind, and instantly unleashed a lethal aura—like a blade unsheathed. Without hesitation, he squeezed the trigger.

A sniper bullet tore through the air, shrieking as it cut forward.

In that instant, Chuck collapsed to the ground.

The sudden attack threw the bandits into chaos. Some scattered in panic, others fired wildly in all directions, desperate to escape the ambush.

“Target hit,” Qin Feng reported through his earpiece.

“Well done,” Warhawk responded. “Everyone, prepare for the next wave of bandits.”

“Yes!” came the reply. The battle had begun in earnest, and now they would fight with all their might.

Suddenly, before Qin Feng could reengage, another gunshot rang out.

“A sniper round?” Qin Feng’s face changed. He could distinguish the unique sound of a sniper bullet from an ordinary shot. Then, with a metallic clang, he saw his helmet fly off, spinning more than a meter away before coming to rest.

“So there is a sniper after all,” Qin Feng thought, alarmed. Fortunately, his instincts had told him to change positions after each shot; otherwise, he would have been taken out.

“Thank goodness I was cautious,” he thought, relieved. If not, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

“What’s going on?” Snow Wolf’s voice crackled in his ear, picking up on the commotion.

“Captain, there’s a sniper!” Qin Feng urgently reported to Warhawk.

“What? Are you sure, Feng?” Warhawk was shocked. If there really was an enemy sniper, it meant they were facing an ambush, and the situation was dire.

“I’m sure. Luckily I pulled a fast one, or I’d be dead by now. I think we’re in a dangerous spot. The enemy could attack at any moment—we need to be careful,” Qin Feng warned, convinced that only by staying alert could they survive, fight, and complete their mission.

“Feng is right—everyone, stay sharp,” Warhawk said, recognizing the gravity of the situation.

Suddenly, a barrage of gunfire erupted as the bandits in the canyon split up, diving into the surrounding jungle and launching fierce attacks in all directions. They were no longer fleeing in confusion; they were fighting back with ferocity.

“Damn it, the enemy hasn’t lost their nerve after all. They’re about to launch an all-out assault. Be careful, everyone—absolutely careful, understand?” Warhawk ordered.

“Understood,” the team replied.

Another sniper shot whistled through the air, striking Qin Feng’s ghillie suit. He recognized the sound instantly—the enemy was using armor-piercing rounds, capable of penetrating even a bulletproof vest. If he took a direct hit, he would be dead.

“What a ruthless sniper,” Qin Feng thought, realizing his opponent was deadly precise.

Again, a bullet tore into his ghillie suit.

“Bastard, I finally found you. I never thought you’d hide there,” Qin Feng said to himself, spotting the enemy sniper in a patch of tall grass atop a vantage point, nearly impossible to detect.

He didn’t fire immediately, choosing instead to watch the situation unfold. From what he could tell, this sniper was commanding the battlefield, orchestrating the chaos after Chuck’s death.

Meanwhile, the bandits below intensified their assault, attacking relentlessly.

Qin Feng understood the role of a sniper—to control the battlefield. The enemy sniper knew this as well, which was why he targeted Qin Feng first. By eliminating him, the enemy could dominate the fight and pick off the rest of the team one by one.

“This enemy is no ordinary foe,” Qin Feng thought, breaking into a cold sweat. He quickly said, “Captain, something’s wrong. This could be a trap. We need to retreat now, or we’ll be in real danger.”

“I know. Damn it, our intel was wrong. Still, we accomplished half our mission by taking out their third-in-command. Now, listen to me: withdraw, all of you, and stay sharp! I won’t let these bastards get away with this—I’ll get to the bottom of it,” Warhawk said angrily. The mission had taken a disastrous turn, but he was determined not to let the enemy win.