Chapter 89: Qin Feng's Decision!

“Aargh!…” The leopard let out a miserable cry, its body convulsing a few times before the cold glint in its eyes faded, leaving only a look of utter unwillingness and disbelief. It could not understand how Qin Feng’s attack could be so ferocious. It had regarded Qin Feng as a feeble creature, yet he displayed terrifying combat prowess. But the leopard would never come to understand this—it was already dead.

“I’ve heard that leopard gall is excellent for courage.” Qin Feng approached the fallen beast, found its gallbladder, cut it out with practiced ease, and swallowed it. He felt nothing unusual. Without delay, he continued on his way, eager to rejoin his comrades and find out how they were faring.

He moved swiftly, his figure a blur among the dense jungle foliage.

After more than two hours, Qin Feng caught sight of Fei Ying’s sudden silhouette emerging from the undergrowth. Delighted, he hurried over. After a brief exchange of greetings, the two men pressed deeper into the forest, soon finding the rest of their brothers hidden in its depths.

As he entered, Qin Feng saw that everyone had concealed themselves in a densely wooded area. The surroundings were lush with vegetation, and above them, branches and leaves had been woven together to form a simple, rainproof shelter. The canopy was so well hidden and camouflaged among the thick trees that it was nearly impossible to spot—perfect for both concealment and protection from the elements.

The group was visibly relieved to see Qin Feng return unharmed. Their faces lit up with joy as they examined him, making sure he was all right. With their worries eased, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief—Qin Feng had made it back safely, and that was cause for celebration in itself.

They all knew that Qin Feng must have faced untold dangers on his way back, but now was not the time to dwell on those perils. What mattered was that he had returned safely.

“Fengzi, now that you’re back unharmed, we can all rest easier. It seems your strength has grown even more. That’s a great thing,” Captain Zhanying remarked with a note of satisfaction. He sensed how much stronger Qin Feng had become, and it pleased him. Then he continued, “Fengzi, as we all know, our situation is extremely dangerous right now. I’d like to hear your opinion: should we withdraw for now, or stay and investigate until we understand what’s really going on?

Fei Ying, you were on watch outside just now and missed our earlier discussion. I’d like to hear your views as well. Let’s pool our wisdom so we can best tackle the problems we’re facing and find the right solution.”

Zhanying believed everyone should take part in the discussion. They were all members of Third Squad, and by working together, they could find the best way forward.

“I think we should definitely stay and get to the bottom of this. Whoever dared to provoke us must pay a heavy price. They must have nerves of steel—or be utterly reckless. We’ll show them just how formidable we are,” Fei Ying said heatedly. He was convinced they should stay and investigate. The thought that someone had tried to exterminate them was intolerable to him.

At that, everyone turned to look at Qin Feng. Of the five men, four had already voiced their support for staying, leaving Qin Feng as the only one yet to speak.

Qin Feng’s thoughts turned to the mercenaries of the Blood Skull Mercenary Corps. He knew these men were no ordinary foes; they were powerful and experienced. This might well be a deadly ambush, perhaps even targeting him personally.

He had fought the Blood Skull mercenaries before and knew their strength. He doubted even Zhanying and the others could stand against them. If Su Yun were here, they might at least stand a chance. But it was clear the Blood Skull Mercenaries had come prepared and likely had good intelligence. They might send a substantial force. If they stayed, his squad would be forced into a passive position and could very well be wiped out by the mercenaries.

“I never expected the Blood Skull Mercenaries to show up. Clearly, they’re here for us. Damn it, I can’t let them get away with this,” Qin Feng thought grimly. The Blood Skull Mercenaries had killed his brothers-in-arms before. Whatever happened, he was determined to destroy them—there could be no peace between them.

If this was a trap, Qin Feng was resolved not to let their scheme succeed.

Thinking of the comrades who had already died, Qin Feng felt a pang of worry for the special forces brothers of Third Squad. Compared to the mercenaries, they were at a disadvantage. If they stayed, the mercenaries might hunt them down, putting everyone at risk.

He was about to urge everyone to withdraw, but when he looked up and saw the determination in their eyes—their refusal to leave without uncovering the truth—he understood their resolve.

“So everyone wants to get to the bottom of this. We’ll have to proceed cautiously, and everyone must be careful,” Qin Feng thought. He knew that caution was the key to survival.

With a wry smile, he said, “Brothers, I understand how you feel, but let me remind you: those people mean us no good, and they are strong and numerous. There may be things we don’t yet know. We don’t have a clear picture of the enemy. In battle, knowing yourself and your enemy is the path to victory. If we attack rashly without understanding their strength, we could pay a heavy price.

Therefore, I suggest we withdraw for now, regroup, and make a plan before facing our enemy.”

“Heh, Fengzi, are you worried? That’s normal,” the others chuckled. To them, it was understandable for a new recruit to hesitate when faced with two thousand enemies in pursuit. If he had insisted on staying, they might have been more concerned. But Qin Feng’s level-headedness reassured them—they knew he was no weakling.

“Fengzi, it’s nothing to be afraid of. They’re just enemies—we can wipe them out,” Fei Ying said, brimming with confidence. He believed that, strong as the enemy might be, they could still be defeated.

Captain Zhanying, seeing Qin Feng’s awkward expression, softened the mood. “Fengzi, you make a good point, and your concerns are understandable. I’ll give it serious thought. If you truly want to withdraw, I can contact headquarters and have a transport helicopter sent for you. You can leave on it, and I’m sure you’ll get home safely.”

Hearing Zhanying’s words, Qin Feng realized his suggestion had not gained much traction. He knew he could not reveal the secret of the Blood Skull Mercenary Corps—not everything could be said openly, and he would face dire consequences if he did. Given the current circumstances, he had no choice but to stay and face the enemy alongside his brothers.