Chapter 151 150. Mysterious Thunder Zone
The boy north of the shrubbery.
The Second Group Army field soldiers south of the shrubbery.
They gazed at each other.
Neither could understand why the shrubbery and Mimosa Plants, through which the other had passed smoothly, turned into deadly weapons when they tried to cross.
Not everyone had a teacher like Uncle Li Dong, nor did everyone have the privilege to explore the Taboo Land leisurely like him.
The boy retracted step by step, fading back into the dim forest.
At one point, Qing Huai felt the boy looked familiar, yet couldn't recall where he had seen him before.
It was as if he had missed some crucial detail in his life.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Cao Wei concluded, "Commander, the opponent indeed knows too many rules."
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After a moment of thought, Qing Huai said, "Now I understand why they arranged for me to undertake a mission in Taboo Land 002. It turns out there's someone familiar with the rules waiting for me here."
After pondering, Cao Wei said, "However, I have a doubt. The opponent doesn't seem to be a Transcendent. I was very close to him recently. Judging from the strength in his legs and his cardio load, this is absolutely undeniable."
This observation was indeed exceptionally accurate from Cao Wei.
Yet it was exactly this that made him even more puzzled: a boy, not even a Transcendent, had used the rules to kill over seventy of their men, one after another. This dissonance made it all seem incomprehensible.
Then everyone would internally ask the question, "Why?"
With calm, Qing Huai inquired, "Cao Wei, how is the Thunder Zone you were supposed to set up?"
The way Qing Huai addressed him subtly shifted with his growing impatience.
Cao Wei faltered for a moment, "It's set up, Commander."
Qing Huai nodded, "All units, lift the communication silence, open the communication channels. Cao Wei, take over command and drive him into the Thunder Zone. I've experienced the rules of Taboo Land 002, let him experience the rules of the Federal Group's army."
"Received," Cao Wei swiftly led his men around the shrubs like a cheetah.
Over the communication channel, Cao Wei's voice transmitted, "First platoon, move to the two o'clock direction, Second platoon, I need you to reach the A21 area at four o'clock within 20 minutes, Seventh platoon..."
Prior to arriving, they had already marked the entire Taboo Land on the tactical map, divided into zones A1-A50 and B1-B50 for easier command.
These markings were originally made by Cao Wei just in case a chase ensued within the Taboo Land.
It was a habit and military disposition of a commander, but he had not expected it to actually prove useful.
The full field troop unfolded like a net under command.
Like a pack of wolves hunting elk during winter.
The pack would spread out, driving the elk forward.
They were not in a rush to attack their prey, as an elk charging in panic could cause injury.
At such moments, a patient hunter only needs to calmly wait for the elk to plunge into a thinly iced lake, to freeze or drown to death.
Only when the ice thawed in the next spring, would the pack return to enjoy their feast.
"Seventh platoon, move to sector A37, do not engage the target."
"Second platoon, move to sector A35, do not engage the target."
Over the communication channel, Cao Wei's voice, mixed with a faint crackle of electricity,
he issued order after order, yet never closed the net.
Knowing the opponent understood more rules, it was better not to allow him any opportunity to leverage those rules.
No need to rush, Cao Wei knew as soon as the prey entered the Thunder Zone, everything would be over.
The next moment, a soldier suddenly reported, "The target has entered the Thunder Zone!"
Cao Wei immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and Qing Huai laughed over the communication channel, "Brother Cao Wei, no wonder you rose so rapidly in the past. The art of command could surely make many people admire you."
But the next moment, they suddenly felt that something was amiss.
Because no explosion had occurred.
Cao Wei asked coldly over the communication channel, "Where is the target now?"
"The target is speeding through the Thunder Zone without triggering any explosive mines!"
"The target's speed has not slowed down, sir. The second platoon's movement is blocked by the Thunder Zone, should we detour?"
At that moment, Cao Wei and Qing Huai exchanged glances, while Qing Chen in the Thunder Zone was completely focused.
He had been here before.
Uncle Li Dong had spent two days familiarizing him with the environment and terrain at the edge of Taboo Land.
It was only after two days, when Qing Huai and the others entered what he considered the most suitable area, that Qing Chen began to kill.
If the enemy thought that laying mines here would give them home advantage,
they were wrong.
For others, being familiar with the environment might mean knowing where there was a mountain, where there was a river, where there was a mound, and what type of plants were there.
But for Qing Chen, the environment he was familiar with was…
Every single tree.
Every single stone.
The fallen leaves on the ground were like the textures on a giant's skin, the growing trees were like hair on the giant's body, while the boulders were moles.
At one moment, Qing Chen even felt as if this giant was kindly watching over him.
Thus, every detail of this place was in Qing Chen's mind.
If it did not match his memory, then something was wrong.
To bury explosive mines, one must alter the environment; even if a mine was only the size of a palm, no matter how much camouflage was done, even if the ground looked very natural, in Qing Chen's mind, if it was wrong, it was wrong.
He effortlessly avoided every mine, and, with the astonished gazes of the field troops upon him, he moved swiftly across the Thunder Zone as if he had a "God's perspective"!
Qing Huai asked Cao Wei, "How many explosive mines did you bury in that area?"
"41, sir. We carried a base of 50 mines in total," Cao Wei explained.
Qing Huai frowned. That young man did not seem to have any mechanical limbs, so how could he have anticipated and avoided all the mines?!
"Do we continue the pursuit?" Cao Wei asked.
Qing Huai looked at him and said, "Cao Wei, you haven't been using your full strength, have you?"
At this moment, the elite from the federation finally dropped his disguise and no longer addressed him as a brother.
As a C-Class Expert and the champion of the military competition twice, how could Cao Wei possibly find it so difficult to chase down an ordinary young man?
Qing Huai continued, "I know you have reservations, fearing that the other party has mastered some deadly rules. But you must realize, with such a person around, we can't continue to progress into the heartland. If I miss the opportunity to execute this mission, the main and secondary houses will not give me another chance.
If I have to bow out of the Shadow Conflict, the rank you have lowered to me will have been for naught."
Cao Wei took a deep breath and said over the communication channel, "First platoon, second platoon, chase him at full speed, I will follow immediately, we must kill him before it gets dark. Seventh platoon, I want you to reach area A48 ahead of time to set up the blockade, I will personally drive him there!"
Qing Huai smiled and patted his shoulder, "Brother Cao Wei, I'm watching closely."
However, just then, someone said over the communication channel, "Sir, the first platoon following him has discovered a new situation, that young man is somewhat peculiar."
Peculiar?
...
Chapter Three, please ensure a minimum amount of monthly tickets