Strongest Soldier King

In the face of danger and with victory yet to be secured, thinking of defeat first is a good thing. Surrounded by enemies, the scholar's concerns were not unfounded. As the leader of a squad, his duties went beyond completing the mission; he had to ensure the safe return of every team member. The weight of this responsibility was indescribable. Luo Zheng glanced at the scholar and understandingly said, "How about this, I'll go into the village alone and catch up with you guys later. A single person has a smaller target and can move more easily, right?"

"There's no difference between one person and five, I don't agree with you going alone and taking the risk." The scholar rejected the idea without hesitation and began studying the map closely, his brows furrowed and his expression solemn.

Luo Zheng knew the scholar's concerns and the pressure he was under, and could not insist further. After all, their objective was the same: to complete the mission effectively. It was merely a divergence in approach that led to different modes of action. Of course, the scholar realized the advantages of entering the village but did not want to take the risk. Luo Zheng chose to comply understandingly. Had it been a more significant issue of principle, Luo Zheng might have pulled rank and assumed command.

Seizing command was easy, but without sufficient reason, it could undermine team unity. Luo Zheng held back on saying anything more before the scholar made an error. After a look from the scholar, he announced, "We'll head ten kilometers north, then east. The route is remote and mountainous—the terrain is complex and good for cover. It should be safe."

"Complex terrain means it's easier to set up an ambush. What if the enemy has prepared one using the landscape?" The gardener voiced his worries and, seeing the scholar pause, continued, "Captain, I'm not questioning your command, just offering a reminder."

"Then we have no other choice but to take a chance. If we follow the original route, we'll encounter two villages. If there are enemy scouts in those villages, our movements could easily be exposed. Even if we stop in a village for supplies, we risk being chased with nowhere to hide. It's better to avoid it and find another opportunity. I can feel that the enemy is targeting us specifically. Are we afraid no one will come knocking on our door?" the scholar explained.

Everyone found his reasoning sound and stopped insisting. Though Luo Zheng had different views, these were only personal conjectures untested by reality. He thus withheld his opinions. The team detoured northwards. After about two hours, the mountains grew more numerous, their heights varied, and indeed, the terrain had become much more complex.

Luo Zheng surveyed the terrain closely; the mountain ridges were jagged with rocks, and wind swirled dust into the air. No grass could be seen on the mountainsides. The lifelessness of the place weighed on him; without any prey, hunger would become a significant problem by evening.

As others observed the environment, they too thought of food, but no one mentioned it outright. Instead, they exchanged looks with the scholar and continued to march swiftly. The scholar had many worries and a bitter expression. Having chosen this route to ensure everyone's safety and give the farmer more time to recover, he understood the gravity of their potential predicament.

"Captain, don't worry. There's always a way," Luo Zheng reassured the scholar in a low voice after hurrying over to his lagging position. At this point, saying anything to upset feelings would only harm unity.

"Thank you for your support," the scholar said, grateful.

"Ratatat!" Suddenly, gunfire erupted ahead. Both men were shocked. Looking up, they saw the gardener, the point man, taking cover behind a hill and exchanging fire with someone. Enemies ambushed from both sides of the only passable route, numbering nearly a hundred by the sound of it, took advantage of the terrain and pinned the gardener down, creating a perilous situation.

"No good, it's an ambush! Quick, take up positions for sniper cover and prepare to retreat!" the scholar's complexion changed drastically as he decisively gave orders. He ran forward, firing his gun and shouting, "Brothers, give cover fire, Gardener, quick, retreat!"

Realizing the scholar's intentions, the team charged forward to claim advantageous ground and suppress the enemy's fire. Luo Zheng also didn't dare delay and charged towards a slightly higher slope. The steep terrain did not slow him down—in an emergency, he could not afford to waste time and pushed himself to the limit in his sprint.

"Whoosh!" A bullet whizzed by, burying itself into the ground behind him, exploding into a crater. Luo Zheng instantly knew from the noise; it was a sniper bullet. His face paled. He leapt to the ground, rolled behind a mound of dirt, and, keeping close to it, tried to pinpoint the source of the gunfire. Aside from the regular assault weapon shots, there were no further sniper bullet sounds, which made him tense.

On the battlefield, a silent sniper is more intimidating than one who fires. Luo Zheng thought of the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group, the only ones capable of having such a skilled sniper. Unwilling to expose himself, but with the anxiety of his comrades being targeted, he took off his bulletproof helmet and threw it to one side.

"Whoosh—bang!" The sniper rifle sounded; the bullet hit the bulletproof helmet with a dull thud.

Luo Zheng's face turned grim. The enemy was indeed a sharpshooter—fast and eerily precise. The helmet he had thrown wasn't moving slowly, and despite the suddenness, the enemy had still managed a direct hit. If it had been him, he would have been shot in the head by now. What to do?

"Ratatat!" Intense gunfire rained from ahead. Without looking, Luo Zheng knew that more enemies had arrived, forcing the gardener into an encirclement, with the others soon to follow. Enemies, including a sniper, were present—if they didn't break free quickly, none would escape.

"Brother, take down that machine gun!" shouted the scholar.

Hearing the command, Luo Zheng knew it was directed at him. Desperate to open fire but wary of the sniper who lay hidden like a viper, Luo Zheng could only estimate a general direction. One wrong move could mean death. As he listened to the continuous gunfire around him, frustration clenched his jaw.

"Stay calm, you must stay calm," Luo Zheng reminded himself. He cautiously peeked from one side, then quickly retreated. In a hurried glance, he saw his comrades suppressed by fire, struggling to survive, let alone help the Gardener. Luckily, the gardener managed to shrink into a depression, with bullets ravaging the area around him, posing no immediate danger to his life for the moment.

With an understanding of the battlefield situation, Luo Zheng grew even more anxious. Gritting his teeth, he took a chance. With a mighty push, he propelled himself forward as if shot from a cannon, covering over ten meters. In this dire moment, he tapped into his full potential. After hitting the ground with a roll, before he could steady himself, he felt an overwhelming sense of danger and forced himself to hustle several more steps.