Once the high-levels suspect you, it means that you're not far from death.

Now, the two of them had already truthfully reported the situation here to the higher-ups, and how to deal with it was no longer their concern.

All they could do was wait patiently, wait for the arrival of backup forces.

"Beep beep beep," the sudden sound caused the two people to change their expressions drastically. After exchanging a glance, they simultaneously looked at the display screen.

Nearby, Bald and Thin, out of caution, had set up sensors within a radius of several kilometers.

The earlier sound meant someone was approaching their hiding place. Bald and Thin, seasoned veterans of combat, sprang into action right after their initial shock.

The two of them grabbed the laser guns at hand and picked up a few grenades before jumping out of the gunboat.

They cautiously advanced.

Jiang Cheng and Yanran had already discovered the boat and quietly approached it.

Through the scope on his gun, Bald had already aimed at the approaching figures. At this moment, all he could think about was eliminating the enemy confronting him.

Despite being frightened of their enemies, once they entered combat mode, they suppressed all negative emotions, heightening their senses to face their foes.

It was either the enemy dies, or they do.

There was no other choice.

This is the difference between veterans and newcomers.

With a calm gaze, Bald pulled the trigger.

A beam of light shot out from the bushes, and Jiang Cheng, with quick reflexes, pushed Yanran aside.

At this point, it was evident that Yanran had an extraordinary physique. Although her reaction was just a bit slower than Jiang Cheng's, when he pushed her away, her body formed a remarkable angle in mid-air, and she shot back at the enemy's hiding spot.

The simple arrow penetrated the bushes without making a sound.

Bald gritted his teeth, suppressing the cry that was about to escape into his throat.

Yanran's arrow hit his retreat path. After throwing a grenade, Bald shifted his hiding spot.

His judgment was undoubtedly correct, as a figure appeared just as he left his previous location.

Jiang Cheng knew his opponent was cunning and had vast combat experience, but he didn't let this trouble him. Although defeating his opponent would be simple, he wanted to observe how Yanran dealt with her enemies.

One must have undergone numerous battles to become a true warrior.

Just as Yanran emerged from the bushes, Thin opened fire at her from a nearby spot. Killing the man might be hard, so getting rid of another target seemed more feasible.

However, this time Yanran timely detected the danger, and she leaped gracefully through the air to dodge Thin's shoot. Mid-air, she swiftly shot an arrow at her enemy.

Thin's reactions were notably quicker than Bald's, maybe due to Bald's earlier experience increasing his vigilance, or maybe due to his innate caution. In any case, Yanran's arrow didn't hit him.

Bald and Thin cautiously moved within the bushes. Despite their minimal noise, it was enough for Jiang Cheng and Yanran to understand the enemy's direction.

A faint sound echoed not far from Bald and Thin, prompting both to roll away instinctively, aiming their guns at the source and firing rapidly as leaves scattered wildly.

Unbeknownst to them, Jiang Cheng had already stealthily approached. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Finally, their keen senses picked up the anomaly behind them.

Thin gritted his teeth, pulling out a knife and swinging it backward.

His judgment was accurate; there was indeed someone behind him. What he didn't expect was that this opponent was incredibly formidable.

His knife-wielding hand was seized, powerful enough to nearly shatter the bones in his wrist, causing the knife to drop.

Almost simultaneously with Thin's reaction, Bald was already flipping over. Lying on his back, his gun also aimed at the enemy behind.

With a "thump," an arrow struck deeply into his gun-holding hand from an unknown direction.

The intense pain was unbearable, making him cry out.

The laser gun lost focus, sending a beam shooting into the sky.

Bald and Thin sat dejectedly on the ground, finally exhibiting defeated expressions upon seeing the enemy who eliminated dozens of their men and destroyed two gunboats.

Despite their resistance, Bald and Thin were no match for Jiang Cheng and Yanran; thus, they were now captives.

However, they maintained an air of indifference, despite their fear of the man standing before them.

Such composure stemmed from countless battles; the more you fear the enemy, the more they devise ways to torment you, so it's better to be indifferent to life and death.

In the worst-case scenario, it's only death, so why be afraid?

Thin took out a first aid kit, beginning to bandage Bald's wound.

Bald, a tough guy, endured Thin pulling the arrow out of his palm without uttering a sound, despite breaking into a sweat.

Thin skillfully bandaged Bald, who sat compliantly.

Though their formidable opponent stood right in front of them, they appeared to disregard him.

Jiang Cheng couldn't help but respect these two a bit.

It was apparent there was a deep bond between Bald and Thin, possibly due to their frequent collaborations.

Facing strong adversaries like Jiang Cheng, even as captives, they maintained their courage and composure.

Throughout bandaging, Thin was unhurried, his face calm, exhibiting an earnest demeanor as if he were undertaking something significant.

Jiang Cheng did not rush them, quietly watching as they tidied up.

Thin paused, looked at Jiang Cheng, and voiced his thanks.

Jiang Cheng understood his intentions.

"Tell me the whereabouts of the Little Flaming Firebird, and I'll grant you a path to survival," Jiang Cheng said.

Thin and Bald exchanged a wry smile. They had lost many men in this mission, and their target remained uneliminated. Even if they returned, facing punishment was almost certain.

If they disclosed information to their enemy, their outcome would only be death.