Some people—
May never realize how high he truly is.
Take the so-called 13 noble families and their 26 young masters, for example.
The night before last.
Following Madam Murong's instructions, Caruso castrated them collectively, treated them like pigs and dogs, bandaged them perfunctorily, and threw them into the shipping containers.
They could only weep silently, not daring to utter a single word.
But when the medical team from the Dark Blade unit "took over" to re-dress their wounds, their attitudes changed.
Because the medical team of the Rod team had bandaged them too carelessly, the Dark Blade medical team had to inflict pain on them when re-dressing their wounds. They not only screamed incessantly but even cursed.
Shen Congdao, in particular.
Ignoring the pain, he struggled to raise his hand to slap the medic's face: "Damn it! You hurt me! Don't you know how to dress wounds?"
The medic dodged in time and glared at him angrily.
"Hmph, you, a stinking soldier, dare to glare at me?"
Shen Congdao, already filled with rage from losing his manhood, became furious when he saw the medic dare to glare at him.
The medic, enraged, laughed mockingly: "If it weren't for us stinking soldiers, could we have rescued you from the enemy?"
"Rescuing us is your bounden duty and obligation! But it's not a reason for you to talk back to me!"
Shen Congdao's face contorted, and he lost interest in reasoning with a grunt. He angrily asked, "Where is your leader? Have him come to see us!"
The medic ignored him.
The battle had just ended, and Du Ke had many important matters to attend to. He had no time to see some of the most authentic degenerates.
"Damn it, are you deaf?"
Seeing the medic disregard his request, Shen Congdao, in a fit of rage, grabbed an alcohol bottle and smashed it fiercely at his head.
The medic dodged in time.
*Smash!*
The alcohol bottle fell heavily to the ground.
The medic was furious—
But then he saw Du Junlin appear at the entrance of the shipping container.
He quickly raised his hand in a salute: "Du Ke!"
The others, who were cursing incessantly, were also stunned when they suddenly saw a young beauty standing at the entrance. They instinctively shut their mouths.
Many of their eyes flickered with an instinctive spark.
Like hungry wolves!
They completely forgot that they seemed to have lost something.
Tong Gang, who was accompanying Du Junlin, saw that Shen Congdao and the others were not wearing clothes and quickly reminded her: "Du Ke, do you want to avoid them for now?"
If it were any other girl, she would have certainly avoided them.
But Du Junlin looked at Shen Congdao and let out a rare sneer.
Then she asked Tong Gang in return: "A bunch of half-men, half-women idiots. What right do they have to make me avoid them?"
Tong Gang—
Shen Congdao and the others—
Especially those young masters whose eyes had lit up, their gazes quickly dimmed!
"Xiao Dong."
Du Junlin then said to the several medics, "Since they think your medical skills are not good enough, you don't need to re-dress their wounds anymore."
Xiao Dong and the others, who had already endured enough, immediately agreed, grabbed their first-aid kits, and quickly left.
Shen Congdao and the others were stunned.
"I am their captain."
Du Junlin looked at Shen Congdao and said, "You came to me, what do you need?"
Previously,
Because Du Junlin had always been in Lingnan and rarely went to Sijiu, Shen Congdao and the others did not know her.
However, they could tell that this cold-faced young beauty seemed difficult to deal with.
Especially when Du Junlin frankly called them a bunch of half-men, half-women idiots and withdrew the medical team.
This made Shen Congdao and the others finally realize that they should speak to Du Junlin politely.
"Du Ke, I am Shen Congdao from the Shen family of Sijiu."
Shen Congdao first introduced himself, then said, "Now, on behalf of the 35 injured people (one of whom was killed by Madam Murong), I present you with four reasonable demands."
Du Junlin nodded: "Speak."
"First, when your subordinates dress our wounds, their methods should be more professional."
"Second, help us call those women (the female internet celebrities) over to temporarily serve as nurses."
"Third, please arrange the best vehicles as soon as possible to escort us away from here."
Shen Congdao made three demands in one breath, then finally said, "Fourth!"
His face suddenly became ferocious: "Now, immediately, arrest Madam Murong and await our severe punishment!!"
Upon hearing Madam Murong mentioned, the expressions of the others also changed significantly.
The sound of gritting teeth echoed everywhere.
It was Madam Murong who had deprived them of their qualification to write the glorious chapter of manhood.
Especially on the eve of their rescue!
They swore—
They would tear Madam Murong to shreds alive!!
Hearing Shen Congdao make these four reasonable demands, Du Junlin's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Tong Gang thought that Du Junlin was about to explode.
But to his surprise, Du Junlin nodded: "Okay, I will arrange it for you."
Tong Gang was stunned.
Shen Congdao and the others were overjoyed—
Du Junlin turned around and said, "Tong Gang."
Tong Gang nodded: "Yes."
Du Junlin ordered in a voice that Shen Congdao and the others could clearly hear: "Let the remaining eight male hostages (those not castrated) drive three trucks and send them back to the Eastern Land within an hour. Remember, no one is to escort them. If there is even a minute's delay, I will hold you accountable!"
Tong Gang was immediately stunned.
Looking at Shen Congdao and the others, they all looked as if they had seen a ghost, doubting if their ears were malfunctioning.
Du Junlin looked at Tong Gang and sternly asked, "Did you not hear my order just now?"
Tong Gang shivered and quickly shouted, "Heard it!"
Du Junlin requested: "Repeat my order!"
"Yes!"
Tong Gang's memory was quite good. He immediately repeated the order: "Let the remaining eight male hostages, within an hour, drive three trucks and send them back to the Eastern Land. No one from our side will escort them. If there is even a minute's delay, you will be held accountable by me!"
"Execute it."
Du Junlin said, and then strode away.
"Yes!"
Tong Gang stamped his foot again and replied loudly.
After watching Du Junlin walk away, Tong Gang turned back and looked at the foolish Shen Congdao and the others, sneering slightly: "Heh, you really think of yourselves as heroes? Where did you get the nerve to make demands like this from us? Whether you can return home alive is up to your own luck."
Huh?
How could this be?
This is not what we wanted!
By the time Shen Congdao and the others finally came to their senses, Tong Gang had already brought people with three trucks.
These trucks were left at the camp when the Rod team transported the containers for the sneak attack.
They had canvas covers, which could offer some protection against the cold wind.
But to expect them to be comfortable to ride in was out of the question.
"We're not going!"
"Even if you don't escort us, we'll wait for our families to pick us up!"
"You can't treat us like this!"
"We want to see your lea—"
Shen Congdao and the others' shouts did not stop Tong Gang from commanding his men to roughly lift them onto the trucks, slam the tailgates shut, and then immediately wave to the eight guards to quickly start the vehicles and get lost.
Just as the trucks started, Tong Gang also led the sixth squad, escorting Gao Lingwang and the female internet celebrities in two trucks, and sped out of the camp.
By the time the three trucks also left the camp, Tong Gang's vehicles were already nowhere to be seen.
After handling all of this, Du Junlin picked up the phone and began to call Li Wujiang.
Li Qianfan had been taken away for more than half a day, and she had not dared to call Li Wujiang (as the Rod team's defeat restored communication signals).
She was afraid Li Wujiang would not be able to accept the devastating news.
But some things, after all, could not be kept hidden forever!
"Steward Li—"
As soon as the call was connected, Du Junlin said directly, "Qianfan was taken away by people from the War Demon Temple after her tendons were severed."
In a small forest to the southwest of the Black Water Forest.
Li Wujiang, who had already driven back the fleeing Rod team and was preparing for the next ambush mission, felt his mind go blank upon receiving this call from Du Junlin.
He was stunned.
Although she had already anticipated that Li Qianfan would be in danger when she encountered people from the War Demon Temple, she still couldn't accept it upon receiving Du Junlin's call.
Li Wujiang's mind was a complete blank. She didn't know how long she had been in a daze before slowly hanging up the phone.
Qin Zhou and the others, who had been jubilant, fell silent upon learning that Li Qianfan had surrendered to avoid harming the Dark Blade, and had been injured by some monsters.
"Wujiang."
Li Xingtang walked over and said in a deep voice, "I'll take people to chase Qianfan. If I don't find him, I won't come back!"
Li Wujiang looked up.
Li Xingtang, San Tiao Zhaixing, and the other ten men were ready to depart.
"No."
Li Wujiang took a deep breath and said coldly, "Without my orders, no one is allowed to leave their post without permission."
Zhaixing anxiously shouted, "Madam!"
Li Wujiang abruptly interrupted Zhaixing: "I've said it once, and this is the last time! Without my orders, no one is allowed to leave their respective posts without permission! Otherwise."
Otherwise what?
She didn't say it, but everyone understood what she meant.
Li Xingtang lowered his head.
Zhaixing covered his mouth with his hand, suddenly turned, and ran away.
Li Wujiang's expression was cold.
She looked at Qin Zhou and the others who were silent: "Without my permission, not only is everyone not allowed to leave their posts without permission, but no one is allowed to leak the news of the great victory in the Black Water Forest to the outside world. Otherwise, military law will be applied!"
"Understood!"
Qin Zhou and the others responded with firm voices.
The battle had ended several hours ago, but apart from Su Nanyin, the outside world, including Li Xiao, was still unaware of the situation here.
This was part of the counter-attack plan.
It was specifically coordinated with Zhao Tingshan's negotiation efforts, aimed at delivering a crucial blow to the Rod family.
Li Wujiang was not worried about the fleeing Rod soldiers spreading the news. After all, they had no opportunity to communicate with the outside world when they were suddenly attacked, and they couldn't be expected to carry mobile communication devices while fleeing.
As for when to disseminate the news to the outside world, it would be after they had completely stabilized the situation and contacted Li Xiao's side.
Watching Li Xingtang and the others rush back to their respective combat posts, Li Wujiang bit her lip forcefully and whispered to herself, "Qianfan will definitely be alright. I swear. Really, I swear!"
Would her oath change Li Qianfan's destiny?
Who knew!
The wind began to blow.
A very cold wind.
However, in Sijiu, it was a warm midday sun, just right.
*Ring ring.*
When the phone rang urgently, Su Nanyin, who was lying on the sofa with her hand supporting her chin, lazily opened her eyes.
Just two hours ago, she had received a call from Li Wujiang.
Great victory in the Black Water Forest!
Su Nanyin, who had barely slept for the past few days, could no longer hold on. She didn't even want to go to her bedroom and simply fell asleep on the sofa.
The phone rang.
Su Nanyin lazily rolled over and sat up, grabbing the receiver: "Hello, this is Su Nanyin."
"Mom, it's me."
Du Junlin's voice came from the phone.
Hearing her younger daughter's voice, Su Nanyin smiled and gently asked, "Yaoya, are you done with post-battle matters?"
"Mom—"
Du Junlin suddenly started crying: "I lost Qianfan."