Leaving the lowest-level cabins, everyone gathered in a spacious activity area on the upper deck.
Deng Hui walked up to Song Qiao and said, "Brother Qiao, I really have to thank you for escorting me this time."
"My life is in your hands."
Song Qiao grinned, finding the kid more and more likeable.
He even joked with Deng Hui in front of Mo Ling.
He slung an arm around Deng Hui's shoulder and said lewdly, "I told you not to be so polite. Just make sure your sister sends me some enthusiastic selfies later."
"Preferably the ones where she's wearing less!"
Deng Hui smiled slightly at this, not feeling embarrassed or angry at all.
It was clear he knew Song Qiao's relationship with his sister was unusual, and he even nodded in agreement.
"Cough cough!"
But while Deng Hui didn't mind, not everyone could take it so casually.
At least Mo Ling coughed heavily at this moment and glared fiercely at Song Qiao.
Song Qiao chuckled and whispered to Deng Hui, "This girl hasn't been on a boat before, she might be seasick. It's nothing."
After about an hour's voyage, the merchant ship everyone was on smoothly reached the other shore.
The journey was unimpeded, with no obstacles.
This was quite normal, as they were still within the boundaries of Modu.
With the strength of the Shan Shui team and the cautious nature of the Guo family, they wouldn't choose to act in such a place.
Firstly, it wouldn't be conducive to setting up ambushes in advance.
Secondly, the commotion would be too great.
After all, Modu was undoubtedly a first-tier metropolis in the country.
Publicly attacking a mission from the Security Department in such a place would inevitably attract the attention of the real big shots.
By then, no matter how strong the Guo family was, they would likely be doomed!
Before disembarking, they saw several empty cars waiting on the opposite bank.
Mo Ling instructed everyone, "Go pick out some handy weapons to take with you on the road."
"This is going to be the most dangerous part of the journey!"
Although everyone understood that the road ahead was fraught with peril, there wasn't a trace of fear on their faces.
Song Qiao picked up a few guns and put them in the trunk, somewhat puzzled about where the remaining weapons in the cabin would be taken.
Mo Ling's explanation was equally domineering.
"Anything procured by the Security Department naturally belongs to the Security Department!"
"Let's go. With the Guo family's capabilities, they're sure to figure out our escape route."
"There will be an ambush on the road, so everyone be careful."
Song Qiao chuckled at this, "No wonder you were able to rescue Deng Hui so smoothly."
"So they were planning to intercept us midway!"
Mo Ling simply shook her head at Song Qiao's conspiracy theory and replied frankly,
"I don't know if that's really their plan."
"Then what do you know?" Song Qiao teased.
"I just take the mission."
Everyone got into the cars. Mo Ling drove Song Qiao and Deng Hui.
Wei Feng and the other two followed closely behind.
After nearly another hour of driving, the car stopped in front of a lush, verdant mountain.
The mountain road was impassable, so they had to proceed on foot.
Everyone took their firearms from the trunk, fully armed and ready to enter the mountain!
Song Qiao looked at the lush scenery before him, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Then he said softly, "It's a good place for an ambush!"
"Stay vigilant after entering the mountain and be careful not to be ambushed by the enemy."
The group spread out and moved forward, tightly surrounding Song Qiao and Deng Hui in the middle.
As they advanced, their figures quickly disappeared into the vastness of the mountain.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, they arrived inside a dense forest.
The light around them had completely dimmed.
Everyone held their flashlights, continuing to walk with some difficulty.
Wei Feng stepped forward and then abruptly retracted his foot as if shocked.
"Boss, something's not right!"
"Shhh~"
Song Qiao raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence.
He carefully observed the surroundings again and whispered a reminder to everyone.
"Turn off your flashlights and don't speak for now."
"I've also noticed something unusual."
At this moment, everyone's minds became extremely focused, and they all possessed extensive experience in outdoor activities.
If one person sensed something was wrong, others could usually react immediately.
The group hastily retreated a few steps, vigilantly scanning the dense forest ahead.
The forest was extremely dense, with thick branches and leaves spreading across the sky like a canopy.
They almost completely blocked out the sky above.
The dim light wasn't the strange part.
It was because Song Qiao noticed that the terrain ahead was surprisingly flat!
Moreover, Song Qiao twitched his nose and easily smelled the scent of freshly turned earth.
Yet, the ground underfoot was still relatively dry, indicating no recent rainfall in the forest.
Morning mist alone couldn't create such an aroma!
Just as Song Qiao was certain that there was an ambush ahead, a muffled "boom" sounded!
Immediately after, everyone could hear a sharp, grating sound.
Looking up abruptly, they saw a flare slowly ascending into the sky!
With an intensity of 300,000 candlepower, it illuminated the entire forest.
The previously sky-obscuring dense forest was suddenly bathed in light as if it were daytime!
Mo Ling gritted her teeth and growled, "They're coming!"