Chapter 850: Chapter 850: Dig Three Feet Deep
Wang Zhenggang led a company of soldiers directly to a barrack within the base. This base, located in the mountainous outskirts of Huacheng, was originally an airport. However, due to terrain limitations, its function is now very limited.
Therefore, this base has been remodeled into a special operations training base and is stationed with a regiment, as well as numerous logistics and technical personnel to ensure the implementation of the Vanguard Plan.
"Commander."
"Is everyone in the barrack?"
"Yes, Commander, everyone is inside."
Wang Zhenggang turned around and ordered: "Surround this barrack for me, not even a fly is allowed to escape."
"Yes, sir!"
The guard company that came with Wang Zhenggang immediately tightly sealed off the barracks, with a man every three steps, and a sentry every five steps.
"The rest of you, go inside and count the headcount for me."
"Yes, sir!"
The other soldiers rushed into the barracks to start counting heads, while Wang Zhenggang waited in the courtyard outside for the results.
In less than a minute, the soldiers reporting in the headcount started to arrive, and the person in charge of compiling the count took a deep breath after recounting.
"How many?"
"Twenty-nine."
The clerk looked at this number: "Commander, let me recount."
Wang Zhenggang waved his hand: "What’s there to count in single-digit arithmetic like this? It was Wu Tian’s cleverness; otherwise, this time, we would have really been a joke."
"Pass down the order to seal off the base. Conduct a thorough search class by class. I refuse to believe the intruder could have grown wings and flown away."
Since the intruder managed to infiltrate the base, they must be dug out even if it means turning the place upside down, Wang Zhenggang declared fiercely.
"Yes, Commander."
With Wang Zhenggang’s order, the whole base became restless. This was their territory, and having a mouse sneak in was a slap in the face; they had to find the intruder.
The Falcon team, however, was unaffected, continuing to escort the contestants back. Half an hour later, all but Li Feng of the remaining thirty-five contestants were brought into the base.
"No results yet?"
"Reporting to the old leader, not yet. But as long as the intruder is in this base, I will definitely dig him out."
Wang Zhenggang’s temper had a hint of persistence.
The old leader shook his head: "Even half an hour has passed, and you still haven’t found him. Given half a day more, you might still not succeed."
"You don’t even know how the intruder got into the base; how can you search?"
"Old leader, give me another half hour. Unless the intruder can fly, I will definitely dig him out," Wang Zhenggang said, his face dark.
"Since you’re so grimly determined, I’ll give you another half hour. As for the other contestants, gather them at the venue first."
The old leader nodded.
Wang Zhenggang turned around, looking at Wu Tian: "Release all the drones. Lock down the entire base. I want no blind spots in the whole base. Also, search every building and even the ground in the base."
"This is our territory. If a mouse sneaks in, it’s already a great humiliation. If it can hide right under our noses, then it’s negligence."
With a serious expression, Wang Zhenggang spoke, and the technical staff in the command center felt it deeply, with a few female techs inside cursing Li Feng under their breath.
What kind of person is he, becoming a live-in son-in-law, isn’t living off others good enough for him?
Why must he cause trouble outside?
Meanwhile, the contestants temporarily arranged in the barracks were also brought out to the field, where soldiers directly removed the black masks from their heads and untied the ropes.
Once released.
The contestants began to stir uneasily.
"This seems like a guard base."
Li Bielang glanced around, especially at the runway not far ahead, where a few planes were still visible, and around them, many soldiers were searching everywhere like locust swarms.
Moments later, a car pulled up not far away, Hua Jiufeng got off the car.
"It’s Master."
"Senior Sister, the one next to Master is your father, right?"
"Yes!"
Huang Shuyao nodded. The Huang family and the Hua family have been family friends for years. Back then, Hua Jiufeng also participated in the Guard, and was in the same class as her father. However, Hua Jiufeng later retired to take over the family business, while her father stayed in the Guard.
The contestants saw Hua Jiufeng and knew they had guessed correctly; this was the arrangement of the organizing committee.
"Old Hua, we are here for the Martial Arts Tournament, not for some game. What exactly are you guys playing at in this organizing committee?"
Someone immediately burst out below, after all, having a gun pointed at their head and being tied up like a dumpling is not a pleasant experience.
"Exactly, we need an explanation."
Hua Jiufeng walked to the front of the crowd, not using a microphone, and straightforwardly addressed the noisy contestants below with authoritative energy.
"I won’t explain anything. Maybe some of you feel wronged, having a gun pointed at your head, being tied up with ropes, and having a head cover. You’re here to compete, so what’s going on?"
"If anyone feels this way is insulting you, you can quit."
"It’s still not too late to quit now, because the upcoming top thirty-six battle isn’t just about arena martial strength skirmishes."
"And today was just a little appetizer. You will face greater challenges that are unknown, and only the strongest can make it to the end."
Hua Jiufeng said, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue: "I’ll give you three minutes to consider. Within these three minutes, those who wish to withdraw can turn and leave. There’s already a car waiting back there to take you directly back."
The contestants exchanged glances with each other.
Withdraw?
Impossible.
They had worked so hard to make it to the top thirty-six, aiming to fight for the top ten and enter the national contest. How could they back down here?
"What are those old guys in the organizing committee thinking, exactly!"
"Isn’t it obvious? We might have to experience training in the coming days. Haha, joining the National Martial Arts Tournament and needing training."
"Absurd."
One person chuckled sarcastically. Strange things happen all the time, but this year, there seem to be more of them.
Especially with these old antiques, who still insist on switching competitions instead of traditional martial arts bouts; it’s truly disorienting.
"Training?"
"It probably has a real possibility. But what does it have to do with our competition?"
"You’re asking me; I’m asking who? Just watch. The organizing committee’s antics won’t be scarce."
Below, the discussions were lively, but as for withdrawing, no one actually chose to.
Since ancient times, there’s never been a number one in literature, nor a number two in martial arts. Leaving now would only prove incompetence.
The greater the challenge, the more they must fight.
"Time’s up. Has no one chosen to withdraw?"
Hua Jiufeng glanced downward, a faint smile on his lips; it was all in his calculations. They were practitioners, and he knew their character well. Even cowards wouldn’t make it into the top thirty-six.
"So now there’s still one person missing."
Hua Jiufeng picked up a loudspeaker, tapping it, his voice booming.
"Li Feng, if you don’t show up within ten minutes, I will directly cancel your competition qualification."
ps: Second update, five updates today, starting in November to work hard, guaranteeing five updates, asking for rewards.