A large area of bushes was instantly illuminated. Two forklifts drove over, one clearing the path in front, the other crushing everything in its wake, creating an open space several meters wide.
All the security guards quickly lined up, standing by the wall.
I knew that group was staring at us, ready to attack at any moment.
The machines continued to shuttle back and forth, soon clearing a large open area.
As the area of bushes shrank, the time for confrontation drew nearer.
I asked a security guard to fetch a handheld megaphone that would be used at the venue tomorrow. I then shouted into the remaining shrubbery, which was about an acre in size, "I don't care who you are. If you want to fight, come out quickly. If you don't, leave now. I am definitely clearing out your hiding place today. Go back and tell your master that you can mess with me, but don't play dirty. Come at me openly, and I'll face you anytime!"
I continued, "Our personnel will retreat. We'll give you ten minutes. When the time is up, our machines will clear the last plot. You can decide whether to fight or leave now."
There was no movement from inside. I watched my watch and started the countdown.
Time ticked by, but the woods remained silent and still.
Five minutes into the countdown, no one emerged. Six minutes, still no one.
At nine minutes, with only tens of seconds left in the countdown.
I picked up the microphone again and shouted into the bushes, "Last thirty seconds. If you don't come out, it will be considered a surrender. I keep my word, and I won't act until the very last second!"
Just as I thought they had given up on fighting and were about to have the heavy forklifts clear the bushes, forty to fifty people suddenly rushed out. They were all dressed in black and, though unarmed, adopted a fierce stance like tigers descending a mountain, fanning out to surround us.
I hadn't expected so many people to be hiding there. Our group numbered only about twenty, and we were at a disadvantage in both numbers and skill.
Without putting down the microphone, I quickly motioned to the two forklifts and ordered them to start, revving their engines and charging into the crowd.
No matter how fierce these people were, they couldn't stand against machines. The forklifts sped forward, throwing them into disarray. Many stopped advancing and retreated into the woods to avoid the machines.
I instructed the security guards to engage the first wave of attackers, while the forklifts continued to move, blocking their advance.
This was a real-life human-machine battle. Under the glare of powerful spotlights, the machines charged wildly, and the men in black scrambled for cover, while our security guards fought with all their might. The scene was chaotic, filled with the sounds of battle.
Indeed, as I had feared, our men were no match for them. Even though some were held back by the machines, our people were still being forced to retreat by the attackers.
If my guess was correct, these people were subordinates of Wu Guodong. Having failed to gain an advantage against me last time, they had sent so many people this time, all top fighters, aiming for a decisive blow.
If it hadn't been for Zhou Yingying's absence raising my suspicions, they might have waited until the dead of night in the woods to completely destroy the raw stone base.
Perhaps Principal Sun and Zhou Yingying believed this plan was foolproof, so they allowed Zhou Yingying to leave Lanya, formally parting ways with us.
Unexpectedly, her departure exposed their weakness and disrupted their plan.
Wen Siqiang had not fully recovered from his injuries, so I kept him out of the fight. I gave him a walkie-talkie and told him to contact the security captain and mobilize reinforcements to this location.
I continued to direct this human-machine battle with the megaphone.
The forklift drivers were also commendable, driving their machines like tanks, maneuvering left and right, and crashing through, effectively blocking over twenty men in black from advancing from the woods.
However, on our side, even though only half the attackers had broken through, our security guards were still outmatched. Our men were gradually tiring, and several had been knocked down. Those still standing could only defend, not counterattack.
If the fight continued, it was estimated that all twenty-odd security guards would be defeated.
I was calculating the time. Within five minutes, reinforcements from within the area would arrive.
Just then, Wen Siqiang ran up to me with the walkie-talkie, saying urgently, "There are also dozens of their people inside. The captain said he can't spare many men, and over ten have already arrived."
My head buzzed. As expected, they were prepared. Before we arrived, a group had already scaled the wall. It seemed Principal Sun's calculation was correct; we would either die or lose a significant part of our strength this time.
By this count, they had sent at least a hundred people, more than enough to deal with our group of just over a hundred.
Originally, we had nearly three hundred people. Some were deployed at the reception, leaving about a hundred and fifty to sixty people.
With them facing three to four of us each, they had more than enough.
Now, our only savior was Dakui bringing people from the reception. Fighting with our current numbers, it wouldn't take long for us to be routed.
I took out my phone and dialed Dakui, asking if he could return immediately and informing him that there was trouble here.
He said the reception was not yet over, but he would bring a group over first.
Even if they came immediately, it would take at least twenty minutes. And in those twenty minutes, too many variables could occur, and they could subdue us at any moment.
This was an unequal confrontation. A hundred well-trained fighters against a group of ordinary people – the disparity was glaringly obvious.
I silently urged our brothers to hold on a little longer, at least until Dakui arrived.
What I dreaded most happened. One of the forklifts suddenly stalled and stopped moving. The driver waved frantically from inside, and I understood his meaning: they were out of fuel.
The other forklift was struggling to continue. I feared that it too would suddenly run out of gas, and our defensive line would completely collapse. If they managed to join forces with the people inside, even if Dakui arrived with reinforcements, it would be difficult for us to subdue them.
Only by defeating them in separate engagements could we have a chance of winning.
I told Wen Siqiang to return to the area and inform Master Zhang and the others to bring any operational forklifts or tow trucks and to charge them with all their might.
Wen Siqiang responded and ran back to the area. At that moment, over a dozen security guards emerged from the area and quickly joined the battle. Despite the power imbalance, not a single one of our men retreated; they charged forward with all their might.
This was a fight to the death. I was truly moved by our brothers. They knew that charging in meant injury, perhaps even death, yet they charged in without hesitation.
Those attackers delivered each punch silently, like soulless machines, brutally attacking our brothers. I watched as our men fell one by one, and the number of those still standing dwindled.
I was extremely anxious. At this rate, we wouldn't last much longer.