According to Lone Wolf's intelligence, those people were rushing with Shen Wuyou, heading in the direction of the cliff.
The cliff was named thus because it resembled a precipice split by an ax, extremely dangerous, and indeed a good place to murder and discard bodies.
As Qin Ningyi, leading the Liu family contingent, entered the cliff territory, they encountered several other vehicles speeding along the winding mountain road.
Seeing their formation, the other party left a few cars to parallel them. In a deserted area, they stopped their vehicles in front of Qin Ningyi's convoy.
Qin Ningyi squinted at their cars, noting the absence of any special markings.
"Young Master Qin, we..." the driver in front furrowed his brow, maneuvering the car to avoid a collision.
"Stop," Qin Ningyi had a guess forming in his mind. Given the current situation, stopping was inevitable if they didn't force a confrontation.
All of Qin Ningyi's cars came to a halt, and everyone inside was secretly on guard. At this point in time, for any convoy to be at the cliff, they found it hard to imagine any other purpose.
"Get out," a fully protected individual approached his window, their stern voice muffled through the masked respirator.
Qin Ningyi glanced at where the other party was holding their weapon, then looked at their complete protective gear. These individuals appeared to be quite young...
His guess grew stronger. Qin Ningyi then rolled down his window, meeting the other's gaze. "Hello."
The other party stared at him with sharp eyes. A flicker of confusion crossed their face. They looked back at someone behind them, who immediately leaned in and whispered something into their ear upon meeting their gaze.
"Mm." The leader responded with a soft affirmation after hearing the whispered words. When they looked back at Qin Ningyi, the coldness and confusion in their eyes had vanished.
They nodded slightly, "Mr. Qin."
In this address, their tone was no longer as sharp as before.
A hint of profound understanding flashed in Qin Ningyi's eyes. For them to recognize him at first glance was difficult even for ordinary military units. Fenghuo might not be able to achieve this, but...
There was one unit, where the average age was low, yet they undertook the most perilous missions. This unit comprised the most outstanding young people from across the nation, their faces unknown to outsiders, and their names only heard within specific special forces teams.
He himself had once strived desperately to qualify for this unit.
Qin Ningyi scanned the individuals emerging from the cars. Both the characteristics he observed and his intuition pointed to one conclusion.
This must be that unit.
Shen Ji.
The leader met Qin Ningyi's gaze with a slight shock, their heart stirring. However, their expression remained unwavering. They were eagles soaring through the heavens, possessing the courage to face any abyss or precipice.
Their voice deepened, "If there are no special circumstances, please return the way you came."
They paused, looking into Qin Ningyi's dark eyes, and softly added, "It's dangerous."
Under normal operational circumstances, they wouldn't say much. However, today was indeed special. Dr. Shen had been brought here, and they were anticipating a tough fight. To avoid harming the innocent, and for—
An unwritten rule passed down through generations.
Qin Ningyi heeded their warning, somewhat surprised, but he appreciated their consideration. He curved his lips, "Our objective should be the same."
"Shen Wuyou," he slowly uttered the name, his gaze fixed on the other party, not missing the change in their eyes.
Indeed, they were also here to rescue Shen Wuyou.
However, the fact that a single Shen Wuyou could alarm Shen Ji to action was something he couldn't comprehend.
Qin Ningyi didn't wish to waste time here, stating his intention concisely, "There's no time to spare. I can help, and I can protect myself."
A flicker of surprise crossed the leader's eyes. Qin Ningyi hadn't asked about their identity at all, yet he had so directly discerned their objective and their concerns.
He suddenly felt as if Qin Ningyi had seen right through him.
As for Qin Ningyi's words... a hesitation flashed in his eyes until someone behind him whispered, "Deputy squad leader, he was an outstanding member of Fenghuo."
"Go!" The leader no longer hesitated, decisively turning back to their car and leading the convoy forward.
He had issued his warning; the mission was paramount.
Qin Ningyi hadn't expected them to be so agreeable and followed them in surprise.
By the cliff's edge.
Shen Wuyou was held by a group of people at the edge of the precipice.
"Where are they?" they asked in rough voices.
Shen Wuyou was already covered in wounds. They had been interrogating him all along, wanting to know the location of those two "madmen."
Shen Wuyou panted weakly, shaking his head feebly at them.
"Don't think anyone will come to save you. This terrain is perilous," the man said, pressing a knife against Shen Wuyou's neck, drawing a bloody line, and laughing ferociously. "It's suitable for—a mutual destruction."
They were desperate men to begin with. If this mission went well, they would be set for life. If it failed, they would all die together.
Shen Wuyou was not intimidated by their threats. His eyes looked at the clouds in the sky, and he let out a faint smile, "Agreed."
He had experienced such situations many times; he was quite skilled at it.
However, this time, the other party seemed genuinely intent on killing him.
Shen Wuyou remembered the small signal flare hidden on his person. He hadn't even had a chance to activate it. Of course, even if he had, the person he wished to see might not have arrived before him.
A voice crackled from their walkie-talkie, "Someone's following us."
"Original plan."
Shen Wuyou heard them say this. Then, someone took him into a car again. This time, they blindfolded him. The car started, and the bumpy ride began anew.
"At this moment, the one coming to save you should be Qin Ningyi, right?" A voice said slyly into his ear. "I specifically left a young girl to go back and report. Whoever she finds, they will die. Dr. Shen, do you think Qin Ningyi will die before you?"
Shen Wuyou's heart lurched.
At that moment, all he could think of was that Huo Rou would be sad if Qin Ningyi died.
The other party noticed Shen Wuyou's expression. "Dr. Shen, you still have the spare time to worry about others?"
"I'll give you one more chance. Where are those two people?!" His voice was urgent and extremely angry.
"No comment," Shen Wuyou, having regained his composure, still replied with the same words.
He coughed lightly, "This is another conspiracy from Country M, isn't it? You want to paper over the cracks. Impossible."
Those two must have some secret, just like that person from years ago. It was precisely because he sensed this that he had placed them in a hidden location that, besides him and Huo Rou, no one else knew about.
He had even thought that this time he would finally uncover the truth. Who would have thought that the other party would directly aim their guns at him?