Yang Jian’s eyes shifted to one side, his gaze flitting uncertainly, pinned under Gu Xiaoxi’s foot, neither able to beg for mercy nor escape.
The other few looked at each other in dismay.
Song Jingyi reacted the fastest, running up to Gu Xiaoxi, "Quick, untie me."
Gu Xiaoxi pulled out a knife and cut the zip ties binding her wrists.
Seeing Yang Jian defeated, several veteran soldiers, under pressure, gritted their teeth and charged at Gu Xiaoxi.
Song Jingyi joined the fight as well and, without a doubt, the six were quickly taken captive.
After Gu Xiaoxi tied up the last veteran soldier, she dusted off the non-existent dirt from her hands and turned to stand beside Yang Jian, flashing him a radiant smile.
Those who knew her were aware that whenever Gu Xiaoxi revealed such a smile, something bad was bound to happen.
Yang Jian swallowed hard, staring at Gu Xiaoxi, "What do you want to do? I admit defeat wholeheartedly, but Zhao Zilong will surely avenge me."
Gu Xiaoxi smiled blandly, "I don’t want to do anything, just ask two questions."
Meanwhile, Song Jingyi was rifling through the veterans’ bags, looking for the confiscated mission cards, while saying to Gu Xiaoxi, "I ran into Qin Chu, and she said our missions were different, so she went her own way."
"I know, so take the mission cards and you all should hurry on as well!" Gu Xiaoxi turned back and scanned the group.
The three rescued male soldiers thanked Gu Xiaoxi, then hurriedly retrieved their mission cards and left.
Song Jingyi, holding the mission card, walked over to Gu Xiaoxi, patted her on the shoulder, "Xiao Xi, keep it up, I’m heading off. Be careful of Zhao Zilong and the others. Their mission is to capture us, to specifically target us and stop us from completing our tasks."
"Okay!" Gu Xiaoxi’s eyes deepened as she waved to Song Jingyi.
Song Jingyi and Gu Xiaoxi high-fived, boosting each other’s morale before quickly departing.
After Song Jingyi and the others had left,
Gu Xiaoxi turned her head to look back at Yang Jian, "Where is your headquarters? Besides capturing new recruits and getting everyone’s mission cards, you must have other tasks as well."
"Gu Xiaoxi, you should be very clear, our armed forces have rules—never disclose secrets. Do you think I would tell you?" Yang Jian said resolutely, turning his head away, no longer looking at Gu Xiaoxi.
"Mhm!" Gu Xiaoxi chuckled lightly, very amicably asking, "Are you sure you won’t say?"
Despite her voice being as gentle as a spring breeze, Yang Jian involuntarily shuddered. His teammates also sensed that something was amiss.
"Gu Xiaoxi, don’t force people too hard. Captain Yang was just boasting a bit earlier, there was no ill intent," another soldier quickly explained.
Gu Xiaoxi sneered, "Is that so? If it were me who had been defeated today, I’m sure your attitudes would be very different! I know your mission is to capture the new recruits, but if I were to put a bullet in your heads, you would be eliminated just the same and might never get the chance to be soldiers again. So do you want to stay in the military, or should I just silence you all by taking you down first?"
Gu Xiaoxi took out the throat-cutting pen from her pocket, its red tip as vivid as blood, and drew a turtle on Yang Jian’s face. The chilling pen tip traced over his face, leaving him ashen.
The remaining few were too scared to even breathe heavily.
The afternoon sun gradually set, the air still scorching, but devoid of the earlier sense of urgency.
Yang Jian shuddered, "Kill me, Gu Xiaoxi! I won’t talk. If I expose our headquarters, I’d be eliminated just the same."
He was resolute, preferring death over betrayal. Seeing Yang Jian remain silent, the five teammates simply closed their eyes, ready to face death with equanimity.