Fortunately, both Cheng Jianing and Black Beard were too preoccupied to ponder this question.
They simply looked on with caution and sympathy as the six "comrades" from Zheng Caisheng’s team were tied up by the bloodthirsty new soldiers, who seemed to have been repressed for a long time and were now howling with delight at the sight of daylight!
Song Lili and the others were naturally thrilled. Even Shen Lingxi and Su Ru momentarily cast aside their personal grievances against Song Lili, reveling in the thrill of a successful counterattack!
Yet they also didn’t forget that Liu Fan’s team of three was still nearby.
"If they’d come out a little later, we might have tied those three up too!"
"Twelve people ambushing six is secure. But if it were eight people, and three were coming straight at us... The gap between new soldiers and veterans doesn’t need to be spelled out; we all know it well. If we don’t manage to break out this time, we might as well give up on ever getting out."
Song Lili instructed half of the group to go to the nearby command post and get the remaining luggage, while the rest stood guard.
Her eyes were the sharpest. Black Beard and his people weren’t far away, and she spotted half a silhouette hiding in the woods.
Once everyone had their luggage on their backs, Song Lili turned to Qing Luo and Bian Yiyi,
"You two take the lead, and take Lin Xinglan with you—get across the Skybridge before it gets dark."
"I’ll stay at the back, just in case."
"Then I’ll also stay at the back." Lin Xinglan really didn’t want to be separated from Song Lili. Without Song Lili, she felt insecure.
"Lin Xinglan, you’re not going to dawdle at such a critical time, are you?"
Song Lili asked coldly, and Lin Xinglan shrank back, then willingly walked with Qing Luo.
The twelve people proceeded at different paces, but their destination was the same: the Skybridge.
Song Lili’s decision to bring up the rear wasn’t about heroics; she knew those three wouldn’t let things go so easily, especially since she had the radio equipment on her. There hadn’t been time to hide it during the chaos, and it might have been seen.
Therefore, she was certain their ultimate target would be her.
"I’ll take up the rear with you."
"..." Song Lili was startled for a moment, then looked up to see Shen Lingxi standing ahead by the side of a tree, waiting for her.
"When do you plan on hogging the spotlight all by yourself?"
Shen Lingxi snorted, "Tang Xiaohua, I’ll tell you this: I despise you to the utmost, but I’m also someone who recognizes what’s right. Honestly, I respect you now."
Song Lili was surprised and hesitant at her sudden show of goodwill.
"It’s not just Zheng Caisheng; others have to think twice before trying to capture me."
"Until we reach Luqing Mountain. Consider me your amulet."
Shen Lingxi said, walking ahead.
Song Lili watched her figure move on, still feeling rather bewildered... she couldn’t believe that Shen Lingxi was being so simple-minded.
But... Shen Lingxi was right; she made a good amulet, and Song Lili wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity.
So, they walked in silence.
The ten people in front walked quickly, while Song Lili and Shen Lingxi led the remaining three on a slight detour. They couldn’t shake them off, but at least the other people should have crossed the bridge safely.
By the time Song Lili and Shen Lingxi got to the Skybridge, it was already past four o’clock.
The sky bore the hues of approaching dusk.
At that moment... there was a helicopter circling overhead.
This wasn’t particularly strange; since the selection began, rescue and surveillance helicopters had been a common sight around the mountain top.
Song Lili tilted her head to watch this helicopter... This one seemed somewhat different.