As the soldier's fingers hooked onto the trigger, Lin Chen descended from above, landing with his knees on the man's neck and twisting forcefully, killing the last enemy.
Against nine soldiers, six were dispatched without even firing a single shot.
After a cleanly executed ambush, the group wasted no time and immediately moved on.
They had heard the barking of hunting dogs from not far away—staying would be highly dangerous.
Just as the group was preparing to leave, Lin Chen halted, pulling out a grenade.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and run!" Wang Zixuan asked curiously.
Lin Chen smiled faintly, "I'm leaving them a little gift!"
Lin Chen placed the grenade onto the body of a dead soldier on the escape route. He tied the grenade pin to a bush with a silk thread before standing up to rejoin the group.
Ge Lei led his men into the bush they had just exited, stomping furiously at the sight of dead bodies scattered everywhere.
These men were supposed to be his bait, sent to reveal the group's position with gunfire and then surround them, but Lin Chen was too cunning—he had used poisoned bolts to eliminate them.
"They can't be far. Chase them!" Ge Lei roared.
The soldiers under his command quickly bolted toward the crushed bushes.
Just as Ge Lei was about to follow, a ray of sunlight gleamed across the ground, and his expression changed sharply.
Before his warning finished, an explosion rang out. The soldiers at the front were torn apart by the grenade, their shredded and bloody remains strewn everywhere.
Ge Lei was also flung four to five meters by the massive blast wave.
Scrambling to his feet, Ge Lei shook off the dust from his head, his eyes flickering with a murderous glint.
"Fuck! Trying to play dirty with me? Wait until I catch you—I'll tear you all to pieces!"
After several confrontations, Ge Lei understood that this group wasn't easy to deal with.
Ge Lei had learned his lesson and no longer dared to push recklessly ahead. He ordered the Red Turban Army to divide into groups, each unit maintaining a fifty-meter distance, sweeping forward cautiously.
This tactic ensured that if Lin Chen's group was discovered, each team could support the others and quickly surround them.
In the jungle, shadows darted swiftly, evading capture by Ge Lei and the Red Turban Army.
Holding a carbine, Ge Lei stomped his bulky frame through the grass, shouting loudly, "Push harder—they're just ahead! Catch them, and I promise you endless money and women! Now move!"
"Catch them!" the Red Turban soldiers echoed in unison.
At that moment, Ge Lei's phone rang. When he answered, he said, "Boss, we're rounding up those bastards now. Don't worry—within half a day, they'll all be wiped out."
"What? Retreat? Boss, they're panicked and disorganized now. We're closing in any second to finish them off!" Ge Lei argued.
"When I tell you to withdraw, you damn well withdraw right now. Immediately!" Haen snapped angrily.
Unwilling yet compliant, Ge Lei called out to his men, "Fall back!"
Meanwhile, on the other side, Haen's lips curled into a cold smile. "Burton, it's your turn now. Show them the terror of the jungle's demons."
Picking a treacherous path forward, Lin Chen's group pressed on. Fortunately, their specialized combat gear protected them; otherwise, their clothes would've been torn to shreds by the brambles long ago.
Suddenly, Lin Chen stopped walking. "Don't run. They've stopped chasing us."
The others halted as well. Wang Zixuan panted heavily, saying, "These guys are like glue! Finally, they're off us."
"No, it's not that we lost them. They retreated on their own," Lin Chen frowned.
"That doesn't make sense. They worked hard to track us down—they should be chasing us relentlessly now!" Lan Xingyue said, puzzled.
Just then, the bird in An Xiaodi's hand chirped away for a while. After releasing it, she replied, "The bird told me the Red Turban Army has indeed pulled back."
"Whatever the reason, we need to seize the chance and head into the hidden realm," Lan Xingyue said gravely.
"Wait, do you smell something?" Lin Chen said suddenly.
"I do—sweet and fragrant. Honestly, it smells so pleasing," An Xiaodi said, sniffing the air.
Lin Chen's brows furrowed. "This jungle is filled with trees and bushes, no flowers—so where's the scent coming from?"
"No, something's off about this scent," Lin Chen said sharply.
In the bushes not far away, the mysterious elder squinted his eyes and smirked coldly. "My darlings, enjoy this feast!"
"Listen—what's that sound?" Zhao Xiaohua perked up her ears suddenly.
Everyone went quiet to listen. A peculiar noise reached them.
The sound grew louder, intermittently drifting closer.
"Oh no, RUN! Murderous bees!" Zhao Xiaohua shouted, her face pale.
A single killer bee wasn't terrifying, but judging by the noise, this wasn't just one—it was a swarm.
Killer bees contained toxins in their bodies. A sting could inject venom straight into someone's bloodstream.
A single sting wasn't fatal, but hundreds of stings could kill even the strongest fighter.
Just as Zhao Xiaohua's warning ended, the sky turned dark—an overwhelming swarm of killer bees descended menacingly toward the group.
"Oh my God!" Everyone froze, their escape all but impossible.
The elder watched the divebombing swarm and let loose a sinister laugh. "Fools! Dare to oppose the Ghost Guild? Taste the agony worse than death!"
With his words spoken, the elder sank back into the earth.
Through his enhanced vision, Lin Chen tracked the descending swarm. These killer bees were as thick as thumbs, their venomous stingers glinting horrifyingly.
As the others stared blankly at the swarm plunging from above, their fear paralyzing them, escape felt irrelevant—these skyborne devils left nowhere to run.
"I'm sorry. I dragged you all into this..." Lan Xingyue collapsed, sitting hopelessly on the ground with a bitter smile.
The group displayed a mix of reactions—terror, resignation.
"Brother Chen, I love you!"
"Lin Chen, I love you!"
An Xiaodi and Wang Zixuan clutched Lin Chen's hands tightly, confessing almost simultaneously.
Mu Yuqiu trembled uncontrollably, her face reflecting utter despair.
Yue'er's gaze flashed with resolve as she stood beside Lan Xingyue.
Zhao Xiaohua let out a defeated laugh. "Could this be what the oracle meant as fate? Seems like it's time to reveal my origins to Lin Chen."
She opened her mouth to speak but froze upon seeing Lin Chen pick up a bamboo leaf from the bushes and place it between his lips.
"What's he doing?" Zhao Xiaohua murmured, stunned.