80 Experimentals (1/2)
The intense gunshots in the forest ahead came to a stop. It sounded like the Qing Consortium had completed its sweep of the outer perimeter. All of the wild animals that could pose a threat to them had been eliminated.
Xu Xianchu whispered to Ren Xiaosu, ”This is when the Qing Consortium will set up the observation posts around the perimeter. Even with their manpower, they won't be able to lock down such a large area with just several hundred people.”
”About how many people are there in a Qing Consortium combat brigade?” Ren Xiaosu asked.
Xu Xianchu hesitated before saying, ”Approximately 4,000 to 5,000, but it's impossible they would mobilize all of them. After all, they still have to consider keeping order in the stronghold.”
”No.” Ren Xiaosu shook his head and said, ”I don't think there's a big problem in the stronghold. Will the people in a stronghold dare to rebel in just a few days? That's impossible. So we have to be prepared that they have turned out in full force with at least a few thousand people.”
”Alright.” Xu Xianchu understood his argument but was hoping they would be lucky. He analyzed the situation before saying, ”But actually, they will not mobilize their full force. The supplies of the various strongholds are not enough to provision a few thousand-strong expedition into the Jing Mountains for such a long period of time. It's not that there aren't enough supplies, but that the transportation, logistics, manpower issues, etc., all have to be considered. As their soldiers brought a lot of firearms and explosives with them, I believe the advanced party that arrived at the Jing Mountains should number around a thousand men or so after taking into account a comprehensive mix of factors.”
Ren Xiaosu thought it over. Xu Xianchu probably had a more expert opinion on military operations. He said, ”I trust your judgment. But I'll still say the same thing. If the observation posts make the perimeter too secure, I'll take a detour out of the mountains in the direction of Stronghold 112 without hesitation.”
”OK.” Xu Xianchu nodded. He knew that Ren Xiaosu's decision was right. After all, if he, Ren Xiaosu, and Yang Xiaojin were to face the pursuit of over a thousand people, it would surely lead to a very bad end. Xu Xianchu put on a face of determination. ”If we need to resort to guerrilla warfare, we'll have to abandon the other three since they won't be able to keep with our pace—wait a minute! ”
As he spoke, Xu Xianchu was stunned. He looked around and asked, ”Where's Yang Xiaojin?”
Ren Xiaosu was also shocked. After looking around, he asked Liu Bu, who was at the rear of the team, ”Have you seen Yang Xiaojin?”
”No, I wasn't paying attention,” Liu Bu answered blankly.
Everyone realized that no one knew when Yang Xiaojin had disappeared during their journey!
If it were Liu Bu who went missing, Ren Xiaosu would think that he might have been taken away by something. But for Yang Xiaojin, that would definitely not be the case!
Ren Xiaosu and Xu Xianchu had thought that Liu Bu, Luo Xinyu, and Wang Lei would be their burden, but they suddenly got a feeling that Yang Xiaojin thought that all five of them were her burden.
But what exactly was Yang Xiaojin's purpose in coming here? Ren Xiaosu realized that she might not be after the secret of the Jing Mountains at all!
Yang Xiaojin carried an even greater secret!
Ren Xiaosu and Xu Xianchu looked at each other as though they came to a decision at the same time.
”So…” Ren Xiaosu said righteously, ”Yang Xiaojin might have fallen behind. As teammates, we should split up to look for her. It'll be too dangerous if she's found by herself.”
Ren Xiaosu and Xu Xianchu then walked separately in two different directions. Liu Bu, Luo Xinyu, and Wang Lei looked back at the way they came and wondered how Yang Xiaojin could have disappeared so quietly. Liu Bu asked, ”Do you feel that Yang Xiaojin has been behaving very strangely? She paid us to join the team, but it's clear that she has her own purpose in coming here….”
Liu Bu turned to look in the directions of where Ren Xiaosu and Xu Xianchu went. However… both of them had also gone missing!
What the fuck?!
What did you mean by splitting up to look for her? You two were obviously making your escape!
Ren Xiaosu, Xu Xianchu, and Yang Xiaojin had respectively made their decisions to drop their burdens once they got near the hinterlands of the Jing Mountains.