402 As long as were still around (1/2)

Actually, Zhang Xiaoman and the others' suspicions were correct. Ren Xiaosu's shadow clone was the one that had taken out the heavy machine gun position. Right after they had set off, he had been using his shadow clone to scout ahead in case they were ambushed.

After experiencing some setbacks, Ren Xiaosu learned how to be more careful and cautious.

However, this was not something to be happy about because he had learned to be this way through someone's suffering.

The level of enlightenment for every individual was equivalent to the depth of their anguish.

Second Company and Third Company's positions were some distance away, with the gap between each of the three companies maintained at around two kilometers. Meanwhile, Ren Xiaosu's shadow clone was only effective within a one-kilometer radius, so he could not send it out to help them.

Suddenly, Zhang Xiaoman said, ”Continue marching. We're still a day away from Shichuan Village. Don't let up. We might encounter another ambush at any time.”

The Zong Consortium had placed the refugees and private troops at the front lines. With just a single heavy machine gun, they could make Fortress 178's front line troops suffer heavy losses. This was a kind of bizarreness that only happened in the era of firearms and explosives.

As they marched, Zhang Xiaoman asked Ren Xiaosu, ”I've actually been quite curious for a while, but you're not very interested in getting promoted, are you?”

”Mhm.” Ren Xiaosu said, ”After the war, I might be heading to the Central Plains.”

”Wait!” Zhang Xiaoman suddenly felt that something was not right. ”You're saying you'll leave Fortress 178 after the war?”

”That's right.” Ren Xiaosu said, ”I have to go find my family. The day before yesterday when y'all were writing your wills, everyone had loved ones that they could write to. But when I wanted to write mine, I realized that there was no one for me to write to.”

”Is the Zong Consortium the cause of this?” Zhang Xiaoman asked.

”Yes,” Ren Xiaosu said calmly.

Zhang Xiaoman realized it was no wonder Ren Xiaosu was so ruthless towards the Zong Consortium. He even volunteered to lead the main attack for their mission. So it turned out that he actually had a grudge against them.

Although Ren Xiaosu did not usually show any anguish, everyone could clearly feel the loneliness emanating from him. For example, when everyone gathered around the campfire, Ren Xiaosu would sit by himself and look up into the starry sky. Or when everyone was laughing and chatting after a meal, Ren Xiaosu would lean against a big tree and look out into the distance. No one knew what was on his mind.

When Ren Xiaosu came down from Mt. Guan drenched in blood, Zhang Xiaoman had clearly sensed his rage dissipating.

”Did you kill the bandits on Mt. Guan?” Zhang Xiaoman was referring to the main forces who had disappeared from Mt. Guan.

”No.” Ren Xiaosu shook his head. ”My little bro killed them.”

Zhang Xiaoman choked a little. Ren Xiaosu was already this ferocious, yet he had a younger brother who could wipe out an entire mountain of bandits? What kind of a family was this?

Of course, Ren Xiaosu did not explain much.

”But if you leave, wouldn't the commander have placed you in the Razor Sharp Company for nothing?” Zhang Xiaoman asked.

”Does the commander have other intentions by putting me in the Razor Sharp Company? I was the one who asked to be posted to the most dangerous unit,” Ren Xiaosu wondered.

”Um, it's nothing, it's nothing,” Zhang Xiaoman said. He felt that everyone might have misunderstood the entire situation. How could someone who was going to leave Fortress 178 after the war become the commander of the fortress? Or did Commander Zhang have other ideas?

Throughout their journey, there were a total of three ambush points. Without exception, the heavy machine guns were all taken out by someone.