12dz Chapter 269 Entering the Bandit's Nest
Chapter 269 Entering the Bandit's Nest
As the banner reading "Carrying out Justice on Behalf of Heaven, Rob the Rich and Help the Poor" came into view, Lei Tao felt a surge of alarm. While the slogan sounded righteous, in these troubled times, many bandits used it as a pretext to carry out looting and arson. He turned around, signaling his team to hold their ground while he continued to observe.
Through the gaps between the branches, Lei Tao spotted several bandits standing guard at the mountain gate. They were dressed in rags, but each held a spear, their expressions wary as they peered around. Behind the gate was a winding path, half-hidden by trees. The outlines of several houses were faintly visible; that must have been the bandits' lair.
Lei Tao quickly calculated: A frontal assault would definitely not work. The bandits had the advantage of terrain, and their numbers were unknown. A rash attack would only put them in a passive position. He turned to look at his team members and, with gestures, conveyed his plan: Chen Feiyang and Liu Zishan would circumvent the left, using the cover of the trees to quietly climb the mountainside, looking for an opportunity to cut off the bandits' retreat; the Li brothers would ambush on the high ground on the right, preparing to suppress the bandits with sniper rifles; Yi Guang would follow him, attracting the bandits' attention head-on. Once the opportunity arose, they would launch a surprise attack from both inside and outside.
The team members understood and moved quietly. Chen Feiyang and Liu Zishan disappeared silently into the woods on the left like two nimble cheetahs.
On the right, the Li brothers set up their sniper rifles. Li Shuiniu put his eyes close to the scope, closely watching the bandits' movements, his finger on the trigger.
Lei Tao and Yi Guang pulled the safety pin on their grenades and threw them with all their might. "Boom! Boom!" With two loud bangs, the grenades exploded among the bandits, sending flames shooting into the sky and filling the air with smoke. The bandits were blown to pieces, their bodies falling to the ground and screaming.
Taking advantage of the chaos of the explosion, Lei Tao yelled at the top of his lungs, "Charge!" The roar resonated like thunder, instantly igniting the passion for battle. He raised his rifle, crouched low, and rushed toward the bandits with quick, steady steps, like an arrow from a bow, sending dust flying with every step. Yi Guang followed closely behind him, the two men working in perfect harmony, like a battle-hardened duo, alternating between providing cover and advancing.
Lei Tao's eyes were sharp as he ran and fired. The bullets whistled in the wind and accurately hit several bandits who tried to fight back. Before the bandits could react, they fell in a pool of blood.
In the blink of an eye, Lei Tao had drawn near the bandit group. Suddenly, a burly bandit, brandishing a broadsword, slashed at him with a whirring sound. Lei Tao reacted with remarkable speed, dodging to the side. The sharp blade scraped past the edge of his clothes, sending a gust of cold wind through him. Almost instantly, he whipped out his dagger and lunged forward like a ghost, his movements as fast as lightning. With eerie and swift speed, the dagger sliced through the bandit's throat. The bandit's eyes widened, a fierce look still lingering on his face, but he slowly collapsed, blood gushing from his neck and spreading across the ground.
On Yi Guang's side, the situation suddenly changed. A burly bandit, radiating a fierce aura and holding a dagger, suddenly rushed towards him from the side like a ghost. The bandit stood firmly on his feet, crouched slightly, muscles tensed, gathering strength. Then, with a sudden roar, he raised his arm high and swung the dagger down at Yi Guang's neck with a whistling sound, as if he would instantly cut Yi Guang in half.
Between life and death, Yi Guang's pupils suddenly shrank, his nerve endings were screaming in warning, his body reacted faster than his brain, he immediately turned around, tightly gripped the gun with both hands, and used all his strength to block.
"Dang!" There was a deafening clang, the sound of metal clashing as the dagger struck the gun barrel, sending up a shower of sparks. The overwhelming force continued to press forward, and Yi Guang felt himself gradually losing his resistance. His arm muscles were tense to the bone, every muscle trembling. The weight of the blow numbed his palms, and his arms trembled violently and uncontrollably. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, dripping onto the dusty ground.
At the critical moment, Lei Tao arrived in time and pulled the trigger at the bandit's back without hesitation. With a "bang", the bandit fell to the ground, helping Yi Guang to escape.
The Li brothers seized their opportunity, their eyes determined. Their guns blazed with flames, and they blasted the bandits with furious fire. Several bandits, unable to dodge, fell screaming. Simultaneously, Chen Feiyang and Liu Zishan launched a fierce attack from the side. The intense gunfire sent the bandits reeling, disoriented and thrown into chaos.
For a moment, shouts and gunshots intertwined and echoed in the valley. Although the bandits were numerous, they gradually fell into a disadvantage under the sudden attack of Lei Tao and others.
During the battle, Lei Tao spotted a man who looked like a bandit leader trying to escape, and without hesitation, he gave chase. The bandit leader was agile and moved freely through the mountains and forests, but Lei Tao pursued him relentlessly. Finally, on the edge of a cliff, Lei Tao cornered the bandit leader.
"Who are you? Why are you picking on us?" the bandit leader asked viciously, panting.
Lei Tao looked at him coldly: "More than a month ago, you kidnapped a young woman. Where is she now?"
The bandit leader froze for a moment, then suddenly pulled a dagger from his bosom and lunged at Lei Tao. Lei Tao dodged the attack with a sideways movement, then unleashed a powerful slam, sending the bandit leader flying three meters. He rolled several times before crashing into a tree, the dagger in his hand having been swung out of his grasp. He struggled to his feet, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, but a fierce look remained on his face. Lei Tao stood still, his gaze fixed on him with a murderous intensity, his aura chilling the air around him.
"Don't struggle in vain. Just confess honestly and maybe I can give you a chance to live." Lei Tao's voice was low and intimidating, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.