In the dense forests of the southwestern Wenshan Mountains, the rolling peaks were wrapped in thick vegetation, forming green tombs, with moss mottling even the cliffs. A heavy humidity shrouded this once-beautiful landscape, where sunlight couldn't penetrate the forest, making it damp, hot, and eerie—more like a tomb burying all life.
This place had once been a nightmare for armies trained on the plains, but today, a unit from Jiangnan was marching through, their steps not labored. Even when encountering obstacles, hands in tactical gloves would push off fallen trees, gliding silently like vipers, as if they too had long adapted to this climate and environment.
The lead scout raised his fist, and the comrades dispersed in formation behind him tensed up, raising their rifles and scanning their surroundings.
"What's the situation?" a scout ran over, and a man with camouflage paint on his face asked in a low voice.
"Not sure yet. Dabao feels something's off."
"Stay alert!" the commander nodded, trusting Guo Dabao's sixth sense.
But just then, gunfire erupted. Heavily camouflaged figures, like leaf-men, dropped from the trees like monkeys, their rifles spitting red flames wildly.
Though already on high alert, the crisis came from above. The soldiers from Jiangnan lit up with red lights and had no choice but to fall to the ground.
Not everyone was taken out immediately. A few agile ones rolled to find cover as soon as they heard the noise, but they couldn't counterattack—their positions were instantly blanketed by disciplined gunfire, pinning them down.
Guo Dabao was one of them. He watched as a brother beside him tried to raise his head to shoot, only to take a round to the forehead, his body glowing red as he reluctantly lay down.
"Dammit, you bastards from the War Wolves, ambushing us! If you've got guts, fight me one-on-one!" Guo Dabao shouted in frustration.
After a moment of silence, a mocking voice replied: "Fine! One-on-one. Come on, toss your gun out, and I'll fight you. If I lose, this match is yours!"
"You said it!" Guo Dabao excitedly threw aside his rifle and leaped out from cover.
This was a special forces competition in this year's all-army grand contest. The Jiangnan Military Region's Viper Special Forces were unlucky—not only were they grouped with the War Wolves, but the contest was held in the southwest, the War Wolves' home turf, making their chances of advancing even slimmer. *Running with Sorrow*
The Vipers had planned to at least put up a fierce fight against the War Wolves, even if they lost, to avoid total humiliation. But they fell into an ambush and were nearly wiped out... They'd be laughed at back home!
Still, Guo Dabao clung to this last lifeline. Whether the guy was bluffing or not, at least there was a glimmer of hope.
Besides, when it came to jungle combat experience, several Vipers combined might not match the War Wolves. But in hand-to-hand combat, Guo Dabao had some confidence.
The War Wolves stood alert with their rifles raised, a few already fanning out to scout. One slightly cocky figure was stripping off his camouflage, revealing the same uniform as Guo Dabao, except for a wolf-head patch on his sleeve marking his unit.
Guo Dabao followed suit, tossing aside his bulky bulletproof vest, tactical gear, and even the knife he liked to strap to his ankle.
Strategically, you despise the enemy, but tactically, you respect them. As the fight loomed, the guy got serious, staring at Guo Dabao and saying in a low voice: "Shen Xinyu, Second Squad Leader, War Wolves Special Forces Battalion, Southwest Military Region!"
This was a formal introduction. Guo Dabao, with a touch of martial arts flair, cupped his hands and said: "Guo Dabao, Viper Special Forces, Jiangnan Military Region!"
No more words—they jumped straight into the fight!
After his bout with Yang Yi, Guo Dabao's skills seemed sharper. As the fight began, the fierce wind of his splitting palm strikes forced Shen Xinyu to stay focused.
Shen Xinyu used the military's standard combat routine, but a secret, lethal variant. It wasn't as aggressive as the splitting palm, but Shen Xinyu blocked steadily and looked for counterattacks, his tricky, venomous strikes keeping Guo Dabao from exposing any openings.
Their clash was brutal, blow for blow, a satisfying brawl lasting nearly fifteen minutes.
Then Shen Xinyu suddenly stepped back, grinning: "Guo Dabao, if that's all you've got, you're going to lose today!"
Guo Dabao snarled: "Stop running your mouth! Come on, take me down!"
Exhilarated from the fight, sweat had smeared the camouflage on his face, and his torn shirt revealed his dark, muscular frame. *Immortal Crossing*
"Then forgive me!" Shen Xinyu lunged in, his moves shifting abruptly. From the rigid military routine, he switched to close-quarters Wing Chun!
Guo Dabao recognized it but struggled to defend.
Once Shen Xinyu got in close, Guo Dabao's splitting palm had no room to work, making the fight miserable!
But Guo Dabao was tenacious, holding out for another fifteen minutes before Shen Xinyu tripped him with a surprise leg sweep, then flipped him over and pinned him to the ground.
"Give up?" Shen Xinyu was a bit winded from Guo Dabao's desperate struggle.
Guo Dabao's face was pressed into the dirt, the smell of rotting leaves filling his nose. He snorted heavily and gritted out: "No... way!"
He could concede personally, but this was about the team's honor. Guo Dabao was ready to die rather than yield.
"Alright, Dabao." At that point, their "killed" commander walked over, sighing. "A loss is a loss. The Vipers have fallen to the War Wolves again. Old Luo, Luo Zongsheng, come out! Are you retired or what?"
From among the War Wolves, a leaf-man stepped forward, smiling as he cupped his hands to the Viper commander: "Old Li, isn't it normal for you Vipers to lose to us? Don't be discouraged—you've got another match coming."
"Damn it, my unit trained hard for a whole year just to beat you War Wolves once. Watch your back next time—if we're not on your turf, we'll crush you!" Old Li spat, but he was grinning as he cursed.
They were all comrades, even if they rarely met. A few fights built camaraderie.
"Dream on. Even on your turf, you wouldn't beat us," Luo Zongsheng laughed.
"Bullshit, Old Luo. Dare to bring your War Wolves to Jiangnan and try?"
Luo Zongsheng chuckled, pointing a finger at him: "Old Li, that's not fair—trying to goad us into being your free sparring partners?"
"Tch, you're just scared!" Old Li shot back stubbornly.