A Divine Farmer

Chapter 232 - Traitor

I had somehow overlooked this issue before. I had assumed the sentries were dead, but now that I think about it, it seems highly suspicious. We only heard a scream; we never actually saw any bodies.

During the breakout, our brothers were falling one by one. I didn't have the chance to look, but I don't recall seeing that person among them.

“Alright, whether it's him or not, our priority is to rescue our people. Let's proceed with caution,” Zhang Xiaolong advised.

Gao Loong, though enraged, quickly regained his composure. A true soldier always knows when to suppress their anger and focus on what's most important.

After a bit more walking, Xiaolong halted Gao Loong, “There's someone ahead, in that tree, and another about ten meters away in the next tree. Are they your men?”

“No, our men are all in the valley. Even if they had escaped, they wouldn't just sit in a tree waiting to be caught; they'd be trying to get out to send word,” Gao Loong replied, shaking his head. “It must be the enemy's sentries. They weren't here when I escaped, and they probably don't know I got away. Otherwise, they'd be searching more broadly, not just standing guard here.”

“That's even better. It'll make our job easier.” After confirming they weren't friendly forces, Xiaolong picked up two stones from the ground and stealthily made his way closer.

Two swooshing sounds followed, and then the branches rustled as something heavy fell from above.

“Is he dead?” Gao Loong knew the man in the tree was likely a sniper.

Such individuals are always on high alert. Often, their targets don't even realize what's happening before they're taken out with a headshot.

But now the tables had turned. The sniper hadn't even had a chance to react before being taken down from the tree.

“He's not dead, just knocked out,” Xiaolong said, his actions measured, not intending to take a life.

As they approached, Gao Loong drew his dagger and moved in. Each sniper received a final blow, dying a pitiable death under the blade.

Of course, given the choice, they would probably prefer this to dying under a rock. That would be even more humiliating, especially if they encountered other snipers in the afterlife.

Gao Loong was aware that Zhang Xiaolong had never taken a life before. He was reluctant to engage in a bloodbath unless it was a last resort. Most people have an inherent resistance to killing, and even a skilled individual like Zhang Xiaolong was no exception. Thus, Gao Loong took it upon himself to finish off the wounded without needing to be told.

The pair pressed on, likely due to their confidence in the two snipers, as they encountered no further guards. It wasn't until they neared the valley Gao Loong had described that they paused.

True to Gao Loong's words, fewer than thirty people were strategically positioned in a semicircle around the valley's entrance. While the area appeared tranquil, the reality was that any attempt to exit would lead to certain death.

At the mouth of the valley lay a dozen or so camouflaged figures—Gao Loong's comrades who had sacrificed themselves to cover his escape.

“Which way did you get out?” inquired Zhang Xiaolong.

“Over there,” Gao Loong gestured toward a large rock. “We broke through from that spot. My comrade covered me from gunfire, and although I managed to take out an enemy, I was slashed by a knife. I evaded detection by their reinforcements, but I hadn't realized the blade was poisoned. Despite having medicine, it wasn't enough to neutralize the toxin completely.”

“It looks like that might be a vulnerability. I'll give it a shot!” Zhang Xiaolong said, gathering a few small stones from the ground. He held a handful in each hand and filled his pockets with more.

Unaccustomed to firearms and lacking the means to strike from a distance, he relied on his divine strength to enhance the stones' lethality.

Zhang Xiaolong swiftly made his way to a spot near the corner.

The two guards there were oblivious to the fact that they were being targeted. Out of nowhere, they felt a sharp impact on their backs. Startled, they tried to turn around, only to find themselves paralyzed. Overcome with terror and unable to utter a sound, their eyes betrayed the depth of their fear.

Despite having seen Zhang Xiaolong in action, Gao Loong was still taken aback by his adversary's tactics. Just moments before, someone had been rendered unconscious by a stone, much like being knocked out by a punch. With the right control over his strength, he knew he could achieve the same effect.

But what happened next was bizarre. The two men were alive yet completely immobilized, unable to utter a sound, reminiscent of the acupoint techniques described in martial arts novels. And astonishingly, Zhang Xiaolong had used a stone for this precise maneuver.

With his successful move, Zhang Xiaolong breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't be certain his method would always work; if it failed, he would have no choice but to swiftly eliminate all of them.

Despite knowing these were evildoers from a foreign land, the thought of taking so many lives still made Zhang Xiaolong uneasy.

In no time, half of the individuals from Great Yang Country were frozen in place, their eyes wide with terror, unable to communicate anything else.

Suddenly, someone nearby moved quickly, seemingly trying to speak to his comrades but got no response. It was then he noticed something was amiss.

“There…” He barely got a word out before Zhang Xiaolong's stone hit him.

The sound caught everyone's attention. As they turned to look, they were confronted with the eerie scene.

Gunfire erupted as those still able to move opened fire into the forest.

Gao Loong was nearly startled into shouting; Zhang Xiaolong was right in the line of fire. Such a barrage would pulverize anyone, even a deity.

Just when he thought all was lost, a blur darted through the trees, too quick to be identified.

Before they could get a clear look, a stone zipped through the air and embedded itself in a man's forehead, leaving nothing but a bloody hole as he collapsed, eyes rolling back.

It was clear to everyone that the swift shadow was the hidden foe. Shocked by the enemy's speed, they instinctively lifted their guns and fired wildly.

Bullets wove a deadly net of firepower, and amidst the chaos, no one could tell where their shots landed.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, the shadow ceased moving, its hiding place unknown. A barrage of stones flew in, striking indiscriminately, and the area below erupted in agonized cries.

Most of the stricken fell dead instantly. Two individuals, whether fortunate or not, were hit in less critical areas and clung to life. But by the looks of it, they were hanging by a thread.

“Gao Loong, go save your comrades. I'll hold the fort here,” Zhang Xiaolong steadied his emotions and gestured to Gao Loong, who was at a distance.

Filled with excitement, Gao Loong ran over, casting a quick glance at the dead and those paralyzed with fear. Without hesitation, he dashed inside, shouting, “Brothers, I'm back. We're going to make it!”

“Gao Loong, to think you're a traitor. I'll put an end to you with a single bullet!”