Years turn into wind

Chapter 215 Unexpected Allies

A long way to go

The mountain wind in the early morning was bitingly cold, and even though it was already daybreak, the squad remained highly alert. They carefully circumvented mountain roads where ambushes might be set up, avoiding any open areas that could easily expose them.

Cheng Yuwei adjusted the first aid kit on her shoulder. Even though the straps had left marks on her, she didn't dare slack off. Every step was a matter of life and death, and every decision could determine their fate.

"Sister-in-law, are there any more enemy troops ahead of us?" A young soldier couldn't help but ask, with a hint of worry in his tone.

Cheng Yuwei looked at the undulating mountain road ahead and whispered, "The enemy may still be ahead, but more importantly, we must first find a hiding place and completely shake off their pursuit."

"It's not safe here," Li Deshui interrupted. "We have to go further north. The north is a forested area with complex terrain, which is good for hiding."

Cheng Yuwei nodded: "You are familiar with the route, everyone will listen to you. Maintain formation and seize the time."

A sudden figure

As the team was rounding a steep hillside, they suddenly heard footsteps in front of them. Everyone stopped and raised their guns.

"There's movement!" Li Deshui shouted in a low voice, staring vigilantly in the direction of the bushes.

The next second, a figure emerged from the woods, covered in dirt and looking haggard. Instead of raising his gun, he raised his hands high in a gesture of surrender.

"Don't shoot! I'm a friendly!"

Cheng Yuwei took a closer look and saw that the man's uniform did indeed belong to the Northern Army, but it was clearly worn out and even had several bullet holes. His face was slightly frightened, his lips were chapped, but his eyes were firm.

"Which unit are you from?" Li Deshui asked, still holding his gun.

"I'm a scout from the Northern Army's Seventh Division. A few days ago, we were pursued by the enemy and all my companions were killed, leaving me alone." The man said in a hoarse, panting voice, "I can prove that I'm one of them!"

Short-lived trust

After Li Deshui signaled the soldiers to be on guard, he gestured for the man to approach slowly, while carefully checking his military uniform and personal belongings.

"Sister-in-law, I haven't found any problems yet. It seems to be true." Li Deshui whispered to Cheng Yuwei.

Cheng Yuwei stared at the scout and said calmly, "If you are a friendly force, why are you here? Do you know the enemy situation nearby?"

The scout nodded. "The enemy's pursuit force has dispersed and is searching for the remaining squadrons along several routes. If you continue along your original path, you will soon be surrounded."

Li Deshui frowned: "Then how do you know the safe route?"

The scout whispered back, "I've been hiding here for three days and have a good idea of ​​their patrol routes. If you trust me, I can lead the way and avoid the enemy."

Cheng Yuwei and Li Deshui looked at each other, both weighing the credibility of this proposal.

"Sister-in-law, he might be an undercover agent sent by the enemy." Li Deshui reminded in a low voice.

Cheng Yuwei nodded slightly, then looked at the scout: "If you are a friendly force, we can trust you for now. But if we find any suspicious behavior from you..."

Without hesitation, the scout replied, "I understand. You can point your gun at me."

New dangers

Led by the scouts, the squad changed course and headed northwest. The mountainous terrain became more complex, but the enemy's activity was significantly reduced.

"Sister-in-law, he doesn't seem to be lying." Li Deshui whispered, "At least so far, his approach is correct."

Cheng Yuwei didn't answer, but continued to observe her surroundings. Her intuition told her that the identity of this scout might not be as simple as it seemed.

Just as she was thinking, the scout in front suddenly stopped and said nervously, "There's an ambush ahead."

"What?" Li Deshui immediately raised his gun and looked around nervously.

The scout explained in a low voice, "The enemy has set up a checkpoint here to intercept any troops attempting to break out. We must take a detour, otherwise we'll be exposed."

"How do you know?" Cheng Yuwei stared at him with a hint of doubt in her tone.

The scout hesitated, then whispered, "Because I was once a prisoner of the enemy and forced to help them draw a map, I later took the opportunity to escape. So I know their defenses."

As soon as these words came out, everyone was stunned. Li Deshui immediately shouted angrily, "You are actually involved with the enemy? Who are you?"

The scout quickly explained, "I was only forced to assist and never revealed any real secrets! I risked my life to escape just to be able to return to my unit!"

Trust and Choice

Cheng Yuwei took a deep breath and said calmly, "We have no way of verifying what you said. But right now, you're the only one who knows the enemy's deployment ahead, so we have to rely on you. Li Deshui, continue to observe him. If you notice any unusual movement, shoot immediately."

Li Deshui gritted his teeth and finally nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to my sister-in-law."

The scout nodded gratefully. "Thank you for trusting me. I will definitely get you through safely."

Winning at Risk

Under the guidance of the scouts, the team successfully bypassed the enemy's checkpoint. But just as they were about to enter the deeper forest area, they suddenly heard the footsteps of pursuers from behind.

"They are catching up!" Li Deshui's face darkened and he immediately organized the soldiers to find cover and prepare for battle.

The scout quickly said, "There's no need to fight hard. There's a natural canyon ahead. The terrain is narrow and can block the pursuit."

"Sister-in-law, should we listen to him?" Li Deshui asked in a low voice.

Cheng Yuwei gritted her teeth and said, "Listen! If we keep fighting, we might not be able to hold out until dark!"

Led by the scouts, the squad quickly retreated into the canyon and used the boulders in the canyon to set up simple obstacles. As expected, the pursuers were blocked and had difficulty in advancing or retreating.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the team successfully retreated to a safe area.

New challenges

After temporarily escaping danger, Cheng Yuwei looked at the scout and whispered, "You've made a contribution this time, but your identity remains in doubt. If you are willing to accept our surveillance and continue traveling together, perhaps you can prove your true loyalty."

The scout nodded. "I understand. I will accept any challenge as long as I can contribute to the army."

Li Deshui remained wary of him, but Cheng Yuwei had a feeling that the appearance of this scout was no accident. Whether his identity was real or not might take some time to reveal...