Strongest Soldier King

In the following days, Lan Xue, along with Ghost Hand, Snow Leopard, and Mountain Eagle, blended in with the crowd, surveilling everyone crossing the border, yet to no avail. By the morning of the third day, if there were still no results, Lan Xue planned to head to the neighboring country to investigate. Standing at the key inspection passage of the border checkpoint, watching cars being inspected by soldiers, her mood grew increasingly heavy.

Suddenly, a car ahead slowed down and began to turn around. Lan Xue was startled, instantly becoming alert, and went forward to intercept. Those coming to the checkpoint usually intended to leave the country. Domestic cars are sent to the checkpoint, while international ones can directly pass through, but they should never turn around before reaching the checkpoint—something's definitely off.

The surrounding armed police noticed the abnormality as well; someone rushed forward. Suddenly, the car started to accelerate and hurtled towards the checkpoint, attempting to break through. Everyone's expressions changed drastically, and by the time they reacted, the car had already reached the checkpoint, about to crash through the barrier and break out.

At this moment, Ghost Hand, who was responsible for monitoring the barrier, rushed over and positioned himself in front of the car, aiming his gun at the driver, his expression stern and unmoving. Seeing the driver had no intention of slowing down, with a thud, the barrier was slammed, and Ghost Hand fired without hesitation.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The shots came in rapid succession; the car didn't slow down. Seeing it was about to hit Ghost Hand, he calmly dove to the side, avoiding the collision. At this moment, there were three more gunshots, hitting the car's tires, causing it to veer off-center and overturn.

Lan Xue rushed forward, the muzzle of her gun still smoking, and Mountain Eagle and Snow Leopard charged up fiercely, aiming their guns at the overturned car. The people inside could not get out temporarily; crouching down to look, Lan Xue saw that despite their fierce appearance, they bore the signs of overindulgence, nothing like members of the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group, agonizingly groaning inside the vehicle.

A large group of armed police rushed up, pulling the individuals out one by one, handcuffing and detaining them. The Major responsible for receiving Lan Xue also ran over, directing everyone to search the vehicle. Not long after, they found over ten kilograms of drugs and some pistol bullets inside, clearly a gang of drug traffickers.

Drug traffickers like these are numerous along the southwestern border, and break-ins are not uncommon, so everyone is accustomed to it. Seeing it as a wasted effort, Lan Xue left the scene with a heavy heart. Understanding Lan Xue's mood, Ghost Hand and the others followed behind, while the Major caught up, saying, "It's just drug traffickers. What do you think?"

"Handle it according to your regulations." Lan Xue waved her hand and said.

The Major agreed and left. Ghost Hand whispered, "Could it be a probe arranged by Tang Tian?"

"Highly unlikely. I suspect they've already crossed the border. Just look around here—all mountains, and jungles for the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group are as familiar as their own home. We can't just sit idly by—we must cross the border to the neighboring country immediately. What do you think?" Lan Xue said resolutely.

"Alright." Ghost Hand and the others, knowing how Lan Xue felt, agreed.

Looking at the approaching cars, Lan Xue felt extremely heavy-hearted and anxious, secretly saying, "Where are you? Hang in there, wait for me." Melancholy spread through her heart; her eyes turned moist, biting her lips as she walked towards the office building, preparing to leave the country with her luggage.

...

Almost simultaneously, deep in the vast mountains, a mountain hideout was built along the slopes. At the highest point, a large wooden house was constructed on a boulder. Outside the wooden house stood a group of gun-wielding individuals exuding a beastly aura, their cold, stern eyes watching the surroundings intently, missing no detail.

The wooden house was empty, no furniture except for tables and chairs, let alone any appliances. A chair sat in the middle with someone tied to it with thumb-thick ropes—Luo Zheng. His head hung down, appearing listless, his lips cracked, and his eyes bloodshot, utterly exhausted.

The room also housed several armed strongmen, and Tang Tian sat leisurely opposite Luo Zheng. Beside her, a fire burned, roasting meat that radiated a strong aroma. This fragrance roused Luo Zheng's spirit a bit, prompting him to slowly lift his head, take in the scene, shake his head, clearing his mind, "Where is this place?"

"Where this is doesn't matter—what matters is why you're not dead," Tang Tian replied without lifting her head, turning the roasting meat, sniffed the skewer, feeling it was not yet ready, and laid it back on the fire. She took out a small silver dagger, gently trimming her nails, continuing, "Don't expect anyone to save you, nor should you think of escaping."

"Falling into your hands, I didn't plan on going back alive anyway." Luo Zheng said blandly. Having seen and experienced much life and death, Luo Zheng had long looked past it. Though his voice was hoarse and speaking was difficult, he couldn't help but ask, "Did you take the ransom?"

"The ransom—it's merely a joke." Tang Tian chuckled faintly, eating a skewer of roasted meat with an expression of enjoyment, then sipped a bit of tea. Gazing at Luo Zheng, who had turned pale, she mocked, "Thought of something, haven't you? With your abilities, you must have guessed something."

"The ransom is a smoke bomb?" Luo Zheng asked gravely, his eyes flashing with astonishment. Seeing Tang Tian nod contently, he couldn't help but smile bitterly, "You've played everyone like a fiddle. I must admit, you're quite formidable. I'm convinced by my loss to you."

"No, no, no, your intellect is admirable. I won't hide it from you—the entire plan isn't mine. It's someone else's, though I'm not sure who. The contact I received was from a special agent in Sam Country, as far as he claims, and it's thanks to them we managed to get you out of Beijing smoothly," Tang Tian praised.

"The smoke bomb misled my judgment, willingly stepping into replace a hostage. Your true target was me, and as for Song Tao, handing evidence to us was your means of using a knife to kill. Remarkably shrewd. Even if I foresaw this strategy, I would have chosen to exchange the hostages without hesitation. Whoever devised this plan has an intricate mind, grasping human nature to an unbelievable degree. Formidable—I'm not ashamed of losing. I'm curious—why tell me all this? Why not just kill me?" Luo Zheng asked with a face full of bitter smiles. After understanding the whole situation, he realized he'd been used, but couldn't find hate in his heart, feeling rather a hidden admiration for the mastermind, the respect of a strong one for another.

"This person is too formidable. Even I have to fear them a bit, for my little life's sake, I must plot a bit more. Bringing you here was a risk, rather than killing you to avenge my father. With your wit, you must've guessed a little. Speak up then," Tang Tian said, frowning as she rose, standing two meters away from Luo Zheng, staring at him coldly.