Eunuch, do you really know these martial arts?

Inside the vertical shaft, the cold, damp air carried the musty smell of rust mixed with diesel fuel.

"I'll go first."

The ghost lowered its voice and stopped Jiang Nian, who was about to take action.

He was well aware of Jiang Nian's current condition; the continuous high-intensity battles and the forced closure of the gate at the last moment had undoubtedly placed a significant strain on his body.

As the team's combat commander and scout, he must now take on the responsibility of scouting ahead.

Jiang Nian didn't insist, nodded, and pulled Han Dong to her side.

This is a warning to the ghost to be careful.

The ghost took a deep breath, checked the pulse pistol in its hand, and used both hands and feet to climb up the rusty metal ladder.

His movements remained agile, but were clearly marked by caution.

Before each step, test the stability of the ladder.

Below, Jiang Nian, Ling Que, and the restrained Han Dong held their breath, looking up as the ghost's figure gradually merged into the dim light at the well's mouth.

Time passed slowly in the silence, each second seemingly stretched out.

The roar of the underground river and the hum of the diesel generator became distant, leaving only the sounds of each other's heartbeats and breaths.

A few minutes later, the ghost's figure reappeared at the edge of the well.

He made a downward gesture to indicate "safety".

"Come on up, the exit is safe. It's an abandoned facility outside, no enemies spotted."

Everyone was cheered up.

"Lingque, you go first," Jiang Nian said.

The sparrow responded and nimbly began to climb.

After Lingque safely reached the wellhead, Jiang Nian glanced at Han Dong, whose face was ashen, grabbed his collar with one hand, and used his other hand and feet to climb up quickly like a monkey.

Even with someone with him, his speed was no slower than that of the Sparrow.

Finally, Jiang Nian, carrying Han Dong, leaped out and stepped onto solid ground once again.

The biting wind instantly enveloped him, but unlike the eternal, deathly cold beneath the ice, the wind here carried the unique scent of the Greenland ice sheet.

He quickly looked around.

This appears to be the interior of an abandoned small building half-buried in ice and rock, filled with broken concrete components, twisted metal frames, and thick snow.

The shaft opening is located in a corner of the building and is partially obscured by a tilted metal cover.

It is extremely difficult to find unless you are looking for it intentionally.

The sky overhead was gray and hazy. The wind and snow seemed to have subsided a bit, but visibility was still low.

Through the broken walls, one can see an endless white ice field and the outline of black mountains covered in ice and snow in the distance.

“Confirm the coordinates,” Ghost said to Spirit Sparrow.

Lingque immediately took out the locator and began operating it.

A moment later, she reported: "We are now about 22 kilometers southwest of the original target area. The rendezvous point is about 35 kilometers northeast of us."

Thirty-five kilometers might not seem like much under normal circumstances, but in this extremely harsh icy environment, carrying a prisoner was a different story.

We must also be wary of the possibility of organized remnants; it will undoubtedly be an extremely difficult journey.

"Contact the base, report the situation, and request assistance."

The ghost gave the order while keeping a watchful eye on its surroundings.

The sparrow attempted to activate the encrypted communication device, but the screen only displayed a weak signal bar and a large number of interference waves.

"The signal is extremely poor, affected by strong geomagnetic interference and possible residual shockwaves from the base explosion, making it impossible to establish a stable connection. We can only send short messages intermittently," Lingque said, frowning.

“Send us our coordinates and basic information, indicating that we are carrying a high-value target,” Ghost said decisively.

"clear."

Just as Lingque was engrossed in operating the equipment, Han Dong, who had been left in the snow in a corner by Jiang Nian, suddenly let out a low and eerie laugh.

"Heh... Did you think it was over once you escaped?"

His voice was hoarse, carrying a sense of desperate madness.

Jiang Nian walked up to him, looking down at him with icy eyes: "Your usefulness is almost over. If you don't want to experience something even more painful before you see the military court judge, you'd better shut your mouth."

Han Dong met Jiang Nian's gaze, but a hint of mockery flashed in his cloudy eyes.

"Pain? You have no idea what real pain is. Zero... he'll experience it sooner or later..."

"Zero?"

Jiang Nian's pupils contracted slightly. She suddenly squatted down and grabbed Han Dong's collar. "What happened to Ling? What else did you do to him?"

"Cough cough..." Han Dong coughed violently, his face turning red, but he stopped talking and just looked at Jiang Nian with that chilling smile.

"Consultant Jiang,"

Ghost stepped forward and whispered, "He's deliberately provoking you, or he might be out of his mind. The most important thing is to rendezvous with the support team as soon as possible and bring him back. There are ways to get him to talk."

Jiang Nian took a deep breath of the cold air, suppressed the restlessness and doubt in her heart, and let go of his hand.

He knew the ghost was right; wasting time here was pointless.

Just then, Lingque raised her head, a hint of joy on her face.

"Short message sent successfully! Base has replied that the response has been received and the pick-up helicopter has changed course and is approaching us! However, due to weather and interference, the estimated arrival time is two to three hours!"

Two or three hours...

The tension that had just eased everyone's mind was raised again.

Exposed for three hours on this vast, empty ice field, the variables are too great.

"We can't just sit here and wait."

Ghost immediately made a judgment: "Move forward and head towards the rendezvous point, while finding a suitable hiding place to wait for the helicopter."

He looked at Jiang Nian: "Advisor Jiang, can your body still hold up?"

Jiang Nian silently circulated his somewhat stagnant internal energy and nodded: "No problem."

His recovery ability far exceeds that of ordinary people. Although his meridians are still somewhat uncomfortable, he still has the physical strength to travel a long distance.

"Okay, get your gear ready, we'll be off in five minutes."

The group quickly checked the remaining supplies. Weapons and ammunition were not consumed much, but food and water were being consumed more quickly in the low temperature.

Lingque carefully inspected the data storage equipment and confirmed that the core data downloaded from the base's main control console was intact, which was the most important gain of this trip.

Jiang Nian tied Han Dong's hands behind his back with special straps and installed a miniature locator and a remote-controlled electric shock device on his body to prevent him from escaping or taking any extreme actions along the way.

Five minutes later, the exhausted but determined four-person team set off again, disappearing into the boundless snow and wind of the Greenland ice field.

The wind and snow seemed to be more intense than before, and visibility was intermittent.

The snow was knee-deep, and each step required considerable effort. A fierce wind whipped up ice crystals, scrubbing their masks and protective suits like sandpaper, creating an unsettling rustling sound.

The ghost led the way, guided by a compass and an electronic map that the spirit bird constantly calibrated.

Jiang Nian escorted Han Dong in the middle, while Ling Que brought up the rear, responsible for guarding the rear and monitoring the surrounding environment.

After traveling for more than an hour, a rocky area composed of huge ice pebbles and rocks appeared ahead, which could provide some shelter from the wind and snow. "Let's rest there for ten minutes."

The ghost made a hand gesture.

The group took shelter behind a huge ice rock, temporarily avoiding the direct impact of the strong winds.

Lingque immediately tried to contact the base again to confirm the location of the pick-up helicopter.

Jiang Nian leaned against the ice rock, closed his eyes, and while adjusting his breathing to recover his strength, slowly extended his divine sense outward.

Although the area is limited, in this environment, no movement can escape his perception.

Suddenly, he frowned slightly and opened his eyes.

"Something's up," he whispered.

Ghost and Sparrow instantly became alert and gripped their weapons tightly.

"Which direction?" the ghost asked.

"At one o'clock, about 1.5 kilometers away, there's the sound of engines... It's snowmobiles, and there are... more than three of them." Jiang Nian listened intently, trying to distinguish the faint vibrations and noises carried by the wind.

The organization's pursuers!
They really didn't give up!

"It seems the explosion and collapse didn't completely eliminate all the rats." The ghost's eyes were icy. "Prepare for battle!"

The group quickly used the terrain of the rocky area to find suitable firing positions.

Ling Que tied Han Dong securely to a rock and set up a simple alarm trigger.

Jiang Nian took a deep breath, feeling the internal energy flowing faster and faster within his body.

He knew that a fierce battle was inevitable.

On the ice field, facing snowmobiles that are far more maneuverable than theirs, running away is the most foolish option; the only option is to use the terrain to their advantage and hold out for reinforcements.

The sound of an engine grew louder as it approached.

Soon, through the wind and snow, several black dots could be seen rapidly approaching.

"Barrier, Lao Zhao, how's the situation on your end? We're being pursued by the enemy and urgently need reinforcements!"

The ghost tried again to contact the Bulwark team left to provide support on the perimeter, but the communicator still only emitted static.

The snowmobiles became clearer and clearer. They were three large snowmobiles that had been modified and fitted with skid plates and weapon mounts. Each snowmobile carried two people, all wearing white polar combat suits and fully enclosed helmets.

They stopped about 300 meters from the rocky area, a distance that is right at the edge of the effective range of most small arms, showing the experience of the enemy.

A rider who appeared to be the leader jumped off his motorcycle, raised a megaphone, and shouted in heavily accented English:
"Put down your weapons and hand over Dr. Han Dong! We can guarantee your safety!"

The ghost sneered and replied in Common: "Dream on!"

The leader didn't seem surprised; he put down the megaphone and made a gesture.

The six enemies immediately took cover on their snowmobiles, formed a battle formation, and raised their weapons.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The battle breaks out instantly!

The dark red pulse beam, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, slashed through the wind and snow, shooting towards the rocky area. It struck the ice and rocks, instantly melting out charred pits and sending ice shards flying everywhere!

"Suppression shot!"

Ghost calmly gave the order, and his pulse pistol fired precisely, a blue beam shooting out and forcing an enemy who was trying to flank back behind cover.

Lingque used a huge rock as cover, firing short bursts of his rifle to disrupt the enemy's aiming and movement.

The enemy's firepower was fierce and their coordination was excellent. Three snowmobiles took turns providing cover fire, pressing forward step by step.

They clearly wanted to use their firepower advantage to suppress and wear down Jiang Nian and his men.

"This can't go on, our ammunition won't last much longer!"

Lingque quickly said as she changed to a new magazine.

The ghost also realized this problem.

He looked at Jiang Nian, their eyes met, and they instantly understood each other's thoughts.

"Sparrow, smoke bomb!" Ghost shouted.

Lingque immediately understood, took a specially made smoke grenade from her tactical vest, pulled the safety, and threw it forward with force.

"puff--"

Thick white smoke quickly spread across the ice field, obscuring the vision of both sides.

"Advisor Jiang!"

The ghost looked at Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian nodded, his figure darting out from behind cover like a ghost. Instead of charging at the enemy, he used the smoke and terrain as cover along the edge of the rocky area to quickly outflank the enemy!
He moved incredibly fast, his footsteps leaving almost no trace on the snow, like a ghost sweeping across the ice field.

The enemy clearly did not expect that the opponent would dare to launch an attack despite being outnumbered, let alone that someone could possess such terrifying speed.

Their firepower was drawn to the smoke and the feints of the ghosts and sparrows.

Like a cold grim reaper, Jiang Nian silently approached the enemy's flank and rear.

He chose the snowmobile closest to him, where two enemies were intently watching the smoke-filled area.

It's now!

Jiang Nian flicked his wrist, and two beams of cold light shot out!

"Whizzing!"

"what!"

The two enemies screamed almost simultaneously as their wrists, which were holding the guns, were struck precisely by a throwing knife, and their pulse rifles were instantly knocked out of their hands!
Jiang Nian moved swiftly, pouncing like a cheetah, and before the second enemy could even draw his secondary weapon, he was already close to his side.

A heavy chop to the side of his neck!
"Crack!"

A clear cracking sound rang out, and the enemy collapsed to the ground without uttering a sound.

Another enemy clutched his wrist, looking in horror at Jiang Nian who had appeared like a divine warrior. Just as he was about to shout, Jiang Nian's fist was already pounded into his chest like a hammer!
"boom!"

After a dull thud, the enemy was thrown backward as if hit by a speeding truck, crashing heavily onto the snowmobile and remaining motionless.

In the blink of an eye, two enemies were taken down!

The enemies on the other two snowmobiles finally noticed the change on their flank, and in a fit of shock and anger, immediately turned their guns on them!

But Jiang Nian had already anticipated this. The moment he finished off his target, he suddenly pushed off the ground and rolled to the side and back, hiding behind a protruding ice rock.

"Da da da!"

Dense pulse beams of light chased after him, shattering the spot where he had just stood and the ice rocks into countless fragments!
"good chance!"

Ghost let out a low growl and, together with Sparrow, peered out from behind cover. Their weapons spewed out tongues of vengeful fire, accurately striking the enemy who had exposed themselves by attacking Jiang Nian!

"Uh!"

An enemy was struck in the shoulder by a ghostly pulse beam and fell to the ground screaming.

The other enemy was suppressed by Lingque's pinpoint fire and couldn't raise his head.

The situation on the battlefield reversed instantly!

Seeing the situation was dire, the remaining four enemies' leader decisively ordered, "Retreat!" (End of Chapter)