The little star from the Gobi Desert, handed over to the state, is hailed as a national treasure.

"Brigade Commander, what's going on?"

The moment Song Dazhuang grabbed the walkie-talkie, a sudden thought flashed through his mind: "An ant swarm?"

"Very likely!" Commander Bai's tone also revealed anxiety. "If it's a large hourglass, we might really have encountered an ant colony."

Liang Zhe tightened his grip on the steering wheel and involuntarily released the accelerator, slowing the car down.

"Encountering a swarm of ants is no joke! Liang Zhe, stop the car immediately, everyone get out and be on alert, no further progress allowed!"

Desert ant colonies differ from ordinary ants; they often contain highly venomous substances. Their stinger venom can cause dizziness, nausea, and convulsions, and in severe cases, can trigger anaphylactic shock and lead to death within 2 minutes.

Moreover, these ant colonies are highly aggressive; once faced with a crisis, they often swarm out, making them impossible for ordinary people to withstand.

In other words, if the convoy rashly enters, even if it only crushes an anthill and disturbs the ant colony, the consequences could be disastrous.

Liang Zhe felt a chill run through him. He hadn't expected the other side to be so ruthless, setting up their hideout in the center of an ant colony, using these desert "thugs" to block their pursuers.

"But brigade commander, if we don't look for..." Song Dazhuang's voice was filled with grief and indignation, and he couldn't finish the sentence. But everyone understood that no one knew what kind of torture Tian Tian was suffering in the hands of enemy agents.

"I understand how you feel. The convoy will stop. Everyone get out of the vehicles and be on alert, avoiding the sand pits. Advance individually!"

"Brigade Commander," Liang Zhe took a deep breath, his tone resolute, "tell everyone to stay put, I'll go ahead and scout ahead alone."

The elusive nature of desert ant colonies doesn't mean they only exist where there are hourglasses. They can lurk beneath any sand dune, ready to attack at any moment.

He refused to let his comrades risk their lives for him!

"Liang Zhe, do you think we're all afraid of death?!"

Commander Bai gave a cold laugh.

"Who here hasn't fought their way through a hail of bullets? Enough talk, everyone, advance in a fan shape, quick!"

"brigadier……"

"Execute the order! Maintain contact!"

Liang Zhe suppressed his turbulent emotions and replied in a deep voice, "Yes."

As soon as the car came to a stop, Song Dazhuang was the first to jump out, shouldering a submachine gun. Liang Zhe also drew his pistol, and the communications soldier, carrying a radio, followed closely behind, also armed and ready.

"Attention everyone, we're close to the border here. Be wary of enemy agents crossing the border to provide support. Also, avoid swarms of ants and watch your step!"

After the order was given, the soldiers dispersed, each one focused intently and cautiously advancing forward.

All of this was clearly seen by Gao Yanzhou through the telescope.

They were hiding in an underground bunker when they saw that everyone's vehicles were approaching the edge of the minefield, but suddenly they all stopped.

Moreover, the originally orderly convoy formation completely dispersed, no longer advancing in a concentrated manner.

"Strange..." Yan Shijun frowned and muttered, "Could they have discovered landmines?"

"It doesn't seem like it." Gao Yanzhou put down his binoculars, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head. "Our landmines are very well hidden, and judging from their equipment, they didn't bring any engineers or bomb disposal equipment. They probably didn't discover a minefield."

"Then why did they spread out and advance?" Yan Shijun asked, puzzled.

Once the troops are scattered, the large-scale destructive power of the landmines cannot be exerted—even if a soldier accidentally steps on a landmine, it can only kill or injure one or two people, and it will not achieve the "total annihilation" effect they intended.

"It's not clear yet." Gao Yanzhou raised the binoculars again. "From the current perspective, they are all on high alert, but the search is not being rushed. They are clearly on high alert."

This undoubtedly means that their previous deployment has largely failed.

Gao Yanzhou frowned, thinking nervously. They had gone to great lengths to lure the main force of the army here. If they could not achieve large-scale casualties, wouldn't all their efforts be in vain?

An idea that had already taken shape was finally decided at this moment. Gao Yanzhou said coldly, "Ruowen, go up."

Shen Ruowen abruptly turned her head, a flash of humiliation and bitterness in her eyes, and retorted through gritted teeth, "Team leader, they have heavy weapons. If I go out, I'll be a sitting duck!"

"Don't worry." Gao Yanzhou's lips curled into a sinister smile. "As soon as you show yourself, Liang Zhe and his men will definitely gather their forces to surround you. Once we can get them back together, the landmine will explode and kill them all." He paused, his tone slightly seductive. "Only in this way can the landmine unleash its maximum power."

"Wu Hao can go too!" Shen Ruowen was burning with anger. She had risked her life for the organization, but in the end, she was to be used as bait to be pushed out and die.

Gao Yanzhou chuckled, his eyes playful: "Ruowen, have you forgotten? Liang Zhe has a rather good impression of you. Your presence will be much more effective than Wu Hao's."

"you--"

Shen Ruowen was so angry that she trembled all over.

She did indeed attempt to seduce Liang Zhe using her beauty, as ordered by the organization, but he remained unmoved throughout.

These words put her in a dilemma: admitting that Liang Zhe had no interest in her was tantamount to admitting her defeat; if she tacitly agreed that Liang Zhe had feelings for her, she would have no choice but to obediently become bait.

Now that things have come to this, she's facing the same fate whether she sticks her neck out or not; she has no other choice.

Shen Ruowen took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and said coldly, "Fine, I'll go. But I request fire support." After all, she was only human, and under the enemy's dense search network, if even one sniper rifle locked onto her, she would surely die.

"Agreed." Gao Yanzhou waved his hand without hesitation. Several enemy agents beside him immediately set up their submachine guns and aimed them at the exit of the bunker.

Yan Shijun patted Shen Ruowen on the shoulder with a smile, his tone insincere: "Don't be nervous, Deputy Team Leader Shen. You are our comrade-in-arms, and we will never abandon you."

Shen Ruowen sneered inwardly, too lazy to engage in pretense with them, and turned to walk away quickly.

The search team continued to advance, but everyone's pace involuntarily slowed down.

The number of sand pits under their feet far exceeded their expectations, and they were spread over a wide area. As far as the eye could see, there were only dark pits within a hundred meters ahead, and it seemed like there was no end in sight.

With such density and quantity, a single misstep could have unimaginable consequences.

Liang Zhe stared at the deadly trap before him, his heart aching as if being torn apart. His daughter might be hidden nearby by enemy agents, but this sand pit seemed an insurmountable obstacle.

If he forces a breakthrough, it will be difficult to guarantee the safety of his comrades; if anything goes wrong, how can he explain it to these brothers?

Torn between his closest family and his comrades-in-arms who had shared life and death, Liang Zhe was in agony, unable to make a decision.

Just as he was struggling with his inner conflict, the communications soldier suddenly shouted, "Regiment Commander Liang, something's up!"

Song Dazhuang reacted quickly, immediately raising his hand and shouting, "Stop!"

Upon hearing the order, the soldiers behind him all quickly stopped in their tracks.

"Helicopter transmits signal: Enemy vehicle spotted ahead!"