Not enough Japanese devils to kill? 1.4 billion people volunteer for the Battle of Shanghai.

"Stop hiding, I've seen you."

Lin Yun's voice wasn't loud, but it echoed over the swamp like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, creating ripples.

Lu Chuan's pupils suddenly contracted. A chill ran from the soles of his feet straight up to the top of his head, climbing up his spine until his body stiffened.

How did she find out?

Did the reeds move? The wind blows and the reeds move, but he used a reed tube—hollow, stiff, and it doesn't sway with the wind.

He checked it three times.

Was it just a bubbling sound? The semi-suspended concealment method involves not touching the bottom with your feet, keeping your body suspended so as not to stir up the mud or create bubbles.

Was the light reflecting off something? His crossbow was wrapped in carbon fiber cloth, so it didn't reflect light. His hands were covered in mud, so they didn't reflect light either.

Was it the smell? They were covered in mud, masking all scents. The swamp reeked of mud; it was impossible to distinguish one clump of mud from another of people. There was no flaw.

Or—did she not realize it at all, and was just bluffing him?

The team members behind Lu Chuan also had different expressions, their eyes filled with disbelief.

The Northeast soldier lay prone in the muddy water, a reed tube slipping from his mouth. His eyes were wide open, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. Captain, is she bluffing us?"

The scout in the group, lying next to the Northeast soldier, twitched at the corner of his mouth.

His finger was still on the trigger, but his crossbow had been moved away from the back of the female captain's head.

He didn't know why he moved away; perhaps it was because—if she had really noticed them, then aiming at the back of her head would have been pointless.

At this moment, Lu Chuan was still struggling with his decision. Countless possibilities flashed through his mind—was it temperature? The silt was insulating, and thermal imaging couldn't detect it.

Yes... he couldn't think of anything.

He believed that his team had hidden themselves very well. They stayed in the water for forty minutes without moving, without coughing or sneezing, and even when they farted, they did so carefully, slowly and bit by bit.

He couldn't figure it out. How exactly did that woman find them?

On that small hill, Lin Yun saw that Lu Chuan's team was still not giving up, so she stood up from beside the fire, patted the mud off her body, and slowly walked down the hill.

Then, she raised her right hand, hooked her middle finger, and beckoned it towards Lu Chuan.

"You guys, come here."

That middle finger, that gesture, seemed particularly arrogant in the calm swamp.

Lu Chuan's pupils contracted sharply. He stood up from the mud, mud streaming down his trouser legs.

"How did you find us?"

Lin Yun stretched out his finger and pointed at the reed tube in Lu Chuan's hand.

"Your reed tube is too straight. Reeds in the swamp, after being blown by the wind and soaked in water, will bend to some extent."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the team members behind Lu Chuan.

"Yours, and those of your teammates, are too straight. Like a chopstick stuck in water."

Lu Chuan lowered his head and looked at the reed tube in his hand.

It is indeed straight.

"Just because of that?"

Lin Yun shrugged.

"Otherwise what?"

"Next time, remember to find a curve."

Upon hearing this, Lu Chuan's face instantly turned red.

"I'm straight! Fuck!" He threw the reed pipe on the ground, splashing water, but it only splashed his own face.

The Northeast soldier stood up from the mud and roared.

"Captain! She said you're gay!"

"Shut up!" Lu Chuan shouted even louder.

The other team members squatted in the water, wanting to laugh but not daring to, their faces turning purple from holding it in.

Lin Yun looked at Lu Chuan's flushed face and continued,

"Of course, it's not just because you're gay."

"I'm straight," Lu Chuan interrupted Lin Yun, emphasizing deliberately.

"Okay, Lao Wan."

Lin Yun didn't give Lu Chuan a chance to continue speaking. She pointed to the body of water behind Lu Chuan.

"In the waters where you were hiding, there was a thin film of oil on the surface. It was the oil from people's bodies. You covered yourself with mud, but it couldn't cover the oil. The oil film reflected the sunlight, giving off a faint, iridescent glow."

Lu Chuan turned his head and looked at the body of water. The surface was calm, but there was indeed a faint film of oil.

"We do have many shortcomings in swamp camouflage." His voice was hoarse, but steady.

"What I want to ask you now is—when exactly did you discover us?"

Lin Yun looked at him and casually said,

"It was discovered a long time ago."

Lu Chuan's brows furrowed even more. His voice rose half an octave, tinged with frustration.

"You discovered it a long time ago, why didn't you say so sooner?"

Lin Yun looked at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"The weather's nice today. I'd like you to stay in the swamp a little longer." She paused. "You've been in the water for forty minutes; it must be quite comfortable, right?"

Before Lu Chuan could even speak, his teammates behind him instantly became furious.

The Northeastern soldiers were the first to get angry.

"Comfortable? You try soaking in the water for forty minutes, you bastard! We soaked in the water for forty minutes, not daring to move an inch, even farting cautiously. Are you telling us you already knew?"

The remaining team members glared fiercely at Lin Yun, their faces turning as red as monkey bottoms with anger.

"Captain, we've been made a fool of."

Lu Chuan raised his hand to stop the commotion behind him.

He looked at Lin Yun with an unprecedentedly serious expression.

"I admit, you're very capable; you're very observant."

"Can you tell me your name?"

Lin Yun did not answer immediately, but stood on the small hill, looking down at Lu Chuan.

"Then let me introduce myself." Lin Yun's lips curled into a smile.

"There are no towering trees in the world. Remember my name, Lin Yun."

Lu Chuan was taken aback. He hadn't expected that this female air force pilot would still have the time and inclination to introduce herself at a time like this.

His eyes were fixed on Lin Yun, and his voice had regained its previous calmness.

"Lin Yun, even if you've discovered us, what can you do?"

"You have daggers, we have crossbows."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the five people behind Lin Yun—Zhang Liang, Shen Fei, Qingniao, and Zhao Shu.

"Although crossbows are less effective in the swamp, you are the air force, and we are the reconnaissance troops. In close combat, you can't beat us either."

Lu Chuan's voice suddenly rose, as if he had finally regained his confidence.

"So even if you find us, so what? We'll still send you on your way. It'll just take a little more effort."

His finger was firmly on the trigger, his body leaned slightly forward, his muscles tense, ready to launch an attack at any moment.

But at this moment, Lin Yun's gaze turned to what was behind Lu Chuan.

"Zhou Zhenhai, it's your turn to go on stage."

"Captain Lu, look behind you."

Lu Chuan's pupils contracted sharply. He turned around abruptly, aiming the crossbow at his back.

His movements were so fast that the crossbow string trembled. But when he saw what was behind him, his fingers froze.

The reeds were split open.

Six people emerged from the reeds. They were wearing navy camouflage uniforms, the blue-gray patches standing out against the green backdrop of the swamp.

Their boots pounded in the mud, making a dull thud as they walked slowly and deliberately, like six cheetahs closing in.

Leading the way was Zhou Zhenhai. He held a military knife in his hand, the blade gleaming coldly in the morning light.

Lu Chuan's crossbow was still raised.

But he can hit those in front, not those behind.

He can beat Lin Yun, but he can't beat Zhou Zhenhai.

He can fight the air force, but not the navy.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"When...did you arrive?"

Zhou Zhenhai did not answer. He walked up to Lu Chuan and stood there, half a head taller than Lu Chuan.

He slowly raised his arms, assuming a standard fighting stance.

He was demonstrating his strength, demonstrating their, the fighting spirit of the Marines.

"I've been here for a while." Zhou Zhenhai's voice echoed in the silent swamp.

"But I'm waiting for the Air Force, what are you waiting for?"

Lu Chuan fell silent...