The Zong Consortium was still tightening their encirclement. In the buildings on both sides of the streets, some residents watched silently as Ren Xiaosu flitted past them so quickly they could only see his afterimages. It shocked them when they realized it was just a young man who had turned Stronghold 146 upside down.
Could it be that this supernatural being had already surpassed the strength of the consortium's troops?
Gradually, the Zong Consortium's troops set up blockades along several traffic arteries, even mounting heavy machine guns at many key spots. The western part of Stronghold 146 had turned into a "cage."
Ren Xiaosu narrowed his eyes and sprinted. He tried breaking through two defensive lines of fire, but the problem was that there seemed to be an endless stream of Zong Consortium soldiers remanning the positions.
All people would get exhausted no matter what. Even Ren Xiaosu, who had a strong level of fitness, would get tired as well.
However, the Zong Consortium's troops were also at a loss. The platoons who had not encountered Ren Xiaosu yet were terrified because they realized most of the troops on the radio that encountered him were dead. Was the enemy really human?
But when Ren Xiaosu found himself getting lost on the streets, a manhole cover on the ground was suddenly pushed aside by someone underneath it. Ren Xiaosu found the sight to be extremely familiar.
The person in the manhole waved wildly at him. "Here! Over here!"
Ren Xiaosu jumped straight down. But the moment he got into the sewers, he grabbed the person by the neck. "Who are you?"
The grip on the man's neck was so strong his face reddened. "Boss Luo wanted me to bring you a message."
"What message?" Ren Xiaosu lifted him effortlessly.
"He said that you had better not die. If you want to die, make sure to leave some black medicine for him."
Ren Xiaosu was so annoyed he laughed. "Which way do we go?"
"Left, go left!"
Ren Xiaosu confiscated the person's weapons and went left all the way. It was not that he was returning kindness with enmity, but that he had to be extremely cautious at this moment. Who could know if this fellow were sent by the Zong Consortium to trick him on purpose?
The man did not get angry even though he was being carried around like that. "Mr. Qing Zhen told me that you'd definitely come to Stronghold 146 someday. That was why he asked me to help you when I saw you. However, I really did not expect that you would cause such a big commotion."
"Oh? Did I cause a big commotion?" Ren Xiaosu said absent-mindedly.
"Is that not big enough of a commotion?" The man said with a wry smile, "Currently, the higher-ups of the Zong Consortium living in the stronghold feel unsafe as they're afraid you'll kill them if they drop their guard. Before I came to pick you up, you killed several hundred of the stronghold's garrison troops, didn't you? Even though the buildings provided you with cover as you took on the brigade by yourself, you're still the most fearsome person I've come across in my life. You might as well be called the God of War."
Ren Xiaosu's eyebrows twitched. This guy was really good at flattery. However, it seemed that this person also held a rather high position in the Zong Consortium since he knew so much. How else could he be so knowledgeable about the higher-ups? He asked the spy, "Where does the left lead?"
"We have to get out of their perimeter first." The spy said, "I've already prepared a safe house for you where you can wait for things to die down."
"I don't have time to wait any longer." Ren Xiaosu said, "Tell me, where are those Zong Consortium higher-ups?"
The Qing Consortium spy who was being carried around turned anxious and said, "The Zong Consortium's higher-ups? You still think you can kill all of them at this point? There'll be at least half a brigade of soldiers guarding them while the other half tries to capture you. Do you really think you're a god?"
Ren Xiaosu fell silent. Noticing no response, the Qing Consortium spy said with a wry smile, "What's more, the Zong Consortium higher-ups are all currently scattered across the stronghold. Once you kill any of them, the entire stronghold's forces will descend upon you again. At that time, I won't be able to get you out of their perimeter again. Mr. Qing Zhen said I could prioritize my own life over the mission."
As Ren Xiaosu listened to him speak, he continued walking without saying a word. Then he asked, "Which direction leads to the garrison base?"
The Qing Consortium spy gasped. "Are you thinking of attacking their base while it's empty?!"
What was at the garrison base? There were ammunition depots, and the strategic headquarters was located within it as well. Even if Zong Cheng were not there, he could still cause some trouble to the garrison brigade of Stronghold 146 by killing some of their staff officers and commanders.
Ren Xiaosu understood this might not be the most important thing he should be doing, but attacking the enemy's weak point was still his best option right now.
Who could have thought he would be so bold as to venture into the enemy's garrison base by himself? No matter how brave someone might be, they wouldn't do something like that, right?
Ren Xiaosu understood that he might only get a chance if he could create enough chaos to make the Zong Consortium's troops constantly run about.
He was running out of time. The Zong Consortium's troops would probably cross the Gobi soon and arrive at Fortress 178. The only way to make Zong Cheng recall them was to hit them hard here!
Time waited for no man!
However, the spy rambled, "Even if the base is almost defenseless, there are still at least 500 troops stationed there. If you go, you'll be committing suicide."
"Which way?"
"Turn right up ahead."
Ren Xiaosu took out six vials of black medicine and stuffed them into the spy's hands as they walked. He did not have time to repack the black medicine, so he gave them directly to the spy after trading for them in the palace.
"Thank you," Ren Xiaosu said.
The spy said happily, "Hehe, don't mention it. Put me down after we get up close. I know how to find my way back." With the black medicine in hand, Boss Luo would definitely reward him handsomely when he got back to the Qing Consortium. He would have almost nothing to worry about for the rest of his life.
Putting everything else aside, Mr. Qing Zhen and Boss Luo would never treat their loyal servants badly.
Ren Xiaosu thanked the spy as he had risked his life to rescue him. This was despite the fact that he had not used his trump card yet, and it would still prove very difficult for the Zong Consortium brigade to encircle and trap him.
But if he sustained an injury while breaking through the encirclement, and if the enemy used hounds to chase after him, that would only make his next plans harder to carry out.
Moreover, the spy had taken a great risk in the circumstances. Since the spy was willing to risk his life to rescue him, he would bear it in mind.
After walking for a dozen kilometers and taking many turns, the spy said with great familiarity, "Here we are, the Zong Consortium's garrison base is right in front of us. Although the sewers also pass underneath the base, the center is reinforced with rebar grates, and there's no way to get through them. You'll have to figure out how to get in yourself."
Ren Xiaosu nodded and finally put him back on the ground. "Go back and tell Fatty Luo and Qing Zhen that I'll repay them in the future."
As of today, the brothers no longer owed him any more favors. Instead, it was Ren Xiaosu who owed Qing Zhen and Luo Lan a great big favor. Whether it be the help the Qing Consortium gave to capture the Beiwan River, or the spy they sent who risked his life to assist him, Ren Xiaosu could no longer ignore these two brothers.
A moment later, the spy saw Ren Xiaosu draw a black saber out of thin air. He started slashing, and he cut through the rebar grating in front of him like it was paper.
The Qing Consortium spy's jaw dropped. So it turned out the area he couldn't get into was no obstacle for Ren Xiaosu at all. Come to think of it, he was someone who fucking dared to take on a brigade by himself!
Before Ren Xiaosu proceeded any further, he looked back at the spy and asked, "Friend, what's your name?"
"Zheng Yuandong," the spy said.
"I'll remember you." Then Ren Xiaosu turned around and walked into the darkness.