Lin Yuan and Zeng Yilong prepared to descend. Before leaving, Lin Yuan reminded Wu Tian, "Meng Yue, aim carefully later and don't shoot anyone dead."
It wouldn't be much fun if they killed them all.
"Understood, but are you sure you don't want to wear helmets?" Wu Tian was still a little worried.
After all, bullets have no eyes. No matter how good Lin Yuan's recovery was, if his head was shot through, he couldn't just grow another one.
"It's fine. I trust my judgment. Looking at how they're standing guard, I'd be lucky if they have even five percent of combat effectiveness."
Wu Tian could only nod helplessly. He gave Cao Xueqin a look, signaling her to keep a close eye. Among the three of them, only Jiang Ziqi had brought a rifle; Lin Yuan and she only had pistols.
It would be safer if Cao Xueqin could aim at the people on the opposite side.
Lin Yuan's prediction was indeed correct. They had circled the woods below the slope for quite some time, but the people in the building opposite hadn't noticed them at all.
Lin Yuan was confused; these people weren't cooperating.
With no other choice, he took out his slingshot, pulled it back straight against his face, and let go. The stone flew out with a 'song' sound, shattering the glass of the closest, largest house.
This made quite a commotion. Jiang Ziqi, who was on observation duty via the walkie-talkie, almost burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, Brother Lin Yuan, you have no idea! Your shot startled those two people who were making love in bed! The man probably lost his… enthusiasm, hahaha."
Whether the man lost his enthusiasm or not, the people in all three buildings were stirred up. The guards on the rooftop were also startled awake, looking around with their guns, unable to find anyone.
Lin Yuan and Zeng Yilong, hiding behind the trees, could barely contain their laughter.
"Brother Zeng, what do you think? How did they manage to survive this long, hahaha."
"I, haha, I don't know either. Could it be that evil people live long lives?"
After waiting for a while and finding that the opposite side still hadn't discovered them, Lin Yuan picked up his slingshot and fired another stone, shattering another window.
This time, they were finally discovered.
The people on the rooftops of the three buildings didn't waste any time and started shooting towards Lin Yuan and the others.
However, the bullets seemed to be going everywhere but their direction. Lin Yuan didn't even feel the trees next to them being hit. The closest ones landed on the trees next to the ones beside him.
Some bullets even flew up the slope. Apart from kicking up a few clumps of dirt and nearly scaring Jiang Ziqi, who was observing, to death, they hit nothing.
Now it was Lin Yuan's turn to be puzzled. This shouldn't be happening. Why were they so weak? Did they have no training at all?
Without reaching for his pistol, Lin Yuan continued to use his slingshot, the stones accurately hitting the people peeking out.
Some people inside the houses were hit and writhed on the ground, clutching their heads. One of the leaders finally regained some composure and quickly told his men to stay away from the windows.
"Don't look anymore. Someone outside is using a slingshot."
His clothes were disheveled, and his pants weren't even fully on. He looked utterly pathetic. The others wanted to laugh at his state but dared not.
Their past experiences at school still reminded them of those terrifying scenes.
Finally, another person snapped back from the sudden attack and asked, "Brother Qi, what should we do next?"
"Don't rush. The ones hitting us are with stones, probably using slingshots or something similar. Get your clothes on first, and then we'll test their capabilities."
"Right, we have guns. Aren't they just asking for death by using slingshots?" someone suddenly realized they still had guns.
But immediately, he received a slap on the head.
"Are you sure your brain isn't blocked by something? Doesn't everyone have access to air drops? Do you think they wouldn't have guns?"
The leader thought carefully and said, "Not necessarily. It's also possible their bullets are few, or they've run out. They're using their guns for survival, which is why they're using things like slingshots to attack."
"That makes sense, it makes sense," the others chimed in.
He seemed to relish the feeling of being admired and recognized. He smiled and said, "So, let's force out their remaining bullets first, and then we'll take them all down, letting them know we're not made of mud!"
"Good! Let's do as Brother Qi says. How do we force them to fire all their bullets?"
The leader's lips curved into a smile, as if he had everything under control. "It's simple. We know their location now. We just need to feint an attack from the front and flank them from the sides. At the very least, we can force out their bullets, and with luck, we might even kill one or two."
He then looked at the person who had just spoken to him, "Go find the people in the other two buildings and use them as cannon fodder. We'll go for the encirclement."
"But will they cooperate with us?"
"Use the old method. Promise them that once rescue arrives, their children will be safe and their futures bright. These farmers, who can't even read, care most about their children's futures. This is the easiest way to deceive them." In fact, what he said wasn't entirely false; his father had already been rescued by the Tianfu Safe Zone, and although he didn't know what position he held there, he figured it wouldn't be bad.
"Understood, I'll go do it now."
Lin Yuan and the others were unaware of the situation inside the houses. They had been waiting in the woods for a long time without seeing anyone and were growing impatient.
"Why don't we just charge in and kill them all? They haven't come out for so long," Zeng Yilong was getting restless.
"Brother Zeng, don't be so anxious. Haste makes waste…" Before he could finish, the walkie-talkie crackled to life.
"Brother Lin Yuan, people are coming out. But Sister Xueqin doesn't recognize any of them."
When Lin Yuan received the message, he also saw people carrying pots and pans, holding hoes and sickles.
Most of them appeared to be older.
What was going on? Were they forced to be cannon fodder? Where were the others?
Sensing something was wrong, Lin Yuan quickly grabbed his walkie-talkie and spoke from behind the tree, "Ziqi, see if anyone else is coming out from the surrounding areas. I have a feeling they're planning a sneak attack."
"Understood."
During the short time Jiang Ziqi was observing, Lin Yuan and Zeng Yilong retreated, shooting with their slingshots as they went. The slingshots were taken from the military camp, and their power was considerable. The stones, when fired at pot lids and stainless steel basins, left large dents.
In less than two minutes, Jiang Ziqi's message came through.
"Brother Lin Yuan, I found them! A group of people is indeed circling out from behind the houses, and it looks like they're heading this way."
"Heh heh." Hearing that his guess was correct, Lin Yuan let out a sinister chuckle. "In that case, Meng Yue, intercept them along their path. Using only bows would be too obvious, and using pistols should be fine. Just don't aim too accurately. Ziqi, follow her. And tell that girl Cao Xueqin to guard those three houses, just in case they have a third plan."
"Received, heading over now."
Meanwhile, the so-called cannon fodder, possibly coerced, were advancing slowly, huddled together, holding pot lids or iron pots, their heads retracted, not showing themselves.
Little did they know that this formation was a living target, not even as strong as a turtle's shell, easily crushed and shattered.
The group led by the so-called "Brother Qi" were now wearing thick clothes, awkwardly holding guns, and advancing rapidly towards them, imitating the three-man formation used by the military.
But as they walked, an arrow landed precisely on a tree in front of them.
"Enemy attack!!!"