Chapter 14: The Dramatic Twist Unfolds

Chapter 14: The Dramatic Twist Arrives

(Part One)

Suddenly! Guan Shan noticed a flock of sparrows fluttering up from a distant hilltop!

Damn! The dramatic twist is here!

“All right! Once we fill in this blank, our mission will be perfectly complete...” Teacher Bai exhaled deeply, showing no reaction to the unusual atmosphere around them.

“Hit the ground! Take cover!” Guan Shan quickly found a concealed spot, pulled the bolt back to chamber a round, and took a prone position aiming carefully.

It seemed a bit far—roughly 400 meters. Although well within the effective lethal range of the Type 56 rifle, Guan Shan lacked the confidence to take this shot.

“Tch! Such theatrics!” Shen Xingbei muttered under his breath.

Sure enough, there’s always a secondary character who dismisses the tension just to heighten the atmosphere, but Guan Shan’s sixth sense told him the threat was real and close.

“Where? Where exactly? Let me see!” Teacher Bai raised his binoculars. Guan Shan turned his head and whispered, “Teacher Bai, stay hidden!”

“Teacher Bai, where is that? Is there a path from there to here?” Guan Shan asked warily.

“Huh? Is it that serious?” Teacher Bai glanced at Guan Shan’s tense expression, realizing this wasn’t an act, and began to pay close attention. He chose a spot that wouldn’t draw attention, lifted the binoculars to study the terrain, pondered for a moment, then glanced at Shen Xingbei and said, “Hand it over!”

“Oh, alright.” Shen Xingbei was reluctant but dared not argue when faced with Teacher Bai’s serious demeanor.

Carefully unfolding the complex topographic map with Shen Xingbei, Guan Shan stepped back slightly, scrutinizing the map while glancing every few seconds toward the trees to see if they stirred again.

(Part Two)

“Don’t move!” Sergeant Kishizume Kusa whispered sternly from within the grass.

Corporal Kameda Aoki remained motionless on the tree trunk, holding an extremely awkward pose.

Contrary to Guan Shan’s earlier assumption, these two soldiers were not members of Yamamoto Kazuki’s special forces but reconnaissance scouts from the “Special Advance Unit.”

The Special Advance Unit was a Japanese army squad modeled after Germany’s Brandenburg special forces. Organized in companies, equipped with military police sergeants and varying numbers of puppet traitor agents, they all wore uniforms similar to the Eighth Route Army and carried radios. They infiltrated deep behind Eighth Route Army lines to locate high-value strategic targets, then called in airstrikes or coordinated major troop assaults via radio.

Based on postwar historical research comparing Sino-Japanese wartime archives, some scholars suggest that the May 1942 raid and bombing on the Eighth Route Army headquarters, which resulted in Deputy Chief of Staff Zuo Quan’s death, might have been related to this type of Japanese advance unit.

“I’m wearing their clothes...” Kameda Aoki whispered as a warning.

“Shut up! Hold steady! I see the muzzle!” Kishizume Kusa observed the opposite side through his binoculars from within the grass.

Kameda Aoki gritted his teeth and tried his best to maintain balance.

(Part Three)

Teacher Bai took a pen from the upper left pocket of his jacket and used its shaft to trace lightly over the map, gently pointing to a spot before looking up at Guan Shan and saying, “Our current position is right here!”

Guan Shan wasn’t very experienced with topographic maps—he’d only used them occasionally during orienteering and mountain trekking, always under professional guidance. He only knew the basics...

“Can you really read it?” Shen Xingbei kept dismissing Guan Shan’s protests without thinking.

Guan Shan didn’t bother arguing; instead, he carefully matched the numbers on the topographic map with the ridges and valleys they’d passed: Sharp Peak Mountain, Round Peak Mountain, Flat Peak Mountain, Pen Rack Mountain, Saddle Mountain...

“Hey, comrade, why do you talk like that? You’re insulting us!” Li Tianzuo and Li Chenghai grew displeased. They had come over to see what was so special about this ‘treasure’ of a map but understood nothing. Shen Xingbei’s sarcastic remarks happened to coincide, and they took offense.

“Enough quarrelling, crouch down and be careful!” Guan Shan waved them down. The two quickly lowered themselves but still muttered quietly with unfriendly looks directed at Shen Zhiliang.

“That hilltop where the birds took flight—straight-line distance should be about 400 meters?” Guan Shan’s finger hovered, careful not to touch the map.

Teacher Bai moved the pen shaft to that spot and whispered excitedly, “Right! About 420 to 425 meters! Nicely done, Comrade Guan!”

“Teacher Bai, thank you for the help!” Guan Shan hadn’t finished speaking when Teacher Bai handed over the binoculars. Guan Shan glanced left and right, selected a concealed spot, and began carefully observing near the lone tree where the sparrows had scattered.

Teacher Bai took the map back from Shen Xingbei, bent over to join Guan Shan, and also observed the area with naked eyes. As Guan Shan lowered the binoculars, Teacher Bai promptly offered the map again.

A sudden mountain breeze stirred, and more birds took flight.

The lone tree on the hilltop was now free of startled birds but still swayed slightly. Without careful observation, no one would notice anything unusual.

Guan Shan exchanged a glance with Teacher Bai. Bai hesitated slightly but then nodded subtly.

“Huh? This... Teacher Bai, I’m looking too—it seems pretty normal. Maybe you’re just influenced by him!” Shen Xingbei muttered quietly.

Guan Shan turned and ordered, “Tianzuo, Chenghai! Hurry and pack up! Prepare to move!”

“Hmph, like it’s real!” Shen Xingbei continued his sarcastic remarks.

Li Tianzuo and Li Chenghai ignored Shen Xingbei and efficiently packed as instructed.

“Don’t touch my equipment!” Shen Xingbei complained.

“Xiao Shen, don’t get upset. Listen to Comrade Guan and pack quickly!” Teacher Bai scolded softly.

“Teacher Bai, sorry to ask...” Guan Shan began.

“Don’t be shy, Comrade Guan!” Teacher Bai encouraged.

“Look, assuming the people at that spot spot us—friend or foe aside—if they want to intercept us...” Guan Shan traced a rough line above the topographic map with his finger.

“Right! But if they are professional surveyors or geologists equipped for climbing, your route is slower...” Teacher Bai pointed with the pen and explained, “The slope there, though steep, is only about thirteen or fourteen meters high. You can tie a quick knot in a rope and avoid detours! Over here, there’s a seventy-degree slope about twenty meters high, with vegetation and bushes. I guess you all could climb that barehanded?”

Guan Shan nodded repeatedly, still casting glances toward that direction.

Thank you for reading and recommending!

(End of Chapter)