Courtyard House: Report enemy agents at the start, and you'll take off immediately.

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At this moment, Chen Ming led his squad to the temporary command post where Zhao De was located. He stepped forward, saluted, and said, "Reporting, Captain, we have arrived. Please give instructions for the next step."

Zhao De patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "Good brother, you've worked hard. You and Xiao Liu should go and take over the guarding of the prisoners of war. Don't let them take the opportunity to cause trouble or escape."

"Yes," Chen Ming responded, giving a wink to Xiao Liu beside him. The two immediately sprang into action, taking over the duties previously held by the personnel managing the prisoners of war.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, a small squad responsible for searching for enemy supplies and documents was busy at work. A rookie soldier named Zhang Wei accidentally discovered a hidden bunker entrance. "Hey, Lao Ma, look over there, isn't there a door?" he said, shining his flashlight in the direction.

Old Ma, a seasoned veteran, rushed over to check the situation upon hearing this. "It really does look like a secret passage. Shall we go in and take a look?"

The two cautiously made their way through the narrow, dimly lit tunnel, the air inside stifling. When they reached the end, they found several computers in operation and some data that hadn't been destroyed. "Oh dear, this must be a secret enemy communications station!"

Just as the two were excitedly preparing to report this major discovery to the outside, a soft footstep sound came from behind... followed by a strong hand covering Zhang Wei's mouth as he tried to shout. "Shh—don't speak."

The two men breathed a sigh of relief after realizing that the unfamiliar man in disguise was actually a member of a friendly special forces team. "You're lucky to have found this place. I'm Lao Wei, here on a special mission. This information is extremely important to us."

Upon hearing this, the two quickly explained the situation to the other party in detail and expressed their willingness to cooperate in completing the next task.

Back at the makeshift camp, as the last truck, loaded with captured supplies, slowly drove away from the front lines and headed back to headquarters, night quietly fell. Around the campfire, many soldiers gathered, resting and chatting, sharing unforgettable experiences or joking with each other to relax.

Chapter 1361 Night Patrol

Chapter 1361 Night Patrol

Zhao De sat on a rock, sipping warm tea, and felt a strange sense of peace as he gazed at the cluster of tents glowing under the distant starry sky. "Finally, I can catch my breath," he thought to himself.

Around the campfire, the soldiers sat together, talking about their stories. Xiao Wang and Chen Ming were among them, sharing their adventures in the ruins.

"Captain, you really should listen to this," Xiao Wang said excitedly. "Chen Ming and I almost got into danger, but luckily we were on the same side."

Zhao De smiled and nodded, then looked at Chen Ming: "Tell me, what happened?"

Chen Mingqing cleared his throat and began to recount: "When we entered that bunker, we discovered a secret communications station. It contained some enemy information, and we were about to report it to our superiors when we suddenly heard someone approaching from behind. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest..."

His words drew laughter from the others, and one soldier joked, "Our Brother Chen has always been so brave!"

Chen Ming retorted, "Of course, otherwise how do you think I survived?"

At this moment, Lao Wei joined their conversation, smiling as he said, "Actually, that information is very important to us. We've found some key intelligence that may help with our next move."

Zhao De nodded earnestly: "Thank you for your hard work. Everyone will remember this contribution. But now, let's get some rest. We'll continue the fight tomorrow."

Everyone agreed and began to enjoy the moment of peace. Just then, the howls of wild beasts echoed from afar, instantly tensing the previously relaxed atmosphere.

"Listen, what's that sound?" a new recruit asked nervously.

"It's probably a pack of wolves; they often roam the mountains around here," Old Ma replied casually, but a hint of wariness flickered in his eyes.

Zhao De stood up, looked around, and said in a deep voice, "Don't panic, everyone. I will send people to patrol tonight. As long as we stay vigilant, there's nothing to be afraid of."

After saying that, he gestured to Lao Wei beside him, and the two quietly walked to the side to discuss safety measures for the night.

"I think we should rotate shifts every two hours to ensure the safety of the camp," Lao Wei suggested.

Zhao De nodded in agreement: "Okay, let's do it that way. You'll be in charge of the first shift, and I'll follow up later."

The two returned to the campfire, and Zhao De loudly announced the new duty roster. Although the soldiers were exhausted, they all showed strong execution, quickly splitting up to begin preparing for the night's defenses.

As night deepened, the camp was silent. Only the occasional sound of patrolling footsteps reminded everyone that things were not peaceful here. Zhao De quickly tidied his equipment in his tent, preparing to go out for the changing of the guard.

Just as they stepped out of the tent, they ran into Old Wei returning from his patrol. The two exchanged glances, seemingly reaching some kind of tacit understanding.

"How is it? Is everything alright?" Zhao De asked.

Old Wei nodded and replied softly, "Everything is normal for now, and we haven't noticed anything unusual. But the sounds of those wolves are still terrifying, so you have to be careful."

Zhao De patted Lao Wei on the shoulder, "Don't worry, I'm here, nothing will happen." He took the gun from Lao Wei, checked the magazine and safety pin, and then resolutely walked out of the camp to begin his night patrol.

Chapter 1362 Excavation

Chapter 1362 Excavation

The night was as dark as ink; apart from a few fires burning in the camp, the surroundings were utterly black. A cold wind howled through the open grassland, as if countless invisible eyes were watching from the shadows. Zhao De gripped his gun tightly, carefully moving slowly along the edge of the camp.

"Captain!" A hurried voice suddenly came from the side, followed by rapid footsteps. Zhao De turned around alertly, quickly placing his finger on the trigger. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw who it was—it was Chen Ming.

"Why did you come out? Didn't I tell you to get some rest?" Zhao De asked, his brows furrowing slightly, clearly displeased that his subordinates had disobeyed orders.

Chen Ming scratched his head somewhat awkwardly, "Well... I heard wolves howling and couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd come out and help. Look, I have a gun on me, so at least I can help you out a bit."

Seeing the other party's sincere appearance, and recalling what happened during the day, Zhao De's attitude softened slightly: "Alright, but be careful. You'll be in charge of the east side, and I'll go to the west side. Notify us immediately if there's an emergency."

Upon receiving permission, Chen Ming immediately perked up, gave a crisp military salute, and said, "Understood, I will definitely complete the mission!"

The two went in opposite directions and disappeared into the vast night.

Time ticked by, passing slowly in this tense and tedious vigil. Just as Chen Ming began to doubt whether his decision was right, an unusual noise broke his thoughts. He immediately crouched down, hiding in the shadows, and listened intently.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was particularly jarring in the silent night—like the slight scraping of metal rubbing against metal. "Could it be…?" Chen's heart tightened, and he involuntarily quickened his pace towards the source of the sound. Finally, behind a pile of rocks, he spotted his target: several hunched figures with shifty eyes were busily digging something!

Alarm bells rang in Chen Ming's mind. He immediately contacted Zhao De and quietly approached the suspicious individuals to conduct further observation. At this moment, he no longer cared about his own safety; he only hoped to provide the team with more valuable intelligence.

At the same time, Zhao De, having received the message, reacted swiftly, gathering several nearby team members and heading towards the agreed-upon location. Just as they were about to arrive, two sharp gunshots rang out in the distance. Everyone stopped abruptly, exchanging bewildered glances; the air seemed to freeze in that instant. "Something's wrong! Something might have happened to Chen Ming!" Realizing this, Zhao De didn't hesitate any longer and rushed forward at top speed.

When they arrived at the scene, the once peaceful place was now in chaos. Two intruders were lying on the ground struggling, while another was subdued and being interrogated. And not far away stood Chen Ming, his face flushed but unharmed…

"Are you alright? It was a false alarm," Zhao De asked with concern as he stepped forward.

"Luckily we made it in time. They seemed to be looking for something, but they've all been caught now," Chen Ming replied with a smile, a hint of smugness in his voice.

Zhao De carefully examined the three men who had been captured. They were dressed in tattered clothes, covered in mud, and looked utterly disheveled. One of them was still struggling, making indistinct noises, seemingly trying to explain something.

"Who are you? Why are you digging here?" Zhao De asked sternly, a hint of impatience in his eyes.

Chapter 1363 The Treasure Hunter

Chapter 1363 The Treasure Hunter

The subdued man raised his head, a hint of fear in his eyes, but he still managed a weak smile. "We...we were just hunters passing by. We got lost and accidentally ended up here."

"Hunters?" Zhao De sneered. "The terrain here is so complicated, how did you manage to get lost here? And what tools are you carrying?"

The man looked down at the tools in his hand, swallowed hard, and his voice trembled even more: "This...this is what we found in the mountains, we were going to use it to dig traps to catch wild animals."

"Lies!" Zhao De roared. "Chen Ming, bring me their tools and let me see them."

Chen Ming quickly stepped forward, snatched the tools from the men, and handed them to Zhao De. Zhao De took the tools, examined them carefully, and his brows furrowed even more deeply.

"These are professional excavation tools; they're not things you can just find in the mountains. What exactly are you trying to do? Tell the truth!"

The people being interrogated exchanged glances, clearly knowing they could no longer bluff their way out. Finally, the older man sighed and slowly said, "Alright, we'll tell you, please have mercy."

Zhao De nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

"We are... a group of treasure hunters. We heard that some precious artifacts are buried here. We only came here to search for them to survive." The man's words carried a hint of helplessness and despair.

Hearing this, Zhao De frowned. He recalled some records he had read in historical documents; there were indeed legendary ancient tombs here. But he also knew that these so-called "precious artifacts" were often accompanied by countless dangers.

“Do you know this is illegal? Besides, this place is full of danger. You are playing with your lives,” Zhao De said sternly.

"Captain, what do we do?" Chen Ming asked softly, glancing at Zhao De.

After a moment's thought, Zhao De finally decided: "Take them back first and hand them over to our superiors. You three, pack your things immediately and come back to camp with us."

The three men, relieved to hear this, nodded hurriedly in agreement. Zhao De glanced back at the pile of rubble, a sense of unease rising in his heart—was the arrival of these people merely a coincidence?

"Hurry up and don't let them escape," Zhao De instructed before leading the group back to camp.

Back at camp, Zhao De temporarily settled the three men in a tent and arranged for someone to guard them. He then turned to Lao Wei and told him about his discovery.

"Old Wei, what do you think of these so-called 'treasure hunters'?" Zhao De asked.

Old Wei pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, "This isn't the first time we've encountered this situation. Some people are willing to risk their lives for profit. However, the timing of their appearance this time is a bit odd."

“Yes, I sensed that too. The surrounding environment seems to be getting increasingly turbulent lately, and the appearance of these people may foreshadow greater danger.” Zhao De nodded.

"Captain, what do you think we should do?" Old Wei asked with concern.

Zhao De pondered for a moment, then said, "Strengthen patrols, especially nighttime vigilance. At the same time, we need to report to our superiors as soon as possible and have headquarters send experts to investigate the specific situation in this area."

Chapter 1364 Taking Action

Chapter 1364 Taking Action

Old Wei nodded in agreement, "Okay, I'll arrange it right away."

Zhao De patted Lao Wei on the shoulder and encouraged him, "You've worked hard, so please be careful."

As night fell, a campfire was lit in the camp. Zhao De stood outside his tent, his gaze fixed on the mysterious pile of rocks. He had a bad feeling, as if some unpredictable force lurked in the darkness.

"Captain." Chen Ming walked over, holding a stack of documents. "These are the people's files. Take a look."

Zhao De took the documents and quickly flipped through them. These people all had some treasure hunting experience; although not famous, they weren't without connections either. This made Zhao De even more aware that things were not simple.

"Chen Ming, do you think they might have been sent here on someone's orders?" Zhao De asked thoughtfully.

Chen Ming scratched his head and said hesitantly, "I also feel something is amiss, but they seem genuinely afraid of us catching them."

Zhao De nodded. "That's exactly what I need to figure out. I'll interrogate them again tomorrow. Let them rest now."

Just as they were talking, a patrolman came running up, panting, and said, "Captain, there's something going on! We've spotted unidentified figures at the eastern mountain pass."