MM Racing Page 430
Page 430
Chapter 1261 We Must Persevere
Chapter 1261 We must persevere.
The red-clad witch led the support troops to hold off the pursuers from the rear. Her magic wand emitted a dazzling light, and powerful flames forced the enemies to retreat repeatedly. Her gaze was firm, and her tone was calm: "Go forward with confidence. We'll hold them off here."
As Zhao De directed his soldiers to retreat, he turned back to look at the red-clad witch. Her eyes revealed an indomitable determination, as if to tell them that everything would be alright.
The group finally entered the woods, temporarily escaping the enemy's pursuit. Zhao De leaned against a tree and let out a long sigh of relief; the wound on his shoulder caused him waves of pain. Liu Ruyan quickly stepped forward and bandaged his wound.
"How are you?" Liu Ruyan asked with concern.
Zhao De smiled, trying to hide his exhaustion: "It's nothing, just a superficial injury, it'll heal quickly."
“We need to find a safe place to rest as soon as possible,” the elf hunter said, “so that we can recover our strength and prepare for the next battle.”
The masked woman nodded in agreement: "I know a cave nearby that's perfect for hiding."
After a short rest, the group followed the masked woman toward the cave she had described. Along the way, everyone silently considered their next course of action.
After entering the cave, Zhao De found a relatively flat spot to sit down. He took a deep breath and said to everyone, "Although this battle was difficult, we are still alive. We must come up with a new plan to regain the initiative on the battlefield."
The group sat in a circle inside the cave, the atmosphere heavy and tense. Liu Ruyan and the masked woman had begun cleaning their wounds and preparing simple food and water. The elven hunter sat to one side, vigilantly watching the direction of the cave entrance.
“Our top priority now is to ensure everyone’s safety,” Zhao De said. “The enemy’s strength should not be underestimated, and we must find a place where we can establish a long-term presence.”
“I agree,” the red witch said. “We need time to recover our strength and also to reassess the situation. The enemy seems to be on guard against us.”
Liu Ruyan nodded: "In this battle, the enemy's tactics were clearly more sophisticated, and we can no longer underestimate them."
“We need to find a safe place quickly,” the veiled woman said. “I know a secluded village nearby where the people are allies of the resistance. We can settle down there temporarily.”
The elven hunter pondered for a moment, then said, "That place sounds good, but we need to ensure the safety of the route. I suggest we split into two groups, one to lead the reconnaissance and the other to protect the wounded and the others."
“Good idea,” Zhao De agreed. “I will lead the main force forward, and you and the masked woman will be responsible for reconnaissance to ensure the safety of our route.”
The masked woman nodded slightly: "I agree. We will make sure there is no danger ahead."
The red-clad witch smiled slightly: "I will stay here and continue to cast a magical barrier to prevent the enemy from tracking us down."
Zhao De gave her a grateful look, then turned to the others: "Well then, let's rest for a bit, and we'll set off in two hours. Everyone stay alert and make sure everything goes smoothly."
Liu Ruyan walked over and gently patted Zhao De on the shoulder: "You've worked hard, take a rest first."
Zhao De smiled and nodded: "Thank you, we all have to persevere."
Chapter 1262 Don't Push Yourself Too Hard
Chapter 1262 Don't Push Yourself Too Hard
Two hours later, the group set off as planned. The elf hunter and the masked woman went first, disappearing into the woods to scout. The rest, led by Zhao De, cautiously followed.
Along the way, they encountered several small-scale attacks, but all were quickly repelled. Zhao De and Liu Ruyan cooperated closely, providing cover for each other. The soldiers also displayed extremely high combat skills, cooperating seamlessly with each other, and gradually approached the hidden village mentioned by the masked woman.
Finally, as dusk fell, they arrived at a small village nestled deep in a valley. The villagers, having already received word of their arrival, were there to greet them. A ring of tall trees surrounded the village, forming a natural barrier that made it difficult for outsiders to spot them.
The villagers warmly welcomed them, offering them food and lodging. The village chief, a kind old man, introduced himself to Zhao De and promised to do his best to assist them.
“You are heroes of the resistance,” the old village chief said. “We will do everything we can to support you.”
Zhao De nodded gratefully: "Thank you for your warm hospitality. We will never forget this kindness."
That evening, Zhao De convened a meeting to discuss the next steps. Liu Ruyan, the elf hunter, the masked woman, and the red-clad witch all attended the meeting.
“We need to establish a base here,” Zhao De said. “At the same time, we need to gather intelligence as soon as possible to understand the enemy’s movements.”
“I can scout at night,” the elf hunter said. “I’m familiar with the terrain and can gather information much faster.”
“I can help too,” the masked woman said. “I can use my invisibility skills to get close to the enemy and gather intelligence.”
“Then let’s divide the work clearly,” Zhao De said. “Tomorrow morning, you will start the reconnaissance, with the masked woman assisting you. Liu Ruyan and I will stay here to organize supplies and develop a detailed strategic plan.”
“Okay, I’ll act as soon as possible,” the elf hunter said.
Liu Ruyan looked at Zhao De: "How's the injury on your shoulder?"
Zhao De shrugged lightly, seemingly trying to hide the pain: "It's alright, it won't affect the operation. You don't need to worry."
Liu Ruyan frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with Zhao De's answer: "Don't always push yourself like this. You should rest properly when you're injured."
“I know,” Zhao De replied softly, “but we cannot afford to be complacent in the slightest; time is of the essence.”
The witch in red chuckled and interjected, "You two stop arguing and get some rest. There's a lot to do tomorrow."
Zhao De and Liu Ruyan exchanged a smile, then turned to the old village chief: "Village chief, how are your supplies going?"
The old village chief nodded: "We have prepared enough food and shelter for everyone, as well as basic medical supplies. If you need more support, please don't hesitate to ask."
“Thank you for your help,” Zhao De said. “We will try our best to minimize the disturbance to the villagers.”
As night fell, everyone settled down in the simple but warm little house. Liu Ruyan treated Zhao De's wounds and changed him into clean clothes.
"Are you really okay?" Liu Ruyan asked with concern.
Zhao De smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I'm fine. You should get some rest too."
Liu Ruyan sighed and gently kissed his forehead: "You should also take care of yourself and not push yourself too hard."
Chapter 1263 Repeated Defeats
Chapter 1263 Repeated Defeats
The following morning, just as dawn was breaking, the elven hunter and the veiled woman quietly left the village to begin their reconnaissance mission. Zhao De and Liu Ruyan, meanwhile, led the other soldiers to organize supplies and formulate a detailed action plan.
A spacious thatched hut in the village served as a temporary command center, where Zhao De and Liu Ruyan were busy checking the supply list and discussing the next steps.
“We need to find the enemy’s weak points as soon as possible and then launch an attack,” Zhao De said. “Otherwise, if we continue to defend passively like this, we will eventually be exhausted.”
“I’ve already sent out a reconnaissance team,” Liu Ruyan said. “They will bring back valuable intelligence as soon as possible. Our top priority now is to strengthen our defenses and ensure the safety of the villagers.”
“You’re right,” Zhao De nodded in agreement. “I will check our defenses again to prevent a surprise attack by the enemy.”
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. The witch in red rushed in, her expression tense: "Something's happened! A group of enemies is approaching from outside the village, they're very close!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao De and Liu Ruyan immediately stood up. Zhao De quickly asked, "What are the specific details? How many enemies are there?"
The red-clad witch took a breath and replied, "There are about twenty people, and they look like an enemy squad. They seem to have discovered our presence."
Liu Ruyan immediately made a decision: "We cannot let them into the village; we must intercept them on the outside. The soldiers in the village are ready and on standby. Red-clothed witch, you stay here to assist the villagers in their defense."
Zhao De nodded in agreement: "I'll go to the front lines to command the battle, and you'll be responsible for support and coordination from the rear. The masked woman and the elven hunter haven't returned yet, and we can't risk distracting them."
Zhao De picked up his sword, turned, and walked outside. Liu Ruyan followed closely behind, holding a short bow in her hand, her eyes resolute.
Upon reaching the village entrance, Zhao De saw soldiers already preparing defensive fortifications. He shouted, "Listen up, everyone! We cannot let these enemies break through our lines! We must resolutely defend this land!"
The soldiers responded in unison, their morale soaring. They took their positions, each occupying a favorable spot, ready for battle.
Soon, the sounds of the enemy could be heard in the distance. A small enemy squad had indeed appeared, led by a fierce-looking, burly man wielding a giant axe. They approached cautiously, clearly aware of the ambush ahead.
Zhao De raised his sword and said in a deep voice, "Hold your ground and don't make any rash moves. Wait until they are within range before firing!"
The enemy troops gradually approached, finally entering the range of the arrows. Zhao De waved his hand, and arrows flew out like raindrops, catching the enemy completely off guard. Several enemies fell with screams, while the others quickly sought cover and launched a counterattack.
The two sides engaged in a fierce firefight. Zhao De took the lead, charging at the forefront. His swordsmanship was like a dragon, each move brimming with power and skill, and several enemies were forced to retreat under his attacks.
Meanwhile, Liu Ruyan moved swiftly across the battlefield, her arrows incredibly accurate, each shot striking the enemy's vitals. She would sometimes step aside to shield her comrades from enemy attacks, and at other times swiftly move behind the enemy to launch a sneak attack.
"Concentrate your firepower and don't give them a chance to launch a counterattack!" Zhao De shouted, his voice filled with authority and power.
Chapter 1264 Surrender
Chapter 1264 Surrender
The villagers weren't idle either. Under the old village chief's command, they moved stones and planks to reinforce the defenses. Some brave young men picked up makeshift weapons, ready to join the battle. Although their equipment was inferior to the enemy's, their fighting spirit was high.
The battle lasted for some time, and the enemy's offensive gradually weakened. Finally, only the burly man remained, fighting desperately. Zhao De approached step by step, and the two faced off.
The burly man, panting heavily, glared fiercely at Zhao De: "I never expected to run into you here. What luck!"
Zhao De sneered, "Your good luck ends here. Surrender."
The burly man roared and swung his giant axe at Zhao De. Zhao De calmly dodged the attack, his sword tip piercing the man's abdomen. With a muffled thud, the burly man fell to his knees in pain and collapsed to the ground.
After the battle ended, Zhao De wiped the sweat from his brow and turned back to Liu Ruyan's side. "Everyone has worked hard. Take stock of the casualties and treat the wounded," he said to Liu Ruyan.
Liu Ruyan nodded, her eyes filled with admiration: "We owe you a lot this time. If it weren't for your heroic command, we might have suffered even greater losses."
Zhao De smiled slightly: "This is not my achievement alone; everyone was very brave."
Just then, the red-clad witch and the old village chief rushed over. "You two are truly amazing! You successfully protected the village," the old village chief exclaimed. "We should have a proper celebration."
“Thank you all for your efforts, but we have more important things to do,” Zhao De said. “We must find the Elf Hunter and the Masked Woman as soon as possible and continue our reconnaissance mission. The enemy will not give up, and we must be even more vigilant.”
The red-clad witch nodded: "I will strengthen the barrier to prevent the enemy from invading again."
Zhao De's words made the surrounding people tense. Although the battle had come to an end, they knew that this was only the beginning. The old village chief clapped his hands, signaling the villagers to disperse. "Listen to Brother De, everyone go and prepare for tonight's celebration, but don't forget to reinforce the village's security measures."
Liu Ruyan walked to the side to organize her weapons, but her eyes never left Zhao De, who was busy at work, and her heart was filled with complicated emotions. "Don't be too nervous, it's good for you to rest for a while," Zhao De said as he walked over to her, handing her a damp cloth to wipe away her sweat.
Liu gently accepted it, smiling slightly. "Thank you." Her voice was gentle yet firm, as beautiful as the first flower blooming in spring. "But I can't relax; you know this is a long-term battle."
Just as they were about to discuss further, a villager suddenly rushed over and reported, "There's movement in the woods to the east; it seems like an unidentified creature is approaching!"