After making the necessary arrangements, the entire company began tense patrol work the next day with the assistance of border sentries.
Although no issues were discovered in the short term, all the soldiers understood the gravity of the situation.
Therefore, not a single one showed any impatience.
Everyone remained alert, constantly prepared for combat.
Thus, nearly half a month passed.
During this period, Han Lang and his team, in addition to their daily patrols, occasionally sent out three to five men to secretly investigate along the border for potential issues with the ability user base stations.
However, they found nothing.
Gradually, the negative emotions stemming from the lack of results began to weigh on the soldiers' minds.
Even Ma Long was starting to lose patience.
"Young Master, could the organization's intelligence be flawed? It's been so long, and apart from regular army exercises, we haven't found any trace of ability users from the White Elephant country. If this continues, the ability users might not show up, but our men will be exhausted!"
Tang Qin chimed in with agreement.
"Yes! While the patrol duty isn't difficult, the constant high-alert status is gradually taking its toll on the soldiers. Should we try to contact our superiors and inquire about the specific situation?"
Hearing their complaints, Han Lang also began to waver.
He frowned, unsure of what to do.
"Let's forget about contacting our superiors. If there's any new development, I believe Commander Huang and the Political Commissar will inform us promptly. Although our soldiers are expending a lot of energy, this mission must be persevered. If, due to our negligence, an SSS-class ability user like Gou Tuizhi infiltrates Xia Country, it would pose a grave threat to the safety of the people. We cannot afford such consequences. Therefore, I demand that you, no matter what, do not let the soldiers lose morale. You must maintain the highest level of vigilance and continue to monitor all areas!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Long and Tang Qin looked helpless.
However, they also understood that Han Lang's words were entirely correct.
Given their relationship with Huang Yuhua and Liu Xiaoxiao, if they had recommended their team to lead the troops here, they would not abandon them.
If there were any new developments, they would surely be notified.
Therefore, despite their reluctance, Tang Qin and Ma Long continued to encourage the soldiers, as per Han Lang's instructions, to persist in searching for the presence of ability users.
Just then, a soldier from the communications unit rushed in.
He shouted in panic.
"It's bad! The No. 28 outpost on the northwest peak has suddenly gone offline! No matter how we call them, they are not responding!"
Hearing this, Han Lang and the others immediately tensed up.
"Is there any more detailed intelligence?"
The soldier shook his head.
"Half a month ago, after establishing contact with all outposts, we instructed them to remain online twenty-four hours a day. Now that the No. 28 outpost is having problems, it's highly likely they've encountered a special situation. Therefore, Commander Han, we suspect they've been attacked!"
Attacked?
These two words struck Han Lang and the others to the core.
Could it be that the ability user team hadn't chosen the most easily concealed hills for their invasion, but had instead found a way to scale those steep peaks?
Thinking this, Han Lang was filled with a sense of foreboding.
"This is bad! We can see that the hills are the best invasion route, but how could the enemy not realize that? Moreover, although the northwest peaks are natural barriers, for ability users of S-class or above, they are not entirely insurmountable! I suspect they deliberately chose a more difficult route, which is why it took them nearly half a month to attack the outpost!"
Hearing this, Tang Qin and the others were thrown into disarray.
"What should we do? With the outpost's strength, even if we rush there now, the outpost would have certainly fallen already!"
Han Lang hurriedly opened a map.
He studied it carefully for a moment, then said anxiously.
"There's still a chance! To descend from the No. 28 outpost, one must pass through a plank road. The plank road is long, and even high-level ability users probably wouldn't be able to descend it that quickly. We still have time to get there!"
Having figured everything out, Han Lang no longer hesitated and immediately issued an order.
"Tang Geng, Zhao Wu, Ma Long, you will accompany me. We will take a helicopter there first to stall them! Tang Qin, you will immediately assemble the troops and come to support us by combat transport aircraft. Act immediately!"
With the plan in place, the others did not dare to delay further. They quickly left the outpost and began to move.
The No. 28 outpost was not too far from where Han Lang and the others were located.
Considering the time it took to start the helicopter and the travel distance, they should be able to reach it in about 15 minutes.
However, Han Lang remained extremely anxious.
His only uncertainty was whether the ability users could completely pass through the plank road leading down the mountain within 15 minutes!
If they couldn't, there would still be time to rectify the situation!
If they did, it would be extremely difficult to find their traces!
With a feeling of unease, the helicopter arrived before the plank road.
However, even as Han Lang and the others anxiously scanned the area, they saw no sign of the ability users.
"This is bad! Could they have already completely passed the plank road and reached the jungle below?"
"If that's the case, we'll be like searching for a needle in a haystack, with nowhere to begin!"
Hearing these words, Han Lang's mood grew even more somber.
While comforting Zhao Wu and Ma Long, he said to the helicopter pilot.
"Don't worry! Let's go to the end of the plank road first!"
With a loud whirring sound, the helicopter quickly circled the mountain and reached the end of the plank road.
The end of the plank road connected to a lush, dense jungle.
From high above, its expanse was endless.
Under the cover of the tall trees, the situation within the jungle was completely unobservable!
Just as Han Lang and the others were in great distress, Tang Geng suddenly pointed forward and shouted.
"Look! Over there!"
Han Lang and the others followed his gaze and saw several ability users jumping off the plank road, their figures disappearing into the jungle.
Seeing the last ability user about to leave the plank road, Han Lang did not hesitate. He leaped from the helicopter, his body like a cannonball, diving towards the ability users.
Zhao Wu and Ma Long were equally swift. They channeled their spiritual energy and followed closely, flying through the air.
Tang Geng, as the battalion commander, was the last to jump from the helicopter. Before leaving, he reminded the pilot to contact Tang Qin, who was providing support from the rear.
"Whoosh~"
The sound of the wind rushing past as they flew at high altitude whistled in Han Lang's ears.
But Han Lang could not afford to pay attention to anything else. As he plummeted, he summoned nine golden needles to surround him.
The ability users below were also alerted by the loud whirring of the helicopter's rotors.
Seeing Han Lang and the others flying towards them without hesitation, the ability users' emotions instantly became tense.
They wanted to use this last moment to allow the final ability user to leave the plank road.
As long as they left the plank road and entered the jungle, even if Han Lang and the others descended, it would be difficult to find their traces.
Just as the last ability user was about to jump off the plank road, Han Lang, disregarding everything else, pointed his sword.
The nine golden needles instantly shot out, one after another, directly towards the last ability user!