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Chapter 254 Joint Operation, Substitution

boom!
This punch was like a bomb dropped into a chaotic underground vault, instantly stunning everyone present.

Those treasure hunters who were originally eager to try their luck suddenly froze in place, as if they had been frozen in place by a spell.

The fanaticism and ferocity on his face froze instantly, replaced by shock and fear.

They stared wide-eyed at Fang Cheng, who was wearing the demon mask, as if they were seeing a ferocious beast that had suddenly emerged from the darkness.

It's important to know that the attacker who was just blown apart by a single punch was no ordinary henchman.

In terms of strength, he was definitely not much inferior to Xiong Ba, who was killed by Nailhead.

That was a renowned figure in the martial arts world, known for his bravery, yet he was so easily defeated by the opponent's fists. How could this not chill everyone's hearts?

"Do you want to fight me?"

Fang Cheng tilted his head slightly, and through the two blood-red holes in his mask, his gaze swept coldly over the crowd.

The people standing at the front felt rooted to the spot under that gaze. They wanted to move but dared not. After hesitating for a while, they couldn't help but take a step back.

"What are you afraid of! There are only three of them, but we have dozens of brothers!"

In the crowd, a burly man shouted something at the top of his lungs, trying to encourage everyone, but his raised voice couldn't hide his weakness.

The other treasure hunters remained hesitant, their eyes frequently glancing at Fang Cheng and the professor.

That being said, the opposing team's strength is extraordinary.

One who is skilled in mind control can instantly disrupt people's minds and influence their behavior.

One of them possessed incredible speed and strength; the brutal scene from just moments ago was still vivid in his mind—a single punch could crack a person's skull open.

If a real fight breaks out, the hotheads who charge in at the front will definitely be the first to suffer, and they might not even know how they died.

If the Golden Bamba Bottle is in their possession, it would be understandable for them to fight desperately for it.

The key point is that the Golden Bamba Bottle isn't here right now, so there's no need to fight to the death with these troublesome figures!
Thinking of this, some clever ones had already quietly retreated, intending to leave the vault through the front door and chase after the guy who was actually carrying the treasure.

"Gentlemen, there seems to be a misunderstanding. We are not in cahoots with that foreigner."

At this moment, the professor suddenly spoke up, breaking the deadlock:

"If you want to take back the Golden Bamba Bottle, hurry up now, you can still catch up."

His voice sounded very sincere and earnest, as if it possessed a magical power to calm people's hearts.

As they spoke, they stepped aside and politely gestured for him to leave.

Everyone was even more stunned by what they saw, and for a moment they couldn't process it.

Fang Cheng also glanced at the professor with surprise.

"Exactly, why fight? We have no past grudges or present animosity; getting the treasure is the priority!"

A tall, thin man was the first to react. He shouted and ran towards the direction Mike had fled.

"Yes, yes, hurry up and chase after them! Don't dawdle, or that foreigner will disappear without a trace!"

The others also came to their senses. Seeing that Fang Cheng and the professor really didn't intend to stop them, they immediately swarmed into the back door and rushed off along the direction the secret passage extended.

Some even used walkie-talkies to loudly notify their accomplices guarding outside the manor to intercept Mike as he tried to escape with the treasure.

In the blink of an eye, the once noisy and chaotic underground vault was now empty except for Fang Cheng, the professor, and Li Dingjian.

Even the strange-looking and behaving nail-headed man was nowhere to be found.

"Friend, thank you for your help!"

The professor, with gratitude in his eyes, bowed slightly to Fang Cheng.

He knew very well that if it weren't for that earth-shattering punch that had intimidated the many treasure hunters, they wouldn't have been able to escape so easily.

Although it's unclear why the other party is helping him, in this situation where he's surrounded by wolves, having more help and fewer enemies is naturally the best option.

After a brief pause, the professor cleared his throat and continued:

"We both have some urgent matters to attend to right now, so we hope you can understand. We'll contact you again once everything is resolved, and we'll definitely repay you handsomely then."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly in response to the professor's thanks, but his gaze remained fixed on the middle-aged man behind him.

Seemingly wanting to see through his true colors, he pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke, calling out to the two who were about to leave:
“If you don’t mind, our two teams can join forces to try and win the Golden Bamba Bottle.”

Seeing the two looked somewhat surprised, he then added:

"I still have my doubts. The Lu family must have a big plan behind this scheme, and it's probably not something a single team can handle."

The professor was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, not expecting Fang Cheng to make such a suggestion at this time.

He quickly exchanged a glance with Li Dingjian, their eyes conveying surprise and contemplation.

After only a moment, the professor snapped out of his reverie, a slightly pleased smile appearing on his lips, and sincerely replied:
“My friend is absolutely right. I have always believed that in such a dangerous place, working together is the wisest choice.”

As he spoke, he turned to look at the back door, his speech unconsciously quickening:

"We shouldn't linger here. Would you like to join us? If there's anything you'd like to know along the way, we can discuss it in detail."

At this moment, Li Dingjian's face was also tense, and his eyes revealed urgency, clearly indicating that there was something very important to do.

Seeing this, Fang Cheng nodded slightly in agreement.

The three of them then quickly walked towards the back door secret passage and disappeared into it.

The passageway was filled with a damp, musty smell, with only a few dim emergency lights emitting a faint glow, barely illuminating the path beneath our feet.

On the way back to the ground, Fang Cheng took out a walkie-talkie from his waist, pressed the call button, and contacted Black Wolf, Bao Ye, and others, briefly explaining what had just happened.

Then, in a solemn tone, he instructed:

"The situation has changed. I'm currently teaming up with a few other friends and heading towards the surface. You should retreat to the outside of the manor as planned, remain vigilant, and await my message."

On the other side, the professor's eyes flickered slightly as he secretly communicated with his team members through a mental link.

"Xiao Chu, Monkey, what's the situation outside?"

His voice resonated directly in the minds of all team members.

Soon, a clear and efficient voice responded:

"Professor, as you instructed, we have arrived near Mike's team and are preparing to take action. We haven't alerted them yet."

This is Lin Chuqiao replying from outside the manor.

Then, the monkey's slightly deep voice also rang out in this special "channel":

"Professor, at the observation point, I saw a group of people chasing a blond, blue-eyed foreigner. He looked like he had just crawled out of the ground. I wonder if he's one of Mike's men?"

"it is good."

The professor quickly made a judgment and decisively gave the order:

"Xiao Chu, you guys act immediately, finish this quickly, don't give the enemy any time to react."

"Monkey, get ready to cooperate with Xiao Chu's operation and provide firepower and intelligence support at any time."

"Yes."

Lin Chuqiao and the monkey responded in unison.

After coordinating the follow-up actions, the professor glanced at Fang Cheng, who was also walking steadily beside him, but was quietly paying attention to him.

Their eyes met, and they both seemed to have many questions, wanting to get answers from each other.

Meanwhile, on the southeast side of the manor, in a grove of trees outside the wall.

Two foreigners with hooked noses looked anxious, as if they were waiting for someone.

The tall one is named Tom, and the short one is named Jerry; both are among the treasure hunters participating in tonight's operation.

Suddenly, their walkie-talkies started buzzing. Their eyes lit up, and they immediately began shouting into the machine:

"Hey, hey, Mike, what are you guys dawdling about? Get out here already!"

A moment later, a rapid breathing came from the other end of the walkie-talkie, as if the person had just gone through a life-or-death race: "I want to escape as soon as possible, but now I'm all alone. There are crazy people shooting randomly all around me, and there are pursuers behind me. I have to hide carefully and not let them find my whereabouts."

Upon hearing this, the two foreigners became even more worried.

Jerry was so anxious that he stomped his feet and shouted:
"Mike, you have to hold on, we're coming in to help you right now."

Tom chimed in, his eyes glued to the walkie-talkie, as if that would pull his comrade out of danger.

"No, bringing more won't help. It's too chaotic inside right now. If you come in, you'll only expose my location."

Mike, panting heavily, refused:
"You guys wait patiently outside and proceed according to plan. As long as we successfully take the Golden Bomba Bottle, we'll be rich, so don't panic and stay calm!"

He tried to calm his companion, his voice trembling slightly with emotion.

Then, he hung up hastily.

Tom and Jerry exchanged a glance, sighed helplessly, and muttered to themselves:

"God bless, I hope Mike and Aquarius are both safe and sound."

They paced back and forth, their eyes occasionally glancing towards the manor interior, where flames were rising and gunshots were ringing out.

At that moment, a cold wind blew by, rustling the branches and leaves.

The mist, like a ghost, swirled among the trees, adding to the mysterious and dangerous atmosphere.

Lin Chuqiao was dressed in a black tracksuit, which perfectly accentuated her graceful and agile figure.

She crouched low, like a female leopard stalking in the night, hidden behind the bushes.

His sharp gaze pierced through the dense foliage, intently watching the two foreigners outside the woods, observing their every move.

The sound of a conversation on the walkie-talkie could be faintly heard, then abruptly stopped.

This made her furrow her brows slightly, and she pondered to herself.

He immediately looked away and glanced at Bai Ling and Da Chui beside him, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

The lark stood in the shadows, its eyes gleaming with an eerie light in the darkness, like jewels.

She then took a deep breath and activated the mysterious, special power within her body.

In an instant, the air around her surged, and it was as if there were illusory light and shadows flickering around her, and her figure began to change rapidly.

A short while later, a blond, blue-eyed, and muscular man appeared; it was Mike.

From his high-bridged nose and deep-set eyes to the blood-stained and scratched jacket and the mud-covered boots, everything about him was exactly like the real person.

If Mike himself were here, he would probably be confused and think it was a reflection in a mirror.

Bai Ling gently shook her head, adjusting to her new physical state.

Immediately afterwards, she smiled playfully and gave Lin Chuqiao and Da Chui a "V" sign.

Big Hammer stood to the side, grinning, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

He gripped his signature large iron hammer tightly in both hands, loosened his muscles slightly, and his joints made a "crackling" sound.

Lin Chuqiao gazed at the two of them, her eyes bright and sharp, and said softly:

"start to act!"

Outside the woods, Tom and Jerry paced back and forth anxiously like ants on a hot plate, their eyes never daring to leave the direction of the manor.

Gunfire echoed continuously throughout the manor, with fierce fighting taking place, while the woods here were eerily quiet.

Every second that passed felt like a tug-of-war in their hearts.

If they had absolutely no chance of obtaining the Golden Bamba Bottle, they might not be so anxious.

But now that they've heard the treasure has fallen into the hands of their accomplices, the two of them are filled with anxiety and uncertainty.

Suddenly, the tranquility was broken.

A rustling sound came from deep within the woods, as if someone was moving quickly through it.

Tom and Jerry instantly became alert, turning their heads sharply, straightening their backs, and quickly raising the rifles they were carrying.

The two men were tense, their guns pointed at a dark thicket, their eyes fixed on it, not missing a single movement.

"Tom, Jerry, it's me!"

Suddenly, a strangely familiar voice came from the woods.

Immediately afterwards, a figure stumbled out.

His blond hair was disheveled, his jacket was torn, and there were several bloodstains on his face, as if he had just experienced a fierce battle.

It was Mike, the man who had spoken with the two of them before.

"Tom, Jerry, run! They're catching up!"

Mike shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice filled with genuine panic.

The two stared wide-eyed, their mouths slightly agape, their faces filled with astonishment.

They couldn't understand how Mike, who should have broken out from the main gate of the manor or climbed over the wall, could have emerged from this hidden grove of trees.

"Mike, what... what happened?"

Tom spoke, his voice trembling slightly.

Before he could finish asking, Mike hurriedly waved his hand, lowered his voice, and said urgently:

"No time to explain, the plan has changed, they've discovered my whereabouts!"

As he spoke, he stood at a distance and forcefully tossed a bulging backpack over:
"The golden bottle is inside. You take it and run first. I'll draw the pursuers away!"

Just then, another loud shouting came from the woods, from both men and women.

"He's hiding here! Everyone come quick!"

"Damn it, don't run away, leave the stuff with me!"

Before he finished speaking, a tall, burly man stormed out of the woods.

He brandished a hammer, his footsteps pounding the ground and kicking up dust, making him look quite fierce.

Tom and Jerry didn't dare to think any further. In their panic, they instinctively reached for the backpack, turned around, and ran away.

Because it was too rushed, he staggered and almost fell to the ground.

But they didn't turn back; only one incredibly excited thought occupied their minds:

"We absolutely cannot let anyone steal our precious treasure!"

The two figures disappeared into the misty mountains and forests.

Mike, who remained where he was, chuckled softly, and then a flash of light surrounded him, completely transforming his appearance and physique.

But it was Bai Ling who had returned to her original appearance.

She turned around and looked at the man and woman chasing after her.

Those were Da Chui and Lin Chuqiao, who were pretending to be pursuers.

The three looked at each other and smiled, their eyes sparkling with the joy of their initial victory.

"Don't relax, this is just the beginning."

Lin Chuqiao stepped forward, tidied her messy hair, whispered a word of advice, and then assigned the task:

"Bailing, transform into that foreigner again, and get ready."

"Big Hammer, you go and guard our retreat route. I'll contact the professor now and report the situation here."

Upon hearing this, the two nodded in agreement and immediately began to carry out the follow-up actions according to the plan.

(End of this chapter)