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Chapter 255 Celebration, Unexpected Change

Lin Chuqiao and others staged a play together, scaring away Mike's team members who were waiting outside.

Then, Bai Ling used her shapeshifting ability again, disguising herself as one of the shorter foreigners.

She stood there nonchalantly, her eyes fixed on the entrance to the manor, waiting for her target to appear.

At the same time, I silently prayed for it:
"Mike, Mike, may God bless you and bring you out safely soon. You are the main character in this whole thing..."

At this moment, the manor was filled with smoke, and gunshots and shouts rose and fell.

Mike is running for his life.

He was in a disheveled state, his once-stylish jacket was torn to shreds, and his face was covered in a mixture of dust and sweat.

Fighting continues in many areas, with flashes of fire illuminating the figures engaged in frenzied combat.

Mike thought that with the natural cover of fog and darkness, coupled with the chaotic situation around him, he could sneak out unnoticed.

Unexpectedly, just as they reached an open area, a flare suddenly appeared and fell from the sky, instantly illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime.

The bright light stung him, causing him to instinctively raise his hand to shield his eyes, while simultaneously revealing his hidden figure.

The group of people behind him spotted him instantly, and like hungry wolves seeing their prey, their eyes lit up as they chased after him, shouting.

"Grab that foreigner, the golden flask is in his hands!"

"Quick, chase after him! Don't let him get away!"

The shouts of battle were deafening, and Mike's heart pounded wildly, as if it would burst out of his chest.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and charge through the hail of bullets, running frantically toward his comrades' rendezvous point.

Bullets whizzed past my ears; a moment's carelessness could mean instant death.

The pursuers behind him grew larger and larger, each one like a leech, impossible to shake off.

Just as he was about to reach the wall, Mike seized the opportunity, took a running start, and kicked the wall twice.

Just as he was holding the golden bonba bottle in one hand and grabbing the top of the wall with the other, preparing to use it to climb over,

A bullet whizzed past his cheek, startling him so much that he nearly lost his grip and fell.

On the brink of life and death, he used all his strength to scramble onto the wall in a disheveled state.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out as expected.

"Mike, I'm here!"

Mike jumped to the ground hastily, still shaken, and looked at his "accomplice" standing at the edge of the woods, panting as he asked:

"Why are you alone? Where's Tom?"

Bailing imitated Jerry's tone of voice, urging him anxiously:

"He's ahead to meet us. Hurry up and hand me the stuff. If we dawdle any longer, we're all doomed!"

Not only did she mimic the accent perfectly, but her expressions and mannerisms were also worthy of an award-winning actress, making it difficult to spot any flaws in the current tense environment.

Footsteps pounded behind me, and shouts of battle grew louder and louder.

Other treasure hunters followed closely behind, and were about to scale the wall and catch up.

In a panic, Mike nodded, clutching the bundle containing the golden benba bottle tightly in both hands. He threw it forcefully at "Jerry" and shouted:

"Catch it! Make sure you protect it!"

Don't worry, see you later!

The lark caught the golden bottle steadily, a subtle sly smile playing on its lips, and turned without hesitation to disappear into the misty forest.

At this moment, some agile treasure hunters leaped over the wall and witnessed this scene.

Mike gritted his teeth and immediately sprinted in another direction.

He didn't dare to stop for a moment, hoping to lure away the other treasure hunters.

At the same time, he prayed that Jerry could successfully deceive the pursuers, then meet up as planned, and escape with the treasure.

But these treasure hunters were clearly no pushovers either.

They were all seasoned veterans who had been through many trials in the underworld, and they saw through Mike and his men's feint at a glance.

After exchanging glances, they quickly split into two groups.

A group continued to pursue Mike relentlessly in the direction he fled, determined to capture him alive and retrieve the treasure.

Another group pursued into the depths of the dense forest, attempting to intercept the rendezvous personnel and cut off any possible backup plans Mike might have prepared.

A few minutes later, three figures swiftly moved through the fog-shrouded forest.

Their steps were light and quick, revealing a sense of urgency and excitement.

It was Lin Chuqiao, Bailing, and Dachui who successfully took over the Golden Bottle after completing the "substitution" scheme.

Lin Chuqiao hurried along while reporting the situation via the consciousness channel:
"Professor, we have obtained the goods and are heading to Wangjia Village outside Misty Mountain."

"However, the fog seems to be getting thicker now, which limits our visibility and slows us down. Plus, there are still some pursuers lurking behind us."

Her tone was slightly hurried, indicating some worry about the treasure hunters chasing after her.

"It's okay, everyone has done a great job."

The professor's calm voice then echoed in everyone's minds:

"Xiao Chu, Bai Ling, you retreat according to plan. Da Chui will cover the rear and make the most of the terrain to create obstacles for the pursuers."

"Monkey, wait for the signal to act and cut off the pursuers' route."

"Yes!"

All team members responded in unison and carried out their assigned tasks.

The three people in the woods did not stop for a moment and continued running in the predetermined direction.

Lin Chuqiao ran in the lead, using her keen senses to dispel the darkness and fog, carefully exploring the retreat route.

The lark held the golden bonba bottle tightly in its arms and followed closely behind.

His expression was both tense and focused, as if he was afraid of accidentally dropping this invaluable object.

Big Hammer kept a little distance from them, occasionally throwing stones in all directions.

The stones flew into the depths of the mist with a whooshing sound, attempting to mislead the pursuers behind them and make them chase in the wrong direction.

Or he might wield his heavy iron hammer, smashing down trees as thick as bowls to create a series of chaotic roadblocks, hindering the pursuers' advance.

Lin Chuqiao had only run a few hundred meters through the woods when she was already panting heavily, her chest heaving.

The hair on her forehead was soaked with sweat, and strands clung tightly to her fair cheeks.

She glanced back and saw that Bai Ling's face was also flushed and her steps were unsteady, clearly indicating that the escape had taken a great toll on her strength.

Not far away, the pursuers, like hunting dogs with a keen sense of smell, continued to relentlessly pursue them.

The faint sounds of hurried footsteps and shouts were like a death knell, sending chills down one's spine.

Lin Chuqiao's biggest worry right now is that her and Bailing's physical condition will drag down the entire operation.

If they were caught by those treasure hunters, the two women would be powerless and have little chance of resisting.

Only Big Hammer, with his strong physique, might be able to hold out for a while.

Thinking of this, Lin Chuqiao gritted her teeth, a resolute glint in her eyes, and forced herself to continue walking despite the exhaustion that made her legs feel like lead.

His gaze suddenly pierced through the fog, quickly searching for the correct direction to go.

Then, the three of them ran for a while longer, intermittently.

Finally, Lin Chuqiao spotted a red cloth tied to a tree branch, appearing and disappearing in the mist. It was a marker for a safe route; according to the plan, seeing the red cloth meant they were close to escaping danger.

Lin Chuqiao felt relieved and quickly reported the situation via the mental link:

"Professor, we have arrived at our destination."

Soon, the professor's voice came from the other end of the channel:
“Very good. As soon as you give the signal, the monkey will immediately turn on the switch.”

"and many more!"

Bai Ling suddenly interjected, "Da Chui is still lagging behind; he hasn't come over yet!"

Then she turned around, facing the direction of the sledgehammer, cupped her hands around her mouth, and shouted:

"Big Hammer, come here quickly!"

At this moment, Da Chui was swinging his hammer, fiercely fighting with two treasure hunters who had caught up with him.

The opponent was agile and had a clear intention. Several times, he tried to get behind the hammer to chase after the two women who might be carrying the Golden Benba Bottle.

Upon hearing Bailing's shout, Da Chui's eyes widened like copper bells, and he instantly exploded.

He swung the large iron hammer high into the air, sweeping it across with tremendous force. The wind howled, and branches snapped and leaves flew everywhere it passed.

Then it slammed down again with a loud "bang," making the surrounding air buzz and the ground tremble violently, as if a small earthquake had occurred.

The ferocious force of the rock-splitting maneuver frightened the two men, who retreated repeatedly, their eyes revealing a hint of fear. They had clearly not expected this big guy to possess such brute strength.

Taking advantage of the opponent's panic, Big Hammer did not hesitate for a moment. He pushed off with both legs and strode towards his partner.

When he crossed the area marked by the red cloth.

Other treasure hunters also arrived, their figures emerging clearly from the mist.

Their faces were contorted with rage, their eyes gleaming with greed, especially the two fastest runners, who seemed determined to keep going.

Lin Chuqiao's eyes narrowed sharply, and she shouted in the consciousness channel:
"Get down!"

At the same time, he quickly lay down in a pit in front of him, moving as nimbly as a rabbit.

Bai Ling and Da Chui also moved at the sound, rolling into the pit without hesitation.

The signal was sent, and on a hilltop two kilometers away, the monkey pressed the remote-controlled detonator that had been prepared beforehand.

In an instant, a series of earth-shattering explosions came from outside the pit.

Flames shot into the sky, instantly illuminating the dark forest.

The shockwave from the explosion sent the surrounding trees swaying wildly, and dirt and rocks flew everywhere, scattering like rain.

The immense impact caused the pursuers who were at the forefront to suffer head injuries, broken bones, and severe head wounds.

Some were even thrown several meters by the blast wave, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting blood, and struggling to get up.

The other survivors were so frightened that they stopped in their tracks and quickly covered their heads and lay flat on the ground.

After the aftershocks of the explosion subsided, these people shakily raised their heads and searched their surroundings.

Thick smoke billowed out, forming a dense cloud of dust that blinded everyone and caused them to cough.

This also completely obstructed their vision, making it impossible for them to distinguish east from west or north from south.

Not to mention finding those three "accomplices" of Mike's team, who were hiding somewhere, amidst this chaos.

At this very moment, Lin Chuqiao and her two companions had already taken advantage of the excellent cover created by the explosion to disappear into the depths of the fog and quickly retreat in the predetermined direction.

"well done!"

Upon learning of the situation, the professor's voice came through the mental link, his tone revealing undisguised relief:

"Everyone deserves credit this time, especially Xiao Chu, Bai Ling, and Da Chui. You three were able to hold off the pursuers and took a great risk. You should be credited with the greatest contribution."

"Haha, of course! Just look at our teamwork, it's absolutely flawless!"

Big Hammer chuckled in a deep voice, swinging his mud-covered hammer as he strode forward.

His face was covered in sweat and dust; though he was filthy, he looked like a general who had just won a battle, constantly boasting to himself.

"With me leading the way, those guys won't even get close to the treasure."

"You didn't see it! I just smashed them so hard that those two guys were scared out of their wits and didn't dare to come any closer!"

Bailing hugged the golden bottle tightly, carefully protecting it in her arms, and rolled her eyes at Dachui:
"You only know how to use brute force. If it weren't for Sister Chu leading us to escape, if you had hit us with that hammer, you probably would have been surrounded and killed instead of making any progress."

Although she scolded him a few times, her eyes were full of smiles. She knew that this team operation could not be done without anyone.

Lin Chuqiao nodded with a light laugh, saying as she ran:
"Everyone deserves credit. We'll have a proper celebration when we get back. Now that we have the Golden Bamba Bottle, our efforts haven't been in vain."

In the consciousness channel, everyone chimed in with their own comments, creating a lively atmosphere.

"That's right!"

The professor picked up where he left off, and gave a concluding statement:

"Winning the Golden Bamba Bottle this time is of great significance. With it, the strength of each member of our team will be significantly enhanced, and we will be able to attract more like-minded talents to join us and strengthen our team in the future."

He paused, his tone turning serious:
"Now, Xiao Chu, you all get in the car first and quickly evacuate with the Golden Bomba Bottle. Monkey will stay at the observation point for now and keep a close watch on any changes in the situation at the manor."

"Remember, safety first. See you at base!"

"Understood, Professor!"

The crowd responded in unison, their steps becoming lighter and more brisk.

The fatigue from the intense run seemed to vanish instantly, replaced by a heart full of anticipation for the future.

The Lu family manor was deathly silent.

Only the wind howled and rustled through the empty courtyard, stirring up the fallen leaves on the ground.

Fang Cheng, along with the professor and Li Dingjian, had already arrived at the iron gate of the manor.

The three figures were somewhat indistinct in the dim moonlight, and their footsteps echoed in the empty space.

As the treasure hunters were almost entirely drawn away by Mike, who was carrying the treasure, the noise of the surrounding fleeing and fighting gradually faded away.

The remaining guards remained hidden in the shadows, refraining from making any rash moves to pursue them.

Suddenly, the manor, which had been turned into a battlefield, became completely quiet.

Fang Cheng contacted Black Wolf and the others via walkie-talkie to discuss the situation.

When he turned around, he keenly noticed that the two people beside him had an unusual expression that was hard to hide.

It was a deliberately suppressed excitement; though their lips didn't curve upwards, the light in their eyes betrayed them.

The mysterious man, in particular, whose face had always been calm and composed, now showed a hint of joy.

Seeing this, Fang Cheng suddenly asked:

Is the plan progressing smoothly?

Upon hearing this, the professor paused slightly, as if suddenly pulled back to reality, his eyes instantly regaining their clarity.

He adjusted his glasses as if to cover up his mistake, only to realize he wasn't wearing any. So he coughed lightly and replied, feigning composure:
"Well, so far, things are going smoothly."

Just as the two were talking, the wind grew stronger, making their clothes flutter loudly.

The scenery around the manor changed without warning.

The once tranquil night sky seemed to be stirred up by an invisible hand. Dark clouds quickly gathered, overlapping with the thick fog that permeated the manor and its surroundings, completely swallowing the last bit of moonlight.

The earth began to tremble slightly, and a low rumbling sound could be faintly heard, like the roar of an ancient beast.

Fang Chenghe, Professor Li Dingjian, and others couldn't help but change their expressions, exchanging glances filled with surprise and wariness.

(End of this chapter)